Rocket to the Moon
Chapter Twenty Four
Meet the Boss
It's a long chapter. I've warned you :)
. . .
"Mr. Arnold Shortman is here to see Ms. Pataki…" the guard uttered rather formally "yes… yes… yes," he bowed helpfully his head even when it was obvious he wasn't being seen by his interlocutor "Alright, sir. Right away."
"This way, please," the man preceded him down the hall and to the elevator that was already waiting. He pressed 17 "Here you are. 17B." he informed, and smiled again "Have a nice evening, Mr. Shortman."
Arnold barely realized all what had happened in the blink of an eye.
"Sir?" he said aloud. The person the guy talked to was… a 'him'?
Less than a minute later the he was standing in front of the –again - semi open door of apartment labeled 17B. These people never close the door or what? He grumbled, uncomfortable. 'Why am I even here?' He berated himself. 'I should have fled while I could', he thought as he looked around. 'Bah, this is ridiculous!'.
He knocked the door and a muffled sound came from the interior. Frowning, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
"Excuse me?" he said aloud.
The cat with his tail high was coming his way to see his visitor. Arnold leaned to caress him but the feline ran away.
"Over here," a voice was heard.
'Uh oh.' He said to himself. It was no other but Henry's voice.
Swallowing hard, Arnold straightened his shoulders as he tried to place the spot where the voice was coming from; it was one of the bedrooms. If he should follow the cat's prompt then he had to head for one in the center. Arnold closed the entrance door and walked up, feeling a funny sensation in the back of his neck as he advanced. What the hell I'm going to say when they asked me what I'm doing here?
He paused briefly before entering to the chamber. "Hello?" he greeted.
"That was fast." The voice said again, somewhat breathlessly. It came from the bathroom, whose door happened to be wide open "I thought I'd have time to finish this before your arrival." Arnold raised his brows in mock surprise.
"Well, the elevator is fast…" he stated tentatively "unlike the one at the office,"
Henry snorted. Arnold vacillated again… and then looked around the dim lit room. He didn't know what to do but since it seemed he had to do something he walked on, stopped by the door and peeked inside only to blink at the image. Henry was sitting on his heels as he - "Hi" Arnold greeted him - as he was cleaning the cat's litter box.
"Hi," Henry grumbled the answer.
"Do you need some help?" he offered. Arnold couldn't help but smile at the image. Not every day you get to see the owner of Mueller Enterprises doing the dirty work.
Henry stopped what he was doing to look at him with an awkward smile.
"Actually I do," he chortled, rising up his face to avoid Smoking's tail. "I'd appreciate if you take the cat off me,"
The cat seemed to be having fun rubbing himself against Henry as he was doing his handy work.
"Sure," he said as he stepped inside the narrow space of the shower. "Seems that he doesn't like that you are…mmm," Arnold vacillated.
"Taking the crap out of… his box litter?" Henry laughed. "Oh, come on, you don't know him. I think he's actually inspecting my work."
Arnold extended his arms to take the cat away from Henry, but Smoking reacted at his proximity adopting a defensive stance and hissing at him. Then he ran to the end of the shower room from where he hissed again.
"Seems that he doesn't like you," Henry said matter of factly as he hurried to end his work. He got up, put the bag with the dirt into a second plastic bag along with his plastic gloves and left the room.
Arnold turned to see the cat but the feline snuck away from him and ran behind Henry. He washed his hands in the sink and followed him outside. Before leaving the room he stopped for a moment to blink when realization fell on him. Looking around with big round eyes; he grasped that the room was nothing else but the cat's chamber. The furniture and decoration said so. He shook his head with disbelief and walked to the kitchen.
"Was that…" he asked when found the other man washing his hands in the laundry "the cat's room?"
"Yes, it is." Henry nodded his head as he dried his hands with a paper towel. "I keep saying Helga it has to be the most spoiled cat in the entire world but she doesn't listen." He pointed to the corner as he passed by his side in his way to the fridge. Arnold tilted his head as he observed the modern cat feeder in the end of the room; it has three types of food in it.
"I think I agree." he said "His room it's funnier than mine."
Henry's all response was a snort. He took out two beers from the fridge and straightened up to his full height as he handed him a bottle. Arnold always knew Henry was a tall man; but being in the enclosed space of a kitchen he could be really imposing.
"Helga is…?"
"Not here." Henry informed naturally as he opened his bottle "She didn't say goodbye I assume?" he sneered before turning around to dispose of the bottle cap.
Arnold shrugged his shoulders and pretended he didn't catch the other man scorn "No," he admitted "Otherwise I wouldn't be here."
"Right," the man nodded and left the kitchen. Arnold followed him to the last of the halls, the paneled room, where he turned the lights on and walked around the place.
"Where did she go?" Arnold asked as he observed the older man taking a swig of his beer.
"Guatemala." He informed "She took a plane yesterday and is not coming back 'til Saturday." He took a seat and invited to Arnold to do the same.
"I see."
"And since Lupita, the housekeeper, also asked for the rest of the week, I had to come and check that Cigarette Smoking Man is doing well."
They both turned to see the cat that have been following them but keeping his distance. Henry patted his armrest and the cat ran up to his side. After a few turns and rubs; he got seated on Henry's legs facing him. Then he got up on his hind legs and started playing with his collar's button.
Arnold observed the scene with narrowed eyes. Something in it made him recall the coziness of his childhood home.
"I haven't had a cat in a long time," he said with a sigh before could stop himself. "I had when I was a kid. My grandmother collected- er- loved them." He corrected himself.
"Collected them?" Henry snorted as he stroked the cat "Like a cat lady or what?"
Arnold couldn't help but laugh "Not exactly like that but…" he shrugged his shoulders "Well, yeah, something of the sort,"
Henry nodded. "They are good company. It's relaxing to have them around. Your grandmother probably knew it."
