After a few weeks of working as Carmen’s manager, Helena was the most exhausted she’d ever been with a job.  Although she’d always held a prestigious title and position, she had never thrown herself so wholeheartedly into an assignment.  This time was different, not only because the job was her own—one she felt she had actually earned—but someone else’s career was at stake if she didn’t perform well.  And that person had become the most important presence in her life.

 In the few short months they had become close, Helena realized that Carmen had become mother, sister, friend, and confidante to her.  They took care of each other in a way neither had ever known before.  As an only child reared by servants and teachers, Helena had led a life of isolated privilege.  She had never considered the impact such an upbringing had had on her until she found herself thrown into social situations as an adult.  Gone were the days when she was given what she wanted, when she wanted it.  She now had to rely on herself, her personality, spirit and authenticity in order to make her way in the world.  Carmen had described a similar feeling of solitude in her adolescence.  As a child amongst many in her large Mexican family, Carmen had also felt alone, with no one to truly share her feelings, fears, and accomplishments with.  Even with the few girlfriends she’d had as an adult—including Shane—she always held back.  To others it seemed like she lived life with such passion and gusto.  She had dared to show a vulnerable, self-effacing side to Shane—a maneuver she now regretted.  She was thankful that she hadn’t bared her soul so completely and nakedly to a person who could so easily throw such a gift away.  She now knew that Helena was the one person in the world who would appreciate that intangible gift.  Perhaps this was why each woman had begun to think romantically about the other.  Could they indeed have found that elusive entity so platitudinously referred to as a “soul mate”?

Perhaps, also, this was why Helena felt it imperative that she work so tirelessly for Carmen.  As payoff for her diligent work, Helena had scored Carmen a gig to mix with Tricky.  The recording had been a success and Carmen was to appear in the video of a live performance.  The group and its agents had made all the arrangements for the venue in which the video would be filmed, to be pieced together later with various clips.  Carmen needed simply to show up and look pretty for the camera while she spun her stuff.  She had invited Helena along to watch, as she was responsible for the deal in the first place.