Thank you to CdB55 for her careful eye for details. I tweaked the last chapter to show that Helena has one more event with the Mayor (which is why she can't meet Myka at the airport).
Thank you to everyone who posted - much appreciate the feedback, questions, ideas.
Doors (Carl Sandburg)
Helena had the most enjoyable time talking about her favorite subject until the wee hours. She described Myka using adjectives, metaphors, adoring words of love …and quotes from Shakespeare. She could have talked for hours more because the more she talked, the more it eased the ache of missing Myka. She summed it up by saying –
"You see, Mr. Generis, I am one of the fortunate ones to have found my 'One' – my soul mate for eternity. Nothing could keep us apart."
He listened attentively as several programs ran, making detailed analyses as new connections were formed. He had not met Myka yet, but it was easy for him to see the effect she had on Helena. In all the hours he had known Helena, he had never seen her so happy.
"Thank you, Ms. Wells," he said as she got up to leave.
"What have you learned tonight?" the teacher asked.
The android put his head down as processes ran in his head. "Ms. Bering really wants a dog," he said. "I did a voice analysis on her reaction and it is conclusive that she desires a canine. I think you should buy her one," Sui said and this is what separated him from the crowd. He didn't just collect date and analyze it, he formed opinions.
"We'll ask her when she gets back," Helena said, too tired to discuss it.
Hours later, as Myka lay sound asleep in LA; Helena turned in her bed and slowly opened her eyes …and gasped.
"What the devil?" Helena said, grabbing the sheet and pushing herself up. There stood Leena, arms crossed, with a stern look on her face – waiting. "If your goal was to wake me with a start…," Helena tried to say.
"There is a man in my kitchen. He says he is a friend of yours and that the two of you bonded last night over some very intimate details of your life," Leena started as she paced back and forth. "I did not ask him what that meant even if he was sitting in the kitchen when I arrived because it is none of my business," the woman said with a tone that indicated otherwise.
Helena went to speak, but was quickly stopped when Leena said 'uh uh'. "Now he is telling me that I am to instruct him on how to make breakfast – specifically your favorite breakfast," Leena said, stopping to stare down at Helena.
"Don't pay him any mind," Helena said because it was too early to deal with any of this.
"A-hah," Leena said suspiciously. "I'll get your tea," she said on her way out.
"As if the day hasn't started poorly enough," Helena complained under her breath.
"I heard that!" Leena said, paying her boss no attention. Leena decided long ago she would never master the drink to Helena's pleasing so she stopped trying.
Helena opened the double doors to her closet; and stared at the stranger standing at the other end.
"Are you new?" Helena asked the wide-eyed boy who hardly looked his nineteen years of age.
He nodded his head vigorously up and down. Helena was not pleased that a whole new crop of students from the Fashion Institute of Technology was starting after the others graduated.
"Well?" she finally said, thinking the rest of the world was off kilter today.
The young student whipped his selection off the rack and held it up. It was an Etro funnel-neck print wool knit dress. It was black with a multicolored design that ran from the right shoulder down to the hem, front and back. The left sleeve was adorned with the imprint that then swept around the left hip to reach across the chest and back.
The student loved the design for its richness of texture and color. Helena loved it because whenever she wore designs on her dress, Myka had the playful habit of tracing her long fingers over the scheme and making Helena melt.
"I like it," she said and he handed her black high boots to go with it.
"You have potential," Helena said and made his day.
Leena called the only reliable source on all things Helena when Myka was out of town. She asked Irene about this man in her kitchen. She heard Irene take a deep breath and sigh. "He's an android," was met with the shout of – "GET OUT!" which Leena quickly apologized for. Leena went sheepishly back into the kitchen and tried not to stare, but failed.
"Did Ms. Wells tell you I am an android?" he finally asked.
"Mrs. Frederic did," Leena said slowly.
"I like Mrs. Frederic. She is like a mother figure to Ms. Wells," he concluded correctly.
"Yes," Leena said staring.
"Do I make you uncomfortable?" he asked.
