Armand at Chez Vonnet was use to a picky clientele of Manhattan's wealthiest, each celebrating an occasion, anniversaries', graduations and birthdays and of all the odd requests this one took the cake for Armand.
But it had a 600 dollars wrapped around a Palladium credit card.
Just for a reservation. Who was Armand to refuse?
Chez Vonnet on East 68th had never disappointed any blind date.
Armand would ensure Chez Vonnet would pull out all the stops that the Miranda Priestly would have the best evening of her life.
That he promised the mystery planner.
Jean Jacques, Chez Vonnet's award winning chef would be personally preparing anything selected on the menu.
Andy Sachs hated her new job at The Mirror.
What exactly was she achieving writing obits and now small by-lines this week?
She missed dare she say Runway? A little bit. Sort of, it was Miranda she really missed though.
Miranda Priestly.
This was crazy to Andy. Miranda had lived to make Andy's days intolerable. Navigating Runway's Editor was like crossing a minefield blindfold.
Her former boss was everything and more the press had written about and yet to Andy.
Miranda was…when her eyes connected to Andy's.
Those eyes were a well you could fall into.
How Andy had saw her in Paris in her suite.
Jumping Jehoshaphat what was wrong with herself, Miranda was snide, viciously barbed.
Snapping out of it.
Miranda was someone out of bounds for Andy. Had to get over her.
Nate was crazy with what he'd flung at her. Those words were completely ridiculous.
Miranda and she were not in a relationship.
Of all the crazy ideas to be the cause of Nate and her breakup.
Stretching in her chair, getting the kinks out. Her one by-line was done. If one squinted in The Mirror tomorrow's edition you'd see it. If a reader blinked it would be missed.
At least it was something in print Andy consoled herself with that, at least it wasn't fetching coffee anymore.
Slipping on her coat, Andy hoped before twenty six she'd publish something.
Tonight she wasn't walking by Elias-Clarke Building to get a small glimpse of Miranda. No Sachs absolutely not again.
It was not at all a slight frisson, a shiver of a thrill she had when she saw the back of Miranda's iconic white hair.
Now and again Andy happened to see Miranda arriving or leaving work.
Ever since the wave on the sidewalk. Andy had seen Miranda frequently.
Seeing Miranda varied sometimes on rainy Mondays, Andy would catch a glimpse or on late evenings, Andy didn't miss the silver Mercedes or a certain lady with hair like a crown of ice.
Miranda never saw her though. Of that Andy was relieved.
Had to map out a route of not passing Miranda's building from now on.
It's been almost two months now.
Miranda Priestly was certain to not remember her.
After Paris. Andy was surprised she was still breathing and then there was Miranda's strange biting recommendation.
Her words still burned Andy up inside. What did Miranda mean Andy was by far of all her assistants Andy was her greatest disappointment?
Miranda always was to Andy an enigma of poisonous rancour and banter.
Andy felt there was no way Runway's Editor would deem to want to spare a thought for her biggest disappointment.
Miranda was working late again. If only Abby wouldn't tremble in her presence. There were a lot of things Miranda despised, spineless was one of them and also Abby's knees knocking when she sat taking notes.
Andréa didn't.
Andrea. Tasting that name bitterly.
Miranda watched Abby sit back down at her desk. Glancing at the time it was late.
Deciding to take pity on her new second assistant. Andrea's wrong, Miranda could be caring to her staff. Take Emily for instance, out tonight for the first time in months. On a Friday no less. Miranda wasn't prone to work her assistants to death.
''Emily. Go home.''
Gushing thanks died from new 'Emily' at Miranda's cold stare. Stammering. ''I'll just go.''
Abby began grabbing her coat and bag.
Fleeing.
It was 9ish, it was time to call it a night for herself as well. The Book had been delivered by some stammering halfwit with iPod blasting.
Miranda enjoyed her effect on people. The intern practically swallowed his tongue at finding the infamous Editor residing in her own office.
''Ms Priestly! I-I didn't know you…um would be here.''
Thrusting The Book to her.
Miranda took it, her glasses perched on her nose bridge, looking at him icily.
