Rocket to the Moon

Chapter Six

Hearsays

Hi, before starting - and following PresleyRox's suggestion - I am going to list the OCs of this story. I know they are several, as I said from the beginning, and with the intention to avoid confussions let's put them straight.

There you go: Arnold and Helga of course, are the main characters.

Claire: She's Arnold's girlfriend of the last three years.

Brenda: She's Claire best friend. Arnold doesn't like her too much.

Jenna: She's a Public Relation girl whose job is organizing events for the local goverment and rich people. She's Brenda's friend.

Henry Mueller: Owner of a group of enterprises that have his name and is also Helga's boss.

Dick Mueller: Henry's nephew. He's an important member of his uncle corporation.

Deborah Tilly (Deb): Well, she's a forty years old lady who so far is an attendat to the ball who accompanied Helga and the Muellers. We'll see more from her in due time.

David (Dave)McMahon: He works for Mueller Enterprises. He's the man in charge of the Social Assistance Department. He's NOT Deb's couple. They only went to the Ball together , as friends. In fact, Dave was invited to assist only so both Mr. Muellers didn't have to care about organizations.

Eva: Well, Eva was the girl chosen by Dick to keep him company for the night. (Probably also some nights before) but their thing is already dead. We won't see her again, I hope.

I think that's all so far. I guess there's only two more characters that hasn't been introduced yet. But you'll know about them in due course.

Now we can go on

. . .

"Good morning, sunshine!"

The first awareness of the dawn of a new day was Claire's singsong and the wet contact of her lips. Arnold grumbled to clear his throat, a little uncomfortable because the morning breath, then blinked several times a cause of the light that filtered through the curtains. He felt her moving in the bed until getting her full weight on him.

Arnold finally opened his eyes to see her brown orbs right in front of his. "Did you sleep well?"

She was in a very good mood today. Her eyes sparkled.

"Great…" Arnold cleared his throat again; then gave a quick peck on her lips and she giggled, getting up. He drew out his arm to reach her hand "I slept like a log. What about you?"

"Terrific!" she came back again and leaned over him. "Wow, Tiger! Last night you were awesome!"

"Me?" Memories of last night came to his mind. He pulled her closer "I thought it was you" she giggled again and came to give him a passionate kiss.

"Want some eggs?" she asked when finally let go.

"Dunno. What time is it?"

"Seven… something. You still have time. But hurry up! Don't wanna be late your last day at job, right?" She straightened and left the room. "Bacon, eggs and coffee will be ready in fifteen! Don't make us wait!" she shouted from the kitchen. Arnold threw the blankets aside and hurried to the bathroom.

. . .

When he got under the water, full recollections of last night filled his mind. He opened his eyes under the shower. God! It was wild! They had made love like animals. He'd blush if his cheeks weren't already red from the hot water. Claire and he had never been this passionate; not even in the early stages of their relationship. Last night they didn't seem to be themselves.

Arnold hummed as he outstretched his muscles under the shower, enjoying the sensation of the water falling on his skin. He exhaled. He never thought the night of the Ball would end like that. In fact, he'd thought that back at home he'd deal with a very angry and jealous Claire given all what happened earlier, and mainly after Helga's blatant declaration. But to his surprise the last minutes they spent with the Muellers became a frenzy turn of events that ended giving it an entirely different outcome.

. . .

He remembered his head was still a muddle by the surprise to meet Helga so unexpectedly; that she was in front of him laughing openly as she talked to her friends and replied to a mocking commentary about she being once a mushy girl coming from Dave -seemed that annoying each other was an usual conduct between those two- when suddenly an old Dino Spumoni tune started to play and Henry took her away to the dancing floor. Helga had barely time to wave a quick goodbye before following him; that big smile never leaving her lips. Arnold kept his sight on them as they started of sway to the rhythm of the music. He didn't know how to feel. He was still surprised he'd just seen Helga Pataki of all people, and was barely realizing he hadn't had the opportunity to say any more than 'Hi Helga' to her.

"Oh, God! Really?!" Right then was when Claire's excited voice called his attention. "What about next Friday?"

"Next Friday? Are you sure?" Dave had raised his brows, surprised. "Look that I mean real work. We want to see more than mere plans. We need to see reach, costs, human resources involved, how many people you plan to reach in the short range, all on that budget. Take all the time your need to prepare everything." He had ended.

"There's no need." But Claire's thrill was resistant "We have almost everything ready. All we have to do is, let's say, update our info and adapt the numbers to the new budget; then take decisions about what is left in and what is out. I think I'll be ready to next Friday."

