Tackling Errors

"Good morning everyone! Sup?" I offered my greeting and settled on the spare desk. "Uh, who are you? And where is Bennett?" David asked me as he gave me a cup of coffee. Even silent but nice Mr. Hannigan was looking up from his desk. Chloe rushed in out of nowhere.

"Oh My God! Cass, you look fantastic! You went from plain Jane to Cool Cazz. What happened?" Chloe is chatty but funny from accounting and pretty much everyone knows that Chloe has a thing for oblivious David.

"Uh, Nothing I was reading my contract yesterday, and I found out that technically I am still not a Grey employee hence the formal dress code can go to hell. I was just bored, I guess. Anyway, I have a surprise." I quickly removed the contents from my bag. A unicorn soft toy, a fruitcake, and a happy birthday card I made for Andrea.

"This is awesome, Andrea is going to love it!" Chloe said as she brought her card and present it onto the table. The others brought flowers and goodies onto the table as David and Chloe started organizing. I walk towards the reception, Andrea was sitting down with eyes to her laptop as always with her tight and perfect chignon.

"Hey Andrea, will you come with me for a second, there's an issue I wanted to show you."

"Miss Bennett, I cannot Mr. Grey's meeting is soon about to start, I cannot leave my desk now."

"Oh, Don't you start with your Miss Bennett schtick now come with me or else I will mess up all your filing system." "Okay Okay. Just for 5 minutes." I beamed as I dragged her with me to the central office.

"SURPRISE!" "Happy Birthday Andrea!" I wished and hugged her. She seems shocked. Now that's what I call the Cassie effect. "Thank you! I did not know how you did this, Cassie. How'd'you find out?" As she picked up the unicorn soft toy, I got for her. "I hacked into your system and the rest is history." "You, what!" Andrea gasped and I winked and laughed out loud. "Joking, Remember we went drinking one night, and you got super drunk and when I asked you your birth date, you spilled it so easily. No hacking needed." We were eating cake and just hanging around when the Darth lord appeared out of thin air. "Andrea! I have been calling you for those JP reports, and what the hell you are doing here?"

"I'll put them on your desk right away, Mr. Grey." Andrea quickly rushed towards her desk and everyone scurried off to their desks. "Are you kidding me?" I said. "Can't you do this yourself, I mean It's Andrea's birthday, and you had to do your thing and ruin it. Can you not at least give her a day off?" I scoffed at his arrogance. He looked around and then back at me. "I'll go talk to my assistant and go do your work, Miss Bennett." "Dickens!" I whispered and grabbed my bag and locked myself into my workspace. I fired up my laptop and monitored the errors Dad talked about. It was true. If I focused on the current frame as I progressed at a turtle's pace. I made several notes and explained to Barney the problem I am facing. She just loves to flaunt her lavender on me. She's a good listener for a plant. I am going crazy. I put on my headphones and filled up the 3rd whiteboard. Oh, I forgot to mention that my entire workspace walls are writable. I like to look at them together and unravel the tangles. If not, I'll read the science magazine or solve math problems Dad set out for his students. I love doing those.

My phone rings..'I found love.." Perfect by Ed Sheeran. It's Ashley, my funky roommate at MIT/Bestfriend/mentor/bodyguard. "Ash! How are you?" I settled down on the floor and stretched my sore legs. "Cassie! I am doing fine but I want you back soon as possible, I miss your glorifying beauty and lectures. If I become a complete cynic and move to politics like a dad then the blame is on you!" She argued. I laughed hard at that statement, Ashley is a headstrong activist and Political Science student, she wants her own column and perhaps an editor someday in a major news agency. "Okay, Miss Ashley Copperman I am coming sooner alright, I have arranged a good temp for my absence and you're already cynic so I have no hand in that, anyway how are things between you and Xavier?" She went quiet. "Hey, you okay sweetie? What's wrong?" I asked her. "We fought, Cassie and I broke up with him." Her voice went from light to muffled. She was crying. "Why Ash? You both were madly in love and you said it yourself!"

