Grab your coffee, tea or wine - this is long.

I'm very fortunate to have the most wonderful readers out there who take such an interest
in this Series and share their love of these characters, their knowledge and insights. I
thank each and everyone of them.

And to everyone who reads along. With so many stories out there to choose from, I
appreciate it if you're stopping by here to read.

How Do I Love Thee? (Elizabeth Barrett Browning)

Irene Frederic received the message from Sui that she was his designated chaperone. He did add that he felt this was an old-fashioned notion and was unnecessary. Irene recognized payback when she saw it. Especially from Helena. So she suggested to Sui that perhaps he was missing a few lines of code when it came to courting. He maintained that he had been programmed with the latest traditions and mores of modern dating. He had no way of knowing that Claudia was pressed for time and part of his social programming had been a downloaded version of the latest issue of Marie Claire. If was informative, but limited.

Irene knew exactly what Sui needed. The HR Director made the necessary call and waited. "I was captain of the high school chess team, Helena, you keep forgetting that," Irene murmured to herself. Minutes later, there was the expected knock at her door.

Irene explained to the newest executive that the android seemed to be missing the encryption for nuances and might be at a disadvantage for navigating contacts. "I believe you have an understanding of relationships that would prove beneficial to Mr. Generis. He accepted six different dinner invitations and while I am all for him making friends, I believe we need to be very careful about whom Mr. Generis spends his time with," Irena said.

"Do you think Ms. Wells and Claudia planned for ….?" Eileen started to ask.

"I do not. I think they were two zealous geniuses, focused on creating the android with little emphasis on addressing the what if's," Irene said truthfully.

Eileen smiled to hear her girlfriend categorized with her mentor. "So we don't know if Mr. Generis is programmed to be friends or ….?" Eileen asked, thinking it through.

"Correct," Irene said. "He needs to understand the basics of interactions. Then we can work on the limits of his interactions here."

"I'm on it, Mrs. Frederic," the young executive-in-training said, requesting to meet with the android via iMessage on her phone.

"I know he's in good hands," Irene said as she walked out of her office with Eileen, stopping at her assistant's desk.

"Sandy, please tell Mr. Generis that HR is requiring that he complete a six-hour workshop with our resident relationship expert, Ms. Sullivan, before he accepts any invitation to dinner or any other event," Irene put it plainly.

"I'm not an expert," Eileen whispered uncomfortably, as she walked down the hallway with the HR Director.

"Oh I don't know about that," Irene said of the young woman.

The two walked towards the elevator. Eileen wanted to start working on her first lesson for the android; Irene was going to tell Helena it was under control…when they heard the yelling.

"Mrs. Frederic!" Millie said frantically. She was waving her arm for the women to approach. Irene took a deep breath as she and Eileen walked to the woman's desk.

"I'm going to handle it, Ms. Barone," Irene assured her. She naturally thought the news of Sui's six dates had traveled the grapevine.

"It's too late," Millie said, motioning for Irene to come closer and look at her tablet. Irene walked over to the desk and peeked down at the device Millie was holding. Millie's head twisted back and forth, hoping no one else would see them. The page opened on the device read –

"Bering Bailing on Wells?"

"What?" Eileen shouted and then covered her mouth quickly.

"What is this about?" Irene asked. It wasn't unusual for the gossip pages to speculate every week that Myka and Helena were breaking up. No official date for the wedding made for fodder for the news organizations. Irene took note because this was the business page, and they only speculated when they had something to go on.

"There's a man on his way up here to talk to Myka. He's from Columbia Law School and according to this news article - , he's looking to offer her a job. He was out in California at that conference!" Millie hissed. "Do you think she'll go? She would never go!"

"Ms. Bering? Leave Wells? She would never!" Eileen declared emphatically, but then looked at Irene quizzically.

"I think Ms. Bering will make the best possible choice," Irene said, but didn't sound convincing. The right choice for Myka may not be the right choice for the rest of them.

