That was more valuable than feature.

But the national promotion decision was still coming, and Cassidy did not know whether respecting one boundary might cost the biggest contract of her career.

The contract meeting was scheduled for Thursday at noon.

Victor Haines sent Cassidy a text at 9:04 Wednesday night.

LAST CHANCE TO LET ME PACKAGE THIS RIGHT.

Cassidy stared.

She typed:

NO LENA STORY.

Victor:

YOU ARE MAKING EMOTIONAL BUSINESS DECISION.

Cassidy:

YES.

Then:

AND BUSINESS DECISION.

He did not answer for ten minutes.

Then:

Fine.

Cassidy should have known “fine” did not mean fine.

Thursday morning, a combat-sports website published a short item.

FORMER CHAMPION FOUND CLEANING FLOORS AT CURRENT TITLEHOLDER’S GYM

The article did not name Lena in headline.

It named her in second paragraph.

Lenora Brooks, once North American kickboxing champion, now works as a custodian at Apex Forge Combat Center, where current Midwest champion Cassidy Wolfe reportedly sought technical advice during her recent title-defense camp.

Reportedly.

A source close to Wolfe said Brooks had “quietly influenced” the champion’s preparation.

The article embedded an old photograph of Lena with championship belt.

Then a recent photo taken through Apex Forge front window.

Lena in janitorial uniform.

Mop in hand.

Cassidy’s stomach dropped.

She called Victor.

“What did you do?”

He answered immediately.

“I didn’t publish.”

“You fed.”

“I confirmed public information.”

“You said fine.”

“I said fine to feature package. This site already had tip.”

“From who?”

“I don’t reveal.”

“You’re fired.”

Silence.

“Cassidy.”

“You heard.”

“You cannot fire me two hours before contract call.”

“I just did.”

“You signed management agreement.”

“Termination clause for conflict. My attorney will handle.”

“You don’t have sports attorney.”

“I will.”

Victor:
“You’re blowing career over janitor.”

There it was.

Cassidy went cold.

“Thank you.”

“For?”

“Making decision easy.”

She hung.

Then called Lena.

No answer.

Called Theo.

“Theo, is Lena there?”

Pause.

“She left.”

“What?”

“She came, saw article, clocked out.”

“Did she say?”

“No.”

“Is she coming back?”

“I don’t know.”

Cassidy:
“Can you tell her I didn’t approve?”

“I can tell. Don’t ask me to mediate.”

“I’m not.”

She sat in car outside gym.

At 10:20, national promotion’s talent director emailed asking if media story was part of publicity strategy.

Cassidy replied:

No. Ms. Brooks did not consent to the story or recent photograph. I did not authorize it and have ended representation with the manager who discussed her with media. I will not participate in content built around her employment or private history without her consent.

That probably looked insane before contract meeting.

She did not care.

At noon, video call.

Two executives:
Derek Sloan, matchmaker.
Amara Bell, athlete relations director.

Derek:
“We were not expecting manager termination.”

“Neither was I.”