Chapter 23 - RELEASE
Tessa wanted out of her management agreement.
Rick said she couldn't leave.
Maya knew that sentence.
Different room.
Different man.
Same sentence.
Tessa's contract was ugly.
Not illegal.
Ugly.
Three-year term.
Management percentage.
Automatic extension if she accepted certain fights.
Right of first negotiation.
Travel costs deducted.
Training costs recoupable.
Tessa stared at the pages.
“I signed this.”
Maya nodded.
“So did I.”
“You think I'm stupid?”
“No.”
“Then why did I sign it?”
“Because somebody gave it to you in a gym and told you it was normal.”
Tessa looked down.
“That's exactly what happened.”
Maya helped her find a lawyer.
Nothing more.
She did not call Rick.
Did not threaten him.
Did not use Dana.
Did not ask Marcus to make one intimidating visit.
She thought about it.
Twice.
The lawyer found a clean exit provision tied to Rick's failure to provide required quarterly accounting.
Tessa left.
No lawsuit.
No scandal.
No viral video.
Just paperwork.
Maya loved that.
A week later Dana asked Maya to come by the office.
New contract.
Development extension.
Better purse.
Travel support.
Medical coverage.
And one clause Maya hadn't seen before.
ATHLETE MAY TERMINATE MANAGEMENT REPRESENTATION WITHOUT TERMINATING PROMOTIONAL ELIGIBILITY.
Maya read it twice.
“What's this?”
Dana shrugged.
“Something we should've had.”
“Because of me?”
“Because of several people.”
Maya looked at her.
Dana smiled.
“Not every change needs your name on it.”
Maya signed.
Then stopped.
“Actually.”
Dana raised an eyebrow.
Maya slid the contract back.
“I want forty-eight hours.”
Dana smiled wider.
“Good.”
Maya called Marcus.
“I have a contract.”
“Want me to read it?”
“No.”
Marcus paused.
Maya continued.
“I just wanted to tell you.”
Another pause.
Then:
May you like
“That's new.”
“Get used to it.”