Myka opened her office door to return some documents to Millie and noticed the expressions on the women immediately. It didn't help that Millie slammed the tablet down loudly on the desk. Her attempts to be nonchalant were - in a word – pitiful.

"Are you all…okay?" Myka asked, unaware of the news leak.

"Oh sure," Eileen said, scratching her neck because that's where the hives usually broke out first.

Irene smiled, reserving her outburst until she had more to go on. Millie wasn't waiting – and Myka knew it. The thoughts were practically bubbling up inside her mouth. "Show her," Irene said, cutting to the chase. Millie held up the tablet with the headline.

"How do they find these things out?" Myka said. Her tone was more amazement than anger which Irene took as a good sign.

"That probably is my fault," came the answer from Professor Calvert – who overheard them– as he walked towards them. "I do apologize, Myka. The press was downstairs asking all kinds of questions. It could have been leaked by a student or an overzealous provost at the university."

Irene eyed the distinguished looking man in the tweed blazer with suede elbow patches and corduroy pants.

"I'm so glad to see you," he said, giving Myka a warm hug.

"Professor Calvert, may I introduce Irene Frederic, our Director of Human Resources and Ms. Barone, my administrative assistant, and Ms. Sullivan, our …." Myka said when he released her.

"…Your youngest Assistant Director," the professor said to Eileen, his warm tone inviting. "I've read a lot about you." He extended his hand and she found herself being more polite than she wanted to be.

Then he turned to the other women. "Ms. Frederic, Ms. Barone, it is a pleasure to meet both of you. I do apologize that my visit was somehow disclosed. I imagine this will be a bit of a PR problem for you," Mike said to the women. "The press seemed somehow certain I was here to see you."

"Professor Calvert is a law professor at Columbia," Myka explained to the three silent, staring women.

"And you're here to see Ms. Bering," Irene stated more than asked.

"Well the cat is out of the bag now, I guess. All above-board, I assure you," he said to the three sets of suspicious eyes. "She was my best student. Now I'm hoping to charm her away from Wells Corp. At least on a part-time basis," the professor divulged.

Eileen gasped quietly. Millie fell back into her chair – no so quietly. Irene smiled.

"And is there anything you need me to do?" Irene asked, looking directly at Myka. This was the first she was hearing of this and she feared that the necessary preparations weren't in place.

Myka knew exactly what she meant. "All interested parties have been informed. The professor is here to discuss the logistics before I make any commitment." Myka explained.

Irene immediately let out a breath and kept the smile on her face. "Wonderful," she said. Of course Myka would have discussed this with Helena, she chastised herself. All was well.

And then the elevator door whooshed open -

"Impeccable timing," Irene said to everyone within earshot. Millie grabbed the desk with both hands. Eileen assumed the position Catholic school pupils do when the appearance of nuns is imminent.

Irene watched as Helena approached and was introduced to the professor. Everything indicated that Helena was not surprised to see him there. Myka had told her in the car that morning about his appointment. The HR Director watched keenly as Helena shook his hand politely, did not let go of it, and pulled him in, ever so slightly. She had seen that move before.

"Ms. Bering has apprised me of your request, Professor Calvert. You would be very fortunate to have her on staff," Helena said, still holding his hand.

Mike Calvert was on Helena's turf now and she was there to make sure he understood that. He was concerned that Helena would do something to influence Myka. What he knew of Helena, was based mostly on her business reputation and her tactics to get what she wanted. She stopped at nothing.

"Yes, we would. It seems awkward talking to her employer when we're trying to steal her away," he laughed apprehensively, aware he was being held in place.

"Don't be silly, Professor. We don't own Ms. Bering. And while you might wish for her to share her intellect, we know where her heart lies," Helena smiled, finally letting go.

"I'm here to convince her about what a great opportunity it would be," the man said, testing the waters with the woman who could stand in his way.

Myka watched the exchange. "Yes, well I look forward to hearing what the department is proposing," she said, reminding everyone that no guarantee had been made yet. "Perhaps academia isn't for me."

