Rocket to the Moon
Chapter Twenty Eight
It's About Time
. . .
"Alright people, I know we're still excited about the great time we all had during this Christmas and New Year festivities, but now they are over and at least while you're in this office I want you to start focusing on work again…"
Arnold leaned back against the wall as he saw Deborah talking to the group of lawyers and employees before her. She'd expressed her best wishes before Christmas and had already vowed for health, prosperity and wellness for the upcoming year for them all. She was now encouraging the group to work hard and wear the company's colors with pride.
Arnold felt proud of himself knowing he'd worked hard and had done his best in every single project that reached his hands. He had that satisfaction. It felt great that his coworkers also saw it; that Deb knew it, and even Dick had acknowledged it. The previous day he had even congratulated him.
Or some of the sort.
"Hey Arnold!" He got surprised when he was reached in the middle of the hallway and received a friendly pat on his back. "Great work!" Dick said "I've never met a lawyer so thoroughgoing and creative. You guys should learn from him." He added looking a around, and then back at him "I'm glad you're working with me." He pronounced before keep going.
Unexpected as it was, it'd made his day. With all probability the appreciation of his boss was better than any Christmas present he received this year. They were not alone in that hallway. There were people around: some of his juniors, Arnold's coworkers and random people too. It felt nice to receive this acknowledgment even if it was made in an informal context. It came from Dick Mueller himself and everybody knew Dick's public praises were more-like scarce.
.
In any case, Arnold felt great. He'd been feeling more proactive and efficient since; enjoying the satisfaction that a job well-done brought. The blond boy realized he was actually happy in his job, and what was more, he loved what he did. It was somehow strange. Years ago he'd never thought he'd be happy working for a transnational company, but maybe there were things he still didn't know about himself, as Helga kept telling him. He should have realized earlier though. He was a Corporative lawyer; not a lawyer specialized in Civil Rights, or Family Laws after all, and that must mean something.
In addition, he also loved the work he was doing at Henry's side. Henry was founding the foundations of his Foundation; 'excuse my repetition' he'd say if someone asked, -although no one did-. Still, in this case it was worth the redundancy. There was no best way to say it. If you asked him, Arnold would say that the day this Foundation –without an official name so far- were started, it'd definitively call the attention. Henry was taking his time. 'I'm working harder than I did when Mueller Enterprises started growing, you know?' he'd shared to him some afternoon several weeks ago.
Working along the old Mueller taught Arnold something else. Something he'd come to call 'The Secret of his Success'. Henry was charming. Not your typical charming, but 'CHARMING', written with capital and bold letters. Henry was disarming, appealing, polite, charismatic… he could keep listening qualities but the truth was that he attracted people around him like a magnet. Everybody was enticed to him; everybody wanted to talk to him; nobody could deny him anything. Arnold had witnessed how he'd already added tons of checks and help promises to his cart in just few weeks.
"You'd be the greatest con artist in fraud history if you wanted, you know?" Arnold had said to him after a particularly juicy dinner, which earned him a loud laugh in response. The woman of a banker had been looking at him throughout the dinner with eyes full of admiration. Admiration and only God knew what else, Arnold rolled his eyes. No doubt why he had Helga in his pocket, not the other way around as people use to think, Arnold thought to himself,
Although…
"I know." Henry said after his laugh subsided "What tells you I'm not?" He asked enigmatically then, throwing him a murky look that almost made him jump out of his skin. Arnold chose to ignore any further thought on that regard. Henry was way too smart to even start with it. There were enough things to care about that night to care about anything else.
One of those things was to keep an eye on certain man seated at a neighbor table in elegant restaurant where they were at. Luke - Whatever. Just now Arnold realized he didn't know his last name. Anyway, there he was. Seated at a table with another two men and - to all appearances - having quite an evening. They laughed loudly and looked amused. They seemed to be observing the surroundings with critiquing eyes; in a similar way he'd seen Rhonda and her clique doing all those years ago.
Then there was a moment when Luke came to their table to greet their companion, -'a fellow banker'-. He also took the opportunity to greet Henry. Henry returned his greeting politely; however he was a bit curt. There was something about Luke that disgusted Arnold deeply. That phony smile of him, his open brazenness, his sauciness…. To think he once was Helga's boyfriend almost made him lose it. Arnold had to count to ten to stop himself from smacking his annoyingly overjoyed face.
And he couldn't help but feel sympathy towards Henry then. If he himself found the man insufferable, he couldn't start to think what would be Henry feeling right now. It was obvious the old man repelled the bloke too. But over it all, Arnold suspected Luke was the man in the white Porsche. That showy car fitted this showy guy perfectly. Besides, his attitude towards Henry was insolent, almost challenging. Like if he was aware of something that Henry didn't. Arnold had come to the conclusion that Henry knew about Helga's naughty wanderings and it was only matter of putting two and two together to realize what was happening here, something he was sure Henry had already done.
.
'The gratefulness of second chances'. Arnold hummed to himself as he kept typing away on his computer. According to Henry that was how Helga called their relationship, and he swore he could never find a better label. He sighed. Only God know what kind of relationships rich people used to get involved in; what they looked for in there. Men like Luke whose masculinity could be doubtful. Or old men like Henry who let their woman wander a bit, probably allowing them to look for more emotion in someone else's bed when they couldn't provide it anymore. He stirred in his seat. The pure thought making him shudder.
Then he snorted, realizing he was seeing the speck of sawdust in the neighbor's eye. His own relationship with Claire was rather peculiar. They clung to the only aspect of their relationship that was still functional: sex. Arnold inhaled deeply. Other than that, their relationship was almost inexistent. Henry's bond with Helga seemed stronger than his own with Claire. Henry loved her, respected her, and regarded her in every aspect of his life. They were in close contact at all times, even when she was absent for long periods because of work. He, in other side, slept at Claire' side every night and still there were days where they didn't interchange a single word in the entire evening.
Closing the file he'd been working on, and right then his desk phone went off, startling him. It'd been a while since he'd begun working mechanically and had lost track of time, giving in to his thoughts and positively ignoring the surroundings. He blinked twice as he came back to contact with the rest of the world – or all the noises of the office in any case-. He lifted the handset from its cradle and answered.
"Legal."
"Shortman," the dry voice of Dick's secretary made him grumble inwardly "Mr. Mueller wants to see you."
"Now?" his red pencil stopped in the middle of the paper and he looked around his desk.
"Yeah. Right now." She paused for a second "What answer should I give him?" she went on, unyielding, the way the people on 30th floor used to be. "He's waiting."
He hesitated before letting out an: "Alright," then paused. The lady on the other end hummed affirmatively "Tell him I'll be there in five."
"Perfect."
