What would you think if friends said/did this?

[Earlybird]

A company I do some work for is based on top of a hill with a beautiful view of the city centre. Every year the president of the company hosts a 4th of July party (we're in America). There is a lovely catered buffet supper, live music, activities for the kids and the evening will end by watching the fireworks display put on by the city.

I invited a family who are fairly new to the area to join me, thinking they'd enjoy it and that perhaps they don't have anything else organised. They accepted the invitation.

I've just had a phone message from the woman asking me to join them for supper tonight at a restaurant 'so we don't have to rely on the catered food being decent at the event'. They then propose that we go on to the party and participate in the festivities.

What would you think if you'd had that phone call?

Have now had 2 messages from her offering to pay me for the evening - presumably she thinks I purchased tickets for them as my guests at the evening supper/event.

Interesting that she seems to know it was out of order and doesn't want me to be out money (which I'm not), but still doesn't seem to understand their behaviour was quite rude.

TBH, I am not very interested in returning her call/email. Don't want to have an awkward conversation, but don't want to pretend it didn't happen either. Not much in between.

Would you say anything, and if so, what?

I would say that the evening was hosted by your company so no charge and not be in a hurry to co anything with them again.

Yes, agree with what 5 says...keep it all above board and factual.

Maybe she is offering to pay because she saw that it was a much higher standard than she anticipated and is thinking you must have forked out a lot...or she is being a bit snidey as in 'why do you care if you're not paying'? Do you think she sensed you were annoyed or has read this thread?!!

no, she doesn't know if I paid for the meal or not - hence (imo) the offer/guilt.

And no chance she's seen this thread, as I'm in America and she's American.

She is quite privileged, and so I suspect expects a 'higher standard' most all the time - which makes it quite difficult to reciprocate (and she is generous, so my intention was for this to be a chance for me to 'host').

I'm still a bit flabbergasted that my offer of a nice evening out turned into something else entirely.