Chapter 17
Penny stopped to pick up some In-N-Out burgers and fries for her and Leonard and a couple of diet Dr. Peppers to drink on her way to pick him up, being very proud of herself that she arrived in his parking spot almost 3-minutes before 5 PM. Her Honey showed up exactly 3-minutes later, her waving to him as he approached, extremely excited to see him again even thought it had been only just over 4-hours ago that she had dropped him off. That short separation from him didn't deter her because as soon as he sat down next to her in the SUV she leaned over and wrapped her arms around his neck to give him a very long welcome kiss.
Leonard was a little surprised at her greeting and when they finally broke their kiss, he looked around to see the food and drinks she had in the car. "A welcome like that and then one of my favorite foods here? What did I do to deserve this?"
Penny smiled seductively, "Well taking me for a romantic overnight stay on the beach and rocking my world while we were there, will get you almost anything from this girl."
Leonard chuckled, "Romance Ninja strikes again."
Penny giggled, "I so want to stop you for saying such a nerdy thing but it is just too darn cute. Just promise me that you will only say that to me."
Leonard smiled and nodded, "Deal, I'm only your Romance Ninja."
Penny's smiled faded a little, "You're damn right, Hofstadter, if any other girl gets to meet the Romance Ninja, you are dead meat."
Leonard nodded, "Understood." he tried desperately to sound like Captain Kirk.
Penny now gave him a look, "You better understand or you and your starship are going to be stranded in the neutral zone forever." she then gave him a little giggle
Leonard just looked at her for a moment in surprise, "You got a Star Trek reference right...I love you so much." he then leaned over to kiss her, which she quickly returned.
After they broke their kiss Penny gave him another look, "Of course I know Star Trek references, you and the guys have made me watch that show like a gazillion times."
Leonard chuckled, "I'll turn you into a nerd yet."
Penny frowned, "That is what I'm afraid of. Anyway, do you want to go over to the university common area and sit outside and eat." she asked in a cheerier way.
Leonard nodded, "Yeah, it shouldn't be very busy this time of day so there should be plenty of tables available."
"Good, let's go." Penny then put the SUV in reverse and drove to the other side of campus to the common area where they had tables outside.
Since it was past 5 PM and most classes were over, there was not much traffic driving over and only a couple people sitting down at tables, so Penny was able to park close by for them to get out and eat. It was as Leonard was getting out that he now noticed the dress bag Penny had hanging from the driver's side back seat hook and he became curious as they walked to one of the empty tables to eat their dinner.
"Did you go shopping this afternoon?" he asked casually, just curious and not really concerned about her shopping, actually happy she didn't make him go with her because even though he loved her and being with her, clothes shopping was still something he despised.
"Yeah, Amy called me and we both went dress shopping, for Friday." she then looked at him as they sat down and started to open their burger and fry bags.
Leonard immediately assumed that the girls were going to have a girl's night on Friday and this would be the first girl's night out for them since Penny and him moved in together, so, Penny buying a new dress for that actually made him feel a little uncomfortable, for reasons he couldn't explain. "Oh...that's nice."
Penny could see the immediate sadness that passed over Leonard's features, which confused her, she had expected him to be surprised that she knew about the fundraiser, not be sad about something. She had to know why, "Is there something wrong, Leonard."
Leonard quickly shook his head, "No... why would you think that. I hope you girls have a great time Friday; you all haven't gone out in a while together."
Penny looked at him as it finally all started to sink in, he was thinking she was going out for a girl's night. She was still a little curious why that would make him sad but she wanted to correct him quickly, "I'm not going out with the girls on Friday, well maybe Amy, but the dress is for the fundraiser this Friday." There she finally got the surprised look she was expecting as his face quickly changed to stare at her.
"How did you find out about that?...Wait a minute, did Amy say something?...How does Amy know about it?" he babbled back.
Penny smiled, "Yes, Amy told me about it. It seems that Sheldon asked Amy to come with her so he could use her ability to get money from donors and make himself look good to the tenure committee."
Leonard's jaw slightly dropped, before he recovered to say. "That jerk!"
Penny nodded, then took a bite of her burger, chewing for a second before responding while still chewing, "I agree, so I'm coming to help you."
Leonard gave her a small smile, "Penny you don't have to do that, I know how bored you were at the last one you went to, years ago. This one will be just the same, boring talk about Physics and department needs, which I know you are not interested in."