"Well, don't worry Myka. It's not like we're throwing you to the wolves," Mike assured everyone.

Not everyone needed his reassurance. In fact, someone found it downright irritating.

"Throw Ms. Bering to the wolves, Mr. Calvert and I guarantee you - she will return as the leader of the pack," Helena pointed out proudly. There was just a hint of dismissiveness in her tone.

Eileen loved the way her boss could turn a phrase.

"And what happens when you're thrown to the wolves, Ms. Wells?" he asked, because he believed in using provocation to show someone's true nature.

Provocation was Helena's forte. A smile slowly appeared on Helena's lips as her eyes held him in their gaze. She leaned forward ever so slightly towards him. "You best not be fond of the wolves, Professor Calvert, for I always return alone."

"Yes!" Eileen whispered because she wanted someone to put this man in his place.

Both Irene and Myka knew it was time to separate the guest and the CEO.

The professor was getting a first-hand glimpse of the shadow Helena Wells cast. Her appearance wasn't by accident and he knew it. She was confronting the person responsible for Myka possibly having a choice. He wanted Myka – believed this was the perfect opportunity for her – and came prepared to give it to her on a silver platter if he had to. He had hoped to do this outside of Wells Corp, but Myka insisted they meet at her office. It was Myka's way of demonstrating that she believed in what she said about corporate transparency.

"Professor?" Myka said, indicating he should go inside her office. He hesitated only a moment as he felt the coldness of Helena's stare envelop him. He walked ahead into the office with Millie, who asked if he wanted tea or coffee.

Eileen had seen that expression on her boss many times before. It wasn't as benign as it appeared on the surface. She knew Helena was seething underneath.

Of course the person who knew it best of all was Myka. Helena's body language was a mixture of jealousy and assertion of what was hers. Myka knew it was needless, but having Helena descend from the 17th floor and be subtly possessive was – a turn on. Even when it was completely unnecessary.

"You know I will discuss this with you before I give him my answer," Myka whispered to Helena. It snapped Helena back and she remembered that she was going to be positive about this for Myka's sake.

"Of course," Helena said, smiling.

Myka reached out to touch Helena's arm and the small gesture made Helena put on a convincing expression of calm. In spite of liking Helena's covetous nature, Myka knew it didn't always feel good for Helena.

Myka went into her office as Millie was pouring the coffee out into china cups on the coffee table in front of the long couch. The assistant purposely placed the Professor's cup at one end and Myka's at the other. Millie closed the door behind her and didn't let go of the doorknob.

Irene watched as Helena's thoughts flashed across her dark eyes. Something was going on, of that the HR Director was certain. Something – different.

"Come," Helena commanded Eileen, and turned to the elevator.

Millie watched her young friend get in with their boss. "Do you think she's okay?" Millie asked Irene.

"I believe Ms. Wells is …processing… her feelings. We'll know soon enough," Irene said with certainty.

Inside the ascending carriage, Eileen attempted to say something, but Helena put her finger up to stop her and shook her head. Then Helena hurried off the elevator, ignoring Sui's attempts to speak to her and motioned for Eileen to follow. The young woman wasn't sure Helena was breathing – she seemed to be holding something back. Once inside, Helena walked quickly towards the door that led to her small apartment off her office and motioned for her former assistant to follow.

Eileen walked into the familiar room and was startled to see a large glass structure with a door inside the space. It was at least ten feet tall, by ten feet wide and ten feet deep.

"When?" she started to ask, but Helena was practically grabbing her inside and shutting the clear glass door behind her.

"Remind me never to follow you in a fire drill," Helena finally barked.

"What is this?" Eileen asked, looking around at the clear glass enclosure that now housed them. It must have been constructed when she was working in the mail room, she decided, and immediately noticed the temperature was considerably colder inside the structure.

