Caught My Coworker Tried to Charge Her Dinner to My Account

Memorial Day weekend. I took my parents and my sister's family to Dragon Bay Seafood Restaurant for dinner.

I ran into my coworker Sandra Chavez just as I finished paying the bill.

I was thinking what a small world it was, the two of us ending up at the same place.

Then I heard her recite my phone number to the cashier.

My jaw dropped. She just winked at me, playful as ever.

You have a membership here, right? Let me borrow it real quick!

Before I could respond, the cashier cleared her throat politely. I'm sorry, ma'am, but this account only has a dollar left on it. Will you be paying the remaining 0-0,300 by card or cash?

My sister's family had brought my parents to Havenport for the long weekend.

When lunchtime rolled around, I took them all to Dragon Bay Seafood Restaurant.

I had a membership card there with some money still on it.

Today seemed like the perfect day to use it up.

While we were ordering, my sister pulled me aside and whispered.

Isn't this place kind of expensive? I just saw a basic vegetable dish going for forty-eight bucks!

I squeezed her arm. Don't worry about it. I've got a membership card here, and there's still some money loaded on it.

Plenty for this meal!

Once she heard about the card, my sister relaxed.

Still, when they ordered, nobody went overboard.

My sister's family of four, plus my parents, plus me.

Seven people, and they only picked ten dishes.

The food at Dragon Bay was delicious, but the portions ran small.

I knew they were trying to save me money.

I slipped away under the pretense of using the restroom and checked my balance at the front desk.

$987 left.

I ordered more dishes, carefully calculated to spend down every last dollar on the card.

When the servers started bringing out the extra plates, my mom looked alarmed.

Why did you order more? We have plenty!

I grinned. It's fine. Eat up. My treat today.

My mom shot me one of her looks, half-scolding, half-touched.

My sister muttered under her breath, You should be saving your money, not throwing it around like this.

I laughed. What's the point of making money if I can't spend it on you guys?

The meal was warm and easy, everyone talking over each other, plates emptying fast.

After we finished, they stayed upstairs chatting while I went down to settle the bill.

I had just paid when I turned around and saw Sandra.

The second she noticed me, a flash of guilt crossed her face.

She covered it quickly with a smile.

Oh hey! You're eating here too?

I nodded. My parents and my sister are in town. Figured I'd take them somewhere nice!

Sandra waved me off. Go on back up. I just need to pay my tab.

I didn't move. I stood off to the side, figuring I'd wait for her.

That was when I heard her recite my phone number to the cashier.

My brain stalled for a second.

I thought my ears were playing tricks on me.

Why would she give them my number to pay her bill?

I stepped closer. Sandra caught me in her peripheral vision.

The guilt on her face deepened.

Her voice came out thin. Oh, you're still here! I thought you already went back up!

I kept my tone even. Was that my phone number you just gave them?

She let out a soft "oh," then flashed me that playful wink again.

You have a membership here, right? Let me borrow it real quick!

I was speechless.

The membership at Dragon Bay worked like a prepaid account. You loaded money onto a card.

Minimum deposit: a thousand dollars.

Put in a thousand, you got a five-percent discount.

Put in two thousand, ten percent off.

I'd signed up during their grand opening and scored the ten-percent discount plus an extra two hundred in bonus credit.

I remembered mentioning it once at the office, casually, during a group conversation.

Someone had said there was a new seafood place on the south side of town, great food but pricey.

I said I'd gotten a membership card.

Every pair of eyes in the room turned to look at me.

A few people gave me a thumbs-up. Someone called me a big spender.

It was nothing more than a small moment, but apparently someone had taken note.

Sandra made it sound like she was "borrowing" my membership, but really, she just wanted to spend the money on my card.

When she saw my eyes go wide, Sandra gave my shoulder a light pat.

Oh come on, you're not going to say no, are you? We're coworkers!

You can afford a premium membership at a place like this, so what's a little dinner?

