Call Crystal to brainstorm programming

You feel like an idiot because Crystal is probably the worst professional programmer you know, but you figure you can kill several birds with one stone.

First, you can practice your talking with women. Second, you can actually do some brainstorming with another programmer. Third, you can see if she has some insights into what's going on at MicroStuff, why they gave you that weird and indirect job offer, and why their security guards are warned against you. And fourth, you can get a female perspective on programming interfaces. Because Jeremy blew you off when you tried to discuss it with him and you suspect most male programmers are too anal to really go with the whole hacking the sim theory.

Your first attempt to get through to Crystal at MicroStuff is a complete bust. The MicroStuff PBX blocks your call and gives you a rude announcement about your number not being welcome in their company.

So, you fire up your laptop, engage your VPN service and go for a chat.

"Yeah?" Her face comes into focus on your screen while you leave your own camera turned off. Not just her face, either. Her camera angle is perfectly placed to give you a nice view of her cleavage. Shit, do you think she does that on purpose?

You find yourself tongue tied and staring.

"Who is this?" she demands.

"It's Mike," you whisper. "Can we meet."

"Uh, we're not supposed to talk with you."

"Yeah, I figured that out. So?"

"You'll owe me."

"Fair enough."

"Fine. Meet me at Grind and Love It in twenty."

"I can do that."