When Stella’s colleague invited her to a birthday dinner at a high-end restaurant, she assumed the meal was the host’s treat—especially since she had bought a gift. But when a text arrived later demanding $190 plus tip for her portion of the bill, she was taken aback.
Choosing not to pay, Stella hinted that her gift should suffice. The next day, office gossip revealed that the “stingy” guest was the talk of the workplace—and her returned gift made it clear who the culprit was in her colleague’s eyes.
Stella couldn’t shake the feeling that her colleague had breached social norms. Inviting people to celebrate your birthday, only to hand them a hefty bill afterward, seemed unfair—especially when guests had already spent money on presents. Was she justified in her refusal, or had she committed a party foul?
