Eric seemed like the perfect gentleman—arriving with roses, a small gift, and a smile. Mia, who introduced them, was right: the date went smoothly. He was attentive, polite, and even insisted on paying, saying, “a man always pays on the first date.” Mia left dinner impressed and hopeful.

The next morning shattered that image. Instead of a sweet text, Eric sent an invoice for the date. It listed “charges” for the roses, gift, and even acts like pulling out her chair, each requiring “repayment” such as a hug, selfie, or promise of another date. At the bottom, it warned about “collections” and mentioned someone named Chris.

Confused, Mia forwarded the message to her friend, who laughed. Her boyfriend Chris replied with a counter-invoice billing Eric $1,000 for “wasting a perfectly good evening.”

Eric didn’t find it funny—he sent angry texts calling her ungrateful and manipulative. She blocked him immediately.

What began as a charming evening turned absurd overnight. Mia kept the small keychain he’d given her—not as a romantic keepsake, but as a reminder that “some red flags don’t appear at dinner—they arrive in your inbox the next morning.”