"Yeah, I'm sure she did." Arnold smiled recalling his grandparents, and -of course- the bunch of pets that lived in the boarding house back then "She was a wise woman,"
Henry nodded and took a swig of his beer, "You know?" he then asked abruptly "I knew you and Helga were friends and all but…" he made a pause "I didn't know you were the kind of friends who visit each other…" he stopped and looked directly at him "-this late at night."
Arnold stirred uncomfortably and he was almost sure he blushed. What was he implying? The blond boy regretted his choice. He was seated right in front of Henry Mueller; his bosses' boss; the man who owned the firm he worked for; the man who had a relation with Helga Pataki; the girl he was visiting late at night without a previous invitation. Shit! This has to be how respondents must feel in front of their interrogators.
"To tell the truth," Arnold started rather uncomfortably "it doesn't happen. I…" he paused; he was nervous but wouldn't let himself to stutter. He was the lawyer after all "I went out for a walk and decided to…" he looked at the floor with awkwardness "I don't know- I didn't plan it; just happened. I guess I just needed someone to talk to" he ended raising his sight.
"I see," Henry leaned in his seat and took another swig of his beer. He was still petting the cat. He looked at him intently. Arnold suspected the look he was giving to him was the same look that was rejected by the PR people. It was an oddly penetrating gaze that didn't make you feel comfortable, in the least, but rather the opposite. "So, girl trouble, huh?" he asked, snapping out of it so fast that Arnold couldn't believe his eyes.
"You can say so." Arnold admitted, frowning in confusion.
"Then you came to the right place, son. I'm a girl trouble expert." He chuckled "Maybe it's true what people say. Everything happens for a reason."
"You don't believe that, do you?" Arnold retorted right away; taking his chance to change the conversation. He drank from his beer. There was no way in the world he was going to talk to Henry Mueller about his love life…. Not – in a thousand – years…
Or that was he planned… because a minute later here he was; blabbing out all his love life… or –well - part of it.
"And then… I just left. I needed to get out… needed some fresh air…"
"Did you slam the door in your way out?" Henry chortled. Arnold raised his sight to see the corner of his lips turning upwards.
Alright. He had no word. Sue him!
"Yeah, I did. I was so angry; I couldn't help it." he gave a nod and took another swig of his beer.
"Good!" Henry appraised "A man needs to state his point."
"Did it ever happen to you?" Arnold asked all of a sudden. Henry raised his brows showing amusement "Discussing with your wife… girlfriend… I mean…?"
The old snorted, ignoring his vacillation. "Of course it happened. All the time." Arnold frowned. He didn't expect Henry actually answering him. "Girls are all the same; have always been. That's the problem with love, there's not love..."
"Ethical…?"
Why the hell he did say that? Arnold chortled. He didn't know why but some of Henry's expressions made him remember of his grandpa. They weren't the expressions themselves - Henry was classy to the bone. And it wasn't the age thing either, other than his white hair and undeniable wrinkles Henry was surprisingly youthful and jovial for his age. He didn't look like the seventy-some Arnold knew he was. No. It was something more related to his easiness, his sauciness…
"Ethical?" Henry asked, seemingly amused for his word of choice. "Well, why not?" he shrugged his shoulders "We're not talking about a random girl that helps you go through the night, right? But about the girl that shares your home and your bed. The girl you might want to become your wife a given day."
"That's the point…" Arnold mumbled hesitantly.
"Well, this girl of yours… do you already proposed?" Arnold shook widely his head "Have you thought in proposing to her?"
Arnold inhaled. "A few months ago I thought I should propose…"
"You thought you should…" he asked with a frown "What happened?"
"I'm not sure anymore."
"Why? Because of another girl? That's your 'girl problem'?
"No!" he almost shouted and slumped back in his seat when he realized what he did. Henry blinked theatrically and the cat turned to see him with surprised eyes "Is not because of some other girl… I don't know…" Henry was observing him with a half-smile "I'm just… unable to see… a reason… to propose…" he trailed off. He didn't know why he got himself in this mess, he thought as he closed his eyes and leaned his head back.
"A-alright. This is getting interesting." Henry laughed and got up "But before we go on I think I need another beer." Arnold cursed himself. His so called sudden impulsiveness – so blessed a few days ago – was now a pain in the ass, but before he'd had the chance to get all bothered, Henry was back. He handed him a new bottle and took his previous seat. "You think…?" he hesitated "Why do you think that happens?"
Arnold let go all his apprehension and repeated the question in his mind. For the life of him he couldn't come with a response. Maybe it was just that there wasn't a response. Maybe he was too self-conscious to think clear.
How he ended in here? He was nervous; he wasn't thinking straight; he wasn't going to say anything indecorous about Claire, that's for sure…
"I'm afraid I have no answer for that." he finally admitted.
"You have no answer for that?" Henry nodded and leaned back seemingly thoughtful for a moment. After another swig he said "Have you realized that… in the end, after the so called 'sexual revolution' girls didn't get what they were looking for…"
Arnold raised his sight to look at him with a frown.
"Sorry… I didn't warn you. I'm talking in general." He paused suddenly and leaned forward "It didn't mean to criticize. I'm just philosophizing here; thinking aloud if you want." he cleared up "I mean, girls, they wanted to change the society; the codes of behavior related to sexuality and to interpersonal relationships; to take the decisions; which is alright. I'm happy they did it. It's their right after all..."
Arnold leaned back and listened intently. Arnold still didn't know if he'd agree with him but Henry expressing his philosophy was something worth to listen.
"Anyway, I think they also got some other unexpected things in the bargain; men refusing to marry is one of them; thinking it too much before tying the knot. I don't want to sound like my spinster aunt Ophelia here but, as she used to say, why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free, right?"
