Know you are all busy with RL, holidays, etc so hope this isn't intrusive.
Thanks for reading along and for your posts. I hope those who 'favored' this story know I appreciate and will do my best to keep it that way.
I hope you'll join your favorite posters on Twitter - they are as funny there as they are here.
I hope this explains something about our characters here - and their connections.
A/N Helena's meeting has just finished and not gone the way she expected ...
Unpredictable
Sticking your head inside Helena's office when she was upset was akin to putting it into the lion's mouth. You had best have all your beneficiary papers filled out correctly because there was little chance of getting out alive. At the very least – you had to have a very good reason. Eileen thought she had one – she was wrong.
Helena was still racking her brain with what had happened. She wanted to call Myka – but needed to get a hold of her thoughts first. She was staring out the window at the busy streets of Times Square when Eileen knocked and came in.
"Can I get you anything, Ms. Wells?" Eileen asked.
Helena turned to look at her and the youth actually pulled back a little. The expression on Helena's face was harsh, but Eileen sensed it wasn't for her. She knew that meeting didn't go well because Helena always walked her guests out, especially after she won their account. Helena's eyes darted around the room while she considered her answer.
"No," Helena said and the fact that the proper Brit didn't say thank you should have been the tip off.
"Ms. Wells, I know you have a great deal on your mind, but I need your advice," Eileen said slowly- very slowly coming closer. "It's about Claudia."
Helena watched her assistant continue to walk further into the room. Helena wasn't sure anyone had ever done that before when it was very evident from her expression and closed body language she wanted to be alone. She stood there erect with arms crossed. Helena didn't say anything so Eileen thought maybe more information would help.
"She thinks people think she can't do her job because we are …uhm, together," Eileen said now standing on the other side of the wide desk.
"Perhaps if I threaten to fire her?" Helena said because it was the first thing that came to her mind.
"What? No! No! Don't do that please," Eileen pleaded. "Never mind, I shouldn't have bothered you – I am sorry," Eileen said leaving quickly.
Myka was on her way up to see Helena when Claudia ran right into her in the hallway.
"Why don't you watch …oh, Myka," the techie recovered when she saw who it was.
"Where are you running to?" Myka asked smiling. There was such warmth in that smile that it gave the younger woman pause.
"I'm rushing off to get your boss her fraking cards," Claudia said and based on the tone, Myka gently pulled her back into her office.
"What's up Claudia?" Myka said.
"Why is everyone asking me that?" she said with total frustration.
"Uhm, because you're biting everyone's head off and that's not like you," Myka explained.
"See? Not like me? I'm morphing into something people don't ever recognize," Claudia said flopping into a chair.
"I think you're worried you are," Myka pointed out.
"Look, this is so easy for you," Claudia said and Myka looked at her quizzically. This is the same sentiment Myka had about all the pretty girls in high school. Life just seemed less complicated for them.
"How so?" Myka wondered out loud.
"Your girlfriend is a pain in the ass. She's nice, but she's a royal pain in the ass. She's not perfect. Mine is perfect ok? And it's hard to deal with that. She always understands and she's always sweet and it's hard to deal with. And I don't even know how much I care about her, ok? So there I said it," Claudia said and Myka didn't buy it for a minute.
There was an internal messaging code at Wells Corp that the employees used to get news out. The administrative assistants were like the generals – they had their own network of communication and when something happened, they were on the front line of disseminating it. That is how Millie knew that Eileen was upstairs crying. She ran into Myka's office to tell her – without realizing who else was overhearing this news.
"What?" Claudia said shooting from her chair. "What did that woman do to her?" She raced to the elevator with Myka on her heels.
"Wait, we don't know this had anything to do with Helena," Myka tried.
"Oh, no it does. She's the one who did it," Millie confirmed and drew Myka's frown. Did she have to share that now?
"Now Claudia, we don't know …," the lawyer tried and followed her friend inside the car. "You don't know …," Myka tried but they were on the 17th floor and Eileen was not at her desk. In fact, she was in the kitchen. Claudia marched to the middle of the waiting area and stopped. She saw Eileen's eyes and knew the woman had been upset.
Helena's door was opened – even though Eileen was certain she had closed it – and there in Claudia's view was Helena at her desk. Claudia looked at Eileen for a second before taking off in the direction of the woman who upset her. Eileen saw that fury in her eyes and knew where she was headed. Bodies were in motion - except Helena who saw the youth charging in.
