Rocket to the Moon
Chapter Twelve
Helga Be Nice.
. . .
"In China for instance, they are more open to negotiate. Their politics is clear…"
"Do you mean India is nothing like that?" she asked, somewhat apathetically.
"Well, India is making some changes. I think they eventually realized…" and he went on mentioning the similitudes and differences between both economies, including the cultural and politic backgrounds and how they affected their policies.
Helga nodded as her sight went back to the screen of her laptop.
"… So it depends of the level of exportations. For instance, how much do you think you'd be selling to the exterior?" Arnold asked.
Helga leaned against the back of her chair. Her reply to the mail was ready but in the other side of the globe the clock ticked three in the morning. She used to manage her communications so they were received at the right time. She exhaled. Talk about oddities. She should just send it at once.
"How much?" Arnold insisted. She raised her sight.
"Almost the entire production goes to the exterior, Arnold." She exhaled, masking her exasperation.
"Yeah, but how much are we talking about?" he insisted. She was still reticent about giving too much information.
"It's really that important?"
In sight of her reserve he continued.
"Our rank depends on it." Helga smirked. There it was. The key word. His 'our' was worth the impatient delay. Why he took too long to admit it? That Football Head! If only she had time to rub it in his face - Oh, Lord! - How much she'd enjoy making him admit he already felt Mueller as his own home. "Alright," he went on "Let's say, a hundred millions?" he paused, attentive to her reactions "Did I fell short?" he shrugged "Far over?"
"Short. By far." she finally disclosed, then exhaled. "How much is the difference?"
"Well, if that 'by far' is twice the size we can say that there's not much difference; if you mean ten times higher, then we're talking about…"
Helga nodded; her sight fell back to the screen as he kept talking. She had already warned Arnold she was replying her email. The messenger icon was blinking and she touched it.
= "Everything went well?"
She breathed deeply.
- - "Yep," she typed and sent back.
She raised her sight to see the boy in front of her, still talking about rank limits and whatnot. Helga smiled and nodded every once in a while, repeating his words. She didn't want to be rude but this boy was wearing thin her patience. There were a couple of things she'd be doing right now and this interview was going on and on. She had to stop him at some point; there was no choice.
She was about to do it when he looked up; and smiled. She smiled back. Stupid Football head! Do you think I don't have another thing to do than look at your pretty face?! She groaned inwardly; his eyes shone and she didn't feel like interrupting him. Yet. She looked up to see the clock on the wall. It's was almost five o'clock.
She made up her mind. Two more minutes. She'd give him two more minutes and that's it.
She turned to the messenger again.
= "Any counteroffer?"
- - "OfC. They'll do wht I want. I'm gnna W 'em B 2nite. Hope to have an answr 2moro." - Oh, she hated 'texting'!
= "So you're decided?"
- - "From min 1."
She grinned; then raised her sight and kept the smile for Arnold who smiled back. He took a pen and starting to draw lines and columns in a paper. She rolled her eyes and blew out again.
="Did you already talk to Dick?"
She grunted inwardly.
- - " :/"
="Why?"
She raised her sight.
- - "The Ftbll Hd s still here?"
="Why is he there, again?"
- - "He offered to come n explain everythin'bout the proceds in India"
As expected, Henry made a pause. Helga let out a crooked smile. Arnold continued oblivious, drawing happily away lines in the paper. Then she saw the ellipsis that indicated that Henry was writing back.
="But honey, don't you know everything about procedures in India already?"
- - "I know - bt A doesn't K I K"
= " ? "
- - "He took too seriously my visit to Dick this mornin"
="Really?" Helga nodded
… "And he chivalrously came to offer you his help?
… ;) "
- - "Alright- go on. Have fun."
="I'm having fun :D"
- - "Idiot!"
She raised her sight and exhaled. "That's' it." She cut her guest off "I think I get it, Arnold"
"You do?" He looked at her, surprised "What did you get?"
