~ Los Angeles, White corp. HQ ~


    Later that afternoon, Leah and Pam wrapped up work.


    As usually, they were thest from the team to leave.


    Since Leah joined, the two of them are working closely together. Both are smart and sharp, and their coboration is wless.


    Their interaction is mostly work-rted, and they didn''t share with each other anything from their private life.


    On their way out, Leah''s stomach grumbled, indicating that it''s past dinner time.


    "What are your ns for dinner?", Pam asked when she noticed Leah rub her belly with a frown.


    "I was thinking to eat when I reach Sophia''s ce, but now I will grab something on the way."


    "Uhm… I don''t have ns. Do you want to eat together? We can go to one of the ces down the street."


    Leah thought how that is a great idea. "Sure."


    The two of them headed to a small Indian restaurant few blocks away.


    …


    The atmosphere inside the restaurant was lively, and they needed to wait for a free table. Pam suggested that they go to a different ce, but Leah held her back: "The amount of patrons should tell how good is the food. It is worth waiting for food at this ce."


    Pam didn''t have an opinion on this. She is not used to these restaurants, considering that only recently she started earning money and is still living on a tight budget.


    After twenty minutes of wait, they got seated at a table.


    Leah took care of ordering food.


    "We can order few dishes and share them, family style. That way you get to taste more.", Leah said when she confirmed that Pam never tasted Indian food.


    "From where are you, if you don''t mind me asking?", Leah was curious.


    "A small town in Kansas.", Pam responded and added when she guessed why Leah is asking: "We don''t have Indian restaurants there. The closest eat-out ce is McDonald''s, twenty miles away."


    "I see… What made youe here?"


    "I escaped.", Pam said with a troubling expression.


    Leah can see that there is more to that story, but it''s unpleasant, and decided to change the topic. "What do you think about working for Sophia?"


    Pam''s eyes lit up. "I am grateful that she gave me a chance."


    "You are doing great." Leah encouraged Pam when she saw that Pam is insecure.


    "I am aware that I am underqualified, and I am doing my best to make up for it. I don''t want her to regret hiring me."


    Leah was curious about Pam''s choice of words. "Underqualified? What degrees you have?"


    "High school… But as soon as I save money, I n to continue studies online."


    Leah smiled and gave an encouraging nod. "Don''t worry about it. If Sophia gave you a job, she does not think that you are underqualified. But it is a good thing to get an additional education. Only six months ago I got my degree in business administration. So, technically, I worked for Sophia with a high-school degree also."


    Pam noticed that Leah''s expression became gentle when she spoke about Sophia. "You have a good opinion of Sophia."


    Leah didn''t deny it. "Yes. We went to high-school together, so I know her for a while. We lost touch when she went to college, and reconnected when she returned as a future CEO in a need of an assistant. She is great, kind, wise, generous. Benefits are amazing. I enjoyed working with her."


    "Why did you leave?"


    Leah sighed. "I followed my heart."


    Pam realized that it didn''t end well. "I am sorry."


    "Don''t be. Last year was an eye opening experience for me. And I had a lot of fun."


    "So, why are you back?" Pam asked curiously, and quickly regretted overstepping boundaries. "Sorry, I didn''t mean to poke my nose where it does not belong."


    "No, it''s OK. I realized that I am the only one who is willing topromise, and it was getting more and more difficult over time. Maybe love is not for me."


    "What makes you say so?"


    "Ever since I started dating: guys approached me, I get high on love and before it starts it''s over. And then came Isabe… energetic, wonderful, different, funny, attentive… everything was right. I could not believe that she is interested in me. And she introduced me to a whole new world. But… it was not meant tost." Leah noticed that Pam is staring at her with mouth half open. "What?"


    Pam cleared her throat awkwardly and admitted her thoughts: "I didn''t realize that you followed your heart for a woman."


    Leah stifled augh. "Is that unusual?"


    Pam shook her head. "I guess it''s not. Sorry for my insensible reaction."


    Pam looked at Leah''s kind expression, and she felt guilty for judging her. For some inexplicable reason, Pam sensed that she can tell Leah her story and that Leah will not judge her, and it maybe helps exin her narrowminded reaction.


    Pam took a deep breath and spoke: "I grew up in a small ce, where being different is not a good thing. As a girl, from me was expected to learn how to read and write, do theundry, cook… marry a guy and have a lot of kids. I refused to marry son of our neighbor who courted me. I was seventeen years old when her forced himself on me and used that as a reason that I should marry him. He said that no other man will want me because I am used, but he will take the responsibility. The sad thing was that my parents agreed with his logic. I was devastated. He hurt me, and it was not enough... I was doomed to suffer for the rest of my life because he got his eyes on me. No one cared how I feel or what I want to do with my life. The only good thing was that I didn''t end up pregnant. On our wedding night, I mmed a vase against his head and ran as fast as I could. Over the next few years, I moved through shelters, worked odd jobs, finished high school online from a public library… andst year I ended up in Los Angeles. I worked as a part-time waitress while applying to hundreds of jobs weekly, and I was surprised to get a call. Someone was crazy or desperate enough to think that I might be a good match as a personal assistant."


    It was Leah''s turn to have her mouth half open. "Wow, you have been through a lot."


    Pam was happy that she was right: Leah is not judging her. "I was through a lot, but I am here now, and I will not allow Sophia to regret hiring me. I am working as hard as I can and as soon as I save enough money, I will continue my education."


    "You are smart. I''m sure you will do great."


    "Thanks... What are your ns?", Pam asked reluctantly. Part of her fears that Leah came back to im her old job.


    "I don''t know yet. Travel maybe. I still have some savings, and many ces to see. I will do charity work to get this bad-rtionship karma off from me."


    "Bad karma?", Pam mused. "Maybe you just need to take charge of it."


    "What?" Leah didn''t understand.


    "My life was a mess until I decided to take charge. My parents, my siblings, my cousins, neighbors, everyone was telling me what I should do, and I listened, and I was miserable. I escaped when I was eighteen years old, and it was difficult, but I reached here, and at the age of twenty-three I am free and happy. You said it, out of all your lovers, they approached you and you are the one who got swept away. I believe that the person who takes the initiative is in charge. If you take the initiative, your love life will change because you will be the one calling the shots."


    Leah frowned slightly. "Those are some deep thoughts. I need time to think about it."


    The food arrived.


    "I ordered everything mild in spice, since you said that you never had Indian food…", Leah exined.


    "Oh, thanks…", Pam was flustered while curiously looking at the colorful foodid out on the table. She never had anything like that. While with her parents, it was not avable, and after she ran from home she was unable to afford eating in a proper restaurant like this.


    The vor explosion in Pam''s mouth was unexpected and she was happy that Leah ordered mangossi for cooling off taste buds.


    They talked about food, and Pam eagerly listened Leah''s stories about her travels and asked for rifications when needed.


    Pam told herself that once she has enough money, she will travel and see (and taste) those things also.


    Leah enjoyed that Pam is genuinely interested in her stories.


    With Isabe, they mostly talked about work and ns rted to work and Isabe''s father, and Isabe''s meetings…


    For the first time in a long time Leah got to talk about things that are rted to her, to someone who is attentive. It was a good feeling.


    "Thank you for listening.", Leah told Pam when they left the restaurant with bellies filled with tasty food.


    "Thank you for sharing your stories. I really enjoyed it.", Pam responded enthusiastically.


    Leahughed. "You are wee. Maybe we can repeat this?"


    Pam blinked. "I would love to… Good night."


    "Good night. See you tomorrow!", Leah called before entering the cab.


    "See you.", Pam said, while waving at the departing cab.


    ---


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