Don't be so stingy!

I'll buy you a boba next time, my treat!

A boba.

A four-dollar boba in exchange for a thousand-dollar seafood dinner.

She really knew how to work the math.

I was just about to open my mouth and call her on it.

But the cashier spoke first.

Her tone was polite, almost apologetic.

I'm sorry, ma'am, but this account has a remaining balance of one dollar. For the remaining 0-0,299, would you like to pay by card or by phone?

Sandra froze.

She stared blankly at the cashier, disbelief plastered across her face.

There's only one dollar left on the card?

Then she whipped her head toward me.

It must have just hit her that I'd said I brought my parents and my sister here for dinner.

The color rushed to her face. She strode over and stopped right in front of me.

Her tone was pure accusation.

Amanda Fox, you spent it all?

There are a million restaurants in Havenport and you had to come to this one? Did you do this on purpose just to screw me over?!

Fine, so you came here, but did you have to order that much?!

What, were your parents and your sister starving? Never had a decent meal in their lives? They get to the city and just stuff their faces?!

I'm surprised they didn't choke on it!

The angrier she got, the louder she got. I can't believe this! All that money on the card, gone, and you left me one dollar!

What am I supposed to do now?

You're paying my bill. Thirteen hundred dollars. You owe me that.

I stared at Sandra in shock.

Her face was twisted with rage, every feature contorted.

I pointed at myself. You want me to pay your bill? On what planet?

Sandra, I'm not your father and I'm not your mother. Why should I pay for your dinner?

Sandra craned her neck forward, defiant. If there hadn't been money on your card, would I have come here to eat?

And ordered all that food!

Now that you've blown through every cent, of course you have to cover it!

Wait. Her logic. I honestly could not follow it.

She came here to eat because my card had money on it?

How was the money on my card any of her business?

Sandra held her palm out toward me. I don't care. You are paying for tonight's dinner. End of story.

You're loaded anyway. Thirteen hundred bucks is nothing to you!

I was so angry I actually laughed.

Sandra, do you even hear yourself right now?

You used my card without my permission. That was bad enough. Now the balance is empty and you want me to foot your bill too?!

If I hadn't happened to bring my family here tonight, you would have drained every last dollar off my card!

Sandra lifted her chin, bold as brass.

So what? We're coworkers. You can't treat me to one meal?

She said it like it was nothing.

One meal. Thirteen hundred dollars.

Did I look like a pushover to her?

I looked Sandra up and down, let out a cold laugh, and turned on my heel.

Sandra panicked. She lunged after me, but the cashier grabbed her arm.

Ma'am, you still haven't paid!

Sandra shook the cashier off. Did I say I wasn't going to pay? I'll pay in a minute!

Touch me again and I'm calling the cops!

Her eyes were vicious. The cashier stumbled backward, startled, and hurried to apologize.

I'd barely pushed open the door to our private dining room before Sandra was right behind me.

She walked in, and the second she saw the room full of people, her whole face lit up.

A bright smile spread across her lips in an instant.

Hi there! You must be Amanda's parents. I'm her coworker. I brought my family here for dinner tonight too, and when I realized she was here, I just had to come say hello.

My mom had always been friendly by nature. Hearing Sandra's greeting, she stood up right away to welcome her.

A coworker! Come, come, sit down! We're here because Amanda told us this place was wonderful!

Sandra glanced at the dishes on the table. The corner of her mouth twitched.

She stared at the Australian lobster and turned to my mom.

Wow, ma'am, I bet you've never seen lobster this big back in your little country town, huh?

That's an Australian lobster. Three hundred dollars a piece. This must be your first time trying one, right?

Then she pointed at the grouper.

Oh my, you even ordered the coral grouper! That's what, eighty dollars a plate?

And Buddha Jumps Over the Wall too.

Wow, wow, wow. Ma'am, this trip was really worth it for you all, wasn't it? Everything you've never seen or tasted before, all in one sitting!