"That… ranking thing of course" she tried to hide her exasperation but didn't know if she did a good job "I mean I understand now the ranking thing."
"How?" he frowned "I'm barely starting to explain how it works." she stopped herself before rolling her eyes. Could he be more oblivious?
"Oh," she blinked "I mean I understood what I needed to. I don't want to become an expert, right?" she said, forcing a wide smile. Arnold leaned back in his chair looking pleased, and then he came forward, pointed something in the sheet and started to talk again.
Inadvertently to him, Helga released her breathe gradually and observed him. Good old Football Head. How dumb could he be? He really thought his intentions weren't obvious? So far she remembered he was always nice - and caring and whatever-, but – she scoffed inwardly- Just look at him now! So attentive! So willing to help! His green eyes shone and his smile couldn't be bigger!
Bah! Helga scoffed in her mind. If he'd only acted this way towards her when she was seventeen he'd swept her off her feet and sent her away right to the heavens where she'd think she'd live happily ever after. Luckily he didn't, she thought with cynicism, otherwise she'd be now a bored housewife with a bunch of kids under the arm and most probably broken, drunken and hating him in silence; finding solace to her bitterness in a world of fantasy…
Helga shook her head. It was getting late. The blonde boy in front of her was showing her his big smile and perfect white teeth. Poor Football head; he never stopped falling for the pretty faces. She wondered if she still have her ugly nose or worked as a clerk in a corner store he'd be so helpful.
="Is he still there?"
- - "Yep, he is."
="I was wondering… What made you fell in love with him?"
Helga chuckled. Arnold turned to see her with a frown.
"Just a second," she told him. Arnold nodded.
- - "Jealous are we?" she typed and sent back.
"Well, Arnold. Thank you for coming…"
"Who are you talking to?" Arnold asked with a lax smile. Helga drew an amused face. 'Jealous are we?' she wrote in her mind. Then shook her head. Her mind looked like an old blackboard.
"Henry," she answered, shrugging her shoulders.
= "Just curious" Henry replied. "So?"
"Am I interrupting you?"
- - "He…" she wrote… and said. "He's asking me stuff related to all this." She signaled the papers scattered across her desk "I'm sorry Arnold, but I'm still kind of busy here. And I also need to talk to Dick before he leaves. I really appreciate your…"
"Does Henry know I'm here?"
= "Are you ever going to tell me?" The screen blinked.
… Again?"
MEN!
Helga wanted to yell. She expected Arnold didn't notice the fire in her eyes. She breathed twice before going on.
"No. Kitty told him I had company," she shook her head.
"Is he… jealous?" he asked with vacillation.
"He's not…" Helga stopped herself realizing her spontaneous reply wasn't quite right. She put her hands on the table. "Look Arnold, I'd really appreciate if you stop asking me that kind of stuff. It's getting old! And nobody besides you asks it anymore. In fact, nobody-besides-you dares to ask me about Henry the way you do."
"Really?" He said, somewhat resented. "You have never given me a proper reply."
Helga resolved be patient, once again.
"It's because it is complicated…" she paused "And it's not only about me, alright? It's just that I can't make… a statement. I guess you know what I mean."
"I don't, actually." Arnold insisted "It's just - man! - that I see you and I think what a …"
"Arnold, don't!" she said firmly "Just stop it," her eyes warned him. She took an intake and got up. "Thank you for all your help. I appreciate you coming by to… help me. It's a little early. I'll let you know later how this thing goes though I suppose you'd be informed in the morning."
"Dick already knows?"
"He's about to," she nodded. "And only after I talk to him is that I can talk to somebody else, alright?"
Arnold nodded, understanding "I imagine"
"Yeah," she came from behind her desk and stopped by his side. "Well…"
She almost groaned when he took his time to get up and follow her to the door.
"Well, Arnold. I think I'll see you on Monday before you go." She patted his shoulder.
"You do?"
"I'm sure."
