Sorry for the double posting of this chapter - seems it didn't show up the first time first time. Thanks.
omg she's back? I couldn't stay away.
Welcome back - I hope.
Now same rules - you tell me honestly how this is going. I'm just the one putting it out here. Wait...that didn't sound right.
Starting Over
Myka Bering had left her pro bono work as a lawyer in Washington DC for the fast paced life of a corporate lawyer in Manhattan just weeks ago. She was hired for the coveted spot of Chief Counsel for a top Fortune 500 Company that dealt in bioengineering, overseeing the great works of HG Wells, and philanthropy. At any given moment, the firm could find itself breaking into other sectors of the market as well – depending on the whim of the CEO. A determined woman, Helena G. Wells let little stand in her way of what she wanted and when Myka first joined the firm, she was a casualty before she was there a month.
Something else happened in that tumultuous gathering of these two women – something neither of them expected.
Within the span of a month, Myka had moved to New York, found the job of her dreams, been blindsided by how the politics at Wells Corp played out, been swept off her feet by her boss, broke up with her boyfriend and quit her job. Or was she fired? She didn't have the luxury of time to think too much about it, and for the moment what mattered was that she her boss had in fact patched things up.
Myka had a lot to figure out and so fast pace or not, she was going to have to do things at her own speed. Now that she and Helena had reconciled a few of their differences, things seemed back on track as far as her career was concerned. The wrinkle in all of that was that Helena had openly expressed her interest in having a meaningful relationship with Myka and Myka did nothing to discourage that. Still, Myka had to consider all of the ramifications of that. How effective and respected would she be as the Chief Counsel? Would it be better for her to work somewhere else if she and Helena continued their relationship as both of them hoped?
Either way, when Myka returned from Colorado Springs and showed up in Helena's hallway, drenched from the soaking rains, and carrying the original The War of the Worlds first edition autographed copy, it was to make amends. Helena had treated her terribly, but she had also tried her best to apologize. Exhausted by the emotional turmoil, Myka had fallen asleep on Helena's lap that night after they both agreed to start over. It was the best night's sleep Myka could ever remember.
They spent the next weekend talking. Myka explained to Helena that this was all very new to her – and that she needed to get adjusted to being back in New York, and without Sam. Helena granted Myka the time she needed – but that didn't mean she was going to make it easy for her.
When dealing with Helena, you could expect her to play nice or fight fair – but not both. It simply wasn't in her nature.
When Myka returned to her office that Monday morning, her assistant got up from behind the desk and embraced her. "I just knew you'd be back," Millie said. Millie expressed the sentiment of the entire staff of Wells Corp – everyone liked Myka.
Myka thanked her and from that moment on, it was a parade of people in her office asking her how to handle one crisis or another. Helena had 'borrowed' some electricity from Con Edison's grid – by a method Myka was still unsure of and for what purpose she couldn't imagine – and they were pressing charges. So was the City of New York for the overtime required by the New York Police Department and the Fire Department of New York.
Myka sat behind her desk as the complaints piled up and people panicked about what to do. "One thing at a time," Myka told them and then delegated what needed to be done. Myka made the staff feel like all hope was not lost and that the SS Wells Ship was not sinking – yet.
Myka needed Helena's input on practically every complaint that lay on her desk. How could Myka handle these things unless she knew what had happened? Myka had no way of knowing that Helena couldn't possibly begin to explain half the things she did.
The weekly meeting was taking place in the conference room where the department heads met with their CEO to discuss their latest projects. Helena had a very low threshold for bullshit, so you didn't come to these meetings unprepared. The nickname for them was 'Slice N Dice' because those foolish enough to come unprepared - bled on the way out. Helena didn't mind challenges, just incompetence.
This was Myka's first time with all of the Directors and she expected she would have to introduce herself to many of them. She wasn't sure she was comfortable with the fact that it proved unnecessary, and that each of them knew who she was. Myka wanted her work to speak for itself – and not be known as the Chief Counsel who didn't last 48 hours. She was starting over – with renewed spirit.
