Have I mentioned I don't own anything but the mistakes? Well, I'm about to demonstrate that with this chapter I fear.
My usual 'beta' was unavailable - and so I did the read through. Yeah - good luck with that. So have your coffee/tea
before reading this one.
And for those of you who commented on Jack ...see the note below.
A/N thanks to willowcabins for pointing out that Myka would be familiar with the art of flirting having had her fair share. Good call. Thanks. (So I changed it).
Revelations
Helena sent Myka a text asking her to meet her at the Champagne Bar at the Plaza Hotel at 7:30 – and to dress warmly. This was a dilemma for Myka who simply had no fashion confidence. Plaza Hotel meant fancy, dress warm meant boots. Myka had this vision of showing up in a cocktail dress and Uggs. Meeting at the restaurant meant she wouldn't be bringing dessert – at least that much she knew.
Helena walked out of her office and put a file on Eileen's desk. "Would you please call Ms. Donovan and give her back her file," Helena asked Eileen.
"Any message?" Eileen asked because she knew it was the Kryptos file.
"Yes, please tell her it only momentarily released me from my ennui and that if she cares to submit the solution, please do not use my name," Helena said smiling. She said goodnight to her assistant and went home to get ready for her dinner date.
Eileen peeked in the file – there on top of the picture, in beautiful handwritten script, was Helena's solution to the cryptic message. The first page was her boss' possible solutions for unlocking the code. One page – and then it was solved. Eileen didn't think there was anyone smarter in the world than her boss. Claudia might have argued that point because she thought Eileen was a pretty smart cookie for coming up with the solution to her problem. It kept Helena out of her hair – and her firewall – all afternoon.
Myka was walking home and past some stores - caught up in the thought of Helena's kiss – kisses – that morning. If she walked any slower or was any more distracted, she would have made the easiest target to get mugged. What did actually attack her was the grating outside the antique store where she stopped to look at the pens in the window. There on display was a slender gold fountain pen embossed with a floral design. Myka loved pens – especially antique ones, and so she stood there looking at the object. When she decided to go inside to take a closer look, her heel caught in the grating and she started to topple over. She let out a scream when she realized she was going to fall, but strong hands came up behind her and grabbed her.
"We just keep running into each other," Jack Gore said as Myka looked up at him. Her face was flush with embarrassment as he stood her back up and she pulled to get her heel released from the metal.
"Oh gosh, thank you," she said tiptoeing off the grate. "Now that's something they don't warn you about when you're coming to New York."
"Yes, they're pretty dangerous for women in high heels," he said. "I was just going inside. Did something catch your eye?"
Myka was amazed that he was going into the same store she was, but it was a lucky thing he was, because he was right there when she was about to fall.
"Yes, I wanted to look around," Myka said and he held the door opened for her. He walked over to a different counter as Myka started to look at the pens.
"Could you tell me about the one in the window?" she asked the shop's owner.
"Oh yes, that's a beauty," he said as he retrieved it from the front of the store.
By this time, Jack had rejoined her at the counter. "Like fountain pens?" he asked.
"All pens really," Myka said.
"I like fountain pens, " Jack said looking down at the display case. "Is this for you or a gift?"
"A gift," Myka answered too quickly as she looked at the pen. She thought it was beautiful, but would Helena?
"This one here belonged to HG Wells," the shop keeper said and Myka's head jerked up quickly to look at him.
"The one I am holding?" she asked with excitement in her voice. "Are you sure? THE HG Wells?"
"You must really like HG Wells?" Jack laughed.
"Yes, let me see here," the owner said taking out the paper that was inside the box. "Hmmm, yes says here – used by HG Wells when he was writing The War of the Worlds," he read. "It's authentic," he smiled showing her the certificate. He had been in the business long enough to recognize when someone was impressed…. and this woman was awestruck.
"Looks kind of dainty for a guy, doesn't it?" Jack said looking down at the slender pen.
"Well, back then men weren't so concerned with appearing macho," Myka said without realizing Jack had just been served. The shopkeeper smiled – he liked Myka.