Have a nice trip! - Be a nice kid! - How's your girl taking the news? - How are you coping with Dick's gang?
And other bunch of phrases and questions came to her mind but went off without being spoken. Any of them would bring a reply that could go on and on. She exhaled when he finally turned around and walked towards the elevator. Her secretary captured her sight and Helga signaled Dick's door. Kitty nodded and moved her eyes in a warning fashion.
Figures.
Before turning to pick up papers from her desk she threw a last glance to Arnold, wishing he'd disappear before Dick caught a glimpse of him leaving her office. The last thing she needed was Peter being suspicious of the Football Head. Deb would hate her; she was hoping they'd get along. The aforementioned boy was waiting by the elevator. He turned his head back and waved his hand.
Stupid sexy Flanders!
She scoffed with annoyance going back to her office. That little twerp! He thought he was irresistible or what?! Although, truth be told, Arnold wasn't half bad. She knew that if she wanted… Gah! What was the point? The boy was handsome so what?! She didn't need more complication. Her love life was already a mess. She had a relationship that couldn't even be properly named 'relationship'! She groaned.
Besides, Arnold had a steady girlfriend, and she wasn't that naughty anymore, no. She was 'nice'. She almost curtsied when she said it.
She touched the screen of her computer and it came back to life. The screen showed the mail ready to be sent to the people she was dealing with at the Department of Economic Affairs in India. What the hell! She clicked the 'Send' button. Then she proceeded to close the browser when the messenger box blinked with Henry last message.
= "Are you ever going to tell me?
… Again?"
.
.
… "Busy or angry?"
Helga looked around in search of her papers and put them in a folder, then put the rest of them in a neat pile. Looking at the folder she changed her mind and decided she needed nothing, so with this resolution she put the folder on top. Exhaling, she leaned to use the keyboard.
- - "Busy," she sent. Then reread his previous question. "What made you fell in love with him?"
She pulled the pc towards her
- - "He was nice to me an exceedingly awful day." She wrote "He was always nice. I really think he's still one of the nicest kids around."
Henry must be wasting idly his time because the answer came right away.
="So you liked nicey, huh?
- - "Hey! I still like nice!
= "Really?"
- - " |:("
= "I love your brow ;)
… I guess he's already gone?"
- - "Yep"
Helga straightened, but then another message arrived. Hesitating, she leaned over.
= "He's good looking."
She snorted, Pulling at her blouse and flattening her skirt.
… "Do you still like him?" Henry asked again
- - "Nope," she paused
- - "Though he has a nice butt."
= "It's good to see you know how to appreciate the right ass-ets"
- - "Why, thank you, sir!" she laughed. She was starting to write again "I'm -goi…" when another message arrived.
= "He's crazy about you"
- - "Haha"
Helga bit her lip
- - "He asked about us…
- - … Again"
= "What did you say?"
- - "None of your business…
- - … meaning his business, of course, not yours, "
Helga took an intake as she waited
= "I know,"
…Seems he doesn't like seeing you as my woman…
- - "I guess…
= "It bothers you?"
- - "No,
… in fact it's kinda fun"
= "Naughty!
… I find it funny too."
- - That makes two of us"
- - …I gotta go
- - … Talk to you later
= "Helga,"
- - 'Naughty',
= "Talking about naughty,
= … Be nice."
"Nice?" she let out a scoff.
= … and patient"
- - "Patient and nice?" she nodded, unbelieving
= "Please?"
- - "Do you realize that you're asking me that
- - AGAIN?
= "It's seems to be necessary…
- - "Because of me?
- - Yesterday was …"
= "If you love me please be patient"
- - "Damn!
- - You have to bring the L word?"
= "I know he's a fool"
- - Fool doesn't even start…
= Oh, honey, I know
… But I feel sorry for him. It's not his fault after all
… He just can't help it
… I've been there
Helga sighed deeply.
