“You have to put your pride to the side, young lady.”

“Mom, I’m doing the best I can right now. They fired me because they knew I didn’t belong there.” I sighed as I stretched myself out on the bed I'd slept in since before I was a teenager. “The girl was a bitch to me from the moment I walked in.”

“Well you know that you have to play by the rules when you’re on someone else’s territory.” Mom replied. I could hear the frustration lace her voice as she spoke. “I know this is new to you, but there’s a lot you have to work with these days in order to have job security.”

“Job security doesn’t exist, Mom. That’s the thing. You can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to go to school, only to end up jumping through hoops for a $13 an hour office job that doesn’t even have benefits.”

“That’s life honey.” She sounded exasperated.

I listened to her continue to lecture me on “playing by the rules,” even though it was clear she had no idea how jacked up the rules were these days.

I listened to her. Got good grades, stayed in shape, and was intelligent and polished. It wasn’t enough to keep me from being abruptly laid off.

Everything in the career world was competitive these days. I thought about that job I’d been fired from and my heart blackened at that experience.

I was jobless, once again, but I was growing used to it. My unemployment checks would pay up, and the food stamps would keep me afloat too. My tax return would also float me for a while, once it came.

I wasn’t in a bad position, just an uncomfortable one, given my current status of living in my mother's house after college.

What would I do when the money ran out? If it ran out?

I didn’t even want to think about it. I couldn't mooch off my mother forever.

“Thanks, Mom. I guess you’re right. I’ll work on it,” I promised.

“Okay honey, but you never answered me about dinner?”

“Oh, dinner. When? Tonight?”

She sighed a frustrated sigh, one that let me know she realized I was in my own world for the past ninety-seconds. She repeated herself again.

“I have someone I’d like you to meet.” She used a melodic tone. “He’s become a very important part of my life.”

“Mom!” I squealed in disbelief. “You’ve been dating and haven’t told me?!”

“I needed some privacy first. I can’t bring every potential man around me.” She spoke reasonably, and I decided I couldn’t fault her for the surprise.

“Well, when do you want me to meet him?” I asked.

“We’re going to dinner next week. I’m meeting his son for the first time too.”

My stomach roiled. Meeting this potential family would put a lot of pressure on me. At the same time, free dinner would be great.

They say the best way to get a job is through networking these days, right?

“Sure, just tell me when and where.” I made a note to look extra presentable, just in case they were worth impressing. You know — for a job.

I'd called Mom for a pep talk of sorts, but I only got mixed results. Sitting back up, I groaned, forced with the problem of the never-ending job search.

I started going through Craigslist. There were nothing but low-tier options on there. I needed $60,000 or higher to really make it on my own, but anything tolerable that could help me cover something while I got it together would keep my sanity in check.

Every listing was for scammy things. Marketing jobs where you honestly went door to door soliciting and getting paid per lead. Appointment setting jobs with tons of cold calling. Jobs that require a bachelor’s degree for $11 per hour.

Pure trash, all of it.

Then I saw an ad that made me giggle. An ad for an actress to play fiancée. I knew better than to click it. A situation like that would be nothing but drama. Playing some dingy guy’s wife? Until when, his trust fund ran out?

Psh.

But I did it. I clicked anyway.

Seeking attractive woman with great smile and natural beauty to play my wife. Business arrangement with possible perks. I come with a 401K, hefty savings, and enough money to keep you happy.

You can’t be a complete airhead. I’ll need to know of your career history, so please respond with your picture and current resume.

Serious inquiries only.

“He has to be kidding. What sane individual puts an ad like this in the job section?” I was intrigued, but I scoffed and giggled some more, determined to shake the idea from my clutches.

This was a big city, full of opportunities. There were plenty of beautiful women ready to marry a man for this arrangement – or play as if they were his wife already.

But still, the intrigue of his post dug its nails even further into me. I had nothing to lose, and depending on what happened, everything to gain. He couldn’t expect me to play his wife without some form of compensation, right?

“What’s the worst that could happen?” I taunted myself, attaching my photo and resume with the click of a button.