"You have a date tonight", Nigel declared as he entered the outer area of Miranda's office and stood in front of Andrea's desk.
Andrea looked confused, "What?", she questioned, "What are you talking about?".
Miranda listened to what he was saying, her facial expressions turning to annoyance within milliseconds as she knew that this 'date' was not with her.
"You, Six, have a date tonight", the bald man declared as he leaned on her desk with a grin.
"I think you'll find that I don't", the dark-haired woman stated simply, "I'm going with Caroline and Cassidy to their school trip to the museum this afternoon then I am going to relax at my apartment with Ben and Jerry".
"Nope", Nigel said with a grin, "Tonight at 7 you're going to that lovely French restaurant on sixth street and you're going to be wined and dined all night".
"And if I don't want to go?", Andrea questioned with a raised eyebrow.
Nigel shrugged, "Ben and Jerry will be there for you tomorrow", he stated, "You're going".
"Do I get to know anything about who I'm going on a date with?", the young woman asked him with a heavy sigh.
"He's a friend of mine", he said with a smile, he seemed rather proud of himself for setting the young assistant up on this particular date, "He's an editor at a newspaper, tall, dark, and handsome".
Miranda's mood was taking an even sharper and more dramatic downturn as time went on, how dare he set her Andrea up on a date with someone else?!
Andrea sighed heavily, "And a name?", she asked him although it was clear from her body language and facial expressions that she was not overly keen on the concept of going on this blind date.
"Jack", Nigel answered with a grin that both Andrea and Miranda were, at this point in time, finding to be increasingly annoying.
"Nigel", Andrea said with a sigh, "I really don't want to go".
"Why?", he questioned, "Do you have a secret date that I'm somehow unaware of?".
Andrea glanced towards Miranda's open door where the woman was apparently reading something that was in front of her, or at least looking at whatever it was, "Unfortunately not", she mumbled.
Nigel caught the glance and sighed, "Come on Six", he said with enthusiasm, "You'll have a great time and I'll even lend you something hot and sexy from the closet".
The young woman rolled her eyes and groaned, "Fine, I'll go", she resigned as she turned her attention back to him and away from her beautiful boss who sat mere meters from them.
Miranda clutched her pen so tightly that she managed to snap part of the top of it off, luckily that was something that the others did not notice. Nigel because he was too busy talking about the planned date and Andrea because she was too busy wishing it was with Miranda instead of this… whatever his name was.
For the rest of the morning, Miranda Priestly was in full-on dragon mode and was breathing fire on everyone that stepped into her vicinity, that was apart from Andrea of course.
It confused Andrea because she could not comprehend why the older woman would look at her with such a sad expression each time she looked in her direction and thought that she wasn't looking.
"I'm going to go to the school now, Miranda", Andrea said softly as she stepped back into the office after clearing away Miranda's lunch items, "Do you need anything before I leave?".
Miranda wanted to say yes, she wanted to tell her that she needed her to call off her date, she wanted to tell her that wanted to go on a date with her herself, and yet despite all of this… Miranda shook her head and said, "No, that's all".
Andrea nodded, "Have a nice day, Miranda".
"Don't forget to use my card for anything you or the girls need", Miranda highlighted before the woman left the room.
Her assistant nodded with a smile, "Of course, Miranda".
It was a great afternoon, Andrea always loved to spend time with both Caroline and Cassidy no matter what they were doing. They spent four hours at the museum with the girls' school before they went and got ice-cream from the local store.
After their fun afternoon, the three of them made their way back to the townhouse where Andrea helped both of the girls get their coats and other items put away.
"Are you coming to dinner, tonight Andy?", Cassidy questioned with a bright and cheerful smile.
"No, sorry girls", Andrea replied, "I really wish I could though but maybe another time?".
"Whyever not?", Caroline asked her with a look of disbelief, the woman never turned down any opportunity to spend time with them.
"I…", Andrea took a breath and sighed, "I have a date".
Both of the girls cheered, "I knew she'd finally ask", one of them squealed with excitement.
"What?", Andrea questioned, "What are you talking about?".
"You're going on a date with our Mom...right?", Cassidy asked her, suddenly not as excited as before and also looking a little nervous at the idea of a 'no'.
"No", Andrea said with a shake of her head, "Nigel set me up on a blind date with a friend of his". The woman suddenly stopped as she hung up Cassidy's coat on the hook in the closet before turning to look at them, "Why would you think that I was going on a date with your mother?".
"Well, durrrhh", Caroline said with a roll of her eyes, "You'd be perfect together".
"Well, I appreciate the thought girls but… I am not going on a date with your mother", Andrea said before hanging up the second coat and then closing the closet door.
"Why not?", Cassidy questioned.
Andrea was unsure at first as to what to say so she knelt down in front of the two ten-year-old girls and smiled softly, "You're mother is the most amazing woman in the world and anyone would be lucky to go on a date with her", she said as she took their hands, "However, my date tonight is with Jake or Jack or Jackson or whatever his name is…".
"See, he isn't even important enough for you to remember his name", Cassidy highlighted.
Andrea smiled softly, "How about I take you both out for dinner tomorrow?", she asked them, "I will have to ask your mother's permission first but how does dinner and the cinema sound to you?".
"She'll say yes", Caroline stated, "She always says yes".
"Can Mom come too?", Cassidy asked her.
"Of course", Andrea replied instantly, "I'll message her about it on my way back to my apartment".
"You shouldn't go tonight", Caroline said softly, "You should stay here and have dinner with us… and with Mom".
"I've already agreed to it Caroline", Andrea replied gently before pulling both girls into her arms, "I love you both so much, have a good night okay?".
"Normally I would say the same", Caroline stated and then she paused briefly before continuing, "But I don't think I want you too… not this time. I am sorry Andy".
"You don't want me to have a good night?", Andrea questioned.
Both of the girls shook their heads, "Not if it's a date with someone who isn't our Mom", she replied.
"How about a safe night instead?", Andrea asked the two of them, "Would that be better?".
The two of them glanced at each other before at the woman in front of them and then they nodded, "Definitely", Caroline agreed before they both launched themselves into Andrea's arms.