My husband and I were invited to my colleague’s birthday at a fancy place. I got home, and she texted me, “Thanks for coming. Your part of the bill is $190 + tip.” I was livid because I had brought her a nice gift. I ignored her text. Then, a few hours later, I decided to write to her, “I think I have already paid you with the nice gift I brought ;).”

But the real shock came the next day. I went to work, and as I walked in, people stared. Another colleague rushed up to me and said, “Can you believe it? One of the girls refused to pay her part of the dinner yesterday! What a cheapskate!” I kept quiet and didn’t reveal it was me. Then, I was shocked when I found sitting on my desk, the gift that I had brought her.

She had returned it! I still believe what she did was against etiquette. You can’t expect people to bring a gift and pay for an expensive dinner when you’re the one inviting them. Am I wrong? Stella