Page 7 of Semantics

“I’m sorry; whose office is this?”

Jen popped the candy into her mouth and said, “What about this Violet Roberts?”

“Russell.”

“Whatever. Why should I remember her?”

“I thought I’d mentioned her to you before.”

“Is she a customer?”

“She might be.” Stella scrolled up on the website. “She runs a language translation company or something and might be interested in buying our software. Probably to help with that whole translating thing. Anyway, when I was doing that semester abroad in Amsterdam my senior year, she was there. Total bitch.”

“Oh, wait.” Jen pointed at Stella, who stood up. “That one? The rich one you were always competing with or something?”

“Yeah, that’s her.”

“Why was I thinking her name was Vicky?”

“I have no idea. I don’t think I know anyone who goes by Vicky.”

“You do know someone who goes by Amber, though. Do not be late tonight, Stella. I like Amber for you. She’s nice and successful, ambitious, how you like, and funny.”

“Why don’t you date her, then?”

“I did, remember? Well, one date. No chemistry. I think she’d be good for you, though. She just got out of a relationship, but it was only a few months long, so not a big deal, and she said she was ready to finally agree to go out with you after I’ve been telling her that I think you two would hit it off for the past six months. Do not be late and make me look bad.”

“I won’t be late. My last meeting will be done at six, and she’s meeting me at eight, so I’ll be fine. But back to Violet.”

“Are you going out with her tonight at seven or something?”

“No, obviously. But I haven’t seen or heard from her in ten years, and now, she’s requesting a demo of our software. What do I do with that?”

“Nothing. Have one of the reps take it and pretend like you had no idea you even noticed. Why would you do anything about it? Also, Stella… bacon.”

“Jesus, Jen…” Stella closed her laptop. “Have you not eaten in a week or something?”

“I skipped breakfast,” Jen told her as she shrugged her shoulder. “And why are you obsessed with this Vicky?”

“Violet,” she corrected and grabbed her jacket.

“I’ve decided to call her Vicky,” Jen stated.

“And I am not obsessed with Violet,” Stella added. “I haven’t thought about her in years prior to seeing her picture. I looked her up a few times when I first graduated, but nothing since then.”

They walked out of her office, and Stella closed the door behind them.

“Oh, please. You know that’s a lie,” Jen countered.

“What?”

“She was your arch-nemesis for that award thing you wanted. You know you think about her all the time and wonder if you’re more successful or if she is.”

“That’s not true,” Stella argued. “And it wasn’t really an award. It was the best GPA in a tough program. I mean, there was–”

“I was a C student, so forgive me for thinking of the highest GPA as an award. Anyway, what are you wearing tonight?”

Realizing that she wasn’t going to get much out of her friend beyond anything that related to this blind date that Jen had set up for her the previous week, Stella decided to answer her questions about clothing possibilities and the restaurant she’d made a reservation at while she thought about that picture of Violet Russell on her computer screen.