I was internet dating a few years ago and started chatting to a guy who I seemed to have some things in common with. He was really keen to meet up - said he didn’t like endless messaging - but when I responded positively I heard nothing back. He appeared to have been on the site and so I just thought he had lost interest.
A couple of weeks later he came back to me, apologised, said he was really busy with work, would make it up to me by taking me out for dinner that Friday (this was at the start of the week) if I didn’t mind heading over to where he lived because work was so full on etc.
I said I wasn’t sure, it seemed he’d been on the site regularly but not responded, did he have time to start a relationship if he was so busy? He assured me that his phone must have just made it seem that he was logged in, he hardly ever went on, so busy running his own business etc. I finally agreed to the date and swapped numbers but asked if he couldn’t make it because of work could he give me plenty of notice.
This was for 2 reasons (not shared with him) - 1. I was in an active dating spell and Friday night was a prime real estate spot; 2. He lived quite a way away (about an hour and a half) so would take some planning and finishing work a little early.
He’d not been in touch much that week but I’d texted the Thursday night to check we were still on and he said yes, he’d booked a table and was looking forward to it. Realised that travelling from work cut about a third off the journey time so decided to get ready at work (carted clothes, make-up, toiletries etc. in with me) - had a shower, got dressed up and then started making my way over.
Got off the tube at the main line station to get the train for the final leg, had just bought the ticket when I got a text from him to say “I’m running late so maybe we can push this back by an hour and you can have some drinks without me. No guarantees I’ll make it though, come at your own risk! Lol x”
I was fuming. No apology to start with, and this idea I’d continue to come and hope he turned up. Fuck that. Turned back round and went home. Didn’t respond to his text but didn’t block him either. Heard nothing more from him, but again he appeared to be on the website every day. I had had my fill of dating and just removed my profile.
Probably 6-8 weeks later a friend of mine texted me to tell me that the Flamingo guy had messaged her on this same website. Basically he had been wearing his company tshirt in 3 of his pics and I’d thought it was a bit cringe trying to advertise. He’d said he’d used them as they were professional shots from an event. She knew he’d been messaging me before, we’d had interest from the same men in the past, said all the men on there were dirt and she’d had enough and was ready to give up.
I asked her if she’d let me respond to the message before she binned her profile and she agreed, so I messaged him pretending to be the sort of woman a man like him would really like: appealing to his arrogance, love of money/status, business etc. Told him work would frown on me going on a dating site and could we move to email.
Over the next week we emailed fairly regularly (amazing how he could suddenly find the time!) - I created a character of a small business owner who did freelance on the side to fund the business and understood how hard it was for entrepreneurs like himself, I could only hope to be as successful. Flattered his ego about being an amazing business man, dropped hints at having a wealthy family and friends for networking possibilities, said I was house sitting in a wealthy part of North London (important for later in the story) for a friend with a fabulous apartment to help save money to invest back in the company but still have my little luxuries (a girl needs La Perla surely?)
He was creaming his pants at this girl and so he asked if he could see her for a drink mid-week in London but she was too busy on a photo shoot. Then he suggested another day and she cancelled on him that morning being really apologetic, citing a work problem, knew he would understand and she’d make it up to him.
He had wanted to swap numbers but my character had dropped her phone (her whole life is on that phone, he’d know what she meant) in the sink and the insurance company had said it needed to be sent off to be fixed and retrieve the data and would be back soon.
Finally I offered up a Friday night, and like a slathering dog he jumped at it. I said seeing as he’d been so patient it was only fair that I travelled to see him, but that as I was the other side of London from him might it be possible for me to stay over with him in his big bed and have him wrap his big strong arms around me, and that I’d buy him breakfast in the morning to say thank you.
Of course he said, he would love to have me stay over and if it wasn’t too cheeky to say he would love to spoon me all night! He said he’d book his favourite restaurant that did amazing steak - really expensive but so worth it - if I wanted food: his treat. I said something about recreating that special steak day (
) experience.
The day of the date came, I emailed him saying I would either be a bit early and be there waiting for him with a big smile and a tiny dress or I might be a little late but hopefully not awfully late. He said that was fine, couldn’t wait to see my big smile
Messaged later that afternoon to say I’d definitely not be early but I’d be worth the wait and if I wasn’t there by 8:30 to order for me because I’d definitely not be later than 9 on pain of death, would expense a taxi if needs be etc.
Then I went home and went down the pub with my housemate. Decided not to check the email account until Monday morning (it was agony) and found a few emails from the course of the weekend. Some from Friday night - started with “I’m sat here, I’m so excited to see you in every sense!” To “It’s coming up to 8:30 so I’ve put an order in for you and I know you’ll love it, love watching a woman with an appetite”, “It’s 9, if you get this can you call the pub here is the number”, “what the fuck is going on?! Are you ok?!” “Where the fuck are you? This is not acceptable!!!”
A couple from Saturday - “Don’t know what to think, I hope I haven’t wasted my time on you, my time is so valuable, I got someone to cover a job so I could have a lie in with you. I never do that”, “well now you’ve not responded I can only imagine you’re just a fucking b*tch and a time waster etc. You’re not attractive enough to be doing this, you’re lucky I even wanted to meet in the first place. I’ll make sure no one wants to date you, you psycho.”
It made my petty heart sing. I just responded saying “Yeah, it’s not very nice when people waste your time is it? Maybe consider that before you do it to any other women.”
He replied to say he had friends in high places and he would track me down and have me prosecuted. I laughed and closed down the email account.
wouldn't dream of doing something like that now 
