contract law question?

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Employer called Denoco and offered her a 2year employment contract. Denoco accepted then quit her job, forefeiting unvested stock options. After denoco worked for employer for 6 months for cash of 8K a month, employer fired her. Denoco sued. Who should win? does it matter that that Employer made a note to himself after the phone call: "Denoco-2year contract. Salary to be negotiated"? If denoco were to win, what should be her damages? would she be entitled to anything if she quit her old job but never started to work for Employer? What should Employer and Denoco each have done to protect their rights?