My question involves employment and labor law for the state of: Pennsylvania and North Carolina

I signed a confidentiality and non-competition agreement. This agreement was not a part of my continued employment arrangement, rather it was presented to me IN RETURN for the award of stock in the company. The stock transaction involved me paying a highly discounted rate for the stock issued.

The confidentiality side of the agreement I understand (in fact it was also a part of my employment terms) - the question is about the non-compete. When my "at-will" employment was severed, I requested and received a reimbursement for the stock....thus ending my ownership of shares in the company. Since the non-compete was in return for the award of stock - and that award was cashed out (or reversed), am I still bound by the non-compete?

I have read a fair amount on the subject. I have found nothing that addresses this specific circumstance. I contend that since it was a part of a (now voided) award, that the non-compete portion is also voided. I have nothing in return for this agreement and it was only signed in an effort to receive something in return.