Chapter 819

chapter819

"Role model?"

"Yeah."

Owen Reynolds looked intrigued. "That sounds like there's a story behind it?"

Roseanne shook her head. "Not really a story-more of a disaster."

"Oh? Mind if I ask what happened?"

"It's no secret. Basically, there was a time when the double-check step was skipped, and someone ended up messing up a decimal point."

"That batch of data was Mamie's responsibility. When she found out, it was like the sky fell on her."

Owen couldn't help but be drawn in by the sparkle in Roseanne's eyes. "So what happened next?"

"Well, Scales caught the error right away. He spent two all-nighters fixing it, making absolutely sure everything was correct before uploading the new data."

Mamie had always struggled with her weight-she'd lose a little, then gain it right back. But during those two days, dealing with the data mess, she lost fifteen pounds and even started shedding hair.

Scales, who was usually a stickler for rules, actually gave her three days off for once, and didn't make her get up early to run like usual.

"By the way, Professor, was there something you needed today?"

Owen nodded. "There is."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a flash drive.

"All those obscure research papers you asked about last time-they're all on here."

Roseanne's eyes went wide. "You found them that fast?"

"I called in a few favors with friends overseas. The local databases didn't have them, but they were a lot easier to get abroad."

"Thank you. Now I owe you another favor."

He waved her off. "Don't mention it. It's not like I expect you to pay me back."

"But still, I feel bad."

Owen grinned. "Didn't you just buy me lunch? Plus, your grandma's home-cooked food. Really, I'm the one who owes you."

Owen spent the entire afternoon there.

At one point, Roseanne asked if he needed to get back to the lab.

He just shrugged. "Everyone's on break."

No wonder...

So Roseanne worked at her bench while Owen typed away on his laptop across the room, each quietly focused on their own tasks.

By the time Roseanne finally finished, it was nearly five.

"Heading home soon?" Owen asked as she tidied up.

She replied, "I'm having dinner at my grandma's tonight."

Owen, remembering she hadn't driven the past couple days, packed up his things and offered, "Let me give you a ride."

...

"It's almost six thirty-why isn't Anne here yet?"

Geneva stood by the front door, glancing at her watch, then peering out the window toward the driveway.

Neely Rodriguez tried to reassure

her.

"Don't

Anne to

worry. Corley said he told

come for dinner and she

promised she would. She'lkbe here."

Geneva nodded. "That's true. Anne's the kind of kid who, if she says she'll do something, she always follows through."

"Why don't you have a seat?" Neely said. You're going to tire yourself out pacing like that!"

Geneva huffed, "Corley told me this morning he wasn't busy at work, and the next thing I know he's calling to say there's some emergency, so Anne has to come by herself. I'd known, I would've arranged for a driver to pick her up!"

Neely shrugged. Emergencies are unpredictable. Besides, Anne's not a you really worried she'll

- SS Besides, Anne's not a

get lost?"

But Geneva ignored him, still fussing that Corley was unreliable.

"And you're no better!"

Neely blinked. "Me? What did I do?"

"All you do is fuss over your precious tea leaves. It's exhausting just to watch!"

Neely looked helpless. "What...?"

Just then, the sound of an engine came from outside.

"She's here!"