"Good morning , Mr. Jackson." Joseph's assistant greeted him as he walked into the office building.
"Good morning, Laura."
"Good morning, Ms. Braxton." Toni sighed.
"Good morning, Jenna."
"You look well today. Nice suit."
"Thank you, my wife helped me pick it out." They all stepped into the elevator.
"Well, you have great taste."
"It's mostly my wife. She's the best...at everything."
"Hmm.." Toni did not like her assistant. She was a little too flirty for her liking. "Well, if you ever need recommendations of where to shop for some more, let me know."
"No, thank you. My wife knows where to get my suits and she knows exactly how I like them."
"Just saying, if you ever want to switch it up."
"I like the switch I'm on. Thank you." Laura and Joseph smirked at Toni's response. They stepped off the elevator and headed to the conference room. Joseph and Toni had a meeting with an investor as their first task today so they didn't even bother stopping by their office. "Jenna, can you please get me some coffee. Thank you."
"Right away, Ms. Braxton." Jenna left out and Toni sighed.
"Toni, why don't you fire her?" asked Laura.
"Because I'm still new here and I don't want to give the wrong impression to everyone."
"But you've made it clear for a month that you are married and she keeps pushing."
"I'm nervous. I've never fired anyone before."
"I thought you used to..."
"That was different. The environment was different. Everyone respected me because they didn't want to get shot. I can't shoot people here. Plus, the Bishop is my father in law, I can't shoot people anymore anyway." They chuckled. "So this professional way of doing things is new to me. I don't know how to navigate it." Laura sat next to Toni and hugged her.
"Calm down." Laura had been Joseph's assistant basically since he started the company. At one point he tried to promote her, but things didn't work out with the new assistant he got, so he expanded her position and increased her pay. Now she was technically a member of the executive team. They all knew to come to her and run things by her. The only person who knew how to run the company better than her, was Joseph. So they were basically like brother and sister at this point. Even Janet and her siblings were close to her.
"I'm nervous, Aunt Laura. Plus, she needs her job for school and I know how important that is for people." That was one of Toni's biggest flaws as of lately. Being around Janet and her family has caused her to develop an extreme amount of empathy.
"I know, sweetie. How about after lunch I will help you. We'll get you a new assistant and move her to a different position. That way she's out of your hair, but can keep her job."
"Is that okay?" Toni looked at Joseph.
"He's fine with it." said Laura.
"I pay you." said Joseph. Laura looked at her.
"I'll call Katherine and tell her you treating me bad. Remember last time you tried to do a power trip and it landed you on that uncomfortable sofa." Joseph stayed quiet. Because Laura was like family, she and Katherine were basically best friends, so he knew better than to go too far.
"Fine, we'll find Jenna a new position. Entry level, of course." Joseph looked at Laura.
"Entry level. Got it. I'll jump right on that." Laura stood back up just as Jenna came in with the coffee. She stood in front of Toni.