My mom could take a lot, but even she could hear the mockery dripping from every word.

Her face hardened. She didn't say another word.

Sandra, what the hell is that supposed to mean? My fists clenched at my sides.

Sandra laughed. Oh, relax, Amanda. I'm just making conversation with your mom!

I mean, your parents have spent their whole lives out in the country. They've never had access to food like this. It's only natural they'd get a little overexcited the first time. No one's blaming them!

It's just, you guys ordered so much. If someone didn't know better, they'd think you'd never had a full meal back home!

I slammed my palm on the table and pointed at the door.

Sandra, you're not welcome here. Get out.

Sandra stood up, muttering under her breath.

She rolled her eyes at me on her way up.

Whatever. I was just telling the truth. If you don't want to hear it, fine.

At the doorway, she turned back one last time and called out to the room.

Just some friendly advice, sir, ma'am. Havenport isn't like your little country town. There are standards here for how people eat and act. Order that much food in one go, and people will talk.

Then she bolted.

My dad's face was ashen. My mom sat rigid, jaw tight, saying nothing.

My niece, sitting next to my sister, tugged at her sleeve and whispered, Mommy, did we really order too much?

I jumped in before anyone else could answer. No, sweetie. We didn't order too much at all. Don't listen to a word she said.

I never imagined that just because I'd spent all the money on my own card,

Sandra would use it as an excuse to humiliate my parents like that.

We sat in the room a while longer before finally leaving.

But the moment we reached the front entrance,

the floor manager came jogging after us.

Excuse me, ma'am. You still have an unpaid tab.

My parents both turned to look at me.

Amanda, didn't you already pay?

I was just as confused. I did pay. I swiped my card.

I pointed at the cashier from earlier. Ask her.

The manager handed me a bill. Your own table has been settled, yes. But there's another table that hasn't been paid for.

I looked down at the bill. It was Sandra's table.

The manager said, The woman told us to put it on your tab when she left.

I held that bill in my hand, shaking with rage.

Sandra hadn't gotten her free meal off my card, so she'd gone straight to shameless fraud instead.

She'd dumped a thirteen-hundred-dollar bill on me without saying a single word.

I handed the bill right back to the manager.

She and I are just coworkers. I never agreed to pay her bill. Whoever ate the food, take it up with them!

I turned to leave, but two security guards stepped into my path.

The manager's voice carried a note of apology. I'm sorry, but I don't care whether you're coworkers or friends. When she left, she made it very clear: you'd be covering the tab.

Our waitstaff saw the two of you talking at the register. You obviously know each other. Since she's gone, the bill falls to you.

I was shaking with anger.

She says I'll pay and you just take her word for it? Nobody thought to check with me first?

By that logic, any random stranger could walk in and stick their tab on someone else, and you'd all just go along with it?

The manager turned and looked at the young waitress standing behind him.

She kept her head down, her voice barely audible. I... I forgot to confirm.

The manager gave me a weary look. That was an oversight on our employee's part, I'll admit. But from what I can see, you and your coworker are on good terms. She even gave us your phone number when she checked out.

On top of that, after dinner she followed you into your private room. You two must be close.

Tell you what, I'll knock five percent off the total. Just settle it for your coworker, and let's not make things difficult for my staff.

I laughed.

He said I was making things difficult for him.

They hadn't bothered to verify a single thing before shoving a bill in my face that had nothing to do with me.

And now I was the one making things difficult.

Right then, my phone buzzed with a WhatsApp message.

I opened it. Sandra.

Don't think that just because you maxed out the card, you've got one over on me!

Consider this dinner a little lesson~

Followed by a smirking emoji.

Fine. Fine. Fine.

She was banking on the fact that my parents were here, that I wouldn't cause a scene, that I'd just swallow the loss and shut up.

Not a chance.

I picked up my phone and dialed 911.

Hi, yes. Someone dined and dashed at a restaurant and stuck the bill on me.