Chuckling with self-satisfaction to myself, I draw Cassandra's attention to me, a finger clasped on her chin and a thoughtful look in her eyes. She glances at the computer at my desk and then points to it.
“May I?” she asks, rolling out the chair behind the desk without waiting for my response.
“By all means,” I give the go-ahead, though it seems she doesn't need my invitation when she sits at the desk and opens up an incognito page on the internet home screen.
Watching keenly, my interest is piqued when she enters a portal I have never seen before.
“What are you doing, Cassie?”
She turns around, a steadfast look of discernment pulling taut at her usually soft, pretty features.
“I need coffee.” She swivels back to the computer, cracking her knuckles with interlaced fingers. “Strong. Two sugars.”
Stunned by her stern demeanor, I hang back and wait for her to cut the act and tell me that she's just joking. But whenshe doesn't and instead goes back to rapidly tapping keys on the keyboard with her tongue pressed to her cheek, I realize how serious she is.
I pick up the receiver and call the receptionist on my floor, ordering a double-shot espresso to be sent to my office. I can hardly fathom what Cassandra's up to until the screen loads and then opens to an unmistakable page.
“Government…” I murmur in shock. “Cassie… What are you doing…?”
A long, drawn-out breath leaves Cassandra's lips as she swivels to face me. “I'm hacking into the government satellite.”
A deep frown whispers across my face as I stare at her in horror. “That's…” I pause with a gulp. “... That's impossible, Cassie. What—”
I blink in disbelief, snapping my attention from Cassandra to the screen and then back to her.
She chuckles under her breath, completely oblivious to my very valid concern as she heads to the door and thanks my receptionist for the coffee. Coolly taking a sip, I can't wrap my head around her calmness.
“How is this possible?”
Cassandra swallows her sip of espresso, sets the cup down, and throws me a wide grin.
“You know that hacker whose help you were trying to get? Asuka?”
“Yeah… Asuka… Wait.” I shake my head. “How do you know her? I didn't tell you her name.”
“Well…” Cassandra walks up to me, placing a palm on my chest as she gazes deeply into my eyes, a glint of mischiefflashing by. “You're looking right at her,” she says, arms opening up at her sides as a wide smile spreads across her face.
“What?” My frown draws my eyes into a narrowed stare. “You'reAsuka?”
“Uh-huh!” she hums with a delighted grin.
Freezing on the spot, my eyes flicker to the computer screen, then back to Cassandra.
She'sthe hacker we'd been trying to hire?
How did I not see that coming?
“Now, if you'll excuse me…” She stoutly taps her hand on my chest before going back to the desk. “I'm about to break through the firewall.” Cassandra rolls the seat behind the computer and takes a deep breath. “Wish me luck.”
You don't need luck… I internalize, too stunned to speak the words when she begins typing in codes that allow her to bypass each layer of security. If I had been impressed before, then I'm mind-blown now, watching her in awe as she does the work only the smartest mind can accomplish.
All those times, I caught her in the Mysthaven library behind the computer and accused her of being a nerd…
This is what she was doing?
It all makes sense now as I watch her with amazement, rendering me speechless. I'd really underestimated her, and all I can do now is be mesmerized by this woman.
My Goddess… She's something else, tongue pressed to her cheek, and smoldering eyes narrowed at the computer screen as she hits keys rapidly to enter codes that take her further and further into government systems.