"Are you sure?"

Arnold blinked twice. What had just happened? Hadn't just Dave said they won't take a decision in here? What else did he miss?

He realized Brenda was now at his side, watching with the same confusion Claire and Dave's interchange, and, also as same as him, throwing glances to the couple that carefreely showed off their skills on the dancing floor.

Arnold turned back to his girlfriend whose spirit had risen in the last few minutes. Then he took a step ahead and noticed the dark haired girl that had arrived with Helga earlier, she was still there. Now that he got to see her closely he realized she was older than he first thought. She should be in her late thirties, or maybe even reaching her forties. She gave him a smile, and seemed that was about to talk when someone else called her attention and made her turn around.

A tall man who looked like the bad guy stepping out of the middle of a James Bond's movie was approaching them and stopped by her side.

"Where's everybody?" he asked.

Arnold recognized immediately that voice. He observed the tough looking guy standing almost in front of him. Discourteous, he didn't even look their way; all his attention was set on her. The woman shrugged casually and looked around.

"I guess everybody went to take care of their own business," then she turned to see him and added "Henry and Helga are in the dancing floor."

The guy raised his sight and threw a nasty look to the dissimilar couple.

"Hope he doesn't end with a heart attack," he sneered; then took a glance at Arnold and the girls without interest.

"Don't be like that!" his companion moaned. "Let them have a good time. They deserve it; after the week they just had."

"Hey!" he protested "I was also there!"

"Yeah, yeah, you were also there, so what?" she waved her hand "We all know you are not used to relax and enjoy yourself."

"Relax?" He scoffed "How? Making a fool of myself like uncle Henry over there?"

The dark haired girl shook her head and exhaled tiredly.

"Dick… Dick…. Not everything that happens in this world has anything to do with you."

The guy exhaled and took a look to his watch. "Whatever," he then turned around.

"Looking for your girl?" she asked, hiding a smile. "She went to the restrooms to check her … huh… makeup, I think."

"She still around?" he raised his brows.

"Why wouldn't she?" she asked back with interest.

"I thought she had a headache." he shrugged nonchalantly. Arnold frowned.

"Awww!" the girl didn't hide her smile this occasion "Bad luck again?"

Dick drew a crooked smile. "You wish!" he then laughed with freshly improved mood "What about you, Deb?" he looked around and shrugged again "Let's make some fool of ourselves. Dave, can I borrow your girl?"

The girl called Deb seemed surprised, while Dave turned up to look at him with surprise.

"As long as I can borrow yours," the man responded.

"She's a free agent," He replied as he led Deb to the dance floor "You might give it a try before someone else beats you."

Dave smirked as he observed them go, and then turned resolutely to Claire to finally set an appointment. Next Friday. Three p.m.

Arnold supposed Claire didn't know what all that was about, but she was overjoyed.

. . .

Arnold left the shower and put on a tee and some shorts and entered to the delicious smelling kitchen. As promised, coffee, eggs and bacon were waiting for him. He hadn't realized he was hungry, but then again, it wasn't surprise after the night they just had. Claire took a seat at his side and starting to tell him the plans for the day as she also ate from her plate. She had the day off; she had asked it in advance, which turned out to be a wise decision.

"There is something I didn't understand," Arnold interrupted her when she was still merrily speaking "Did Dave actually promise his help?" he paused "Or he only said 'maybe'?"

"Well…" Claire paused "He said they'd help; as a fact. He even let clear that we needed to work hard."

"Alright…" Arnold nodded as he swallowed a mouthful, but then asked again with a frown. "But why?" he left the fork aside and turned to her "Why he changed his mind when he said they wouldn't give an answer right away?"

"I don't know, Arnold" she also left her fork aside "You were there too."

"But everything happened in a blur. I didn't see anything!"

"Of course you didn't see anything. How could you?!" she said with strained voice, but composed herself almost immediately "You were gawking so unashamedly at your ex-girlfriend that I'm surprised Henry Mueller didn't punch you in the mouth!"

"That's not…" Arnold refrained himself, then possessing himself in patience and with the intention to stop dead her suspicions he added. "… true. And she was never my girlfriend. We stopped seeing each other when we were fourteen for God's sake!"

"I am kidding, okay?" she told him sternly "I am only telling you this because, as same as her friends, Brenda is not going to let you live this down." Claire smirked. Arnold was about to tell her it wasn't funny when she suddenly exclaimed. "Oh, my God! You said fourteen?" Claire looked at him with incredulity "No kidding! Now I understand why you didn't seem to recognize her!"