Myka sat at the large round table, noting its shape because it prevented anyone from being at the head of it. She noticed that after the friendly greeting, most people were anxiously looking over their notes or checking their tablets. All except Pete who entered the room with his usual exuberance. He shouted his hellos and went straight to the tray of donuts, moaning over the labor intensive process of making a decision.
"Jelly, yes definitely jelly. Oh wait, Boston creme?" he wrestled with.
It was 8 AM on the dot when everyone was in their seats with only one left open. Myka was witnessing how things were done at Wells Corp now that she was back on board. She heard the glass door open and there was Helena making her entrance. Dressed in an Escada designer dress that hugged her svelte figure, the charcoal background was wrapped in a curving line of white and green leaves topped with the red amaryllis on the top left front panel. Myka marveled at how easily Helena glided along on three-inch spiked heels.
Myka had picked a turquoise colored suit jacket with black skirt and a coordinated black, white, and turquoise shell. She was happy with the choice because it was one of the few things in her wardrobe with color. How did one person consistently pick the same navy, gray, or black colored suit she wondered?
"Good morning everyone," Helena said looking down at her i Pad and tapping on the glass to get to her agenda page. Myka took this moment to look at the woman who took her on a wild ride of emotions. She pulled her gaze back quickly so that it wouldn't be obvious to anyone that Helena was becoming one of Myka's favorite things to look at. She thought back to how hard Helena had tried to apologize and assured Myka that however she wanted to proceed with their relationship was okay with her.
Finally, someone understood that Myka needed to go at her own pace.
"Ms. Bering?" broke Myka's reverie and now she realized all eyes were on her as the CEO waited for her response.
"I'm going first?" Myka thought as she searched the faces staring at her for clues as to what the question might be.
"Tellherwhatyou'reworkingon," Pete said holding a donut in front of his mouth and then coughed the powdered sugar all over the table. "Sorry."
Myka shuffled the papers in front of her when she caught the expressionless stare from across the table. How were one set of eyes capable of so many different looks?
"Would you like someone else to go first?" Helena asked and Myka noted the all business tone in that voice.
"No, but thank you," Myka said back and looked at her list. "The contract for the HG Wells television show will be delivered today. The first scripts are being written and copies with be sent here for your review," Myka started.
"Who are they casting?" Helena asked and that simple question surprised Myka. She hadn't thought to ask that.
"Who?" Myka asked.
"Yes, who are they suggesting play….," and Helena stopped short of saying 'me'. She had to be so careful. "HG Wells?"
Myka looked through the papers to see if there was any mention of that. She quickly scanned the pages and found the words 'still selecting the lead' and she repeated it quickly.
"Please make sure they cast an English actress, Ms. Bering. In fact, if that wasn't stipulated in my correspondence to them, tell them it is now a deal breaker. There simply is nothing worse than an American faking a British accent. Sends me right up the wall," Helena said with her head down and then looked up at her staff. "No offense," she said and everyone agreed rapidly that none was taken, even from the non-American staff members.
"Anything else?" Helena asked.
"We have to reply to the prosecutor's office to handle the City's complaints about the blackout in Brooklyn," Myka said.
"Next?" Helena asked as if that didn't interest her at all because it didn't.
"We need to meet with the Investment Bankers about the steps to taking Wells Corp public. I will need your thoughts on that," Myka said.
Helena smiled. That meant Myka would have to meet with her alone and any excuse for that was a good one.
"Yes, we need to get on that right away," and Helena had something else in mind when she chose those words. "Perhaps you could stay after the meeting," Helena said and then turned her attention to Claudia.
Myka's turn was over. She felt the same relief she did in fifth grade when the teacher called on the kid right behind Myka instead of her. It was the last question the teacher had spouted off in rapid succession to see if they really had read the chapter on the states and their capitals. Myka knew all the answers, but was relieved not to be called on.