Suddenly Myka become conflicted. Would Helena like the pen, or was this like giving her something she might already have a dozen of in her family's gallery somewhere.
"Don't you think he'll like it?" Jack asked seeing the hesitation.
"Oh I think she'll like it, I just…," Myka said and stopped.
"Your boss?" he asked and Myka realized she was talking without thinking.
"A friend," she said.
"Well she's lucky to have such a generous friend," Jack said smiling.
Myka wished she was alone to think it through, but she was pressed for time now. She would have to follow her instincts, and they told her to get it. The owner polished it up, then insisted on wrapping the box in gold foil paper with a small bow. This was a courtesy he offered only his best customers, rarely first time buyers, but there was something about Myka that he liked. She took the small shopping bag and walked out with her neighbor.
"Didn't see anything you liked in there?" Myka asked as they walked to their building a block away.
"Actually - I did," Jack said smiling at Myka.
She knew flirting when she saw it having had her fair share of men interested in her. Now what should she do? Be polite, but clear, she told herself. If he asks, tell him thanks, but …. was going through her head when Jack asked; "Would you like to go for coffee sometime?"
Myka knew decorum called for being polite when saying no thanks in these instances. "Oh, Jack that is so nice of you to ask. And I appreciate it, but I am seeing someone," Myka said apologetically.
"Seeing someone…. or involved?" Jack boldly asked as they got on the elevator. Myka never had a man pursue her like this.
"Involved, definitely involved," Myka said and the thought of Helena's kiss came back to her and a smile came across her face involuntarily. The elevator stopped at his floor and he started to get off.
"Can't blame a guy for trying," he said.
Myka smiled and thanked him for saving her from falling again. He said goodnight as the door closed and went to his apartment while Myka rushed upstairs to get ready for her date. At the same time Myka pulled out an outfit that didn't look like work clothes, Jack was in his apartment, pouring himself a drink.
Helena rushed home and was already acclimated to the fact that strangers who didn't utter a word were waiting for her to disrobe. Shoes were replaced in the closet and jackets were hung up. Helena thought as long as they were there, she'd try something.
"I'm going to have a light supper at the Plaza, but I need it to be warm as I will be outdoors afterwards," she said to the young man.
He listened closely – and then disappeared into her closet. He returned with an Yves St. Laurent single breasted veste de canotier with peak lapel in black and white, with black pants and a white blouse. Helena liked it – and smiled her approval to the non-speaking student of fashion.
Then at 7:15, Pete picked her up and took her to the restaurant. There in the corner of the Champagne Bar, sipping a glass of water was the object of her affections. Myka Bering lit up the room like no one else she knew. Heads may have been turning when the socialite CEO entered, but the only person she saw was Myka.
"Good evening," Helena said bending down and kissing Myka on both cheeks. "You look wonderful."
Myka blushed – mostly because she knew Helena must be lying. "You do know that every head turns when you walk into the room, yes?" Myka asked her thinking how could they not.
"I only notice one thing when I walk into a room that you are in, Ms. Bering," Helena said smiling.
God she is charming, Myka thought.
True to her style, Helena called the waiter over, ordered for them in French and smiled at him to leave. "I thought we would eat something light. I have plans," Helena said sipping her water.
"Oh?" Myka asked.
"Indeed," was all her host would say.
"I noticed that we have a meeting …," Myka started to say, but Helena reached across the table and placed her hand on Myka's.
"No business tonight, Counselor. You are off duty, are you not?" Helena smiled warmly.
Myka marveled at the way the flame from the small candle on the table danced in Helena's ebony eyes.
"Yes," Myka said because she was under the spell that was Helena.
"Good! I mean, I know you work for a tyrant,….."Helena said.
"Oh she's not that bad," Myka said.
"I've heard otherwise," Helena teased back.
"Well, don't get me wrong. She can be a real … well, difficult, shall we say? But once you get to know her, she's really very nice," Myka said.
"Very nice? Well, there's an endorsement if I ever heard one," Helena laughed.