Penny shook her head, "I am interested in anything that helps my man and I want to help you Leonard."
Leonard nodded but then looked at her, "Penny, I really appreciate that, but Honey don't take this wrong but since this will be about Physics and department needs what help do you really think you can offer?"
Penny looked him in the eye as she put a couple French Fries into her mouth with one hand while she started unbuttoning the buttons on her shirt with the other hand. She had been thinking about Leonard when she went home to change before meeting Amy to shop, so besides putting on a button up shirt and shorts, she had put on her tiniest and sexiest bra and panties she had, the bottoms being nothing but a tiny thong and the top be a stringy thing that barely covered up her nipples. Consequently, as she unbuttoned her shirt, she was wearing, it exposed a nice view of her cleavage, which she happily noticed did not go unnoticed by her boyfriend.
As Penny undid button after button, Leonard could swear she wasn't wearing a bra until she undid the button that showed a small strap going across her chest. Still, her exposed cleavage was making him breathe harder, he always thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world and when she did things like this, he was just putty in her hands, so when she undid the last button, just about the top of her shorts, he began to choke on the uneaten hamburger in his mouth. It didn't help his situation when Penny jumped up to help him her shirt opening even more to expose her barely covered chest to him as he continued to choke.
It took several seconds of patting Leonard on his back and then giving him some of his drink to finally get him to stop choking, Penny so concerned that she didn't even realize that her undone buttons and what they were exposing were slightly delaying that recovery. It was a good thing that they had picked a table the farthest away from anyone to notice them because no one heard or looked over at them as Leonard choked and Penny practically exposed herself while hurrying to help him. Even now with Penny sitting next to Leonard, their backs were to the other people there and no one was the wiser on what just happened.
Penny rubbed Leonard's back, now understanding that she had caused his choking. "I'm so sorry Baby, are you feeling better."
Leonard nodded and took another drink from his cup before looking again at her, "Penny don't you think that maybe you should button up your shirt."
Penny smiled a wicked smile at him, "Why Hofstadter, do you not want anyone else to see the girls." she said innocently while not too innocently rubbing one of her breasts against his arm that sent tingles through her that she hadn't really expected.
"I...I." Leonard sighed, "No, I don't want anyone else to see your breasts or anything else."
Penny smiled, then said quietly, "Good answer, Hofstadter." before she went back to her sexy voice, "So we are agreed that I may be a little help and you would like me to attend the fundraiser with you. Think carefully Hofstadter, the girls are enjoying their new found freedom." she then slight wiggled her chest next to him, exposing her chest more to him and accidently exposing one of her nipples from under its tiny bra covering which she was positive Leonard noticed by his sudden update of air.
"Agreed." Leonard quickly answered before taking another drink of soda.
Penny smiled and buttoned herself back up, before biting another chunk from her hamburger and popping a couple more fries in her mouth, obviously satisfied that she had gotten her way. She had just swallowed her food and taken a drink of her soda when she turned back to him and smiled, "This is nice, we should do this more often."
Leonard just looked at her with a solemn face, "I don't think I could survive us doing THIS more often."
Penny couldn't help the soda that came out of her nose as she burst out laughing.
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It was a few days later, Friday to be exact, that Leonard had been chased out of his own bedroom while Penny put on her clothes and makeup. He had a new dark suit that Penny helped him buy just two days before, telling him he needed to up his game and look like a man who knew what he was doing so that he could extract the maximum amount of money from the donors. Penny even spent a long time just picking out the perfect tie for him, that she said should give him something of a cross between a power tie and one that showed he was intellectual too. So, as he now looked at himself in the mirror, he had to agree she had dressed him up well, making a mental note that was another of the positive things about Penny, her fashion sense.
Nevertheless, like many times before, Leonard then wandered around in their apartment for the next 20-minutes waiting for his girlfriend to finish getting ready. He had wrongly thought, many times before that if she started earlier, she would be ready on time, however, she had proved that wrong, it didn't matter when she started getting ready because she was always late. It actually didn't bother him that much anymore; he had gotten use to the fact that was the way she would always be and to be honest it was a small annoyance to live with considering all the positives that Penny provided to him. That thought was reinforced when she he heard her coming down the apartment hallway to join him.
