10
That night, following the removal of Amy Farrah Fowler's property, the fumigation of the apartment, and the moving in and arrangement of Missy's things, there was a knock on the door.
"Hello, Leonard."
"What the hell do you think you're doing, Sheldon?"
"Currently I am organizing Missy's furnishings so that this apartment is habitable in thirty minutes time when she and the baby arrive."
"You know what I mean, Sheldon."
"Leonard, I have done a number of things since my return to Pasadena. You will need to be more specific."
"Why did you offer my fiancée a job?"
"I offered Penny a position because I had one available and I was aware she had none."
"Penny doesn't need to work. She's going to be my wife."
"Is that a paid position?"
"Of course not."
"Then what is Penny to do for money?"
"If Penny needs anything she can ask me for money."
"And you will give it to her?"
"If I think it's an appropriate request, yes."
"And you understand what kind of a position this puts Penny in?"
"Penny and I are in love and are going to be married. That is how things like that work."
"I think you are mistaken, Leonard. However the point is moot. The position has been offered and accepted. Penny begins work Monday. And I would thank you for not getting involved in her work like you did last time."
"If I deem it necessary I will get involved, Sheldon."
"Leonard, please listen to what I say to you and attempt to understand. If you interfere with my work, my office or my employees I will go to Gabelhauser and Seibert and tell them some stories about you and your work."
"Yeah, and what if I ask Penny to work with me instead?"
"Leonard, I am well aware of the limitations of your funding. You are barely keeping your lab running. You cannot afford new equipment. You have been forced to increase your course load and you can't find any grad students willing to assist you because they are concerned that even though you advertise your engagement to Penny you have previously advertised your eagerness for expanding your sexual horizons. The female grad students see you as a lech and the male grad students see you as a dweeb. And the elderly female donors you previously flirted with to secure funding are well aware of your pending nuptials. In fact, by now you have likely been informed that Mrs. Latham has decided to fund my work instead of yours. I cannot imagine why. Oddly, it is her funding that allows me to hire both Alex and Penny full-time. To sum up, you cannot afford to hire Penny or anyone. I can."
"Things will change for me when I'm given tenure, Sheldon. I'm certain that I'm the leading candidate. That comes with a big raise that will allow me and Penny to get a house with a picket fence and get started on our family."
"Leonard, your imagination is quite fertile."
"You've changed since you went away, Sheldon. And not for the better."
"Well, Leonard, I believe you once said that I was one lab accident away from becoming a super-villain. Yes, I was aware of you saying that. In response I can only say Mwah-ha-ha."
"This isn't over, Sheldon."
"I'm well aware of that, Leonard. But I know the endgame. You don't."