When my friend Mia set me up with Eric, I didn’t expect much — but he surprised me. He showed up with roses, a thoughtful gift, and perfect manners throughout dinner. We laughed, shared stories, and bonded over our favorite podcasts. When the check arrived, he insisted on paying, saying firmly, “A man pays on the first date.” I let him, thinking I’d met a rare gentleman.
The next morning, I woke up to a message from Eric. Instead of a sweet follow-up, it was a professionally formatted “invoice” for the date — but not for money. Each “charge” was a demand for future affection: a hug for the flowers, a coffee date for the keychain, a hand-hold for pulling out my chair. At the bottom, it warned “payment is expected in full,” or he’d “tell Chris,” our mutual friend. My jaw dropped.