"WOW!" was all that Leonard could get out when he saw Penny finally emerge from the hallway from their bedroom, his eyes locked on her as she strode up to him.
Penny just smiled as she started to adjust his tie, when she got up to him, which really didn't need to be adjusted but satisfied her current need to touch him, the suit he was wearing making him look very handsome and sexy to her. "I guess I look appropriate enough then to come with you tonight." she then innocently commented to him, a small smile on her face.
"You look stunning." he managed to say as stared into her eyes.
Penny smiled a little wider, "Do I look conservative stunning or slutty stunning." she now bit her lip as she hoped it would be the first option because she really had searched hard when she had bought this cocktail dress she was wearing and she wanted it to be perfect for Leonard's fund raiser.
Leonard smiled a little more to her, "You look stunning in a sophisticated way, not slutty at all."
"Good." Penny was now beaming, she felt like she fully succeeded in pulling off the look she was aiming for and that made her feel really good.
"You look pretty stunning, yourself." she now told Leonard.
Leonard frowned, "Guys are supposed to look cool, handsome or distinguished."
Penny giggled, "Well I think you look stunning, my own personal James Bond."
Leonard smiled again, "Well if you think I look like James Bond, I guess I can accept stunning."
Penny giggled, "Let's go James, we need to wow them at the fundraiser and then get home early enough so that you can charm me out of my panties." she then leaned over and kissed his cheek, immediately bringing up her hand afterwards to wipe of the lipstick mark she left.
Leonard smiled even wider, "After you, Double-0 Eight."
Penny smiled even larger, "You are so getting laid tonight, James."
They then both giggled at the little game they were playing before leaving the apartment, their playful mood continuing through them walking in the door to the banquet room at the university, where the fund raiser was being held. It was then, when Penny grabbed Leonard's arm, a little bit of nervousness came over her, she really wanted to be a help to Leonard that night, something inside her wanted him to succeed in everything that he did, if felt like to her that his success was a success for both of them. It was with those thoughts she looked over at him, "Looks like a good crowd, let's get them tiger." she then gave him her best encouraging smile.
Leonard chuckled at her calling him tiger, she had been so cute and flirty ever since she came out of the bedroom dressed and she looked so...stunning, that he couldn't help feel happy at her being with him. "Well, we have to check in with the big fund-raising kahuna himself, before we go out and hunt on our own." Leonard explained, using the term 'hunt' to go along with her reference to him being a tiger.
"Really." Penny now giggled, "Does he point out the weakest in the herd?" she now asked, continuing their little game.
Leonard was really enjoying their little back and forth, it actually made him forget how nervous these fund raisers always made him feel, Penny's first acting like he was a secret agent and now a tiger on the prowl for funds, relaxing him and making the whole idea of trying to encourage wealthy donors to fund their projects now seeming like a game. "Actually, something like that, he already has some idea on who wants to donate money to what and he knows who needs more schmoozing than others, so you are very close in that he will tell us who in the herd to go after."
Penny giggled, she was actually enjoying herself with Leonard, they were making this a game and it was having the same relaxing effect on her as it was on Leonard, helping to get rid of some of the nervousness she had experienced when they first walked in. "Well then let's find the big kahuna and get this hunt underway." she told him, getting a chuckle from Leonard as they went to find President Siebert.
"What is she doing here." Sheldon blurted out, him being much taller than Amy allowing him to quickly notice the arrival and Penny and Leonard when they walked in. Sheldon and Amy had actually arrived early to the fund raiser, Sheldon's departure time to the event based on several worst-case scenarios that could be encountered on the way there, which of course none of them occurred resulting in the couple being early.
Amy had just been trying to explain to Sheldon how it was inappropriate to refuse to shake people's hands and then tell them he was only there for their money, when he blurted out his statement, so she was now curious what and who he was referring to. "Who are you talking about, Sheldon?"
Sheldon looked down at her and was about to admonish her about not understanding that he was obviously talking about Penny until he realized she couldn't see the entrance in her position. "Penny, she just walked in with Leonard."
"Really, Penny is here. Where is she?" Amy couldn't help being excited that her bestie was there and immediately got up on her tippy-toes to try and see where Sheldon was looking.
