My brother’s latest setup led me to a disastrous date with his friend, Stewart, at a fancy restaurant with an unpaid bill. As tensions escalated and the manager threatened to call the police, I realized how far Adam had gone, leaving us stuck.

“Jess, you gotta meet this guy,” Adam said, grinning. “Stewart. Works with me. Real stand-up guy.”

I sighed. Adam’s setups were usually terrible, but his excitement piqued my curiosity. “Fine. But if he’s another dud, I’m never listening to you again.”

Stewart picked me up in a shiny sedan, and we headed to an upscale restaurant. The evening started well, with Stewart charming and funny. “Order whatever you like,” he said confidently.

But when the bill arrived, Stewart’s card was declined. His charm disappeared, replaced by anger. “This is ridiculous,” he snapped. The waitress tried his card again with no luck. Stewart looked at me, desperate. “Do you have any cash?”

“I told you I can’t afford this place!” I replied, feeling trapped. The manager insisted on resolving the bill, and Stewart’s attempts to argue only made things worse.

I texted Adam, furious. “What the heck did you do?” He laughed it off. “Relax, Jess. Just spicing up your life.”

Adam eventually arrived and settled the bill, treating the situation as a joke. “You humiliated me,” I snapped. Stewart apologized, and I realized I needed to reassess my trust in Adam. His pranks had gone too far.