The Arrangement

26

Later that evening, Maya and Carina sat at the dining table, enjoying a quiet dinner together. The soft glow of the candles cast a warm light on their faces, and the delicious aroma of Carlos' expertly prepared meal filled the room. They were just beginning to unwind after a long day when Maya's phone buzzed on the table. She glanced at the screen and saw her father's name.

With a sigh, Maya picked up the phone, already anticipating the weight of the conversation that was about to unfold. "It's my father," she said to Carina, who gave her an understanding nod. Maya answered the call, putting it on speaker so Carina could listen in.

"Maya," Lane's voice boomed through the speaker. "I wanted to talk to you about taking on more leadership roles within the family business."

Maya took a deep breath. "I'm still committed to my work at the corporate firm, Dad. I'm happy to help where I can, but I'm not ready to dive into the family business full-time. I've told you this before."

Lane's voice remained firm. "I understand, but the business is growing, and we need someone with your expertise to start picking a full legal team to represent B4, Inc. and DeLuca International. We need people we can trust, Maya."

Maya's jaw tightened, but she maintained her composure. "I'll help you find the right in-house counsel for the day-to-day matters, but I'm not leaving my firm. I have responsibilities there, and it's where I want to focus my career."

There was a brief pause before Lane spoke again, his tone shifting slightly. "Well, that brings me to something else. Sarah called me earlier today."

Maya's hand gripped her fork tightly. "Sarah?" she repeated, her voice edged with tension.

"Yes," Lane continued, seemingly oblivious to the growing storm on the other end of the line. "She's looking for a job after you decided to move her out of your office. I've decided to give her a position within B4, Inc. She'll be working closely with the legal team, under my supervision."

Maya felt a wave of anger surge through her. She shot a glance at Carina, who was watching her with concern. "You hired Sarah?" Maya's voice was low, barely masking her fury. "After everything I told you, you went behind my back and hired her for the family business?"

Lane's tone grew defensive. "She's a good employee, Maya. Just because things didn't work out between the two of you doesn't mean she's not valuable to the company. We could use someone with her skills, and she'll be working directly under me. There's no reason for this to be an issue."

Maya could feel her pulse quicken, her anger flaring. "It is an issue, Dad. Sarah's been a problem, and now you've put her in a position where she can create even more of a mess. You should have consulted me before making this decision."

Lane's voice hardened. "Maya, this is the family business. I'm doing what's best for it, just like I expect you to do when you're ready to take on more responsibilities. Sarah will be fine under my supervision. You don't need to worry about it."

Maya closed her eyes, trying to keep her temper in check. "You've made your decision, but I'm telling you now, if Sarah causes any problems, it's on you. I'm not going to clean up any mess she makes."

Lane's response was curt. "Understood. We'll handle it. Now, if you're not interested in further discussions about the business, I'll let you go. Just remember, the family is counting on you."

Maya ended the call without another word, her hand trembling as she placed the phone back on the table. She looked at Carina, her eyes flashing with anger. "I can't believe he did that. He knew exactly what he was doing, and he didn't care how it would affect me."