As everyone deals with this question about the show and our favorites, I just had the idea to do something light and current. It's no band-aid I know and I'm posting pre show knowing it can't do that.
The turn in this chapter is for fun - I hope it comes across that way.
What Everyone Wants to Know
Eileen was at her desk a few minutes before Helena's first unscheduled guest arrived. The phone was ringing off the hook and she was late on starting the tea.
"Would you please tell Ms. Wells I'm here the minute she arrives?" the incredibly good-looking gray-haired man asked in a low smooth voice.
"I will," Eileen assured him. "Geesh," Eileen said, after closing the door and running to get the phone. "Yes, I know CNBC Squawk Box at ten. We have the conference room wired to go."
It seemed now that the world knew Helena Wells had a relative, the world wanted to know what she was going to do about it. Helena agreed to the rare interviews as trade for the news organizations promises to keep the lid on the story until she said okay. They had and now it was time to pay up.
What the man in the conference room had to do with any of this, Eileen couldn't imagine.
"Are you telling me….?" Claudia whispered at Eileen's desk, after seeing to the television hook up in the conference room. Helena may have agreed to a slew of interviews, but she never said she was leaving her building.
"Yes, in there," Eileen said, pointing to the closed door of the other conference room. The one where Myka had hidden under the desk after spilling something on her blouse and Helena walked in unaware of her presence. Once she found Myka was there, she thought she would tease Myka. Helena had more than the tables turned on her that day, much to the delight of the Frederic Brothers who – as Helena was distracted in the throes of a passionate under the table moment brought on by Myka, - were the recipients of the CEO agreeing – to anything.
"What do you think he wants?" Claudia said, peering over at the door as if she could see through it.
"I have no idea," Eileen said, answering another call.
Just then the elevator door opened and a very poised Helena waltzed into the waiting area. Eileen was relieved to see Myka and Irene with her.
"Mrs. Frederic?" Claudia asked, surprised to see the woman. "Are you – is she?"
"She thinks so, so we're letting her stay," Helena said. "Miss Sullivan, did Dr. Nathanson confirm her 9 o'clock appointment?"
"Yes, she did," Eileen said standing and waiting to give Helena all the information.
"Good, I would like her to meet with Mrs. Frederic, Ms. Bering and you, all at once," Helena said. And then she looked at Eileen. "Her retribution rests in your hands, Miss Sullivan. Just make it legal so Ms. Bering doesn't get upset."
Claudia pulled Mrs. Frederic aside as Eileen told Helena about her guest. "Mrs. F, do you think – you know, the boss will be – does Eileen understand what she's …..," Claudia stammered.
"Could you put it more simply?" Irene asked.
"We just started to work on her badassery. I'm not sure she's up to the boss' standard of punishment," Claudia worried.
"Ah yes, I see," Irene said because she did. "Let's trust Helena knows what she's doing, shall we?' the wise woman suggested.
"OK, but you'll look out for her in there, right?" Claudia implored.
"Always, Ms. Donovan, always," the HR Director said much to Claudia's relief. The techie long suspected that the Wells blood in Eileen's veins would kick in, but she wasn't sure the newly discovered Wellsian could keep up with Helena's speed.
Myka waited while Eileen finished whispering to Helena about the unscheduled guest. "Oh bloody hell! Today? Today of all days?" Helena asked, as if Eileen knew the answer. Actually, she had a suspicion, but it was pretty farfetched. Still, Myka heard Eileen open the local newspaper and point to something.
"What does it matter to me? I am not one of the millions heartbroken," Helena asked reading the headline. Eileen shrugged her shoulders at this question.
"Myka, come with me please," Helena said, marching into the conference room.
"Do you know who's in there?" Claudia asked Mrs. Frederic.
"The only one who would surprise me is the Pope asking Helena for advice. Short of that, nothing would shock me," Irene confessed. Claudia leaned over and whispered his name.
"Oh she is not going to like that. Mm mm mm. Not in the middle of all of this," Irene said, walking back to the couch and sitting down. When Claudia and Eileen stared at her, she answered with – "I am not missing my one opportunity to see that man!"
Myka followed Helena into the conference room and heard her greet the guest using her syrupy voice – not the one she used in the bedroom when she was hell bent on torturing Myka slowly. No, this was her faux tone when she conveyed – "So good to see you – except I'm not" voice.
"GC, so good to see you," Helena said as the man stood to kiss her.
Myka stopped in her tracks. Was that? Was her girlfriend kissing….?
"Helena," the man said, and it was obvious from his tone that he was happy to see the Brit.
"Myka darling, may I introduce Mr.…..," Helena said, turning and pulling Myka to her side.
"Oh I know who you are. It's a pleasure," Myka said, and chastised herself for being star struck.