- - "I just can't think about you being a dick
- - No matter how much you say it, "
= "But I was
… Once
Helga looked at the words in the screen for almost a minute.
… I think she told you so, didn't she?"
- - "Yeah, she did.
- - It's just…
- - Hel…"
A sudden rumble shook her.
"Can I know when were you FUCKING going to SEE ME?!"
The door was slammed open; her heart jumped to her throat. Helga turned around with a jerk, leaning against the edge of the desk.
"Jesus Dick!" she gasped.
"You think all my GODDAMNED time is yours OR WHAT?"
Helga took a second or two to put herself together. 'Be nice' she took an intake. Her mouth was dying for a proper retort to the man who was standing right before her, but her conditioned response forced herself to act calmed.
"I thought these lovely…" she breathed in "… encounters… had been left behind," then she let out a small laugh.
"I've been waiting for Hours so you concede me a little bit of your Damn time!"
Procrastination… It's called procrastination…
"Damn…- fuck... goddamned... Why everything has to be damned with you?" she walked around her desk and opened a drawer, trying to act as if nothing "It hasn't been hours." She raised her sight to meet his glare and then her eyes focused in door partly open behind him. People were worried out there "I went looking for you around four."
"I was in my office at four o'clock!"
"I guess I got busy then." She shrugged her shoulders.
"And there aren't those things called priorities?"
"Of course they are." She paused "But this wasn't one"
"It wasn't?" Helga shook her head. She breathed out by the nose, ignoring the warning in his voice. "So now all my Fucking Work has to wait until Your Highness deigns to address me…"
"Do you really think you intimidate me?" she turned up to see him. "Alright, go on. Bark all what you want. But please close the door; I don't want the girls getting scared because of your yelling."
"I'm not yelling," he walked up to the door, and effectively stopped speaking aloud.
"You're not yelling right now, but you certainly were. Geez! You really think you look threatening? Because you actually look like my five years old nephew throwing a tantrum! " She turned to close her pc, knowing she was pushing his buttons "I was waiting for some information. That's why I didn't go to see you, - alright?" She paused "And it's only because I respect you too much that I didn't want to waste your time."
"Oh, Really?!"
"Really!" she faced him. He snorted no believing one single word. Actually, it was only an excuse but it didn't matter. Dick wasn't going to believe her anyway. Disbelief was one of his traits, she could tell. Descartes was a bush-leaguer compared to him. She took the laptop in her arms.
"Now where are you fucking going?" he frowned as she walked to the doorway.
"To your, 'fucking' office, of course." She looked at him looking falsely startled "We'll need your whiteboard. But I'll stop for a coffee." She added chirpily. From the door she turned around "Do you want some?"
"Coffee?"
Prozac.
She nodded, naively.
"Do you want coffee right now?!"
"I need it."
"Why don't just ask your secretary?"
"Because I don't like her coffee." She lowered her voice and made a face. "Here," she jabbed her laptop into his chest when he reached her. "I'll be with you in a minute" and with that she walked on, leaving him in at her own door.
There was a time when she'd fear he flung her laptop to the floor and started walking all over it but now she knew better. She knew him better. The idiot would do one of two things: He'd be even more upset when she finally reached him in his office; or he'd be calmer. As of late the latter had been the usual, though being sincere it didn't mean there was a big deal of a difference from one to the other.
Helga puffed as she left his pink colored marker on the table and poured coffee to her mug. She hated that she still reacted this way to his outbursts. She should already know that when a commotion started it wasn't because an emergency; it was just Dick being a dick.
Still, she must admit that today she might be delaying their encounter on purpose. She hoped the longer she delayed it the shorter it lasted. It wasn't that she actually feared him - their meetings used to take forever in fact, once they kicked in - but it was simply that sometimes she didn't feel like to spend time with him and today was one of those days.