Scurrying out of the Devil in Prada's sleek office. Miranda felt there was a library he could fill of what he didn't know.
Standing up from her desk.
Getting her own coat. Slipping it on.
Miranda had Cara babysitting the twins because she was running late again tonight. This would never have happened with Andrea.
Miranda shook that thought away at once. Walking onto the elevator. She was not going to think about Andrea again. Which Miranda found herself often doing, thinking about her last assistant more than she cared to do?
That former assistant irritated her. So much. Miranda exhaled. Swanning in at that interview, Andy was seemingly and becomingly reliable and almost even likable pffft Miranda sneered before Paris. Left in Paris proved Andy's character or lack of.
Recalled how Nigel who was now on speaking terms with her again, had been on a date with absconding Sachs recently.
Miranda had thought he was on a date last night with a new soon to be boyfriend.
''How was it Nigel? Enjoyable?''
''In away yes, remember them, dates Miranda.''
Miranda remembered dates. Almost smiled. Hoped Nigel had met someone great last night.
Over the rim of her glasses, sparkling eyes. '' Was it Francisco at the Costume Institute or Ródy here in makeup?''
''Well let's see my date has a bounding nature of a Labrador, such big brown eyes, so adorable and can fetch Harry Potter manuscripts while terrified of her boss. Quite a fetcher.''
Fetch. That word made Miranda's mouth curl. Warm brown eyes came into Miranda's head. Andréa's pretty eyes.
''The Mirror's been keeping our Six out of trouble.''
'' You went out with Andréa.'' Miranda's ivory face scorned. Miranda's bright eyes no longer bemused.
''Come now Six is allowed to eat and drink in the city.'' Nigel scolded, good humouredly. ''Not just graze.'' Vexed Miranda by being almost coy about his lovely time with Six.
''Well Six is very effusive about all of us at Runway still petrified of you though.''
Miranda almost snorted. Feigning disinterest, tapering her manicured nail on her necklace.
''Where did you both go?''
Nigel had luckily been good at hiding how startled he was when Miranda actually wanted to hear about it.
''I was invited for dinner at her place.'' Miranda toyed with her fountain pen. Arching a brow.
''It has a roof. It's not that bad. It's small but charming like her.''
''What did you dine on?''
Nigel shrugged airily. ''Oh this and that all delicious.''
''Not possum or Dominos.''
''Six cooks divinely…mouth-watering and her Crème Brulee heaven on the lips, lifetime on the hips.''
''Made by her culinary partner.'' Miranda muttered. Seen a photo of him, once on Andy's IPhone, accidently scrolled through and had inadvertedly shown him fumbling for a pattern she'd wanted to see in the car. Resembled a lumbersexual.
Tate or Nate something like that, the boy looked like a teddy bear.
Nigel waffled on. '' No, Six is all alone now in this big city. Wonderful and Single. Unattached.'' Trying to gauge any reaction from his Editor.
Who cares if Andrea could cook? Or was Singlish. She was now semi separated from Stephen. Meant nothing. Both were lonely in a city of millions of romantically dysfunctional singles, divorcées
''Reads a lot too. Shelves of deep stuff all over my pretty little head.''
''Not Curious George. Surprising.''
''Glad to know that. Andy. Can. Read.'' Miranda's eyes sparkled brightly.
Nigel blinked. Miranda had said Andy.
''Miranda what is it about not calling Six, Andy. To her face.'' Nigel arms folded sternly in a bright green Thomas Pink shirt and cobalt blue suspenders and a bowtie.
''It's just a name.'' Raised a haughty brow at him.
''Yes and it's a name you couldn't hardly say for a month when she left. About Paris and Andy she doesn't hate you…in fact last night she told me…why she left.''
Enough. Did not want to hear this.
Miranda looked at Nigel her Creative Director hard.
Paris was not discussed nor was Andrea. That's all.
Pondering the mystery of Andrea nightly. Why her irresponsible inutile assistant got under her skin, truly baffled Miranda.
Andrea was a sanctimonious perky insipid little brat, drossy…yes off in such greener pastures in monotony. Having read what was it, a small blip on dog leash laws today.
Edward R. Murrow Award would be banging down your door Andrea for that ground-breaking reporting.
