She Hired Me to Be Her Fake Boyfriend for $500 — Then I Realized Who Her Dad Was

Life was pretty straightforward for me—work, home, and taking care of my mom. I didn’t have time for distractions, especially not dating. My focus was getting ahead at work and landing that long-overdue promotion. Everything shifted the day a striking woman named Meredith approached me in a café and offered $500 to pose as her boyfriend for a lunch with her parents.

It sounded bizarre but easy enough. I figured it would be a quick, harmless gig.

But the moment we walked into the restaurant, my stomach dropped. Her father was none other than David—my CEO and the man who essentially held my entire career in his hands. He recognized me immediately. Throughout the lunch, he kept his eyes locked on me, sending subtle (and not-so-subtle) messages that if I messed with his daughter, my career would vanish overnight.

I was stuck. A fake relationship had suddenly become a minefield.

Later, when I told Meredith I couldn’t continue the charade, she got hostile. She threatened to make my life miserable, to spread lies that would ruin me professionally. What she didn’t know? I had recorded the conversation.

The next day, I requested a private meeting with David and laid everything on the table—including the recording. I expected fury or dismissal. Instead, he laughed.

Turns out, Meredith had pulled similar stunts before to keep her ultra-conservative mother from knowing the truth about her lifestyle. David had grown tired of the games. He thanked me for being upfront and assured me he’d take care of the situation.

Weeks later, I received the promotion I’d been working toward for years. Meredith vanished from the company rumor mill, and word eventually got around that her parents had finally had the honest conversation they’d been avoiding.

Looking back, I realized I could have lost everything. But standing up for myself—and telling the truth—ended up being the best decision I ever made.