Before Nikki opened the door to Stephanie's office she could hear her shouting inside, "No Paul, that's it! She's fired!" Nikki walked in and they both turned to look at her. Paul saw the tears on her cheeks and said, "Oh god, you saw that didn't you?"

Nikki nodded and pleaded with Stephanie, "Steph please don't fire her. I don't know what she just said or did but please..."

"It's too far now Nikki, I'm done..."

Nikki begged, "Please Steph, I'll do anything. I'll work for nothing, I'll do whatever you want just please don't fire her. You've been really good to me this last week so I'm begging you not to fire her. Suspend her, do whatever, just don't fire her. Please, she's my sister."

Stephanie had turned her back on Nikki and Paul and she began pacing around the office. Nikki was about to speak again but Paul gently placed a hand on her arm, clearly a signal to be quiet. She looked up at him and he silently mouthed the words, "Leave her." Nikki figured he knew his wife better than anyone so she remained silent as Stephanie paced around the room.

After a silence lasting nearly two minutes Stephanie let out a deep breath and turned to Nikki. Her voice was calmer than Nikki had expected, "You speak very well in your sister's defence."

Nikki pleaded again, "I mean it Steph, I'll do anything..."

Stephanie held a hand up to silence her, "I don't need to hear more from you, I've made a decision." She was interrupted by the sound of her phone ringing. She snatched it out of her pocket and answered the call, "Not now dad."

Nikki could hear Vince screaming even though the call wasn't on speaker. She guessed someone had quickly called him about this mess and he was blaming Stephanie for it. Without thinking she snatched the phone from Stephanie's hand and yelled, "Vince, Nikki, shut up! This isn't Steph's fault it's my stupid sister! Steph just kindly agreed not to fire her so you're going to leave us alone and quit being part of the problem!"

Without waiting for a response she ended the call and slammed the phone down on the desk. Before either Stephanie or Paul could say anything Nikki pointed at Stephanie and yelled, "You sit down and shut up!" She then pointed at Paul, "And you calm her down. I'll..." Suddenly she realised how she had just spoken to both of her superiors, "I'll... go get some coffee."

She blushed and hurried out of the door leaving Stephanie looking dumbfounded and Paul with a big grin on his face. As she was making sure she closed the door quietly she heard Paul talking and he sounded amused, "She just put you and your dad right. I need her around more often!"

When Nikki returned to the office with the coffee she saw that Stephanie and Paul were sitting on the couch holding hands and Stephanie appeared to be calmer. She was about to start apologising for the way she had spoken to both of them when Stephanie spoke first, "You want to take charge of this Nikki? Then go, deal with your sister. I don't want to hear a word until you come back and tell me what you've done."

Nikki nodded and left the office. What other choice was there? Her heart was pounding in her chest, this was the last thing she had expected. What was she supposed to do? Surely Stephanie realised she was not going to fire her own sister? But she realised she had to do something to punish Brie or Stephanie would go wild. It was her first big test and she had to pass it.

By the time she had tracked down where Brie and Daniel were she had made a decision. Daniel had taken his wife out to the parking garage to cool off. Nikki walked up behind them, her voice took them by surprise, "Brie, you're out of control..."

Brie spun around and was about to speak but Nikki held a hand up to stop her, "No Brie, shut up. I told you not to do what you did today and I'm sure Daniel did too. You're on suspension, thirty days."

Brie raged, "Thirty days? Bullshit..."

"Sixty days. One more word and I'll fire you Brie I swear to god. You're going to respect Stephanie and you're going to respect me. We're your bosses god damn it. You need to be in Stephanie's office Wednesday at one pm with either a different attitude or a resignation letter, you're in a disciplinary hearing." Before Brie or Daniel could respond Nikki stormed away from them.

Nikki sheepishly entered Stephanie's office once more, "Stephanie, Paul, about before..."

Stephanie interrupted, "What did you say to your sister, Nikki?"

Nikki had no idea whether what she had done would be acceptable or not so she spoke nervously, "I suspended her for sixty days and told her to be in your office Wednesday at one pm with a different attitude or a resignation letter for a disciplinary hearing."

Stephanie's eyes had widened and Paul had laughed. Stephanie asked, "Sixty days? Why sixty?"

"I started at thirty but she told me it was bullshit so I made it sixty."

Stephanie couldn't hide a smile now, "I see, and how do you know I'm free at one pm Wednesday for your hearing?"

Nikki raised the iPad she had in one hand, "I have your schedule on here. Wait, what do you mean my hearing?"

Stephanie smiled now without trying to hide it, "Do you know what you proved here tonight Nikki?"

"No?" Nikki's nervousness was plain as day.

"You proved that you can take control of a situation and deal with it even when people around you are losing their heads and even when family are involved. That's very impressive Nikki. I'll speak to my dad about what happened here and he will be delighted." Nikki noticed that Paul nodded his agreement at this. That was a very good sign.

Even so Nikki blushed, "Thanks Steph, but what do you mean 'my' hearing?"

Stephanie stood up and slapped her on the shoulder, "You arranged it Nikki so you're going to lead it."

Nikki gulped, "I'm going to what?"

"You heard. I'll be in there with you but you're in charge, let's see if you have to fire your sister."