"I do not like him," Helena answered instead. "I do not like his smugness, nor his demeanor. I detest that he thinks he is taking something of mine. Something of mine? As if he could! Wolves? I would tear him and his bloody pack of wolves apart in an instant!" Helena ranted as she paced back and forth across the glass floor that was pitted so one didn't slip. "And I abhor the patches on his jacket!" she said and finally stopped pacing. "And corduroy? Did you see that?"

It was now obvious to Eileen that Helena had waited until she got inside this enclosure to let out her true feelings. But why? "Ms. Wells," the younger woman said, looking around. "I'm glad you can tell me how you really feel."

"I did not want lectures," Helena said to answer the unasked question of why her and not Irene.

"Oh sure, but …may I ask what this is?" Eileen said, looking around. Her feet were starting to freeze.

Helena rolled her eyes and sighed, out of patience and annoyed she had to explain anything. "You do know that emotions can be converted into a simple binary code of ones and zeros because they are electrical impulses?" Helena asked as patiently as she could.

"I did…. not …know…that," Eileen admitted, rubbing her arms now because she was certain the temperature was dropping further. She could almost see her breath when she spoke.

"Yes, electrical impulses," Helena said, as she started her pacing again and waved her hands at the walls.

"And expressing them in a fishbowl helps us….?" Eileen asked, not ashamed that she couldn't get the answer. She learned about the usefulness of open-ended questions though in her psychology classes.

Helena realized she shouldn't expect everyone to understand the genius behind her invention. "Cold glass is an insulator. It does not conduct electricity," Helena explained in a monotone voice.

"Of course it is," Eileen said, smiling …and not getting it. It was obvious to Helena it would take further explaining.

"My Oneness with Myka is the perfect conduit for emotions. I cannot express my feelings in a natural environment because she will know immediately. I cannot have my real feelings interfere with what she wants," Helena said, her speech finally slowing down as did her feet.

Eileen looked around at the square chamber. "Why don't you want Myka to know how you really feel?"

"Because I love her more than I love feeling in control. Because my feelings can influence her and because I want this decision to be hers alone," Helena said her pacing renewed. "You may not know this, but I have a tendency to get ….. possessive," Helena admitted, as long as she was being so forthcoming.

"Yes, I know," Eileen said, with no disrespect in her manner. It was one of the things she liked most about Helena.

"Well, I didn't want that to be a hindrance," Helena said summarily.

"So you built an icebox to obstruct the electric current of your feelings?" her protégé asked, hoping that was it.

"Yes," Helena said, because she felt it was the best the young woman could do.

"You don't think Myka already knows?" Eileen asked sincerely, losing the feeling in her toes now. She started to tap her feet together.

"I think I managed to keep my feelings under the surface until I came up here to get them out of my system. This way, I can allow Myka to make her decision without any intrusion," Helena said, now feeling the temperature herself.

"Ms. Wells, your receptacle might have contained the electrical output, but Ms. Bering knows right now how you feel," the youth said wisely.

"But I held onto them until I came in here," Helena protested.

"If I may say so, Ms. Wells, your entire expression downstairs oozed your disdain. I saw it, Myka saw it. It was really very clear," the bearer of bad news said.

Helena's entire expression said 'you may not say so', but it was too late. Shutting down feelings used to be Helena's strong suit. "But I let them out here," the CEO said, the slightest bit of defeat in her tone.

Eileen admired the extent Helena went to in order to allow Myka to make her own uninhibited choice. "How would you feel if Ms. Bering were teaching uptown at Columbia a great deal of the time?" she asked certain of the answer.

Helena glanced away, looking down at the floor. "I would abhor it," she said truthfully to the woman she was entrusting her feelings to.

"And you think cold glass will keep Myka from knowing that?" Eileen posed, opening the glass door.

"I want her to have time to decide," Helena said, surprised her employee was taking the initiative, but reluctantly following her out of the structure.

"Ms. Wells, to be honest, I panicked when I first heard about this. The thought of Ms. Bering not being here was – well, scary. But then I thought about it. I know she wouldn't make any decision without you. You're her One. It would impossible to decide without knowing how you feel. So really, by trying to hold those feelings back, you're not helping Ms. Bering, you're getting in her way of making the decision," the resident romantic said, grateful to be back at room temperature.

