Woman Tells Her Boyfriend That If He Wants Her to Play the Expensive Role of a Corporate Wife at His Business Dinners, He Should Pay for All Expenses and Her Time

Some people treat a partner’s support like a favor, while others treat it like a full-time job. That difference is at the center of this Reddit story, where a woman was asked to step into the polished, expensive role of a corporate wife for her boyfriend’s business dinners.

She already had her own career and income, but his world came with a dress code, beauty costs, and social expectations that quickly added up. When she asked him to cover both the expenses and her time, the conversation turned awkward fast, and the bill became part of the argument.

Now the question is simple, but the answer is not: was she being unreasonable, or just finally putting a price on the role he wanted her to play?

OP asks:

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She has a career that doesn't require her to look nice all the time. Her boyfriend works in a field that's all about appearance.

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So he wants OP to attend company gatherings and wear expensive clothes, full makeup, etc.

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That request came with a lot more than just dinner plans.

OP wanted her boyfriend to cover the expenses and her time.

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Boyfriend agreed to pay for the expenses but felt weird about paying for her time.

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And that is where the tension really started.

She did the whole shebang.

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And boyfriend couldn't believe the bill.

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They went out, and she played her part.

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Boyfriend was upset and told OP there are plenty of girls who would love to be in her place.

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That comment made the whole thing feel even messier.

It’s kind of like the AITA argument about splitting a fancy dinner bill unequally with a high-earning friend.

So OP asks if she is right here.

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She posted an update:

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Explaining her views:

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Feminine labor is underrated, that's for sure...

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Things need to change.

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Right off the bat... And it is a good question, actually...

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Maybe boyfriend should find a person who wants to live like that.

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One Redditor would love to live like this.

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But there is a difference between dressing up and acting like a completely different person.

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One Redditor gave OP good advice.

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Playing a good corporate wife is not easy.

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This is not just for one evening; it is for life. OP should think things through.

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We understand that it was unpleasant for OP, but hanging out with our partner’s obnoxious colleagues is sometimes unavoidable. Simply put, it’s just part of usual social and business dynamics.

So, is it best to just go with the flow, be done with it, and forget the whole experience? Maybe, but there will be another.

And another. They don’t end.

Ever. So, by agreeing to one such event, you practically agree to a lifetime of such events.

What would you do?

Now he knows this is about more than one dinner.

Still unsure about demanding money from a friend over a dinner bill? Read if it’s fair in this dinner-bill friendship dispute.