a few legal terms, empty laughs, a few well-timed hahs, and then we’ll come to an agreement.”
“But what if they decide to give me nothing?” I asked as we walked toward the front of the building. I stopped in front of the revolving doors. I hadn’t been through the front since my interview.
“Hey.” Sienna put a hand on my shoulder. “I know you haven’t seen me in action, but I’m pretty good at what I do.”
“But you said this wasn’t your area of law and that—”
“I’ve done the research. I won’t let you down,” she said, her voice slow and steady. “Trust me.”
“I do.” I had no choice. I couldn’t afford a contracts attorney. Sienna was doing this for free.
She turned me toward the revolving door and pushed me in. I shuffled to keep up as the doors turned. We walked into the station, conference room F again. I was starting to associate the letter with “Fired” and “Failure” and “Fuck!”
“Sienna Njeri,” she purred and offered her hand to everyone seated at the table. Everyone introduced themselves. I stood near the door, not sure what to do.
“Coffee? Tea?” Mr. Rossi offered my friend.
I eyed the green tea packets. Depending on how the meeting went, I might swipe some more.
“No thank you.” Sienna smiled and took a seat. She turned and looked back at me, her winning smile still in place. Only I could see her eyes and the message she sent: Sit your scary ass down.
I scurried to the seat next to her.
Rhonda wasn’t present, but Franklin sat at the end of the table. Flanking the station owner were two men, one in a blue suit, the other in a red and white plaid shirt with khakis. Franklin had added a brown blazer to his usual Kmart attire. Classy. I mentally rolled my eyes.
Something squeezed my leg, and I jumped. Sienna gave me a quick smile. Fire lit her eyes—so much her skin glowed.
She slid the manila folder that contained the legal documents. “Gentlemen, I’ll get right to it. My client, Ms. Williams, will not be able to sign this document as it stands.” Her voice was confident, light, not at all combative, but firm. “I do hope we can come to an agreement that is mutually beneficial.”
“Is this a particular part of the agreement that concerns Ms. Williams?” Mr. Khaki Pants addressed my friend.
“Many parts.” She shook her head. “But the nondisparage-ment clause has to go.”
Khaki Pants shook his head. “It’s imperative to keep this, and it’s a reasonable request.” He flicked his brown eyes toward me, then back at Sienna. “The language was added to ensure your client doesn’t impugn the reputation of the station.”
“And while I understand, Mr. Anders, my client should have the opportunity to speak about her experience and the advice she has given to her fan base. This”—she pointed to the papers—“would essentially bind her to silence. For four years. How, then, will she be able to take on another job? This precludes her from leveraging her own experiences elsewhere.” She sighed and leaned back into the chair. “There is no way around this. It simply has to be struck or at least modified.”
“Hmm. I don’t think—”
“Mr. Anders.” Sienna put up a hand. “I hate to interrupt, but I do want to cut to the chase. Ms. Williams doesn’t have to sign this NDA. Nothing is stopping Ms. Williams from going online or to the media to discuss how the station treated her unfairly.”
“Now that’s subjective, Ms. Njeri.” The Anders dude interrupted. “Your client verbally attacked a listener.”
“She defended a woman and her family. She stood up for what she believes in—morals, fidelity, family.” She ticked off the points with her fingers. “The press and social media would eat this up.”
“If your client wants her severance, she’ll need to sign it.” Anders leaned back in his chair, hands folded across his potbelly.
“She’ll make up that money from press appearances. National press.” Sienna shrugged. “She does not need your money.”
Yes, the hell I do!
I shut my mouth. Sienna was on a roll, and from Mr. Rossi’s reddened cheeks and stuttering Stan, the lawyer to his left, the tides were changing.
“So, this is what we can agree to.” Sienna pressed her hands against the table. “My client will not speak ill of the station. She will, however, discuss her experience with listeners. She will not refer to names or time periods. She will not mention anyone at the station by name. She will agree to a