THE ALGORITHM

5.

"Of course." Penny nodded. She had no problem with the onboarding.

The conversation continued, and Rebecca informed Penny about the role's starting pay and other benefits. However, Penny grew disappointed when she realized the role was not remote but hybrid.

"Hybrid?" Penny questioned Rebecca. "But I talked to someone else in HR, and they said this role was remote."

"Technically, it is," Rebecca stated as she tapped on her desk with her ink pen. "But it's not fully remote. As an apprentice, you will need to work a hybrid schedule. After working for six months, you will be able to work fully remote."

Penny pushed out a breath of defeat. She knew it was too good to be true. This is why she stayed reserved and didn't try to react. She figured an obstacle would be thrown her way.

"The job is located here in San Francisco." Rebecca continued. "Don't worry, Penny. Vital Health Institute will ensure you receive relocation assistance, and we provide housing if needed."

"Relocation assistance?" Penny reiterated in bewilderment. Rebecca was throwing everything out there, and she didn't know how to respond. Penny wanted to do better and finally break into her career, but she was unsure about relocating to California.

Rebecca gave her a grace period to consider everything. She figured Penny would need time to think before making a decision. She left the final round of her interview feeling off and at a loss.

"I think you should take it," Katrina stated after listening to her friend rant. She held a blunt while eyeing her friend with her slanted eyes.

"Really?" Penny eyed Katrina closely. She sat on her couch with her legs tucked underneath her butt.

Katrina pulled a few tokes from her blunt before releasing the smoke into the air. "I mean...yeah." She tried breathing through her nose after blowing out the skunky fumes. "Take that shit, P. You deserve a better life."

Penny shook her head slowly as she looked outside the window. The sky was clear, but the sun was soon to set. A few civilians walked on the sidewalks as cars passed by.

"Let's face it, it's the same shit here in Brooklyn..." Katrina trailed off. "You can do so much better in California. The company is offering you a hybrid schedule with housing and a nice salary."

"So you would take it?"

"In a heartbeat," Katrina replied quickly. "I wish I had gone to college. I would've been in a better position—I hate being a waitress." She sighed while flicking the ashes on the hardwood floor.

"Katrina," Penny warned her friend. "Clean that shit up." She instructed while pointing at the ashes on the ground. "I just mopped my floors."

"My bad, girl, I'll get it up," Katrina mumbled as she stubbed out the blunt. She wanted to save the rest for later. "I don't think you should pass up on this opportunity."

"The thought of starting over..." Penny ran her hand across her forehead. "It's...not easy for me because I made a life here in New York."

"But there's nothing here for you." Katrina objected as she stood up to clean the ashes on the floor. She looked at Penny with narrowed eyes, her expression suspicious due to the effects of being high. "You don't want to leave because you think you'll end up hurting Bert."

"That could be a reason..." Penny trailed off.

She was afraid of moving to a different state and starting over. Penny had no family members and only a few friends. Moving to California meant she would be alone, and she wasn't sure if she was ready for that big step. She also didn't want to leave Bert and his restaurant. Penny knew she was the backbone of the business; without her, the entire restaurant would fail.