I never imagined I would be telling this story, but here we are. Mine is a tale of betrayal, realization, and sweet revenge. About a year ago, I earned a well-deserved promotion at work and my income increased, but so did my troubles.
Two businessmen shaking hands | Source: Pexels
Getting a raise wasn’t an easy journey; it required lots of hard work, late nights, missed family gatherings, and overcoming bouts of depression. But I made it through and was finally earning a significantly higher salary.
With the promotion, I became closer to a few colleagues, Rachel, Emily, and Matt, whom I ended up considering friends. I thought they were genuinely happy for me. We had shared countless lunches, brainstorming sessions, and after-work drinks.
Colleagues eating lunch together | Source: Pexels
But as my income grew, so did their expectations, and they started taking advantage of me. Initially, it was small things, and that’s why I didn’t put a stop to their behavior immediately. They’d ask for small loans that they never bothered repaying.
Then they started getting worse and more comfortable with using me. For instance, Rachel would “forget” her wallet during lunch, and Emily always seemed to be “just a bit short” on cash. Matt was the king of IOUs, promising to pay me back “next week,” which never came.
A man handing money over to someone | Source: Pexels
The tipping point was when they planned a trip to an upscale and famous amusement park. They convinced me it would be a fun getaway, a chance to celebrate my promotion. I tried to explain that even with my increased income, covering tickets, flights, and hotel rooms for all four of us was too much.
But they assured me they would pay me back and pressured me, but to be honest, I was skeptical. True to my fears, the trip was a COMPLETE DISASTER! They constantly ditched me, saying things like “We made plans to meet these other guys.”
A sad man by himself at the beach | Source: Pexels
When I wanted to have a meal with them, they’d shrug and say, “We already ate.” They made all sorts of plans without me and left me to foot the bill for most meals and activities! One incident during the trip still stings.
On the second day, we were supposed to go to a special breakfast with the amusement park characters. I had paid for the tickets in advance, thinking it would be a fun group activity. But that morning, when I knocked on their hotel room doors, they were gone.
Tom standing outside one of his friends’ closed and locked hotel room door | Source: Mijourney
I texted and called them, only to get a message from Emily hours later. In it, she said, “We decided to go meet up with some other friends we bumped into. Sorry, we’ll catch up with you later.” I ended up having breakfast alone, surrounded by families and happy groups of friends.
By the end of the vacation, I asked them to pay me back for everything. They said, “Don’t worry about it, Tom, we PROMISE to pay you back every cent.” Well, you won’t be surprised to learn that they NEVER paid me anything.
Two colleagues having a serious conversation | Source: Pexels
It was a low point, but it was also when I realized I needed to change how I was being treated. I couldn’t let these people continue to take advantage of my generosity. The betrayal I felt made me finally realize that they were using me for my money.
It dawned on me that they weren’t my friends and only pretended to be so they could get what they wanted. I had already decided that it was time for some sweet revenge when something happened that solidified my stance.
A happy man with a plan | Source: Pexels
Back at work, the dynamic didn’t improve. I was still in a meeting with a client during lunchtime and was only going to take my break afterward. But the client suddenly had an emergency and postponed our meeting. I took my lunch and went to the break room to make coffee.
Standing around near the coffee maker were my three so-called “friends.” Before I had a chance to notify them of my presence, I heard Rachel saying, “I think Tom is noticing that we don’t like him but LOVE his cash.”
Three colleagues talking while enjoying beverages | Source: Pexels
They laughed, and Matt said, “Nah, he’s too slow to notice and too desperate for friends to mind. We are good, trust me.” My heart broke that they didn’t even like me.
In my presence, Rachel started making jokes about how I was their “sugar daddy.”
Emily would often bring up my promotion in front of others, hinting that I should cover more group expenses because I “made the big bucks now.” Matt continued to borrow money, always with a charming smile and empty promises to pay me back soon.
A man holding money | Source: Pexels
My frustration grew, but I bided my time, waiting for the perfect moment to teach them a lesson because I was DONE playing. That’s when I stumbled upon an article about a local restaurant known for its exorbitantly priced dishes, including a thousand-dollar entrée.
