I am sometimes inspired by songs and Drake's new one definitely did for the dance scene.
Thank you to cdb55 for reminding me what Myka said about her 'one'.
(omg that's all she's going to say? Can you believe it?)
Secrets
Sitting in the back of the car in the dark, Helena couldn't think of anything else except Myka sitting there in a deep navy gown. That might explain why she didn't think to give Myka a heads up about what she was in for when they arrived at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the private event. It wasn't just the local photographers who would be waiting for the CEO, there would be the Mayor who would want Helena on his waiting arm, and other business people, – some who liked and admired Helena, and others who would love to see her fail. Myka had no idea any of this was what would greet them.
When they pulled up, Myka saw the throngs of people waiting on both sides of the rope. Police were there to hold them back. As soon as Pete opened the door near Myka, screams erupted. It took Myka a second to realize that they were waiting for Helena. The flashes went off at such a rapid pace, that Myka had to cover her eyes to see. She walked quickly so that she could turn around and watch Helena stroll slowly up the red carpet. She waved to people, even stopping to sign an autograph for someone who pushed through the police barricade with a book. Myka smiled openly at the cheers for Helena. She was finally getting some of the recognition she so richly deserved.
The Mayor was impatiently waiting for her once they got inside. "You are late Helena!" he said as if this was not a pattern.
"You are annoying," Helena said back and grabbed Myka's hand. "Will you allow me to walk in with this buffoon? He has little chance of winning, but whilst he's here, it makes my life easier," Helena whispered.
Myka was touched that Helena would ask. "Of course," Myka said and Pete offered his arm.
The room erupted into applause for the woman of the hour and the man who was running for relection. Dozens approached Helena, kissing her cheeks and saying how good it was to see her. Questions of where have you been noted her absence from the social scene over these past weeks. Promises of calling next week for lunch were made and apologies for not doing it sooner. Myka stood there smiling, getting a little uncomfortable at being pushed outside the inner circle of those trying to get to the Brit. Then Helena reached out and pull her to her side and introduce her. "This is Myka Bering, my Chief Counsel. If you have any thoughts of suing me, I must warn you, you'll be dealing with her," Helena smiled.
Myka had witnessed countless people kissing Helena, touching her arm, allowing their hands to graze her bare skin – or as Myka's mind read, – pawing at her! One competitor, who believed in keeping your friends close and your enemies closer, had the audacity to put his hand on Helena's derriere when he hugged her. Myka snapped.
"OK," she said roughly grabbing his hand and twisting it away. "Let's keep your hands where I can see them," Myka said growling at him. Helena smiled from ear to ear. God she loved it when Myka lost control.
"New security?" he said to Helena. She ached to say new lover, but she wasn't sure that's how Myka wanted the world to know.
The one that pushed Myka over the edge though was the reality star with the overdone hair do, broad hips and cleavage poured into a dress two sizes too small. "Helena, when are you going to come to the Hamptons for some fun," the woman asked -and her eyes scanned Helena slowly and stopped at parts Myka found offensive.
"Perhaps we could …," Helena said and Myka pulled her hand.
"Can I talk to you?" she said to Helena and the Brit recoiled from the look in those green eyes. Helena usually knew when she was in trouble, but this caught her off guard. She tried to say 'excuse me,' but she was being dragged away before she could get it out.
"Bitch," the woman said of Helena's keeper.
"Are you okay?" Helena asked sitting down at the table with Myka.
"I wasn't …I'm sorry, Helena…. I didn't expect this," Myka said waving her hand at the room.
"Expect what?" Helena asked concerned.
"People …grabbing at you…undressing you with their eyes…groping you ….," Myka exaggerated, but thought it was true.
Helena bit her lip to keep the smile from exploding on her face. Myka was jealous? Oh God, what a turn on that was.
"You know you are the only person I am interested in being with, yes?" Helena asked. She didn't want to douse out the flames of jealousy completely. "I absolutely loved the way you grabbed Ted's hand away from my …and pulled me over here. I like it when you're in charge," Helena purred in Myka's ear. "If the waiter looks down my dress, will you kick his..," Helena mused until Myka said, "Helena!" and smiled her relief. It was silly to be jealous, Myka thought. Maybe.
"So no touching?" Helena asked innocently and Myka thought she meant others touching her.
