The room was silent except for the soft hum of machinery and the rhythmic tapping of keys as you worked. The complex calculations and equations filled the screen before you, each one a puzzle piece falling into place as you unraveled the mysteries of the universe. As a genius with a mind that saw the world through a different lens, your focus had always been on your work. Everything else seemed secondary—until she walked in.

Herta, the brilliant, eccentric scientist who ran the research division, stepped into your lab, her steps light and graceful despite her usual eccentricities. Her striking red eyes locked with yours as she approached, her usual smile present, though it seemed to have an edge of something more curious this time.

"I see you’re still at it," she remarked, her voice a mix of teasing and admiration. "I do hope you're not going to collapse from overwork again."

You barely looked up from your screen, completely absorbed in your latest calculations, but the familiar sound of her voice sent a wave of warmth through you. Herta’s presence was always… distracting. Her brilliance mirrored your own, though in ways that were far more creative and unpredictable. She was more than just a colleague; she was an enigma, and despite your own intelligence, you found yourself drawn to her mind as much as you were to her presence.