Metropolitan Ghost - Chapter 1/?
Chapter 1
“Myka, I can’t stand this any longer. Come on, let’s do something,” Helena said exasperated as she stormed into Myka’s room. They were in New York City hunting down an artifact that kept eluding them. Claudia, the little sweetheart, had for once gotten them two rooms with a connecting door, and it was through this door a very annoyed and bored Victorian lady stormed, her hands in the air, eyes slightly wild.
Myka put her book down and smiled at her. “I thought you were browsing Sotheby’s website.”
Helena sighed and sat down on the bed by Myka’s feet. “I was. If we’re here long enough I might visit. They have something up for auction that I’m very interested in, but I want to see it first.”
Myka smiled. Helena’s interest in antiques had not been a surprise to her, only the particular type, the very expensive kind. If she had actually sat down to think about it, Myka knew that she would have come to the realization that Helena was a very wealthy person, but truth be told, she had never really thought of Helena’s monetary wealth, only her wealth of knowledge. She put her book down and sat up, legs folded.
Helena chuckled. “You look like a little Buddha, just with hair.”
Myka made a face at her. “Are you calling me fat?”
Helena laughed out loud and shook her head. “Absolutely not darling. You’re just perfect. It was merely the pose to which I was referring,” she said and affectionately rubbed Myka’s knee. “So, what do you say? Do you want to go shopping with me? I read about this absolutely fantastic little store not far from here. Saks I think it’s called.”
Myka coughed. “Saks? You want to go shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue?”
Helena nodded enthusiastically. “They claim to have a personal shopper. I just adore those.”
Myka rolled her eyes. “Hope you have your credit card with you. It’s gonna cost ya.”
Helena just smiled. “That’s quite all right.” She got up and smiled down at Myka. “So you’ll come with me then?”
Myka nodded. “I can’t have you running around alone in New York. God only knows what trouble you might stir up.”
Helena laughed and leaned down. “I can cause trouble right here instead, if you prefer,” she said huskily.
“Helena, be serious,” Myka sighed. Helena just laughed and held out her hand to Myka who took it.
“What are you wearing tomorrow tonight?” she asked as she steadied Myka.
“Huh?” Myka looked at her with a deer in the headlights look.
“The opera darling. What are you wearing?”
“Uh, I don’t know. My nice suit and a shirt?”
Helena made a face. “Absolutely out of the question. You need a dress.”
“A dress?!” Myka gaped. “I don’t have a dress with me.”
“Lucky for you that we’re going shopping then.”
Myka shot her a glare that would have made most people flinch. Helena just chuckled and winked at her. “I just need to put on my coat and I’m ready,” she said over her shoulder as she left the room.
Myka grabbed her coat and followed her. She watched as Helena slipped into her white wool coat. She grinned when she flipped her hair over her shoulders making it tumble down over her back.
“You have such beautiful hair Helena,” she said and smiled at her. “I wish my hair was more like yours.”
“Darling, I just adore your curls. You’re prefect the way you are.”
Myka blushed and looked down. She jumped a little when Helena touched her cheek.
“You are beautiful Myka. Please believe it.” She let go of Myka and brushed by her. Myka followed her silently, unsure how to respond to Helena’s comment.
*** *o* ***
“May I help you ladies?”
Helena smiled at the young woman standing in front of her. “You absolutely may. I am in need of several new garments and I’m afraid that I’m not very familiar with shopping in the United States.”
“I will be delighted to assist you ma’am. My name is Marcy. May I ask what in particular you are interested in?”
“Very nice to meet you Marcy. And please call me Helena. I never cared much for ma’am,” she said and gently patted her on the arm. “I will be needing something for work. I have some upcoming business here in your charming city. And then of course something to wear to the opera. I’m afraid that the detour here did not allow me to stop by at home to pick up a dress. Not that it would really have helped. I’m sad to admit that most of my dresses are terribly outdated.”
“As you wish Helena. If you and your friend would be so kind to come this way I’ll bring you over to women’s apparel.” She glanced at Helena out of the corner of her eye. “May I ask what size you are?”
Helena gave her an apologetic smile. “I’m afraid I can’t tell you. Most of my clothes were tailor made, or were selected by someone else. I’m not very familiar with American sizes.”
Myka could almost see the little cash register in Marcy’s head go ka-ching and dollar signs flash in her eyes as she smelled a big fat commission coming up. She chuckled. Of course Helena heard her and gave her a look.
“I’m sorry. I just thought of something. I wasn’t laughing at you.”
“That’s quite all right, darling; I like to hear you laugh.”
Myka saw Marcy shoot them a glance and chewed on her lip. She had become so used to Helena’s expressions and terms of endearment that she didn’t really think twice about it anymore. It was just how Helena spoke. To a stranger it might of course come off as quite intimate.
“Right this way ladies.”
Myka followed silently as Helena chatted with Marcy. Item after item was inspected and sometimes selected until Marcy finally showed Helena to a private dressing room.
“Perhaps you would be more comfortable having your companion assist you?” Marcy said and smiled at Helena. Myka grinned and looked down. Yep, Marcy had definitely made some assumptions based on how Helena had spoken to her.
“I think that’s an excellent idea,” Helena said and grinned at Myka. “Would you be a darling and help me?”
Myka just nodded hoping that the pink flush was not as noticeable as it felt. She took a deep breath as the door closed behind them.
“She thinks you’re my beloved,” Helena mused.
Myka coughed. “Beloved? I was going to say partner.”
“Pete is your partner Myka,” Helena objected with a sound that made it clear how she felt about that. “I think a life companion deserves a better title than that,” she said and glanced at Myka while unbuttoning her shirt.
Helena kicked off her boots and started to unbutton her pants, her shirt hanging open around her, showing hints of a white bra. Myka turned around, her cheeks bright red.
“I’ll just give you a little privacy until you’re dressed, okay?”
“Darling, you’re supposed to help me,” Helena said and laughed.
“Helena, I know for sure that you know how to dress yourself,” Myka said with a huff. She folded her arms and kept her rigid back to Helena. She jumped and shrieked when she felt a pair of slender arms circle her waist.
“Don’t you like me anymore?” Helena said in a mock sad voice.
“Helena for god’s sake!” Myka hissed. ”What if she comes in here?”
“Then she’ll see two women who she already thinks are a couple, hold each other. It’s not as if I’m touching you inappropriately.”
Myka took a deep breath. “I guess not. She took Helena’s hands and gently untangled herself from her embrace and turned to face her. “I still think that we should focus on the reason why we’re here for now.”
Helena smiled and caressed her cheek before turning her back to her to continue undressing. Myka raised her hand as if to touch her cheek where she could still feel the warmth from Helena’s hand, but she stopped herself and let her hand fall.
Continued in Chapter 1b