When Sydney joined her new team, she just wanted to fit in—even if that meant joining expensive Friday lunches. Her colleagues, all on higher salaries, insisted on splitting the bill evenly. But Sydney, on a tight entry-level budget, ended up paying for meals she never ordered.

After being dismissed when she suggested separate bills, Sydney came up with a quiet revenge. Over the next few weeks, she began ordering multiple dishes—apps, mains, even takeout boxes. Suddenly, her pricey contributions caused everyone else’s share to rise.Finally, her teammates had enough. “Maybe we should just do separate bills,” Josh muttered.Sydney smiled. “That sounds fair.”From then on, she paid only for what she ate—and taught her coworkers a lesson in empathy and equality.