Back At Work

Eileen was up before the crack of dawn. She had stayed over at Claudia's so that it would take less time to get to work that morning. Claudia tried to ignore what sounded like the Tasmanian devil in her apartment, rushing from room to room, humming a song. "I don't think you were this excited on Christmas morning," the techie said rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Don't be silly," Eileen said, applying the last bit of her makeup hurriedly. "What are you wearing today?"

"What am I wearing? Uhm, whatever isn't rolled up in a ball?" Claudia asked, but heard the hangers in her closet being whipped from left to right.

"Come on, sleepy head, we don't want to be late," Eileen urged her.

"We'd have to sleep two more hours, and then take the #1 train in the wrong direction, stop for a bagel and eat there. Then - maybe we would be late," Claudia mumbled as she dragged herself from her comfortable bed.

"Still….," Eileen said.

Thirty minutes later, Claudia was pulled through the door at Wells Corp in the heart of Times Square. Eileen was happy to see that the horticultural staff that attended to the various trees and plants throughout the office had gotten her message to have a huge bouquet of tropical flowers placed on Helena's desk to welcome her back. The tea was ready to be made and the internal message window was open as she anxiously waited for Pete to confirm they were on their way from the airport. When he texted that the "Eagle has landed. And Ms. Bering, too", Eileen emailed the Directors and the Group of Administrative Assistants. Myka's secretary, Millie rushed to Myka's office to make sure everything was set. A tray of petit fours that Millie had made was waiting on her boss' desk.

Myka was surprised at how noisy everything seemed to her after the blissful silence of the island. The air smelled funny and everything seemed crowded. Helena was more like a rebooted computer - a surge of energy was pumping through her now. Her mind raced with all the things she wanted to take care of when she got to the office. She caressed her iPhone like a long lost lover.

"Did you really miss it?" Myka asked as Helena tapped the keys checking stocks and business news.

"No," she lied because that is the answer you give when you've been on vacation with your lover.

"Not even a little?" Myka asked, giving her a second chance to tell the truth.

Helena knew it and looked over at Myka as they sat in the car on their way to work. "A little."

Myka took out a conch shell and presented it to Pete. "That is really cool," he said. The noticeable tone of his voice reminded Helena that she had an appointment with his girlfriend later that day.

There were several greetings welcoming Helena and Myka as they entered the building. Myka waved or said hello back, but Helena smiled her hellos as she texted the people she wanted to see and the times they were to appear in her office.

The outfits Helena and Myka chose to wear that morning were indicative of how they were approaching their transition back to work. Myka wore a Carolina Herrera purple dress with a split neckline and contrast grosgrain ribbon at the waist. Over it, she wore a matching cotton blend blazer with inverted peak lapel and exposed front button. It was sleek and classy. Around her neck she wore the infinity necklace that Helena had made for her.

In contrast, Helena wore a Ralph Lauren Black Label $1400 leather trimmed Becket dress. The olive lux sleeveless stretch dress had leather piping at the neck, armholes, and pockets. The concealed front zipper was as low as it could be without revealing Helena's bra. Over it, she wore an $1898 matching leather-trim bower trench coat with a military flair that came to her waist. The jacket cuffs were pushed up Helena's arms as if announcing she was ready to roll up her sleeves and get back to work. Helena waltzed into her lobby in Vilinda Monk strap $900 booties. The clicking of the four inch heels on the marble floor made people turn to look. Yet, in spite of the high heel and platform on the boots, her gait was graceful.

Myka didn't get off at the 16th floor, but accompanied Helena to her office one floor higher for a specific reason. She wanted to see how Eileen's face lit up when she finally saw Helena. Helena didn't know the reason, and thought Myka just didn't want to part. That was the second reason. When the doors opened on the 17th floor, Myka wasn't disappointed. The crystal blue eyes widened as soon as Eileen saw her boss and it made Myka smile.

"Welcome back!" Eileen practically yelled and stopped Helena in her tracks. "It is so good to see you, Ms. Wells, Ms. Bering."

"Thank you, Ms. Sullivan. Everything okay here?" Helena asked.

"Yes," Eileen said because she didn't think now was the time to talk about how hard it had been for her in Helena's absence.

"Helena?" Myka said after greeting the assistant. Helena looked in Myka's direction as the lawyer discretely held out the bag that contained the gift. There was nothing about this that Helena liked, and for a moment, no one moved or said anything. Finally, Helena retrieved the small box from the bag and presented it to Eileen. "For you," was all she said.

"Thank you. You shouldn't have," Eileen said, and Helena was about to explain that she absolutely agreed.

"Yes, well Ms. Bering…," Helena started and caught the look. "….Wanted you to have something to…...," and the rest didn't seem to fit. To remember our trip by? To remember a place you've never been to? "Let's leave it at that," Helena said.

Myka bit the inside of her lip at the display before her. How was it that the most brilliant person she knew often fumbled over the simplest social protocols? Myka couldn't help but find the Brit adorable while she was doing it though.

"It's beautiful," Eileen said of the orchid pendant garnished with pink stones. "I'll wear it every day," she promised.

"It won't go with everything," Helena said of the fashion rule of jewelry complimenting one's outfit. Helena's clear-cut fashion sense was lost on the girl who was taken with the souvenir. Helena looked at Myka with an 'I told you so' look about the gift giving.

"I will see you later," Myka said, trying not to laugh as she kissed Helena goodbye. Myka walked into the waiting elevator and said back to Eileen – "Ask Ms. Wells to tell you how good the tea was that I made her." Eileen nearly dropped the cup of tea she was holding ready to give Helena.