"That's hard thing to say." Arnold uttered.
"I know, but we are men, Arnold. We see things from this side of the barrier."
"Well," Arnold answered after giving it a thought "Fortunately not all men think like that."
"That's good to hear,"
"Because there are men that still want to marry?" he leaned forward to ask.
Henry shook his head "Because despite it all, girls still want the whole package." Arnold frowned again "The ring, the white dress, the reception, the house in the suburbs and the SUV in the driveway." Henry pointed out.
Arnold was about to reply, but then he remembered Claire, Brenda -and even Phoebe! – mentioning the house with the picket fence in the suburbs and he chose to bit his tongue.
"You might be right…" he finally said "I guess the battle of the sexes is an ongoing debate."
"It is, isn't it? I think we'll never see the end of it." Henry exhaled "That's why I'm not willing to lose out time discussing about it. We're not going to find the solution tonight, are we?"
Arnold chortled. "I concede you that."
"I'm glad you agree with me, son."
"Why?" Arnold smirked "You don't like opposition?"
His reply made Henry crack a loud laugh. The old man leaned back, his legs crossed in the American way and observed him with a smile "In part," he laughed again "but mainly because it'd be a shame that a clever guy like you wasted his time discussing pointless subjects. These things are useless and a waste of time; unprofitable."
"Unprofitable?" Arnold chuckled.
"Unprofitable." Henry gave a nod and smirked "Are you trying to make me feel ashamed for the way I think, for being who I am?" He raised an inquiring brow "You're not going to get it, son. I might have had a better background that most people, but that doesn't mean I haven't worked hard to reach my position. Everyone does what they can with what they have, don't you think?"
Arnold vacillated. "Well, even when I admit that it's kind of hard to put myself in your shoes, I guess you're right."
"I see…" the other man remained silent and gave him that hard stare again. Arnold wondered if he was aware of how profoundly aggressive he looked right now. He breathed deeply and exhaled by the mouth in an effort to don't take it personal. So far Henry had been quite friendly, to tell the truth. "Well," the man in front of him smiled and the hostility disappeared in a blink, like it had happened before "in sight that we seem to be coming to an impasse let's go back to your girl problem," he pronounced aloud "and the answer to why you haven't proposed yet."
Arnold grumbled deliberately "I thought we'd already let that behind."
Henry chortled. "Why you make it so difficult-" he asked "when the answer is quite simple?"
"Is it?" Arnold replied with a question on his own "What is it? That I have the milk for free?"
"Well, you said it." Henry bowed his head and leaned back again "Although, I thought you'd have an actual answer and not a just a factor,"
"Meaning?" Arnold leaned forward to listen to him with his full attention.
"She's not the one." He spat offhandedly. Arnold leaned his head against the backrest feeling like he'd been slapped in the face "Sorry, I don't use to beat around the bushes." The blond boy nodded still absentmindedly "What take me to the next question:" Henry went on "Do you really didn't have the answer, or you were denying it to yourself?"
Henry left him alone with his thoughts and waited patiently until Arnold was ready to start talking.
"I suppose…" Arnold looked up to the ceiling "that I'm not ready to take up a stance."
Henry raised his brows "Well, that's a nice discovering. At least you're already aware of what's happening…"
"At least?"
"Here we go! Beating around the bushes again, Mr. Shortman?" Henry snorted "I mean, you're not doing anything about it. You're losing your time!" He shook his head with disappointment "I keep telling Dick the same thing! I don't know what is happening to young people these days. The more you take to make a decision, the more you delay start living the life you deserve."
"Do you really think that?" Arnold raised his head "What would you have done?" he asked "I mean, if you were in my position? Would you have proposed…?"
It still surprised him that Henry replied without vacillations.
"Of course not!" he declared "I've never done if I knew she wasn't he one."
"How did you know who is the one?"
Henry hummed before answering.
"Well, I've only proposed once, and it was long time ago…" he rubbed his chin "Truth is that I don't know how to answer that." He shrugged and then raised his brows "I just knew it."
"I've always wondered if there's a hint or something that make you to be sure you're doing the right thing…" Arnold mumbled, more to himself than to his interlocutor.
"I don't know if you ever get the conviction that you're doing the right thing. What I remember is that she was perfect; she filled my expectations in every sense."
"What made her perfect?" Arnold continued with his interrogatory.
Henry smiled guardedly "Are you really asking me that?" Arnold nodded with conviction. "Alright," he paused as he looked behind Arnold as in to put his thoughts in order "In that case, I think I have to make clear that the last of my intentions would be bursting your bubble, but I'm afraid that's what's about to happen."
"Bursting my bubble?"
"About love … and domestic happiness."
"Is it that hard?" Arnold raised an inquiring brow.
"Once that I've told you what I actually think, you'll see me a cold hearted guy," he snickered "Hell! Maybe I am. I don't see life the way you do, Arnold. I'm older; less idealistic. And what I'm about to tell is the point of view of an old man, of course…"
"You're not that old…"
Henry snickered. "You think so?" Arnold nodded "Thanks, son" Henry accepted the compliment with a bow; and then he looked at him briefly as a mischievous smile appeared on his lips. "You know what they say: 'A man's only as old as the woman he feels'" He exhaled yearningly and Arnold found himself squirming against his best will. "It was Groucho Marx who said it first, I think."
Arnold couldn't bring himself to speak one single word within the following minute. His mind seemed disconnected, cloudy. His chest felt heavy with an unknown feeling. It was not rage. It was not jealousy. It was not the impulse to beat Henry's face and knock him off…
Or was it? He wondered when realized his hands had become fists.
