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  The Right Swipe

  An Online Dating Romance

  By:

  Amanda Horton

  Chapter 1

  Boston, Massachusetts…

  Veronica switched her picket sign to the other hand and started down the sidewalk for what felt like the hundredth time. She and some of the graduate students at the local law school were protesting outside the Uber headquarters. Recent allegations had been made against the company and the toxic culture that existed within the executive ranks. Several women had filed sexual harassment suits against the “establishment” at some of the big tech companies, and Uber just happened to be the latest. The tech companies denied having done anything wrong, but so far, several dozen women had come forward up and down the East Coast with similar complaints.

  Veronica had graduated from Harvard Law School several months prior with honors and a goal in mind to champion women in the workplace. Veronica wanted to make the world a better, safer place for all women. She’d been following stories of women who had been mistreated and harassed in their place of work. When news of the Uber complaints had come out, Veronica knew this was her chance to do something. Picketing was the fastest way to gain the attention of those on the inside, as well as those who may be just passing through and see the signs.

  She walked a few feet more and then found herself once again standing toe-to-toe with the security guard for the building. The third time was a charm, right?

  “Miss, I’ve asked before, and I’m only going to ask once more. You are trespassing on private property, and you and your cohorts need to leave immediately.”

  “Cohorts?” Veronica repeated sarcastically. “Did you hear that, guys? We’re cohorts.” She looked back at the guard and told him in a snotty tone, “At least we’re not cohorts in crime, like the president of this bank and the board of directors who are comfortable doing nothing while multiple women have had their entire lives disrupted.”

  “Miss…”

  “No! You can’t silence us. Justice needs to be served, and the president of this bank needs to be accountable for his actions. His power and stature in the community shouldn’t protect him from obeying the law like everyone else.”

  The security guard looked at her and then shook his head sadly. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He retreated inside the bank, and Veronica continued her march with her fellow protesters right behind her.

  She blew out her breath, noticing that even at midday, she could still see her breath because it was so cold. The New England states were known for their frigid temperatures, and they hadn’t disappointed this day. She switched hands again, rubbing her palms on her thigh to try and get the blood flowing. They’d been out here for two hours now, but she wasn’t going to back down until made to do so.

  “It’s pretty cold out here,” one of the guys with her commented as they passed one another on the sidewalk.

  “Yeah. It feels like the temperature has dropped in the last hour.”

  “That’s because it has. We’re doing this until 5 o’clock?” one of the girls asked.

  “That’s the plan.”

  “I’m tired, I don’t know how much longer I can stay out here,” one of the other girls said.

  “You can do this. Just think of the attention we’re bringing to the problem at this single company. These women deserve better,” Veronica encouraged. “All of you, chins up and lift your voices.”

  “What about the security guard’s threats?”

  “Well, if he makes good on them, we’ll deal with it.”

  “Maybe we should consider…”

  “We can do this,” Veronica interjected into the others’ complaints. “It’s time for the bigwigs at these tech companies to remember that NO means NO, and that just because there’s a woman around doesn’t mean she wants to hear ribald comments and innuendoes coming from her co-workers. Women need to be treated as equals and their workplace should be a safe place.”

  The others shared a look as they all continued walking, in a smaller circle now so that they could converse. One of the girls, an Asian named Cami, who had just graduated and was still trying to find her first job, started shaking her head. “Veronica, I can’t afford to get arrested over something like this. I support this cause, but I can’t even afford to pay my rent after next month. I need to find a job.”

  Veronica hid her frustration — it was unfair that when trying to do something for justice, one could get arrested — and then replied, “You should probably start deciding what you want to do, before the police arrive.”

  “I don’t have to think about it. I need to leave,” Cami told her.

  “Do what you have to do,” Veronica offered. She was frustrated that these people willing to fight for something good had come out in the cold to walk on a picket line and it might very well cost them a black mark on their record. It was wrong. Totally wrong.

  “Are you sure?” Cami asked, her eyes already going to where her vehicle was parked.

  Veronica smiled, “Cami, if you feel that leaving is in your best interest, please leave.”

  “I just don’t want to leave you without enough people…”

  “We’ll be fine.” Veronica replied with compassion.

  Cami handed her picket to Veronica and then said a quick farewell to the others before sprinting for her vehicle, and not a moment too soon. Three police cars pulled up and blocked both ends of the sidewalk and the street, wanting to make sure the protesters didn’t try to make an escape before they were properly chastised.