She left the room and walked to his office ignoring the pitiful slash expectant slash anxious looks in the eyes of the secretaries. The door was open and Dick was waiting for her at the bottom of the place. His office was so large that it could be easily divided in two executive spaces. It has an L shape and he had placed another desk and a couple of whiteboards at the bottom that were partially hidden by a folding decorative screen. When he was working in the planning, design or setup of the enterprises and needed concentration he used to refuge in here; in this hidden, nice place.
Making obvious his impatience he took his seat, and Helga didn't wait to get started, not because his impatience but because it was about time to get over this. She began drawing a general layout of the industrial park where the new enterprise was located; being careful to mark in pink the characteristics she'd eventually explain. Then she portrayed the plant itself - layouts that she'd already provided - at the same time she explained the general information. What do they produced; the different kinds of clothing; how do they did it; who were their clients; where did they ship the merchandise, and stuff of the kind; until finally she went to seat down beside him to show him her specialty: the numbers.
Dick had already seen them, but never this close. As she supposed he got surprised. Despite being a 'modest old factory' the company has the potential to be a goldmine. Its previous owners were three brothers that after their father death they never got along. They fought amongst them for control and their fights affected the production. When an interesting proposition arrived they just saw an easy way out, -the same way that had happened to her long ago. As far as the East is from the West, so far money was still money.
"So what's exactly your plan?"
And so money was still money that at the slightest hint that Mueller was willing to spend some extra millions got them some interesting propositions. One of the brothers talked to a friend, who talked to a cousin, who talked to his – whoever - who knew someone from the government. A proposition was made…
"Where is that?"
Helga got up and walked to the board.
"This – very – one," her hand touched the adjacent warehouse. "It's empty and has been empty for almost two years. They used to make cables, but they moved to Korea where the automotive plant they worked for is located."
"What size it is?"
"Slightly bigger than the actual" she paused "They offered me to tear it down and raise a new one, attached to this, but I really don't see a problem if they are two separated places; like the one in Colombia, right? -Of course, I'd like to hear your opinion before taking a decision…" she bit her lip because she had already accepted.
"I don't see no problem if we have two plants." He said. Helga nodded, not showing happiness because his consent. He was calmed, in the right mood now and she didn't want to trigger a new fit. With Dick you have to start from scratch every single day; you needed to move as carefully as if you were walking on quicksand. You never knew when a new explosion was coming. "That way we don't have to wait until the new building is ready."
"Yeah, I counted on you saying that," Helga nodded as she opened a layout of the warehouse and some photos on the screen of her pc. "So this is it. What do you think?"
"It's bigger than I thought."
"I know,"
"Seems to be in excellent conditions."
"Yeah, it is. Ready to be filled with sewing machines."
"Alright… how about this new inversion? How much are we talking about?" he leaned in his chair to look right to her face.
"How much do you need?" she wriggled her brows.
"I don't have the slightest idea…" he shook his head "Enlighten me."
"I'm open to your requests." She leaned back too. Now they were getting to the point. "Half for starters? At full capacity?" seeing his disbelief she went on "If I talk about a thousand of new job posts…" she turned to the screen " -that is about the estimated of people that fit in the place…-"
"They promised you the moon." He ended for her.
"Well, the earth actually. The land." She wriggled her brows "And a lot of extra benefits." She crossed her arms over her chest "What do you think?"
"Alright; let's think I say 'Fill it'… are there clients for the new level of production?"
"Leo just told me there are. They are already waiting."
"Leo is still there?"
She nodded "He'll be there until the next week. You're gonna see him."
Dick nodded; and then pulled the computer towards him so he studied the diagram. Helga leaned back, observing him. As much as she avoided him at work she admitted he was a genius. The organization and functioning of the companies couldn't be in better hands. His obsessiveness reached everything; from the production system to the most trifling detail. Operations came naturally to him.
Then she sighed, getting comfortable in her seat. She remembered when she first met him. She was at the headquarters of Big Bob Stores in Hillwood when her secretary announced him. She already knew who Henry and Dick Mueller were, but she didn't have idea what the hell they wanted to do with her. She must confess she first thought the young Mueller went to offer a product or service of their own stock.