"Myka Bering," Helena said to the man.
"The pleasure is all mine," the handsome star said and kissed Myka's hand. Within seconds, Helena had removed his hand from Myka's.
"Whatever brings you to my office – at this hour - today?" Helena asked.
"Well Hel, I don't know if you've seen the headlines," the guest started.
Helena was in a very good mood today. "Indeed I have. I'm in them," she said to the Hollywood magnate.
"Oh yes, I saw that. I think you knocked me off the front page," the man said, and when he smiled Myka saw the signature crinkling around his eyes.
"George I'm sorry, but I've got my hands full today," Helena said, urging the man to reveal why he was there.
"Oh! Sure, sorry. I just wanted you to hear it from me," he said, flashing that white teeth smile again. Myka watched Helena carefully, very interested in seeing how her lover handled someone with celebrity status of this magnitude.
"Hear what from you, George?" Helena asked. The man pulled back and looked at Helena, slightly in disbelief.
"Oh well, I guess this is not what I expected. Uhm, Helena, I got engaged over the weekend."
"Oh bravo, George. Good for you," Helena said and only Myka could tell how disinterested Helena really was. Myka bit slowly on her lip to stifle the chuckle that was building up.
This was not the response he was expecting. He and Helena had only met a few times at charity events, mostly in New York. The last time – a couple of years ago – he definitely felt that he and she had shared a moment of great interest. He had convinced himself that if he hadn't been leaving that weekend to film a movie abroad, Helena would have taken him up on his invitation to vacation with him.
He couldn't have been more wrong.
"Oh, so you're not upset?" the star asked.
"Upset?" Helena laughed and looked at Myka, as if to say 'do you have any idea what he's talking about?'
"About ….," he laughed, and a flush came to his cheeks. "…the engagement. I thought maybe…," he continued, obviously embarrassed.
"George, do you ever read those papers that write about you ad nauseam?" Helena asked.
"No - well, yes ..I mean I've seen…," the star tried, getting redder by the moment.
"If you did, then you would know," Helena said, pulling Myka into her closely and looking deeply into Myka's eyes and continued, "…..that I have found my soul mate."
The man stood there as the two women locked eyes, and were now oblivious to his presence. A slight clearing of his throat broke their reverie. "So George, I wish you and …?" Helena waited for her name which he immediately supplied and added, "She's an attorney."
"Oh you have to be very careful with them, George," Helena warned and smiled at Myka. And then George's time was up. "All the best," Helena said, sticking out her hand and shaking his warmly.
And that is how George found out – he had never really impressed Helena G. Wells.
The man walked out a little more humbled, into the waiting room where Claudia immediately began talking loudly –as if to appear like they weren't taking note. The only one who blatantly stared was Irene Frederic. "I am just glad she didn't make him cry," Irene said to no one in particular.
"Myka, this is the outcome I expect with Dr. Nathanson," Helena said getting back to business quickly. "After you remind her of all the legal binds we have on her with the non- compete clause and confidentiality contract, make sure she realizes that we will prosecute to the full extent of the law if she so much as whispers Wells Corp's name in an inappropriate manner."
"The press will want her to talk. I'll make sure she knows that by doing so, she's risking further legal action," Myka said in a definite voice that excited Helena.
"I love it when you talk tough and take matters into your own hands," Helena said, standing in Myka's space.
"Oh you do?" Myka teased, breaking her less display of affection at work rule – which it occurred to her, she broke daily – and put her arms around Helena, resting hands on Helena's back.
"I do …very much," Helena said in a soft, breathy voice.
"Remind me of that tonight," Myka said, kissing just Helena's bottom lip that jutted out as her lips parted.
"Oh I ….oh dammit!" Helena said realizing what night it was. She grabbed her beloved iPhone and looked at her calendar. "I have a dinner with the Mayor tonight and tomorrow night – functions he asked me to attend. Oh do come with me, Myka," Helena said, her lips pouting now.
Ordinarily this expression was enough to get Myka to agree to most anything, but she knew the Mayor wanted Helena as his "Plus One" and didn't want to be on Helena's arm while she was on the Mayor's.
"Oh, no thank you. Besides, don't you need me to stick around tonight in case Irene needs us?" Myka said, trying to get out of it.
"No, I have that all taken care of," Helena said devilishly and Myka worried at how much she was enjoying that thought. "Then go out with Ms. Cummings."
"Helena, I don't mind staying home," Myka tried.
"Yes, but if you're home, I won't want to stay and I have to stay and that will make me miserable," Helena said.
"Of course. Well, I do owe Bridget a call," Myka sighed, thinking it might be fun to go out for dinner.
"Then it's settled. Tell her to have you back by ten," Helena said, checking her schedule.
