Rocket to the Moon
Chapter Thirty-One
One of Those Days
…
AN. Spanish would be here tomorrow. Sorry.
Thank you for being here. Thank you so much for your visits, favs and reviews. I appreciate them all.
This chapter is dedicated to you all. But in a special way it's dedicated to Anonymous Latina who helped me out with some expressions in English that had been slowing my progress; and to PrettyKaoru who encouraged me to keep going despite my block.
Now, we can go on but not before telling you that discretion is advised . . .
. . .
"What an idiot!" Arnold groused; not paying attention to the other diners in the cafeteria "How's that I didn't see it?! It was right in front of me!" he let out impatient.
"Right in front of your round nose." Rhonda hummed, pointing to his nose. Her face was resting with delicacy on her right hand and she was looking at him with sympathetic eyes.
Saturday morning breakfast with Rhonda came as promised. He'd chosen the place; a nice café located on his same street. He never thought there would be so many new discoveries in the course of a mere week. Only a week away from the day he knew where such an old vintage name as 'Helga Geraldine' came from.
He looked around still having a bad time to process all what had happened last night. Then exhaled and ran his hands over his face with exasperation. It hadn't started on Friday, in fact. It all had started the day before. Thursday. Early in the morning.
The Thursday of Helga's birthday to be exact.
. . .
. . .
"Arnold-"
Or had it been earlier? Well, we'll see later. We need to get started anyway…-
Arnold raised his eyes and frowned.
"Now what?"
The girl cringed, startled by his rudeness. He felt guilty. He wasn't like that but he didn't have a minute to lose. Not now.
"What is it, Daphne?" he asked again; in a softer way this time.
"You seem to be busy…"
He didn't roll his eyes only because he had no time to deal with the consequences of an eye roll. Seriously. The girl spoke from her place still by the door.
"I am busy" he looked briefly her way. In sight of her vacillation, he continued "Are you gonna tell me-?"
"Who…?" there was another hesitation "Tomorrow night…. Are you taking someone to the Ball?"
'All misinformation will be considered under penalty of perjure…" a blue underline appeared under the last word. Arnold hit the backspace key but for some goddamned reason the cursor appeared at the beginning of the line, and thus making him delete the double space instead of the last letter. He cursed as he typed the 'undo' key a couple of times and then accepted the suggestion of the word 'perjury' instead of 'perjure'.
"Excuse me?" He raised his sight.
"The Ball?" the girl asked again; biting her lip "Did you already choose who you're-?"
"No." He looked at her. "It's a personal invitation. I'm not allowed to take anybody." He grimaced "You know I'd love to take you, but-" he shrugged his shoulders in excuse, going back to his document.
"Is that true Arnold?" she giggled. Arnold raised his sight at the sound of her proximity. Her entire demeanor changing into coquetry "Or are you only saying that only because I asked?"
"Hell no! You're a good friend." He made sure to put emphasis on the word. 'What about Matt?' he should've asked though.
"Oh!" she sounded disappointed.
"Daphne…" he grimaced "I'm really busy here…"
"I know." She pouted, looking him up and down. Then she warned "It's getting late, Arnold. Maybe you should leave it for later."
"Nope." He replied, shaking his head "I just need a couple of minutes and it's done."
"I don't think they expect you presenting this project on today's meeting. They gave you until next week, remember?"
"Yeah, but I want to surprise them."
"This Contract shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York."
"Surprise them or surprise him?" Arnold detected a hint of mockery in Daphne's voice "Come on, Arnold! You're already his favorite. You want him to depend on you and you alone or what? You could get him some flowers too, I guess lilacs are his favorites?"
He grumbled at her derision.
"Daph-NE!"
"Alright-alright!" she chuckled as she turned around to leave "Good luck with your new conquest." Crinkling her nose a couple of times, she disappeared.
Arnold cursed under his breath. He was getting tired of all those pranks surrounding his relation with Dick. If only they knew... Letting out a long exhalation he saw the wall clock pointed 9:45 before going back to his work.
. . .
. . .
Meanwhile, at other side of 29th Floor…
"Hey you! Where do you think you're going?" the impatient superintendent asked the first cleaning lady who happen to run into him.
"To the janitor room. I need to put some order. The new kid just threw everything in there and now it's a mess!"
"That can wait! Go to 28th Floor. I need the Meeting Room ready in fifteen minutes or someone is having a fit. Then I want you to go help Lucy on 30th Floor."
"That's not my job!" the lady grumbled "They never help me."
"Jeez! I'm telling you, woman! Now go!" he pointed to the floor below "Pronto!"
"But…"
"No buts." The man pointed towards the stairs with authority.
The girl finally obeyed but not without showing her annoyance.
Seeing her go, the man grumbled to himself "You can no longer get good service. Sheesh!"
. . .
. . .
His cellphone chimed for umpteenth time. He glanced briefly its way. It was his ex, Claire. Again.
Claire: "So?"
Arnold left the keyboard of his laptop and exhaled with exasperation. Just one word; two single letters but they irked him. He knew she wasn't to stop anytime soon. How hard was for her to understand what 'Busy' meant? He took his phone.
Arnold: "I don't know Claire. Whenever. You choose."
Barely leaving his phone aside, it chirped again.
C: "Tomorrow evening?"
A: "Can't."
A: "I'll be going to-"
Arnold paused. There was no way he'd tell her his plans for tomorrow evening. He deleted the last two words.
A: "I'll be occupied."
C: "Arnold! You're always occupied."
C: "I'm sick of this! If you don't come up tomorrow evening to pick up your things I'm gonna send them all to GoodWill!"
C: "I'm sure they'd love taking pink stuff in!"
Arnold scoffed. How the hell she typed so much so fast? He shook his head.
A: "Saturday." He sent.