Arnold exhaled, happy that she wasn't taking it by the wrong side, and surprised, on the other side, that she had realized he hadn't recognized Helga Pataki sooner.

"No, I…" he paused "well… actually I saw her years ago, at Phoebe and Gerald's wedding, remember? But I talked to her just a few minutes." He explained as he shrugged his shoulders; and then tapped his own nose with his pointed finger "She has a nose job or something. She looks very different."

"Really? She wasn't this pretty back then?"

"No," Arnold shook his head, "She was this awkward, lanky girl, you know? Kinda tomboyish..."

Claire looked ahead, as if thinking. Then asked.

"Do you think they are together?" she vacillated. "I mean she and Henry. He is too old for her. He could be her father."

Arnold shrugged. He had no idea.

"She had no ring at least."

"No?" Claire shook her head. Arnold added then "I don't know but I guess age has nothing to do with this. Just ask Brenda. I am sure she'd date Henry, no buts about it."

"Hey!" Claire scoffed "Not only Brenda. Most girls would date him."

"You too?"

"Well…" her sexy lips pulled a weird smile. "He might be handsome, but is too old for my taste." She took a sip of her coffee "But why in the world I would go out with him when I am with you; the handsomest guy around." She touched his nose with her fork and smiled.

"I don't know…. He's rich?" Arnold grinned, leaning to her.

Claire rolled her eyes and continued eating.

"Do you mean she's with him only because he's rich?" she asked after a while "Or… are you're also supposing that… that she's a… call girl or something?" she hinted with carefulness.

Arnold would like to respond 'Of course she's not' right away. But he had to admit he didn't know a thing about Helga nowadays, and even if he'd admit it only under torture, the idea had already reached his mind. Last night he'd witnessed some weird things that had made him see with open eyes the reality about the high-class people who inhabited the city. But before he could think a proper response to her question there was a knock in the door. Claire went to check as Arnold put his plate in the sink and poured himself another cup of coffee.

"Hey!"

Arnold almost choked seeing Brenda entering to the kitchen still wearing her long gown, and her shoes hanging from her hand. She took a seat and left them at foot of the table. She looked awfully tired, but at least her face was clean from all that excessive makeup from the previous night.

"Hey!" Arnold answered her peculiar greeting. "I was about to ask you about last night but I think the night hasn't ended for you, huh?"

"If only you knew!" Brenda let out a tired scoff "I stayed with Jenna and her friends. Do you know what time that people ended their job?" as usual she didn't wait for their guesses. "Three and a half in the morning! Can you believe it? Three and a half in the morning! Poor guys! Such a job they have! Still, thankfully, it seems that despite the initial disorganization, the Ball ended being a success; they expect to repeat it next year."

"Really?" Claire asked.

"That's great to hear... I guess" Arnold let out.

"A lot of commitments were made last night. And you know what? We weren't the only ones who got a sponsor." Brenda stopped to take a sip of the coffee Claire offered to her and then added. "There were several; I think they said there were about ten. But we were the smallest, and the youngest; how about that?!" She made a triumphal sign and went on "Jenna said she couldn't believe it; she was really happy for us. She also said she had the suspicion that Mueller wasn't going to cooperate; that they went only because they couldn't refuse. Because, you must know, rumor has it that Henry Mueller wants to create his own foundation, but it turned out to be only rumors."

"Well, I am happy they were only rumors in the end." Claire stated as she took her own plate to the sink. "And if we want to see that support we need to start to work right away!"

"Come on!" Brenda complained "Let me have some rest, girl! I just left Jenna's!"

"Alright, alright!" Claire laughed; seemed that not even her best friend complaints were going to spoil her mood. "You can crash in the couch while I make some calls, fix some appointments..."

"Sounds great." Brenda mumbled as she turned to see him "Hope you don't mind, Arnold"

"Not at all. Mi casa es tu casa, amiga." He said as he stood to go change. "Besides, I'll be out until late." Tonight he was attending to a goodbye party thrown out by his friends.

"Why did you were until now with Jenna, by the way?" Claire asked her friend.

"Oh, girly!" Brenda cried "There were oh-so many things to talk about. There were some PEOPLE last night at the party, huh?! It was the most interesting night I've ever had! Really!"

"Seems that you met some Princes Charming, huh?" Arnold teased her after remembering her reaction to Mr. Mueller; and wondering if she had also reacted that way to some other men.

"You're telling me! Some handsome men down there, huh?! But they are nothing compared with all the drama that lies behind them. If you only know what I just found out! Downtown is On Fire, my friends!"

