Your Limousine Got Stuck In Traffic
Andy still couldn't believe it. Miranda was here. HERE. In front of her. It had been what five months' since Paris. Maybe Miranda wouldn't notice. Yeah right Miranda Priestley, Dragon Lady, the polished Coiffed silver haired Valkyrie like Editor of Runway Magazine that reduced grownups to tears with a withering 'That's all' or the gulp 'Cerulean Speech' that still made Andy still cringe, would not, not notice her Ex Assistant.
No Miranda, would never dare be affected by Andrea who was her server this lovely evening for her exclusive table, each dining companion, her guests', vetted and only approved by herself at this fundraising Gala with the who's who of Manhattan Society an Elite.
At a mere twenty thousand a plate once in a lifetime bidding by Silent Auction on Francesco Clemente Artwork to a Luxurious Weekend at an Italian Count's Lake Como Villa it was called 'My Dirty Fellini Weekend' or Valhorna Chocolate Tasting for couples, topped off with ' Midnight Kiss Goodnight Champagne and Chocolates Picnic at Versailles ' Andy's personal favourite Around The World's Capitol's Kisses Scavenger Hunt, take a selfie of yourself with your significant other kissing in random historical places and monuments searching for clues in every country Andy dreamed of visiting. Sigh that would never happen on her pitiful minimum wage.
What bored rich people do with their lives? What silly things they buy with their immense wealth. Andy had seen a fourteen year old bid on driving lessons in a red Ferrari entitled 'Tailgated and Brake '. Shaking her head, bemused at all of it. Not that she would outright refuse a years' worth of ' Godiva Chocolate ' and 'Guitar Strings' learn how to play guitar and jam with Carlos Santana or ' Bow and Arrow Cupid' Learn archery with an Olympic Gold Medallist, if she had a gazillion dollars to waste or simply throw away on frivolous. Those are just a few things she'd simply have to try.
The Feared Runway Editor would completely overlook her presence, right, it's not like Miranda Priestley noticed everything, or especially be bothered about Andrea Sachs, her insignificant ex assistant who left her in Paris during the height of Fashion Week. Positive Miranda was over it. Andy had timidly absconded, no fled like an NY marathon runner from Miranda as if her Jimmy Choos were on fire, she'd flung a company issued cell phone in the fountain while it rang with Miranda's call. Breaking Miranda's Rules always answer when La Priestley calls. No matter what or where you were. It does not matter, Miranda and Miranda's needs come first.
Even when Emily was manoeuvring crutches she always picked up. Always. Miranda's ringtone should have been Andy had once joked to Emily, be the Jaws Theme. Have some heads up warning. That comment was not very well received or remotely interested in sharing suggestion had earned her, two months of fetching every Starbucks run or as highly strung Emily had stated in a posh brummie exasperation 'You're the second assistant, the muck in role so muck in. You're the other Emily, do not make me look bad.'
While that moment in Paris, Andy had disobeyed that golden rule, having flung it like a flaming javelin and just walked. Enough was enough. Not looking back. Still surprised she hadn't been charged with inflicting wilful damage on company property. Nate had been right, so right it actually hurt, the person calling always takes and Andy couldn't give anymore. It had begun to matter, no Miranda had begun to matter, to Andy.
That was dangerous, very dangerous uncharted territory, had to end this on her terms. Before she got hurt by the Dragon Lady. Andy knew deep down, her heart would be stomped, mutilated and broken with little care by The Dragon Lady, if she'd stayed. It was simple self-preservation. Self-Preservation before it even had started or before 'It' whatever it was between them had even begun.
Andy knew on her side and only her side, there was this spark, something between them. Felt it. Andy had definitely maybe felt it a few times between them, but quelled it. Locked it down. Once thought just apt admiration for the acerbic Runway Editor who encouraged abject fear in the office and Ellis Clark Building and most of NYC, but no there was this chemistry between them. Undeniable. Almost like and Andy's thoughts on it was plain lunacy or just plain commit me to Bellevue crazy that it was sexual tension and bantering foreplay. Nigel one time had almost mentioned noticing it to his favourite Six, but hadn't elaborated further on what exactly was 'it between them he'd picked up on. Nigel had not missed the little things, small things he didn't fail to notice like sharing an elevator with a lowly second assistant, calling the fashion disaster by her name. Her actual given first name. Personalised, acknowledged by the formidable feared Queen of Fashion. It was curious he'd once observed to Andy. No one else was that close or relied on by Miranda as Andy had been.
