CEO Demanded “I Need a Husband by Midnight,” “Move In Tonight,” Single Dad Replied
The Desperate Proposal
Emma Winters stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror of her corner office, mascara streaking down her cheeks. In 12 hours she’d either save everything she’d worked for or lose it all.
The board meeting invitation still glowed on her phone. Final decision regarding acquisition and leadership transition. Her fingers trembled as she wiped away the evidence of her breakdown.
What they didn’t know was that Emma had already made a desperate call that would change her life forever. Jake Sullivan balanced his phone between his ear and shoulder while helping his six-year-old daughter Lily tie her shoes.
“you want me to what?” he asked, certain he’d misheard the woman on the other end of the line. “i need you to pretend to be my husband.”
“Tonight?” “Just for one dinner?” Emma repeated her voice all business despite the outrageous request. Jake laughed. “lady I think you’ve got the wrong number.”
“$5,000 cash for one night of your time.” Jake’s laughter died in his throat as he looked around his modest apartment with the past due notices on the counter.
Lily needed braces and the car needed repairs. His ex-wife’s lawyers were demanding more child support. “make it 10,” he heard himself say, “and I’ll move in tonight.”
The silence on the other end lasted so long he thought she’d hung up. Then, “deal i’ll text you the address be there by 7.”
As Jake ended the call, he had no idea he just made a deal with the devil in Lubboutans. By midnight both their lives would be changed forever.
Emma’s executive assistant Tara poked her head into the office. “richard Blackwood is asking for the quarterly projections again.” “third time today.”
Emma’s jaw tightened. Richard, her CFO and the board’s favorite to replace her, had been circling like a shark since the Japanese investors expressed concerns.
They worried about the company’s family values leadership. “tell him I’ll have them at the dinner tonight,” Emma said, straightening her blazer.
“and your husband?” tara asked hesitantly. “he’ll be there too,” emma’s voice didn’t waver though her stomach twisted into knots.
One lie had snowballed into this desperate charade 6 months ago. When the conservative Japanese investors first visited, she’d mentioned a husband in passing.
That small fabrication had somehow become central to their perception of her as a stable traditional leader. Now Richard was determined to expose her lie and take her place.
“emma,” Tara said softly, closing the door behind her, “what are you really doing?” “saving 15 years of my life’s work,” Emma replied, her voice breaking slightly.
The jobs of 300 employees will be cut if Richard takes over. What she didn’t say was how utterly alone she felt at 38.
She’d sacrificed everything for Winter’s tech: relationships, family, even friends. The corner office felt more like a prison than an achievement some days.
“just be careful,” Tara warned. “richard’s bringing his wife and the investors’ wives will be there too.” “they’ll ask questions.”
Emma nodded, checking her watch. She had 6 hours until Jake Sullivan arrived. 6 hours to prepare a stranger to convince everyone he was her loving husband.
