The Promotion (Contemporary Reverse Harem 3)

“I don’t even know what you do for work,” I said.

“Oh. Finance. You know that gig. Not quite as cliché as a lawyer. But I suppose we’re getting there.”

Not quite as cliché as the single femme fatale in the office, either. But I was dealing with it, nonetheless.

After all the excitement of having been to my boss’s house, I couldn’t wait to fall into bed. Before I did, I went to fetch the usual glass of water for my nightstand. And who was standing there in the middle of the kitchen but my sister Sparkle. Naked, of course. Holding her pet rat.

“Spark, why can’t you wear clothes in the house?”

I don’t think I really cared that she walked around naked. It just seemed like since I was the big sister, I should say something about it.

Maybe I was the jerk. Maybe I had an issue with nudity.

“Maiz,” she started, “I swear, if you walk around the house naked once in a while, you’ll understand why I do. It’s so freeing.”

Not sure I bought it.

“Here. Say hi to Cher.” She thrust the little white rat in my face. I had to admit, he was cute. Even though he had a woman’s name and dropped little brown turdlettes all over the place every time Sparkle let him out of his cage.

Anyway.

“So, I survived the dinner,” I said.

Sparkle’s head snapped in my direction.

“Right! Tell me!”

“She wanted me to meet a guy. Her brother-in-law.” I shook my head. Saying it out loud kind of creeped me out. Dating someone related to my boss? It would be weird if she were nice, but considering I wasn’t her biggest fan, and I was pretty sure she didn’t like me either, it was downright gross.

“And?” Sparkle asked.

“He was pretty cool. Very nice looking.”

“Wow. Score. What’s not to like?”

“Ugh, not sure about dating him. But I do want to find someone. Apparently, being single is holding me back professionally.”

“What?”

“Yeah. I didn’t tell you? Eva took me aside at the big party for the firm and told me I was a threat to the wives since I was young and single.”

“She. Did. Not.”

“Can you believe that shit? I mean, what is this, the nineteen-fifties? Now I’m the office hussy.” I headed for my bed, and Sparkle followed. Naked, of course. Cher ran across my bed, dropping a tiny poop.

“Spark, can you believe someone would look down on me because I’m not paired off? Such a bunch of judgmental fucks.”

“Ugh. Terrible. I don’t know how you can stand that profession. Lawyers suck. Hey, you could always become a yoga teacher like me, you know,” she said.

“Yeah, and then I could change my name to something like Sparkle, right?”

She rolled her eyes. “Sparkle suits me much better than that stupid name I had before.”

“I don’t know. I never thought Sunday was such a bad name,” I said. “Anyway, one of us has to have a real job. How the hell would we pay the rent?”

“Hey, no fair. I help with the bills.” She gave me her little sister pout. “Oh. I know what you should do. I have an idea.”

She bounced on her toes and waved her arms wildly.