My mother-in-law threw a huge party to celebrate my husband’s promotion, and Daniel happily accepted every toast. Then one of his longtime coworkers pulled me aside and asked me a question that made my stomach drop: “What promotion?”
“To Daniel!” my mother-in-law announced, raising her glass. “Finally getting the recognition he deserves!”
Everyone cheered.
My husband smiled, lifted his champagne, and kissed me on the cheek.
I smiled too.
At that moment, I had no idea we were celebrating something that had never happened.
My mother-in-law had invited our entire family and several friends over to celebrate Daniel’s promotion.
She had made a huge dinner, bought champagne, and spent most of the evening telling everyone how proud she was that her son had become a senior manager.
Daniel accepted every compliment.
“About time,” his uncle joked.
Daniel laughed.
“I’ll drink to that.”
Nothing seemed strange.
Then his friend Mark pulled me aside.
He had worked with Daniel for years, so I assumed he wanted to congratulate me too.
Instead, he lowered his voice.
“Can I ask you something? What promotion?”
I laughed.
“Daniel’s. Senior manager.”
Mark just stared at me.
My smile disappeared.
“What?”
“Daniel hasn’t worked at the company for almost three months.”
I honestly thought he was joking.
“What?”
“He left three months ago. I thought you knew.”
For a second, I could barely hear the conversations around us.
“Left?”
Mark looked uncomfortable.
“Yeah.”
“But he goes to work every morning.”
“I don’t know what to tell you, Celina. He hasn’t been at our company for months.”
Someone called Mark from across the room.
He gave me an apologetic look before walking away.
I returned to the table in a daze.
Daniel was laughing with his mother.
Five minutes later, his uncle raised his glass.
“To the new senior manager!”
Everyone laughed and cheered.
