The Arrangement

25

Maya took a deep breath, bracing herself for the conversation she knew she had to have. She had been thinking about it all day, and now it was time to finally address the issue with Sarah. She pressed the intercom button on her desk and called her assistant into the office.

"Sarah, can you come in here for a minute?"

A few moments later, Sarah walked in, her usual bright smile in place, though it faltered slightly when she saw the serious expression on Maya's face.

"What's up, Maya?" Sarah asked, trying to keep her tone casual.

Maya gestured for her to sit down. "We need to talk about something important."

Sarah's smile faded completely, and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Okay... What's going on?"

Maya leaned forward, folding her hands on her desk. "You've been a great assistant, Sarah, but I've been discussing with the partners, and we've decided that it's time for a change. There's an opportunity for you in our San Francisco office—a promotion, actually. You'd be working as the assistant to one of our new partners there. It's a great chance to further your career."

Sarah stared at her in disbelief, her eyes narrowing. "A transfer? To San Francisco? Are you kidding me?"

Maya kept her voice calm, though she could see the anger building in Sarah's expression. "I'm not kidding, Sarah. This is a great opportunity for you. San Francisco is a vibrant city, and this promotion could really open doors for you."

Sarah's jaw tightened, and she crossed her arms defensively. "So, you're just shipping me off because of her, aren't you? Because of Carina?"

Maya shook her head, trying to keep the conversation professional. "This isn't about Carina. This is about your career. You've been doing great work here, and this promotion is a recognition of that. But it's also about finding the right fit for everyone involved."

Sarah scoffed, leaning back in her chair. "Right, and that 'right fit' just happens to be me out of your life. You think I don't see what's going on, Maya? You're just trying to get rid of me."

Maya sighed, knowing this wasn't going to be easy. "I'm not trying to get rid of you, Sarah. I'm trying to give you a fresh start in a new city with a bigger role. You deserve that."

Sarah stood up abruptly, her face flushed with anger. "I don't want a fresh start, Maya. I want to stay here, where I belong. But I guess that doesn't matter to you, does it?"

Maya remained seated, keeping her tone steady. "I understand this is difficult, but the decision has been made. The transfer is happening, and it's going to be a great opportunity for you. I want you to see that."

Sarah glared at her, her hands clenched into fists. "You think you can just control everything, don't you? But you're making a mistake, Maya. You'll regret this."

Without waiting for a response, Sarah stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind her. Maya exhaled slowly, leaning back in her chair. She knew it wasn't going to be easy, but she also knew it was the right decision. Now, she just had to hope that Sarah would come around and see it that way too.

As the door slammed shut behind Sarah, Maya sighed deeply, letting the tension of the conversation slowly dissipate. She barely had a moment to collect herself before the door opened again, and Jack stepped in. He glanced over his shoulder, watching Sarah storm down the hallway, then turned his attention back to Maya.

"That didn't look like it went well," Jack remarked, raising an eyebrow as he closed the door behind him.

Maya leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples. "No, it didn't. I knew she wouldn't take it well, but I didn't expect it to go quite that badly."