Wayne Shocks the Girls With a Replacement Plan
The conference room was already tense. Papers from the contract meeting were spread across the table, laptops were open, and everyone was waiting for the lawyer to explain what would happen next.
The girls had spent days arguing about the contract, demanding better terms and making it clear they were not going to accept anything they thought was unfair.
Then the door opened.
Wayne walked in calmly, wearing his usual confident expression. He looked around the room and immediately noticed the serious faces.
Wayne: “Why everybody looking like somebody just got fired?”
Delicia: “Because we’re trying to figure out this contract, Wayne.”
Wayne: “No, y’all are trying to figure out how to make me change everything.”
Amber: “We’re asking for what we believe we deserve.”
Wayne: “And I told y’all what I believe you deserve.”
The room became quiet.
Amber: “So you’re saying you won’t move at all?”
Wayne: “I’m saying I already moved.”
Amber: “You barely moved.”
Wayne: “Barely? Y’all got me sitting in meetings talking about contracts for three weeks!”
One of the girls shook her head.
Girl: “Because you keep changing the conversation.”
Wayne: “No, y’all keep changing the demands.”
Delicia: “So what happens if we don’t agree?”
Wayne finally sat down. He looked at every girl around the table before answering.
Wayne: “Then y’all don’t agree.”
Amber: “That’s it?”
Wayne: “That’s it.”
The girls looked at each other. They expected Wayne to argue. Instead, he seemed strangely relaxed.
Amber: “You really think we’re just going to walk away?”
Wayne: “I never said y’all were walking away.”
Delicia: “Then what are you saying?”
Wayne reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
Wayne: “I’m saying I have options.”
He unlocked his phone and placed it on the table.
Wayne: “While y’all were arguing about what you weren’t getting, I was working on what comes next.”
Delicia stared at him.
Delicia: “What does that mean?”
Wayne: “It means I already know what I’m going to do if this deal doesn’t work.”
Amber: “You have another podcast planned?”
Wayne: “Maybe.”
Amber: “Wayne.”
Wayne: “What?”
Amber: “Don’t play with us.”
Wayne: “I’m not playing.”
He turned the phone around.
The girls looked at the screen. They couldn’t see everything, but it was obvious Wayne had been talking to other people about the podcast.
Delicia: “Wait. You’ve already been talking to new girls?”
Wayne: “I’ve been talking to people who are interested in working.”
Amber: “So while we were fighting for this contract, you were looking for replacements?”
Wayne: “I was preparing for business.”
Amber: “That’s cold.”
Wayne: “That’s business.”
The lawyer finally spoke.
Lawyer: “Everyone needs to calm down. Wayne is allowed to consider his options, just like you are allowed to consider yours.”
Delicia: “So all that positive energy you gave us yesterday was just to keep us calm?”
Wayne laughed.
Wayne: “No. I actually wanted y’all to win.”
Amber: “Then why would you have replacements?”
Wayne: “Because winning doesn’t mean I stop protecting my business.”
That answer made everyone quiet.
Wayne stood up and walked around the table.
Wayne: “Look, I don’t want anybody to leave. But I’m not going to beg anybody to stay either.”
Girl: “So what are you saying?”
Wayne stopped beside the table.
Wayne: “I’m saying you have a choice.”
He pointed toward the contracts.
Wayne: “You can sign, build this thing with me, and keep moving forward.”
Then he pointed toward the door.
Wayne: “Or you can walk away.”
Amber: “And if we walk away?”
Wayne: “I keep going.”
Delicia: “With the new girls?”
Wayne smiled.
Wayne: “If I have to.”
Amber: “You really think they’re going to replace us that easily?”
Wayne: “I don’t know.”
He picked up his phone.
Wayne: “But I’m willing to find out.”
Nobody spoke.
For the first time, the girls realized Wayne wasn’t threatening them just to scare them.
He had actually prepared a backup plan.
Delicia looked at Amber.
Delicia: “We need to talk.”
Amber nodded.
Wayne walked toward the door.
Before leaving, he turned around.
Wayne: “Take your time. Read the contract. Talk to each other. Make the decision that’s best for you.”
He opened the door.
Wayne: “Just remember one thing.”
Everyone looked at him.
Wayne: “The podcast doesn’t stop just because somebody decides they don’t want to continue.”
Wayne walked out.
The door closed behind him.
Amber slowly sat back down.
Delicia looked at the others.
Delicia: “Did y’all see how calm he was?”
One girl whispered:
Girl: “That’s what scares me.”
Amber looked toward the closed door.
Amber: “I think Wayne wanted us to believe we had all the power.”
Delicia: “And now?”
Amber looked at the contract.
Amber: “Now I’m not so sure.”
The lawyer quietly gathered the papers.
Lawyer: “Then maybe it’s time you girls decide what you really want.”
Nobody answered.
Because suddenly, signing the contract wasn’t the only decision they had to make.
They also had to decide whether they were willing to risk being replaced.