"Are you alright?" Henry asked. His blue eyes were bright and the impish smile was still perched on his lips. Arnold's fists twitched "I thought I saw you turning white. It's not because of the beer, right?"
"No, of course not. I'm fine." He mumbled.
"You sure? I was about to get to myself another beer but I think we should wait," he leaned back, and with all the patience in the world he checked his cellphone.
Arnold observed him without blinking. He tilted his head. This man was playing with him; he knew it. He knew he liked Helga and was messing with his head. But what could Arnold do about it? She was with him after all, she'd said he was all what she wanted; and for much that he hated it, Henry has every right to brag about it. There was nothing he could do about it.
The old man turned to Arnold and spoke again. "You still want me to answer your question or it was enough of crude reality for one day?"
Yeah, messing with his head…
"Would it help to … my actual situation?"
It was enough for him. He should get going.
"You tell me!" the man in front of him said expressively "I guess the situation you're in this precise moment - even when you didn't tell me the whole story – has to do with the fact that she's angry at something; something you did, something that she believe you did, or something that you failed to do. Am I right?"
Arnold shrugged his shoulders and let that a hint of a tired smile curve his lips "Go on,"
"Well, whatever it's been; you should've stopped it before it grew."
"Before it grew?" he frowned and shifted his position in the couch "What…? What are we exactly talking about?"
"What 'exactly' happened?" Henry countered back. "You didn't buy her a treat; you forgot her birthday; you didn't take the trash out; you didn't read her mind as you're supposed to do; or didn't share a secret…" he looked up to see him "Well, my dear friend, whatever it'd be, it's obvious this is not the first time this happens." His pointer finger signaled to the floor. "What I think it's that you should have made clear long ago that you weren't going to give in just because she would pout, or throw a tantrum, or deny sex or whatever…"
"You mean everything comes down to her attitude?"
"To your attitude, to be precise." Henry now pointed at him.
"How in the hell…?"
"She's taking advantage that you're soft. You need to stop being soft when you need to be firm." He smiled with indulgence "I'd bet you always end yielding that's why she's so sure she's going to win… once again."
"Why do you think I always end yielding?"
"Because you're a good person. You yourself just tell me you don't like to fight. I might be wrong; maybe you're not soft all the time. Maybe you already know that sometimes you have to fight back. In this case, I think you need to start to stand your feet and be firm. Women could kick and scream all what they want, but then they learn that you're boss, and believe me, they like it. They respect you more if you're the one who wears the pants in the relationship."
Arnold scoffed and leaned back.
"This is starting to sound like an express course of 'How to be a macho man'."
Henry chortled. "What would be the problem? I mean, if you start acting like a macho man?"
"I'm nothing like that." He mumbled. "That wouldn't be me."
"You could try…" he smirked "You might get unexpected reactions."
Arnold looked at him with doubt, but then his tongue was faster than his mind, and before he could stop himself he'd blurted "You did that to Helga?"
"Ha!" Henry cracked a laugh and got up. "Nice try!" he exclaimed and walked away "I need to pee." He threw him an pleased glance "You bring up the next round."
Arnold laughed to himself as he stood and followed Henry to the main area. Henry walked ahead; a lively, youthful gait in his step. Once he disappeared behind a door Arnold walked to the kitchen. He should've known better. He should've supposed he wasn't going to make Henry spill the beans about his relation with Helga. It couldn't be that easy. And being realistic, he didn't want to know anyway. He couldn't have taken it.
Arnold shook his head to get rid of those thoughts. It'd been a nice conversation so far and he planned to keep it on. There was no use to be at home right now, and as long the other man wanted to keep a conversation Arnold was willing to continue.
Expert in girl problem, Arnold snorted. For a moment he wondered if Henry really thought he was a big softie; he hoped he didn't because he wasn't. But thinking twice, maybe his advice was sincere; maybe he should take it like if it'd come from a fellow guy, a comrade in arms, Gerald's. He shook his head. He swallowed a lump remembering Henry had almost guessed the real reason of his fight with Claire. And deep down Arnold knew he was right. In most of their fights Claire used to rise victorious because at most times he gave in. He hated the tension that stood between them and he always ended giving in.
He exhaled as he took the beers and walked back to the room. The cat was perched on a high shelf in the second hall and observed him silently from his high spot. The blond boy went on. Being honest he must admit that even when sulking, Claire also gave in on her own way. She didn't deny him sex and that was something. He had had enough relationships in his life to know that it was usual than woman withheld sex, but she didn't. They didn't talk much on those occasions, but it happened nevertheless, even now. Sex was like cessation of hostilities even when the cold war continued. It was weird; but it was the way they worked.
When Henry was back they started talking about random things: work, beer, sports, and so forth…
Non-unexpectedly, all roads lead to Helga.
"So… Helga told me you two played ball the other day," he chortled "that it was fun."
"Yeah, it was fun… nice…" he nodded, Arnold had copied Henry's stance with his ankle resting on his knee "She told you?"
"Yeah; she also told me you used to play ball when you were kids,"
"Ball, football, kickball, hockey…" he smiled recollecting those old times "We played almost everything. Helga was tough competition. We used to play in opposite teams, you know, I don't know why," he frowned as he recalled.
"Were you anything good?" Henry chortled "Knowing her I daresay she did chose you on purpose," Henry laughed at what was probably the innocent expression on his face "I mean, surely she'd pick the tougher players, wouldn't she?"
Arnold chortled "I think it was Harold who used to pick. But she was always his first choice."
"Then he is to blame," Henry concluded. "She's still a tough girl, you know? I haven't seen her playing ball actually, but she plays tennis, for us, the company," he pointed back "And she's dangerous. She and Dick always rise victorious in the annual competition of the Chamber. It has become an anticipated spectacle."
"Really?" Arnold wrinkled his forehead.
