4. Troy
TROY
“And why are we terminating Mr. Lawson?”
Jing’s cool gaze looks at me from across the desk. Most of my employees are terrified of me. Not Jing, though.
“Because he’s a pervert and a shithead,” I say through gritted teeth.
I think I see the corner of Jing’s mouth curl up for a moment. The smile is so brief, here now and gone in a fraction of a second. It might be the first smile I’ve ever seen her crack, and probably the last.
“I’m not sure what you mean by shithead in this context, Mr. Dixon.
So I’m going to zero in on the pervert allegation first,” Jing says, her fingers typing neatly on the keyboard in front of her.
They’re painted a serious navy blue color, identical to her blazer and slacks.
“Tell me, what behavior did you witness from Mr. Lawson to suggest he’s a pervert, as you put it? ”
I’m already frustrated and the conversation has just begun.
I started this company with nothing but my labor and a few investor dollars, way back in the day.
Nearly twenty years ago, when I was a kid myself.
Younger than Jing, the new graduate who quickly ascended the ladder here due to her willingness to push back on the likes of me and other hard-bargaining executives.
Younger than the interns that shrink away from me in the halls, year after year.
When I started this company, I didn’t need anyone’s approval for my decisions. I didn’t need to collaborate. If I wanted to hire someone, I hired them. And if I wanted to fire them, I fired them. Immediately. Without all of this pomp and circumstance.
“Shithead and pervert go hand in hand,” I reply. “He’s a pervert because he’s a shithead. He’s a shithead because he’s a pervert. Need I explain more?”
“Yes,” Jing replies without a hint of irony, not bothering to look up from her laptop screen.
God dammit.
“He called my assistant ‘Dollface,’” I growl. “Surely that’s problematic. Right?”
“I’m inclined to agree,” Jing replies calmly. Even when she’s agreeing with me, her tone has a hint of skepticism that I don’t appreciate. Not when it comes to Laura, anyway.
In my mind, Jing should be full of righteous rage. I imagine the tiny young woman leaping to her feet, preparing to ride into battle by my side as we pummel Isaac Lawson in an elevator.
“Other than the inappropriate nickname,” Jing continues, her tone clinical and emotionless. “Is there anything else that led you to making this report? Anything else that was said?”
Her questioning reminds me of the other matter I need to handle today.
“Yes,” I say. “He said he’s got a male assistant now because he can’t have female assistants anymore. He said there was a situation. What the fuck is that about?”
Jing sighs and leans back in her chair.
“Mr. Lawson entered into a consensual romantic relationship with his last assistant without disclosing it to our department,” she explains. “As you can imagine, things tend to get messy when you mix work life and personal life.”
“Messy, how?” I press. “And why wasn’t I informed?”
“Would you like a monthly newsletter?” she asks. “I didn’t imagine you wanted to be informed about mundane things like this. What was it you said when I was hired? That if I’m doing my job correctly, you should never have to know what my job is?”
“That sounds vaguely familiar,” I say. “But this…this is a big deal. Isn’t it? Sexual harassment? A lawsuit?”
“It was nothing like that,” Jing says. “As far as we’ve been informed, anyway.
Isaac entered into a romantic relationship with a subordinate.
He should have told us immediately, but didn’t.
Then when they broke up, the assistant demanded a transfer.
We obliged, of course. Then placed a male assistant with Isaac… just to be cautious.”
My shoulders relax a little.
“Mr. Dixon, I assure you that I take matters of sexual harassment very seriously,” Jing repeats. “I’m a little offended that you think I’d mishandle a situation like that.”
“Isaac implied…I don’t know,” I run a hand through my hair, trying to remember precisely what it was that Isaac said to me this morning.
The memory is a haze, overshadowed by the rage and jealousy that coursed through my veins at the time.
“Look, he called my assistant Dollface. Even if that’s all he’s done.
I want him canned. What do we need to do? ”
“Well, normally an offense like that wouldn’t result in an immediate firing,” Jing purses her lips. “But I have a feeling you’re dead set on fast tracking this one.”
“I am.”
“Fine,” she says. “We’ll draft the paperwork, you’ll sign it. I’ll have it to you by the end of the week, if that timeline works for you.”
“That’s it?” I ask. “No arguing? No HR red tape?”
“I’m not going to tell you who you can and can’t hire or fire,” Jing says simply. “I’m not here to control your company. I’m here to make sure your decisions aren’t made recklessly and without the proper protocol…but they are your decisions, ultimately.”
I nod.
“I want him out,” I say, rising from my chair. “As soon as possible.”
“I’ll get the process started,” Jing says. “Before you go, one more thing.”
I turn, my hand pausing on the handle of her office door. “What?”
“Should you enter into a romantic relationship with a subordinate,” she says, giving me a knowing look. “You also need to disclose that to human resources. Ideally, anyway.”
“Ideally,” I repeat. “Got it. Well, I’m not going to do that. Unlike Isaac, I don’t mix business with pleasure.”
Jing looks like she doesn’t believe me.
To be honest, I’m not even sure I believe myself.