C: "Be here before noon!" She warned.
A: "Ok."
And putting his phone in silent mode he resumed his work. He looked apprehensively at his laptop's screen; then at his grandpa pocket watch that he kept on his desk. He smiled at the sight. Well, it was one of the many pocket watches his grandfather had ever had. Sighing, he returned to his work. He had about ten minutes to finish this. He rejoiced to himself.
Three days ago he'd been asked to make a contract he'd never done before. Nobody had done anything like this before in here. He'd started from scratch this time and received virtually no help from Deb. Nevertheless, less than seventy-two hours later it was done. He was only giving it a professional style. Dick was going to be shocked; pleasantly shocked more likely. And he'd get the satisfaction for a job well done.
. . .
. . .
"What do you mean 'You have no women'?" Grace quoted as she walked along David McMahon and headed for the staircase.
"Exactly what I said! No women." the forty-some years old man replied a bit upset "There're no women attending to the Charity Ball so far. I declare myself incompetent in that field!"
"You mean no women from our party or-?"
"Hell yeah!" he uttered in mock enthusiasm. Moving his hands expressively, he added. "It'll be like a sausage fest!"
"You don't need to be so graphic!" Grace censured him.
"Sorry Grace. But I'm kind of desperate now! Can you picture what we're gonna look like? Mueller; the place where sexism is non-existent."
Grace exhaled realizing his predicament. "And what do you mean by no one? What about Helga? Isn't she going?"
"Nope. Helga's out of town or something." David McMahon said.
"Really? I heard she's being expected on 30th Floor today."
"Yeah, yeah! But she's only coming back to attend to the diner party Henry's throwing in her honor." The man said "But then she's flying back to Pittsburgh, Portland or anywhere the hell she's going to this time."
"Figures!" Grace snorted; almost rolling her eyes. They left the staircase and stepped into 28th Floor. "And Deb? What about Deb?"
"Deb doesn't want to attend and I just seem unable to convince her."
The old woman hummed to herself. "What about Dick and his 'spectacular' dates? Didn't get a bimbo on time?"
"Don't count on him!" Dave puffed "Dick doesn't wanna hear a word about this. He's only attending because Henry's forcing him to do it."
Dave turned to her with supplicant eyes "Would you come, Gracie? If I convince Henry to bring you along, would you come even it's a last minute invite?"
"No! Dave! Please! Don't ask me that!"
"Why not? As a personal favor, huh? Come on, Gracie!"
"No. Don't put this on me! Besides, I already have a date." She paused seeing his astounded expression.
"A date? Really?" she slapped him in the shoulder in sight of the veiled offense.
"Yeah. Me and my true love, Cap. Steve Rogers. I promised nothing would stray me this time from finally seeing him on the big screen." She sighed "They told me to put special attention to a scene with a helicopter, do you know why?" She smiled with mock naiveté.
"For God's sake, Grace! Don't be ridiculous!" Dave scoffed at her "Really?! You choose go and watch a silly movie instead of going to The Ball of the Year?"
"The Ball of the Year!" she puffed contemptuously "I've already had thousands of Balls like that. Absolutely forgettable."
"Yah." Dave McMahon growled but Grace stopped paying attention to the man in charge of the Social Assistance Department at the sight of the corpulent guy coming in and blocking practically the sight.
Stan Wright's expensive clothes and respectable presence didn't fool her. She knew the man was the devil himself.
"Stan…" she greeted him courteously. Her green eyes never leaving his.
.
And just like the light on a mirror was reflected; his blue eyes never left hers.
.
"Ma'am," he replied with a slight nod and a phony smile. 'Nosy old crone! Bet you still think you're hot, don't you? Take another look in the mirror, bitch. You're just a drooping sack o of withering skin; you decayed big-mouthed hag.' "Always a pleasure." He pronounced in his most throaty voice and turned down the hallway.
Grace Devine…
Whose business was she messing up with today, he wondered. Grace was the kind of woman who loved trouble just because that way she'd have something to do; something to care about; she would be necessary. Otherwise people would start wondering what the hell she was still doing here. What kind of life was that? Living through the others? Maybe people came to ends like that when they never get an actual life; because they never married and had kids. Not for lack of trying of course; at least that was not the case of our lovely Gracie. Heaven was witness that she tried hard and long to take Henry away from his wife. But Henry would never fall for that game. Henry was a smart man and smart men marry smart wives. Women who could take care of the family and the business if necessary.
His own wife, Lauren, was an engineer who worked for the top notch company that provided electricity to the entire northwest of the country. She took care of her job and their kids and made it look as if it was the coolest thing in the world. She also put up with him. Stan smirked to himself. She had to admit she was awesome.
"My wife's 'chingona'…" he mumbled in low voice. Turning down the hallway again, he was about to reach the first of his destinations when his attention got lost a cause of the hot brunette occupying the desk in front of the vending machine. He stopped by the appliance only to get a good look at the girl who sported a red number and wore even redder lipstick.
He kept walking as he looked in his pockets for change, eyeing directly at her. She knew very well her business, he thought as she leaned in showing him her cleavage. Oh, yeah! 'Women like you would never be a good wife, that's for sure; but what about having me, you hot piece of ass down there. I bet you're so tight. If I were your man, I'd have you stretched out in my desk eating you whole. Then have your face under me, your precious red lips begging to taste me again…"
"Need some change?"
Stan was forced to stop his precious thoughts when the dream turned into a nightmare.
'The horror!' he grunted to himself. 'What've I done, my Lord, that you keep punishing me like this?' He didn't bother to say "Hello" to the most horrifying thing that had crossed his path this entire morning. He couldn't help but scowl. 'Putting this ugly thing in front of me! Forgive me Lord, but things like these don't deserve to be called people, let alone walk on the same ground I walk on. They deserve to be underground, and never see the light of day so that the deserving don't get eye sores from the hideous thing that they are. God, I swear to you. This world would be a better place without things like these."
