It didn’t take me long to make it to the Vegas office. In fact, the drive seemed even shorter than the day before. Maybe itwas because I was actually looking forward to being there this morning, as evidenced by the extra pep in my step.
I checked in with the receptionist on the ground floor, and just like the day before, she was nice and welcoming. She told me Kareem had just gone up a couple of minutes before me before calling up to let his assistant know I was on the way. Just like the day before, I took the elevator up and got off on the floor where Kareem’s office was.
“Um, do you have an appointment?”
Kareem’s rude-ass assistant met me at the elevator. She was dressed in a dress way too short to be considered office wear. Her face was scrunched as if I’d personally done something to her. I had no idea what her problem was, but I wasn’t about to let her ruin my day.
“Mr. Sheffield knows I’m coming if that’s what you’re asking.”
I kept it short with her because I honestly didn’t owe her ass an explanation. She was taking her job way too seriously. The executive title in front of assistant must have really gone to her head because the way she spoke to me was not only rude but unnecessary.
“Well, I don’t see you on his calendar. I’m going to have to ask you to leave. Honestly, honey, this popping up act you’re doing is sad and pathetic. Mr. Sheffield has everything he needs. And trust me. That is not you.”
“What’s going on here, Tyla?” Kareem questioned.
I hadn’t even noticed Kareem and the men with him walk up because I was two seconds from cursing out his assistant and escorting myself out of the building. I wanted this story and had already put a lot of effort into it. However, I wasn’t about to be disrespected to get it.
“I-I was just telling Ms. Stevens that I didn’t see an appointment for her on your calendar. I’ll be happy to schedule something or point her to the door if needed,” Tyla explained.
“I heard what you said, Tyla. I don’t need you to do shit but pack up your shit. You’re fired.”
“What? I’ve been your assistant since you started your company. This is just a small misunderstanding,” Tyla sputtered in a panic.
“Ain’t nothing small about it. You disrespected someone I care about, and I have zero tolerance for that. Pack your shit and leave. I’ll have someone email your return flight information.”
“What about my bonus for coming on this four-city tour? What about all the overtime hours I’ve been working to make sure you have everything you need? I’ve dedicated my life to this job.”
“And I truly appreciate it. If you weren’t so fucking thirsty for a nigga’s attention, you would have been the best thing that ever happened to this company. But instead of focusing on the work, your bird-brain ass wanted to focus on dick you will never even sniff, let alone suck.”
“Mr. Sheffield, please.”
“Ray, have finance cut Tyla a severance check and security escort her off my property. Karina, come with me.”
Kareem reached his hand out to me, and I grabbed it without question. He led me into his office and closed the door behind us. I could still hear Tyla’s rude ass begging behind us. I wanted to say that was what she got for being so nasty, but honestly, no one deserved to lose their job in this economy.
“You good?” Kareem asked once we were alone.
I could tell he wasn’t just asking as a formality. He genuinely wanted to know if I was okay. I had dealt with women like Tyla before, so nothing she said fazed me. Women like her werealways trying to put others in their place, even though they were the ones out of place.
“Yeah. I’m good. You didn’t have to fire your assistant on my behalf. I know how badly people need their jobs these days. I don’t want that on my conscience.”
“Then don’t think about it anymore. I’ve been telling Tyla to focus on her job, not on me, but she refused to listen. I was planning to let her go anyway but hearing how she spoke to you expedited that shit. Besides, she will get a hefty severance check. If she doesn’t apply that to her future, that’s not on me. It’s most certainly not on you. She should learn to keep her damn mouth shut and her mind on her own shit.”
“Thank you for standing up for me.”
“Always. Is that for me?” Kareem pointed to the portfolio I had in my hand.
I managed to take everything I worked on last night and wrap it up neatly so I could present it to him. It was just my luck to run into Tyla’s hating ass. She threw me off my game.
“Yeah. I put it together last night. Since I’ll be the main person shooting you throughout the tour, I was thinking we could merge the four separate articles you originally wanted into a four-page spread. I’m hoping to catch the essence of each major city. I have it all outlined here. Just let me know if there is anything you would like to scrap.”
Kareem didn’t have time to respond before someone knocked on his door and let themselves in. It was the man he instructed to have security escort Tyla out. I didn’t recognize him, but from the way he was smiling at me, he clearly knew who I was.
“She’s gone, boss.”
“Thanks, bro. Ray, this is Karina Stevens, the woman we were talking about earlier.”
“Yes.” He walked over and shook my hand. “Karina Stevens, it’s so nice to finally meet you. I’m Ray. If I had known youworked for my sister, I would have flown my boy to Vegas a lot sooner.”