"They've been participating in the last four years; and they are unbeatable since year one." Henry said proudly.
"Cool," Arnold uttered, not knowing what else to say. He remained silent, and finally came with the cliché: "I've heard they are also unbeatable in the business field."
"Hmmm," Henry curved his lips in a strange gesture "Unbeatable is an odd term, since there's nothing to beat..." he paused "Well, other than their own records. But without a doubt, they are an exceptional team. I'm proud of them. The enterprise has been experiencing a steady expansion since the day they took control."
"Well, they have you for support," he said matter of factly
"No, Arnold, don't get it wrong," Henry threw him a stern look "It's almost two year that I'm not involved in the decisions."
"Really? That's not what I… heard."
Henry shrugged his shoulders "Granted, people say so many things when they don't know what's happening backstage, but I'm not behind them anymore. My partners were first to turn over their posts, but remained close. Then, since the beginning of last year, the three of us gave a unanimous step back and left the helm in their hands. We still vote, but it's just symbolic. They have our vote of confidence." Henry kept his serious expression as he went on. "Just in case you've not realized, I'm appealing to your obligation to the company here, Mr. Shortman; taking advantage that you're committed with us; with Helga at least, I hope." He paused "We're in the middle of something big; the turn over of the company if you want to call it that way; an actual but 'informal' succession." Arnold blinked twice "There are so many interests at stake. We don't want to take it out to the public eye yet. Don't want our investors flee in a stampede."
"But… why they'd do that? It's a flourishing company."
"Yes, it is. But that's the way how markets work. Incertitude is always creeping around. It's a danger. You'll never know how people will react. They often get carried away. And it's understandable to some extent; what would they think if they knew that the company is being managed only by Helga and Dick; I mean Dick just turned thirty-five last month; Helga's even younger…" He shook his head with gravity "I trust them completely; I think they both are gifted, although there's no way than the rest of people knew that…
"That's why everything needs to be managed by PR the right way… and you, Arnold; you're part of the support that we're counting on. I know you're new in here, but you're become an important part of the team. Deb assures you're our man through and through; Helga has you in the best regards. And Dick, well, you already know Dick."
Arnold snorted "Yeah, I do."
"How are you doing, by the way?" Henry changed his discourse.
"By his side?" Arnold raised his brows "It's pretty fine. It's kind of hard at the beginning but now it's okay."
"Well, you didn't expect it to be easy, right?" Henry sneered "It's not an internship what're you doing here. It's the major leagues; you're a grown man now."
Arnold raised his brows and said with gravity "I know."
Actually, when he was hired –at the elevator, by the way- he never thought he would be making it to the top in such a short period of time. It wasn't his ambition; it had just happened the same way that happened in his previous work. Maybe he was a good lawyer after all; better than he thought of himself. "It's kinda weird, you know. I wasn't expected this."
"Really?" Henry asked, he nodded and explained him and Henry smiled with indulgence "then maybe that's precisely the reason why it happens." He shrugged "You are not looking hungrily for promotion, power. You focus in doing your job and you do it right. Do you know what gifted people are like? They enjoy their jobs, they like to learn; they live up to the new challenges; they don't do it for the hope of recompense. They stand out." He said with convincement "I've been in this long enough to spot them right away. I'm convinced that when it happens it's not casual. And you, my friend, are not ordinary. You stand out."
"Thanks, I guess" Arnold smiled modestly.
"You don't need to thank. In any case, it's us who should thank we find you. In fact, I've asked who hired you, when Deb come…"
"Helga was also like that?" Arnold interrupted him. He didn't know why during Henry's discourse he couldn't help but thinking of Helga all along. He had the impression that she was also in Henry's mind.
"Helga… do you know that I was precisely thinking about her?"
"Do you?" Arnold couldn't help but smile. "How's that?" Henry also smiled, and started to talk with an unexpected sparkle.
"I was thinking about the time when I met her. God! She was so young! Just a little girl… she had still that... girly face." Henry touched his own face. "Do you know that I didn't know anything about her? I didn't even know she existed. I'm actually embarrassed about that. I mean, I heard that Bob Pataki had passed away, and I learned that his daughter was taking charge of the business…. -Oh, by the way," Henry made a pause "Bob Pataki was first in our gifted people's list. He's one of the best, ever…" he exhaled. "I never thought Bob Pataki would have a daughter like Helga. I don't know what he did or how he did it…"
Henry remained meditative but then shook his head "But we'll talk about him later. That's another story. What I was telling you was that I thought the girl that was taking charge of the business was Olga. Now, I have to go back again and say that I met Olga long ago, when she was a lovely little girl. She was so pretty than everybody was crazy about her; my wife and Roger included. My poor son fell in love with the Pataki girl…"Henry laughed "Who could blame him? She was a perfect little princess. Bob was so proud of her. He talked about her all the time. I guess you can imagine that, huh?!"
"I know what you mean. I met Olga Pataki when I was really young." He snorted. "She was extraordinary,"
"She still is." Henry hummed "But going back to Helga… I have to admit that I was kinda negligent. I should have study the case but I didn't. In my defense I'll say that back then I was giving Dick some independence. He was the one who spotted the opportunity and I let him be, let him take the lead…" Arnold took mental notes of everything "Back then I still thought he'd be one day in charge of the negotiations." Henry snorted "Well, after he came back with the second rejection I decided I'd give him a hand. Dick was right. It could become a fine acquisition. It was a nationwide electronic company in the making. But Dick is not a patient man, as you must know, and he getting frustrated. He was about to throw it all away," he chortled "Big mistake. Anyway, it was surprising. She was younger than I expected. It took me only a second to realize I was mistaken. She wasn't Olga, she was… Helga." Henry remained in silence for a while "Helga Pataki, of all the names…" he paused again "I confess that I felt like a deer caught in headlights. I was intrigued by this girl, by her mere existence." He chuckled "She was surly, grumpy, disrespectful…. She thought fast; she didn't hesitate to speak her mind."
