I never expected that a simple gift from a coworker would turn into such a strange and unsettling experience. It all started when Susan gave me a plastic cactus figurine as a “regifted” present during an office exchange. It was quirky, harmless—just a little decoration for my desk.
But one evening, as I was heading to bed, I accidentally kicked the cactus off my nightstand. When it hit the floor, it broke open, and to my shock, I found a tiny spy camera hidden inside. I froze, trying to process what I’d just discovered. Who would plant a hidden camera in a gift like this? Was it Susan? Someone else? My mind raced with questions and concerns.
To make things even more complicated, around that same time, we had a group dinner involving Susan, her husband Greg, another friend Dan, and me. Susan and Greg ordered around $200 worth of food, while I stuck to a single $4 drink because I wasn’t hungry. When the bill arrived, Greg insisted on splitting it six ways—even though only three of us actually ate anything.
I calmly reminded Greg that splitting the bill six ways was unfair since half of the group hadn’t eaten. Dan, who had eaten about $50 worth, was shocked to see he was stuck with a whopping $146.98 bill. Feeling frustrated but refusing to cause a scene, I left a $10 tip and walked out.
The next day, both Greg and Susan texted me, calling me an “AH” for not ordering food and accusing me of ruining the night. Dan was upset, too, blaming me for his unexpectedly large share of the bill. I explained to Dan that if he had a problem, he should have asked Greg and Susan to reimburse him for the extra charges, but unfortunately, Dan always enables their manipulative behavior.
Honestly, I admit it was a petty move on my part to stick strictly to the bill. But after the spying incident and their constant attempts to take advantage, I was simply done being dragged into their schemes. Sometimes you have to set boundaries—even if it means making tough choices and facing backlash.
Have you ever been caught in a situation where friends or family crossed the line? How did you handle it? I’d love to hear your stories.