"I just lost my appetite."
He slurred indistinctly, eyeing the skeletal girl who looked like a toothpick. He knew his revulsion was evident. The brunette directed him a sly smile and it was enough for him to forget about the greyhound dressed in a horrid lavender number. 'Who the hell dares to sell those things? They should be put in jail.'
"Move bitch!" he mumbled under his breathe walking past her. Stan smiled back at the girl in red and hurried his paces trying to get rid of the feeling that greyhound-looking girl was reaching out to get him.
"Stan?" He turned around at the voice. He hadn't realized he'd arrived to Mike Davis' office.
"Hey Mike," he beckoned him to get close. "Walk with me." He demanded "Got some change?" Mike nodded, searching his pockets. Stan led him to the vending machine. "Well, how was the brainstorm? Any idea worth to be taken to the boss?"
"Nah! Same old same old. I can't believe it! I had a word with the team yesterday. We'd going to meet later today and-"
"Meet? What time?"
"Right after the meeting. Why?"
"I want to be there. Take them to my office. It's about time we take a decision. I don't want Dick taking us unprepared."
"Oooooh!" Mike shivered "Don't jinx it, man!" Stan directed him a cold and censuring look "Chill." Mike rose his hands in front of him "How's that going by the way? Dick's still angry with you?"
Stan puffed. "Bah," he lessened their walking at the sight of people forming a line in front of the vending machine. "You know him. He doesn't take well when you're right and he is not."
"What are you gonna do now?"
Stan made a face when realized Hot Girl was checking Mike out. The girl kept throwing bold glances at him hoping he'd notice her. Stan puffed. If Hot Girl were smart she'd choose him instead. He'd give her more quality time; he was also better in the sack -unlike Mike who just laid there- and he was best positioned in the organizational chart of the enterprise.
"I don't know." He grumbled "I have nothing to give him; not even a good idea. Denver is going to hell."
He experienced a bit of schadenfreude seeing Mike cringing. Production was his domain and the entire lot of ideas he'd come with so far had fallen flat. It took a couple of seconds for him to react.
"Here!" he handed him a few quarters. "What do you want them for, anyway?" Mike asked irritably.
"Chocolate bars," Stan said with delight. "What?!" he yapped, noticing Mike gave him a quick once over. Mike ignored him and looked to the hallway, finally spotting Hot Girl flirty smile.
"What is it?" Mike asked in low voice "Fresh meat?" he replied the girl smile.
Stan looked disdainfully at the girl then. Of course the idiot would choose Handsome Mike and not Lardo Stan.
Puffing, he turned around and walked on. There were only two dorks left by the vending machine. He stood behind them. Human Resources had a consistent pattern to choose them.
"I don't think I follow…" One of the dunces said "Who? You mean the guy from Legal? Arnold… what his last name is?"
"Shortman."
Stan paid attention. Seemed that it was Shorty they were talking about.
"Shortman? You sure?"
"I was there when Deb hired him."
"And why you say there's something fishy around him?"
"Didn't you hear me out the first time I said it?" the first guy grumbled "He was hired in the elevator." Dumb turned to the other and raised his brows at the revelation "Just a week after we'd hired a bunch of lawyers! Now he works close to Dick and Henry; and guess what?"
"He's the only one of the mortals who's attending to the Charity Ball?" Dumber replied.
"Hu huh." The guy didn't say anymore because he was busy pushing coins into the machine. They have already taken several items.
'Is there a party going on down there or what?' Stan wondered. He didn't say a word because he didn't want them to stop talking.
"And what did you mean by 'fishy'?"
Stan rolled his eyes. 'Was this kid retarded or what?'
"Who's hired like that?!" the other guy countered. Stan repressed a snort.
"So, what do you think?"
"Someone wanted him in the company." Dumb said in low voice.
"You mean someone from 30th Floor?" The other played along with the secrecy. Stan had to force his hearing to listen to them. They turned around to check the place and Stan pretended he was texting on his phone. The other guy shushed him. "Mark?" but Dumber went on "But who?" he paused "Why?"
"That – my friend- is the question."
"Who do you think is it?" Dumber went on, recklessly "Henry?"
Dumb only shrugged his scrawny shoulders "Him… or Pataki…" he added with caution.
"Helga?" Dumber seemed surprised "But why? What has she to do with anything?"
"Idiot! You really didn't listen to anything that I said - did you?!"
"I was trying to remember all what they asked," he sounded apologetic. Putting an dumb smile – something that he did without difficulties - he asked "So?"
Exhaling with annoyance, Dumb revealed "He was her sweetheart". Stan blinked feeling as dumb as them. 'What?'
"WHAT?!" Maybe Dumber wasn't that dumb.
The other rolled his eyes. "Arnold…" he straightened with his arms filled with junk food. His friend took some of his load and they starting walking away "They went to grade school together or something. All I know is that she was crazy about him…"
"WHOA! That stuff is gold!" Stan hadn't realized he'd remained immobile watching the skinny version of Tweedledee and Tweedledum go until Mike stood before him with a wide smile plastered on his face. Wriggling his brows he turned to him "There we have our distraction."
. . .
. . .
30th Floor.
"What do we have here?" a harassed-looking Kitty (Helga Pataki's secretary) coming out from her boss' office asked "More flowers, yay!" She cried without emotion. "I'm afraid Helga won't be able to give a step into her office when she arrives."
"Oh Who cares? These ones are so pretty!" Kaitlin (Dick Mueller's secretary) said walking towards one of her best friends "Who send them?"
Kitty inhaled sharply as she smelled the bunch. She read the card aloud:
"'Devotee of all that is beautiful, I love you dear because you're la più bella of them all.'" She rolled her eyes "Luke Briaschi."