  “Alright folks, what seems to be the problem here?” the officer in charge asked as he got out of the vehicle, sticking his nightstick into his belt holster.

  The security guard was there with a ready answer. “Officer, these folks are refusing to leave. They’ve been out here for a couple of hours and are harassing our customers.”

  Veronica felt anger flare upon hearing his words. “We have not harassed even one of the bank’s customers. We’ve simply been walking with our pickets, in a peaceful protest against the bank president who is hiding behind his position and thinks he’s above the law.”

  The officer approached her and held out a placating hand. “Miss, I know you might have a strong opinion about the recent news, but this isn’t the way to see justice served.”

  “Oh? And what would you suggest? Before you embarrass yourself with some asinine suggestion, you should know I’m a recent law school graduate and probably know the law better than you do.”

  Veronica had grown up in a household where both of her parents were heavily involved in politics and the law. Her mother was a civil rights lawyer who specialized in women’s rights. Veronica had grown up watching her mother help women who were being mistreated or taken advantage of by their employer.

  When the letter of acceptance from Harvard had arrived, Veronica’s mother hadn’t been able to contain her enthusiasm. Her very own daughter had been accepted to the Harvard Law School. Veronica had been ecstatic as well.

  The officer didn’t seem impressed with her credentials, and instead pointed to the picket signs. “I’m going to have to ask you folks to put down your signs and go home. As you’ve already been informed, this is private property and you cannot infringe on private property without being guilty of trespassing.”

  “We are not trespass
ing; we are on a public sidewalk…”

  “Correction, the public sidewalk is out there next to the public street. Where you are standing is part of the bank’s private parking lot and, therefore, you are trespassing. Now, take your picket signs and get into your vehicles…”

  He left his statement open and Veronica stood facing him, prepared for what was sure to come next. “Or?”

  “Do you really want to make a trip downtown and have an arrest like this on your record?”

  “Did those women the president assaulted want to lose their jobs and their dignity? I think not,” she threw back at him, not willing to back down an inch.

  “Very well. Turn around and put your hands behind your back.” Veronica looked at her fellow protesters and told them, “You should all comply, there’s no reason for all of us to have this on our records.”

  They all looked dubiously at her, but the officer in charge stepped in to make sure they knew they were out of time. “Either take the bone she just threw you or turn and place your hands behind your backs.”

  They all gave Veronica sad looks and then took off for their vehicles. Veronica wasn’t surprised and she turned and presented her back to the officer. She didn’t mind getting arrested for a small trespassing charge, but she wasn’t willing to add resisting arrest to that charge.

  She was handcuffed, read the Miranda Rights, and then placed in the back of the officer’s cruiser. Two hours later, she was walking back out of the local police station with Steph O’Connor, her best friend, by her side. They had met at a social event held by the alumni association at Harvard. They’d both been forced to attend and had commiserated with one another over slices of cheesecake. They’d later become roommates and had so many things in common. Living as roommates had been easy.

  “Thanks for coming to bail me out. I’ll get you some money if you’ll take me by the ATM.”

  “Girl, I can’t believe you. Arrested? Again?” Steph gave her a shake of her head in disbelief.

  “It wasn’t my fault. We were peacefully protesting with picket signs…”

  “…on private property.”

  “Well…I know what I’m doing.”

  “Building a name for yourself at the local precinct,” Steph countered back.

  “You make it sound like having people talking about what happened today was the wrong. That’s when change can occur.”

  “Hey, as long as it works for you. I’m not judging.”

  Veronica chuckled, “Of course you’re not. Anyway, it’s over and we got some publicity. That’s what I was really after today. God, I’m hungry.”

  “Want to get something to eat before I take you to get your car?” Steph asked.

  “Yeah, about that. You’ll have to go into the parking lot and drive my car out. The bank is trying to get a restraining order against me. Best not to challenge that today.”

  Steph laughed and nodded, “I can do that. Where do you want to eat?”

  “How about Indian food? Curry Palace?” Veronica asked.

  “That sounds good, I didn’t eat lunch.”

  “Fabulous,” Veronica said and settled back in the car seat. Steph drove them to the family restaurant they’d discovered shortly after they had become college roommates. It had become one of their favorite haunts and they were well-known by the proprietors.

  “So, aside from some publicity, what else were you trying to accomplish today?” Steph asked as she navigated the rush hour traffic.

