When a stunning stranger offered me $500 to play her boyfriend for three hours, I thought it was easy money.
I had no idea that saying yes would trap me in a web of manipulation that nearly destroyed everything I’d worked for.
My name is Anthony, and up until six months ago, I thought I had life figured out.
I had a decent job at a mid-sized marketing firm, a small apartment that I could afford, and most importantly, enough income to help support my elderly mother.
She’d sacrificed everything to raise me after Dad left when I was 12.
Now it was my turn to take care of her.
While most guys my age were getting married and starting families, I was focused on climbing the corporate ladder.
Every morning, I’d wake up at six, grab my coffee, and dive headfirst into work.
My colleagues would invite me out for drinks, but I’d usually decline. I had goals to meet, projects to finish, and a promotion to earn.
“You need to get out more, Anthony,” my coworker Jake would say almost daily. “You’re 32. When’s the last time you went on a date?”
I’d just shrug and tell him I was too busy.
The truth was, I didn’t have time for relationships.
Between work and helping Mom with her medical bills, dating felt like a luxury I couldn’t afford. Besides, I was content with my routine. Work hard, save money, and build a future.
It was simple and safe.
My boss, David, had noticed my dedication.
He’d pulled me aside a few months earlier and hinted that a management position might be opening up soon. That conversation kept me motivated through long nights and stressful deadlines.
This job was my ticket to financial security for both Mom and me.
I genuinely loved what I did. Marketing strategy came naturally to me, and seeing campaigns succeed gave me real satisfaction. My colleagues respected me, and I’d built solid relationships with clients.
Everything was falling into place exactly as I’d planned.
Then came that Saturday afternoon in late September.
I was sitting in my favorite café, catching up on industry articles and enjoying my one day off, when my perfectly ordered world got turned completely upside down.
That’s when I met Meredith.
I was halfway through reading about digital marketing trends when I noticed someone approaching my table.
I looked up to see a woman who could have stepped out of a magazine. She had long auburn hair, bright green eyes, and a smile that could stop traffic.
“Hi, I’m Meredith,” she said, sliding into the chair across from me without invitation. “Want to earn $500 for three hours of your time?”
I nearly choked on my coffee. My brain scrambled to process what she’d just said. Beautiful women didn’t just walk up to random guys in cafés and offer them money. This had to be some kind of scam, or worse.
“I’m sorry, what?” I managed to say, setting down my cup with shaking hands.
She leaned forward, completely serious. “I need a fake boyfriend for one lunch. Three hours, max. Cash payment.”
Now I was really confused. “What’s the catch?”
“My dad is ridiculously strict and obsessed with finding me a husband. I got so sick of his constant nagging that I told him I already had a boyfriend. The guy who was supposed to help me out just bailed last minute, and now I need a replacement for one lunch with my parents.”
I stared at her like she’d just told me she was from Mars. This was definitely the strangest conversation I’d ever had with a complete stranger.
“Look, I know it sounds crazy,” she continued, “but I’m desperate. One lunch, we pretend to be dating, and you walk away $500 richer. That’s
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