1. ...of fish and bicycles
It was a new job or rather it was her first real job after university and Pam was thrilled. She had been invited for the interview on the strength of her CV and references and had been appointed to the new research team straight away. It really was a 'dream job'.
Her new employer was one of the new Biotech Research Companies that were springing up like mushrooms, or even toadstools, all over the world. Actually, "Toadstools" was a better analogy as some of them were quite poisonous. They handled contract research, but made their real money from the spin-offs... Some of it unexpected and much of it exotic.
She had driven up to Halesowen, just outside Birmingham in the English Midlands, to look around the facility where she would begin work on Monday: today being Thursday. Pam was a shy girl and still needed somewhere to stay: her new line manager, Dr Lockyer, had suggested that she put a card on the Staff Noticeboard – twice and so she had written one out in her neat, tiny school-girl script.
The Company was new and was still getting established to take advantage of the new developments in the life sciences and Pam was taking over a small section of four who were working on various contracted hormone-based projects. She had completed her PhD in Endocrinology and was expected to follow through several of the promising lines opened up by her thesis. Hers was a "blue-sky" section and she had a free hand to explore and extend the research that had earned her her PhD: marketable products were expected to come later.
For a Biologist, Pam had lived a rather sheltered life and had immersed herself in her studies and then her research while at University. She was uncomfortable around other people, which if she stopped to think about it, she would attribute this to her red hair. Red heads tended to get bullied at school and Pam had been no exception. However, most red-heads have a temper because of this; Pam didn't, she had an inferiority complex.
On Friday morning Pam drove into 'work', or rather what would be work on Monday. The facility was housed in one of those high-tech glass and aluminium structures that architects thought that scientists needed before they could be creative. Pam was still staying at a nearby hotel, which was costing her, or rather, her employers a small fortune.
She pushed open the front door and walked into the lobby. The receptionist looked up as she walked over to the desk. "Can I help you, Ma'am?" The woman behind it enquired pleasantly and with a smile.
"I... I'm Pam Durgan: I – I work here, or rather will on Monday." The red-head stuttered.
The woman looked at her, and then down at her desk. "Ah, yes. Dr Durgan. Welcome to our little family," She hunted around in the pigeon holes on her side of the fascia and came up with a keycard and an ID on a lanyard. "The keycard will get you into just about anywhere while the ID is to be worn at all times that you are on the premises. Company policy."
Pam smiled nervously as she accepted the items. "Thank you.....?"
"I'm Grace, any problems, just phone me at reception: one of my jobs is smoothing things out."
The red-head nodded and turned to walk away, heading towards the corridor leading towards the labs. As she reached the first access door, she reached for her keycard.
She heard the click, click click of heels on the hard floor.
"Dr Durgan?" A soft voice enquired as she fumbled with her keycard.
She froze.
"Dr Pam Durgan?" It was a woman's voice.
Pam turned slowly around and came face to face with a striking brunette wearing a severe business suit. "Y... yes?" Pam stuttered.
The woman smiled revealing dazzling white film-star teeth. "Oh, hi! I'm so glad to speak to you at last. I'm Brenda Forbes: the CEO. We met during your interview. Can you come to my office please?"
"Hi." mumbled Pam, blushing a deep shade of red . This was only the second time that she had met her new Boss face to face. She followed the brunette down a side corridor, and listened to her four-inch heels click-clacking against the hard floor.
Pam had often wished that she could wear shoes like that but was afraid that people might stare. Pam didn't like being noticed: being noticed had led to trouble at school.
The office, like everything else in the building, was austere. Plain grey walls, blue carpet and Ikea-type furniture. The door plaque said 'Dr Forbes': Pam wasn't surprised: almost everyone here had a PhD. There was a framed poster on the wall: the only decoration in the room. It said:
'A Woman needs a Man as much as a Fish needs a Bicycle'.
There was a picture of a large chubby goldfish perched on a cartoon push-bike attempting to peddle with its tail... Pam wondered what it signified.
Brenda sat behind her desk and indicated that Pam should sit on one of the two other chairs. As she did, the redhead noticed that her card requesting accommodation was on top of the woman's open diary.
"Pam, you don't mind me calling you, Pam, do you." She didn't wait for an answer, but picked up a sheet of paper. "Pam, although I am more than happy to pay your hotel bill for as long as is necessary. I don't want too because it comes out of my budget and there are better things for me to spend it on!"
Dr Forbes looked up at her.
Wow,
thought Pam,
she's beautiful!
Pam must have stared because she was rewarded with a knowing smile.
"I've got a better idea." She held up the card. "I have space at home and really would like the company. I don't need the money, so we can come to an arrangement about rent." She gave the redhead an appraising look. "Good, that's settled, then!
Meet me here at two: in the meantime go and get your things from the hotel and I'll show you your new home!"
Pam left that office with her head spinning slightly.
