Miranda heard her laughter first. She also heard the passion when Andrea mentioned his name.
Brody.
Talking on the phone this morning at her desk, telling someone that ever since he came along, how everything was different, everything's changed for her. Everything was just perfect for Brody and her.
Heard her talking about him, how Andrea had finally found someone who made her complete. Brody was in every way meant to share her life with.
Blue eyes narrowed coldly at that declaration.
Somebody else was in her life. Not the cook. Miranda had seen him once. The lumberjack fryer. He was all right to look at with dark brows and shaggy curls. His name was Nate not Brody. Miranda had heard Andrea talk to Nate a few times at her desk. Somehow thought they were still together.
Cook boy with hair like a Labradoodle was not with her anymore. Miranda liked the idea.
Half tempted to suddenly invite Andrea to the townhouse for dinner and get to know each other more.
Heard it in her voice. Said his name differently. It was love. Miranda surely knew what this meant. Andrea was in love with some Mr. Wonderful.
She glowed. He made her glow.
Brody.
Miranda hardly knew that glow, never with Stephen or her twin daughter's father, once or twice she'd seen it on loved up ninnies like on her old roommates faces at art school and at Chic and at Runway France in Paris when she'd been first becoming Miranda Priestly, that look was from breathless kisses and sheet grabbing sex.
Miranda didn't like the idea of any broad shouldered unshaven Brody making Andrea glow or breathlessly grab bed sheets for any reason.
Icily mulling over faces to herself, snapping a portfolio with a flick of each page by her ivory manicured fingers, was it that tall hunk who wore colorful Thomas Pink and brogues in Art or maybe that courier yesterday who Miranda swore smiled to much at Andrea. He did take a long time looking over her signature with the package he delivered.
Flirting by complimenting her penmanship. Admiring her cursive writing, was like looking down her cleavage to Miranda.
''Goodness Andrea he's so cute.''
Andy showed on her phone a few pictures of him.
''Em you have to meet him. Brody and I are having you for brunch. Bring Serena.''
Emily caved. ''Fine. I accept. When?''
''This Sunday.''
Miranda winced. Brody and I. He must live with her.
Brody this and that from Andy's lips, making her fingers clench on her work.
Andrea and Brody were a couple who brunched. Mr. Perfect probably lavished her romantically with breakfast in bed or woke up holding her.
A twinge of something inside her curled, she wouldn't voice, made her an absolute La Priestly all morning. Especially to her.
Emily's eyes were huge on how Miranda was vicious with sending Andrea on countless errands all morning, the snooty redhead was glad she wasn't the brown-eyed once fashion disaster today.
Miranda had it in for Andrea this Wednesday.
Emily knew all about Andrea walking away in Paris and returning to Miranda that evening from Nigel, everybody in the office knew about it.
It was still a wonder Andrea Sachs wasn't working for Soap Opera Digest or homeless on a street corner asking for change for what she did during fashion week to the feared Editor.
Nothing Andrea did was right today. Things worsened by lunch for poor Andy who couldn't even enjoy fall in a bowl. Organic butternut squash soup.
''Six, here hope you and Brody enjoy this.''
Nigel jiggled the shopping bag from him, full of gifts for them. ''Don't play with these toys all night. '' Wagging his finger at her. Andy hugged Nigel in thanks.
''Six I know you said he likes things squeaky and I trust he'll learn to stop streaking.'' Miranda eyes darkened.
Andrea's dreamboat was an exhibitionist pervert.
Andy face colored. ''We're learning going commando down the hall is not acceptable for our neighbors.''
Nigel snorted at Brody doing that.
''So any wild plans this weekend with the new man with pants on in your life Six? ''
Andy smiled fully at Nigel. ''Nigel. Brody and I are just getting to know each other. We're taking a bubble bath tonight, he likes it and maybe since it's feeling like fall, go shopping at the market.''
Miranda blue eyes narrowed on Andrea. First accepting sex toys handed out freely and at her Runway and now visions of Andrea in a bubble bath made her blush pink.
Sharing a tub with Brody made her livid.
Could picture them together, walking with his arm around her, probably the tall solid hugging type who playfully feeds you samples at food stalls.
Brody would easily get her eyes to sparkle on him and bring out that smile that made Miranda inside melt.
Andy felt the air shift in the office, saw out of the corner of her eye, silvery white hair of Miranda standing in her doorway.
Getting up, she hadn't heard Miranda call her. Still holding her phone with the screen saver of Brody's smile on her, Andy went after her.
Turning her back, flouncing elegantly back to her office.
''Miranda?'' Andy smiled at her boss.
