Fake Fiancé

A Day In The Life Of A Walker

Before Joe could even sit down, his father's assistant peeked her head into his office.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, Mr. Walker," she said in her old-lady voice. "But your father would like you to meet him for lunch today. 1:15 at the Bistro down off of 5th Avenue."

"I know the place," Joe sighed. She nodded her head before quickly scurrying off towards his father's office two floors up.

Throughout the rest of the morning, Joe kept watching the clock. You didn't want to be late for lunch with Mr. Joseph Walker Sr.

When it was time, he called in his assistant.

"Yes, sir?"

"Can you get an Uber to take me to the Bistro on 5th?"

"Sure thing, Mr. Walker."

"Thank you, Isabella."

A few minutes later, Isabella peeked her head back in. "Your uber is downstairs, Mr. Walker. I got a larger SUV, just how you prefer. I've already informed him about the AC in the car. And if you leave right now, you will get there ten minutes early."

Joe looked up and studied his assistant. "You don't have to stare," she joked. "I've been working for you for five years. I know you better than I know myself."

Before she walked out of his office, he heard her mumble, "Which is extremely sad."

* * * * *

Even though Joe got there ten minutes before the agreed-upon time, his father got there twenty minutes early. Lunch started the same as they always do; reviewing work. Finally, Joseph Sr. got to the topic that was the reason behind this lunch with his son.

"Joe, there is something else that I wanted to talk to you about."

"Alright."

"I think it's time you start looking for a woman."

"Excuse me?"

"Being in our position, men of our hierarchy, we need a strong woman beside us. We need to be able to come home to someone who reminds us of the good in the world."

"Father," Joe started.

"You need to get married," Joseph Sr. cut him off.

"Married," he stuttered. "You want me to get married. Father, that's not something I can just go out and do. I mean I can't just walk outside, pick a woman, and get married."

"I know it's a lot more complicated than that," his father sighed. "A wedding takes planning, but with our resources, it'll be easy. Now we just need to get a girl who can. . ."

"I have one."

Joe didn't have one.

"You're already dating someone?"

"Yes," Joe said, trying to hide that he was lying. "I actually just proposed to her."

"Really?" His father's usual scowl turned into a rare small smile.

"Yes," Joe continued to make up the perfect story. "We went to dinner a few nights ago. It was our anniversary and it felt right so I asked her. She said yes."

"That's wonderful," Joseph Sr. laughed. "You should bring her to dinner tomorrow night so your mother and I can meet her."

"I'll talk to her about it and let you know."

For the rest of the lunch, Joe's father was in a much better mood. He kept asking questions about Joe's imaginary fiancé and Joe kept answering them with vague details about her.

"Well," his father chuckled, "let me know when you and your fiancé would like to have dinner."

"Will do," Joe nodded. They walked out of the restaurant, each looking for their car. Before they got into their separate cars to go back to the same office, Joe's father stopped him.

"You should be prepared to explain to your mother why we didn't know about the girl, or when she went from girlfriend to fiancé."

"Yeah," Joe chuckled awkwardly. "I'll be sure to explain it all."

He watched as his father got into his car happier than Joe had ever seen him. He ran his fingers through his hair, the reality of what happened.

As his car drove back to the office, Joe went through everything that happened at lunch. He had successfully convinced his father that he not only had a woman in his life but had recently proposed to her. He had also agreed to bring this imaginary girl to dinner with him and his parents.

Now all he needed to do was find a fiancé.