Question about company options offer?

my boss promised me an options contract for 50k shares.
he said that he can only make this a verbal agreement.

he said if he makes a written agreement, then he can only give me the shares at market price (currently $1).

he said that if we make it through VC funding, the price per share of the company will go down. this is supposed to be a better time for me to receive my options.

my question is, why can't i have a written promise that i will receive my options at the price after the VC funding round? why must it be ONLY a verbal agreement?

my company is not publicly held, hence the need for VC capital. please only give me answers if you have experience with options or are a lawyer. i seem to be getting gut opinions without any references or facts. thanks.

That's bull. Get it written or go to HR and ask for a written benefits document... HR should have all your benefits documented. It sounds like your company is not public: how do you have a market price if your company is not public?

sounds shady. not written not enforceable. option is the option to buy by a certain time so there is no reason to wait to give you a contract.

It does sound shady but if you want it to be held up in court as much as a verbal can I would contact Contract Genie. They could record you and your boss over the phone and could probably give you a sample script. The script would be able to be held up in court ie- saying your name and his and stating the fact that you are recording, asking if he agrees, etc. That's what they do, record verbals and store them. But they will probably want to charge you something.