“Tina, my goodness!  What is it?  Is everything all right?” she asked worriedly.

“It’s not good.  Helena…I have to let you go.  It’s not my decision, it’s Aaron’s.  Now that he is running—“

“Wait.  What?!” Helena interrupted.

“Helena.  Now that Peabody has been bought out for their half of the studio, Aaron doesn’t think that you’re an asset to the company.  I know it’s harsh, but really, you said so yourself:  you don’t know anything about the movie business.”

“Tina!  I gave you this job.  And now you’re here to fire me!?”  I can’t believe this.  I just can’t…believe this.  What am I supposed to do?”  Suddenly the reality of the situation hit Helena.  She was cut off from all financial support, she had no assets, and the only means of income was this job which was now taken away from her as well.”

“Well,” Tina began, “it isn’t all bad.  We do have a small severance package to offer you.  It should help you at for a couple of months at least.”

Helena took a few moments to soak everything in.  Finally, she stood up, grabbed her purse, and headed for the door.  “Tina.  Fuck you and your severance package,” she declared before slamming the door behind her.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Carmen returned home from seeing her family that evening and found Helena on the couch with a wet cloth over her face.  She sat down on the coffee table next to her and placed her hand softly on Helena’s shoulder.  Helena didn’t stir. 

“Hel…Helena?  Are you ok?” she whispered.

“I got fired today,” she blurted out, the sounds muffled by the washcloth.

“I’m sorry.  I didn’t catch that.”

Helena removed the cloth and sat up.  “Tina fucking fired me today.  I don’t know what I’m going to do,” she said, leaning forward to hold her head in her hands as her elbows rested on her knees.

“She certainly has some balls!” Carmen exclaimed, completely flabbergasted.  “Weren’t you the one who hired her?  I don’t get it!”

“It doesn’t matter.  I just…”  Helena trailed off as a soft sob emitted from her.

“Hey…it’s ok.  Look, let’s not think about it right now.  C’mon.  We’re going out tonight,” she said, attempting to pull Helena up off the couch.