When Mia set her up on a blind date with Eric,

the narrator was hesitant but agreed after hearing he was “polite, thoughtful, and dependable.”

Early messages felt promising, and their dinner date went smoothly.

Eric arrived with roses, paid for the meal, and said, “A man pays on the first date,” which seemed old-fashioned but harmless.

The next morning, everything changed. Instead of a follow-up text, she received an email titled “Invoice for Last Night.”

It listed charges for dinner, flowers, a keychain, and even “emotional labor,” with a warning:

“Failure to comply may result in Chris hearing about it.”

Shocked, she contacted Mia, who advised, “Oh my god. He’s insane. Don’t respond.”

Mia and Chris cut Eric off after his messages turned angry and self-pitying.

The narrator reflects that what first looked charming revealed entitlement and control.

The experience became a clear lesson in recognizing red flags: kindness is not a debt to be collected.