Both Kitty and Kaitlin shared an amused look. Henry's secretary, Thelma reprimanded them.
"You two are green with envy."
"Riiiight!" they both snorted.
"Don't tell me you don't want a suitor who tells you you're the most beautiful thing around." Thelma went on.
"I'd settle for the money" Hill, -Deb's secretary butt in.
"Who wouldn't?"
"Let me do it," Kaitlin declared taking the stylish vase. "You look exhaust." She was about to get to Helga's office when Dick's door opened. She turned around, startled. You could say she almost had a heart attack. Setting the flowers on the counter, she hurried back to her desk as Dick swept the place with cold, judging eyes, buttoning up his jacket. Her heart had stopped altogether.
"I didn't know I paid you to hand out flowers." He said with sarcasm.
Kaitlin let out a nervous laugh. "I was only admiring them." She took a dossier from her desk and handed it to him. His eyes admonishing her even when he didn't open his mouth. "There was another reunion at 28th Floor Meeting Room earlier," she informed "but it must be ready for now."
He nodded. "Is everything in here?" he raised the folder in the air. She nodded rigidly "How selfish of me!" he ironized "I appreciate you spare your time to do my silly work when you're so busy being helpful. I'm so sorry."
Kaitlin kept her plastic smile and only breathed again when he disappeared behind the staircase. She wiped the stupid smile from her face.
"Don't listen to him." Thelma came to her and patted her shoulder softly. "You know him. He just can't help it."
"What a relief!" Kaitlin snorted; She walked back to her seat feeling strengthless.
. . .
. . .
"What?" Deborah Tilly stopped dead in her tracks. Her assistant observed her talking on the phone. "Hold on a sec." She turned to him "Get me Greg!" She ordered and went back to the phone.
"Greg took the day off," he reminded her. She hesitated before nodding "Then Arnold… or whomever."
"But,"
Deb raised her hand to silence him "I heard you the first time!" she yelped on the phone. Then she took a deep intake and went on, softer "Let me see what I can do."
She closed her eyes for a moment while mumbling something to herself. Then looking briefly to the Court wooden door, she turned, giving him a solid stare.
"I'll go ahead. I need you do something for me."
. . .
. . .
After fixing his tie, Arnold threw a quick glance over the seat at the corner of his office; over the black plastic bag resting on it. It looked like an ordinary plastic, non-see-through bag, but it contained his present. After looking for days and days, he finally got her a present. He really hoped she liked it.
He walked to his desk to check his watch: 9:59 am. He only had to reach the stairs and get to the floor below. The Meeting Room was right next to the staircase.
Knock knock knock
"Come in."
"Arnold!" Daphne sounded relieved. "You're still here!"
"Oh, it's you again," he said mockingly. Taking his papers he walked to the door. "Sorry Daphne. My condition hasn't changed since you were here a few minutes ago. I'm still not allowed to take..."
"That's not why I'm here. I came to tell you you shouldn't go."
Arnold scoffed. "I'm not saying 'no' to Henry"
"Not that silly. I mean here. You have to stay here." She stomped on her place. "Don't go to the meeting."
"I can't do that."
"Yes, you can."
He snorted again.
"I think I know very well what my responsibilities are."
"Still, I came here to stop you," she insisted, stubborn.
"Daphne… you're making no sense." He looked at his watch "I have no time for this. Can we talk later?"
"No, Arnold. You don't understand. You just can't go. You have to wait here." She'd taken him by the arm. "Tina said under no circumstances I should let you go."
Arnold shook his head with amusement. He promised himself not to forget that no matter how helpful Daphne could be sometimes, she was one of the most talkative girls in the entire office "She can say what- - Wait a second! Tina?" he chuckled "Why would Tina say something like that?"
He walked out of the room and made a motion for her to get out too, since she'd remained behind.
"Arnold… I warn you…" her voice sounded distressed. Like a last resort, the girl took his arm and added "She said things can turn ugly."
"If I don't get to that Meeting Room within seconds…" he wriggled his brows as he shot her a pointed look "-now that'd be ugly."
"Arnold…"
"She you later, Daphne,"
The girl stayed behind.
"Arnold! Don't say I didn't warn you." She cried out.
The blond dismissed her with a wave of his hand and headed for the stairs.
The girl bit her lip nervously, standing there in the middle of the hallway. "Oh my God!" she exhaled. But soon enough her expression turned excited "I have to see this!" and she hurried behind him.
. . .
. . .
Having already forgotten his encounter with Daphne, Arnold reached the last step and precipitated towards the door with a 28th written on it. It was two past ten now, he cursed under his breath. 'As long as I made it before Dick I won't be late', he was saying to himself.
Spotting a couple of his folks standing by the Meeting Room, he breathed relieved. He hurried to the door and put on a friendly smile. But just reaching the threshold he knew something was wrong. The gravity of Woody's expression made him stop dead on the spot.
"What happen-?" Before he'd formulated the question there was a loud noise coming from the room.
"WHY IS THIS ASSHOLE HERE?!" Arnold froze. Dick bolted from his seat at the head of the table and turned to Stan. "Get me Deb on the phone! I'm not gonna take this shit!" he threw him a murderous glance.
Arnold turned to Woody who was still standing by the door.
"What-"
"You better get lost, mate." Woody said in an almost inaudible mumble. Arnold would swear he'd added 'I talk to you later' but given his discouraging expression he probably only imagined it.
Arnold stayed immobile for a second while Dick continued swearing aloud and Stan fumbled with his brand new iPhone. He was lost. The grave countenances of his workfellows didn't help to figure it out what the hell was happening. He was used to the team heavy banter and teasing when someone's mistakes were exposed, but this was beyond anything Arnold had witnessed before.