In the split second that the emotional volcano was about to erupt – Myka saw something. She had no idea what Helena did to upset Eileen or if she had, but it was obvious the girl had been crying. Helena never left her door open – and yet, there she sat as if waiting for Claudia. She didn't look surprised that the woman was plowing towards her.
Eileen knew this would be a disaster and went straight for Claudia, but something inside Myka made her put her hand out and gently tug the girl's arm and hold her back.
Claudia didn't wait to reach Helena before she started shouting. "You listen to me Helena Wells, I don't know who you think you are - well I know who you think you are- and I know you can do anything you like – but you can't do that to my girlfriend. She's kind and she's sweet and the nicest person you and I are ever going to meet and - not that Myka isn't kind because of course she is - but Eileen adores you and you can't go messing with her. OK, if she doesn't like do her work or something - ok I get that – but you can't upset her because … wait, why did you upset her?" Claudia finally took a breath and asked.
"Because you were whining that people think you can't do your job," Helena answered.
"What? I was ..what? I do not whine! I can do my job just fine. Who said that?" Claudia demanded.
"You did," Helena said back.
"You listen to me, that woman is my girlfriend and I love her and I can do my job just fine – I just," Claudia said and the words stuck in her throat.
"You just what - Ms. Donovan," Helena said and her tone wasn't gentle. Helena knew when people were teetering the best way to help them was to ..push.
"I want to be …good enough for her," Claudia said and only then looked at Helena. The Brit rose from her chair and approached her. Claudia jumped back a little. "Oh frak, you're not going to karate chop me are you?"
"Ms. Sullivan would not pursue you if you were not good enough. And even if she did, and I thought you were not good enough, I would put an end to it. So rest assured my dear Ms. Donovan that the opinions of those who matter most – agree you are good enough. Now, do you think you can take a minute to take that in?" Helena asked.
"Really?" Claudia said trying to.
"Yes, really," Helena said with more patience than she had in store at the moment.
"You think I'm … good enough?" Claudia said. Helena refrained from rolling her eyes because she had trouble with repetition.
"I do, Claudia," Helena said and meant it. "She is most fortunate." She knew this woman's history – she was the only one not surprised by the emotional display and knew ordinary measures would not bring the street wise girl to her senses.
"OK then," Claudia said because Helena's opinion really did matter a great deal to her. "Still you shouldn't make her cry," Claudia said remembering what compelled her to walk in.
"Ms. Donovan, I cannot be held responsible every time Ms. Sullivan's lacrimal glands secrete hormonal fluids in response to a perceived stress," Helena said and saw the confused look on the younger woman's face. "Every time she cries," Helena explained.
"Oh. It's just she really looks up to you," Claudia said in a softer voice.
"We shall have to rectify that if it clouds the woman's perceptions," Helena said. Then she leaned closer to the younger woman so that only she could hear her. "It's hard to let go, Ms. Donovan, I know. But that is why they call it 'falling' in love," her boss said wisely.
Myka let go of Eileen's arm who immediately attempted to apologize. Helena had a lot on her mind and was running low on tolerance.
"Ms. Sullivan, please," Helena implored. "I think we have covered enough angst for one day. Now if you and Ms. Donovan would be so kind as to finish up your work, then go and please do have dinner on me and work this out. I will expect that when you come in tomorrow, you will both have a new outlook on life in general and be cognizant of the fact that you are fortunate to have each other. Armed with that knowledge, you will go about your work in the most diligent of fashions and you will remember that today I did not remove either of your heads and that I shan't be this kind the next time. Understood? Helena said almost out of breath, definitely out of patience.
Claudia and Eileen nodded their heads so fast, it reminded Myka of those bobble head dolls. She pursed her lips not to laugh. The women exited and Myka closed the door so she could be alone with Helena.
"Tough day at the Wells Daycare?" Myka asked sitting down in a chair next to Helena at the coffee table.
"Those two? No, they were just the icing on the proverbial pain in the arse day," Helena said. She put her hand back to rub her neck and Myka could see she really was bothered.
"What happened?" Myka asked getting up and standing behind her. She put her hands on Helena's neck and slowly began to caress it.
"Morgan was here. There was a hesitation on his part about the ink deal. He said something about Grayson wanting to meet with them – offering them substantiated information," Helena spoke as she lowered her shoulders under the carefully placed rubs.
"Any idea what that's about?" Myka asked.
"None, but I wouldn't put anything past that man. He's lost several deals to me over the years. I am surprised that Morgan would give him any credence. It must have been something to make them hesitate," Helena said.
