Page 26 of Eternal Hoptimist

Glen laughed again. Two laughs.Realones. I’d attended enough events and meetings with him to know his “I’m humoring a client” fake laugh and “one of my cronies just told a gold joke” authentic one.

I watched in awe as Ethan charmed the man who could be my biggest advocate for the promotion.

“Kind of you to make the trip all the way to the city for our fundraiser.”

Ethan wrapped his arm around my waist with a possessiveness that lit a pile of kindling in me and started an inferno. “Anything to support Parker. His work with Sullivan Brothers means a great deal to him.” He aimed the full wattage of his smile at me. Sunglasses couldn’t protect me from the light he exuded.

My voice escaped me for a moment, and all I could manage was to return Ethan’s gesture and wrap my arm around his shoulders. I squeezed lightly.

Glen smiled and gave me a meaningful stare. “My wife is somewhere around here. I’ll try to introduce you so you have another familiar face at the gala. I trust you’ll be attending it with Parker? It’s a big night.” He said the last to me.

I swallowed.

“Wouldn’t miss it.” Ethan released me, leaving my skin cold in his absence. “Occupational hazard, but I can’t help but notice we’ve all drained our drinks. What are you drinking, Glen? I’ll get us all refills.”

Ethan collected our glasses and orders, then tossed me a wink once he was out of Glen’s line of sight.

My boss and the man who held my future in his hands turned to me with a more serious expression than he’d had moments ago. “I didn’t realize you were in a relationship.”

I bit back a remark that I would’ve found someone sooner if not for working ridiculous hours each week to manage our client load and prove myself.ButI doubted being snarky would earn me any brownie points with anyone but Hector.

I debated how much to share. I didn’t want to build an elaborate lie I wouldn’t be able to maintain. If I were a criminal attorney, I would advise my clients to keep it simple. “He’s been busy getting the brewery off the ground. It’s fairly new but solid. It was time to introduce him.”

“I’m pleased you’ve found someone finally. The equity partners strongly believe in family values, and our clients appreciate knowing that our firm leadership embodies those values.”

I still couldn’t wrap my head around what my relationship status had to do with the quality of my work, but my thoughts on the topic didn’t matter. I had to play the game to get the promotion.This is my year.

From what I’d gathered after being with the firm for years, they might casually toss around the idea of promoting a person for multiple years. But if they formally nominated someone, and that person didn’t win the vote? It was the kiss of death. The equity partners rarely revisited a no-vote. I didn’t want to risk a no-vote simply because I was single. I’d worked too damn hard and sacrificed too damn much not to become the youngest partner.

I was selected as the only student on the West Coast to attend a national leadership event in middle school. In high school, I’d been student body president. As an undergrad, I served as president of the student senate and founded a legal club. In law school, I’d won Student Bar Association president and was on the board for other student organizations. I’d been accepted into some of the most elite internships in Portland and snatched up by one of the most successful firms in the city.

Achieving and crushing goals and being the best were part of my DNA.

I’d always worked toward the next big project, tried to recruit the next big client, fought to close the next big deal. Achieving the status of the youngest partner in Sullivan’s history was the next logical feather in my professional cap. It looked like a bird’s wing, but there weren’t many feathers left to seize.

Glen asked about the LD Development project. I tried to pivot the conversation before Ethan returned. We hadn’t talked much about it since chatting about my role on the project that cost Caleb his food truck spot. I’d worried that once we made that connection, Ethan wouldn’t want anything to do with me. But the man had more grace in his pinky than most people did in their body. He said he didn’t hold it against me and understood I had a job to do, even if he didn’t like the impacts.

Fortunately, as Ethan returned, a staff member buzzed by to direct us to find our tables. Glen excused himself.

“Can you hold this for me while I run to the restroom? I should’ve done that before getting in the drink line.” Ethan handed me his drink.

I told him our table number. Before he walked away, he leaned in toward my cheek but stopped short and cleared his throat. My cheek burned with the ghost of the kiss that should’ve been. I shook the wistfulness away and moved with the crowd toward the side of the enormous ballroom filled with round tables.

A familiar petite figure with perfectly styled dark hair bobbed toward me through the crowd.

“Did you just get here?” I asked Hector.

“I’ve been flirting with a server and getting the good hors d’oeuvres.”

I laughed. Of course, he’d found someone to hit on.

“I cashed in a favor to get us seated together at the Peterson’s table.”

“You are a god among men.” They were my favorite clients. On Monday, I would bring him his favorite coffee and bagel sandwich as a thank you.

“I didn’t expect to have to movethreeseats. How come you didn’t tell me you were bringing someone? Finally take your brother up on his offer to be your pity date?”

I gave him an unimpressed glance before sitting at the empty table. “In his dreams.”

---