And five minutes later there he was; reaching the next floor. He looked briefly at Helga's office before nodding at the secretaries and knocking at Dick's door. He pushed it open. Would Helga be in town, he wondered. He hadn't been able to take a hold on her since the week before Christmas. His virtual Christmas card was replied by an equally virtual and cheerful but somewhat cold greetings and best wishes card. Arnold really missed her but he was getting tired of thinking how much he missed her.
What did he actually missed, he pondered. Seeing her around? Because it wasn't as if they talked that much or were in best friends' terms anyway. If not because Henry's allusions of her, he could see that his knowledge about her was almost null.
"Hey Arnold," Dick raised his sight to look briefly at him before going back to signing papers "Thanks for coming up so quickly." He gestured to the seat across from him. Arnold looked at him as he got ready to listen to whatever the tough-looking man in front of him wanted him to do. Dick's demeanor towards him had become more approachable since that Sunday afternoon almost a month ago; so much that Arnold would dare to say that he was treated like a friend.
He handed him a file at the time he spoke.
"Tell me Arnold, did Santa bring you a nice gift this Christmas, huh?" he let out a slanted smile "Or your workplace is still that shitty cupboard under the stairs?"
Arnold chortled, surprised by his humorous statement. "Yeah, it still is" he replied, taking a look at the documents "Seems that not even him is able to find me a new place; not even the smallest bedroom."
Dick snorted.
"I don't know what's happening to Grace. She used to be more efficient." He shook his head with forced resignation. "I guess she's getting weak."
"It's not a problem, really-" Arnold started. He didn't really blame Grace.
"It's not about what you think, Arnold." The blue eyed man looked at him with a frown. "It's about what must be done. The kind of work you realize requires a private space. It's unacceptable that you're still working in the open hall."
Arnold hesitated. He always found his meetings with Dick to be kinda anxiety-inducing. "Well," he exhaled. "I understand Grace's reasons. Yours too, you know that... At least my coworkers seem to understand the situation and-"
"Do they?" Dick interrupted him, making a face. "Anyway," he got up and motioned for him to go to the end of the room "This agreement needs privacy and concentration. I need you totally focused." He walked beyond the folding screen where some kind of smaller office was located, hidden from sight. Dick pointed the meeting table that was in there. "I have an appointment at eleven and I'm not coming back but in the afternoon. Then I have another meeting at six," he turned to him "I guess I don't mind sharing my office with you for the short time I'll be here today-" he paused "as long as you're not loud."
Arnold froze. He was looking at the table with wide open eyes and his mouth ajar when Dick prompted him to speak. "Well?"
"Hmmm," he vacillated. Truth was that he didn't like the idea a little bit. Would he concentrate in work being by Dick's side? Literally. "Dick, I think it's not necessary. I mean," Arnold vacillated "I work perfectly well at my spot-"
"How long you think it'd take?" Dick asked pointed to the document in his hands.
"With some luck, the rest of the day." He responded.
Dick nodded. "Then I insist. Not a word of this document must be seen outside. Yet. And I need it ASAP."
"When it's ASAP? Could it be tomorrow? I mean, I can work at home-"
"Hell no!" It was like an automatic reply. Something in his tone made Arnold felt embarrassed by his suggestion. Dick seemed to realize Arnold was startled by his rudeness because he added in an nicer way "You don't have to work at home when you can perfectly do it in here."
Arnold looked again towards the small meeting table. It seemed a confortable workplace, but he wasn't convinced, in the least.
"You're thinking you'd be a prisoner, aren't you?" the taller man snorted "As I told you, virtually I won't be here. I'll assure you you'll be able to go grab lunch at any time, or going out for coffee or whatever; just don't bring anyone over; much less that girlfriend of yours."
Arnold frowned. Too many thoughts were circling his mind and out of all those he chose to say:
"She never comes to the office."
He wondered briefly why Dick used that tone regarding Claire, but the young Mueller went on without further emphasis. He only raised his brows.
"Anyway, Kaitlin knows you'll be here. She's an okay girl, so you shouldn't worry about her. The rest of the people who come over mind their own business. You don't need to get bothered by any of them," he hummed in thought "If something, discretion is all what I'd ask you for."
"Hmmm" Arnold realized there was no point in complaining. Dick had made up his mind and, as Arnold had already learned, humoring him was always the best way to get out of it unscathed. "Okay." He nodded in affirmation "I have to go back to my place to… put my things away, I guess; bring up my laptop."
"Alright. There's no need to knock when you're back." Dick said as he went back to his own seat.
. . .
An hour later Arnold was barely getting himself accustomed to work knowing that the youngest of the Muellers was only a few feet away. He got disrupted every time someone walked in or when Dick attended his phone. His mind lost focus. Too much for being concentrated in here, Arnold snorted. Still, it was kinda interesting to see Dick's interrelation with the rest of people. The way he bossed everybody around; the way he managed to be rude with all the people that came his way. To see that without exception everyone complied with his wishes. It was kinda funny too to listen to him reprimanding Stan over the phone; then using his sharp humor to criticize someone's ideas to be put in practice in some remote part of the globe; setting a drinking date with a buddy at some old-school glamour bar in downtown; or complaining about the deficient service his car received in its recent visit to the service center.
Arnold laughed to himself. Truth was that he sympathized with the last call. He had also been doubtful about what people do to your car when it was sent the service center: rotating tires, changing oil and filters, checking fluids, how do you know they actually did the work? Not a few times he'd feel tempted to go over there to ask them what they did exactly, but he'd never did for fear of losing face. Dick seemed to be immune to that kind of dread. He was particularly mean to whoever was attending his call. Even over the phone Dick could be really threatening.
Arnold shook his head as he looked at him through the screen. He wondered why Dick chose to take precisely that call when he had rejected some others that were more business related, but as usual, he knew he'd never got an answer to those questions.
. . .
In any case, at one o'clock Arnold left to go grab lunch at the cafeteria located in a lower floor of the building with his usual clique. Dick was already gone. When Arnold was back at quarter to three his boss hadn't arrived yet. His secretary, Kaitlin, brought him some coffee; a gesture he appreciated. He was finally getting some work done when his boss walked in right after three pm; not that he was keeping track of his time, of course.
Dick didn't come to check on him by the way, so Arnold was able to keep working without interruptions despite two new visits Dick received, one from the same Kaitlin bringing up some documents, and the other one was Henry, who came in seemingly only to say hello and make some small talk. Henry stayed just for a few minutes.
About four-thirty the blond boy was starting to wonder if he'd get the job done to the end of the day when an energetic knock was heard. He raised the head to outstretch the muscles of his neck when a very distinctive voice reached his ears.
"Knock, knock, knock," there was a pause "Have a minute?"