"Really?" Claire took her seat again and looked eagerly to her friend "Gossip?" she raised her brows "Please tell me you have fresh juicy gossip for me?"

"Fresh bloody gossip, I'd say" Brenda let out a nervous, hysterical laugh. Arnold frowned seeing Claire rubbing her hands and also laughing excitedly. He couldn't believe it

"Girls!" he scoffed and walked to the bedroom.

"Not so fast, Arnoldini"! Brenda's words stopped him. She made him remember that old name he'd called himself long ago. "I have some info that might be interesting for you"

"For me?" he turned around.

"Yes, for you." She looked pointedly at him, which made Arnold roll his eyes. "It turns out that we got this opportunity thanks to you; but I guess you already know it, right?" she didn't stop looking hard at him the entire time. "Who'd have told?"

"Me? Why?" he asked bluntly in sight that the girl didn't back off despite he was facing her.

"Because of your ex-girlfriend," she replied flatly.

"Girlfriend… right" he exhaled, turning to Claire who had that small 'I told you' smile in her lips.

"Or maybe because Henry's…. Do you know that Helga Pataki -that's her name-" Brenda informed to Claire "…has become the biggest danger to the stability of Mueller Enterprises?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Claire asked.

"I am talking about the Muellers…"

"Okay… I follow you…" Claire announced.

"Is this is the gossip you were talking about?" Arnold interrupted her "Because if it is, I think I pass."

"You can't just pass, Arnold" Claire stopped him "Dave expects to see us at Friday. He said the three of us. It includes you."

"What?" he asked.

"What?" Brenda turned to her and then to Arnold. "Did Dave ask specifically for Arnold to be there?"

Claire frowned, then nodded. "Why?" She asked Brenda.

"Why indeed?" Brenda was meditative.

"What does this have to do with anything?" Arnold asked. Brenda was about to ask something else to Claire but Arnold insisted. "Why we have to know about the Muellers… and Helga?"

Brenda looked annoyed for the interruption, but then she just shook her head and started to spoke, nonetheless.

"I…" she paused "Look that you know how to spoil a perfect gossip, Arnold! Well, I don't know how to start anymore…" she puffed " let's see…" then she took her time "you both know that Mueller is this familial company, right? Inherited to Henry from his grandfather who founded it like a hundred years ago, a furniture store or something; then to his father and when it was Henry's turn, he took it to the big leagues and started its international expansion…"

"International expansion that had become very aggressive recently …" Arnold supplemented "that's why he's so well-known…"

"You tell me! That is your field of expertise" Brenda snapped. Arnold ignored her.

"So well… And then?" Claire's demanding pout made Brenda smile.

"Why so curious?" Brenda chortled; her defiance disappearing. Arnold shook his head with impatience.

"Maybe she's also interested in Henry Mueller," Arnold shrugged, mocking them both "Beware Brenda!"

"As if Henry Mueller would pay attention to any of us," Brenda scoffed "when Helga Pataki has him wrapped around her finger."

"Really? Has she?" Claire asked

"Well, that's what rumor has it. But the truth it is that nobody knows if they're actually dating, or if they are just taking their master-protégée relation to a very particular and suspicious level. What ALL are, in fact, expectant about, is how their new dynamic will affect the succession in Mueller Enterprises. People are already taking sides."

"What do you mean?" Arnold frowned.

"But Dick Mueller is the natural successor, isn't he?" Claire asked.

"Do you know about Dick?" Arnold frowned. Claire shrugged. "How? When?"

"General knowledge, Arnold; Dick is the second on board. He is Henry's right hand; everybody knows it." she was getting exasperated "Besides he was right there. Didn't you see him?"

"Didn't you see him! How could you?!" Brenda asked, misunderstanding his silence. "The hottest man I've ever seen!"

"For God's sake!" Arnold huffed, then turned to Claire expecting support from her part, but when he saw her hesitating he just couldn't believe his eyes "Hot? Him? Oh, God!"

"I am not saying he's hot!" Claire rasped.

"You don't think he's hot?" Brenda queried.

"I thought you thought Henry was hot!" Arnold interrupted her

"Well, Henry is hot, but nothing compared to Dick"

"We are talking about the same Dick, right? The dude who looks like the villain of an action movie" Arnold shook his head "Girls," he started, suddenly realizing this was the gossip they were talking about and which they enjoyed so much. He simply couldn't get it "…it's been a pleasure to be with you"

"Are you going now?" Claire complained.

"It's getting late, I need to get ready."

"You're gonna lose the end of the story." Brenda murmured.