Sheldon couldn't understand why Amy's mood changed so fast, she had completely changed from lecturing Amy to happy-girly Amy, just because Penny was there, it was just Penny and Leonard, why would anyone get excited about them, like Amy was right now. However, since Amy was obviously height disadvantaged, he decided he needed to inform her what was happening, "They are going over to President Siebert, it appears."
"Really, Penny must have come to help Leonard secure funding grants tonight." Amy stated, then absentmindedly said, "That must have been the reason she bought that nice cocktail dress the other day."
Sheldon frowned, "Did she tell you she was coming to help Leonard?"
"No, I'm not sure she even knew about the fund raiser till I told her about it, she seemed surprised when I told her." Amy answered.
Sheldon thought about it for a moment, "What was she planning to do, serve drinks to the donors?" he then said sarcastically.
Amy now frowned, "Sheldon, Penny is a very socially adept person, she is probably going to help Leonard when he talks to people by keeping everybody talking and engaged in the conversation."
This made Sheldon frown, he was there and had Amy there to help so that he could show the tenure board how he could bring lots of money in by flaunting his genius, which he expected to impress the donors greatly making them donate large sums to the university. He brought Amy with him to help with the difficult social interactions he expected to encounter, plus since she was very successful in obtaining funding herself, give him pointers on difficult donors, after all she was almost as intelligent as himself. "I fail to see why any donor would be interested in Penny when they have come to this event to donate money to real science, which Penny of all people is the least knowledgeable."
"Sheldon, Penny is pretty and she knows how to talk to people, many of these donors have come here to mingle as well as donate money and Penny is the best mingler I have ever known." Amy explained
Sheldon huffed in response, "Well we need to avoid those people and only deal with the ones that are here to donate real money to science and not here to party." him providing air quotes to Amy at the word 'Party'.
Amy sighed, she wondered if Sheldon would ever understand people, he was certainly not doing a very good job of understanding them at the moment. Hopefully before the night was over, she could instill some of what she knew about people and fund raisers to him, and maybe she happily thought, she could spend some time talking to Penny. "Sheldon, why don't we just wander around and find some of those science donors you were talking about." she finally told him.
Sheldon just nodded, "Okay Amy, you lead the way." The thought of talking to more people disgusted him but he had to get more money tonight than Leonard, he was a real scientist after all and Leonard was just a mediocre lab rat.
"Good evening President Siebert, I don't know if you remember but this is Penny, my girlfriend." Leonard introduced himself and Penny as soon as Siebert was done talking to a couple of donors.
Siebert, who had a serious expression on his face before he saw them, now smiled. "Dr. Hofstadter, it is good to see you, and welcome Penny to our fund raiser."
Penny gave Siebert a million-dollar smile, she was there for Leonard and she was going to do everything she could to make the night a success for him. "I'm glad to be here. It has been a couple years since the last one I attended but I was hoping to attend more in the future, if I'm invited."
Siebert smiled more. "Well Penny if Dr. Hofstadter doesn't invite you, you are always still welcome to attend."
Penny just giggled; she did not really like the flirty tone Siebert's invitation was given in but again she wasn't going to do anything to ruin the night for Leonard. "I'll remember that President Siebert, if Leonard ever gets tired of me being around." she then gave Leonard a little pout, trying to convey that she belonged to Leonard and was devoted to him.
Leonard had just listened to the exchange, he really didn't recognize that Siebert was being flirty with Penny, just like he had not noticed Alex being flirty with him that first time in the cafeteria, the day he met her. However, he did hear her say "if Leonard ever gets tired of me being around" and saw her pout, which made him want to pull her away and talk to her. "Well, I guess we should mingle around a little and meet some people." he said to both Siebert and Penny, then to Siebert, "Is there anyone you think needs attention first?"
Siebert enjoyed flirting with the beautiful blonde Leonard had brought to the fundraiser, but flirting was all he would ever do because he was happily married, so when Leonard brought up talking to donors, the whole purpose of the night, Siebert immediately went into President of the University mode. "Yes, if you could go over and talk to Mr. and Mrs. Throton that would be just great. I'm afraid they have already had a talk with Dr. Cooper earlier and would have left immediately afterwards if I didn't stop them and remind them that we had other important projects going on that didn't involve him."
Leonard looked over to where Siebert was looking and saw several middle-aged couples, "Which ones are the Throtons?"
Siebert didn't want to point, so he tried to explain who he meant. "The middle-aged couple, the man with slightly graying hair and the brown-haired woman, with the long shiny dress."
