Chapter Three

Three hours later…

Charlie's office…

Charlie and Amita were discussing lesson plans with Larry when they got a knock on the door and they were all surprised to see it was Marshall Penfield.

"Hey, Epsie, Mrs. Epsie, Dr. Fleihndhart." Marshall said in a coy voice.

"Want something, Penfield?" Charlie asked, doing his best to keep himself from sounding irritated.

"As a matter of fact, Epsie, I do, as I wanted to tell you that I was hoping we could set up a competition of some sort, either tomorrow or the next day." Marshall said with a smile.

"What kind of competition?" Charlie asked, wary of what Marshall wanted to do.

"I was thinking we could compare either theorems or equations and see who could get the most right." Marshall answered with a strange manic grin.

"Are you talking about the Eppes-Marshall games? Because, if so, I would like to take a pass, as I am going to be busy at the conference." Charlie said.

"Oh, come on Epsie, I was hoping for a rematch, as every time we play, you either beat me or we get to a draw and I was hoping to see if I could beat you this time." Marshall said, sounding a little miffed.

"Seriously Marshall, the last time we played was in 2002 and I thought you would have eventually gotten over it but the last couple conferences, you keep bringing it up, so I am telling you, I am just not interested right now, ok." Charlie said, just desperate to not have to keep going through this talk with Marshall for the eightieth time.

"Fine, Epsie, but mark my words, I will prove my genius to both you and the entire scientific community!" He promised before storming out of Charlie's office.

"Seriously, what is up with him?" Amita asked, "The first few times I have met him, he was nothing like this but now he is giving me the creeps."

"Well, with the fact that he tried to disprove the Eppes convergence and has tried on multiple occasions to ruin my reputation, I am not surprised." Charlie said, annoyed with the fact that Marshall just tries to make his life miserable.

"Have you ever thought of getting a restraining order?" Amita asked.

"No, mostly because that might give him some kind of strange sense of satisfaction and I am not going to let him get to me." Charlie answered as he got up from his desk and started to pack his work.

"Going somewhere Charles?" Larry asked

"Yeah, I'm going to the Craftsman to finish up my work and try to avoid running into Marshall if I stay here much longer." Charlie said before grinning, "And besides, Dad is cooking tonight and I don't want to miss it in case I get lost in paperwork."

"Besides me and Megan, who else is coming?" Larry asked.

"Don with Robin and little Maggie, Colby and Liz, and, with just my luck, Millie is coming as well." Charlie said with a little dread.

"Charles, I thought that you and Millie…" Larry started.

"We are good, it's just that she has gone back to complaining to me about my consulting with the FBI and other agencies, at least according to the several emails she had sent me."

"Why is that?" Amita asked.

"At this point, it is either professional jealousy or just to find a way to annoy me and I am really hoping it doesn't come up at dinner." Charlie said.

"Well, if it does, you know we will all back you up and try to get her to back off." Amita said, with a knowing smile.

"Thanks, because either before or after, I am going to have a talk with her and see what is going on, just to make sure if she's really doing this or if she is just trying to push my buttons." Charlie said, clearly hoping the second part is really the case.

"Great, let's head home and see if we can help your father with anything." Amita said as she and Charlie left the office with Larry in tow.

All three were unaware of Marshall watching them leave and plotting out his next move in his effort to get back at Charlie.

'Just you wait, Epsie, you are going to get it for all the times you have outshone me since we were in Princeton, that's a promise.'