"That's the Helga from my past." Arnold grinned. Henry turned to see him and nodded.
"She used to be like that…" he said.
"She told me you helped her to become a better person." Arnold added.
"I think we helped her to understand and accept herself," Henry nodded "But on the outside, you have to thank Luke instead," Henry chuckled "He helped her to become the stylish beauty she's now."
"Luke?" Arnold asked with strained voice.
"Don't you know him?" Henry raised his brows. Arnold nodded. "He's in love with her. He claims he's not gonna rest until he made her his wife."
"Luke?!" Arnold repeated, a look of revulsion in his face. Henry laughed.
"Don't worry, he's not competition…" He vacillated, looking briefly at him. "She might've gone out with him once, but that was long ago." He snickered "Everybody makes mistakes, don't you think?"
"Were they actually together?" he asked.
Henry nodded "They went out for a while… he proposed. So far I know she still have his ring…" the man with the white hair frowned and remained pensive for a while, but then blinked and turned to him "Where were we?"
Arnold breathed deeply.
"You were saying that Helga was grumpy and disrespectful back when you met her."
"Yeah, she was. Her eyes were so full of distrust… she reminded me of my son's…." Henry also breathed deeply. "There was no way I would let her go…" he mumbled almost to himself.
Arnold leaned in "That's why you bought her company even when it was overpriced?" he asked also in low voice.
Henry blinked, but tried to hid his surprise with a disdainful snort; and then turned to see him with gauging eyes
"Maybe…" he shrugged his shoulders "She knew very well that was she was in the table wasn't only the value of the company but the name, her projections and plans, all her hard work. She was already on expansion but her resources were limited." Henry exhaled "I admired her determination and saw the potential… on both, the enterprise and her. My partners said back then that I had been fooled; but time proved me right,"
Henry threw him a strange sight again, as if he knew he was saying something he wasn't supposed to say and expected him to fail to understand. Arnold has a lot of thinking to do. Everything seemed so… planned. As if in Henry's eyes Helga had been an acquisition.
"Now she's an essential part of the company." He uttered.
"Not only the company, Arnold." Henry said with gravity "She's become the center of my world. Without her my existence is meaningless."
Arnold observed the man as he spoke and walked around the room. He took an extended lungful. Arnold started pondering. Was that true? Helga knew she had him in her hands?
"What if she leaves?" He hadn't realized he'd actually spoken.
"She won't" Henry gave a shook of his head, thoughtful.
"Why are you so sure? Bob Pataki left, didn't he?"
"That's a different story. Bob Pataki was fired. He couldn't stay in the company any longer."
"Was he fired?" Arnold was surprised "Why? I thought he was a good employee?"
"You're curious Mr. Shortman," Henry chuckled "I thought you were a man who kept himself from gossip. Seems that I was mistaken." he laughed again. "Well, if you have to know, then I have to tell that it was me who actually fired him-" Henry gave him a sideways look "after a particularly hot argument where we ended coming to blows..." Henry raised his hand to touch his jaw and rubbed it "Bob was good with the left, did you know it? I don't remember much after that." He chortled. "To this day my jaw still hurts."
"He knocked you out?" Arnold couldn't believe it. Henry raised his brows with diversion "Why?"
"Why two men get into a fist fight, Arnold?" he shook his head, still amused. "Don't ask any more. I'm not gonna answer. Still to these days it's not easy to admit it." He smirked probably because the stupid look of surprise in Arnold's face "That's right Arnold. It was right then that Bob Pataki earned the 'Big' label." He made quotation marks in the air "He knocked out his boss."
"I'd never guessed it." Arnold finally spoke. Henry had disappeared once again and had come back a few minutes later. Arnold was still shocked. He'd actually never guessed it. It was so surreal. He knew Bob Pataki all his life; he was a constant presence in his childhood; a noisy braggart. Still, he'd never imagined all that background about him. Why two men fight? He frowned.
"I think I can see why you say that."
Arnold snorted softly "It's just… it's like if the past were still alive."
"Yeah, it is." Henry nodded thoughtful "The history is still alive Mr. Shortman. If you don't realize you'll miss so much in here…" he said cryptically.
Arnold observed him as he walked around the place with the cat following his steps. Finally he opened the French doors and Smoking got out.
"This cat loves the night air." He said as he half-closed the doors and turned to him.
There was so much that Arnold still wanted to know about the past but he decided there were other important things too, so he went on.
"So, if you are not looking after everything that Helga and Dick do at work, then what's what you do nowadays, Mr. Mueller?"
"Are you trying to judge me, or are you really interested Arnold?" the man smirked "I thought I'd earned to be called Henry by now." He added "After everything I'd told you tonight we're kind of friends already, don't you think." He was throwing him a guarded look.
"Of course, I'm really interested, Mr. Mue…" Henry raised his brows in mock warning "Henry." He corrected.
"Well," he paused and his eyes turned reserved, but it lasted only a second because he then blinked and went on "I've told you so many things that it has no sense to stop now. And even when it's something that everybody is going to know soon, I'd still like to count on your discretion," he said pointedly. Then breathed deeply before going on "I'm creating a foundation," he looked at him directly "I mean a humanitarian foundation. It's the very beginning, and I have a lot of work ahead." Arnold frowned; he never thought he'd see the say where Henry Muller looked insecure about something, "I'm taking baby steps because I started from zero. So, to answer your question -that's what have kept me occupied all these last months," he snorted "In fact, I was counting on you, - did you know?" he snorted again "A couple of months ago Deb told me she had the right man for the job, but then, something happened and Dick needed you, can you believe it?"
