“Girl, I’m just going to start coming up here with you and take naps in this recliner. Go get me a lil omelet from the chef and just lounge with a good book, blanket, and your television,” Joy said before putting a forkful of salad and steak into her mouth. She was so smitten now.
I finally had a free late afternoon to bring her in for a tour and lunch. She harassed me every day since my first day, for one, so I had to come through before I choked her annoying ass out. My big sister was the clown between the two of us. We both owned the blunt, straightforward gene that was given to us by our mother. She gained the clowning gene from our father. Charles Sampson was a damn fool! Julie was a fool, too, but she was a little demure with hers.
“I’m happy that you’re enjoying yourself. It means so much to me that you can benefit from my promotion. This is why I did it.” The sarcasm was deep in my tone.
Joy’s eyes squinted. “I hear the faint bitchiness in your tone, but I’m going to rebuke it. I cover you with love because I know you love me.” She turned her nose up with a smile, then looked at me. “Jubilae, I’m so fucking proud of you. When Julius died, you could have crumbled, but you didn’t. You grieved with a grace I don’t think I could have had.
“You picked yourself up, went back to school at thirty-six, and worked your ass off. Those lil young fuckas thought they had the one up on you, but you showed them. Then you came in here and forged your own path like the boss that you are.” Tears sprung from her eyes. “You have no idea how much you inspire me.”
Before I knew it, there were tears in my eyes. My big sister meant the world to me. My parents raised us to be best friends, and we were. I’d had other associates in my life, but my sister had always and would always be my only best friend. “Well, I’m proud of you for being the best big sister and backbone that I never knew I needed. You took care of my son during the days when I couldn’t get out of bed because of grief. I love you so much.”
We both stood and embraced in a tight hug. Just as we broke apart, my office door was opened without the courtesy ofa knock. I knew it was Zora’s silly ass. I tried to be nice to this girl, so I had a conversation with her. I explained why I felt she was not a fit, how she could do better, and my expectations until her last day. You would think that she would be gracious, but she was anything but. She was combative and had an attitude.
When I told her that it could be her last day on that day, she changed her little attitude to let me know that she needed to continue to work for the two weeks so she could find another job. I gave her ass grace, but two days later, her attitude changed. I still gave grace because after the end of the two weeks, I still hadn’t found a replacement. I informed her that she could stay until I found a replacement. Had my boss who had the plan to fire me told me that, I would have done everything to change my habits to secure my job.
“Yes, Zora, can I help you?” I asked her before my sister, whose face was torn up, could say anything.
She glanced at my sister, rolled her eyes, then cut her eyes to me.This bitch.“Yes, can you make sure you review my time sheet for the week? I know you have a full day of meetings, and it might slip your mind.” Attitude laced her tone.
“So, you couldn’t send her an email when you knew that she had company in her office? That was so important that you decided to come in here?” Joy’s arms were across her chest, and a brow was arched.
Zora matched her energy. “I don’t believe that I was talking to you. You do not work here, and you are not my boss. You are my boss’s sister. Know your?—”
“Let me stop you right there. I don’t care if she was my vagina waxer, you will respect any and every one that steps foot in the front doors of this company. Your services are no longer needed, effective immediately. I will have your time sheet reviewed before the elevator hits the bottom floor.”
When her mouth opened to speak, I threatened to call security. It was that or let my sister beat her ass like she wanted to. I knew that wouldn’t play out well. Zora stomped out of my office. I followed to make sure she left without incident. Before she climbed on the elevator, I secured her badge from her. She wouldn’t need that shit anymore.
When I walked back into my office, Joy was laid back in the recliner. “I would have been beat that lil oxtail looking bitch’s ass, smothered her in bell peppers, onions, and gravy, and slow cooked her stupid ass. What you gonna do about an assistant?”
I plopped down in my office seat so that I could do Zora’s time sheet. “I have no idea. I haven’t even looked yet. Ugh, I’ll call the agency and ask them to send me someone else to try.”
“You could do that, or you could just hire me.” Her hands went up in the air. “Hear me out before you shoot me down. I know you and your expectations of excellence better than anyone. I have experience as an assistant with all of the planning in household management, and anything I don’t know, I can learn before you realize that I don’t know it. I already told Chance that I was going to ask you, and he said he thought it was a good idea.”
I heard everything that she said. She was right. For years, she had led her household in a partnership with her husband. She managed the hell out of her house. After my husband died, she managed mine to an extent as well. “Let me think about it.”
She nodded, then went back to watching television while I reviewed Zora’s time sheet. I made sure to also email the agency to give them a scathing review on her performance. While she was here, I gave her minimal work to do. She basically got paid to set appointments and watchedBaddiesor whatever on her phone. Robert told me to fire her ass, and his assistant would cover me until I found one, but I didn’t want to do that to her.
After I finished my task on the computer, I sat on the couch to relax. It was after five now and the end of the workday. There was a light knock on the office door. After I told whoever it was to enter, Robert came in. He looked so damn good. His suit jacket was off, and his sleeves were rolled up.
“Hey, Jubilae. I wanted to check on you. Jackie told me that you finally got rid of Zora. Congratulations,” he said with a handsome smile.
I giggled. “Thank you. Let me introduce you to my sister and new executive assistant, Joy Scott.”
In that second, I made the decision that I would let nepotism lead the way. I wanted my best friend here with me. She stood to her feet with her gorgeous smile. “It is so nice to meet you, Mr. Brand. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Her suggestive tone in the last sentence had my face flushed. I turned my head to obscure it from Robert’s view. This would be interesting.
“Oh, that is perfect. It can be very beneficial to hire someone who knows you and your expectations. She also knows how to check you without you feeling that she has ulterior motives,” he said.
Joy clapped her hands once. “That is exactly what I told her. I am here to push her to success in any way that I can, so that she can help push your vision.”
Okay, Sis! Lay it on thick!If there was one thing that my sister would do, it was hype me up. After Julius, she was my number one cheerleader.
“I love that. I think it’s going to be good and fun having you here. When is your first day?” Robert asked.
I cleared my throat. “She’s going to get a fresh start on Monday. She needs to complete the paperwork and things tomorrow.”
“Okay, that sounds like a plan. Jubilae, are you ready for our trip to California coming up soon? We have a lot of meetings, but some time for fun as well.” There was a mischievous undertone in his comment. I could have read too much into it, but I usually was never wrong about these things.