So imagine her surprise when the tall, blond, standoffish, ill-mannered young boy -add that he had a hard time expressing himself into the bargain-, threw to her desk a paper with a seven figures number written on it.
"For Pete's sake!" She scoffed.
She sent him back right to the rustic way he came! The idiot! How he dared… even to try!
The next time she was unprepared again. They were eight figures now. Not that there was a big difference between nine and a half and ten and a half, right? The idea of selling the stores now played in her mind, if every once in a while. After all Mueller proposition wasn't that bad; they just needed to adjust the price, - BUT
To think that that insufferable guy would possess what was only Pataki property! Such idiot! What a cretin! Just thinking about what her father would say! Big Bob Pataki would turn in his grave if he knew!
But then, the third time it was Henry the one who crossed her threshold. Unaccompanied. Smiling, kind, gentile, sympathetic, fatherly Henry. Cunning Henry…. Long story short, it was true that he used all his charm, but it was also true that she was already half convinced. She only needed him uttering the right sum. He didn't. She named it and Henry laughed. When he realized she was being serious he got serious too. Of course there was a tug of war. And they finally came to an understanding. Helga now was able to admit she acted as a brat when she asked Henry she didn't want Dick getting his hands on her property ever. 'Ex-property' he pointed out. Henry offered her to come and see.
In due course Dick got his hands all over the Pataki property and Helga had to live with it. In fact she let him do it; he was becoming the head of Operations after all. Still, he was kind enough to consult her in every single step of the development. The stores were a success. Helga liked to think they were her ideas. But it was Dick as who carried them out in the end.
Helga observed him as he wrote on his leather sketchbook. The embossed notebook looked like something the Pope would use. It was full of his sketches, drawings and notes. She shook her head. There he was, so concentrated in his work. This was the Dick she liked working with, dealing with; the relaxed, even-tempered, creative guy that was seated by her side; not the insufferable diva he could become sometimes.
She got up and walked around the room. In the opposite side of the table there were some papers. She looked at them. Curriculums, plans, layouts and a lot of his writing were in there besides the information she had shared to him the previous day.
"I see you have a good deal of work already done,"
"Yep,"
"How's Stan? He's still angry with me?"
"You already know him," he kept looking at his work.
"He was mean."
"Hey!" he chortled, raising briefly his sight to look at her "You're a pain in their asses. There is a reason why they hate you."
She grunted.
"They hate me only because they don't know what to do with me. I can't blame them though,"
"Stan doesn't share your opinion."
"Stan wants me... Poor bitch!"
Dick snorted. "If you say so"
Helga chortled. After leaving the papers in its place and giving him a quick look, she spoke again.
"You know?"
"Huh?"
"I don't know why you insist in wearing gray shirts; they don't go with your complexion."
"Hu huh,"
"Yep." she paused "I mean, I know guys have it hard since your wardrobe swings from grays to blues and that's it. Brown is for losers and black is too formal. But gray doesn't suit you, none of its shades. The problem isn't the jacket, you know? but gray –over - gray it's just … dull." She ended with a puff.
"Well I never!" he snorted. Helga laughed at his funny expression.
"You think I'm just teasing you?"
"Nope. I think you spent too much time with Rhonda."
"Not, it's not enough I assure you" she remembered then she had yet to plan an evening meeting with Rhonda and the Football Head. It'd be a nice get together in her place or Rhonda's, but she hasn't started anything yet just because she didn't know if they had to invite Arnold's girlfriend to come along. "Anyway,"
"Do the workers are mostly females?"
"Yeah, they are." Helga nodded. "They wear western clothing by the way."
"That's a shame"
"Tell me about it!"
Dick looked at her with a questioning look. She shrugged him dismissively. He went on working and after a while he spoke again.
"I think it could be eleven hundreds; give or take."
