I Got Your Number
If Helena thought the disconnect with Irene would bring her less often to her office, she was mistaken. The HR Director went directly there when she left Myka's office. She was happy to see that Eileen was back at her beloved station and appeared quite content.
"No need," Irene said knocking and going in. She didn't need to be announced.
Helena was busy mulling over contracts and talking to the biomedical staff on a conference call.
"I think Pfizer offers the best channels of distribution, but I'd like to hear what you think at our next meeting," Helena said and there was silence on the other end. What she could not see was the staff sitting around the table like deer in headlights. She never asked what they thought.
"OK…. Ms. Wells," finally one of them said before they hung up.
"Playing nice I see," Irene said sitting down.
"Isn't that what you always told me to do?" Helena said signing paperwork.
"Yes, but you're actually doing it," Irene commented. After witnessing her boss' efforts with Eileen, she wondered if it wasn't Myka's influence that was the impetus for Helena's change.
"Helena, it's time to talk about that subject that you don't like to discuss," Irene said gently.
"Sports?" Helena said not looking up from her desk.
"Not sports, Helena. It's time for me to retire," Irene said and saw the immediate reaction of Helena shutting down.
"No," Helena said firmly.
"Helena," Irene smiled, "I told you that I would help you staff your company when we started and I did. I explained that I would stay one, maybe two years at most. Then we connected and I wouldn't dream of leaving then. Now you have Ms. Bering," Irene explained.
"I do not see what possible reason you have to want to leave ….. here," and Helena almost slipped and said... me. "People depend on you. You can't just leave…. all these people ….who count on you."
"The people …who depend on me are quite self-sufficient," Irene said and they both knew who she meant. "It does not have to be now, but I want you to start thinking about it and about whom you would like in my spot. Eileen might be a good candidate," the older woman grinned at the thought.
"Bloody hell, no! She'll be marrying everyone off and we'll be hosting weddings in the employee dining room," Helena said.
"Well, I just want you to think about it, ok?" Irene said. Helena was already thinking about it.
"You have my word that I will," the crafty CEO said.
As soon as Irene left, Helena was on the phone with Claudia instructing her that she needed to know more about Irene's family and could she get her phone numbers. If Irene was leaving for family reasons, Helena would bring them to her. At any cost. Once she had that information, she acted on it.
"I would like you and Mr. Jinx here to take a little trip to California," Helena explained to Pete. "Mrs. Frederic's two sons live in San Diego and I would like you to ascertain their employment at any cost."
"You want them to make them an offer they can't refuse?" Pete said in a decent imitation of Marlon Brando. It was lost on Helena.
"Well, yes," she concurred.
"No, I was doing ….I was saying it like the Godfather," Pete tried.
"Say it however they understand it," Helena asked.
"So you want Pete to offer them jobs ….here …..in New York and you think they will leave San Diego?" Claudia asked because who would leave that weather for New York's sleet and slush.
"Ms. Donovan, if Mrs. Frederic leaves, I will be very upset. What do I do when I'm upset?" Helena asked.
"You try to break down the firewall. We're on it, boss," Claudia said grabbing Steve and getting out. Pete stayed behind.
"Boss, I have a question," Pete said having given some thought. "My mother is coming into town over the weekend so I was thinking of taking off."
Helena seemed surprised by the question. "Of course, Mr. Lattimer, you don't work for me …what is the expression? Oh yes, twenty four seven," Helena said pleased she used the idiom correctly.
"Actually …," Pete said hoping Helena would realize he was practically available anytime she called him. She did.
"Oh," she said when that fact dawned on her. "Of course. Take your mother to a Broadway show, brunch, museums. Just tell Eileen and she'll make the arrangements," Helena offered.
"Thanks boss," Pete said. He could afford to take his mother to all those things on his generous salary, but didn't have a clue how to go about setting it up.
Then Helena's favorite sight appeared in her door as Pete left.
"Come in Counselor," Helena said to Myka.
Myka carried in a stack of papers for Helena to sign. Papers that her assistant could have taken up and handed to Eileen, but Myka enjoyed her visits.
"That was very sweet of you to accept Eileen's invitation," Myka said.
"I'm glad you think so. It should be fun," Helena smiled placing her signature where Myka pointed.
"You'll enjoy it, I'm sure," Myka said.
"You mean - we'll enjoy it," Helena corrected her.
"Helena," Myka started to say.
"Ah ah, Counselor, you suggested I offer her something and I did. Now wouldn't you like a tour of English and …," and Helena shuddered before saying…," French tea?"
"I would like to see you drinking French tea," Myka teased. "I think I will join you."
"Very funny," Helena said back.
"I was wondering," Myka said when the paperwork was all done, "Would you like to come to my apartment for dinner tonight?"
"I would like that very much," Helena said because Myka could have suggested anywhere and Helena would have agreed.
"I'll make you my famous spaghetti and meatballs ala Bering," Myka laughed.
"I look forward to it," Helena said.
"Oh and Helena, can we make this super casual?" Myka asked and Helena said of course even though she had no idea what that meant.
No sooner did Myka get on the elevator then Eileen was summoned to ask that the definition of 'super casual' was.
"I think Ms. Bering wants to have a relaxing dinner and probably she doesn't want you to dress up," Eileen offered.
"What is the other option?" Helena asked.
"Dressing down," Eileen said. "You know, like casual Fridays?" but Helena gave her a blank expression.
"Here," Eileen said grabbing her tablet. "Where are you going?"
"Ms. Bering's apartment," Helena said and Eileen's head shot up.
"Do not say anything to that doorman," she said authoritatively.
"The doorman?" Helena asked.
"The one that fed guy paid off? To tell him when Ms. Bering was coming and going. Tommy Boy?" Eileen reminded Helena.