Arnold remained frozen. And then blinked twice, and thrice, startled.
"Me?" he asked, still confused "You were counting on me?"
Henry nodded.
"Yeah, Deborah told me you were too smart and you learned quickly… and that maybe you could be interested in the post, given that you've worked close with organizations of the kind before."
"W… well," Arnold stuttered "I've actually…"
"Would you like it?" Henry interrupted him.
"To work with you in the foundation?" he asked impulsively. Henry nodded "Of course..."
"But it's incredible how things change." Henry chortled "How, or when… You're now working with Dick and I know that's hard work. His occupations are so vast that I know he needs someone like you…" Arnold just nodded and listened intently. His head was in overdrive. There were so many things that he kept barely up with what Henry was telling. "But it'd be interesting; and it's a big job. For now Deborah is helping me out, but I don't want to take advantage of her. She's really kind, but she has already much to deal with in a daily basis to be charged with my work in addition. Maybe I should look for a lawyer on my own. I've already tried, you know, but it's not easy to find the right person."
Arnold spoke without thinking. "I could help you."
"You could?" Henry frowned "But son, your workload is also excessive,"
"Maybe…" he paused "But I could dedicate a few hours to help you… What have you been doing so far? Research?"
Henry got seated in the edge of his seat "I already did the research…" he paused and looked at him with caution "What do you know about foundations?" he asked.
"Well," Arnold smiled "I guess the same that you already do." He started "I know foundations are meant to pull resources together to get your goals. It's not about to use your money to get things." He made quotation marks in the air "Your money is a limited resource, and only would get a limited range of benefits before it runs out." He smirked "If you use your name or you power to pull together the resources: money, willpowers, workforce, ideals, people in the pursuit of a greater good, that's when a foundation has a meaning. Foundations -as any other enterprise - are meant to make profits too; are meant to get common goals. Are meant to make a difference in the world."
Henry was looking at him with a smile. "I like the way you talk, son" he said with a real smile; probably the more genuine smile he'd ever seen on his face "You know that it took me a long while to realize it wasn't just about money but about wills."
"Yeah, I can see that." Arnold nodded. "I had the same problem not long ago". He observed as the older man got up and walked to the kitchen to dispose his empty bottle. Arnold did the same.
"As much as this talk is getting interesting I think I have to go." Henry said disappointedly "It's almost ten o'clock. If Conchita realizes I haven't returned yet she's gonna start worrying."
Arnold nodded, supposing Conchita was the lady that helped him in the house. Henry went back to the hall to get Smoking and close the doors. Arnold helped him to check the back door. When he was back Henry had the cat in his arms while spoke softly to him before leaving him on the couch. He checked the lights before leaving the house for the night.
"How often do you make this?" he asked as they were in the elevator.
"Coming here to take care of Smoking?" Henry asked. Arnold nodded. "It's usually not necessary. Lupita comes to do the cleaning three days per week" He informed as they reached the lower level "Still, Helga and I have this… tradition. We use to go out for a walk like this at least twice a week," he shrugged his shoulders.
Arnold frowned. He didn't really want to know how those walks ended. He cleared his throat when they were outside.
"I've seen you walking all the time at the office," he said "You seem to be in pretty good shape…"
Henry cracked a laugh and turned to see him "For someone my age you mean?" he laughed rather humorously.
"No, no, I…" Arnold grumbled to himself, mortified "That's not what I meant. I, in fact…" he was sure his face had turned beet red.
"It's okay, Arnold. I'm pretty aware of my age." He patted him in the shoulder. "But the truth is that I have to be watchful all the time. I have poor circulation and a cholesterol condition. I have to be in the move all the time." He chortled "If I falter Helga won't let me live that down. She put me on a diet last year and made me lose weight…"
"Really?"
Henry nodded. "Yeah, she can be really mean, you know?"
"I guess she just wants the best for you, doesn't she? I mean, you look great,"
"Thanks, son,"
He nodded when Henry pointed across the street and they went forward. He took air and decided to change the subject.
"Do you have idea about…" he paused to order his thoughts "What kind of help your foundation would provide?"
"Oh, an interesting question Arnold." he smiled nicely again. "Really interesting," he nodded "Actually I already chose our 'target market'…" he paused and turned slightly to him as they kept moving "Any guess?" he asked.
Arnold thought for a while, but then he shrugged his shoulders and responded "No idea,"
"Do you know that choosing who you want to help is one of the toughest decisions in here?"
"Yes, I'm aware of that."
"If you were the one to make the decision, Arnold, who would you help?" Henry asked again as they stopped before a red light. He had his full attention on him.
"Kids… and education," he answered right away. He'd already thought about that.
"Exactly!" Henry almost jumped in his spot. He motioned for him to go on.
"I think…" he stopped and closed forcibly his eyes "That even when it sounds cruel…" he paused again. "You need to let the rest of the people out,"
"I know exactly what you mean, Arnold," Henry patted him in the arm "In my own opinion; it's hard to take the decision. It's so hard to know you're leaving the rest of the people out, as you said, but you have to make a choice and focus on that. There's nothing else more important than kids and education. As sad as it is, I think the world is condemned. We need to help the world more than to help a few people. I don't want you to think I'm cold hearted, or barbaric, but how I see things, we need to make sure that future generations are better than us. They need to be greater than us; our planet has better chances if people in the future are smarter than we are now."
Arnold remained thoughtful for a while, impressed by Henry's words. It was obvious that Henry had done more thinking on the subject than he ever had. Arnold's thoughts were simpler. In order to provide a better future for kids you have to get them educated; he really believed it. But Henry's vision was beyond that. He wanted to provide a better future for the world; a better future for humankind…
He half listened Henry as he kept talking about his plans until he mentioned Dick. Arnold raised his head to listening to him saying that he needed Dick's blessing because he was the future.