"That's a good number," she nodded. "I'll need you for the public announcement though."
"Henry is not going?"
She shook her head. "It'll be the two of us."
"Alright I guess. I'll be there about three weeks."
"10-4. I'll make the arrangements."
She took her seat again as he continued writing. She waited because he should give her a quick outline of his initial plan so she had the base to start the budget. She was also expectant. She had just brought out a topic she'd been thinking for a while, but hadn't been talked so far.
Dick was the one of the public faces of the company, and he wasn't bad at all, quite the opposite, but sometimes he was too busy doing his things and being the boss that he didn't primped himself with the adequate care and attention. She hated seing Mike Davis acting as if he were the king of the hill. It wasn't as if she wanted a metrosexual Dick all of a sudden, but taking a little extra care wouldn't hurt. She prided herself on her understanding of him, soooo… it was matter of time that he asked.
"You know," he started. Helga paid full attention "What were you telling me about my… complexion?"
"Oh, - That?" she replied, feigning irrelevance, but in fact she hoped he didn't raise his sight because he'd catch her with a grin bigger than the one of the Cheshire Cat. He raised his sight then and she put on a normal expression. "Gray is not your color, you know, you should try…"
"Why not?"
"I don't know, I didn't make up that thing with colors, but I have eyes and I see, and realize gray just doesn't suit you. You should wear more blue."
"Blue?" he was now looking at her with attention, leaving the sketchbook aside. A frown adorned his forehead.
"Yes, blue." She looked at him searchingly, given his expression "Why the skepticism? It's only because it flatters you too much? Well, to hell with modesty! Blue looks great in you. Blue over blue looks gorgeous and gray over blue isn't dull at all. And if you don't believe me just go to your home and try it on in front of a mirror. I'm not teasing you."
"Why you never told me this before?"
"We never have time to talk about stuff like this, I guess. You're always grumpy and I'm always pushing your buttons." She shrugged showing him an apologetic smile and went on "But then I came in and saw you seated over there, and even when you look, let's say, fine, and it's obvious that your clothes are expensive you just don't bring out your better self."
"I don't know if I should feel offended," he shook his head, "And don't say…"
"Oh, come on!" suddenly she felt heaviness in her chest "We're not that kind of friends, alright? Period."
"But…"
"Not now!" she uttered, warningly.
"Alright. Not a word. But it's not me this time." And showing he couldn't care less he went back to his book again. Helga grumbled. She took her computer and went to check her workbooks while kept waiting.
"Only blue?" Suddenly he asked. Helga snorted.
"So you care after all?" he let out a smug grin. Helga shook her head. That odd expression always made her feel weird. Now it also made her feel kinda guilty for messing with his head this way. "No. Not only blue. Well, I'm not expert, but I think dark green also goes to you… and yellow."
"Yellow?" he frowned "I think I've never worn yellow in my life."
"You should try it..." she shrugged turning to the screen and then she bit her lip "You know?" she looked up. He was looking at her with that penetrating gaze that made her feel uncomfortable. She didn't want to read too much into it, so she pushed the thought to the back of her mind. "Red is fine too. It is… intense. It boosts your appearance; calls the attention."
"And that's a good thing?"
"Try and tell me then."
"What shade of red do you think is better?"
She grinned openly.
"I don't know. All of them. Though Mueller red looks particularly good in you."
"Mueller red? Really?"
She nodded.
"But don't lose your time. Blue is good enough." A playful smile appeared on her lips "It has more than fifty shades, by the way… a lot more."
.
.
I don't own Hey Arnold!
I don't own the TM in here. I own only the plot and the OC.
Thank you for reading and follow/favorite this. To the reviewers I send my love and a bear hug. Thank you to Nep2uune, Jose Ramiro, CarlinJ83, Anonymous Latina and Presley Rox.
Also want to thank you to those who keep marking as favorite my previous work. I really appreciate it.
January 30th, 2015.