"Hello ladies, did you miss me?"

Helena joined Kit, Alice and Tasha at the "Hit", have a quick tour around the small table and kissed all of them joyfully.

"Wow, You’re pretty charged-up tonight, Helena! Where have you been?"

"Honestly, nothing exciting. But I’ve convinced a bunch of old rich men to give a huge amount of money to ‘The Peabody Foundation for Poor Children’ and I’m really proud of myself."

"Congratulations Helena, you’re such an amazing woman. I admire your job with the foundation, I really do" Tasha said in admiration.

Helena smiled and took a sip of Kit’s drink. "Uh, I think I’m taking something stronger, I deserve it. Hope you don’t mind, but I feel like to celebrate…" She left the table to reach the bar and came back in a while with a bottle of Champagne inside an ice bucket, and served anyone but Kit a glass of the sparkling fine wine.

"So, tell us. How’s going with Dylan? Is the affair holding up the distance?"

"Oh, girl, can’t you really make your own business, can you?" Kit reproached Alice playfully.

"I’m just curious"

"Oh, that’s ok Kit. Actually, I was just wondering when you’d asked."

Helena tried an embarrassed smile seeing her friends holding their breath, waiting her to continue.

"I… I think it’s working fine. I mean… we talk each day at the phone, and… well… that’s good for us to be away from each other for some time… I still feel the connection, you know"

Helena’s voice was faltering, she was unsure about how much she could reveal her inner turmoil to her friend without sounding a silly girl in love. She tried to stay cool, not ready to show them her vulnerability about Dylan.

But she quickly gave up and came out:

"Fuck, the naked truth is I’m missing her so much it’s driving me crazy, and I’m pretending with her I’m not, because I’m scared she would hurt me again once she realized how much I want her…"

She inhaled a deep breath.

"She’s always telling me she loves me, and she want to be with me, and I’d wish so much to believe her… but I never let myself go. Besides, I can’t help being jealous of that fucking assistant Rachel, that I’m sure is a sticky flirting brat, but I feel Dylan’s getting very close to her and I’m even happy she has a friend to talk to, and I don’t want her to think I’m selfish but I’m always freaking out any time she talks about her.."