"You mean circumstances where I wasn't humiliated on camera for millions of people to see?" Maya tried to make it sound like a joke, but the bitterness came through anyway.
"I mean circumstances where you'd never left us in the first place," Dr. Martinez said gently. "But we'll get to that."
James jumped in first, his energy filling the small coffee shop. "Maya, I've put together a proposal for the next 6 months: three major concert hall performances, starting with the Riverside Symphony Hall next month; guest appearances on two morning shows and one late-night show; a profile in Time magazine—they've already reached out; and a potential recording contract with Commonwealth Classical, pending your live performances."
He slid a folder across the table. Maya opened it to find a detailed schedule—dates and venues and dollar amounts that made her head spin. The money alone was more than she'd make in 3 years at the Grand View estate.
"This is a lot," Maya said quietly.
"It's the opportunity of a lifetime," James said. "But we need to move fast. Right now, you're the story everyone wants to cover. In 6 months, they'll have moved on to something else. We have to build your career while the attention is there."