He turned to the head of the table again when he heard the word 'spy' was mentioned. He opened his mouth to speak when Dick's voice rose from the whispers.
"You really thought it was going to last?!" his voice poured contempt "What was your goal? How did you expect-?"
Dick stopped at the sudden arrival of Ralph.
"Sorry I'm late-" his colleague trailed off in sight of the scene before him. Arnold would never blame him; he could realize Ralph was as ignorant as himself. The atmosphere in the room was so tense that you could cut it with a knife even before his arrival. Ralph took the folder from Arnold's frozen hands. "This is what you were working on?" He flashed him a nervous smile. Arnold's hand gripped it until the last second. All his hard work from the last days was in there. Outstanding work. But he had to let go in sight of the actual situation.
He nodded, throwing a last glance at the meeting table. Dick expression hadn't softened a bit. In fact, if it was possible his face looked more contorted. He opened his mouth to speak.
"I should've fucked your girl when she wanted me to do it. Poor girl. So needy." The words spoken smoothly held a world of spite. His eyes looked at him fixedly when he added "We'd be even."
. . .
. . .
Arnold couldn't recollect how he made it to his office. Did he make it through the staircase, by the elevator? Did he just disappear? He shook his head.
He recalled vaguely seeing a stunned Daphne in the middle of the hallway reaching out to touch his arm. He'd shaken his head no.
No he was seated in the corner seat of his office. Alone. A plastic bag in his hands. His mind was blank.
. . .
. . .
"I didn't expect that; that's for sure. I thought we'd have a good laugh and that's it." Stan Wright breathed out; taking his seat behind the heavy wooden desk once his guests took their seats in front of him.
"Yeah. I thought we'd be having a laugh at Helga's expense. Little Hell-gurl in love, huh? Can you believe it?" Mike asked.
"No kidding." One of the other guys said.
They were at his office. Mike and two other guys from the Production crew were here to sort some things out.
"So Dick went crazy." It wasn't a question.
"Yeah!" Stan raised his brow showing his amazement "I never thought I'd see the boss like that."
"Well, we've all seen his explosions before."
"I know, but never like this."
"I guess no one got relaxed after that scene."
"No shit. Who in their right mind would let their guard down?" Mike smirked.
"What about Arnold?"
"I don't know. He just disappeared. I haven't seen him since."
"It's a shame. Arnold was perfect for the team. Compared to him Ralph's a halfwit." Mike opined.
"Tell me about it!"
"We should take in consideration that Ralph was called in at the last minute. The dude was out of base."
"Well…" the bloke raised a skeptical brow. "So-" he continued after a moment of hesitation "The so-called girlfriend made a pass at Dick, huh?" he sneered.
"Yeah," Mike exhaled slowly, leaning back in his seat. "All signs point that." he made a face. "Did you know it?" he asked Stan.
Stan shook his head thoughtful "You?"
Mike did the same. They shared a knowing look.
"Shit!" one of the other guys exclaimed. "Your girl flirting with the boss! That sucks!"
"Well, she's not his girlfriend anymore." The first guy stated. Stan turned to him with a frown; diverting the conversation from his actual thoughts –and Mike thoughts too, with all probability-. These losers didn't have to be alert - after all – to the fact that Dick kept a record; a record that he didn't hesitate to use against you when you least expected; when he could cause you a major damage. "They broke up… weeks ago. I don't know exactly." The guy explained. He nodded absentmindedly
"One fewer problem for him, I guess." The other guy offered.
"Do you think he's in trouble?" the other asked "I mean… is he going to be fired now?"
"I doubt it" Mike retorted. "Arnold works for Henry too; seems to be one of his pets."
"Alright ladies!" Stan voice rose "For much we love chitchat," he smirked "We're here coz we have important decisions to take." He straightened in his chair "All the ideas we'd set up in Denver had been fruitless, as you well know. Denver will blow up if we don't do anything and that's not going to happen as I'm occupying this office." He ended with gravity.
"I think the situation with the…"
"No." Stan swept his hand in front of him as he opened the second drawer of his desk. "We're not going for excuses. Not now. Decisions. What're we going to do, gentlemen?" he slid into his chair towards the desk to take a chocolate bar from the drawer.
"Right away?" Mike asked.
He nodded while tearing down the wrapper of the candy.
"Right to the point." He stated. "We're not losing time anymore."
"Alright," Mike nodded, thoughtful. "We've thinking… like a last resource measure," he glanced at him "Maybe we should fire the entire Sales Department and replace it with a new, more aggressive team. Maybe is time to eat up the market…"
The door opened with a bang. The sudden noise startled them all and made them turn around. Stan raised his sight to the door where the ruckus rose.
"What the-?" he started; shifting to get to his feet but being unable to do it due to his chair having been pushed close to the desk.
When he saw Dick Mueller stumbling into the room after being pushed inside by no other than Helga G. Pataki he remained still.
"Out!" Helga ordered. Stan didn't liked to be given orders, let alone by that woman; and this was his office after all, but the gravity in their expressions made him stay quiet. "Get out! All of you!"
"This is ridiculous!" Dick exclaimed. His face livid.
Mike and his juniors disappeared in a blink. Stan was too shocked –or too stuck in his seat- to react. Helga shut the door behind them and turned to Dick who had freed himself from her grip and was now tugging at his jacket.
"What's your problem?!" she yelled at him.
"Don't pretend you don't know!"
"I set a foot in the building just now. What the fuck did I do this time?!"
Shit.
"Fuck off!" without giving her time to react he pushed past her and opening the door he slammed it behind him.
Helga remained quiet as her eyes bore a hole on the door. Then she turned to him.
"What the hell-?!" she mouthed.
"Meet our Dick." Stan smirked. It was somewhat satisfying to realize that even Helga Almighty could be disturbed by the boss.