"When will he get back to you?" Myka asked moving as far down Helena's shoulders as the jacket would allow.
"Tonight or tomorrow I guess," Helena said. "I have a good mind to take this offer off the table. Get back to me. Who does he think I am?"
"You are Helena G. Wells, the one and only Helena G. Wells," Myka whispered in her ear.
"God you do know how to make me feel better," Helena said holding onto Myka's hands. "Thank you."
"My pleasure," Myka said. "Oh look, Helena – it's snowing."
Indeed it was – the first real snow of the season. She remembered Myka saying how much she enjoyed winter and snow. And how ice skating helped her to think.
"Well we better go home, sweetie. You have a lot of signing to do," Myka said giving her a hug.
"We need to make a stop first," Helena said, the wheels turning. "I'll meet you downstairs in ten minutes."
Myka went back to her office and grabbed her coat and phone. Then she pushed it in her bag and went down to meet Helena who was – as usual – fashionably late.
"Did you get everything?" the CEO asked Pete.
"All here," he said handing her two bags. "The rest is in the trunk."
"Good," Helena said getting into the back of the stretch limousine.
"Why this car tonight?" Myka asked.
"Because of this," Helena said raising the divider between them and Pete – who waved at Myka as it closed.
"Helena?" Myka said because as much as she knew sex in the back seat might be exciting, the idea of Pete on the other side of that glass detracted from it.
"Put these on," Helena said and Myka looked down. She looked at the Brit who was stripping out of the $1500 jacket and tossing it on the floor.
"Helena!" Myka said and heard her mother's tone in her own voice. "Oh geez."
Helena was dressed quickly in the blue pants and white jacket with gloves. Myka pulled out a similar outfit in white and pink.
"Where are we going?" Myka asked as she struggled out of the dress – much to Helena's delight. Helena's brain yelled at her to offer help, but she just sat there with the most devilish grin on her face.
"Ice skating," Helena said taking in a deep breath.
"Wollman will be mobbed," Myka said of the ice skating rink in Central Park.
"Not tonight it won't," Helena said because one of her phone calls was to the Mayor. "They'll have my head on a platter tomorrow for doing this," he complained of the thirty minute closure for his friend. Helena assured him she'd do some charity work to pay him back.
Pete took them into the park where they got out and went to the rink. People were lining up to get back in and Helena thanked them and offered hot beverages and food for everyone. Now that the crowds were appeased, she could do what she wanted. Myka was an expert skater and donned the skates quickly. She expected the Brit to be right behind her when she realized Helena was standing but with great effort and wobbling. Myka rushed back to her side.
"Helena, how many times have you ice skated before?" Myka asked thinking it had to be a few over 147 years.
"Counting tonight?" her lover asked and started to slip backwards. Myka caught her just in time.
"I'll teach you. Now, hold onto my hands," Myka said gently pulling Helena as she glided backwards.
"My pleasure," Helena said – never more grateful she had skipped out on those ice skating trips with Charles as a kid.
The two women skated hand in hand around the smooth surface. Helena felt the wind in her face as Myka deftly led them in a large circle and then guided them into large figure eights.
"You're a good instructor," Helena said feeling safe in Myka's hands.
"And you are a very good student. Now bend just a little," Myka instructed.
Helena – as was her nature – felt more confident by the minute. She pushed slightly so that the distance closed between them – enough that she could move in and kiss Myka's lips. The warmth of those lips on hers felt so good – and Myka slowed her backward movement.
"Are you thinking?" Helena asked Myka in a whisper.
"Yes," Myka said thinking that the New York skyline had just disappeared because the only thing she could see was Helena's face.
"The question is – are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Helena smiled coyly – turning quickly and now she was pulling Myka – to get off the ice so that they could go home and heat things up.
Bridget sat in her office and looked at her phone. She picked it up and then put it down again. No sense in worrying Myka, she decided. She would call her after her meeting in the morning. She didn't want to walk in blind, but she knew Myka would have called her if something was up.
Claudia sat across from Eileen in the windowed restaurant in Rockefeller Center. The two sat and talked for hours – Claudia apologizing for being such a jerk and Eileen assuring her she wasn't.
"She's pretty special," Claudia said of her boss when she realized she had staged the whole thing – or so she suspected.
"She's terrific," Eileen gushed because her feelings for Helena were always on the surface. "Almost as terrific as you," she said and Claudia blushed.
Sorry Lyons - no Jane ...yet. (read 6reggaetongirl post on Jane Tierney) So funny. 5 Step program...lol.