I got up and watered Barney. Suddenly I felt too heavy from the office walls. Xavier was super nice to Ashley on campus. "Well, Xavi asked me to move in with him in his apartment and then I thought he was joking because we've been together for eight months, I said it was too fast and the argument escalated and I had enough so.." She went silent. "Oh, Ashley. It scared you. It happens when good things happen to you after a long time. You have been through so much last year, your brother's death, your idiotic cheating ex and now things are finally working out and it's normal to feel like that Ash, but Ashley you still love him and miss him. Don't you?" Ashley mumbled yes. "Okay, I wish I was there, but you know what? let's do our ritual, A pint of ice-cream and popcorn and a good rom-com. alright? I will do the same here and I'll video call you once I reach home." "Okay, but promise me you'll only eat low-fat ice-cream, I only have that in my fridge, Cassie!" Now that's my friend! "Okay, Promise. Bye now. Take care." "You too, Don't work too much! Bye"

I sat down for an hour next to Barney and worked on the errors again on my laptop With little tweaks and polishing. My borderline ordinary project will be a freaking masterstroke. My stomach made an ungodly sound I glanced at my watch. Shit! I missed lunch. I checked my Whatsapp and there's a thank you with several happy emojis from Andrea. She liked the unicorn! She had told me how she loved drawing my little pony and unicorns covered the walls of her bedroom when she was a kid. She got a day off, perfect!! I texted Xavier and gave him a small formula to win Ashley back instantly. As much as Ashley liked to pretend cool she is super possessive and if I tell her Xavier is seeing someone she will be a raging volcano and seek him out to kill him. Then Xavier can explain our diabolical plan and hopefully, everything will be A-Okay.

I texted all of this while I was heading out to grab a quick bite from the nearby cafe when I crashed into someone. "Ow!!" I spotted two perfectly chiseled toned legs in strappy heels and looked up and it's the Latino heiress! Shit! Gisele Santino. "Sorry, I was preoccupied." She was wearing an emerald green slip dress with diamond studs with her lustrous hair down. "Security!" She yelled. What the hell? Harvey came running as Gisele looked extremely displeased. "Excuse me?" I squared up my shoulders. Honestly, she looked a little shorter than I imagined and best craftwork of Botox in her scarlet lips. "This intruder just crashed into me. Kick her out! This is your fault you let ANYONE inside, you should be glad it was me and not Vincent Grey." She said to Harvey. I could not control my laughter as I skipped closer to Harvey and put my hand over his shoulders. "Yes! Harvey Imagine if it would have been Mr.Grey!" The poor woman got confused by my choice of outfits. Boomers have always been slow-learners.

"Let me introduce myself, My name's Cassiopeia Bennett, Creator, and developer, GreyX IT/Mechanics team. I am happy to see you care too much about Mr.Grey." I smirked. "Gisele Santino, I am Mr. Grey's girlfriend. So, I can have you fired in minutes." She flipped her hair over her shoulders as Mr.Grey arrived at the scene. "Good for you! Miss Santino. My hearty congratulations on that. " I laughed, and I was about to leave and a thought came to my head, I turned around. "If I were you, Miss Santino, I'd rather focus on the falling stocks of your father's company and keep tissues handy just in case. You two have a wonderful day!" Mr.Grey was looking at me with a stern expression. I don't care, but nobody gets away easily from the Cassie effect! I ordered coffee and bagels and checked my mails. I need to go to the Seattle Skating club in the Olympic view arena, maybe skating will help me calm down from this insane workload.

I was jotting down the idea I just had in rearranging the program and the microchip design. I looked at my clean hands, I wish I could work at a garage again, even if it was not very women-centric. I love machines and I love to know how they work. If only I can make something mind-blowing and win The Alan Turing Award like my dad, it will be the best day of my life.

Alan Turing's work during the Second world war is immensely inspirational, a cryptanalyst, mathematician, and computer scientist. It intrigued me a lot especially after Dad won the award even after many many difficulties with Mom and me. A dark figured overshadowed me.

"Miss Bennett" It's Boss Man AGAIN!! What now? He sat down.

"Thanks to your smart mouth, my date went away and I couldn't discuss the ongoing shipping deal." His eyes were steel gray.

His musky cologne was kinda nice.

"Big whoop, if she went away that easily then maybe she lost her interest." I folded my idea tissue and put it in my pocket.

He straightened his silk gray tie and said

"since you have been nothing but a nuisance lately you have to show me your final research, proposal, and prototype before midnight or you're done. "

WHAT THE FUCK!!