"Story now?" Arnold chuckled "You said it was a mere gossip."

"Story, gossip, tale… where is the difference" the blonde girl asked.

Arnold shrugged. There was a world of difference but he wasn't going to lose his time anymore.

"It's about Helga," Brenda added and Arnold cursed himself when he stopped dead right when he was reaching the knob of the bedroom's door. "Did you know she worked at Mueller?"

"No," Arnold exhaled and turned around, leaning against the door "I didn't have the slightest idea. I haven't seen or heard from her in years." He lied "Does she?"

"Yeah," Brenda nodded "It seems that she's been in there for a while. She started as Mr. Mueller's personal assistant and then she started to escalate positions until four years ago when there was a reengineering in the company. After that she became the superb Mueller's Chief Financial Officer and Henry's left arm."

"I heard it was Dick,"

Brenda smiled

"Dick, my friend, is Mueller's Chief Operating Officer, and he's also Henry's nephew, his heir, and until very recently he had been pointed as his successor…" she spoke calculatedly, enjoying the attention she was receiving "But that's now up in the air, since this new affair between Henry and Helga was known."

"But Dick is family. Shouldn't he be his first choice, the right thing to do?" Claire frowned

"Helga might be his woman." Brenda shrugged.

"Which is the difference in their positions?" Claire asked Arnold

"Dick is in charge of the operation… I guess he's the chief everywhere; in the last corner of every single company of the conglomerate. But Helga is in charge of the finances. She has another kind of power…" Arnold realized so many things then. If this all was true, Helga Pataki had been working her way up in the corporate world, and she did it so well that she was part now of Mueller C-Suite. He exhaled. No doubt now why she didn't say what she did for a living four years ago. She just couldn't say: 'I am the fucking CFO of Mueller Enterprises, ya bunch of losers!'

"Do you mean she's not under Dick's orders?"

"No," he shook his head "Functions use to change from place to place, but it should mean that she reports only to the CEO and to the Board, not to the COO…. Dick and she are in the same ranking. If something, Dick might need her approval sometimes."

No doubt why he detested her, Arnold thought.

"Really?"

"See why I said there was some drama going on at Mueller headquarters?" Brenda chirped. "I can't wait to see how this soap opera develops."

Arnold entered the bedroom and closed the door. Still there, he could hear their talking.

"I can't believe it. That someone like Henry could choose a stranger over his own family."

Claire started, then her friend went on.

"Yeah, poor Dick!" Brenda sighed "I could so go there and take him in my arms to comfort him."

Both girls giggled. Arnold shook his head deciding to shut them out, then he opened the closet to start changing. He observed himself in the full-length mirror. What has he been doing while Helga Pataki was reaching the highest positions in one of the most important companies in NYC? Criticizing the uses and ways of the rich and powerful? Complaining about his job? Helping the poor?

"That Helga Pataki is a bitch!"

Seemed that Claire and Brenda had already taken positions, like the rest of people. As he adjusted his tie Arnold wondered which side he would take, given the case. Helga or Dick's?

"Yes, she is... But you know? According to Jenna, some people said she's really good at her job; and that for the sake of the company she's a better option than Dick."

"But it's his company; the company of his blood. Who could be a better option than a Mueller?"

Brenda muttered an answer. Claire went on. So this was the way how women gossiped, and spread the news, then acted as if they were part of that world, Arnold pondered.

"Still, you said she's only Henry's left hand. But everybody says Dick is his right hand, don't they?"

"Yep" Brenda replied "That's what everybody says… but I'm in possession of something that only their closest know, you know? Another cause of worry to poor Dick."

Arnold stepped out of the room then. He didn't want to interrupt so he waved goodbye to Claire in his way to the main door. He took his car's keys before leaving.

"Really?" Claire nodded her head in response as Brenda walked to the coffee machine. "And what is it?"

"Henry Mueller is left handed."

Arnold closed the door and walked up to the corner where he used to park his Camry. He took the conductor seat and pulled onto the street with an uncertain mood to face the day; his last day at job. The last day of a part of his life...

The last day of the rest of his life.

. . .

I don't own Hey Arnold!

I don't own Toyota Camry or any other TM. I do own this story and the OC.

Thank you all for reading. A thousand thanks to you all who take the time to review: CarlinJ83, Nep2uune, PresleyRox, a Guest, iHwanniex3 and anona. You guys rock! I am sorry I didn't answered your reviews before but I'll do it tonight, I promise.

Hope you also enjoy this installment.

See you soon.

September 5th, 2014.