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By the time Ben decided to look at his watch, it said 5:45. How long had he spent just sitting there? Ugh, there had been so much he wanted to do with Cash today. But too late now. Best to go help Emma with dinner. There were a few things they needed to talk about.
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She was plating fried chicken when he came in, placing the food on the table alongside glasses of water. She shot him a very small smile before turning and doing dishes. She finished and went to sit down, wary of what Ben had on his mind
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Ben smiled back, but it was a troubled smile. He sat down and started eating, not that hungry. But the food was good. Finally, he set down his fork and broke the silence. "You and I both know you have to hire someone else to work here. We can't do everything on our own."
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"I know..." She muttered, staring at her food but not touching it. "Do you have anyone you know?"
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Ben shook his head. "No... I don't really 'know' people..." He trailed off, looking down at his plate.
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"Are you gonna leave too?" She asked quietly, scared
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Ben looked up, a little confused. Then he spoke reassuringly, "Oh, no, of course not. Why would I leave?"
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"Bored, you don't get paid enough, annoyed with me, angry with me, hate me, get tired of working such long hours, get tired of my cooking or the food here, end up hating me entirely." She rattled off without missing a beat
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Ben had meant it as a rhetorical question and the speed at which she answered him shocked him a little. Once she'd finished, he sat there, a little dumbfounded. "Holy crap." He said it without thinking, and immediately regretting it. "Sorry, sorry. Just that... That's super specific. Sounds like things like that happen at lot to you..." He trailed off, realizing that they had. "Wow, I'm really sorry." He said sincerely, looking at her with sorrow and compassion.
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She didn't say anything for a moment before sighing. "Brock said women are inferior and should just listen to men. So I do."
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