Before I could respond, a saccharine voice floated up from behind me.
"Oh, they're here already?"
I turned around. Mercedes, of course.
She stood with her arms crossed, looking thoroughly pleased with herself.
"Come on, Matilda. The drinks are already here. All you have to do is settle the tab. You're not really going to make this poor delivery guy run back for nothing, are you?"
Her words were wrapped in politeness, but her tone dripped entitlement, as if spending my money were the most natural thing in the world.
I stared at her, cold and unblinking.
"Who told you I agreed to this?"
Mercedes blinked, all wide-eyed innocence.
"Everyone's been waiting. I figured last night was just you blowing off steam. You wouldn't seriously embarrass the whole department over a few dollars, would you?"
The words barely left her mouth before several colleagues had already torn open the bags.
I almost laughed. The bill hadn't been paid and they were already helping themselves. Did they really take me for a pushover?
I pressed my hand down on the bag, and my voice dropped to ice.
"You want afternoon coffee? Fine. Whoever drinks, pays. But don't pin it on me. I'm not covering a single cent."