When the bill arrived, he handled it smoothly, paying for the meal without hesitation, which made me feel respected and comfortable. At the end of the evening, he walked me to my car, ensuring I got inside safely before saying goodnight. Driving home through the quiet streets, I felt a spark of excitement. Perhaps this could actually lead somewhere. Maybe I had met a rare, genuinely kind man who knew how to treat a woman.
đ© The Morning After: A Red Flag Appears
The next morning, I woke with pleasant anticipation. My phone buzzed with an email notification. I smiled, expecting a sweet message or a note about a second date.
My smile vanished instantly. The document itemized every expense from the night beforeâthe cost of dinner, the flowers, even the tiny keychain. But the most absurd and disturbing line item was labeled âemotional effort owed.â
At the bottom, the âtotal amount dueâ wasnât a numberâit was a demand. Eric implied I now owed him âreciprocationâ in the form of more dates and threatened to tell Chris that I was ungrateful if I didnât comply. The charming man from last nightâthe one who seemed thoughtful and kindâsuddenly looked manipulative and controlling.
đ The Counter-Invoice and the Final Silence
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