"He did what?" Nigel squealed. "You're kidding, Miranda."
"I'm hardly one to kid around. Now he wants me to fix his faux-pas with the next issue of Runway. Honestly, Nigel, Anna Montgomery could easily sue the man and if that happens the magazine could suffer immensely."
"How could he say that gay people just want straight privileges? What the hell does that even mean?" Nigel was shaking his head, angrily pacing Miranda's office.
"Oh, do calm down, Nigel. I talked to Anna and she doesn't want to sue him or anything of the sort. She knows what's at stake here, she is the bloody CEO. Irv simply needs to cut down on his alcohol consumption at our next Elias Clarke gathering." Miranda said, calmly as ever.
"So what's his idea to fix this?" Nigel asked as he sat across from Miranda.
Miranda chuckled and smirked evilly. "He had decided he wants an all pride month for the June issue. Which is a great idea for the LGBTQ community, but his ideas are rather…"
"...They stink?" Nigel asked smirking.
"Yes, there's no other way to put it. He started to tell me how many rainbows and famous gay couples I have to put in the issue and said I should publish articles about "their" fashion. He doesn't have the faintest idea on how to run this magazine and how to treat other people.
Seriously. I won't use any of his ideas, I have other ideas in mind." Miranda smiled genuinely and Nigel was all ears. "But we'll have to start right away because the deadline is next week. So, we all have to put on our A-Game. Can I count on you, Nigel? I want to make Anna proud she works with this magazine and she needs this magazine to succeed as much as I do."
"I'm all in, baby, let's get this started. We'll make her proud. I'm sure your ideas rock." Nigel was so excited he almost forgot who he was talking to. But since they were good friends and had made their peace after Paris, Miranda just chuckled at Nigel's endearment as he blushed.
"Andrea?" Miranda called
Andy heard the woman's voice flutter through the outer office. Grabbing her notepad, she made her way into Miranda's office. "Yes Miranda, hello Nigel." Andy smiled at them both in greeting.
Miranda gave Andy the usual once over really quickly and licked her lips while Nigel wasn't looking. She shook herself out of her dreamy state as she fired off her instructions.
"Schedule a meeting with the art department, the beauty department and myself today at 2 pm sharp. I want them to come up with fresh ideas for pride month for the next issue. Make an appointment with Patrick for a shoot here at Runway tomorrow at 9 am. Get me new outfits from any designer who wants to support our pride month issue today. I want them by tonight. I'll look over them and select the pieces for the shoot tomorrow morning. That's all."
"Right away Miranda." Andy's smile widened and she turned on her heels to get right down to business.
"Emily?" Miranda called. Emily was surprised because Andy had just been in the office.
"Yes, Miranda?" Emily hurried in as fast as she could with her injured leg. She didn't wear a cast or need the crutches anymore but it was not healed a hundred per cent yet.
"Get me the numbers for this month's budget straight away. Also, I need you to request it be raised by double. I'm certain Irv will gladly approve it this once, so there should be no issues from the request. Also, I need you and Serena tomorrow for the photoshoot. You are out, right?" Miranda raised an eyebrow.
Emily gasped. "Er, yes. I just didn't know you…" Emily faltered.
"Everyone knows, the question is would you and Serena be our next cover girls?" Miranda asked, secretly knowing Emily was dying for an opportunity like this.
"YES...bloody hell...I mean I'll ask Serena and let you know right away." Emily exclaimed excitedly.
Miranda continued to plan. "Nigel, I need you and Doug in the magazine as well. Do you think your husband is open to that idea? Maybe with a little article about your recent wedding?"
Nigel's eyes went wide. "So you're doing an issue about Runway's LGBTQ community? Hell yes, I'm in. Doug will simply faint at the idea. I'm not sure if he'll be able to get tomorrow morning off though for the shoot." Nigel stated, suddenly concerned.
"That's not a problem. If he does, great. If not, well we'll just have to use one of your wedding photos?" Miranda planned for contingencies.
"Acceptable," Nigel smirked.
"Good," Miranda muttered, typing busily on her laptop as she slowly looked up at both him and Emily with the faintest of smirks. "That's all."
They both hurried out of the office and made sure they got everything done Miranda asked of them.
"Andrea," Miranda called softly.
