Here we go...

It was the middle of the day and Max was looking dazed at his computer. This was a very rare sight and whispers were going around the floor of people wondering what had happened and what was going on with someone who was otherwise always so focused and strict when it came to work. The reason for Max's mental absence was because of what had occurred about an hour ago. That is when he had his meeting with Noah.

The meeting itself had surprised him initially, but like all good companies, a yearly review and a conversation about goals and ambitions, was common practice. It was something Max appreciated at I.E.. Although it was still a bit early for this year's review, Max didn't think much of it considering all that had happened, had changed up many of the things they had scheduled for certain moments in the year. Meaning that things sometimes had to be shifted around in order for them to still meet their goals. So, he figured it was just one of those things. But little did he know beforehand that this surprise would be the least of his surprises for the day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~An hour ago ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He entered the office as usual. Prepared some documents for the other meetings and tasks of the day, before he knocked on Noah's door to start the meeting with their names on it. After the first knock he was already interrupted by Noah, who said in his calm, usual voice, "Come in". As it was said, so it was done. When Max stepped inside, Noah was still finishing up on one of the documents Max had presented to him earlier in the morning in preparation of the meeting he had immediately after theirs. Max quietly closed the door behind him and went to take a seat on the couch that was inside Noah's office as he waited for him to finish.

Noah didn't take long and quickly joined Max on the other couch, which was on the opposite side of the one Max was sitting on, with a low table separating the two of them. He smiled ever so slightly as he greeted Max and apologized for making him wait. "Sorry, I had to finish that up before we start otherwise it will be in the back of my mind the entire time and I won't be able to fully focus on our conversation." Max shook his head and said, "No, no. Not at all. I get it. I didn't mind waiting at all." Noah let out a quick exhaled laugh before he said, "Good. In that case, let's get started shall we?" Max nodded and Noah started with the reason he had scheduled this meeting.

"The reason I wanted to talk with you is the following. As you know, that idiot nephew of mine and Andrew have been arrested and their positions at I.E. have opened up as a result of what they have done. You have played a big part in them getting caught and as you know, I have been more than satisfied with the work you deliver around here since long before that event. I feel that it is time that you got an opportunity to stand on your own and not just be my left wing in all of this."

The moment Max heard this, his eyes grew wide and his heart rate started to increase as he started to realize what type of conversation this would be and that the time where he would be forced to give up the position he had loved so much, the position he had perfected up to a point where there was nothing left to desire, had finally arrived. He knew this time would come at some point or other, but he didn't think it would come so suddenly. As before the events of the past weeks, it didn't seem he would be pushed forward for another year or two at least. But it appeared that now things had been moving in a higher gear because of the whole Harold debacle and all that came with it. Having no way to go back or avoid it, Max sat there and faced it.

"From the moment you started here, you were overqualified for the position we gave you. But you were so good at it and at that point there weren't many positions available that were higher or better suited to your abilities. But over the years you have grown even more and I think you are capable of more should you want it. So, to make a long story short, I would like to make you an offer."

Max thought 'Here we go' as he heard those words and took a deep breath as Noah would tell him which department or company he would have to move to. But what Max hadn't anticipated is, that the offer would not be for just one position, but several. Giving him the choice of what to do next.