Page 14 of Faking the Book Boyfriend

Jackson is one of the biggest developers in all of Philly. People fall all over themselves to do business with him.

“Yes, ma’am. How’s the fam?”

“Wonderful. Are you still planning to come to our house for Thanksgiving?”

“If you’ll have me. I don’t want to intrude.”

“We’re looking forward to it.” She lets out a laugh. “You look more like my daughter than two of my three girls.” She jokes, “Reagan demanded a DNA test when she met you.”

People often mistake us for mother and daughter, and even sometimes assume Darian is my older sister. I take it all as a compliment.

I shake my head. “Marian Fairchild is most definitely my mother. There’s no escaping it.”

She gives me a knowing smile. She’s met my mother.

I ask, “You’re okay that Val and CJ are coming, right?” My two best friends are family-less for Thanksgiving this year too.

“The more, the merrier. Don’t work too late, Gemma. Make sure you have some fun. You work too hard.”

“Said no other boss, ever.”

She lets out a laugh and repeats her often-stated mantra, “Happy employees are productive employees,” before heading back to her office.

“Andrew,I’m heading out to lunch.”

Our young, adorable front desk receptionist looks up at me. “Okay, mademoiselle. Where are you headed?”

“I’m meeting Taylor at Parc.”

“Yummy. I was just there with my man. Enjoy.”

I walk into the French-styled chic restaurant, Parc, and see my friend waving at me from her table. Taylor and I met in college and have been fairly close ever since. We went to law school together, but she chose to work for a big law firm in their family law department, and I chose a small corporate firm.

She’s in a white pantsuit, and her long blonde hair is styled in a fashionable ponytail. I smile as I approach. “Wow, you look gorgeous. That suit is amazing.”

She bats her eyelashes. “Thank you, and I know. I’m obsessed with this suit.” With a big dose of pride, she boasts, “I was in court this morning and wanted to kick a little ass.”

I gasp. “They’re finally letting you go to court?”

She hands me a glass of my favorite white wine as her big brown eyes sparkle with happiness. “Yes. About damn time. Vicious Victor finally let me off the leash. I need to get back to the office to debrief him, so I ordered for us already. I hope you don’t mind.”

Her boss, Victor, has been working her like a dog for years, barely giving her any real responsibility.

“Not at all. You know what I like.” I take a sip. “Yum. This is good. Tell me about your case.”

“Just an ugly divorce, nothing crazy. People get so petty. My client is the wife, and she makes a lot more money than he does. He refuses to contribute anything toward the kids, even though he makes a comfortable living. And then he tells the kids that they can’t do certain things they want to do because their mother won’t pay for it.”

I blow out a breath. “Ugh. What a dick. That’s so depressing. Why can’t people get it together for their kids?”

She takes a big gulp of her wine. “I know. It’s jading me onlove. I’m terrified of it. And Victor is always telling me to never get married. I should switch departments, but I’ve put in more than four years already. I feel like I’d be starting over.”

“If you’re unhappy, make a change.”

She bites her lip. “Maybe. You hit the lottery with your boss. We’re not all that lucky.”

“I know. I’m very fortunate. She invited me to join her family for Thanksgiving.”

“That’s so nice. You know you’re always welcome to come with me to my family in Boston.”

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