"That one-" she pointed her thumb to the closed door "I've already met. Longer than I'd like to admit." She exhaled. Hesitantly, she started walking over to him. "Do you… happen to know what was all that about?"
"I don't know what you mean by 'all that'." he quoted.
"Your boss…" Her blue eyes shone with a mixture of hostility and worry " - being a dick."
Stan snorted, amused "Well-" he started.
She shook her head with exasperation. "Forget I even asked."
"Hey!" he slid his chair back, finally being able to get free. He didn't want her to go. She'd probably never been at his office before. Besides, he felt slightly guilty because he'd been the one who started 'it all'. "He knew your thing with Shortman." He said tersely. She frowned in confusion; and craned her neck forward as if asking him to go on. "That you two were boyfriend and girlfrie-"
"WHAT?!" she exclaimed with incredulity. "We never went out!" she shook her head "And we were toddlers for God's sake! Toddlers! Like little kids in preschool!" she gestured something small. "Didn't he hear the whole story?"
"I guess he didn't…" Stan admitted. He was ashamed to some degree. Truth that he didn't paid any more attention but to the fact that they were an item.
"Who the hell could have told him something like that?"
He swallowed hard. "I did." He grimaced.
"YOU-?!"
"I never expected he'd take it this bad. I thought…" he trailed off at the sight of her growing frustration. "Hey! It's not as if you'd keep the secret forever! I mean, some guys were randomly talking about it in the middle of the hallway. I guess it was a matter of time that it reached his ears."
"You made sure that day would be today." She uttered with annoyance.
"In my defense I must say that I've never seen him like that." her sight turned thoughtful "I don't know what came over him… it was like…" He raised his sight; watching her carefully. There was this weird feeling he got at the sight of her eyes. He breathed deeply and blinked it off. "Well, you know the boss. You know how he feels about loyalty and stuff. Now he thinks Arnold had been serving two masters all this time."
"As if he'd keep something from me..." Helga mumbled with disdain. She then raised her sight "Arnold…. What did he say?"
"What could he say? Poor Shortman. The guy was caught on the hop."
"You mean Dick mistreated him in public?!" she took her hand to her mouth.
"I'm afraid it was worst."
"Oh-My-God! Where is he now?" she looked worried.
Stan shrugged; he reached down to take his chocolate bar, brought it to his teeth and took a bite. "Sorry," he smiled apologetic seeing she'd followed his movements "Do you want some?"
"Stan," she gave him a look. He hated it when his eating habits were looked with disapprobation.
"You can simply say no."
"You're right…. No, thank you." She turned around. "And thank you for the info." She looked back briefly; then stopped altogether. "Stan… I know it's not my business but you need to stop someday. That thing will kill you. You're still young. Have a beautiful daughter…"
"You think I haven't tried?" he replied against his will, sounding almost defeated. He didn't know what moved him to reply like that. She wasn't even his friend. Was it her soft, heartfelt voice? Her caring eyes? "I wasn't like that. Can you believe that I played on Lacrosse Team when I was in college?"
She raised her brows with admiration. "What happened?" she asked, genuinely interested.
"I started working here; met Dick." She made a face that told him she understood.
"Seems that he's not a good influence." She bit her lip and then added "You know you have the most beautiful blue eyes I've ever seen?" she told him, getting close. Stan froze. "Don't be afraid. I'm not trying to hit on you." She chuckled "But I know addictions…. Close. I've lived with them. I'm not trying to…" she hesitated "I'm nobody spokesperson. I hate all those associations..." she trailed off looking at him in the eye "But I've seen that the first step in the right direction is looking for help. Nobody can get over things like this all by themselves."
"Would you help me?" he asked right back.
She vacillated. "I might know someone who could." She reached over and took the chocolate from his desk. "Henry's doc. I could make an appointment."
"Would you do that for me?"
She nodded. "Consider it done." She bit the candy and made a face "Stan! This is awful!" she spat out the bite she just took in the envelope and crumpled it in her fist. Turning around she said "I'll check your agenda with your secretary. Don't make me regret this."
"I won't." he smirked. As she reached for the door, he asked "Are you gonna go out with me when I lose the first ten pounds?"
Without turning around she showed him her middle finger. Stan cracked a loud laugh while she disappeared from sight. "I know you want me." He kept on laughing as the guys reentered the place. He'd given out a grand only to capture the expressions of those dumbasses.
. . .
. . .
His mind has been blank; but now a rush of thoughts ran through it. So fast that he couldn't get a grip any of them.
Claire… So that was it? That's what she never dared to say. She wanted to fuck Dick.
GOD!
His hands swept his face. When was it? When they visit him? Right under his nose? How did… What did she say to give that impression? 'Poor girl. So needy.' Dick's words bored his head like a drill. The expressions on the faces of the guys. He gulped. He would never forget them. It was so humiliating.
What he was going to do now? What about his job?
His mind was entertaining itself with the personal self-conscious part of the affair but truth was that his job was at stake. Deb was on court and her only instruction to him so far had been 'Stay there.'
Her instruction to Daphne – through Tina – had been: 'Arnold shouldn't get to the meeting. Under no circumstance.' If only he'd received the message through someone dependable and not through Daphne. He… might have listened.
Who was he kidding?
Well, an unerring fact was that he wasn't going to work with Dick anymore; that much was clear. He was helping Henry out, but only God knew what would be Henry reaction once he knew what've Arnold done.
But what have he done, for cripes sake?
Deciding he couldn't wait any longer he got up and left the room with the plastic bag in his hands.
. . .
. . .
Helga turned down the corner. She needed to find Arnold. If Stan was honest it meant Arnold probably feeling like shit.
