Author Cynthia Vespia Official Site: Guest Sylvia Massara and a preview of The Other Boyfriend

Sylvia Massara

Biography:
Sylvia Massara has been writing since her early teens. She has written in a variety of genres, from stage plays to screenplays to novels. Since she can remember, she’s loved immersing herself in a world filled with characters of her own creation.

Sylvia lives in Sydney, Australia, with husband, Nick, and four-legged daughter, Mitzy.

THE OTHER BOYFRIEND

Sarah Jamison is on a mission to find a boyfriend for her lover’s partner; and Sarah’s best friend comes to the rescue with an idea so crazy that it just might work. Enter the enigmatic Mike Connor. Sarah hates the man on sight, but her body tells her otherwise. Mike Connor is smug and full of himself; even so, Sarah thinks that with his help she can finally be with the love of her life.

(EXCERPT)

CHAPTER 1

A large window behind Monica revealed panoramic views of the city of Hong Kong and though I tried to appreciate the beauty before me, it didn’t work.Nothing worked! I was in the grips of an anxiety attack brought on by desperation and all I could think about was Jeffrey with his de-facto partner, Moira – the ball and chain, as I called her – living in a loveless relationship until the end of time. And as far as I was concerned, the end of time was a long way away.

“Sarah, let me get this straight,” Monica exclaimed in disbelief, taking a deep drag from her cigarette. “You want me to help you find a boyfriend for your lover’s partner?”

I smiled weakly at my best friend. I couldn’t blame her incredulity at what I was proposing. I hardly believed it myself, so how could I expect someone else, who was obviously sane – unlike me – to believe it?

Monica took another drag from her cigarette and expelled a cloud of smoke that momentarily obscured my view of her face – perhaps this was best. I squirmed at the thought of what she made of all this as I reached for the red wine she had offered earlier and gulped it down, almost choking in the process. Meanwhile, my mind was filled with agonising thoughts about the uncertain future of my relationship with my lover, and I hoped against hope that somehow a miracle would bring us together for good.

effrey had told me repeatedly that he didn’t want to hurt Moira’s feelings by dumping her after fifteen years of being together; but staying with her for the sake of pity was just crazy. I fumed every time I thought about it. It was unbearable. Jeffrey should be with me by now. I squeezed my eyes shut and momentarily prayed for that elusive miracle.

“Mike!” I was brought out of my reverie by Monica’s excited cry.

“What?” I asked, somewhat confused, briefly entertaining the idea that Monica had lost her mind. Perhaps the heavy smoking had finally taken its toll on her and she couldn’t think straight anymore. What was this about a mike?

Monica crushed the cigarette butt into a large crystal ashtray that was already overflowing with the remnants of other cigarette butts which had met the same fate.

“Mike!” she repeated in exasperation, frowning at me.

Like I was supposed to know what she was talking about. But I hoped against hope that she wasn’t thinking of a karaoke microphone. Heaven forbid. This was what happened to people when they lived in Asian countries for too long.

Another large gulp from my refilled wine glass and I was ready to focus on what she was trying to say. “Who or what is 'mike’?” I asked, trying to hide my impatience. As she lit up another one of those little deadly cylinders I hated so much, the thought crossed my already tired mind that I was going to have to wash my hair in order to get rid of the horrible, clinging smell of smoke.

Monica rolled her eyes at me. “Honestly, Sarah, you really don’t remember?”

No, I don’t remember. In fact, I had no idea what she was going on about. But it was obvious that some diabolical scheme was forming in her fag-fogged brain, because whenever she was excited about something her British accent became more pronounced.

The view of the busy harbour faded in and out before my eyes as Monica puffed away furiously. I waited, hoping this was just a weird dream I was having; and if luck was on my side, I would soon wake up and things would be normal once more. Or worse still, I suddenly thought in alarm, I really was drunk in some karaoke bar and it was my turn to sing. Ugh! God help me.

“Mike’s the man for the job,” Monica announced between puffs, and much to my relief. I now paid full attention. “You know him,” she went on. “He’s been living here for five years; investment banker from London. You met him at my last Christmas party.”

I had a vague recollection of Monica’s Christmas party, all of it through an alcoholic haze. My blank stare must have registered through the smoky lounge room because she sighed and said, “Never mind,” and dismissed my look of ignorance. “The thing is Mike’s always up for a challenge. And I know he’ll love this.” She threw me a mysterious smile.

“And how do you know?” This piqued my curiosity, despite the fact that I had convinced myself that her cigarettes must be impregnated with some sort of hallucinogen.

“Because he’s gorgeous and he’s never had to chase a single female in his life. Women fall all over him,” she explained, as if I were too slow to understand her meaning.

Poor Mike, I rolled my eyes. Life was sooooo tough for some people. But if women really did fall all over him, as Monica suggested, this might just work. So, for the first time since my arrival in Hong Kong, I felt the stirrings of hope. “Okay,” I found myself saying, as if we were simply planning an outing rather than changing a person’s entire life. “This so-called ‘lady killer’ sounds perfect. But how do you know he’ll do it?”

Monica crushed her cigarette butt into the ashtray. “Because he’s transferring to Taipei next month and he’ll be bored to tears unless he’s got something like this to occupy him.”

Charming! I couldn’t wait to meet this male version of the femme fatale. And yet, Monica seemed so sure about him that I almost believed this man could turn out to be the solution to my problem. “So how do we know he’s going to find Moira attractive?” I didn’t want to give way to my rising excitement just yet; not to mention the fact that Moira might find the guy totally repulsive.

“That isn’t the point, dummy. If Mike says he’ll do it, then he’ll do it.” Monica replied, full of confidence.

“But if he’s not attracted to her, why would he waste his time charming the woman in order to help someone he doesn’t even know? Besides,” I thought out loud, “Moira might hate the sight of him.” Doubt and reality set in, and I saw my dream of a free Jeffrey fading quickly away.