Birthday celebrations are supposed to be joyful, but for Stella, a colleague’s party turned into an awkward social standoff. After being invited to a fancy dinner, she arrived with a gift in hand—only to later receive a text asking her to pay $190 plus tip for her share of the meal.
Confused and frustrated, Stella gently reminded her colleague that she had already given a gift. She thought the matter was settled—until she walked into work the next day. Office chatter revolved around the “cheapskate” who refused to pay for dinner, and to her disbelief, the gift she had carefully chosen was waiting on her desk, silently returned.
Stella couldn’t help but question the etiquette of the situation. If someone invites you to their birthday, is it fair to expect guests to cover their own meals after bringing a present? Or was she the one who misunderstood the rules?
