My Colleague Crashed My Date with Her 3 Kids & Turned It into Chaos—But the Shocking Truth She Revealed Changed Everything
The evening had all the makings of a perfect date: candlelight, fine wine, and an atmosphere primed for deep connection. After weeks of planning, I had found the perfect restaurant to elevate my third date with Susan—a promising match I met on Tinder.
But in a twist that could rival a rom-com gone wrong, the night took a disastrous turn when my colleague, Linda, barged in with her three kids. What followed was not just an evening derailed but a revelation that shook me to my core.
A Date Full of Promise
Susan and I had hit it off from the start. Her Tinder profile was a mix of charm and wit, and our first two dates had been promising—a mix of lighthearted banter and meaningful conversations. Tonight was meant to seal the deal.
I chose a cozy, tucked-away Italian restaurant. The low hum of conversation, paired with the warm glow of candlelight, set the perfect stage for romance. Susan arrived looking stunning in a navy dress, her smile lighting up the room. As we settled into our table, I felt confident about the evening.
Then, the door swung open, and a familiar voice echoed across the restaurant.
A Chaotic Entrance
“Rob! Fancy seeing you here!”
I froze mid-reach for the breadbasket. Linda, my colleague from accounting, was standing at the entrance, her floral dress clashing with the restaurant’s ambiance. But it wasn’t just Linda—she had her three kids in tow, all buzzing with energy.
Linda made a beeline for our table. Before I could process what was happening, she plopped herself and her kids down at our table, cheerfully announcing, “It’s packed tonight, so I figured we’d join you. You don’t mind, right?”
Susan’s polite smile quickly shifted to confusion. “Friend of yours?” she asked.
“Colleague,” I corrected, barely masking my irritation.
Linda acted as if nothing was amiss. She grabbed a breadstick, offered her kids a seat, and settled in like we’d invited her. My irritation grew with every passing second.
A Bold Claim
Linda turned to Susan, her expression taking on a calculated seriousness. “So, you’re the one Rob’s been seeing,” she said, tilting her head. “You must be special.”
“Linda, what are you doing?” I hissed, trying to keep my voice low.
Linda ignored me. “Susan, you should know something. Rob isn’t who he seems to be. He’s been leading me—and my kids—on for months.”
Susan’s eyes widened, her confusion morphing into anger. “What?”
Linda’s words hung in the air like a grenade. “We’re practically a family, and he’s sitting here, acting like I don’t exist. I thought you should know.”
The restaurant grew quieter as nearby diners began to notice the scene.
“Linda, stop this!” I demanded, my frustration boiling over. “This isn’t true!”
Susan pushed back her chair and grabbed her purse. “You clearly have things to figure out,” she snapped before storming out.
The Truth Revealed
I turned back to Linda, my voice tight with anger. “What the hell, Linda? You just ruined my date!”
Linda leaned back, unbothered. “You should thank me,” she said.
“For what?” I shot back. “For humiliating me in public?”
Linda calmly pulled out her phone and slid it across the table. “For saving you.”
I stared at the screen. It was a mugshot of Susan.
“Recognize her?” Linda asked, her tone serious.
My stomach dropped. “What is this?”
Linda explained. “My brother’s a cop. Last night, I saw this photo on a bulletin board at his station. Susan’s wanted for fraud. She cons men, gains their trust, and then scams them out of their money. I tried calling you before your date, but you didn’t answer. When I saw you here, I panicked. I couldn’t let her take advantage of you.”
A Chaotic Evening Reframed
The weight of Linda’s words began to sink in. Susan, the charming, witty woman I’d been so excited about, wasn’t who she claimed to be. The date I thought had been ruined turned out to be a narrowly avoided disaster.
But my anger lingered. “Why didn’t you just pull me aside? Why the spectacle?”
Linda sighed. “I was afraid she’d bolt if she saw me talking to you. I needed to make sure she didn’t slip away.”
The realization hit me: Linda had risked embarrassing herself—and me—to protect me.
A New Beginning
As the tension in the room eased, Linda’s eldest child kicked his legs under the table and asked, “So… are we getting pizza or what?”
For the first time that evening, I laughed.
Linda smirked. “See? I told you. You should thank me.”
I shook my head, half-amused, half-exasperated. “You’re unbelievable.”
“But I’m right,” she shot back, her tone light.
In that moment, I saw Linda in a new light. Beneath her boldness and chaotic energy was someone deeply loyal and fiercely protective.
“Linda,” I said, my voice steady, “can I buy you and the kids dinner? I think I owe you.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You want to buy us dinner after all this?”
“I do,” I replied, glancing at her kids. “It’s the least I can do.”
Her eldest grinned. “I vote pizza!”
Linda studied me for a moment before her expression softened into a genuine smile. “Alright, Rob. But you’re buying dessert, too.”
Two Years Later
That chaotic evening turned out to be the start of something I never saw coming. Two years later, Linda and I are married, and I’ve adopted her three kids.
Every day, they remind me what it means to love and be loved. And Linda? She still insists I should thank her for that night.
And every single day, I do.
Sophia Rivers is an experienced News Content Editor with a sharp eye for detail and a passion for delivering accurate and engaging news stories. At TheArchivists, she specializes in curating, editing, and presenting news content that informs and resonates with a global audience.
Sophia holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Toronto, where she developed her skills in news reporting, media ethics, and digital journalism. Her expertise lies in identifying key stories, crafting compelling narratives, and ensuring journalistic integrity in every piece she edits.
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