  “Well, getting arrested was at the top of the list,” Veronica told her, tongue in cheek. “But seriously, I just wanted to make sure the public doesn’t let up the pressure to fix things. These big tech companies seem to have their own operating code that is unjust, unfair, and demeaning to the many women who have helped make them successful.”

  They arrived at the restaurant and Steph pulled into the valet parking, tossing the keys to Keno, the proprietor’s teenage son. “Don’t scratch it,” she told him with a smile.

  “Would you even be able to tell if I did?” Keno asked in a teasing voice, giving her beat up sedan a dubious look.

  Steph laughed and shook her head. “Not at all.”

  “Hey, Keno. Your mom and dad working tonight?” Veronica called out.

  “Yeah. They saw you on the news getting arrested,” Keno warned her.

  “Great!” Veronica’s smiled. She was proud of being arrested for a good cause. If the law wasn’t working, change it!

  They stepped into the restaurant and were immediately swarmed by Bhanu and his wife Celeste.

  “Veronica! We saw the police arrest you,” Bhanu told her. “How are you?”

  “I’m fine, just hungry.”

  “Ah, well we can take care of your hunger. Come, sit and enjoy,” Bhanu led them over to a table that always seemed to be empty when they showed up.

  “Thanks. I know what I want. Steph?”

  “I’m following your lead,” Steph told her.

  Veronica nodded and then began to give Bhanu their order. She and Steph had been here so many times before, they had a standard list of items from the menu they ordered and shared. The menu items were served “family style” making them very easy to share. Saffron Rice. Chicken Tikka Masala. Fresh Naan Bread. Murg Makhani (Butter Chicken). And Black Lentils.

  “You must be hungry,” Steph told her as Bhanu walked away with their order in hand.

  Veronica gave her a rueful smile. “I didn’t eat breakfast or lunch.”

  “And not very smart. Why would you go on a picket line without eating anything?” Steph demanded.

  “I was running late…”

  “So, run a bit later and eat something.”

  “Yeah, I’ll keep that in mind. So, what’s up with you?”

  “My life is boring compared to yours,” Steph told her. “Any new guys on the horizon?”

  Veronica made a face, “Yeah, always. As you know.”

  “Well, come on. It’s been months since you broke up with what’s his face. The worm doesn’t deserve to have his name mentioned in your presence,” Steph told her.

  “I agree with you there. I haven’t seen him, but I hear he’s still dating the skank he cheated on me with.”

  “I hope his dick shrivels up and falls off,” Steph, her champion in times of need, said with a frown.

  Veronica nodded as their food arrived. The smells coming from the spicy dishes had her mouth watering in anticipation. “Looks good.”

  “You know what else would look good?” Steph asked. “A really handsome guy sitting next to you.”

  “I don’t have time to mess with dating. The issues these women are facing in the tech industry need to be dealt with. You would think that these progressive tech companies would have realized by now that a double standard for men and women was unacceptable.”

  “I’m sure you’ll make sure they all realize that in short order. Maybe you’ll even meet someone you like while you’re championing women’s rights. You need to start dating again.”

  Veronica shook her head. “I disagree. Every guy I’ve met is the same in so many ways. I want something fresh and new. I want to meet someone different. Until I do, I have no interest in shopping around for a new guy.”

  “If you’re not shopping around, how do you expect to find him? Is he going to just fall out of thin air?” Steph teased.

  “You never know. I can only hope,” Veronica said with a cheeky grin. “Until then, I have plenty of other things to think about. Starting with finishing off this amazing food. Bhanu’s cook has knocked it out of the park, once again.”

  Later that night, as Veronica brushed her hair and prepared for bed, Steph’s words about finding a guy to date came rushing back to her. While she agreed that right now her life was lackluster in the dating department, Veronica also wasn’t willing to start bar hopping in order to find someone to hang out with.

  Being alone isn’t so bad, she thought. At least I don’t have to worry about finding out I’ve been lie
d to while my boyfriend runs around behind my back and sleeps with his co-worker. I can live the rest of my life without having to go through anything like that again. For sure.

  Chapter 2

  Joel’s legs were burning, but he didn’t slow down or give into the pain, he kept pumping his arms, running for the end zone, turning at the very last minute and launching himself into the air, his hands grabbing the football and then pulling it into the shelter of his armpit as he crashed back to the ground.

  “Oomph!” he felt the breath rush from his body, but it only lasted a moment and then he was up, celebrating another great catch.