"Oh yes, Mr. Lopez. I do remember," Helena said making a note.
"Do you have a college sweatshirt? Cause that is super casual?" Eileen said.
"Do you know what year I attended Oxford, Ms. Sullivan?" Helena said smiling.
"Oh yeah – no spirit wear in 1885?" Eileen said without making it sound like a joke. "OK here, Camo Pop from Vogue," Eileen said. "It will look great on you."
"OK," Helena said trusting the young assistant's taste.
"Do you want me to get the pants? Maybe you have a blouse that will go with it?" Eileen asked.
"I have no idea. Can you order the entire ensemble?" Helena asked.
"The shoes, too?" Eileen asked certain Helena had shoes that would go.
"Yes, and the bag, too," Helena said because she liked the way it all went together.
"OK," Eileen said not even asking about the jewelry shown in the picture. It was from Tiffany's and there was nothing that said casual about that.
"What are you bringing?" the assistant asked, confirming again why she should never be let go. Helena was usually the hostess, not the guest. She didn't know.
"How about flowers? A bottle of wine? A DVD?" Eileen suggested.
"What would you bring?" Helena asked genuinely curious.
"I would bring dessert," Eileen said.
"Get all of them," Helena said when she couldn't choose.
Eileen went about ordering the clothes for her boss. The skinny fit pants in camo colors of brown, black, and green from Zara, the white Queen's Wardrobe blouse with the opened neck and three-quarter sleeves, the Dior high-heeled shoes with the Prada bag were delivered with two hours once Eileen explained who they were for. There wasn't a designer on Seventh Avenue worth his or her salt, that didn't want Helena G. Wells to wear their designs.
Helena spent the rest of the day following up on some work in the various departments. There wasn't an employee in the building who didn't run into Helena and not notice the difference. She was calmer and friendlier. She asked for input at the afternoon meeting and when someone admitted their project was not quite on schedule, she didn't explode. She suggested they adjust the timeline to allow for further testing.
Some suspected medications; others body snatchers. Only Helena's closest friends attributed the change to Helena being happy.
Pete drove Helena to Myka's apartment at 7:30. Helena was armed with pink roses, a bottle of zinfandel, the DVD of The War of the Worlds, and two small cheesecakes. When she approached the building, the young doorman held the door open for her.
"Can I help you with those?" the man asked pretty sure he knew the guest.
"No, thank you. Would you please ring Ms. Bering's apartment for me," Helena asked politely.
"Ms. Bering, this is Thomas. Ms. Wells is here to see you," he announced not needing her name. Helena suddenly remembered what Eileen had told her about not speaking to the doorman.
"You're rather young for a doorman, are you not?" Helena asked as he walked her to the elevator and pressed the button for her since her arms were full.
"Yes, I was very lucky to get this job," the young man said back.
He held the door opened and pressed Myka's floor. Helena put her foot on the electronic door to hold it back.
"I hope that luck holds out for you this evening, Mr. Lopez," Helena said.
"Thanks!" he said not understanding it was a threat and that Helena's hands would be free on her trip back down later.
"Neanderthal," she said as the door closed.
Helena approached Myka's door and struggled with finding the bell, but the door opened without signally her arrival.
Myka stood there in a gray t-shirt imprinted with Colorado U – Law School and its logo, blue sweatpants that hugged her across her hips and white socks. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail with only the defiant curls across her forehead. She had a dishtowel flung over one shoulder and a wooden spoon in her hand. She took in the vision in front of her. Helena was slightly shorter, but in those heels she met Myka's eyes. She looked exquisite even in pants that bore the camouflage imprint.
"Oh gosh, let me help you," Myka finally said, after the long silence as they drank each other in.
She grabbed the bottle of wine and dessert bag and invited her guest inside. She stared at Helena from behind as she walked into Myka's long entryway.
"So... this is you... dressing casual?" Myka laughed at the outfit.
"Yes, do you like it?" Helena said believing she had hit the mark.
"Do you have any play clothes?" Myka laughed.
Behave! Helena said to herself. "It smells delicious in here."
"Oh I hope you like it. It's actually the only dish I am decent at," Myka confessed.
Helena looked around the large room. Everything in it said Myka - from the Monet print on the wall, to the tall bookcases filled with books. There were family pictures on the mantel piece and large books on the coffee table. "This is lovely," Helena said taking in the warm feel of the place.
"Do you own a pair of flat shoes?" Myka asked looking down at her foot attire.
"I ….don't really know," Helena said shrugging her shoulders and Myka laughed.
"Oh! These are for you," Helena said handing the bouquet to her hostess and the DVD.
"They're beautiful," Myka said smelling the roses. "How did you know this was one of my favorite movies?" she laughed.
"I'm afraid you know the ending then," Helena teased.
"I could watch it a million times," Myka said. She leaned over and kissed Helena and said thank you.
Myka put the flowers in a vase, opened the wine, and poured out two glasses of the pinkish elixir.
"I'd like to make a toast," Myka said bringing the wine into the room and handing Helena a glass. "To connections," Myka said genuinely, raising her glass.
"To connections," Helena concurred and touched her glass against Myka's.
Downstairs in the lobby, Thomas was busy sorting packages that were delivered for the residents. His cell phone rang and he looked down at the number and picked it up.
"Yes, this is Thomas. Who gave you my number? Oh Mr. Gore, yeah I know him. Yes, I understand. OK, sure. Yes, Ms. Wells is upstairs now. She's been there since a little before eight. Me? I'm doing a double shift tonight to cover for someone so I'll be here until tomorrow morning. OK, I'll see you then," he said and closed the phone.
He went back to sorting out the packages without a care in the world.