A devious plan began to form in my mind. Knowing my “friends,” I was confident they would fall right into my trap. Over the next few weeks, I subtly brought up the restaurant in conversations. I ensured to highlight the infamous thousand-dollar dish.
Four colleagues discussing something | Source: Pexels
I even suggested that it might be a fun place for us to try out “someday.” As expected, they latched onto the idea with greedy enthusiasm, suggesting we go as soon as possible. I played it cool, knowing that they’d try to trick me into paying their share.
One Friday afternoon, we were having our usual coffee break when I mentioned I had some extra cash from a recent freelance project. “Maybe we should finally check out that fancy restaurant with the thousand-dollar dish,” I said casually, taking a sip of my latte. Their eyes LIT UP instantly with greed!
A man with his eyes wide open | Source: Pexels
“Seriously? That would be amazing!” Rachel exclaimed. “I’ve been DYING to try that place!”
“Count me in,” Matt added, leaning forward. “I heard the ambiance is incredible, too.”
Emily chimed in, “We should totally do it! It’ll be like a celebration of your promotion and our awesome friendship.”
I smiled, hiding my true feelings. “Sure, let’s plan for next weekend.”
Four friends making a pact | Source: Pexels
The anticipation built throughout the week. They kept bringing it up, discussing what they would wear and how they imagined the dish would taste. I played along, adding to their excitement. By the time Saturday rolled around, they were practically bouncing off the walls with enthusiasm!
On the night of the dinner, we arrived at the restaurant, and everyone was in high spirits. The place was as fancy as it gets with crystal chandeliers, velvet drapes, and waitstaff in tuxedos. As we sat down, the manager personally came over to confirm our orders for the thousand-dollar dishes.
A fancy restaurant with crystal chandeliers | Source: Pexels
My friends, brimming with fake confidence, assured him they had the means to pay. When the food arrived, it was a culinary spectacle! Each dish was a masterpiece, meticulously crafted and presented.
We laughed, took photos, and enjoyed the meal as if nothing could go wrong. Then, the bill arrived. My friends handed over their debit cards, only to have them all declined one after another. Then they confidently turned to me with innocent eyes.
Two patrons trying to pay at a restaurant | Source: Pexels
“Tommy, can you cover this? I swear I’ll pay you back,” Rachel pleaded.
“I don’t know why my card isn’t working,” Emily added, sliding her bill towards me.
Matt, trying to maintain his composure, muttered, “This must be some mistake. Tom, my guy, can you help us out?”
I leaned back in my chair, savoring the moment. “I don’t have enough money in my checking account to cover your bills,” I said, feigning regret.
“What do you mean?” Rachel asked, her voice rising in panic. “You said you had extra cash!”
“I do,” I replied calmly. “But not for this.” I stood up, grabbed my coat, and went to pay for my meal.
A man paying for something with a card | Source: Pexels
As I started to walk away, Matt shouted, “You can’t leave us like this!”
Without missing a beat, I turned and said, “I made some plans to meet up with other people.”
I walked out of the restaurant, not looking back. I heard later that the manager had to call the cops! My so-called friends weren’t arrested, but a police report was filed, and they had to appear in court. Not only did they have to pay the hefty restaurant bill, but they were also fined!
A police officer standing guard over someone who was arrested | Source: Pexels
In the weeks that followed, they tried to contact me repeatedly. I received countless messages and calls, all of which I ignored. Rachel even showed up at my office once, trying to apologize and make amends. But I was done.
I had learned my lesson and realized that true friends wouldn’t treat me the way they had. Reflecting on everything, I found a sense of peace. I started focusing on building healthier relationships and surrounding myself with people who genuinely cared about me and respected my boundaries.
A happy man enjoying a beverage in his office | Source: Pexels
It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. When they tried contacting me afterward, I blocked them. I was done being a doormat, and it felt SO GOOD to watch them squirm. What do you think of my revenge? How would you have handled it? Would you do the same thing I did?
A happy man using his phone and ear pods | Source: Pexels
If you enjoyed that story, click here to read about a woman who divorced her husband after he used her as a cook and nanny for his children. More than a decade later, the woman’s stepdaughter contacted her and told her something about the past that brought her to tears.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
