The next morning, everything changed. I received an email titled, “Invoice for Last Night.” At first, I laughed, thinking it was a joke. But when I opened it, I realized he was serious. The email listed the dinner, the flowers, the keychain, and even something he labeled “emotional labor.” At the bottom, he warned that Chris would hear about it if I refused to pay.
Confused and unsettled, I called Mia. Her response was immediate: “He’s completely out of line. Don’t answer him.” Mia and Chris even sent him a mock invoice in return, charging him for entitlement, awkwardness, and general absurdity. Eric’s replies became defensive and self-centered. Eventually, I stopped responding, and Mia and Chris cut ties with him as well, recognizing the behavior as a major red flag.
