Page 68 of The Boyfriend Swap

“Maybe it’s a New Year’s resolution.”

“It’s only December twenty-eighth. Seriously, Mike, cut the bullshit.”

Mike laughed. “I’m sure Stan will send a firm-wide email soon, but I wanted you to be among the first to know. I managed to solidify the Sparks account last week. B&B will be the lead firm for all film deals moving forward.”

My eyes opened wide for half a second in surprise. The Sparks account was huge. Stan had been trying to segue occasional licensing work to a more permanent footing with the company for years. “Way to go, Mike.” I was genuinely pleased for the firm but wished it had been the result of someone else’s effort. Mike was such a douchebag.

“There’s more.”

“Oh?”

“Stan and Harvey were so impressed, they spoke to the management committee and have decided to promote me to partner.”

I leaned forward. “The partners for this year were chosen already.”

Mike shrugged nonchalantly. “They made an exception for me.”

“Terrific. Congrats. I’m so pleased for you.”

“That’s kind of you to say. Assuming you genuinely feel that way.” He looked me dead in the eye, practically begging me to demonstrate how I really felt.

But I was too good to walk into his trap. “Of course I do. We’re colleagues.”

He nodded. “It’s refreshing to know Bellows & Burke bases its decisions on performance as well as…other things.” He looked pointedly at the gold nameplate on my desk when he said the last bit, clearly alluding to my family connection to the firm, and stood up. He walked to my door and turned around to face me. “And Sid?”

“Yes?”

“Technically, we’re no longer colleagues. I’m one of your bosses now.”

After he left, I tried to go through the rest of my emails and sort high priority from low, but it was useless. I’d planned to wait until after lunch, but I wasn’t going to be able to focus on work until I spoke to my father.

I knocked on his office door, and when he looked up from his computer, said, “You have a minute?”

“Sit.” He motioned to my designated visitors’ chair. He had two, but I always sat on the one to the left when facing him.

I sat down with my back straight.

“You doing all right with the whole Perry situation?”

Confused, I echoed, “The whole Perry situation?” And then I remembered my family was under the misconception I was recovering from a broken heart. I had just ended a relationship, but it was with Will, and my heart was more bruised than broken. “I’ll live,” I said, waving my hand. “I was hoping to talk to you about something else. Is Mom around? This concerns her too.”

My dad’s lips pressed together and he furrowed his brow. “What’s this about?”

“Just call Mom.”

My dad removed the phone from the receiver, put it on speaker, and dialed my mom’s number. When she answered, he said, “Barb, I’ve got Sid with me. She has something to tell us both.”

My mom squealed. “You’ve reconciled with Perry and you’re engaged.”

While I rolled my eyes at my dad, we could hear my mom clappingthrough the phone. “I knew the breakup wouldn’t last. He’s the perfect match for you.”

“Mom.”

“Please don’t tell me you want a destination wedding. You’re our only offspring and we deserve to plan a proper celebration.”

“Mom.” I said it louder his time. “I’m not marrying Perry. We’re not back together.” I contemplated telling them the truth then and there, but I wanted to get to the point of my call.

“Oh,” my mom said, the disappointment evident in her voice. “What did you want to tell us?”

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