Helga's chirpy voice was a balsam to his ears. Arnold remained still. So she was here, in town. He craned his neck to see the blonde girl wearing a pale blue dress as she closed the door and walked in, holding a book and a folder in her hands.
"A minute? Really?" Dick snorted as Arnold saw her taking a seat and giving him her back. There were some rustling of papers. "You know I can see you brought your famous pink book?" He asked wiht a sneer.
"Alright, alright. Guilty." Helga raised her hand "An hour, hour and a half tops" she added brightly as the chair creaked slightly when she leaned back and crossed her legs.
"I guess I have no option," Dick grumbled lowly as he took the set of papers Helga offered him "Why don't you ask for an appointment like the rest of people?"
"You know it doesn't work between us." She said affably "Besides, we also need to talk about…" she trailed off.
"About?" Dick stopped doing what he was doing and turned to see her.
"Let's say – Communications level three-"
"No, no, no, no!" Dick lifted both hands in front of him "Don't 'level three' me now. You know I never get your codes." He grunted "Not even you get your codes straight anyway. Last time they were like ten levels or something!"
"And you think I use them because I like them?" she scoffed "Sadly, experience has taught us that we don't function otherwise. You're so complicated that I've thinking we should start recording our meeti-"
"I-Am-Complicated?!" Dick scoffed, repeating her words.
Arnold frowned. Would it be a good idea that he listened in to them? Dick knew he was in there, but Helga didn't. She should be warned. He was about to get up when he saw Helga standing up and decided to wait and see. Maybe his interruption wouldn't be necessary.
Helga laughed dryly. "You know perfectly well who you are. You don't need me to come and remind you that." She walked towards the door "Anyway-" she paused "I really need to start working on the new projects, but PERHAPS I should've waited until-"
"What?! You leaving already? The perfectly efficient, uncomplicated girl's giving up this soon?"
"You know?" She stopped abruptly and turned around. "I don't feel like dealing with you when you're being so crabby."
"I don't feel like dealing with you when you're being so sunny." he retorted right away. "But I have to, nevertheless."
"Sunny? Really?!" Helga shook her head. "I'll never get accustomed to be called 'sunny'" she scoffed with dry humor. "You're the only one who's ever called me that way."
"Here we go again!" Dick scoffed and leaned back in his chair. "Am I about to hear the boring tale about the poor little girl?"
"I'm not saying anything! I'm only expressing my amazement!" Helga exclaimed impatiently; but then added, piercing "I'd never dare to usurp your place as the poorest kid around."
"I'm not asking you to do it, Miss Teen Entrepreneur." He bit back "Howd'ya expect that someone ever believes your sad tale when you're so perfect; when it's so obvious how much everybody loves you?"
"Everybody loves me?!" Helga shook her head in amazement. Then she took her hand to the side of her head to comb her soft hair. Then taking a deep intake she replied in a calmer way "You know? I can't help but wonder how is that my credibility always ends being put on the line?"
"By whom? Me?" he snorted "What the hell do you care about what I think?"
"That's something I keep asking to myself" she uttered in low hum. "Anyway," she let out a low exhalation as she walked back to the seat. "Since I need new material to work, I guess I'll agree with you. I'll stop caring about what you think and I'll just get started."
"I might not have an entire hour for your-"
"Don't-Care!" she raised her sight as she opened her book "Zip it and listen up." She started with neutral voice but when Dick grunted threateningly she chuckled. "Oh, snap! Did I offend you?"
"How could you?" he retorted, looking at her through the slit of his eyes.
"That's exactly why I ask. But when it comes to you I'd rather be sure."
"Only when it comes to me?" he said with scorn.
Surprisingly she tittered, biting her lip. Dick chuckled. "Unbelievable!" Arnold frowned, confused. He leaned in to see that Dick had a strange smile perched on his face when Helga spoke again. "Are we going to have an hour of this?" She finally asked.
Was it only a teasing?
"It's up to you." He replied "I thought you were warming up, but sadly, I really have to go at six."
"You ready then?"
"Fire away."
. . .
With a frown Arnold went back to his work but his attention was half on it and half on what was being discussed out there. Business; pure and sheer business. After the initial scene that could they classified as 'warming up', they started making a recount or revision of the different enterprises of the conglomerate. Sometimes Helga listed them quickly. Dick hadn't much to add; he majorly listened. Some other times they took their time to analyze them carefully. Their business communication was smooth, flawless. It was as if they had similar minds and a shared the same ideas processing center.
"Denver has yet to prove its worth." Helga was saying "I still don't like their numbers, Dick. You have to work your magic a little more…" she hummed "intensely in there."
"It's a hard time for glass industry as you already know." he justified "What surprises me, actually, is that you still care about it. I thought you've already given up."
"Not yet. I like that plant; and I like Denver. But me liking them is not going to save them. Let's see how it goes for the rest of the year. You must show more love over there."
"I know," Dick said in a low grumble "But what about Winnipeg, huh?" he added; his voice changing.
"Congratulations for that one!" Helga chirped raising her thumb, but that was just an expression. Then they went back to their usual intone. Arnold focused on his document once again. It still needed some polishing. He wondered if he should interrupt them and leave to keep working at his workplace, but then he shrugged it off. Maybe by the time he completed it Helga could have also finished and that way she'd never knew he'd been back here the entire time.
He successfully ignored them for a while, until he was brought back to reality when he heard their laughing.
"Oh, come on!" Helga was chuckling "That's mean!"
"It's not mean. I'm telling you! The man is gonna end suffering a heart attack! Nobody can stand that kind of pressure!"
"It's completely absurd that you -out of everyone- would say something like that."
"Hey! I would never take that post!" Dick exclaimed.
"Nobody is asking you to do it, right?" Helga stated, mockingly "So why to worry? We're not in that position. I mean, Mueller is not Volkswagen; not that we are remotely close in any case, of course. But at least we're not having a super crisis right now, are we?"
"God forbid!" Dick uttered "Poor guys! They've been having some rough time."
"It's been long, isn't it?" Helga exhaled "I mean, Toyota and GM also had crisis recently, but they got over really quick, don't they?"
"And look that they had real problems; serious risks. People actually died. VW's situation is something software-related, isn't it? The cars themselves have no problems at all."
"But they cheated." Helga pronounced, serious. "And people knew. That's the problem."
"Do you really think they're the only ones who lied?" Dick scoffed. "I mean," he hummed "Jeep, Ford, Mercedes, Peugeot, Toyota, you choose…. Do you think they don't alter their emission levels?"
"No doubt." Helga's voice sounded thoughtful "This is out of proportion. Something smells fishy here."