Penny looked over and thought she saw who he meant, "The woman with the bun hairdo and the green sequence dress?" she asked Siebert.
Siebert smiled, "Yes that's Mrs. Throton."
"I got them Honey." Penny now told Leonard.
Leonard nodded, "Alright, we'll talk to them first."
"Try not to pressure them too much, Dr. Cooper was a little demanding about them providing their money to him, so don't make them feel that is all their good for and the only reason they are here." Siebert told them.
Leonard nodded again, remembering how Sheldon had acted before at a fundraiser, "He didn't walk up to them and tell them he didn't want to shake their germy hand, he was only there for their money, did he?"
Siebert slowly nodded, "Exactly."
"Wow." Penny said softly looking at Leonard, who just slightly shrugged.
Leonard then looked at Siebert, "We'll try to be a little gentler on them."
"Good." Siebert said in relief, "Oh, if it helps the conversation, Mrs. Throton has horses and loves to ride them."
Leonard looked over at Penny, who now had a huge smile on her face, as he realized that the Throtons were now theirs because he might be the science brains in their relationship but Penny had the knowledge when it came to horses. "That is good to know, sir." Leonard then turned towards where the Throtons where and lifted his arm for Penny to take, "Want to go talk to the Throtons?"
Penny smiled even wider, "I would like that a lot."
They then said goodbye to Siebert and told him they would talk to him later before working their way across the banquet hall to their prey, as Penny had referred to the donors previously. However, Leonard still hadn't forgotten Penny's statement earlier about him getting tired of her. "Penny."
Penny turned to him as they walked, "Yes Sweetie."
"I love you and I can never imagine ever growing tired of you." he softly said to her as they walked over to the Throtons.
Penny was a little taken back at his words, a feeling of deep love for him flowing through her body as she looked at him now looking at her seriously. She couldn't believe how lucky she was to find him, he was the kind of guy she would have never given a second look at had she not moved across the hall from him, but almost as soon as she got to know him, she had an attraction to him. The emotion she was feeling in that moment was almost too much for her and she knew if she didn't do something, she would tear up so she did what she always did when she got like this, joke around with him, "Yeah, we'll see when I'm old, fat and gross."
Leonard just smiled at her, it made her know immediately that it didn't matter to him, how old, or if she got fat and gross years from now, he would still love her. It made those feelings of love again consume her but luckily, before the emotion got too much for her, Leonard turned his head and stopped her. "Mr. and Mrs. Throton, I'm Dr. Leonard Hofstadter and this is my girlfriend Penny." His words bringing out of her thoughts and making her now devote her attention to the people in front of her.
The introductions took a couple of minutes, Leonard telling the Throtons who he was and what he was responsible for at Cal Tech. He then told the Throtons about Penny, not actually bragging but making it clear he was proud of her as he explained she was a working actress, never saying anything about her long running previous role of a waitress at the CheeseCake Factory. Penny could do nothing but blush a little after Leonard explained to them about her, her quickly stating, after Leonard finished, that she was no big name or anything but just someone who was making a living by acting, which she was now, her trying to be modest after Leonard's praise.
Mr. Throton smiled and told them what he did for a living, and though he was not a braggard Penny could easily tell he was very smart and successful in everything he did. Mrs. Throton was involved in charitable work, which she quickly described, however when she mentioned she worked with a California Horse Rescue organization, Penny knew she had something in common with her that she could talk about.
"Those charities must keep you very busy." Penny stated, then "Do you like horses?"
A small smile came to Mrs. Throton's face, "I have to admit, my involvement in Horse Rescue work is partly because of my love of horses."
Penny smiled back equally, "Do you have any horses, Mrs. Throton?"
Mr. Throton watched his wife, he knew she loved horses so Dr. Hofstadter's companion had really opened up a topic his wife could talk about for hours if they continued this conversation. "Yes, I have five horses. Four of them from the Rescue." Mrs. Throton told Penny.
"Five, wow. What kind are they?" Penny now asked, continuing the conversation. Leonard just watching her as she was making a bond with Mrs. Throton, he knew Penny loved horses too, so the two women had a topic they both could enjoy if this conversation continued.
"I have an American Quarter Horse, and my rescues are an Appaloosa, an Arabian, a Mustang and believe it or not I have a Clydesdale." Mrs. Throton said proudly, then "Do you like horses, do you ride."
