Violet had always believed that men were dishonest. As a radio host, she had heard countless heartbreaking stories that only reinforced her belief. So, when her coworker James asked her out, she was hesitant but decided to give him a chance.
Their dinner date was unexpectedly pleasant. The restaurant was cozy, the music soft, and James was charming. For the first time in years, Violet felt herself lowering her guard. She laughed at his stories, enjoyed his company, and almost—just almost—considered that maybe, not all men were the same.
But just as James excused himself to step away, Violet’s phone rang. She glanced at the unknown number, debating whether to answer. Curiosity won.
“Hello?” she said.
A woman’s voice hesitated on the other end. “Hi, I’m Jane. Sorry to call out of the blue, but I’m looking for James. He hasn’t come home, and your number was the only one I found. Is he with you?”
Violet’s stomach dropped. “Who are you?” she asked cautiously.
“I’m his girlfriend.”
Violet’s fingers tightened around the phone. Without a word, she ended the call, grabbed her purse, and walked out of the restaurant without looking back.
The next day, at work, James greeted her with a warm smile, but she ignored him.
“Violet, what’s wrong?” he asked, confused.
She turned to him, her expression cold. “Your girlfriend called me last night.”
James paled. “Wait, what?”
“I don’t have time for liars,” she snapped, sitting down at her desk and putting on her headphones. “Now, let’s get to work.”
For the rest of the day, James barely spoke. His usual humor was gone, replaced by a tense silence. That evening, as Violet left the station, she saw a woman waiting outside. She recognized her voice immediately—Jane.
“James, we need to talk,” Jane demanded.
James sighed, his patience clearly worn thin. “Jane, we broke up months ago. Why are you still doing this?”
“But I love you!” she cried. “I can’t let you go!”
James shook his head. “You lied to her. You ruined everything.”
Violet, hidden behind a corner, watched the scene unfold. She felt a mix of guilt and surprise. Had she been too quick to judge?
When Jane finally stormed off, James sat on the station steps, rubbing his face in frustration.
Violet took a deep breath and stepped forward. “James…”
He looked up at her, sadness in his eyes. “You heard?”
She nodded. “I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions.”
James gave a small, tired smile. “Maybe next time, you’ll let me explain first.”
She hesitated, then smiled slightly. “Maybe.”
