I looked at the invoice again.
“Apparently his new approach involves accounting software.”
Melissa sighed.
“I’m sorry. I really thought he was a good guy.”
“It’s not your fault.”
But I wasn’t finished.
Not yet.
I Decided to Ask One Simple Question
I opened Daniel’s conversation again.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“If I’d insisted on paying for my own dinner last night, would you still have sent me this invoice?”
He replied:
“Probably not.”
“Then why did you refuse when I offered?”
There was a long pause.
Finally, he wrote:
“Because I wanted you to see that I could provide a traditional dating experience.”
I read the sentence twice.
Then I asked:
“So you wanted me to believe you were paying, even though you expected reimbursement?”
His answer was astonishing.
“You’re making this sound worse than it is.”
I took a deep breath.
“Daniel, I don’t have a problem splitting expenses. I offered to do exactly that. I have a problem with you pretending something was a gift and then charging me afterward.”
He responded with a long paragraph about modern relationships, financial responsibility, and how women should appreciate men who made an effort.
Then came the sentence that ended any possibility of a second date.
“If you’re going to be difficult over $124.50, maybe you’re not the woman I thought you were.”
I looked at my phone.
And something inside me became very calm.
I typed:
“You’re right. I’m not.”
Then I sent another message.
“I believe in honesty, generosity, and clear communication. You were free to accept my offer to split dinner. You were also free to tell me beforehand that you expected us to share expenses. But you weren’t free to present everything as a gift and then surprise me with a bill.”
I paused before adding:
“And I’m definitely not paying a $35 planning fee.”
Then I put my phone down.
I thought that would be the end.
It wasn’t.
Three Days Later, He Sent a Reminder
On Monday morning, another email arrived.
Subject: Outstanding Balance — Friendly Reminder
I couldn’t believe it.
Daniel had actually followed up on his invoice.
The email read:
“Hi Rebecca. Just following up on the reimbursement discussed previously. I would appreciate payment within seven days so we can close this matter respectfully.”
I sat at my desk staring at the screen.
Then I noticed something else.
He had attached a revised invoice.
This time, the total had increased.
There was a $15 administrative fee.