Penny gave Mrs. Throton a shy smile. "I grew up on a farm in Nebraska and had a Quarter Horse, named Buttercup, that I use to ride in junior rodeo."
Mrs. Throton gave Penny a dazzling smile, "I use to participate in junior rodeo when I was young too."
For the next couple of minutes, Leonard and Mr. Throton just watched as the two women talked about junior rodeo, both actually amused how animate they both were, before Penny stopped talking and looked at them. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to monopolize the conversation."
Mr. Throton just chuckled, "No it is fine. I think Karen has been enjoying talking to you." He then smiled at his wife, who smiled back.
"Penny." Mrs. Throton said, then waited for Penny to look at her, "Would like to get some punch and let the men talk about Cal Tech, Science and funds?"
Penny smiled and nodded, "I would like that."
Mrs. Throton then looked at her husband, "Frank, Penny and I are going to the refreshment table. We'll be back in a little while."
Mr. Throton smiled at his wife, "Okay, have fun."
Leonard could hear both women chatting away as they headed away, the word horses being used several times before they were out of earshot. He then turned to Mr. Throton, "I think we have been ditched for horses."
Frank chuckled, "Karen doesn't get to talk about her passions much outside her charity organizations. So your girlfriend may regret bringing the subject of horses up before this evening is over."
Leonard chuckled and shook his head, "I think Penny could talk about horses all night, she has had so few chances to be on a horse since moving to California, and all she ever talks about when she comes back from visiting her old home is how much she gets to ride."
Frank nodded, "Well then, they probably will be fine with each other then." he was then quiet for a few seconds as he thought, before addressing Leonard again, "So, Dr. Hofstadter, can you explain again to me what you are working on and what projects you think you will need funding."
Leonard smiled, "Of Course." he then spent the next half hour with Frank going over several projects that would require funding in the future, their conversation flowing along smoothly with Mr. Throton very interested and very willing to support several of them. There conversation only stopping when the girls rejoined them.
"Penny, I'll see you at noon this Saturday then." Karen said to Penny as they walked back to the men.
"I would love to, if you are sure I'm not being a bother." Penny answered.
"No dear, you are actually doing me a favor, helping out with my exercising the horses." Karen told her.
Frank fake groaned, "Honey you didn't rope Penny into helping you with the horses, did you?"
"No, I didn't. I just suggested she could come by to see them and then we got to talking about riding and she volunteered...after I asked her." Karen said with a smirk.
Leonard smiled at Penny, "I don't think you had to twist her arm, did she?"
Penny smiled, "Not much." she giggled.
Frank smiled, "Good, it seems this was a very productive meeting for all of us. Dr. Hofstadter, I will talk to President Siebert about those projects you need funding on, right now." he looked at his wife who slightly nodded, approvingly. "I know you have to schmooze other donors now, so I won't monopolize all your time, but I hope later before the night is out, we can talk again."
"I would like that Mr. Throton." Leonard answered sincerely.
Leonard and Penny then said their goodbyes to the Throtons, going over to another donor Leonard knew, as the Throtons went looking for President Siebert. Leonard looking over at Penny as she walked alongside him, her hand in his, "Thank you." he told her.
Penny smiled over at him, "For what."
"For being so good with Mrs. Throton." he explained.
Penny shrugged, "I enjoyed talking to her, she is a nice person." Penny then smiled a little more, "Plus I get to spend this Saturday around horses all day."
Leonard gave her a fake frown, "Should I be jealous?"
Penny acted like she was thinking about what he said, then smiled an evil little grin, "Maybe."
The next hour went quickly for Leonard and Penny, they talked to three different donors and got another commitment from one of them for funding of another Cal Tech project. Leonard couldn't believe how much easier it was to talk to people with Penny around, she seemed to jump right into the conversation whenever it started to wane and she also seemed to know just enough about Leonard's work to help the conversation along, which surprised Leonard and made him very proud of her. They were just on their way back to the punch bowl, Leonard thinking of the rights words to tell Penny about how much he appreciated her help with the donors, when they were stopped dead in their tracks.
"Hi Bestie." Amy said with a big smile.
"Amy." Penny responded before moving in to give her friend a hug.
