Starting a new job is nerve-wracking enough without unexpected drama. I had just landed a position at a marketing firm—a big step in my career—and I was determined to make a great impression. My first week was going smoothly until something bizarre happened: someone called my office pretending to be me. That “someone” was my friend, Jenna.
The First Sign Something Was Wrong
It was Thursday afternoon when my manager, Claire, stopped by my desk. “Hey, I got your message earlier, but I just wanted to confirm—did you really call to say you’d be late tomorrow because of a ‘hair crisis’?”
I blinked at her, completely confused. “I didn’t call you. And… a hair crisis?” Claire raised an eyebrow. “Well, someone called from a blocked number, said they were you, and gave that as the reason. The voice sounded a little different, but I figured maybe it was bad reception.”
I felt my stomach twist. Who would do that—and why?
The Reveal
That evening, I mentioned the strange call to Jenna while we were grabbing coffee. She smirked and said, “Oh my God, that was me! I was just messing around. I thought it’d be funny.”
My jaw dropped. “You pretended to be me to my new boss?!”
She laughed like it was no big deal. “Relax. It’s just a harmless prank. You know I love messing with people.”
Why It Wasn’t Funny
I tried to explain to her that in a new job—especially during the probation period—reputation is everything. Claire could have easily thought I was being unprofessional or not taking my work seriously. “It’s not just a joke, Jenna,” I said. “You put my job at risk.”
But she rolled her eyes and said, “If your boss can’t take a joke, that’s on her.”
Damage Control
The next day, I made a point to stop by Claire’s office and clear things up. I told her someone had been playing a prank on me and apologized for any confusion. She gave me a small smile and said, “Don’t worry, I figured it wasn’t you. But maybe keep your friends from calling here, okay?”
It was embarrassing, but at least the situation hadn’t spiraled.
The Bigger Issue
What stuck with me wasn’t just the prank—it was Jenna’s lack of understanding about how serious it was. We’d been friends for years, but this incident made me realize she didn’t always respect my boundaries. Pretending to be me in any context, let alone at my workplace, crossed a line.
I started thinking about other times she’d taken “jokes” too far—like the time she signed me up for a fake dating profile or “borrowed” my social media account to post silly things. Those had been annoying but relatively harmless. This was different.
Setting Boundaries
A few days later, I told Jenna we needed to talk. I explained that my career was important to me and that I couldn’t have her involving herself in my work life. She seemed a little offended, but I stood my ground. “If you can’t respect that boundary, we’re going to have a problem,” I told her.
She hasn’t pulled anything like that since, but our friendship feels a little different now. I’m more cautious about what I share with her and how much access I give her to my personal life.
Final Thought: Not all “jokes” are harmless. Sometimes, what seems funny to one person can have real consequences for another. Respecting someone’s career and reputation should always come before a laugh.
