Thirteen Promises

As the law students ate bagels and danish to satisfy their hunger pangs, urges of another kind were being satisfied by pressing, passionate, tension-releasing, uncertainty- bashing, white-knuckles clenching the edge of the desk – sex.

Millie smiled to think how well she was doing her job of entertaining guests, while making sure no one disturbed her boss. She had Claudia silence Myka's cell phone remotely, took messages, and kept people away from the door - just in case anyone would hear what she knew was going on inside on the makeshift altar of love.

While fifteen law students waited with anticipation to meet – as their Columbia professor described – one of the brightest lawyers in corporate law, she was kissing her lover goodbye. Helena and Myka's spontaneous meeting of mind and body addressed everything from Helena's confusion to Myka's doubts. There was nothing confusing about the way Myka had looked deeply into Helena's eyes right before she swept her desk clear of papers and the stack of law books. Myka loved her law books, but today – they were in her way. And much to Myka's delight, Helena managed to gasp in a breathy tone – that it had always been a fantasy of hers to make love on Myka's desk.

BAM!

Helena was pushed down gently – but not so gently that she didn't know Myka's intent – and it drove Helena over the edge. Myka, who was the poster child of decorum in the office at all times, had taken control. Helena had been relieved of the coat, the desk was swept of items, and now Helena found herself horizontal across the desk – the coat folded up under her head.

"I made a mistake today, Helena. One I will not make again," Myka said slowly as she removed the sexy bra and cupped Helena's breasts so that she could present them to her waiting mouth.

The sensation made Helena arch her back as she gasped – "Oh, yes?" to ask what Myka meant – but she was losing her ability to hear. "Do that again, Myka…," Helena said and quickly added, "…God, please do that again."

Myka obliged, but then said – "I let someone kiss you. I am not going to let that happen again."

Myka was an expert at claiming her territory – she was swift and effective. Helena's begging moans were the proof. It was so rare for Myka to be so declarative and firm that Helena couldn't help but find it a huge turn on. She knew Myka wasn't doing this only as foreplay - Myka meant it. Helena never knew surrender could be so empowering. The woman who had fought against convention, society and anyone who got in her way – found the one person she could yield to.

As Helena put the coat back on and pulled the belt tightly around her waist, Myka pulled her dress back down in place – and hoped the dress material didn't wrinkle. It didn't. Myka pressed the button under her desk that opened the blinds – an invention Helena had installed. She explained to Myka that she was doing to it as precaution against that glaring afternoon sun. Right.

"I agree with Mrs. Frederic, you know," Helena said – moving close into Myka and playing with a loose curl. "I would never want to go up against you in court."

"You would lose," Myka said – her lips curling just a little.

"Oh really?" Helena said – playing along.

"I would go up one side of you and down the other," Myka said – sounding tough.

"Counselor," Helena said in a very breathy tone, "I believe you just did.'

Myka laughed at her comeback and pulled Helena in, kissing the woman she was in love with madly. "Helena, you know I have an obligation to you – as your lawyer and your lover," Myka tried to explain.

"Then I am in your hands – twenty-four seven it would seem," Helena smiled devilishly.

"I'm glad we – uhm – had this little talk," Myka said teasingly.

"As am I. I promise - I have told you about all of my contractual agreements, promises, foreclosures, treaties – signed and unsigned, accords, pacts and truces," Helena said coquettishly.

"Good. Now, I better get to that …..meeting. I am already late," Myka said. Myka grabbed her legal pad that contained what Helena believed were all the questions for her.

"You're not going to ask me more bloody questions about that list now, are you?" Helena frowned as they stepped into the waiting area.

"You thought these were questions for you?" Myka smiled openly.

"Well, I heard you scribbling away in the car ….and thought," Helena said.

"Helena, these are just some notes for my lecture," Myka said and Helena let out a sigh of relief.

Then working in perfect tandem with her assistant – Myka said, "I wouldn't scribble – as you called it, your questions on one piece of paper. I'm having Millie type them up. What page are you on, Millie?" Myka asked, hoping the woman would play along.