"You can't do that! That's unfair! I don't even know why are you after the Santino Shipping? When they have had family disputes and 14 pending lawsuits filed by the public regarding drugs. Mr.Santino himself is old and cannot control much unless you want to replace him, is that it?"

"You have a deadline, Miss Bennett." He got up and answered his call.

Ugh, he is such a horrible person.

Dickenson!!!

I rushed back to my workspace and laid out my charts. I asked David to help me out with organizing the paperwork.

I want to prove him wrong. I know I'm right about this.

David gave me a lift back home as I used my 3D pen to finish the microchip.

I removed the tissue and observed the design I reinvented. It's much more compact but complicated, like a filigree work. But with a fiber coating, this will be just awesome. My wrists were tingling as I put on the stress band I have, I might develop carpal tunnel. I pushed my specs up on my nose and worked hard on the design.

The program was ready for testing. Only if I get the response. I sent the program to one of my classmates, Ismael who has a hearing disability but he is very passionate about computers. Now once he sends his feedback, I'll be back on track.

I printed out the logistics and statistical analysis of my project. It was 9:30 by the time I finished the last touches. I shoved everything into my backpack and headed out.

Instead of waiting for a taxi to arrive, I hopped on Gertie and peddled towards southwest Avenue to Escala.

It started drizzling outside as I rushed towards the tower, Gertie was skidding and before I know it, I fell hard on my side.

Ow. Shit. The asphalt road is not a great place for Falling like an idiot. I got up and readjusted my black sweater, almost drenched and dirty. I bruised my left hand as I used to it take the brunt of my epic fall. Well, that's gonna hurt tomorrow.

I showed my ID pass and before the guard could say anything, "I work for Mr.Grey, he's expecting me. Can you call him down and tell Miss Gisele is waiting.?"

He placed a call, and as I waited in front of the elevator, he arrived.

He was wearing a brown suit! And a black shirt, no tie!

"Miss Bennett. I thought it was Gisele. ,"

I quickly stepped inside the elevator before he could do anything.

" I lied if I told you it was me you would have kicked me out, probably. " I was shivering a little but I didn't want him to see my weakness.

"Miss Bennett I am busy. I see you have finished it but I have people for dinner."

"Cmon I will hardly take 10 minutes and I know you don't want me to embarrass you in front of the board right?"

He sighed and pressed his code. I guessed it was Grace.

"Only 10 minutes."

We stepped off the elevator and I have never felt so alienated as I did now.

The view of Seattle's skyline was just as beautiful there was a piano in front of it!

I was looking around before he interrupted.

" okay Start right away.

"Would you like some tea miss?? " a sweet-looking woman arrived with a tray. I think she was Mr. Grey's housekeeper.

"Oh, thank you. " I hoped the tea will warm me up. I took a sip and gave Mr. Grey the files.

I explained my fresh approach and microchip which is biodegradable, Grey enterprises thrive on ecological efficiency.

I have also developed micro-sensors for detecting mood connected through wifi or Bluetooth. It will help in identifying the user's sentiments and transcribe words accordingly into the computer.

He asked me several questions and corrected me on occasions. He also seemed excited and added a few ideas of his own.

I was prepared and done for tomorrow.

" This is smart work, Miss Bennett." He extended his hand. My left hand was killing me. I flinched.

"Thank you Mr.Grey. I'll go now." I collected my stuff and I was about to leave but He caught my wrist. I flinched from the pain. My fingers were covered in bandages.

"Wait, your hand is bruised."

"It's nothing, I am fine." I defended, but I wanted some pills.

He called for his housekeeper and ordered me to press the hot towel against it.

"Riding your stupid bicycle in this rain is very careless."

"Okay, Gertie is not stupid and I couldn't find a cab, I was in a hurry alright."

Why is he so angry about this? It's so silly.

" I should really go, it's getting late." I was about to leave again when someone arrived from upstairs. It was Mr.Grey's mother. Shit, I disturbed his time with his mom.

"Vincent , where are your manners? Sorry, dear, tell me your name. ,"

"Cassiopeia Bennett, I work for Mr.Grey in IT/mechanics. It's very nice to meet you ..." I said.

"You can call me Grace. I just served dinner. Please join us."

"I really don't want to intrude, I have already taken enough time of Mr.Grey as it is," I said.

"Well, Vincent, wouldn't you like her to stay?"

Grace cutely asked her son.

"Stay Miss Bennett." And moved forward to the dining table.

