Here you guys go, Kelsey was practically begging for this chapter. Please review.

Helena walked briskly into the building where Arnie worked. She was about to walk to the receptionist when she recognized the back of Arnie's head. She walked over to him as he continued to talk to another man. She tapped his shoulder lightly and he turned around, surprised.

" Helena, hi, how are you?" He asked.

" I'm fine Arnie," she said, smiling.

" Arnie, I've got to go, but we can finish discussing this later," the other man said, before walking away briskly.

" Alright, Bob!" Arnie called after him. "Let's go up to my office, it's not safe to talk here," he said quietly, gesturing for Helena to follow him. They walked together towards the elevator. It was a pretty quiet and nervous ride up to the 3rd floor.

Arnie unlocked the door to the office. "I have this place swept for bugs twice a day, so just feel free to talk." Helena nodded. "Learned that back in Miami in '85. The U.S shut down the whole Caribbean," he explained. Arnie was about to sit down when Helena spoke.

" Arnie, I need money. Somebody, I think it was the Obregons, threatened David. They want a first payment of three million dollars." She spoke rapidly, nervously, fumbling with the strap of her Dior purse.

Arnie looked slightly surprised, he hadn't actually thought that the Obregons would have actually gone after her.

" Oh, Helena, I'd give it to you myself but I-I just don't have that kind of money." Helena shook her head.
"Please, is there anyone that owes us money?" she cried. "David is my whole world!"

"Yes, like I said there are people that do owe you money, but Carl's got too much heat on him. Nobody's going to pay."

" What about our other businesses? Legitimate businesses? Don't we own a construction company somewhere?" Helena asked, starting to get more desperate. She needed that money and by God she was going to get it, somehow.

" Laundromats, washes the money." Arnie smiled.

"Just tell me something positive Arnie. Give me some good news for Christ's sake." She choked; holding back the flood of tears that was now stinging her already swollen eyes.

" I'm sorry." Arnie shook his head again.

There was a pause before Helena spoke. Arnie took this time to study the woman sitting in front of him. She was so strong and yet she seemed so lost and vulnerable now that it pained him.

" I just keep wondering what's going to happen to us if he doesn't get off. I've never been on my own before. I've always had someone, always." She looked down, somewhat embarrassed. Arnie rose from his chair and went to sit next to her on the long couch. Helena was looking away from him. He put his arm around the back of the couch.

" I remember the first time I saw you. Little Helena Watts from the wrong side of somewhere. Somehow I knew even then that your survival skills were pretty well honed." As he spoke, Arnie lifted his arm, he was going to touch Helena's hair but he pulled his hand back and rested his head on it instead. She knew what he was about to do, and for the first time it angered her a little.

" Glad you think so Arnie. I just keep picturing a debt-ridden, thirty-year-old mother of two, whose ex husband is being compared to Pablo Escobar. I don't know anyone who wants to be with someone like that," she turned to face him, "do you?"

Arnie looked a bit uncomfortable at that question. It wasn't what he was expecting. In fact, he didn't know what he was expecting, but it sure as hell wasn't that. Helena grabbed her purse and stood. Arnie rose to his feet as well.

" Thanks Arnie." She gave him a warm smile. "I don't know what I'd do now without you." He returned the smile and walked her to the door. "I'll see you later Arnie." She opened the door and stepped into the hall.

" Good-bye Helena." Arnie said. As he watched her retreating figure he couldn't help thinking that Carl didn't deserve her. That he put her through so much pain and that it wasn't fair to her. He wanted Helena; he just didn't know how to get her.

Beta-ed by af881 and Vikki Kelly