Ten Minute to Show Time
At five PM that Sunday evening, Claudia Donovan pressed the key that released the news that changed the social spheres. Bosses of news organizations made frantic calls to underlings to organize and dispatch teams of reporters and photographers. In the meantime, media specialists searched for the right picture of the couple to use as they interrupted their regularly scheduled boringness to announce the news.
It was the key push - heard round the world.
While trucks with satellite dishes atop them scattered throughout the City, the newly engaged couple were tucked asleep in a sea of blankets in the master bedroom on the second floor of the townhouse at 1866 Central Park West – also known as – ground zero. By five thirty, the street had to be closed off outside the home of the sought after couple as camera crews set up and news reporters took their stance. One enterprising young reporter took to the building next to the townhouse, charmed his way into the apartment on a floor above the townhouse and jumped – yes jumped – to the roof below. He was immediately apprehended by Wells Security – who were now on the scene. Glaring flood lights lit up the entire block and eventually found their way into the spaces of the bedroom windows.
Myka woke first, taking a minute to figure out what those bright lights and noise was all about. She turned to see Helena – sound asleep – next to her and the rest of the world faded into the background. As if aware she was being gazed at, the Brit's eyelids fluttered opened. She broke into a huge smile upon seeing Myka and curled up next to her and shut her eyes again.
"I believe we have company," Myka said softly. "And lots of it." Myka turned on the television set, surprised to see the front of her home on each of the local channels.
"We're outside the home of Helena Wells and Myka Bering where it was reported that the couple has become official engaged. Channel 5 was able to obtain documents that show the ring Ms. Wells gave Ms. Bering in fact was flown in from Antarctica. It is believed Ms. Wells funded a recent expedition to the South Pole for the sole purpose of bringing the ring there and back."
Myka shook her head and changed the channel.
"Bob, we're outside the townhouse of the rumored to be engaged couple, but so far there is no sign of them. The official release that came from Wells Corp did say that the double engagement took place this morning at an undisclosed area. Now, there was some police activity around Central Park last night, but no witnesses that we talked to could say for sure that they saw either Ms. Wells or Ms. Bering."
Click -
"TMZ reporting live from Central Park West where any minute now we expect the couple to come out and make a statement."
Click -
"Rachel, we caught up with the President just moments ago and here's what he had to say…..
"If in fact the rumors are true and I personally know that you have to check them out, then Michelle and I will be among the first to offer our sincerest congratulations."
Click -
Myka smiled and flipped the channel one more time. It was like watching a major event unfold in the media that she didn't quite grasp – was about her. Suddenly a familiar – somewhat familiar - face appeared on the screen and Myka heard the accent.
"Mr. Tesla, you were reportedly engaged to Ms. Wells," the reporter said, pushing the microphone in Jeffrey's face.
"Indeed I was," the man said outside his apartment on the Upper West Side.
"Any advice for Ms. Bering as the new fiancé?" the reporter asked. "Yes," Jeffrey smiled and looked right into the camera as if he were looking directly at Myka, - "Hold onto to her. Don't let go of her."
Myka jumped at the perceived invasion and pressed the button hard to shut the TV off. The man's word gave her a tightness in the pit of her stomach. Silence came back to the room and Myka looked at Helena who had drifted off to sleep again, unaware and uncaring of the clamoring crowd outside.
'Hold onto her?' Myka said as she looked down. Suddenly, Myka gave thought to the fact that although she had no worries about Helena leaving, she hadn't really thought about people trying to take her away. In spite of never having read the gossip magazines, she was exposed to her fair share of headlines in the grocery stores that plastered breakups of couples across their pages. It wasn't just about getting into deeper waters with the press, Myka realized. There were going to be sharks in those waters.
"Helena?" Myka said, her body giving into those fears. Helena immediately detected the slight tremor in Myka's voice and sat up.
"What is it, Myka?" Helena asked immediately alert. She took Myka into her arms.
"We…there are people…..the news broke," Myka said – expecting Helena to spring into action. Instead, the Brit pulled Myka down into her arms and hugged her. The feel of Myka's cheek against Helena's bare skin brought a settling feeling. "And they shall wait," Helena said without the slightest bit of concern in her voice.
'God, this woman is a rock', Myka thought. 'My rock', the thought continued and Myka leaned into the hug.
The noise and lights escalated and an hour later, Helena and Myka rose from their bed, donned new outfits, and prepared for their first appearance.
Myka dressed in an Alice & Trixie knit sheath dress with a graphic geometric print on front silk panels which she wore with a pair of Roger Vivier black ankle strap shoes with satin roses on the front. Helena didn't dare share the extravagant cost of over two thousand dollars for the pair, because Myka would have refused to wear them.
Being careful not to clash with Myka's black, white, and tan symmetrical design - Helena wore a Jason Wu sleeveless flare dress in black with a boat neck, diamond shape open back, shoulder slit cut out details and full shape skirt. Then she slid her feet into a pair of Chanel alligator and lambskin pumps in a deep, rich color that complimented the color in Myka's dress.
Hair and makeup was done without any help and finally, the women were ready to meet the press.
The staff decided that someone had to be the point person for the press and act as a liaison between them and the fiancées. They first thought they needed someone with years of experience in dealing with the media – someone who could handle all the stress, the pressure, the strain of it all. Then they decided there was a bigger job at hand. They needed someone who could handle the stress, the pressure, and strain – of their boss.
The women came downstairs to see Irene in the hallway again. If Myka was surprised, it was only momentarily until she put it together. No one handled Helena like Irene. And Team Bering-Wells knew that.
