Jessica Simpson Loses Assistant

By: Shannon Gossage

Cobb celebrated her last day with Simpson and some other friends at Arnie Morton’s Steakhouse in Los Angeles on May 7. Simpson proposed a toast and tearfully said, "You are my best friend. I will be your best friend forever." Cobb has been there for Simpson for the past few years and has worked as her assistant and the two even share a house. There has been no official word given as to why Cobb wants to quit her job as Simpson’s assistant.

Sources say that Cobb has remained very close with Simpson’s ex Nick Lachey and some people seem to think that may have some thing behind her decision to quit. Said a source, "CaCee’s still really close with Nick and adores him." Reportedly, Cobb met up with Lachey at Shag, a club in Los Angeles, recently. The two supposedly spent a half-hour talking in a corner. Another source claims that Cobb feels pressured to pick sides in Lachey and Simpson’s divorce and she is having a hard time splitting her loyalties.

Simpson’s rep confirmed that Cobb was exiting as Simpson’s assistant. The rep said of the split, "It’s true. They remain close." There has been no official word on who will take over Cobb’s duties. And it remains to be seen if the childhood friends can weather Simpson’s divorce and Cobb’s friendship with Lachey. Recently there were rumors that Lachey and Cobb had crossed the friendship line and were spotted making out and dirty dancing at a Los Angeles hot spot. Lachey’s publicist slammed the reports saying, "Nick and CaCee are friends, that’s it." The question is, just how friendly are they?