"Of course something's fishy here. I mean, who buys a car based on its emission levels? Who actually cares about that? If you really like some car, are you going to tell me you're not buying it because it pollutes? Come on! All cars pollute."
"I get your point. Though I think there are people who actually pay attention to that fact."
"Yeah." He pouted "And they are the ones who go and buy a Prius."
"A Tesla," Helga chuckled.
"Poor fools! Buying a car with the name of a tragic figure of science and think they're saving the planet!" Dick stated scornfully "Good chance! Let the idiots buy a car to show off while they go for a spin, 'cause they're gonna need real gas-fueled cars and a tow truck to go pick them up when the Tesla leaves them stranded."
"Do you know that there are more and more people who're thinking they'd buy one of those if they could afford it?" Helga asked.
"People are so easily impressionable." Dick let out a disdainful scoff "They don't think. They just believe everything they hear. Don't they know that even electricity pollutes? I mean, if it's doesn't come from a nuclear or a hydroelectric plant –which is the least- then electricity comes from good old coal. And we all know what the one and only mission of coal is, right? To be burned."
"All-right-" Helga spoke with what Arnold thought was deliberate slowness.
"And I'm not talking about what happens in a godforsaken country, no. I mean here, in America. Two thirds of our energy is generated by coal or natural gas. Did you know that? That's the electricity that feeds your Tesla."
"I don't have a Tesla." Helga said as to herself. Dick went on.
"I mean, is not there cheating on that?"
"I…" Helga vacillated. "I think I'm not the right person to emit an opinion on that regard."
"But- did you know that?" Dick insisted.
"No, I didn't."
"Most people don't know. They want to believe so badly that there are heroes."
"Right. Heroes! That's what we all want, don't we?" her chipper exclamation was followed by an unenthusiastic exhalation. "Alright, where were we?" there was a pause "What's so funny?" she suddenly asked, seemingly affronted. Arnold craned his neck to see her leaning forward towards her partner "What does that look mean, kiddo?" her voice turned playful.
"You like them, don't you?" his question seemed an accusation. "Tesla."
"No, I don't." she replied, leaning back "One of the things I learned from Bob was never buy a first generation"
"If it weren't a first generation would you buy it?" he asked in low voice; he was unrelenting.
"I don't think so." She hummed "For what you said it's sounds as if you asked your iPad to drive you to places."
Dick laughed. "I'd never describe it so well myself."
"Of course you wouldn't." Helga's voice was cocky. "I'm the poet. Not you."
"I thought you wanted to become a writer."
"Tomayto, tomahto" she clicked her tongue. "Where were we? I mean, really." She exhaled "We need to keep going."
"You brought the car topic up." Dick informed "Why, if I may ask?"
"Right. Now I remember." She said in a faltering way "I think we're moving to phase II"
"You know I don't follow your phases." He grumbled.
"Oh, you do, only that you don't admit it." She chuckled "Anyway," she spoke slowly "There's a car factory in Eastern Europe, you know, that could soon be put…"
"On sale?" he ended for her.
"No, no yet. They could be persuaded to do it. Soon. Maybe." Her affirmation was followed by a short silence.
"But?" Dick finally asked.
"How do you know there's a 'but'?" he made a strange sound with his throat and she snorted "Alright" she conceded "It's not our… thing." She said after a small vacillation "Not a big name; it's making little money; has a limited range; the car had issues…"
"Then what made you consider it in the first place?"
"I thought you could like it. Thought you'd find it interesting. It'd be fun as hell to work in there-"
"But there won't be money?"
"Not for a while."
"How long 'while'?"
"I wouldn't put my word on it," she hummed "But it might be six, seven years…"
"Why are you even considering it?" Dick scoffed "Not a good deal. Doesn't seem like you at all."
"I know-" even when Arnold couldn't see her face he knew she was biting her lip "It's not even on sell, Dick. I'm… thinking in advance." Helga said on the defensive "I heard about it. It'd never be my choice as you just said…. I'm glad you think that way too because I'd hate to feel guilty if a word goes out, eventually, and you hear it from someone else."
"It's not lucrative?" Arnold saw Helga shaking firmly her head "I see," he vacillated "I appreciate your consideration."
"I'm not being considerate-"
Dick chortled "I know what it is." He paused "Well, thank you anyway… but I don't need your regard."
"I wasn't-"
"You went out of your way only to show me a little consideration," He paused "though I can't get why."
"It wasn't because of you, but because of Mueller-"
"Right."
"How's that-?" Helga started impatiently but then stopped "Let's just go on." She turned to see her papers.
"Why it's so hard to admit?" he asked curious; his sight was still fixed on her.
"Because…" Helga exhaled with impatience "Alright," she indulged "I know you hated India," she made a pause "and still you executed it beautifully, just the way I wanted. I don't use to say it but I appreciate the effort you put in there. India was a personal challenge to me, and half of the success is yours."
"Only half?" he asked, deadpanned.
"Peter!" Helga warned.
"Ach ja!" Dick let out a German expression. "Why is so hard to say it?" he asked, humorously.
"It's you who's asking?! You?! The perfect example of warmth and good manners?!"
"You're not a walk on the beach yourself!"
Helga scoffed. "News flash, jerk! I'm not sweet!" Arnold almost could see her rolling her eyes "What I've been trying to tell you all this time? Sometimes I feel like if you don't know me at all!"
"Do I know you?" his voice was full with mistrust.
She paused. "No, you don't." she exhaled and her voice turned dejected "You should, but you choose to thrust me on with the worst appellations and experiences you've met in your life. Believe it or not, it's-"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." He cut her off, rudely "I thought we were on only phase II. How's that we made it to the top?" He said scornfully, lowering his eyes to see his papers. Helga snorted with defeat. "Are we done for the day?" he raised his head to see her with a frown. Arnold realized his face didn't show any amusement.
"Not yet." She inhaled deeply "Phase II," she uttered plainly. "Next year acquisitions-"
"You mean this year acquisitions?" he interrupted her. "You've told me nothing yet."
"No." She shook her head "This year acquisitions would be on the table on March, as usual." She said curtly ". You'll know then, like the others. What I wanted to infor-" she stopped "What I wanted to share with you- and let's be straight here. I'm telling you this preliminarily. It's not a decision already taken; I'm just tasting the waters-" she took air "Well- I wanted to share with you that in two years from now I'll be considering to focus on ourselves; to reinvest the resources in our own company. Like what we did in India. Take some of our best enterprises and make them grow."
"So you want to stop Mueller growing."
"Typical of you!" she scoffed "Why are you so eager to jump to conclusions? To the wrong conclusions to be exact?!"
"You're saying you don't want to acquire new enterprises!"