"Despite what it might look like, Arnold, Dick is actually a great kid. He has a charitable heart; he's nobler than most of people I know, - but for some reason he acts contrary to what I expect only to make me angry," Henry exhaled with tension "I know it's my fault. I'm not the best of the uncles; I've been mean. I had a thing for ridiculing him but I can't help it." He snorted and raised his hands in the air with impatience "He's such an easy target; always ready to take offen-" he looked down at him and snorted his incredulity "I don't know why I'm telling you this; you out of all people."
"I guess it is something that really worries you."
"Yeah, probably," Henry exhaled loudly and looked around "Where are you heading for, boy?" he asked all of a sudden. "Are you getting a cab?" he frowned "The subway?"
"I was actually thinking about walking you home… if that's okay" Arnold scratched the back of his neck, feeling suddenly inappropriate.
"You were?" Henry arched his eyebrows "That's nice of you, but…" he chortled "You don't have to…"
"Is still a long way?" Arnold asked.
"No; not at all. Five more minutes or so..." Henry hesitated.
"It's okay." Arnold raised his hands "I don't want to intrude."
"It's not that." Henry hurried to say "I don't want you to take the trouble, but it's up to you."
Arnold shrugged his shoulders.
"No problem at all," he responded.
Henry looked down at him and grinned.
"Helga always says you're the nicest kid she's ever met." He looked at him sideways "That you're so polite and never lose your cool."
"Well," Arnold snorted. "People change…"
"You did?"
The blond boy laughed again.
"If you ask my girlfriend I'm sure she said otherwise."
"I guess you're right" Henry pouted "It was how it all started…. Why was she angry, if I may know?"
"It's really silly, actually" Arnold started. He felt like speaking up; after all, Henry had confided him a lot of stuff tonight. "It has something to do with me refusing to… share… some information."
"I see…" he paused "Reserved information?"
"Not reserved particularly, but it has nothing to do with her."
"Uh huh,"
"She's not going to know anything about what we talked tonight, Mr. – Henry" Arnold looked up to see him.
Henry nodded. "I know," he said simply.
They remained in silence for a while. Arnold looked around. He hadn't realized they were reaching the end of the island; a very nice neighborhood. Arnold had never been here before, he thought. It was a kinda isolated area since East River and Queensboro Bridge were less than a hundred yards away. Before they turned right Arnold looked back. It had been the same street all along? So Henry and Helga both lived at the junction of the 58th? Helga over Park Avenue and Henry on Sutton Place? That was convenient, he thought with scorn.
The street Henry lived on had a row of nice looking condos of about four- five stories each; Henry entered into his place and invited him to come in. It was nice, ample, richly decorated… and it smelled like home despite its magnificence. Henry walked to the back and showed him his private park with sight to the East River. The garden was beautiful and the view breathtaking. Arnold breathed deeply the cold November air. You could almost forget it was NY City because it had a suburban air in it. Henry proudly showed him the park with a forged fence and gate that lead to a cute bench at the edge of the river.
A woman reached them in the yard. Henry introduced her as Conchita, the housekeeper. Conchita was a plump woman in her fifties, with short curly hair and bright brown eyes. She seemed surprised by Arnold's presence but offered him a cup of coffee nonetheless; invitation that he couldn't help but refuse. It was late. Amused, Henry observed the scene. The woman was persistent. She finally gave up but not before fixing him a food container with some 'gorditas' to take home.
Henry finally called a cab. As they waited for its arrival they continued talking about foundations. It was obvious Henry was enjoying the talk despite he seemed tired. Arnold was tired too, he thought as he yawned looking out through the window of the yellow cab. It was almost midnight now. Would Claire be worrying?
He opened the vessel as he recalled the last hours. He never suspected the night would end this way; with him sharing the evening with the owner of the company he worked for. Old Arnold. What would his grandfather say if he saw him now? 'Never eat raspberries,' came to his mind. Arnold smiled. He'd be proud, that was for sure. Phil was a great father.
Still…
It turned out Henry Mueller wasn't at all like he suspected. He was nice and agreeable, and despite he'd been kind of distant at the beginning, he became friendly then; friendlier than he'd ever expected. And Arnold was sure he also felt at ease around him because otherwise he wouldn't be talking so openly about his things; about a lot of things actually: the company, the succession, his heir, the past, his first meet with Helga. Bob… who could have thought Bob Pataki had gotten his nickname after knocking out Henry Mueller. Arnold grinned.
God! He turned to see the container on his lap. 'Las gorditas de Conchita' were delicious. They were some kind of flat biscuit with a butter-like flavor that tasted like heaven. He still couldn't believe his senses when he got home that night and he left the container on the kitchen counter.
Claire was asleep.
Or maybe she pretended she was asleep. He vacillated for a couple of minutes about if he should sleep in the couch.
He decided against it. He deserved his good rest after all.
. . .
. . .
I don't own Hey Arnold!
Here I am, bringing this up finally. I had to rewrite a good part of this chapter to include some things that were necessary to get out. I'm still afraid I didn't wrap it up nicely, though.I'll come back to check it again once I've uploaded the Spanish version.
Next chapter is three thousand words-long so far and I still don't know how longer it'd extend. But I'm already working on it. To give you an advance I'll say that it'll be narrated by Claire and she's gonna give us a different point of view of a mismatched couple; and that she's also going to show us the 'nice' face of another charac…. I better stop now.
Thanks for reading, especially to those who follow/favorite this and my other stories. Special thanks go to Nep2uune, José Ramiro, Carlin, Khaleesi and Trunkgirl85 for your reviews. You guys rock.
September 16, 2015.