She leaned back casually, not quite putting distance between them but not quite inviting either. Her eyes danced with amusement, a mischievous glint in them.

"Oh, I bet you would love that. Too bad I didn't invite you here for your...charms." She gave him a once-over, a smirk playing on her lips. "But by all means, humor me. Let's see if your wit is as impressive as your ego."

Her tone was teasing, but there was an underlying edge. She was still assessing him, testing him.

She chuckled, a low, husky sound that sent shivers down his spine. She traced a finger along the rim of her glass, her gaze never leaving his.

"Cocky, aren't we? You don't know anything about me yet. And here I thought I'd have to drag you out by your ego." She took a sip of her drink, her eyes sparkling with challenge.

"But alright, let's play your game. I like a man who can keep up with me." She leaned back, giving him a slow once-over, her gaze lingering on certain parts before meeting his eyes again.

"Tell me something about yourself, Nancey Havens. Let's see if you're as interesting as you think you are."

Her lips quirked up in a half-smirk, her eyes glinting with amusement at the challenge in his voice. She crossed her legs, settling back into the booth.

"Oh, I could ask you the same thing." She toyed with her drink, swirling the liquid around in her glass. "But if you must know, I'm here for work. The kind that doesn't involve...entertaining clients." She raised an eyebrow, her tone laced with sarcasm.

She set her drink down, leaning forward slightly. "And you? What brings a man like you to a place like this? Looking for trouble? Or just a good time?" Her eyes flashed with mischief, but there was a serious undertone to her words, as if she was testing him.

She rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

"Oh, please. Spare me the smooth talk." She leaned back, folding her arms across her chest. "You're here because you want something. And I'm not talking about me, as much as you'd like to think otherwise."

She held his gaze, her expression serious. "I called you here because I have a job. A dangerous one. And I need someone with your...talents to help me pull it off." She paused, letting the words hang in the air. "So, are you interested? Or would you rather waste more time flirting with me?"

She chuckled, shaking her head. "You're insufferable. But I'll bite. Here's the deal: there's a new player in town, dealing in some seriously messed up Braindance technology. We're talking mind control, memory manipulation, the works. I want to put a stop to it."

She leaned forward, her voice low and intense. "But I can't do it alone. I need someone who knows their way around tech, someone who can keep up with me. And preferably someone who's not afraid to get their hands dirty."

She fixed him with a hard stare. "So, Nancey Havens, are you in? Or are you just here for the conversation?"

She gave him a sharp smile, nodding in approval at his response. She leaned back, her expression turning serious.

"Alright then. The first step is intel. We need to find out who this new player is and where they're operating from. And that means digging through some old connections and making a few new ones."

She paused, her gaze assessing. "It won't be easy. We'll be sticking our noses where they don't belong, and that means taking risks. Are you prepared for that?"

She held his gaze, challenging him to back down. "Because once we start down this road, there's no turning back. It's all or nothing, Nancey Havens. Can you handle that?"

She smirked, shaking her head. "You're a cocky one, aren't you? Alright then, hotshot. The pay is good, but the work is hard. You'll earn every cred."

She leaned forward, pulling out a small data chip from her pocket and sliding it across the table. "This is our starting point. It's encrypted, but I'm sure a genius like you can crack it."

Her eyes sparkled with challenge. "Once you have the info, meet me at the drop point tomorrow night. And don't be late." She stood up, smoothing out her clothes.

"Oh, and Nancey Havens?" She paused, looking back at him over her shoulder. "Try not to get too attached to the idea of a fun night. This is business. Got it?"

She rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Keep telling yourself that, hotshot. Just remember, I don't mix business with pleasure. Not unless absolutely necessary."

She turned to leave, then paused, glancing back at him. "And Nancey Havens? Don't think I won't have my eye on you. One wrong move, and you're out. Understood?"

With that, she strode out of the booth and disappeared into the crowd, leaving him alone with his thoughts and the encrypted data chip. The night was young, and the game had only just begun.

As Nancey Havens disappeared into the neon-lit streets of Night City, Judy couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement mixed with apprehension. She trusted her instincts, but she knew better than to let her guard down. This was dangerous territory, and she needed someone she could rely on, even if he was a bit too cocky for her liking.

Back in her apartment, Judy booted up her main rig, the hum of the machines filling the room. She inserted the data chip into the reader, watching as the information began to decrypt.

This was just the beginning. Judy knew there would be challenges ahead, obstacles to overcome. But she was ready for them, determined to put an end to the illegal Braindance technology before it could cause any more harm.

*And if she happened to have some fun along the way with a certain charming stranger...well, that was just a bonus.

The next night, Judy stood at the drop point, a grimy alleyway behind a seedy bar. She checked her watch, tapping her foot impatiently. Nancey Havens was late, and that annoyed her. She prided herself on punctuality, and she expected the same from her partners.

She was about to send him a message when she heard footsteps approaching. She turned, her hand automatically going to the pistol tucked into her belt, only to relax when she saw Nancey Havens rounding the corner.

"Took you long enough," she said, her tone sharp. "I don't wait for anyone, got it?"

She held out her hand, palm up, waiting for him to hand over the decrypted data chip. Her gaze was intense, challenging him to argue with her.

"You better have some good news for me, hotshot. I'm not in the mood for excuses."

Judy raised an eyebrow, taking the data chip from his hand. She slipped it into her pocket without looking at it, her eyes still locked onto his.

"Overtime, huh? I hope you have something good for me, because I don't have time for games." She took a step closer, invading his personal space. Her voice lowered to a near whisper.

"Let's get one thing straight, Nancey Havens. I'm in charge here. I call the shots. You follow my lead, or you're out. Understood?"

She held his gaze for a long moment before stepping back, breaking the tension.

"Now, show me what you've got. And it better be worth my time."

She folded her arms across her chest, waiting for him to elaborate on the decrypted data.