They enjoyed their light supper, and Myka had the impression Helena was moving things along because of a schedule. At 8:30, Helena asked Myka to come outside. Myka hadn't even had a chance to give Helena her gift yet. When Myka came down the steps of the hotel, there waiting for them was a horse and carriage …..and a driver.
"I do miss the horse and buggy days," Helena said – and didn't realize she said it out loud.
Only Myka Bering would hear something like that – and concur.
The driver helped them in and they sat back to take in the sights of Manhattan from the back of the open carriage. The driver took them at a slow gait around Fifth Avenue and back through Central Park, the rare oasis of greenery in Manhattan. Within minutes of the sun disappearing, Helena pulled up a warm blanket over their legs.
"I have something for you," Myka said as the horse walked slowly through the park, passed joggers and tourists. She reached under the blanket and produced the small bag.
"For me?" Helena asked and took the bag with the excitement of children on Christmas morning. She couldn't remember the last time she got a gift that wasn't attached to a condition or purpose.
"I hope you like it," Myka said as she, too got excited.
Helena slipped off the foil wrapping paper and bow and gently opened the box. Myka wasn't sure what to expect, but the look on Helena's face was not it. She watched as the frown buried into her brow and her eyes became fixated on the object.
"I'm sorry, Helena. The guy said it belonged to HG Wells…," Myka said…. and Helena burst into tears.
"Oh my God, Helena," Myka said taking the weeping woman in her arms.
Was this a cursed family heirloom? Did Helena hate HG Wells for some reason? Did she have ten more like it at home?
Helena couldn't help it. The sight of seeing the pen she had treasured so many years before was there in her hand and it caught her by surprise. Total surprise. She remembered writing notes for Charles late into the night for his stories – stories which she also penned. Helena couldn't speak. She took the pen out, ran her fingers over the design remembering how it was her favorite one to write with.
"Myka, I ….don't know what to say," Helena said.
Myka was a mixture of emotions – she felt terrible, panicked, awful ….She released Helena so she could see her face.
"I thought …maybe you …I'm sorry, Helena," Myka said grabbing her hand.
Helena was so caught up in seeing the treasure; she didn't realize how her reaction was being misconstrued.
"Oh no, darling," Helena reached up and touched Myka's face. "It is beautiful, thank you."
"But it upset you..," Myka said, still worried.
"It's just …. That I haven't seen it in such a long time. I thought it was lost to the ages," Helena said returning her gaze to the missing pen, stoking it with affection. "Where did you find it?"
"In a little antique shop, down near my apartment. Are you okay?" Myka asked because she didn't recover quickly when she thought she upset someone.
Helena heard that concern in her voice. She put the pen back in the box and placed it back in the bag. She turned to Myka and gently touched her cheek. Then, in the middle of Central Park under a deep blue blanket of sky and distant lights, and as the world continued on its way, the Time Traveler stopped time – and drew Myka into a kiss that demonstrated just how happy she was.
"We have a lot to talk about, Myka," Helena said when she released her.
The crisp night air and the noise of the City were lost on Myka. She reveled in the warmth of that kiss and all she could see was Helena.
Helena instructed the driver to take them to her townhouse. She had to begin telling Myka who she really was.
Downtown, just around the same time, Jack Gore sat alone in his apartment. He took out a folder from his briefcase and looked at the contents. Then he picked up his phone and called his boss. He had put off the call as long as he could.
"I have confirmation that former Agent Wells is seeing someone," Jack said and looked down at the pictures of Myka and Helena taken through the bay window of her townhouse. It was one of the parts of his job he detested the most; spying on civilians.
"Do we know if former Agent Wells has told this woman anything?" his boss asked.
"I don't have confirmation yet, sir," Jack answered.
"Good work, Agent Gore. Stay on it. We can't have Ms. Wells deciding to break her contract with us, now can we?" his boss asked.
"No sir, we can't," Jack said because that was the correct answer.
Have I mentioned how good y'all are at picking up vibes about characters? You saw Jack coming a mile away, didn't ya?
OK ...don't go all jumping to conclusions ... yet. **insert evil laugh**