The Assistant (english)

12.

The following weeks were unspectacular. I returned to normal in public, but we still haven't revealed the reason for my disappearance. We might announce it publicly in a few hours. Helena is invited to an interview about the third season of The Crown. She has been a part of this season, and we will also play a role in the fourth season.

"Which dress, this one or that?" Hellie asks me. She holds a regular black dress in one hand and a black one with extra fabric overlay, with flowers on it, in the other hand.

"I love the black one with the flowers! Wear that," I smile. (Dress: See picture above)

"I love that one too. And makeup?" She asks while hanging the other dress back on the hanger.

"Something more subtle, so the dress stands out," I laugh. She pouts briefly before sitting on the chair. She starts doing her makeup since we're early here at the studio and there's no staff yet. The makeup artists will do the finishing touches later, but this way they have less work.

"I would do the eyes a bit more, to emphasize them more, or what do you think? And do you think blending like this is enough?" I go behind her and look at her through the mirror.

"Why should I decide everything? Do it the way you like," I say, placing my hands on her shoulders.

"Well, everything will be broadcast, and I'm your girlfriend, and... I have to please you," she mumbles the last part softly, but since I'm behind her, I understand it. She quickly lowers her head, so I turn the chair and squat down in front of her, so I can see her.

"Hellie... please don't start like this, okay? I thought we'd hashed out this topic. I love you more than anything, and to me, you're the most beautiful woman in the world. I would never let you go again and fight for you until you're mine again. I love everything about you, and even if the media writes that I love you only for the money and fame, they're so wrong. They have no idea what they're talking about, okay? I'm not your toy girl; I'm not with you because of money or fame or anything else. I'm with you because we love each other, because I love you. And if the whole world were against us, or against you, I would stand by your side. You can always talk to me, tell me all your worries and problems, okay? And I don't care how you walk around or how you present yourself in public. Not because I don't care about you, but because I love you, always and no matter what you do or how you look. Understood?" A few tears come to her eyes, which she wipes away. She just nods in response to my question.

"What if someone asks me about the thing with the child? Should I tell the truth?" Hellie asks after a while.

"If you want. I'm okay with that. Maybe then the media will stop," I help her blend her makeup.

"So the truth?" She asks again.

"Yes. And remember, you don't have to justify yourself to anyone. It was our decision." She nods again in response.

-POV Helena-

I'm sitting with Olivia and a few others from the cast with Graham. Kaydi is in my dressing room watching the interview. I guess she's working on something on the side, as all this has slipped into the background.

"So, Helena. I think the media has caused some damage, right?" Graham asks.

"What do you mean? Specifically."

"Well, how do you feel, or how does Kaydi feel?"

"I actually feel relatively good, which is because Kaydi often cheers me up and encourages me. There are often moments where I'm not strong, and the headlines hit me hard, but then she's there for me and cheers me up."

"And what happened when she wasn't there? I mean, there was suddenly news that Kaydi was pregnant. The whole of London saw it. After a few days, she suddenly disappeared, and you were the only one seen with your dogs, or on set. There was no trace of Kaydi until you picked her up from a hospital."

"That clinic specializes in pregnancy termination. That's why we were there. Kaydi and I thought long and hard about it and decided to terminate it. But we don't want to deal with it further in public. We had our reasons, which we still stand by, and that's the end of the matter." Graham just nods.

"And how is Kaydi doing physically and emotionally after the procedure?"

"There were no complications physically, and she also seems emotionally stable. What really goes on inside her, no one knows, but I'm sure she wouldn't lie to me about that." He asks a few more questions until the interview is over. I go back to the dressing room to Kaydi, who, as expected, has been watching the interview and working on something on the side.

"The next few weeks will be pretty stressful, but we'll manage," she says as I walk in. I give her a kiss and sit down next to her briefly.

"What's on the agenda?" I ask.

"Well, you're on set pretty often and at events. You also have three photo shoots and an advertising campaign. And you have four lectures. And speaking of the shoot, you have to go again. They're still taking pictures," Kaydi smiles. I give her another kiss and then go out to Olivia.