'Poor Football Head!' She thought. 'I need to find him before he starts getting funny ideas'. She decided to head for next floor. If Dick had just dismissed him Arnold has nothing to do in 28th Floor. Just like she has nothing to do in here either, she thought. And she wouldn't, if she hadn't found a madman in the elevator.
An aggressive and always distrustful madman.
'I should've known he was going to react like that', she chastised herself. Not that she ever wanted to hide it from him; it was just that it never was a good moment to bring it up. Now it was late. It worried her just by imagining what could have Dick done? She was beyond worried, to tell the truth. She didn't further asked Stan on purpose, not because she didn't care but because she cared too much. What way Dick did choose to be mean to Arnold? Dick could be outright nasty if he wanted. Her heart was doubling its beats. Her mouth was dry. 'Poor Arnold! He, who was always a nice guy; a kind and well-mannered guy, unlike others'. She inhaled deeply.
Maybe she should give up, as Miriam kept advising. The blonde girl blessed her luck. Barely reaching Arnold's hallway she saw him leaving his office. She hurried to reach him as he started walking the opposite side. One of the perks of being a boss was that people made way when she was around. Unfortunately, the fact that they stepped aside didn't mean they stopped looking with - redoubled - curiosity.
Helga was not dumb. She'd realized most people were looking at her with interest. They probably knew already what'd happened. She was not about to let them know she care about their opinion so she lessened her paces and kept going with her graceful gait; but once she reached the corner that led to the staircase she hastened her paces towards that oblong-shaped head that was just there; he was reaching for the staircase's door when she yanked his forearm and forced him to get into the janitor closet. In a sec. She stepped in after him and closed the door.
"What the…!" Arnold cursed, turning around.
"Shhh" Helga shushed him. "Shhh" she put a finger on his lips. "It's me."
"Helga?"
"I was looking for you." She started in low voice "I heard what happened. I'm sorry Football Head. I never expected…" she paused "Where the hell is the switch. It's dark in here! I can't see you."
"Helga! It's you?"
"Doi!" she rolled her eyes, although what was the point at doing it if he couldn't see it? "Who else calls you Football Head, huh?" she spat.
She froze when she felt arms around her.
"I'm happy to see you!" Strong arms by the way; and a very virile aroma stirred her senses
"So happy! I was on my way to your office, you know?"
He sounded surprisingly relieved. She got worried.
"Arnold? Are you okay? Did something else happen?"
"Who cares now? You're here!" He threw his arms around her again.
Helga's frown deepened. He sounded surprising - and suspiciously - relieved.
"Arn…"
"I got you a present." She noticed he spoke hastily, with a hint of craziness. Helga reached out for the light switch in vain. "It was a real odyssey to find you something. I worried you didn't like it. I didn't know what to get you. You're an amazing woman! I couldn't imagine something you'd-." He kept going.
"I'll like it; I'm sure…" she cut him off "Arnold…"
"Great! It's not as if I couldn't make up for you if-"
"FOOTBALL HEAD!" Helga took him by the shoulders "What the hell happened? Did Deb talk to you already? What did she say?"
"No." he didn't miss a beat "Did she talk to you?" now his intonation changed – almost fearful.
"No…" Helga shook her head; not paying attention to the fact that he couldn't see her "What happened then?"
"Do you think she wants to talk to me?"
"She has to talk to you…." She thought she'd finally got it "Are you afraid to lose your job? Is that it?"
"No…" he started, hesitating "Maybe…" he admitted finally.
"You don't have to worry." She exhaled relieved "Deb wouldn't let you go. She cares about you; you're very important for her team."
"But Dick… You didn't see him…"
"Dick isn't important." She told him, self-assured. She squeezed his shoulders again "Arnold, listen to me. Don't be afraid, okay? There's absolutely no reason for that."
"You sure?"
She nodded deeply.
"Promise." She smirked. "Now… what about my present?" her voice tuned to cheerful "What did you get me?"
"It's a bear." He said handing her something. She took something that felt like a plastic bag and frowned.
"A bear? You mean like a Teddy Bear?" she smiled. She didn't know why but the idea of a Teddy Bear was cute. It made her happy. She hadn't received a teddy in a while, she thought as she tore the wrap of the package that was inside the plastic bag. For what she could touch it seemed that it was beautifully giftwrapped.
"I didn't know what to get you…" he admitted.
"I love Teddy Bears" she smiled. "Awww! It's so soft…" Helga said softly "Sadly I can't see it." she added in a mumble.
"It's beautiful…" Arnold paused "Where's the damn light when you need it?" he asked with impatience. Helga chortled at this trait. He moved over but stumbled with a cardboard box that was on the floor.
"Watch out!" Helga laughed again. For an unknown reason, she found difficult to picture a moody Arnold in her mind. Unfortunately there was no light to see his face. She took his arm to help him keep his balance. "You alright?"
"Yeah," he replied still annoyed.
She could feel he was nodding; slightly annoyed. She blamed it all to the turmoil of emotions he'd gone through the day. "I guess it's one of those days, huh?" she decided to play it cool. It seemed that he didn't want to admit he was distressed.
"Hummm" he hummed, straightening out. He took her arm to guide himself to his former position. Clearing his throat he went on. "I'd wish you could see it. The teddy bear; I mean, its' really pretty. Brownish, kinda blond…" Helga frowned, amused "Also has a pink bow."
"A pink b… bow?!" she blinked. Something in his voice made her stutter.
"Yeah… have you seen…" Helga felt his breath by her ear and froze "-how little girls are wearing them again?"
"Bows?" she asked in a whisper.
He nodded. "I see them everywhere nowadays. Back then when you were It Girl everybody used them, I know, but it's been a while. I guess it goes in and out."
"Like everything in life." She mumbled to herself.
"Well," Arnold spoke. Close to her ear again. "I just wanted to wish you a happy birth-" Helga squirmed at the sound of his deep voice against her hear.
