So back in high school I was dating this guy and his best friend sometimes liked me and sometimes didn't. All for justified reasons, as his friend. High school politics.

This guy and I break up after a year and he and I never speak again. But years later his best friend pops up and reconnects with me. By this point I'm in a new relationship, and he really likes my new boyfriend. They become friends and we all meet up a few times every other month.

Another year passes and this friend is finishing university, with good grades, but is having issues finding a job.

My partner is successful and always has a few business ventures going, therefore offers my friend a job with a good starting salary (£26,000 + travel/flights) and has already given him £3,000 to sort out some visa stuff.

(Side note: this friend went on a series of holidays and potentially spent some of that money then and then tried to ask my partner for it again without explaining what happened to the original £3,000. Then asked for his first 2 months salary upfront. We've also paid for flights to different countries for him and his girlfriend as birthday presents.)

Turns out that my friend can't stay in the country and won't get a visa to permit him working for my partner. My partner says to find someone who can discuss this further and figure something out, we'll cover any costs or potential fees. He does that and didn't get much as a result. My partner says that is okay and he will still employ him remotely in my friend's home country (in South America) with the same salary.

So yesterday my friend calls him and says that "great news" he can stay in the country if we give him £200,000 to invest in the company my partner has employed him to work for.

As much as I trust him, he is 22 and I feel this is a very bold thing to ask of someone you've known for less than 2 years through an old friend.

His girlfriend apparently has somewhat well-off parents who live in Hong Kong for tax purposes I think, so why not ask them? She also (over the phone) asked my partner to do this. The only reason he doesn't want to leave the country is so he can stay with his girlfriend and friends. This job my partner offered him can be done anywhere in the world and is guaranteed.

I personally feel awkward and uncomfortable that he asked my partner for the money and made it clear that we've helped them a lot, plus he still has the job + salary no matter what.

We have a baby on the way and no matter how financially secure we are, it's still a very bold thing to ask someone to do and he was totally unashamed to ask it. Both my partner and I are uncomfortable. What would any of you do in this situation?