"No, it's just ….. you're amazing….you know…..," Leena said, not wanting to insult him – in case he could be offended.
"Thank you. I am the product of a genius," he replied.
"Right," Leena said, wondering if Myka knew what Helena was up to.
Leena tried to get back to the issue at hand. Sui watched as she flipped through pages of a cookbook trying to find the right meal for dinner that night. When he inquired why the selection was so challenging, Leena explained it was because Myka was coming back later that night.
"Ms. Wells wants everything to be perfect and perfect takes planning," Leena said to the gentleman.
Pete came through the front door and burst into the kitchen. "Hey Leena, got any coffee?" he said and then saw the plate of cinnamon buns and pulled up a stool. "Hey, Sui. I see you two have met."
"Yes, and she has been informed that I am an android," Sui responded.
"Taste these," Pete said pushing the plate over to him. Leena stopped and stared as the android ingested the pastry.
"These are quite good," Sui said as his sensors registered how sweet they were.
"How? But where…..?" Leena asked, but Pete cut her off.
"Some things are top secret, ok?" Pete said, not wanting to know the answer. "Oh hey, I put a change of clothes in the hallway for you," Pete said, turning to Sui. "We can't have you showing up to work in the same clothes."
"Thank you, Pete," Sui said and proceeded to go into the hallway. He returned minutes later in the new attire.
"You can dress yourself?" Leena asked, amazed.
"Of course," Sui replied.
"He could teach her a thing or two," Leena said, not moving her lips.
"Is it difficult to drive?" he asked Pete who shoved another pastry into his mouth and offered to show him.
"Pete?" Leena said, thinking this might not be a good idea.
"What?" Pete said to Leena. "He's supposed to learn."
"I learned that Ms. Bering wants a dog," Sui said as he followed Pete outside to the car.
Helena was happy to hear Pete was there already so she could escape before having to drink Leena's tea. Myka had explained that she felt Helena could suffer through a couple of sips without the commentary - and by that, Myka meant the drama. Helena thought it was a lot to ask, but complied.
She apologized for having to leave so soon and asked Leena if dinner was set. Leena promised it would be and Helena was off. She knew Myka would be hungry after traveling all day and wanted a candlelight dinner prepared.
Pete jumped out to get the car door as Sui watched. "Got out before tea-off?" Pete teased his boss.
"Text Miss Sullivan," she replied. There was one job she had not been relieved of because Helena couldn't manage it.
Minutes later, Helena was getting off the elevator and walking towards her office. She stopped short and pulled back – there was the clear view of her office – through the glass door – that was partially opened.
"Good morning, Ms. Wells," Elizabeth greeted her boss.
"There's no evidence of that so far," Helena said, walking slowly into her office. She looked around the inner room as if someone had moved all the furniture. She sat down at her desk and looked at the doorway – where she could see right through to the outer office and elevators. She felt – exposed. And not in a good way.
It was too early to call Myka, but she looked at her picture on her phone and felt calmer. When she looked up, there was Eileen with her tea.
"Oh thank heavens," Helena said, but Eileen didn't put it down. Then Helena remembered the text from Claudia.
"Do you …..like that?" Eileen asked of the clear glass door. She could think of a dozen reasons why it wasn't a good idea.
"I…don't know yet," Helena said, looking at it strangely. "Ms. Bering wants it," she said and motioned for Eileen to sit down.
"I went to Mrs. Frederic first," Eileen said, putting the cup in front of her boss. "But she said I had to take this up with you."
"Remind me to thank her," Helena said as she drew in the first sip of the desired elixir. If she didn't know better, she would think the woman did something to the tea. Myka had proven her wrong that the timing of the tea was discernible. Still, no other tea seemed to measure up.
"I know this is a very big accomplishment on your part and on Claudia's, and I'm amazed, really," Eileen said sincerely.
"Anybody would be," Helena said through sips of her tea.
"I am worried about the impact on the staff," Eileen whispered. "Don't you think it is consistent with your new open door policy to tell the staff already interacting with him?"
