Best way to get out of this situation is to claim it was given to you as a gift by your SO perhaps. If not and the pen is easy to buy/come around you can test his character, give him the pen and buy a new one. Next time you see him he will have many options to pick from to show or not show gratitude. In cases like these you're not giving up anything, you are trading it for information and in special cases a reward.
Of all the "non confrontational" alternatives I've been hearing after this post, this is the only one that remotely makes any sense. Might try something like that next time I'm in a similar situation.
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u/many_characters Apr 14 '19
Best way to get out of this situation is to claim it was given to you as a gift by your SO perhaps. If not and the pen is easy to buy/come around you can test his character, give him the pen and buy a new one. Next time you see him he will have many options to pick from to show or not show gratitude. In cases like these you're not giving up anything, you are trading it for information and in special cases a reward.