"Oh," she let out a weak moan at the feeling of his arms surrounding her once again. She gave a step back. "Arn-"
"Happy Birthday Helga. I love you."
Helga felt the weight of his body against her; his breath on her lips. She stumbled back in surprise, tripping over and falling down. The place was piled with boxes, bags and sacks. On her way down Helga hit her back with something blunt and then fell on to the floor. Arnold fell on top of her.
"Helga..." He moaned; his lips finding hers and pulled her to him. Helga didn't know what to do. Her first instinct told her to push away, but she just remained there, still. Something stirred deep in the folds of her mind; something that stopped her from moving. His arms took her by the waist and pulled close. Helga groaned under his weight. Her head fell back as she struggled to come to her senses. Arnold kissed her shyly; almost with devotion. She took him in. He has strong arms, soft lips, and an enthralling smell; the smell of a man. She didn't know why, but she had the impression that Arnold was a kid; that his kisses would be like that: infantile. But the guy kissing her now was a full grown-up male, a man, despite his timid kisses.
She complained again, and then parted her lips. Who cared, right?! If it has to be done it was going to be done in a proper manner. She took her arms up to his neck and pulled down; then started kissing back. It took only a second to savor him and decide that she liked it. She bit them lightly, and slid her tongue inside his not asking for permission. She moaned. Arnold seemed surprised for a few seconds but then he reacted and responded excitedly. In matter of seconds every cell of his body was turned on. A devious smile appeared on the feminine lips at the sensation of him through their clothes.
The wet dance of lips and tongues moving in harmony; fingers tunneling into hair; hands groping all what they could; increasing heartbeats; shallow breathings; the nocturnal air of a distant rooftop; sirens merging with background noises; heat; gasps; hips grinding together; hands tugging at the clothes; hands getting under those same clothes…
"Arnold!" she gasped. "ARNOLD!" she repeated when he didn't halt. She pushed him and craned her neck, looking around, startled. She had the impression that she'd wake on the rooftop of a tall and modern building of a Northern state; not in a dark room labeled Janitor Closet inserted in the middle of an old Beaux-Arts building in Manhattan's core. She felt like being back high school all over again; with the former love of her life lying on top of her. "What the hell-?!" she yapped, faltered.
"I…" Arnold opened his eyes and looked around, as surprised as her "I don't know…" he panted "I don't know what came over me," he ended, stuttering.
"You don't know?!" Helga raised an annoyed brow as she pushed him to get off of her before getting up too.
"You do?" he inquired incisively. She shrugged off the inference.
"Was it really you? - Arnold? - Old Football head?" she disregarded her beating heart and breathlessness and went on belligerent "You were acting weird. You're still out of yourself?"
"What do you mean out of myself?"
Helga could see his frown and fearful eyes. It was incredible how fast people got used to darkness.
"Jeez!" Helga rolled her eyes as she fixed her clothes. "All what happened to you earlier…"
"I'm fine."
She gave him a pointed look "Arnold, you said you loved me."
.
.
"Did I?"
"See? You were out of yourself! Don't deny it!" She exclaimed. Then she turned to him and placed a hand on his shoulder "But don't be so hard on yourself." She added in a softer way. He was her friend and it had been her who'd decided to go on with the kissing thing. It was about time after all; and she wasn't about to make a fuss over it "What's the problem if you say something in the heat of the moment and then regret it? Nothing bad is gonna happen."
"N-no?"
"Nah!" she scoffed "People do it all the time."
"You think?" He sounded apprehensive.
"Of course they do. Dick does it all of the time. And look at him! Cool as a cucumber!" she ironized. She really wanted Arnold to go back to his usual self. She didn't like him this anxious. Anxiety was a sickness and neither Arnold nor anybody she cared for needed it gratuitously in their lives.
The blond boy let out a coy smile
"I think I remember you, once, saying something in the heat of the moment."
"Me? Really? When?" Her forehead drew a deep crease as she played dumb. Then she cracked a laugh at the sight of his perplexed expression "Well, I admit I've done it a couple of times. I hope the other guy has bad memory. He ended up in an asylum."
Arnold chortled.
"Really?" Helga shrugged. "So-" he let out a forlorn exhalation. "So you think they're not gonna fire me?" he asked hesitantly…
. . .
. . .
"So you didn't get fired, right?" Rhonda asked as she leaned in and looked at him with interest. "Right?" she insisted.
"Nope." He let out a soft chortle. He had to blink twice at the excess of light in the actual cafeteria. "It turned out that Deborah blessed Dick's tantrum. She needed me elsewhere."
"Great." She took a sip of her grapefruit juice. Arnold had to contain himself from puckering his lips at the –supposed - sourness of that thing. He grinned goofily then. His lips still tasted like her.
"Well, my friend. I have to say it aloud. WHAT A DAY!" She exclaimed, leaning back again "I guess you had enough for a day, huh?"
Arnold straightened and got serious then. The bitterness coming back to his taste buds.
"Oh, I wish."
Rhonda smirked knowingly.
"It wasn't the half of it, right?" Arnold shook his head. Not even a bit "And then Friday came."
"And then Friday came. Indeed," he repeated.
And he took air to start telling the happenings of last night. The Ball. An adventure full of discoveries.
. . .
. . .
I don't own Hey Arnold!
Thank you all for the long waiting. Thanks for reading and reviewing. I really love your feedback. I could never forget of course to my friends Nep2uune, Jose Ramiro, PresleyRox, MarHelga, GRIMMM, CarlinJ83; MeliiMamiii, –welcome you two- Turquoise Girl and Sakura Undomiel. Thank you very much.
I'll be back tomorrow to fix typos and stuff.
See you in two weeks tops.
June 2nd, 2016.