Helena stared at the woman, taking in her words.

"In fact, I'd be very surprised if that icebox even worked. What you and Ms. Bering have is quite unique. I'm not even sure the laws of physics apply to it," Eileen said thoughtfully.

Helena smiled her gratitude for the wisdom bestowed upon her. "Thank you, Miss Sullivan," Helena said graciously.

"My pleasure, Ms. Wells," Eileen said, happy to have been of assistance. Right then and there she decided on what Sui Generis' first lesson was going to be about.

Helena stood alone in her office, rubbing her hands together for warmth. "I would really hate it," she whispered, allowing her feelings to find voice again.

Eileen Sullivan had been right of course. Helena's invention was doing the opposite of what she had intended. Not only was Myka fully aware of Helena's feelings, she was at that moment apologizing to her guest for her inability to control her shivering. "I guess I needed this coffee more than I thought," she laughed as she downed the hot liquid in an effort to get rid of the chill she couldn't seem to shake.

"Myka, I look forward to your answer," Mike said, as he stood up at the end of the meeting.

"You've given me everything I need," Myka said, shaking his hand and apologizing for her cold touch.

"I will expect to hear from you by Friday then," he said to Myka as she walked him out.

"Absolutely, Professor Calvert," Myka said pleasantly.

"The Blue Jay has left the building." Millie typed to the inner office group. She had given him that nickname because of the fowl's reputation for stealing other birds' nests.

Myka proceeded upstairs to see Helena. Sui announced her as she approached the door. Helena was already on the other side to greet her.

"Meeting over?" Helena asked, trying not to appear anxious.

"Yes, I told him I would let him know by Friday. That should give us enough time to talk it through," Myka said.

"I think it's a wonderful opportunity, Myka," Helena said, valiantly.

"You really think so?" Myka asked, closing in on Helena. She accurately read Helena's halting body language.

"Yes, I do," Helena replied, her throat getting dry from trying to monitor her words.

Myka knew there were two ways to get Helena to confess the truth. One took careful questioning to strip away her logic and defense; the other was by simply touching her.

"You wouldn't …miss me?" Myka said, running her finger up Helena's arm. Helena's eyes fixated on the digit as it moved.

"Of course I would," Helena said, clearing her throat. It was getting harder to be altruistic the more Myka touched her.

"But you would agree to let me go?" Myka asked.

"Of course we would," Helena said again. "I told you, we would come up with whatever schedule worked." The use of the collective pronoun was not lost on the trained lawyer.

"And how about my fiancée? Is she okay with this?" Myka said softly, taking Helena's hand.

"I love you, Myka. I always want what's best for you," Helena said, smiling back as she got lost in the pools of emerald green.

"You are what is best for me, Helena," Myka said, touched by her fiancée's gesture. She leaned in and kissed Helena on the lips. "I want us to make this decision together."

Helena finally relaxed, assured by Myka's words.

"Are you okay? You're freezing," Myka said, running her hands up and down Helena's arms.

"I have a confession to make," Helena said, inhaling her pride. She took Myka by the hand and opened the door to the inner room that housed the glass structure.

"What the heck is that?" Myka asked, walking in to see the clear cube.

"You're not going to like it," Helena uttered her prediction.

"I don't even know what it is not to like it," Myka said, touching the smooth exterior. She pulled her hand back when she felt the cold. She instinctively knew there was some connection between this and her inability to stay warm in her office.

"I was using it to interfere with our Oneness," Helena blurted out to get it over with. Helena didn't do guilt very well. Her chin jutted out as if she was waiting for Myka's response.

"And you thought cold glass would act as an insulator and disrupt the flow of the electrical current of your emotions?" Myka surmised because she understood how Helena thought.

"Yes!" Helena said, pleased that Myka grasped the logic behind it.

"You had this built ….just for that? And you did this because?" Myka said, not sure if she was annoyed …or impressed.

