Chapter 1
Helga Pataki was not unknown to fame. At the young age of twenty-five, she was already raking in millions of dollars every year. Her successful business venture, Pataki Enterprises, based in New York City, was pretty much known around the world. They manufactured everything from the plastic around the ends of shoe strings to computer motherboards. Helga was even named the female Donald Trump. However, her social life was all but non-existent. She had no time for herself. But all that was about to change. It was a bright sunny afternoon when she arrived in her hometown of Hillwood Falls. The annual Pataki Family reunion was taking place that Saturday. And although, Helga had plenty of other things to do, she decided to pay her estranged immediate family a visit. She pulled into the driveway of her former home. "All right Helga, it's been five years…but just pretend like everything is okay." She sighed and marched up to the front door. Her mom answered on the fifth knock. "Helga? I didn't think you were coming."
"Well Olga begged me too. She said fidgeting with the frill of her business suit.
"Well come in. We're just about to sit down to lunch."
She followed her mother into the dining room where her family was waiting. "Well if it isn't the black sheep."
"I'm not a black sheep, dad."
"You haven't called, visited, or even written in 5 years. I think that qualifies as black sheep materiel."
"Bob, Helga I will not tolerate this bickering. She's here now and that's all that matters. Helga have seat and let's eat lunch like a family." Miriam ordered.
Helga shook her head as she took her seat. Her father was the reason she left in the first place. He claimed that she was nothing but a slacker and that she would never make anything of herself. This made Helga's blood boil. She wanted more than anything to prove to her father that she could do anything Olga could do possibly even better. That's why she started Pataki Enterprises. After chatting about her business in New York, Miriam started another conversation. "So Helga how's you life there?"
"It's great. I'm thinking about moving to my summer house."
"Where's that?"
"In Los Angeles. A new office is opening there and they need some help getting it off the ground. So I'll probably be spending a lot of time out there."
"I bet you think your so much better than everyone else don't you?" Bob said sneering at her.
"What are you talking about Dad?"
"You come gallivanting in here on your high horse with your nose in the air thinking you're so much better than us…"
"I never said that!"
"Might as well. You don't have any contact with us for five years and now you come in here bragging about your business and your summer houses."
"I don't have to take this." She snapped gathering her things and walking away.
"Bob why did you do that?"
"I won't be snubbed in my own house!"
Helga marched down the sidewalk in an angry huff. Spying a diner across the street she walked inside and sat in a booth.
"What's your pleasure?"
She looked up and her scowl immediately disappeared. The waiter she was staring at had the friendliest blue eyes she had ever seen. He had a sexy half smile spread across his lips. His odd yet charming football shaped head had a small blue hat resting on his messy blonde hair. "Miss, what's your pleasure?"
"Oh, I'll have the club with no tomatoes and a Sprite."
The man took down the order and returned a short time later with her Sprite.
Helga sighed heavily and took a sip from her soda. "Is something bothering you?" the waiter asked sitting across from her.
"Nah. Nothing worth talking about anyway. I might as well go back to New York."
"What's wrong with Hillwood Falls?"
"Two words: my family."
"It can't be that bad. There's nothing like your family after all."
She smiled and shook her head, "You haven't met mine."
"Dysfunctional?"
"Without a doubt."
"I know what you mean. For the last two years of my grandmother's life she thought she was Queen Elizabeth."
Helga hid her smile with her hand. "Order up!" the cook yelled from the kitchen.
"I better get that." He stood, "Oh by the way I'm Arnold."
"Helga."
"All right Helga. Let me get your sandwich."
