When Ronny planned his first date with Denise, he was expecting a romantic evening with just the two of them. But he got a surprise he could never have imagined — Denise brought her mother, Claire, along! As the night went on, Claire’s endless questions and outrageous demands revealed that she had a hidden agenda.
But Ronny, always quick on his feet, decided to have a little fun and turned the tables on them both in the most unexpected way.
I’d been on dating apps for a while, going on one lackluster date after another. But this one, well, this one was something else entirely.
Denise and I matched a few weeks ago, and things seemed to click instantly. She was sweet and charming and even told me that my silly jokes actually made her laugh. After chatting for a while, I asked her out, and we arranged to meet at a trendy downtown restaurant.
I felt excited—more than I had in a long time. I arrived early, like always, wanting to make a good impression. The restaurant had the perfect atmosphere—soft lighting, sleek decor, and a gentle buzz of people chatting around me. I imagined the evening going just as I’d hoped… until Denise walked in with another woman by her side. Her mother.
My heart sank.
“Hey, Ronny! This is my mom, Claire!” Denise announced with a big smile, as if bringing her mom on a first date was the most natural thing ever.
I forced a smile, doing my best to hide my shock. “Hi, nice to meet you,” I said, trying to stay polite.
Claire, dressed to impress with an air of authority, extended her hand confidently. “Hello, Ronny. Hope you don’t mind me joining you two tonight.”
“Of course not,” I lied, feeling completely thrown off. Was this some kind of safety measure? Was Denise testing me?
We sat down, and right away, Claire took charge of the conversation. “So, Ronny, what do your parents do?” she asked, her tone sharp like she was conducting an interview.
I cleared my throat, trying to keep my cool. “My mom’s a retired teacher, and my dad was an engineer.”
Claire nodded but quickly fired off another question. “And where do you live? Do you rent or own?”
“I own a small house,” I replied, feeling more like I was at a job interview than on a date.
But Claire wasn’t done. She kept the questions coming—about my salary, my job as a business analyst, and my future plans. I glanced at Denise, hoping she’d step in and stop her mom, but she just sat there smiling, as if this was all part of the plan. That’s when it hit me: this wasn’t a normal date. It was a setup, and I was the main target.
Claire leaned back in her chair and gave me a long, hard look. “You seem like a good match for Denise, Ronny. Just so you know, we’re used to a certain lifestyle, and it takes money to maintain that.”
Before I could even reply, she tapped the menu and added, “By the way, we’ll be having the lobsters. Your treat, right?”
I sat there, stunned—not just by Claire’s boldness but by Denise’s complete lack of reaction. It was clear as day now—they were only interested in what I could provide for them.
Then, out of nowhere, an idea popped into my head. If they wanted to play games, I could play too.
I grinned broadly. “Absolutely! Lobster it is. I’m all about living large. And since we’re talking about the future, I’m actually glad you’re here, Claire. This is the perfect time to discuss my plans with Denise.”
Claire’s eyes sparkled with interest, and even Denise leaned in closer.
“You see,” I began, “I have several investments that bring in millions every year, so money won’t be an issue. And I’m big on taking care of family. Claire, once Denise and I get married, I’ll make sure to buy you a house near ours. She’ll definitely need help with the kids.”
Denise’s eyes widened in surprise. Claire looked like she had just won the lottery.
“Really? That’s so generous, Ronny!” Claire exclaimed with a huge smile. “I’ve always dreamed of a beach house.”
I kept my face straight. “Oh, don’t worry. You’ll get your dream house, right next to ours. But there’s just one little thing we have to clear up first.”
Claire leaned in eagerly, “What’s that?”
I paused for a moment, letting the suspense build. “You’ll need to meet my other wives first. They have to approve.”
The atmosphere at the table froze instantly.
“Other wives?” Claire stuttered, her confident demeanor cracking.
Denise’s mouth fell open. “Wives? Plural?” she managed to whisper.
I nodded calmly. “Oh yes, I have two other wives. Wonderful women. We have a big family—lots of kids. In fact, a few of the kids were getting spoiled, so we had to send them to foster families. But don’t worry, Claire, you’ll fit right in.”
The look of horror on their faces was priceless. Claire was speechless, her mouth opening and closing as she tried to find words.
Denise was trembling, clearly in shock. “Ronny, why didn’t you mention this before?”
I shrugged casually. “Didn’t seem relevant until now. But since we’re talking about marriage and children, I thought you should know.”
By the time the check arrived, Claire was furious. “You’re paying for dinner, right? Since you’re so wealthy?” she snapped.
I flashed her a grin. “Actually, in my culture, women show their independence by paying for their own meals. I wouldn’t want to take that chance away from you.”
Their faces turned bright red with anger as I calmly placed cash on the table for my meal and stood up. “It was great meeting you both. Enjoy the lobster.”
As I walked out of the restaurant, I couldn’t help but laugh to myself. I had given them a taste of their own medicine, and it felt incredibly satisfying.
What started as a date headed for disaster turned out to be a win. Sometimes, the best way to handle people trying to take advantage of you is to beat them at their own game.