"Good job, Counselor," Pete said softly to her. Myka didn't think so, but she appreciated his sentiment.
"I am happy to report that we have had a solid three days of no intrusions….of any kind…. to the system," Claudia reported and looked directly at the person who tried the hardest to crack the security code. It was one of Helena's favorite hobbies. It was a cat and mouse game to Helena.
"Mrs. Frederic?" Helena went around the table and asked her Human Resource Director to update them.
"We are in the process of hiring a replacement in Compliance. We meet with the last candidates this afternoon," Irene said as her last item on the list.
The replacement was for the former Director of Compliance, whom Helena had a brief love affair with that ended poorly. Helena showed little interest in the matter.
"Any other new hires you want to update us on?" Claudia interjected because she knew for a fact that her friend, Steve Jinx had just been offered a job there. The two shared everything and he promised her that he had news for her, but they hadn't met up in days.
Irene looked at Helena and read that unspoken message. "No, nothing else," Irene said and Claudia squinted her eyes at the answer.
"Very good then," Helena said and that was her way of telling them she was done and they were dismissed.
People grabbed their tablets, papers, rosaries, and left. Except Myka. Helena sat across from her at too uncomfortable a distance, so she got up and sat next to Myka. Would Myka ever get used to the intoxicating effect of Helena's Chanel perfume? She doubted it, but cleared her throat and smiled.
"You look wonderful," Helena said to Myka as her eyes scanned the woman's features. She loved how the slightest compliment brought a pinkish flush to Myka's cheeks.
"Thank you," Myka said trying to concentrate.
Helena sat sideways in the chair, her long legs crossed, and her spiked heel out to the side. She leaned her elbow on the table to allow the smallest distance between them. "Did you…. need me….for something, Counselor?" Helena grinned and looked at Myka through dark thick eyelashes.
Myka knew exactly what Helena was doing. When Myka explained that she wanted to keep their professional relationship separate from their private relationship, Helena agreed. Myka realized she was saying this to a woman who had a very challenging time with boundaries. Directors became lovers who became fired. Myka knew she would have to help Helena understand what she meant by that. She was learning now that Helena was not going to make that lesson an easy one.
"The investment firm would like to meet with us about your proposal to issue public stock for the company," Myka said rolling her chair back just a little so that she could look at Helena. Helena had placed her knees so close to Myka, she thought they might touch.
"And when ….do they want to meet?" Helena asked acting like she was interested, but really all she wanted to do was look at Myka. She remembered kissing those lips and the pink gloss on them was making them very inviting. Helena had given her word though that she would refrain from any discussion about their personal lives at work – and she was a woman of her word. She never promised she wouldn't try to charm Myka into forgetting that promise.
"As soon as your schedule allows," Myka said.
"OK, why not set something up with Eileen at your earliest convenience?" Helena said even though her schedule was right there on her IPad.
"OK," Myka said smiling.
Eileen poked her head in the door. "Ms. Wells, there's a Mr. Jinx here to see you?"
"Have him wait in my office," Helena said without taking her eyes off of Myka.
"Oh and what am I telling the City about the claim you caused upward of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars in overtime due to the black out?" Myka asked looking at her papers.
"Tell them we will pay," Helena said because it seemed like the easiest answer.
"Just going to write them a check?" Myka asked.
"Yes," Helena said. "Do you know that turquoise is reflected in your eyes?"
Myka couldn't help but smile at the admiring comment. Myka didn't get them that often. It wasn't that Sam didn't pay her compliments, but it was usually during foreplay.
"Thank you, Ms. Wells," Myka said gathering her things. "And are you ever going to tell me what you were actually doing with all that power you sucked up from the borough of Brooklyn?" Myka asked her boss.
"How about over dinner tonight? It's rather a complex story," Helena said sitting back in the chair.
"OK," Myka said and got up to leave, shaking her head as she did.
There wasn't much about her boss that wasn't complex.
In taking this story further - I want to remain consistent with what you liked the first time.
So I appreciate your thoughts and any comments you have.