"Didn't hear what I said?!" she raised her voice "Our growing is not given by the number of companies that are sheltered under Mueller name! It's about the 'numbers' -plural!- that we have; about how much is our worth!" She growled "Man! I can't believe that you actually said that!"
"What would people say if we suddenly stop buying companies. They won't say 'Oh, that's a fucking awesome strategy!' no! They'd think we're on recession; that we're not growing anymore."
"But that won't be true and it'll be so easy to prove! In fact, if our spokesmen announced it beforehand there won't be bad press at all!"
Dick shook his head "I don't think it's a good decision."
"All right." She nodded, coolly "You've expressed your opinion. Point taken."
"Does Henry know about this?"
"Nope." She exhaled.
"Why not?"
She took air before answering "Well, for one, because you're my partner in crime." Then she hummed something unintelligible that sounded like "-you need more time-', but Arnold wasn't sure if he heard right. "Besides,"
"I NEED MORE TIME TO PROCESS IT?!" Arnold blinked. In a sudden motion Dick had jumped to his feet and had walked towards her "What's that supposed to mean? Are you suggesting I'm an idiot?! That I don't think right?!" he'd reached her side and was leaned menacingly over her. Arnold himself cringed in his spot as he observed the scene from afar. Dick has a way to intimidate people and look that he was really good at that.
"I don't think you're an idiot and you know it." Helga started, looking up at him, straight in the eye. She hasn't cowered a bit but her voice was cautious. She raised her hand to touch his chest in a placated way and Dick gave a step back, brushing off her touch and letting out a menacing grumble. Helga had her full attention on him. Like a prey observing her predator with extreme wariness "Despite everything, I categorically consider you a smart man."
"Despite - Everything?!" Dick pounced on again. Helga didn't flinch. Arnold contained his breath "You realize you're getting deeper and deeper with every word you say?!"
"Why we always end up like this?" Helga pushed her seat back and stood up to face him, but still remained at safe distance from him. It didn't seem as if she feared him but like if she was readying herself for the battle. Arnold observed them again. On second thoughts, she didn't look like a prey, but just like her opponent: like a second predator. Dick' stance was intimidating. They both looked like two fiery beast getting ready for the battle. "Why can't you take a critic?"
"Like you do. You speak as if you were Little Miss Perfect!"
"Who's perfect, for chrissake?! Who cares about that?!"
"You think I'm an idiot!"
"Would I waste my time with you if I think you were?"
"How could I know? Sometimes you can be really stupid!"
Helga was about to retort when she contained herself and cursed under her breathe.
"What do we get from these fights?" she asked, resignedly "Aren't you tired? They come from nowhere. They take us to nothing. They just wear us off."
"You're the one who started this time!"
"Saying that you need extra time to process my stuff?" Helga shook her head with disbelief "You had to admit it. You're always quick to dismiss everything that I propose; way before you've taken the time to give it a thought!"
"And you're oh-so fucking smart!" he snapped his fingers in a peculiar way "You think really fast!"
"When I bring them up to you I've already looked at them from all sides. It's not about me being smarter!"
"That's bullshit!" Dick scoffed. "You're always trying to make them all notice how bright…"
"God! I can't believe what I hear!" Helga seemed to be losing her patience. She raised her hands in front of her but was careful not to touch him "Let's restart this. I'm just doing my work. I wanted you to know about my plans for the upcoming year. It's a prospect; not a decision taken. And I already heard your opinion." Dick tried to interrupt her but she went on inflexibly "You're informed. Now you have something to think over. When you're ready to hear the entire plan I'll be more than happy to give you the details." She exhaled deeply and went on before he interrupted her "You know? I go out of my way because I'm sensitive to your susceptibility; to your distrust; but since I never get a positive response from you I'm getting tired." Dick tried to speak again but she spoke louder "I actually expected you to be open to the idea for once, but I guess I should stop being a dreamer."
"You fucking bitch!" Dick slurred through clenched teeth. "You really think I'm a fucking retard?!"
"You're prejudiced; that's what I think." Helga replied cautiously after a long ingest.
Dick also took air and straightened up to his full height. "Get the hell out of here." He hissed.
"No." looking at him in the eye she first spoke with eerie calm but then she cried out "No fucking way, you heard?! I'm not done! You think I'm gonna come back next week sneaking my way in so I don't find you all ill-disposed." Helga pointed to the other side of the table and then took her seat. "You better sit because I'm not going anywhere." She opened her notebook. Arnold contained his breath.
"What. The. Fuck?!"
"Want to see my ugly face tomorrow?! The day after tomorrow?!" she asked harshly "Go take your damn seat!"
"Now you come here to give me orders?" Dick growled under his breath.
"I'm tired of your hyper sensibility. I have to keep moving and sometimes it's just tiring to wait until you're ready. You're so eager to think that everything hides a scheme against you; you're always mistrustful; you're so full of prejudices and it's so fucking exhausting to have to deal with all that besides of what I already have on my plate. Go take your fucking seat!"
He observed her with jaw clenched and glaring eyes. "I didn't know you thought I was so fucked." He finally said in low voice.
"We're both fucked." Helga inhaled deeply as she watched him going around the desk. " But I admit it... Somehow you manage to forget it all, and then we have to start it over once and again."
"Why are you so angry with me?" he groused "I thought we were okay."
"You were the one who was all grumpy when I came in."
Dick let out a dejected snort "Right," he remained silent for a while.
"Can we go on now?" she asked.
A few minutes after his dispirited nod, Arnold realized he needed to force his will to focus on his own job. His attention was completely set on the guys on the other side of the room. They were actually discussing the future of the company, and even when their disposition was far from the ideal they still went on resolutely.
.
Arnold had already surpassed the point where he was amazed to discover that Helga was able to deal with Dick's temper. He exhaled. Dick's roughness made him recall of the old Helga's, but Helga was a kid back then; nothing to do in power and influence with a grown up man like Dick. Then he wondered if all what Helga had endured during her childhood prepared her to deal with people like the young Mueller, Henry himself, or the tough businessmen she dealt with in a daily basis. Probably it did; after all, her sparring had been no other than Big Bob Pataki, who wasn't an easy prey at all, but a loud blowhard as Grandpa Phil used to call him. Did her past help her become who she actually was? A strong woman? A tough senior executive?
"It means we're getting to Phase III?" Arnold heard Dick's voice asking. He sounded chirpier now.
"Whatever," Helga grumbled "You're not answering my question."
"Oh," he mumbled with mock surprise "Was it a question?"
"Do you have an answer?" Helga uttered, deadpanned.
Dick hummed in vacillation "No," he replied after a while.
"Come on, Dick. He's your uncle!"
"Well Helga. We all know that keeping him pleased is your job, not mine. Couldn't you be… I don't know… more complaisant?"