"I didn't want my feelings to affect your decision," Helena stated.

"You tried to sever our connection?" Myka said, feeling more annoyed than impressed now.

"Inhibit!" Helena corrected and quickly added, "…And temporarily."

Myka knew that having a genius for a fiancée meant being surprised now and again. Coming upon the newly constructed glass freezer reminded her that Helena never went about something the pedestrian way. She turned to Helena and smiled.

"Helena, I always want your feelings to affect me. I want to know what you think of the important decisions in my life and how they affect you. How can I make the best choices without your involvement?" Myka said, deciding she was impressed with Helena's motivation.

"I don't want you to go, but I also want you to have this opportunity, Myka," Helena said as Myka took her hands.

"Then we will work it out so that we are both okay with this, Helena. We will solve this puzzle…..," Myka assured her.

"And save the day?" Helena finished the thought.

"Yes. And Helena?" Myka said, and from her tone the Brit knew the topic wasn't over.

"Yes?" Helena asked even though she wasn't sure she wanted to know.

"Promise me you won't try to shut me out again – even if you think it's for my own good. It will only be a waste of your time. We are meant to be connected, Helena, now …and always," Myka explained.

"Okay," Helena said as her eyes fixated on the lips that spoke those words. "I promise."

"Why don't we finish up here and we can have dinner in front of the fire tonight," Myka suggested as they returned to the warmth of Helena's office.

"I would like that very much," Helena said.

"I am crazy in love with you, Helena Wells," Myka said, unable to keep her hands off her fiancée as she kissed her. Her hands cupped Helena's jaw as she spoke. "Especially when you are…..possessive and over the top and… try to hide what you're really feeling," Myka teased.

"I'm not very good at it," Helena said, as if this was news.

"Oh you're very good at being possessive," Myka laughed, kissing Helena's mouth before she could reply.

"You see, Mr. Generis, for any relationship to grow, it must be based on trust," the young instructor said as they sat down over tea.

"So all I need is trust?" Sui asked in response.

"It's not the only thing, but it's an important component, yes," the teacher said.

"What are some of the other things?" the student inquired. He assessed that the woman speaking was an expert.

"Friendship, Mr. Generis. Every good relationship is also based on friendship. You trust and respect the person. You want to do things for them," Eileen mused.

"What kinds of things?" Sui asked.

"Sometimes, Mr. Generis, you will go to the ends of the earth – or stay right where you are and build igloos – if you think it's the right thing to do for them," Eileen pondered.

Sui returned to his station with a better, albeit still a beginner's, understanding of relationships. He was processing what he learned and was making adjustments to his data. Helena was busy at her desk, and Myka was downstairs in her office, dreamily drawing hearts with the initials MB and HW as she listened to the conference call on her speaker phone.

"Bridget Cummings to see Ms. Wells," the investment banker announced as she approached the desk. "Oh, well, you're certainly new," she said of Eileen's replacement.

"I am Sui Generis. I am Ms. Wells' new administrative assistant. I am fluent in twenty languages," he said.

"OK. And you're telling me this because?" Bridget wondered out loud.

"Because you are considered a friend of Ms. Bering's, I want you to trust me. Then we can build a relationship from there. It will be platonic of course. I base that on the fact that your eyes have not dilated when looking at me. This would indicate that you have no interest in me physically," the android said – overloaded with information as he tried to make sense of it all.

"You got that right, blue eyes," Bridget said, wondering how long the chatter box would last with Helena.

"Seventeen thousand dollars to a glazier?" Artie yelled, coming straight into Irene's office and waiving the bill.

"Wait until you see the cost for converting the amphitheater into a classroom," Irene said to him.

"You have approval for that?" the man in charge of corporate finances asked.

"Got the signature right here," Irene said, tapping the addendum Myka had signed upon her return.

"And what will you tell Helena?" Artie wanted to know looking down at Myka's signature.

Irene smiled at her colleague. That was the easiest question she had been asked all day.

"I'll simply tell her – checkmate."