"Thank you."

We all settled down.

"I hope you like steak and pasta, I cooked it just the way Vincent likes it."

Grace said. The plate looked so gourmet

"Yeah, I don't mind." I took a bite, and it's so damn delicious. I ate some pasta and took a sip of wine, which went down so smoothly. I felt Mr.Grey was looking at me, but I didn't care. I know he's angry that I am here in front of his mom.

"So, Cassiopeia.."

"You can call me Cassie, Mrs.Grey."

"Cassie, so where are you from?"

"I am from Boston. But my great grandfather immigrated from Ireland."

I took another sip of the wine.

Mr.Grey was annoyed at this interaction, so I tried to eat faster.

"Boston is lovely. And you're studying there as well?"

"No, I'm in MIT, I moved from Boston and explore myself. "

"How nice! Are your parents in Boston ?"

" No, we both live in Cambridge. He's a math professor at Harvard."

"Oh, that's very impressive. Your mother must be so proud." She complimented me.

Was mom proud? I never got to find out.

"Actually, my mother was an Astrophysicist, she passed away when I was 11." I smiled a bit and took another bite.

"that explains your name, Cassiopeia. I didn't know about your mother." Mr. Grey added.

"My condolences," Grace asked me as I polished my plate.

"It's okay, I am going to visit my Dad as soon as possible after my finals. "I said and she seems pleased.

"See, Vincent, children visit their parents now and then. You should learn from Cassie. " Grace remarked as I awkwardly sipped wine. She asked what work I did for Mr.Grey and she suggested something incredible. "My husband and I together are hosting a gala auction for our foundation I'd like you to come, dear."

"Oh, thank you! I'd love to! Maybe I can auction my final product embedded in the laptop and auction it?" I added.

"That's a wonderful idea! I know Carrick is going to love it." Grace was super nice.

We shook hands, and I pressed the elevator button. "Vincent you should go drop Cassie at her house."

Mr.Grey was not having it. His lips morphed into a thin line.

"Oh no, I'll manage Mrs. Grey, I have already taken enough time as it is. Good night. "

"I am not letting you ride your bike in this weather. Let's go." He grunted.

"Good night dear," Grace said, and I greeted her as we went down to the garage.

There were so many cars, it was like a dream. The cars are so magnificent and sleek. I sighed, I can't even afford one. Soon, Cassie, I'll buy my car.

"What about Gertie?" I asked as I settled in the Audi.

"Taylor will deliver it to your address tomorrow. "

"Thank you." I looked at the features and the plush luxury of the R8 Audi.

" Wow, I can't even imagine how fast this beauty will be on an empty road. What's the horsepower?" I asked him to lighten the mood. Why is he so stern all the time?

"602 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque, and it blisters from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds." He answered me.

"Holy shit, I would love to buy myself one soon. Maybe customize it a bit with friends."

I typed in my address on the GPS

" You can do that? " he asked me. His eyes were wide.

" yeah, I have fixed so many cars of employees Mr.Grey. for extra pocket money." I chuckled as he took a smooth turn.

"I thought you were well off."

His voice lowered a bit.

" Yeah, sure after paying loans and mortgage from my freelance, I am comfortable but I need to earn more if I want to buy my Dad a car. It's not like I am broke but rent and everything costs so much so I don't really buy anything I don't need and cut corners sometimes. I don't want to depend on anyone, not even my dad."

I realized I spoke too much and bit my tongue. Why in the hell did I tell him so much? What an idiot I am.

"You live here? " he looked at the ancient building

"Yes, but its much better inside. Thank you Mr.Grey" I closed the door and walked up the steps. He watched me as I unlocked the door and went inside.

I felt woozy. I was smiling like an idiot.

I hurled my bag over my shoulders and walked into my apartment.

Tabby was waiting for me. How sweet.

"Tabby I met such a friendly person today. And she invited me to a gala! I can't wait !"

I did the last checks and texted Ashley.

Do you know what feels amazing after a week of diligent hard work? It's a weekend full of sleep, food, movies, and books. I can't slack off before my finals. I also made a few more copies of my microchip tomorrow, just in case. My mood sensors are quite a gem to behold. If only I can embed them onto a diamond or something and the diamonds could change color according to my mood. That sounds swell.

Tabby curled up next to me as I switched off my lampshade.