"You. Fucking. Bastard!" Helga hissed. Dick laughed wryly.
"I stopped being a bastard at fourteen, remember? About the time when girls started to find my freckles 'cute'".
"Can't you be serious for once?" Helga sounded constrained.
"Now you want me to be serious?"
She released her breathe. "I want you to give your uncle the certainty that there will be no surprises when you assume his post."
"You want me to give my word to him- or to you?"
Helga snorted "Glen's been bragging about splits, merges and I don't know what other nonsense regarding the future of the company."
"Have I talked to Glen lately? He's been on Europe since the beginnings of December."
"His daughter maybe?"
Dick snorted scathingly.
"You know Regina doesn't know how to spell 'businesses', honey." He sneered "That's what you wanted to know about?"
Helga cleared her throat uncomfortably. "We have a deal." She pronounced.
"Yes, we do." His voice turned serious.
"Should I start worrying?" Helga's was cautious.
"Why should you?"
"Why shouldn't?"
"I honor my deals." Dick uttered dryly. He took air before going on "It seems that the same way you think I forget quite too often how fucked I am, you forget that I care about this." He extended his arms indicating the surroundings. "As passionately as you keep trying for everybody to realize how exceptional you are and how hell of a CEO you could make, you fail to keep in mind that Mueller is my name, and as a Mueller I'll do anything in my power to keep this company prosperous." His voice was resonant "I'll do it, even if that means I'm stuck with you for the rest of my life."
Arnold swallowed hard. He heard Helga doing the same. But before he could guess what would be Helga's response to his vicious commentary, she has already reacted.
"Oh-oh- OH!" she exclaimed enthusiastic "Such passion!" She leaned forward clapping her hands "Henry would be so pleased to hear you talking with such fervor!" she cleared her throat "I'll do it even if that means I'm stuck with you for the rest of my life." She recited mimicking his intonation. Dick leaned back in his seat. "It'd mean that his teaching had knocked some sense into your head."
"I don't think his teaching has something to do with it." Dick mumbled as to himself.
"You don't?" she laughed "Then what?"
"It was most probably the infamous 'Stubborn as a mule Mueller's streak'." He said with a grunt.
Arnold frowned with suspicion. Had Helga's mockery actually appeased his maliciousness? For real?
"Oh, poor thing!" she uttered in mock sympathy "Streak inherited from loving Grandpa Franz?"
A surprising throaty mirth filled the room "I doubt such stubbornness had been a streak possessed only by him." Dick laughed "Your beloved Henry is full of it."
"Yeah, the poor thing." Helga sighed "Well, I think we shouldn't curse all old Franz bequeaths, should we? I mean, just look around." She drew a circle in the air with her pointer finger "Who cares that all he gave you in life was… What? A lollipop?"
"Why are you so mean to me?" Dick looked at her with a wounded expression. "For God' sake, I was a little kid!" Arnold frowned. He was right. Helga was being mean. He felt sorry for Dick. But actually they were being mean to each other because what Dick said a minute ago was pretty rude too. Arnold frowned. It was like a give and take; like a teasing between buddies, but theirs wasn't precisely light, but actually harsh. It meant to hurt. It was hard to take a side. "I'm not talking about your father, am I? What do you think Grandpa Franz would say if he knew that the Pataki blood could be running someday his beloved company?"
There it was; the counterattack. Arnold didn't know if he should breathe more easily now that the forces were more leveled. There was a choke-like sound on Helga's side before she could manage to speak again.
"The Pataki blood is already managing the company, you idiot!" she spat; leaning in "Old Franz might as well be rolling over in his grave I know; but because he actually knows that the Pataki and the Schneider blood TOGETHER are running his empire-"
"Oh God!" Dick opened big his eyes, surprised.
"Yep!" she chortled "Haven't you seen it? The storekeeper and the saleswoman's offspring are the king and queen of the hill." She raised both hands triumphantly.
Dick's surprised expression remained on his face until he finally asked. "Is Henry aware?" Helga shook her head indolently and then shrugged. "I guess nobody knows who they work for." He ended.
"You betcha!"
"Who do we work for?" Dick asked after the calm silence that followed Helga exclamation.
She took air deeply before replying. "Who indeed?"
And they stayed like that; looking into each other eyes. Or at least Dick was. He was staring at her who couldn't be doing other thing than staring back, Arnold guessed. He blinked suddenly, and then asked.
"What about Henry? How's this foundation thing going?"
Helga sucked air, taking a paper in her hands and then replied feigning nonchalance.
"Why don't you ask him?"
Dick snorted. "You know that's not going to happen… so brief me."
Helga hesitated for a couple of seconds.
"He's finally getting some work done. Got help. A nice guy; some lawyer. They have the plan settled. There're gonna be five schools. Difficult neighborhoods all around the country for kids who really want to get out of their-" her long eyelashes went up and down "- sad environments." Helga leaned back in her chair and looked up at him "You really should be more… invested, you know? Henry worries that you won't support it."
"Henry does not need me." He said on the defensive; leaning back in his seat too.
"He does." Helga dipped her head; then clicked her tongue. "Will you?"
"What?" Dick raised his chin in a challenging way.
"Support his Foundation?"
He snorted.
"Of course I do. Who could say no to such a noble cause?"
"Is this disdain which I see before me?" Helga uttered in a poetry-like fashion.
"Do you think it is?"
"You know I still have a hard time trying to read you."
Dick let out a slanted smile. "I'm all sincerity."
"This time around?"
"This time around." He confirmed with a mischievous smile.
"That's great to hear." She sighed "Then I guess you'll be attending to the Charity Ball hosted by the City Hall next March?" she asked cheerfully.
"Charity Ball what?! Again? - God!" he seemed surprised "It's a year already?!"
"Yep. A year, my dear." She chirped. "Shocking, right?"
"Tell me about it!" he exhaled, still looking dazzled.
It was right, Arnold thought. Soon it would be a year since the day of the Ball; the day he found Helga again. He wondered why the discovering seemed to be kinda frightening for them both, when it had been a blessing to him. Was it the surprise to realize time flew? That they were a year older?
"It's expected that you attend." Helga pointed out in sight of Dick's lack of reaction.
"Why? He'll be launching his foundation then?" he asked. "Right there? In a public event?"
"No, I don't think they'll be ready yet" Helga shook her head.
Oh, no! Arnold thought with nervousness as he loosened his tie. They definitively won't be ready yet.
"What?" Dick snorted "You mean Wonder Boy wouldn't have the work done by then?"
"What makes you think he's a Wonder Boy?" Helga snorted. Arnold leaned back with a smile on his face.
"Oh, come on! Henry got him for the foundation. A nice guy you said. It HAS to be a Wonder Boy."
