“Trust me, Em, I know you do. I’m talking about people hiring you to accompany them to events. Weddings, galas, banquets… All of it.”

“That sounds like a logistical nightmare. How in the world would I pull it off? How would they know who I am? And I would charge them? For what?”

“There’s this thing called the internet. Maybe you’re familiar with it? People always need a date to things. Set up a website and see what happens. I bet you could pay your debt off in a few years just by escorting people places. I, on the other hand, will be dealing with autopay withdrawals until I’m 97.”

I pondered his proposal, the mountain of money I owed swimming in my vision. A few years of debt sounded a helluva lot more enticing and appealing than decades and decades of growing interest rates and monthly payments that drained my bank account.

“Do you really think it’s feasible?”

“Definitely. You’re the total package, Em. Think about it.”

Matthew gave me a lot to consider that evening. I ran the numbers and created spreadsheets, factoring in every expense I could think of—items like a website, dress rentals, a background check person, a private investigator, as well as a plethora of other miscellaneous costs. Slowly, I started to see the profit margin form. After a deep-dive down an internet rabbit hole, I found some forums and message boards from people who did similar things. I was cautiously optimistic in attempting to see if this plan could work.

RB’s Companions was born.

My first event was with an up-and-coming football player I knew casually through mutual acquaintances. He agreed to be my test subject, inviting me to a low-stress team dinner. Once the nerves wore off, I realized I had fun, enjoying my life outside the rigidity of legal jargon and court cases I was accustomed to. I’m an introvert through and through, and stepping outside my comfort zone was exhilarating.

In the six years since, I’ve attended weddings, office parties, birthdays, graduations, and every other type of event imaginable.

It felt slimy taking people’s money in the beginning months, guilt hanging in the air as I lied about my association with clients. Brutal honesty is one of my character traits, and it made me uneasy to be part of a plan that involved fibbing and inaccuracies.

Over time, I’ve settled into the role, understanding that this extracurricular job helps men who don’t want to be hounded all night about why they’re single. I felt less like a fake and more like a friend who genuinely wanted the best for them.