The "threat", because it's just a bidding round for your time, really, has to be real. If it's real and your employer declines to participate, that just means t

The "threat", because it's just a bidding round for your time, really, has to be real. If it's real and your employer declines to participate, that just means the other company won and you now have a new employer. There shouldn't be any hard feelings unless you have a personal relationship with your boss.