It really had her on the edge of her seat.
If that dolt had stayed she could have been writing in another year perhaps under Berenice's tutelage.
Pondering Paris. Her words in the car. Saintly Andrea had to learn to get over herself.
That moral chip on her shoulder the size of a crater must really weigh you down Andrea.
Andrea had left.
That was that.
Why did it matter? The silly creature hated fashion and her anyway.
Andrea was a true disappointment.
Stepping off to the lobby.
Bid a goodnight Ms Priestly, by security, which Miranda didn't return.
Miranda walked right into Andy Sachs.
Blue colliding with brown.
''Miranda.''
Hi.''
Miranda rolled her eyes at Andrea's way with salutations.
''So you're working late tonight.'' Andy felt like an idiot as she offered. Do you need a cab?''
Miranda's couldn't believe this running into her. '' Andrea.'' Inflecting it over her tongue. ''No I have a chauffeur with car that is now two minutes late.''
Andy swallowed, feeling really sorry for Roy. Miranda looked the same. The manicured Ice Queen.
''I'm sure Roy has a good reason for not being here. Roy's never let you down.'' Both still standing near the curb on this cold night, the breeze lifting Miranda's hair. It was chilly tonight, catching her breath, rethinking her open coat.
Peering at Andrea from the corner of her eye.
First the silly wave on the sidewalk months ago.
Now this. Her. Here. Was she ever going to be free of those eyes? Always watching her, with such clarity. Judgement.
Miranda narrowed her blue eyes like slits on Andy. ''Indeed. Perhaps other former employees who abscond from their duties should take a leaf.''
''I just wanted to say…thank you for your reference. It got me the job.'' Andy decided not to add a question of what the hell did you mean I was your greatest disappointment. That was really nettling Andy inside. If Miranda knew it would delight her. To no end. That those words got to Andy.
Andy smiled at Miranda. ''Guess I didn't do too badly as your assistant. I do owe you Miranda for helping me. Thank you again for…''
Maybe if Roy didn't come they could share a cab.
Andy Sachs hadn't realized she'd just said the wrong thing thanking Miranda so earnestly.
What.
Had sunny Sachs gratitude. Had some nerve smiling at her. That girl was burned into her. At a loss to why?
Like a gate opening. Putting to action her dark satisfying thoughts of giving Andrea a piece of her mind or letting her have it.
Full lacerating La Priestly.
For Paris. For…for making her a fool. For her behaviour from the car of just up and walking away from her so unprofessionally. Left her. On the stairs. For seeing her tears that night before.
Just like walking away in Paris. All over again. A sour taste in her mouth was Andrea.
Her judgement.
''You know, sweetie...we are what we do in this world, and you Andréa, you're a mediocre writer of obits and fact checking. You will never be rare or extraordinary. No Andréa. Never.
Not at the Mirror with what a few short blips on congestion and public housing last week.'' Miranda stared at Andy mockingly.
''As for being my assistant you were my worst choice.'' Andy seemed to bring out the worst in Miranda.
''Once as my assistant all that I required was that you bring my coffee, lunch and errands to and from Runway without making a mess.
That's it.
So when you screw up something as incredibly simple as that, as so many times you did so...it doesn't say a whole hell of a lot about you, does it, Andréa?''
''So that's all you thought about me?''
Priestly was the most arrogant, inflated conceited …She was insulting and provocative and the only thing pleasant about her...was the way her hair that damn silver forelock fell across her forehead.
It was like Andrea Sachs had a special knack of provoking and being the brunt of all of Miranda's most hateful parts. Stirring up her scathing cruelty, yup. Her snarkiness. Ugh huh.
Unleashing Hello. It's Ms Ice Bitch on Andy.
Underneath that polished beautiful but disagreeable exterior, she may be just a real wasp- tongued bitch. Her vicious words stung Andy.
Andy didn't know what to say back. Felt something wet prickle behind her eyes. Like hell she was going to cry in front of Miranda. Able to find her voice.
''See you around Miranda.'' So much for offering to share a cab.
Blue eyes coolly watched Andy walking away from her. Finally.
Finally told Sachs off. Why'd she feel so terrible about it?