"Thirteen," Millie said, getting it perfectly and without hesitation.

Helena looked at Myka, who didn't seem to be kidding and then to Millie, who just kept tapping the keys on her computer as if she were very busy. Then the twinkle in Myka's eyes gave her away.

"Not funny, Ms. Bering, not funny a'tall," Helena said, pressing the elevator button.

Myka kissed the pouting lips lightly before heading off to her meeting.

"Any one of those law students would love to have your job. Perhaps I will have my Human Resource Director interview them and select the best candidate," Helena said in trying to one-up Myka.

"Nice try, Wells," Myka called as she walked down the hallway. "Oh and by the way, that's my coat you took."

"Do you want it back? Because I will give it to you right now," Helena called out as the elevator door opened. As if sensing her presence, Helena turned to see Irene in the back of the elevator.

"Don't you dare," Irene said when she saw Helena's hands on the belt. She didn't hear the conversation, but she didn't have to – to know that Helena would take something too far.

"Did we provide you with office space, Irene, or are you forced to prowl the open spaces of Wells Corp looking for work?" Helena said, getting in next to her.

"Productive meeting, I take it?" Irene asked, ignoring the jab.

"I doubt any other meetings I have will top it," Helena said, smiling.

"Well, I should hope not," Irene said, getting off with Helena on the 17th floor.

Eileen noticed the change in Helena's mood. It confirmed the message Millie had sent out moment ago – that from the disarray of her boss' office, which typically never had a paperclip out of place, there had been a real meeting of the minds – and other body parts.

"Ms. Wells, I'm sorry but …," Eileen said, standing. She really hoped this didn't ruin her boss' good mood.

Then the CEO heard her name being called in a very frustrated tone behind her – "Helena!" - and turned to see the Mayor waiting for her.

"Oh bloody hell," Helena whispered before turning around and greeting her friend who had been such a big help in all of the plans this past weekend. She meant to call him.

"I have to find out from the news that you're engaged? That the ring you gave your fiancée came through the ports at Newark? Really, Helena? New Jersey? You couldn't have had it shipped to New York? You know the grief the mayor over there will give me," the middle-aged man said, forgetting his manners.

Helena peered at him – and waited. Something she would only do for a friend. He read her expression.

"Oh what am I saying? Come here, congratulations," he said, pulling Helena in for a warm hug. "She's a lucky girl."

"Thank you, Mayor, for all your help," Helena said.

"Yes, well that's what I'm here for, so let's talk," the politician said and started to walk towards Helena's office.

Helena knew that the man's help came with a price tag. An amount that could not be stated in exact terms – and she agreed to that because of the urgency – and scope – of her request. Surely the ante had risen once he threw in - ending a concert early, closing off the park, authorizing overtime for the NYPD, endorsing the Lights-Out in Manhattan Promotion, and let's not forget the ongoing Wells Transportation System.

"Ms. Wells, could I see you for just a moment?" Irene called from Eileen's desk. Helena turned and saw Irene urge her over with her finger.

"Just a minute," she said to the Mayor as she walked over to her HR Director who suddenly lost the use of her legs. "Yes?" Helena asked, none too patiently.

"Ms. Wells," Irene said, purposely grabbing Helena by the arm as she walked to the elevator, foregoing her meeting with the CEO for now. "You are about to go back into your office with the Mayor. Now I happen to know for a fact that you didn't leave your office to go downstairs the exact same way you entered your office this morning."

Helena stared at the woman as if she were speaking another language. "You are speaking cryptically," Helena said and walked back.

"O….K," Irene said, looking back at Eileen.

Irene knew Helena better than to think the Brit had removed her own coat and dress and hung them up. If Irene had to bet on it, the clothing was strewn across the floor as Helena hurriedly undressed and put on Myka's coat. Now, her office would prove to be unseasonably warm for the wearing of a python skin long sleeve trench coat. Eileen jumped up, pushed in front of the Mayor, excusing herself and rushed inside Helena's office.