Helena imbibed the tea slowly. She meant to draft an announcement yesterday, but time got away from her. "Yes, of course. Would you ask Mrs. Frederic ….oh look, she's already here," Helena said as Irene walked right into her office, unannounced.
"Helena, are you sure you want to keep this door ajar all day? I mean, how do you expect to get any work done if people can just march in here unannounced? You're the CEO and very busy," Irene pointed out.
Helena took another sip of tea and thought about it. "Well, perhaps Myka didn't mean open door in the literal sense," Helena said, now that she saw the drawbacks in action.
"I think you're right,' Irene said, agreeing with Helena.
"Miss Sullivan was just telling me her concern about allowing Mr. Generis to roam free amongst the staff without informing them of his origin," Helena said.
"Yes, well we can work on that announcement …," Irene said and Helena felt calmer. "As soon as we locate him."
"Found him!" Claudia shouted as she walked through the opened door.
"Please, do join us Ms. Donovan," Helena said in an uninviting tone.
"But …the door….is opened," Claudia said, pointing to the wide opened door - in her own defense.
"We're going to rectify that," Irene said.
"OK, well he's with Steve in Security," Claudia reported, after finding him on the GPS locator.
"Oh good, another catastrophe averted," Helena said, her cup now void of tea, as she was of patience.
"Myka is due in at nine?" Irene asked on purpose, refocusing Helena on something that would make her smile. Of course, it worked.
"Yes, at nine," Helena said, smiling.
"Good. Well, we'll let you get back to your work," Irene said, walking behind the younger women and closing the thick glass door behind her.
"That's funny," Claudia said when she arrived on the 16th floor with Irene. "Now the program says Sui is with Millie, but I don't see him," the techie said, looking at Millie's desk.
Millie confirmed that he had been there, but that he said he was going to help Helena make Myka's reception that evening perfect – and that took planning.
"Oh, got him," Claudia said when she located him on the 17th floor. If he was with Helena, at least they could relax.
Myka was at the LAX airport two hours early and texted Helena. After Helena reiterated how much she was looking forward to her return, she told Myka she was planning a special dinner for her return.
"Don't you have dinner with the Mayor?" Myka asked.
"Cocktail party. I'll be in and out and done," Helena said of her last obligation. "I will be waiting for you at home."
"OK, and Helena?" Myka said softly into the phone in the crowded area by the gate. "I am going to kiss you so hard…..," was all Myka got out before she heard the noise of Helena's phone banging down on the desk.
"I …dropped it," Helena said, almost gasping at the thought.
Myka reiterated her thought – kissing Helena so hard it would make her lose her breath…. and she heard the softest whimper on the other end.
When Myka hung up, she checked the flight and found that there was an opening on the earlier flight. If she took it, she would get in an hour earlier. She texted Steve and asked him not to say a word. She wanted to surprise Helena.
The day couldn't go by fast enough for Helena. Irene drafted a note and after Helena approved it, it was sent via internal email to everyone in the office. The memo explained that Sui Generis was the latest innovation at Wells Corp and that he was an android. Eileen was ready to make personal appearances as instructed by Helena in any area where people weren't satisfied.
The one person who was the most upset was Millie. She had felt a physical attraction to him and now was feeling embarrassed. "I hope we can still be friends," Sui said to her and made her blush. She struggled with the fact that she had real feelings for him. It was hard to remember he wasn't human. Which is why when he asked her for information, she thought it was all part of his learning process.
Now Sui was driving on the Long Island Expressway, obeying all the traffic rules, on his way to a home in Locust Valley. According to his calculations and given his adeptness at using the machine that got him here, he should be back before anyone noticed. He would return the car to the lot before anyone missed it. Then he would recalibrate his locator device so that it would stop giving Claudia false readings. There was still the issue of payment, but he was hoping to work something out.
"Perfect takes planning," he said as he pulled into the driveway of the address he found when he searched his internal database for private sellers. He was going to help Helena have the most perfect evening with Myka. He would have discussed this with Helena, but she was very busy. And besides -
He wanted to surprise Helena.