"Not to worry love," Helena said in a soft voice to the assistant, and waited until the elevator door closed until she added, "she squeezed the teabag ," and her tone conveyed the horror of the act.

Eileen gave a sympathetic look as if to convey condolences, but reveled in the joy that no one could match her skills.

Myka made it a point of stopping in and thanking Mrs. Frederic for keeping things quiet and not letting anyone bother Helena. Then she handed the HR Director a small box that contained an oval conch pin with orange coral at the center. "Oh this is lovely," Irene said, thanking Myka for their thoughtfulness. She looked at her phone and saw the second text from her boss. "I better go see her. It was too peaceful without her, but don't tell her I said that," Irene said as she said goodbye and went upstairs.

Millie rushed to greet Myka as she came into her area. "Ms. Bering! How are you? How was vacation? How was the food?" the woman asked, taking Myka's bags and helping her. She pulled Myka's tablet out and set it out on her desk and pushed the plate of petit fours over.

"Did you make these?" Myka asked, looking down at the pastel colored delights.

"Of course. We covered that last week in the workshop," Millie said proudly.

"How are your classes going?" Myka asked, getting settled in.

"Fantastic! You have to come if you can," Millie implored and decided to give her boss some space.

Myka looked at the stack of mail, opened and prepared for her. There were several emails flagged as urgent and a screen filled with a list of people who needed to be called back. There was no doubt, she was back at work.

Helena, in the meantime, was searching her workload for the most challenging issues to tackle. She was trying to decide when Irene came to the door.

"Irene! How good to see you," Helena said getting up from behind her desk.

"Wow, you really relaxed on that vacation," Irene said of the pleasant greeting.

"I should be very annoyed at you," Helena said, sitting down across from the woman at the coffee table. "Not a single voice mail upon my return? I know Myka employed you in her scheme to make sure I didn't give into the temptation of work," Helena said.

"Thank you for this," Irene said and touched the broach.

"You're welcome. Whatever you do, please do not feel obligated to reciprocate the gesture next time you sojourn somewhere on holiday," Helena insisted.

"Oh I wouldn't think of it," Irene said getting back into the verbal rhythm with Helena.

"Thank you," Helena said sincerely, and took another sip of the tea. She had not let go of the cup since it was handed to her.

"How did you survive?" Irene asked when she saw the expression on Helena's face. Helena didn't say anything, but her dark eyes conveyed it all. "Must have been rough," Irene said, almost laughing.

"How are things here?" Helena asked, changing the subject.

"We actually managed. I got more work done in one week than I have in a month's time," Irene said smiling.

"And yet I pay you whether you produce a lot or a little," Helena noted quickly.

"You'll want to meet with the department directors later?" Irene asked, moving on.

"I do and I want a status update on all the projects," Helena said. There was no doubt, she was back at work.

"Belitrov and Wang requested a meeting and are coming to update you at eleven, " Irene said because she knew this was not a project Helena wanted discussed in the large group.

"Who are they?" Helena asked. She often gave directives without knowing the names of the people she was directing.

"They are working in the stem cell department," Irene said nonchalantly. Wang was the scientist who came to Irene's office with the mouse that had been produced by two female parents. She did not want to let on she knew anything. Helena would tell her when she was ready.

"Oh yes, very good," Helena said, draining the cup of its contents.

Helena couldn't wait for the morning meeting of the directors. She loved hearing what was going on in each department and the progress that was being made. She was especially pleased to hear that Claudia was training two people who could take on some of her day to day responsibilities as she expanded her job into research and development. The test would be whether or not they could deter Helena from getting through the security wall.

When it came to Myka, she updated the group on some new regulatory laws regarding something that didn't interest Helena - so she took that time to stare at the lawyer as she spoke. It was only two hours since they parted and yet, Helena had truly missed her. She had just spent seven glorious days of being by Myka's side almost continuously, so naturally she would feel any separation. Myka was always cautious about open expressions of affection at work, but Helena couldn't help the adoring gaze that she held Myka in now. The Brit's eyes were so giddy over the view, that Irene finally tapped Helena's arm to bring her back after Myka was done.

"Is there anything else you want us to cover?" Irene said to Helena.

Helena took a deep breath and answered no. In spite of wanting to get back to work, the sight of Myka filled her head with thoughts of the time they had spent together. There wasn't any more room at the moment.

The look went unnoticed by Myka who was focused on her notes at the moment. Mrs. Frederic caught it because she was sitting next to Helena. The only other person who took note of it was Adelaide Nathanson, who sat at the end of the table. She was sitting in for the Director of Nanotechnology, her boss, who was out ill. She was a woman in her 30's with a PhD from Columbia University. She was well educated and bright, but felt she wasn't being appreciated at Wells. When her boss was promoted ahead of her, she felt slighted, but stayed on just the same. Now that resentment was festering and she was an easy target for Helena's competitors. Ted Grayson had already wined and dined her as a possible candidate to head up one of his departments. She would have jumped at it if he actually offered her the job, but first, he wanted to see how much inside information he could extract from her. She was actually more useful to him while she was still employed at Wells. Her mission was to find evidence to support Ted's theory that Helena Wells was losing her edge now that she was head over heels in love.

When Adelaide noticed the faraway look in Helena's eyes at the meetings, she was beginning to think she could offer the evidence Helena's competitor was looking for.