Helga hummed in skepticism "If you say so."
"Typical of Henry, right? To get the work done through others. Wonder Boy takes care of his Henry & Helga or Whatever Charitable Foundation and we both, as the demons we are, take care of his Money-Making Machine."
"Money-Making Machine?" Helga scoffed "Money-Making Machine that would be yours some day!" she leaned forward "I can't believe you! Is that a complaint?"
"How could you complain when you're invested with such a gift?" Dick's deep voice sounded strange to Arnold ears.
"It sounded like a complaint to me." There was laugh in her voice, but there were also caution.
Dick puffed. "We've already discussed it, aren't we?"
"Was that a discussion?" she waited "I didn't think you were being serious." She spoke in low voice. There was a pause in both sides "Were you?" Helga finally asked, looking his way "Dick?"
He didn't answer back. Helga waited for a few seconds.
"Peter?" Arnold leaned forward. Dick looked absent. His sight was fixed at some point of the desk between his papers and her book. He looked as if he hadn't listened to her at all. Helga waited a little longer "Willie?"
That made the trick. He raised his bright blue sight and met her eyes with a glare.
"Willie?" his voice had turned dark "Don't you go confusing me with some whole other body." He cursed "I'm not fucking Henry."
Helga spluttered before she could come with a reply "What the hell is wrong with you?" she leaned forward.
"What's wrong with you?! It's not my fault that you're so disappointed!" he uttered as he looked about the papers on his desk.
"GRRRR!" Helga growled sonorously, getting up and leaning over the desk. "What did you just say?! Look at me when I talk to you, Mister!"
He got up as well and looked down at her "You heard me."
Helga seemed taken aback although Arnold couldn't see her face. "I thought we've already left that behind," she said in a whisper.
"I'm only voicing a valid concern." His voice was dry, accusatory.
"We already talked about it!" her voice was low but determined. "It was left behind!"
"You talked. I listened. That doesn't mean anything." He poked the table with his finger.
"You said you knew! You said you got it, you idiot!" she finally seemed to recover "How it doesn't mean a thing?!" She pointed to his chest. "What is it? We have to start over every time you feel like it?!"
"Maybe you should've thought twice before you agreed in following this weird game!"
"Weird game?" Helga sat down looking despondent "Which one?" She asked to the air. Then she raised her face to look at him "You realize you're actually admitting it's only a game?" She asked in a mumble.
"How can I do it?" Dick leaned intimidatingly over her, like an inquisitor, his eyes bright. Helga pulled back slightly and remained silent. "When I know nothing? All I have is your word."
"You have Henry's word too." She replied.
"Henry's word?" His voice was full with spite. "The old man does whatever you ask him to do."
In opposition to the wicked smirk that was forming in his face, Helga didn't react, nor did she look at him. She closed her eyes for a few seconds and then opened them to take a deep inhalation. She straightened up. Taking the notebook in her hands she flipped its pages.
"Let's get this through." She uttered in normal voice, still looking down "I see covered most of it. Brazil and India are up to date so there's no point on going over there." She turned the page "Denver, Colombia and Philippines are balls that are in your court now-" Arnold realized Dick was looking at her with a deep frown and cautious eyes "There are new politics about travels and logistics, I don't know if Security already talked to you-" she raised briefly her sight to look at him and went on "but there will be tons of troubles because orf that; we have to rearrange itineraries and whatnot. I'll have no patience for that so I'm leaving Kitty in charge. And finally-"
"So that's it?" Dick seemed upset. She raised her sight and frowned "You're giving up?"
Helga blinked a couple of times and then put up a blank expression "If you're talking about me following your mental games, yeah, I give up."
"Mental games? It's what you call them now?"
"What would you call them then?" she countered "How everybody calls them, huh?" She looked at him hard "You already admitted you understand. Now you want to take it back and play dumb. Well, it's up to you. I won't go there. Think what you want; do as you please; and leave me alone. I'm through. I promise I won't bother you again."
Dick remained silent observing her with a growing scowl. "You're no fun anymore." He finally said.
"God! I can't believe it!" Helga stood on her feet "And you expect that I believe you'll honor our agreements when you're not even able to keep you word on something you already admitted?"
"Hey!" Dick froze for a while but then his attitude changed; in a second. The hard expression of his face turned into a smile now. "You don't have to take it to heart!"
"How should I take it then? With humor?" Helga was still upset.
"How should I?" he countered; putting his serious front again. "With humor?" he scowled.
Helga inhaled deeply before responding. "I guess it's your problem."
They both looked at each other from their places. For the life of him Arnold didn't know what to make up of that all. What was going on? What all those upset expressions, changing moods and half assertions meant?
"I guess that's it." Helga slapped the papers in her hands "I'll see that you receive a copy of this report."
"Wait!" Dick had reached her side and stood in front of her to stop her leaving "Alright. You're right. Let's get to the end. I'm leaving town in two days." He vacillated "So I'd rather see those papers now."
"It's getting late…" Helga pushed past him.
"Hey! Come on! Don't be like that." He shook his head when she didn't halt "Tell me what's this thing with the new politics, then." Helga ignored him "Helga!"
"Talk to Security" she shrugged.
"We're not allowed to travel together anymore? Is that it?"
"I thought you said you didn't know a thing." She turned briefly to look at him.
"I heard Mike saying something of the like but I didn't pay attention. So it's true? - Why?"
Helga finally turned around and sighed. Her back resting against the door. Arnold finally got to see her face. God! She was gorgeous. Silky golden hair; eyes highlighted by the blue of her dress; tall sophisticated feminine figure…
"Risk management. New global policies." She shrugged "They can't compromise the continuity anymore…" her voice sounded apathetic.
"The continuity of the company?" he chortled derisively "So we don't die at the same time or something?"
"Yeah; some of the like."
"They must do more than that, don't you think? A wider contingency plan?"
"I guess we should trust they'll do their job."
"Can we trust them?"
"They trust we do ours." She made a face. "Can they trust us?" She looked at him in the eye.
Dick slid his hands into his pockets and walked towards her.
"You know," he started once he stood a few inches apart. "The other day, I was thinking about…"
"What? About buying our own aircraft?" Helga laughed, shaking her head as she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. For a second she fixed her sight on him. Arnold's blood ran to his feet. He froze. Helga's forehead creased just for a second, but then her eyes left him. She turned to Dick "I think you'd choose the worst moment to make such a sugges-"
Arnold stopped listening when he realized Dick had followed her sight. All the color left his face. Arnold stopped breathing seeing his reaction. Helga kept talking, but no one paid her attention. She paused as if awaiting a response from Dick when the blonde man went ballistic.