"No! None," Myka said puffing out her chest and moving her shoulders like she was ready to take on the world.
"Are you absolutely sure about that, Counselor?" Helena said leaning her elbow on the table and putting her other hand underneath finding the opening in Myka's dress. Her fingers grazed Myka's thigh, slowly moving up. Myka yelped and put the napkin over her mouth. She was a novice at this public dare game.
"Do you know, Myka….," Helena said slowly– her words dripping in her accent, " …that moving five centimeters per seconds along the skin heightens one's sense of arousal?" Helena whispered and Myka felt all the shivers explode in her inner thighs.
"You… are….. torturing me," Myka said into her napkin and then tried to smile in case the room was watching. They were.
"Oh that sounds bad. Do you want to discuss my punishment?" Helena said pulling her hand back and acting guilty.
"As soon as …. I can….. speak again, yes," Myka said playing along.
"I look forward to it," Helena said without any pause between her words.
The Mayor took his place next to Helena and tried to keep her attention, but it was a fruitless effort. Even when he insisted she say hello to a constituent, Helena put her hand back on Myka's leg or on her back, each time slowly rubbing the naked skin or touching it lightly.
Myka had excused herself to go to the ladies room, and wondered if splashing cold water on her face would ruin the expensive makeup job. She looked in the mirror and saw the flush in her face. "Too warm for you madam?" the attendant asked and Myka said yes. "It's hot at my table," she said and didn't mean the temperature. Myka patted her neck with a wet paper towel, trying to regain her composure. She returned to the table, where Helena held her chair for her when she got back.
"I bet you can charm the pants off of every guy in this room," Myka teased Helena after watching another infatuated man blather on to her.
"That's not the article of clothing I'm putting all my efforts into," Helena said and Myka grabbed the water again. Bold didn't begin to describe Helena's remarks.
Pete arrived with his mother on his arm. She was relieved that the afternoon had turned out as well as it had. Once she told him that Helena had personally reached out to her, he felt it would be okay to bring her. Helena said she harbored no hard feelings and so Jane agreed to come. Pete introduced her to Artie and Vanessa, the two safest people in the room. Then they all joined Myka and Helena at the table.
The live band started to play and the Mayor asked Helena to accompany him to the dance floor. Myka was feeling like the unattached guest at the wedding – a very familiar feeling at the weddings of all her college friends already married. She was the living rendition of 27 Dresses. One of the Mayor's Aides de camp who had been talking to them at the table and was very friendly - immediately moved in on Myka. A good-looking well-groomed man with a cleft in his chin and sparking blue eyes insisted she accept his offer to dance. Myka followed him to the dance floor where he took Myka in his arms in a very gentlemanly like manner as they danced to the slow opening number.
Helena was counting the seconds until she could gracefully push the Mayor off on someone else to dance with.
"Helena, you seem very distracted tonight," he said through a mouth full of smiles. Helena wasn't sure if his lips were moving. "Well where is the lucky guy? Bring him over," the man beamed assuming too much.
'This will be why you lose, you dolt,' Helena thought, but didn't say.
Helena would be wrong about that.
Then Helena caught sight of the Mayor's aide dancing with Myka and it did not please her at all. She pushed back from the Mayor to be released and grabbed the first woman she found and pushed her in her place. The Mayor was shocked, but knew the cameras could be on him so he took her hand and began dancing again.
"I can't believe I'm dancing with the Mayor of New York City," the young waitress said and the Mayor smiled uncomfortably.
Myka didn't notice Helena's harsh expression. She was too busy thinking back to what she had told her mother in Colorado -
"Mom, I want someone who makes every part of me feel alive and beautiful. I want someone who when they look at me, across a crowded room even, my heart starts to beat faster. I want someone who when they speak with that freaking adorable accent, my core melts. And when they touch me, sparks erupt in parts of me I never even knew. And Mom, I want the person who when they whisper my name in my ear, I would follow them body and soul to the ends of the earth,"
It was everything Helena made her feel and she knew it. She caught Helena's glance across that crowded room now and her heart did speed up. Helena's accent was like warm syrup and it could make Myka dissolve. And Myka's body never felt more alive in her life – whether Helena was touching her or just sitting next to her. And she knew in her heart, she would follow Helena anywhere.
