A Deal with a Stranger
Six months ago, I had a stable life—marketing job, simple apartment, and a routine built around work and caring for my mom. I wasn’t chasing love, just a promotion. As Jake from IT often said, “You need a life, man.” I’d just smile and type.
Then one Saturday, everything changed. At my usual café, a stranger sat across from me. “Hi, I’m Meredith,” she said. “Want to make $500 for pretending to be my boyfriend for three hours?” Her father pressured her to settle down, so she lied and needed a stand-in. I hesitated, but the money could help cover my mom’s therapy. I agreed.
An Unwelcome Surprise
At lunch, I realized her father was David, my CEO—the man eyeing me for a promotion. “Mom, Dad, this is Anthony,” Meredith said brightly. I played along as David grilled me about work, masking his scrutiny as casual conversation. Then he warned, “If you hurt my daughter, you’ll never work in this industry again.”
The Trap Tightens
I tried to quit. Meredith refused. “Too late. You’re in it now. Family dinner next week.” When I protested, she smirked, “You’re leverage. You back out, I’ll tell Daddy you were stalking me.” I recorded everything and took it to David.
The Truth Breaks Free
He laughed. “Anthony, this isn’t the first time. Meredith’s been pulling this stunt for years.” Her mother didn’t know she preferred women, so Meredith staged boyfriends. He appreciated my honesty: “It shows integrity.” I deleted the audio—but kept a backup.
Two weeks later, I was promoted. Meredith vanished. Word spread: her parents finally had a real conversation.
That $500 nearly ruined me. But telling the truth? It gave me more than I ever expected.