"I suggest that you allow this young man, what is your name?" Irene asked, turning to the photographer.
"Edward," the man said, unable to take his eyes off the two women walking towards him. "Oh my God, you're really….," he said staring at Helena.
"Engaged, yes. And where did you get him?" Helena asked Irene in lieu of saying hello.
"I pulled him from a wedding," Irene said calmly. "He's going to take a couple of official," she said using air quotes, "….. pictures and then you can meet the crowd.
They moved into the living room where the highly qualified photographer stared. Given the overwhelming amount of natural beauty surrounding him, he was a little star struck. One glare from Helena snapped him out of it.
Six and three quarter minutes later, after posing them with their hands on top of each other's to get a shot of both rings, Helena was done. It was three minutes longer than Irene expected.
"Do you know what you will say?" Irene asked Helena as they readied to open the doors. Helena responded with an audible 'Pffft' and dismissive expression.
"Have you ever seen me at a loss for words?" Helena asked the woman, smiling.
"You are used to this, Helena," Irene said and in doing so, reminded Helena that Myka might find this overwhelming.
"I'll be alright," Myka assured the older woman who wasn't convinced. Irene looked at Helena.
The press noticed activity with the Wells Security guards and knew something was about to happen.
"Ready, Myka Bering?" Helena said, turning to her fiancée, smiling and taking Myka's hand in hers.
"Ready, Helena Wells," Myka said and felt as if a protective bubble just surrounded her.
Irene stepped to the front door, spoke to Pete over her phone, looked at Helena and when she got the nod, Irene opened the door and stood back.
The street exploded into a wave of flashes and yelling.
Myka had been with Helena before in public and knew the sound of the press trying to get at them. She was already squinting her eyes – to prepare for the round of successive bursts of light from cameras. What she wasn't prepared for was the noise level – the first wave was reporters yelling out questions, the second wave was screams and thunderous applause from the crowd of people held behind police barricades across the street. Myka was used to a few people yelling hello to them in the street. This was the largest crowd of people she had seen since the Thanksgiving Day parade.
For a minute, she froze.
There were burly, tall men already lining the stone steps of the entrance way and they moved out of the way when Helena stepped outside onto the entryway. She held onto Myka's hand and waved to everyone which made the crowd go wild. "I love you, Helena," people called out from across the way.
"Let's see the ring!" people called out and Helena raised her hand with Myka's and the street lit up with pulsating lights.
"Myka, Myka, tell us how you feel," a reporter called out. Helena watched as Myka bent over to be closer to the microphone that was set up for them to answer the questions. "I feel wonderful," Myka said and her answer made the mob erupt in whoops and hollers.
"Helena, why now?" another asked.
Helena was never thrown by a question and always took her time in answering them. Myka envied that. Helena turned to look at Myka, as if the crowd disappeared, gazed into her eyes, and simply replied, "Because she is my One."
Myka filled with feeling of joy. She never tired of being reminded of that. She was Helena's One.
"When is the wedding?" another shouted. "Myka and I haven't planned anything as of yet, but you'll be among the first to know," Helena said.
Then she looked back at Myka and was lost to the crowd. She couldn't remember a time when Myka looked more ravishing. Maybe it was the light shining off her green eyes, or the expression on her face that was a combination of exhilaration and anxiousness, or the way she pushed her hair out of her face when she answered a question – but whatever it was – the people present were watching Helena fall in love all over again.
The press was in a good mood. The people across the street were happy, in spite of those whose hearts were broken. There was plenty of news to write about as they fired off questions and Helena or Myka answered.
One reporter – from one of the rag papers – decided edgier was better and began firing off questions that were meant to elicit a reaction rather than get information. Helena was ignoring him. Everyone was getting the same answers, the same pictures, he thought. So in an attempt to get something different he went around the back way and caught the only Wells Security guard slacking off. The man slipped into the kitchen and waited. He was going to get the only picture of the couple as they came back inside.
And so much more.
Helena thanked the press and in spite of the continued deluge of questions, she and Myka waved to the crowd, smiled and went back inside. Myka's ears were still ringing when Irene closed the door.
"Good job ladies," Irene said.
Myka was relieved and excited at the same time. It had been surreal really and her eyes were just adjusting to the normal light again when one more flash came out of nowhere. Unprepared for it, Myka was blinded for a moment. As was Irene - who was stunned to see the man approach with the camera. Myka felt Helena let go of her hand and then heard the noise of a camera dropping on the floor and then -what was that? – oh yes, the sound of a body hitting the black and white marble floor.
When Myka looked up again, there was Helena standing over the man who dared to get too close. The Brit was picking up his camera and tossing it to Irene, who barely caught it.
"Fire the person who let him in," Helena said as she unceremoniously picked the unconscious man up by his collar and dragged him to the door where she stared at Irene until the startled woman – realized she was waiting for her to open it again.
"Thank you," Helena said as the door opened and the limp body was tossed outside behind the line of Wells Security guards who were doing their job. The press thought it odd that the door opened and closed so quickly, but no one could see what happened.
Myka stood motionless – caught between wanting to scream – but it was too late for that – and wanting to make sure Helena was okay.
"Are you …..," Irene was asking Myka because she could already tell her boss was fine.
Myka rushed at Helena, grabbing her arms and looking her up and down to make sure she was okay and when she was – Myka slammed into her lips, kissing her hard.
What was it about Helena being a badass that was such a turn on for Myka?
Helena was surprised by Myka's action, but melted into that kiss that suddenly turned hotter than embers.
"I take that to mean that you are," Irene smiled amidst the moans coming from both women - and went off to the kitchen to fire the security guard.