eight
Zhuri
Ismoothmyhandsovermy white blouse as I follow behind my agent, Melanie Barlow. It’s time for contract negotiations, and to say I’m nervous would be an understatement.
Women don’t make as much as men. That’s just a fact. But the WHL had our maximum contract set at five hundred thousand per year.
Is that a lot of money? Yes.
Is it barely a tenth of what some of the men make? Also yes.
I had the best stats in the WHL, and I was capped at a half-million-dollar salary.
The WHL is gone, though, and the NHL isn’t bound to max out like that.
I know Melanie will help me secure a great contract today, and I’ll just be grateful for whatever I end up with.
We come to a stop in front of Sean Eckhart’s office.
“We’re not leaving this room without a contract you deserve, Zhuri,” Melanie asserts, facing me. “Woman or not, you’re getting a contact you’re worthy of.”
“Thanks, Mel,” I smile. “Let’s go see what they’re offering.”
Melanie knocks on the door before Sean beckons us inside.
“Welcome!” he says happily before gesturing to the chairs across the desk from him. “Please, take a seat.”
We sit down and mentally prepare ourselves for what is likely to be a tough negotiation.
“I’ll try not to take too much of your time,” Sean states. “I’ve only met with Cameron so far, so I have another eighteen players to see today.”
Melanie rests her perfectly manicured hands on her lap. “Let’s get this negotiation started then.”
Sean laughs lightly. “I’m hoping you won’t feel the need to negotiate much once you hear our offer. But first, tell me what you’re hoping to see right now.”
“I know that tactic,” Melanie says. “You’ll use that as the highest you’re willing to go, offering something lower until we settle on a different number.”
“That’s not the way I operate, Ms. Barlow. How about this?” Sean fishes through his desk drawer and pulls out a notepad before grabbing a pen. “I’ll write down our offer before you share your desired contract amount. I can’t change my number once it’s written, so we’ll flip the notepad over after.”
Melanie thinks it over before looking to me. “What do you think, Zhuri?”
“I think it’s a good idea,” I admit. It seems like a good idea at least. I’ve always been paid the maximum contract, so I’ve never actually needed to have a negotiation over the amount before.
“Perfect,” Sean smiles. He blocks the notepad from our view, jotting down a number before flipping the notepad over to hidewhat he’s written. “What is your desired contract for our co-captain?”
Melanie sits up straight and speaks with confidence. “Three years, five million. Zhuri has long had the best stats in the WHL, and she deserves to be compensated accordingly.”
I still can’t wrap my head around what she’s asking for. My last contract was for four years, two million dollars, giving me the league maximum amount every year. Five million is a significant increase from where I was.
Sean’s smile only grows wider. “I think you’ll like our offer more.” He pushes the notepad across the desk.
I watch as Melanie flips the notepad over, and I almost fall out of my chair and directly on my ass.
Proposed contract: Four years, twenty million dollars.
Twenty.
Million.