Andy hurried in again with her notepad. "Did you forget something?" Andy asked, and yes, she was now allowed to ask questions since Paris. They'd grown closer and Miranda was mentoring Andy as she had high hopes for her career in the publishing world.
"Yes, dear, I want you to write an article on Nigel and Douglas's recent wedding, perhaps with a little interview section." Miranda smiled. "Can you do it for tomorrow morning? It should be at least 1000 words plus the interview."
"Oh my God, are you serious right now?" Andy squealed until she saw Miranda wince. "I'm sorry, yes, of course. I'm absolutely on it." Andy offered her a bright smile and actually jumped for joy.
"I'm counting on you, Andrea. This needs to be professional, but I expect nothing less than that from you. You have immense talent." Miranda looked down at her notes.
Andy was shocked by Miranda's request and words. "Miranda, you seriously don't know what this means for me and my career. Will my name actually be in the magazine?"
"Of course it will. Also, tell the art and beauty department the theme of the new issue. It will be "Runway's Pride." and it will represent everyone at Runway who wants to participate, no matter how they identify within the LGBTQ community.
We have to make sure nothing from Irving's statement towards Anna is leaked outside of Elias Clarke and show the world that Runway magazine is an inclusive place to work and that we support the LGBTQ community. That's all." She waved Andy away with an airy flick of her wrist.
"Of course, Miranda." Andy hurried out and made sure she took care of everything Miranda needed.
The 2 pm meeting went well and Miranda was satisfied with what her staff had achieved so far. It seemed they were all on fire and brought only quality ideas to the meeting. Everything was doable under the short deadline the following week. Serena confirmed their participation and thanked Miranda for her trust. Miranda was very pleased and her staff loved how smoothly things were going with this issue especially since it had to be changed greatly. Everyone saw the great potential from the new focus.
Andy was driving around the city with Roy collecting clothing and accessories from each designer who wanted to support the Pride issue and there were a lot. She'd gathered at least 35 outfits and was quite happy with what she'd been given. She'd been to the Prada showroom, Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs, Valentino, Jean Paul Gaultier and Yves Saint Laurent. They were all happy to support the Pride-themed issue of Runway.
Miranda was busy taking calls from some of the designers who offered their congratulations on the newest idea. Some of them even remarked how happy they were with the more than friendly and professional assistant she'd sent to their showrooms. Marc Jacobs even offered to come by for the shoot to be part of the issue.
This made Miranda extraordinarily proud and vastly pleased with her Andrea.
They worked late into the evening and at 7.30 pm, with nearly everyone gone, Miranda called out to her assistant. "Andrea."
Andy had organized everything she was supposed to and had just printed out the following day's schedule. When Miranda called her in. "Yes, Miranda?" She asked with notepad in hand still smiling and eager to please Miranda even after a busy day.
"Please sit down, you won't need that." Miranda said gesturing at the notepad.
Andy sat down. "Is everything okay, Miranda?"
"Everything is more than alright, Andrea. And a great part of that is down to you. You did an excellent job today. I even received calls from the fashion houses, to compliment you. It made me exceedingly proud and I adore how smoothly everything runs with you and Emily assisting me. So keep up the good work. The book will arrive electronically this evening so I want you to go home and work on your article. I'll drive you home in 10 minutes."
Andy blushed like a little schoolgirl and her eyes got teary. "Thank you so much, Miranda, nothing makes me happier than to please you." When she realized what she'd said she quickly added. "I mean at work...uh, here you know...getting everything done your way. Anyway, thank you and yes I won't disappoint you." She grinned. "I already started writing my article while Roy drove me through the city." She admitted.
Miranda smirked at the nervous young woman. She knew something was going on between the two of them but she couldn't quite put a finger on it. She enjoyed the little flirtation, the furious blushes and the light touches here and there immensely.
"I didn't expect anything else from you Andrea. Now be a dear and call Roy and wrap up your day. That's all." Miranda said and returned to clean up her own desk, shut down her laptop and finish her busy but successful day.
They rode home in silence exchanging glances and shy smiles. When Andy arrived home she thanked Miranda and hurried up the stairs. She made herself a quick dinner and finished her article for Miranda. She talked to Nigel and Doug for the interview section on the phone and they were thrilled about Andy's writing and interview style.
She reread it four times before sending it to Nigel to proofread. She was very excited over the fact she would be published in the magazine and loved the idea of pride month and could support Runway in such a way.
TBC