Follow her is exactly what she did when Helena abruptly interrupted the dance and pulled her away from the man she deemed a threat. She had Myka by the hand – just as the music ended, so the man bowed his head and relinquished.
"I find it quite endearing when you are jealous, Myka Bering," Helena said, "but it will not be so appealing if I am the envious one. I do not fight fair."
Helena's nostrils were flaring and Myka could see her chest expand and collapse quickly. She put her hand on Helena's pounding heart – "You do know you are the only person I am interested in being with, yes?" Myka asked softly. She had such a calming effect on Helena.
The orchestra changed tempos and started to play a slower version of "Hold On, We're Going Home." The sultry voice came over the microphone –
"I got my eyes on you
You're everything that I see
I want your heart, love and emotion endlessly,
I can't get over you
You left your mark on me
I want your heart, love and emotion endlessly."
Helena pulled Myka in close to her – and pressed her body into Myka's. She moved her in tandem with her leg pressing on hers and her hand on her waist while holding the other one. Myka had never moved around a dance floor so gracefully. Every time the singer said 'you're a good girl and you know it,' Helena's eyes burned with desire.
"Cause you're a good girl and you know it
You act so different around me
Cause you're a good girl and you know it
I know exactly who you could be
Just hold on we're going home
Just hold on we're going home
It's hard to do these things alone
Just hold on we're going home."
Suddenly, the noise, the music, the people faded into the background as Myka fell deeper in love with Helena. And there in the middle of the Metropolitan Museum of Art – where rooms of priceless riches surrounded the private guests, Helena held onto the one person she treasured the most in the world.
The song ended and for a few minutes, Helena and Myka stood there – looking into each others eyes. If it weren't for the fact that they were starting the speeches, they may never have broken that visual embrace. They went back to the table where their friends now joined them and suffered through the monologues and applause.
Helena offered Jane a slight nod across the table – pleased she had done the right thing. Artie and Vanessa took their seats and Vanessa leaned over to Helena. "Oh Ms. Wells, I have good news," the doctor said. "Your blood work results are in and you are no longer anemic! You're immune system has improved greatly and I don't think you will need those shots anymore."
Helena thanked her for the news and then turned to Myka to whisper her gratitude. "You do know an active sex life helps strengthen your resistance?" Helena said as if she were asking Myka to pass the salt.
Steve ordered two more beers and a diet coke for Eileen as they stood at the bar.
"God they are so happy they make me sick," Claudia said feeling the buzz that loosened up her lips more. Her friends just looked at her. This was not like her at all.
"I'm sorry, I'm just so…. I don't know," Claudia said apologetically to them. She couldn't seem to get a hold of this.
Eileen put her soda down and leaned over and clasped the woman who was not a fan of public embracing. Claudia was about to stiffen up and say 'ok, enough of that thanks', when she felt her soul melt into the hug. Warmth exuded from the younger woman and made Claudia feel – safe, loved, and okay all in that one embrace. If Claudia had ever felt that before, it was a very long time ago.
"You're a wonderful person and you're going to meet the right person. You just have to be patient," Eileen said and slowly released her. Then she excused herself and went to check on Helena.
Steve and Claudia stood there, motionless.
"I would be gay for her," Claudia said.
"I would be straight for her," Steve added.
"That must be why they want her," loose-lips Donovan said.
"Who wants her?" Steve asked.
"The warehouse people. They want her to be a Regent or something. That's why they're back here. They hacked into Eileen's file," Claudia spilled, sipping her beer.
Her eyes widened and Steve thought it was out of fear of losing Eileen. He was half right. Fear was the emotion her eyes were conveying – fear and sheer terror.
"Who? What?" Steve asked.
"Yes, Ms. Donovan, do tell me what you know," Helena said coming up behind Steve.
"Oh…ah….uhm….Ms. Bering…..," Claudia stammered and saw Helena's eyes widen. She knew lying would be a mistake because Helena would see Steve react.
"Ms. Bering what?" Helena asked curtly.
"Ms. Bering knows that ….the Regent….Pete's mother …..wants to recruit …Eileen …as a Regent," Claudia said and she tried to keep her lips together, but Helena's glare sliced through her resistance.
"Oh she does now, does she?" Helena asked turning to look back at Myka who was anxiously waiting for Helena to return.