"Fuck Helga! What the hell are you still doing here?! Did you see what time it is?" he banged his fist on the wall besides her violently.
Helga cringed involuntarily. "Jesus!" she moved aside. She looked at him, shocked, and cried out "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Your fucking voice; that's what's wrong! It's fucking annoying!" he gave a step forward, intimidating.
"You're sick!" she pushed him hard.
"After an entire afternoon spent at your side how do you expect me to be?!" he wheezed "I can't take it anymore!"
Helga shook her head, bewildered. "Dick, you really need to go and see a doctor! You're crazy!"
"Typical of you! Always trying to fix everything just by calling me crazy, right? Oh, you're so clever, Helga!" he said acerbic.
"Stop acting like a crazy man and I'll stop calling you that." Helga pushed him again and turned around.
"Yeah. Go, please go! And stop harassing me!"
She opened the door.
"Consider it done."
For a moment Arnold thought Dick was going to follow her but he remained impassible. She stepped out and closed the door behind her. She didn't slam it as Arnold expected. Dick stayed motionless for a few seconds; as if waiting for her to come back and throw more insults at him. Arnold expected it too, actually, and dared to breathe once again only when she didn't. But when Dick locked the door and stomped towards him and he stopped breathing altogether.
"FUCK!" he roared. He took a stapler from the table and threw it all the way through the other end of the room, where it broke into pieces. "How long you've been here?" he hissed. Arnold swore he'd never seen a man this pale. His eyes were glaring "HOW LONG?"
"I only went out for lunch." He replied; his voice went out weak. He cleared his throat before going on "I- I've been here the rest of the time."
"How much did you hear?" Arnold's lips became a tight line. Was he really asking him that? "HOW MUCH DID YOU HEAR?"
"Pretty much everything." He gulped..
Dick's face was livid; his eyes murderous. He was having problems to control his breathing. Arnold didn't dare to blink; he wanted to be alert in case a blow was coming its way down to him.
"How the hell it happened?" the blond boy didn't know if he heard right. The other guy's voice was a barely a whisper.
"Well," Arnold let out a nervous laugh "You told me I should work in here and-"
"ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?!" Dick slammed shut Arnold's laptop. The boy took it and put it aside.
"And-" Arnold's voice cracked for a second "And I didn't realize when she came in. I didn't pay attention." he rushed "When I realized what was going on it was already late." Arnold couldn't believe this all was actually happening; and that he was apologizing right now to no other than Dick Mueller.
Dick breathed a couple of times before going on.
"You shouldn't let it happen." He said through gritted teeth "This is inexcusable! I don't know how you let it happen. You're smart guy, for God's sake! You should've looked for a way to let me know you were here! I'd have gotten rid of her sooner! It'd be my problem then, you understand?!" he turned around and ran both hands through his hair with frustration. Then grumbled and turned to see him straight in the eye "But you were here and you listened in. You shouldn't have, but you did…" he paused; his sight darkened "And I can't find another reason why you did it... except that it was what you wanted."
"What do you mean?" Arnold asked guardedly. He didn't want to give credit to what he was suspecting.
"Snooping, huh? That's what you wanted?!" Dick looked at him with disgust.
"Snooping?" Arnold asked with disbelief.
"God! Who are you? You're exactly like her, aren't you! What've you two been doing with all the information you learn in here, for Chrissake?! You're our lawyer!"
Arnold observed him with the mouth wide open. "I'm not sure if I understand what you're implying?"
"I'm not implying! I'm saying it loud and clear. You're spying on us!"
"It was an accident!" Arnold raised his voice, pointing towards the door "I swear to God it was an accident. I didn't mean to overhear!"
"Why you didn't let me know you were here, then?!"
"I thought you knew!" Arnold cried out "It happened all of a sudden. I didn't pay attention at first. When I came into realization it was way too late. Believe it or not it didn't occur to me to send you a message or anything. My mind was blank. I didn't know what to do. I was just begging to God it ended soon."
Dick walked up and down the place. Arnold covered his face with his hands and exhaled. This was unbelievable.
"This is getting out of proportion." He said despite his instincts told him to remain quiet. "Dick, I didn't mean to hear. How could I know what was about to happen?" Dick turned to see him. His expression was absolutely threatening. Arnold went on with resolution "And even then, I assure you I'll-"
"How much did you hear?" he asked again "Do you realize you're under a confidentially agreement, don't you?"
Arnold exhaled long. He didn't know if it was because he knew he was facing his worst fears, or because Dick looked less frantic. "Of course I do. I improved it myself." He snorted.
Dick looked at him with mistrust, but at least he wasn't that mad anymore. Arnold stared back. His face had regained some color, but it was now blotched. His eyes were still abrasive.
"Then it is here where you're going to show us what you're made of." His lips crumpled spitefully "You heard nothing, you saw nothing, you guess nothing." He whispered menacingly "If you're true to your word then you're never going to share a single word, plan or idea about whatever you saw in here. What is more, you'll not even think about what you listened in opportunistically-"
"It was an accident!"
"EVER!" Dick shouted. His jaw was clenched.
Arnold nodded.
"I'm glad we reached that understanding."
Arnold fought back to pull a face. He took a deep inhalation before nodding again. Throwing him a last vindictive glance Dick walked back to his desk.
"What does Helga has to do with it?" Arnold asked. Against his better will of course.
"Leave Helga out of this. Less than anyone, she'll never know anything of this. Understand?" Arnold nodded docilely for third time and he hated it. "Now go."
Arnold took his laptop and opened it dreading he'd find it broken. Fortunately, it was intact.
"Them why you said I was just like her?" he turned to see his boss once again knowing he was risking his neck, but being unable to stop himself.
Dick seemed confused for a second, but then his expression darkened again.
"I didn't mean her," he informed dryly "but your girlfriend."
Arnold blinked twice. "What does my girlfriend has to do with anything?"
"Come on!" Dick scoffed, turning around.
"What does Claire has to do with any of this?" Dick didn't react "I'm serious."
He left his papers alone and looked at him intently for a few seconds. Then he shook his head.
"I guess you should go and ask her."
"Why?" A mock smile appeared on the other man lips. Arnold couldn't help but freeze when cold shiver ran down his back.
"Look, I don't care about what shit happens under the Shortman's roof, alright?" he turned back to his work; then he added in a low whisper "but maybe it's about time you know the harpy you're been living with."
. . .
I don't own Hey Arnold!
Sorry for the long waiting. This chapter was hard to put together.
Thanks for reading. My best wishes for this upcoming 2016 to you all. A big hug and endless thank yous to my reviewers: Jose Ramiro, Nep2uune, Presley Rox, CarlinJ83 and guests. Love your feedback.
January 9, 2016.