''Andrea I seem to be missing my coffee this morning, perhaps my simple instructions are too much for you Andrea? Go get it. Fetch.''
Andy balked, Miranda's icy tone was something she hadn't experienced in a while. She wasn't a golden retriever.
Saw a glint of cold malice in her eyes. ''Try to bring it hot this time. I'd avoid engorging yourself on treats, Andrea unless you have a condition that requires it.''
Dismissed and called fat, Andy swallowed her hurt.
Usually every now and then, going to Starbucks, Miranda would in a strange veiled act of niceness, suggest Andrea get a one for herself or a muffin or a brownie or last week, waspishly told to bring one for her too.
Andy had done just that, she got a healthy raspberry peach muffin and a caramel brownie, Miranda took her brownie on her. Andy had sputtered and almost swallowed her tongue. The dragon ate sweets.
Gooey sweets.
Andy was pretty sure, she heard Miranda moan. Making her clench her long legs at hearing that sound come from Miranda's parted lips.
Andy usually had dreams that elicited that sound from her beautiful boss.
That next morning, the same kind of brownie, but fresh was waiting at her desk. For her.
They'd even begun to have conversations about little things, films and books and the upcoming holidays.
Andy liked those late nights with her. It was a side of Miranda, Andy fell in love with more.
Miranda knew what she ate when ordering dinner last week. Knew Andy didn't like fish, bad experience with a trout but she liked Italian.
She'd noticed, it made Andy's week.
That and her slender fingers had absently stroked her cheekbone when wiping away sauce Andy got on herself with her linen napkin as Andy had held her breath at her touch.
Now something was between them. Miranda had erected her icy walls back up.
Icing Andy like her first month. Andy had just felt she was dethawing them.
Was it Stephen? Something she'd done or not done was suddenly between them.
Miranda cruelly made sure Andrea fetched for her all morning and afternoon, getting her hot as Hades coffee every hour and to find a pair of earrings that were in a June issue five years ago, Nigel helped her, also Andy was told to transcribe notes that Irv's personal assistant took and must have studied hieroglyphics shorthand and scribbles.
Andy missed one call, they called back, muttering in it. ''Mom I can't talk now. Yes I'm bringing Brody to Thanksgiving.''
Miranda was trying not to listen.
Her posture rigid as she heard. ''He loves the sweater you made him.''
It was serious. Andy's parent knitted for him some horrid holiday sweater. Brody might as well slip a ring on her finger.
''Mom I'm writing and I'm still at Runway. I like working here and for Miranda.''
Andy's brows furrowed. ''Mom. No she's not. I'll call you this weekend.''
Miranda had heard Andrea's parents once on the phone complain she never wrote, and was she really happy at Runway as a glorified well-dressed indentured gopher to her.
Miranda almost picked up on the line to Mr. and Mrs. Sachs one time.
Ready to defend herself and inform them, Andrea's job as her assistant a million girls would kill for and that Andrea was the only one capable and competent as her assistant.
Tell Andrea's parents, Miranda's role as Editor-in-Chief of Runway was an incredibly high-pressured position, if somebody has to fetch for her and get her a coffee because she can't run down and stand in line in Starbucks, then suck it up and go get it for her. If she works often till 12pm to go through the magazine, and somebody has to deliver the dry-cleaning to her townhouse or walk Patricia.
Boo hoo, what a horrible job to endure. Call the New York Workers Association, Miranda wasn't Wendi Deng to Andrea. Roy was a witness, she'd never once flung her or Emily out of her Mercedes.
Miranda saw the brunette approaching with her last coffee this evening.
Andrea felt dead on her feet err… Choo's, sinking down to her desk. Miranda was impossible today, glancing at the clock with big brown worried eyes. She really needed to get home….Brody was home now and she and he were still going to have a bath together. He loved that.
He was so cute. With his sweet eyes and kisses making any day with the dragon tolerable.
If Brody didn't keep her up all night, she might get a little sleep. Fingers crossed.
''Andrea wait for the Book.''
Andy almost slumped. She'd be late now. Missed Miranda's smirk knowing this, tough luck bubble boy Brody.
''Yes Miranda.''
Miranda rigidly had Andrea help her with her coat, the whole time trying not to react to the gentle brunette's hands that she loved. Her long fingers brushing her neck as Miranda stiffly straightened her posture and took her purse from the silent staring at her brunette.
''Goodnight Miranda.''
Swallowing at her pretty expressive eyes on her.
Pretty dark eyes that held hers that would fill with love and pleasure with him and worst of all her warmth. Andrea with ease always showed Miranda the warmth of her smile. He now had it.