"I didn't want to interrupt you two before now because you seemed very busy with donors." Amy explained
Penny nodded, "Yeah, we really had to schmooze a couple to get donations." Penny said with a little giggle.
"YOU GOT FUNDING DONATIONS FOR YOUR WORK!" Sheldon blurted out, Leonard and Penny not really noticing him before because he had hung back from Amy and hadn't said anything.
"Yeah, a couple." Leonard responded awkwardly. Amy and Penny just looking between the two men.
Penny decided that although she would support Leonard to the grave, she thought that maybe any resultant conversation between Sheldon and Leonard didn't need her and Amy present, so "Amy do you want to get some punch?" To which Amy nodded and both girls left for the refreshment table.
Leonard was not exactly happy about the way Sheldon was acting, so surprised that donors would fund his work, and normally he would let it go because he wasn't that kind of guy, but tonight something was different. His different feelings about Sheldon he knew probably had something to do with the way Sheldon had put him down since the tenure opportunity first came up and then those feelings only got worse after Leonard found out Sheldon's plan for the night from Penny, whatever did it though, Leonard was not going to take anything from Sheldon tonight. "How many donors did you get to commit tonight Sheldon." he now asked with a smug smirk on his face.
Leonard already knew his answer when Sheldon's face started showing the familiar ticks, letting him know his ex-roommate was going to try his version of a lie so not to allow his ex-roommate to get the better of him. It was really just a waste of Leonard's time to remind Sheldon that his plan had been a failure and that this was one of the many things he wasn't good at, Sheldon's mind and ego would never accept that reasoning and it some convoluted way he would rationalize himself away out of even admitting any form of failure. However, Leonard would soon find out he wasn't going to have to say a thing, because coming up behind him was a very happy President Siebert.
"Dr. Hofstadter, just the man I've been looking for." Siebert announced as soon as he reached Leonard.
Sheldon's eyes got a little big, especially since Siebert seemed to have missed him standing near Leonard, at least that is what he rationalized after being ignored by the President of the University. He was just trying to think of a witty response which would convey that he was the most important person in the area, that Leonard was not worth Siebert's time and that Siebert should be embarrassed about this whole meeting with Leonard, when Siebert continued his remarks to Leonard. "Dr. Hofstadter, I'm not sure what you said to the Throtons, but their contribution to the Physics department this year is the largest ever."
Before Leonard could say anything, Sheldon spoke, "You're Welcome." which made both Leonard and President Siebert now turn towards him. So, now that Sheldon had both of their attention he continued, "My conversation with them earlier must have finally sunk into their dull simple brains and allowed them to finally show a glimmer of intelligence in the appropriate use of their excess wealth." he finished smugly.
President Siebert blinked a couple times, slightly stunned in how Dr. Cooper could still surprise him with the ridiculous things that came out of his mouth. Finally, he slightly shook his head before replying, "You can think that Dr. Cooper, but the Throton's contribution to Cal Tech was designated to support Dr. Hofstadter's work exclusively by Mr. Throton."
It was now Sheldon's turn to be stunned, "Why would they do that, Leonard's work is merely busywork to earn him a paycheck and keep him off the streets while my work is on the very cutting edge of science." he blurted out in a way that made it clear to both Leonard and Siebert that it should be obvious to both of them.
Leonard was pissed now, he was tired of being put down by Sheldon, especially in front of the President of the University, however that feeling soon changed. Siebert frowned, "Dr. Cooper, until you make any type of serious contribution to science, that would justify a change in your funding, the university will happily continue to fully fund Dr. Hofstadter's work, which does produce very tangible results and brings acclaim to this institution."
President Siebert then turned back to Leonard, a very serious, somewhat frustrated expression on his face. "Dr. Hofstadter, again, good work on convincing the Throtons to support the university this year. Please see me later, when you get some time."
Leonard nodded, "I will, thank you, Sir."
Siebert nodded, then took a glance at Sheldon, before he walked off to talk with someone else. Sheldon just stared after him until he was clearly out of earshot, "This just goes to show the level of incompetence running this university, it is like the animals running the zoo around here." he added with a snort of derision.
Leonard just shook his head, his anger now gone, it being obvious that Sheldon's rants had done nothing to help his position with Siebert and probably just did the opposite. "See you later Sheldon." Leonard said quickly before turning to look for Penny, not giving Sheldon the chance to respond.