But who's getting screwed here? Both the mistress and the son....

I would just call it a finder's fee (or a finding out fee).

Maybe he has a secret daughter?

Hey, Natasha! Welcome back!!! Where have you been all this time?

Thousands of kids are going through divorces...it is not fair to them. Nobody really asks them for opinion. When parents of grown ups separate or have problems, why should we all of a sudden feel like our parents need our moral judgement. You are not responsible for your dad's behavior.

I'd let your dad know that not knowing what's going on stresses you out..and ask him if he or mom needs help.

Anything you always wanted from your father?
Now is your chance

Ive re-read this several times- and it still does not make any sense.

Why is it fair on a father, whatever the age of the 'kid' - to put his child through this kind of totally unfair situation. My kids are all grown up, 45 and 43- and could not imagine, for the life of me- doing that to them ever. Neither would their dad.

Maybe he has a secret cross dressing fetish. The watch is the final piece to finish the perfect outfit and look. Perhaps it's something he does that he feels others won't accept - more common than one would expect.
In the end, it's your time and effort, if you are not comfortable a strict no is very simple (maybe not a simple as telling your wife and kids you moonlight as a Frau).

this is about the most expensive place to buy a half decent watch at the moment, just tell him its cheaper on line

If you did that with your father what he will do??
i think he will buy to you without telling anybody! i will do what he ask me to do. sometimes you have to trust blindly

Personally I would want to know if Dad was having an affair, if only to throw the book at him. Couldn't tell Mom though, what good would it do?

So, now that the suspicion's been planted, I'd want a straight answer, too.

Your Dad is an adult. He can do as he pleases. He can have an affair if he wishes to (independently of how inappropriate it might be). This might even be a more colluded story: he gambled, he lost, his bookie wants the payment in goods.

Now he is involving you in his meddling. You need to decide if you are ok with helping him procure an object without knowing what it is for.

If you are not ok with it, specially as the first thought is "affair", then tell him so.

However, he's your father, not your child, he owes you no answer. You are the only one that can decide wether you want to help him or not.

In my case, I'd demand to know what's for, because I wouldn't want to be helping money laundering. I also wouldn't get my mother involved in this story without actually knowing more about it, because my parents also deserve their share of privacy.

__________________

Fighting for Pluto's liberation from the Dwarf League since 2006 @(°.°)=@)x.X)' ' '

Does he also want you to buy a dress and some high heels in his size...?

Lurking a little bit.

buy the equivalent knock off for $50 and profit!

and when it all goes titsup with the mistress he can tell her its a fake, win win

is it clearly a female watch or borderline unisex? I know my father sometimes can't tell the difference. He once bought a female jacket for me and wondered why I am not wearing it.

I favour the "congrats, you have a half sister you never knew existed" theory, as harsh as that sounds.

What a weird situation.

This, absolutely. I don't know where this idea comes from - to hold our parents ethically accountable.

If ever, it's when the kids are small and depend on parents.

OP your dad's business is his business. I would abstain from trying to find out more.

ermmmm not when he asks his son to get involved in it it isn't.

*if* it is for a mistress and op's mother finds out op bought it can you imagine the fallout that would cause????

Parents can do what they like but they shouldn't expect their kids to lose their own moral compass aiding and abetting just because they are adults now.