"She's not babysitting me, Helena," Myka reminded the Brit.
"But I will be home by ten …..," Helena said, because it made all the sense in the world. "And then you can take matters…..into …. your own hands," she said, slipping a long slender finger in the opening in Myka's jacket.
"Are you sure that's what you want?" Myka said playing along.
"Oh yes, I do very much," Helena said and playing right into Myka's hands unknowingly.
"Good," Myka said, walking toward the door now. "First, you can tell me why you have to go dinner with the Mayor and why you have to stay until ten," Myka said, stopping at the door and turning to look at Helena. "I suspect you're repaying a favor for – oh I don't know – underground digging perhaps?" Myka tossed that thought out and waited for Helena to chew on it.
"I…..both admire and detest your beautiful mind sometimes, Counselor," Helena said, not quite disagreeing with Myka's theory. In fact, Helena's underground transit system was coming at a very hefty price indeed, both monetarily and in favors.
"Then you can tell me why Gorgeous George thought he should break the news of his engagement to you personally," Myka added and Helena sighed. This was not what she meant at all.
Helena walked out into the waiting area. "Are we all set for the eight thirty?" she asked Claudia, who assured her they were. Then she turned to Irene. "I'm very busy today, so please do stay out of trouble," Helena said to the woman.
"What is this world coming to when Helena is using my lines?" Irene asked Myka as she walked to the elevator with her. The two women stepped in when it came. Once alone, Irene hugged Myka's arm and apologized for being such a nuisance yesterday.
"I was awful, I know, Myka, and I do apologize. You understand why I did it though, right?" Irene said and Myka nodded. "In spite of her ranting, it does look as if I got my way this time," Irene smiled, getting off on the 16th floor with Myka. She had no idea how wrong she was.
"Ms. Bering!" Millie said, rushing at her as if they hadn't seen each other in weeks. "So much going on. Did you have breakfast? Do you want me to get you a little something? Coffee, tea, sausage and eggs?"
"Oh no, just coffee would be great," Myka said, allowing the woman to strip her of anything she wasn't actually wearing.
"So Mrs. Frederic is okay, right? I'm surprised she's back, but then again I'm not. And what a terrible thing with Dr. Nathanson, but to be honest….," Millie said, stopping to look around like there might be someone else in Myka's office with them, "…she always creeped me out."
"Yes, it is a shame," was all that Myka would say.
"And to think our little Eileen is related to the boss! That's just wonderful news. All over the news, too," Millie said as if Myka didn't know. "I'll get you that coffee."
Myka always felt like a tornado had just been through her office when Millie visited, and now she was sitting in the calm afterwards. She went through her messages, many from concerned clients who wanted to be reassured that the news would not affect them adversely. It wasn't just Myka's legal training and expertise that calmed them, but her manner of speaking to them. She listened to what they had to say, answered their questions, and then summed it up for them at the end. Over and over and over.
Upstairs, Helena was mic'd and ready to go to field questions from the business pros at CNBC Squawk Box, the morning show for business news and stock market analyses. The anchors were thrilled to have Helena on because she could talk about a number of topics. No question threw her and she was always charming and decisive.
"Helena," the lead anchor greeted her, "We're thrilled to have you on again this morning. What impact will the news of a relative have on Wells Corp?" This wasn't one of those gossipy shows what would kill to have Helena on. This was a business show.
"I would be lying if I said none, Joe, but all positive," Helena said in a friendly manner.
"Now there was speculation that there could be some claims to your family fortune. How are you related?" the anchor said.
"We are from different branches of the same tree. Cousins at best," Helena smiled into the camera.
"And yet, Helena, you've introduced her to the world as though she were much more. Is this your succession plan?" the anchor asked, referring to the process of developing internal people with the potential to fill key business leadership positions in the company. "Will she run Wells Corp one day?"
"I'll let you know after Ms. Sullivan's nine o'clock meeting," Helena said and brought a round of laughter from the panel. They thought she was being glib.
She wasn't.
Myka watched Helena on the television screen in her office. She admired how smooth Helena was in any situation. A few minutes later, Bridget returned her call to let her know she had cleared her calendar for the evening and made reservations.
"Oh that's great. Let me write this down. The NoMad Restaurant downtown. Isn't that impossible to get a table at? OK I'll see you at seven," Myka said, hanging up with her friend.
Bridget hung up happy to have heard from her dear friend. She was still shaking her head at Myka's naivete. Bridget had dialed the restaurant, asked for a reservation, and didn't blink when they said no. Then she explained the reservation was for one Myka Bering and suddenly, the man on the phone found an available table.
"Voila!" Bridget said, knowing that would do the trick. She was going to have to tell Myka just how much power her name was beginning to wield in this great Metropolis.
Keep the faith.