The Mayor was slightly surprised by the sudden action. "You're staff is ….," he started to say, but wasn't quite sure what the adjective was that he wanted.

Helena followed the Mayor into her office now – and found Eileen standing there, with the blue and black dress over her arm.

"Ms. Wells, I got that mark off your dress. Thank you for waiting," Eileen said as Helena approached her.

How was it that the woman who could send a diamond ring in a rocket into space and back, had trouble figuring out when her staff was trying to save her from embarrassing herself – or heat exhaustion – or both. Helena was getting better at reading Eileen's facial expressions – odd as they might be. The young woman was wide-eyed and looking Helena up and down as a reminder that the dress was not under the coat.

"Oh," Helena finally said and Eileen's sigh was audible.

Helena took the dress, excused herself, and went into her adjoining apartment to change. "She'll just be … a minute," Eileen said, bouncing on the balls of her feet and smiling at the Mayor.

Within seconds, Helena returned in the dress and handed Myka's coat back to Eileen. "This belongs ….," she started to say, but was cut off when Eileen said loudly, "On a hanger. Right away, Ms. Wells."

Eileen took the coat and left.

"Unconventional, yes, that's the word I would use to describe your staff," the Mayor said, completing his thought.

Helena sat down behind her desk, the Mayor in front as she listened to him carry on about how hard it was to be Mayor, what favors he had done for her and finally, got to how she could repay those favors.

"Seriously, how many more dinners can I attend before they think it odd?" Helena said, because she didn't want to be away from Myka anymore than she already was.

"Yes, I know," the man replied in a rare instance of agreeing with her.

"Oh good," Helena said, thinking he had come to his senses.

"That's why I have thought of something else," the politician said, pleased with himself.

Helena was about to find out that there was indeed something worse than dining and dancing with the Mayor.

"As you know Helena, I was reelected in part because I promised to improve the City's image," he said, getting up and walking around Helena's office with too much familiarity for her liking. He looked out her large window to the streets of Time Square below.

"Yes," Helena said because she remembered counseling him on his campaign.

"Well, recent poll numbers have shown that the public does not think I'm doing a very good job," the Mayor bemoaned.

"Perhaps less time at dinners would afford you more opportunities to get out into the public and demonstrate your efforts. Use your top resources to show that you are making good on your promises," Helena said – because that would mean less banquets for her to be his escort.

"Yes! You always told me how important it was to keep one's promises, right?" the Mayor said with renewed vigor.

"Exactly," Helena said happy they agreed.

"I'm glad you agree, Helena. For a minute, I thought you might give me a hard time," the Mayor said. He bent down, kissed the newly engaged woman on the cheek – in spite of her frown. "Now promise me, you and Myka will come to dinner at Gracie Mansion so we can celebrate your engagements in style."

"Yes, of course. Now, just so I understand, Mayor," Helena said getting up to see him out. "There will be less dinners?"

The politician knew to leave when the going was good. He waited until he got to the office door and it was opened. "Yes, I think you're right, Helena. I spend a great deal of time at those nightly functions. I need to be out in the public where they can see me. I need to use my key resources to bring events to New York to increase revenue. And I need to go into neighborhoods, listening to the people, pushing projects through red tape, and putting my best foot forward. And who better to help me do that... than you?" the Mayor said as he stepped into the waiting area.

"Very good," Helena said, dismissing him – until she heard what he was saying. "Who better? Mayor, I can't possibly help you do all that…look around," Helena said, following him into the outer room. "I have a full time job," she said – waving her arms.

The man seemed unimpressed with her protests. After all, had she not promised that she would do whatever it took to get her projects done?

"You, Helena, are my key resource. Don't worry. I will work around your schedule. I'll have a list of ideas sent over to you so that we can get started right away," he said as he stepped into the elevator and waved goodbye.

"Another bloody list?" Helena said.

"Should I call Leena?" Eileen asked, knowing a special dinner was in order. "Or Millie?"

As Myka was instructing the law students on the intricacies of verbal contracts, the CEO was upstairs planning on how to break the news about the very same thing.