Pressing her pink lips together. That shouldn't be. Andrea was hers…
Her brows arched, hers to do what with?
In Paris she was devastated when she saw her across from her, near the fountain, throwing her phone in it and walking away. Upsetting her more than the previous night with Stephen over the faxed divorce papers.
Returning after the show to her suite, Andrea was there, she was back.
Both hadn't said a word about it. Refusing to bring it up. Miranda just began railing off with lists of tasks for her, standing in her suite Andy was meeting her blue eyes determined to stay.
It was no longer, Miss Ohio walking back to her, not a trace of fresh and dorky Andy Sachs who was so unfashionable the day they first met, offering her neck constantly that Miranda just couldn't help but eviscerate her. The cerulean belt time had been the moment she realized what it was between them. Foreplay.
Her attraction for Andrea slowly built with moments. Andrea wasn't shallow or painfully obsequious and ingratiating sycophant like other Runway employees to her, instead she was unfiltered and painfully honest around her.
From the interview wasn't afraid of her.
Charming despite the hideous clothes and lacking style.
Miranda had found it quite sweet about the models and lingerie.
Andrea just being Andrea, was becoming more to her then any of the countless brainless twigs of her former assistants whose brains wouldn't fill a pillow sham.
At first Miranda thought it was because of Stephen saying she was frumpy and she should wear make up more with him in bed, which hurt her deeply.
In the car, on the elevator, the day with the boots on, Miranda saw she was correct. Just another crush from an 'Emily' on her.
She'd nip in the bud. Soon, found she couldn't, even when Andrea came upstairs for some reason and she callously almost made her nearly have a stroke over the Harry Potter. Saw it in brown eyes, even when she was unadulterated cruel, Andrea really cared that she missed the twin's recital.
Almost asked her doctor was it menopause when she dreamt of soft lips and chestnut hair and Andrea's hands stroking and caressing her and feeling her naked against her.
She'd never touched herself before in the shower, imagining Andrea with her, nude and soft, those long lovely's fingers and lips on her. That morning at the office, she couldn't look Andrea in the eye.
In Paris in her grey robe, she saw how Andrea wasn't anything like Stephen. Not a hint of that look at her , with no make up on, peeled away like a mollusk.
Miranda being scared of these strong feelings, lashed out with her sharp tongue. Told to her to do her job.
Almost lost Andrea in Paris but she came back.
Now she'd met him. Brody was Andrea's Mr. Right.
Miranda left her with that same look that always made Andy shiver when their eyes met.
''I'll bring you the Book on my way home to Brody.'' Andy blurted out, she always brought the Book to Miranda every evening this month. Except last Monday when she was busy with her first evening with Brody, Emily covered for her and Miranda didn't know.
Miranda saw Andrea's ears pinked at her intense look.
''Good night Andrea.''
This had to stop, maybe she should consider distributing Andréa elsewhere. Let her write finally, make a start.
Leave Runway for good.
Miranda's heart didn't think she could take seeing him with her. If Brody showed up at Runway one day to surprise her or the day when Andrea announcing her engagement after her bring Brody home to The Sachs.
It would be good for them. Bring distance to this. It wouldn't hurt any less. She was being a silly foolish old woman with her feelings for a person half her age.
Texting Helen in HR and to Elspeth at another magazine. By Thursday tomorrow morning, Andrea would be replaced.
Miranda's elevator closed as she pressed lobby.
Andy stepped inside with her phone cradled to her ear, balancing Miranda's dry-cleaning and The Book. ''Hi Lils sorry I'll be another thirty minutes. No I know Brody likes it when I'm there for him. Oh he's eaten earlier. Great. I have to go. I'm at Miranda's. No I'll take a cab.''
Miranda was at the foot of the stairs. So she didn't have Emily fill in tonight like that other night.
''Yes I know I have to tell Miranda soon. Lily please just this once let it go. Don't put Brody on. Lily! Hiii sweetheart.''
Miranda lip curled at her talking to him like that. In her foyer. Needing an anti-nausea pill.
This Brody sounded just like a carbon copy Stephen, her in a week's time whining ex.
Watching from the stairs as Andrea's dark hair bent setting down the Book carefully on the hall table for her, after hanging her garment bags up in the first closet.
Andrea left Miranda's home, hailing a cab. Lily enjoyed keeping Brody, company but he only wanted Andy.
Miranda saw it.
Andrea forgot her shopping bag. Miranda picked it up, almost dialing Andrea to come back, stopping herself from doing so, instead Miranda's fingers began dialing Roy.
Slipping insider her Mercedes. ''Roy take me to Andrea's.''