Andy listened to Nigel's words she'd shrugged off. It didn't mean anything. Nigel had treated Andy to an impromptu lunch, of course lying at the Runway Office that he was meeting someone very special to him, so no one at Runway Magazine knew he the dapper Savile Row tailored and effortlessly attired traitor was having a bite with the infamous Andrea. If Miranda found out about his clandestine date with her Andréa , he'd be working as Fashion Buyer at Kmart in Des Moines.
Assured very seriously, hand over silk ascot that Security have a standing order to shoot you on sight should you ever dare to enter the Ellis Clark Bldg. or make it to Runway's floor. 'Seriously Six, there are embossed folders with your image in crosshair handed out.' Poor Emily must have ATF, SWAT and Homeland Security on standby. If Andy was ever considered a serious threat to Miranda's personal safety. Earned full on giggling laughter at their table. With a slight hesitation Miranda can't issue an order like that right. Assured in all sobering eyebrow raise, Miranda lunches monthly with the Mayor and the Governor. No real limit to her influence and how far it reaches.
Nigel grinned at his favourite Six, boy oh boy she'd come a long way a really, really long way from frumpy librarian lack of style, Oklahoma and NJ had a baby out of wedlock fashion sense. All grown up fashionable now and wearing chic black biker jacket. Brooding and East Village cutting edge. Didn't dare broach as to the why, why did his plucky little Six leave without notice or a reason. A really good reason like my therapist advised I not continue on in your employment Miranda or I'll have a nervous breakdown because the prescription and valium aren't working anymore. Little Miss I can do anything had just abandoned Miranda.
Truly Six was more than fabulous, in truth actually brilliant at her job, sure it wasn't writing about inoculating starving orphans in Honduras, but she was valued, everybody knew her in the office down to the mail guy and her sunshine optimism was quite wholesome and contagious at Runway. Most importantly one question bugged Nigel greatly 'Why did Andy decide to leave Miranda?'
So suddenly and without any explanation. It was all very strange leaving Miranda assistant less and stranded in Paris during Fashion Week. That was cold and downright cruel to do even to the Dragon Lady. Frankly Six didn't have a cruel malicious bone in her body, so why the sudden deserting Miranda? Thrown aside like yesterday's Manolos.
What Andy had done by quitting and not being fired, was now legend in the hallowed halls of Runway and for that mutinous act to have gone severely unpunished was strange like a prelude to the apocalypse almost. To Nigel's complete astonishment, Miranda had not vindictively blackballed poor Six from publishing forever in revenge. Or writing for Alaska North Circle Weekly on Malamute Breeding. No payback or twisted retribution.
Nigel envisioned poor naïve Six, being called by a recruitment agency in Miranda's pocket and be assured she had a job at The New York Times' and discover the position was as The Editor's much needed permanent till golden senior years dog walker/poop scooper. Hadn't reaped her revenge on Six.
It was too weird. On the plane, Miranda had been almost heartbroken by Andréa's departure but that was because of whining womanising ewwy Stephen and the upcoming divorce right?
What was it with them both? What had happened between Andy and Miranda exactly? What had gone so wrong? To cause this final separation. Andy was so uncanny with anticipating Miranda's every need and they were almost… like a… a couple. A couple. OMG. Nigel's face registered dawning comprehension, Little Miss Optimism, Fashionably Challenged Ohio Six and the Miranda Priestley. NO. No that wasn't possible. Species that vastly different do not mate and domesticate.
Blurted it out. 'Six tell it to me straight did you and Miranda ever… what I mean is… I know she valued your skills kiddo and both you and Miranda seemed to be getting closer.' Blushing at the sheer absurdity, Nigel stammered. 'Forget it, never mind Miranda's got us all run ragged thanks to you resigning so dramatically…now tell your Aunty Nigel all your brilliant plans of surviving the unemployment line in the scary old big apple.' The very idea was too out there to say out loud. Miranda and Andy a couple. That wasn't even possible. Nigel shut his mouth, it was ludicrous. Andy had hairy chef boy Matt or Ryan or whatever his name was. Avoided asking anything more of Andy about her cowardly fleeing, who picked at her plate, 'I have an Interview at The NY Mirror tomorrow.' Nigel toasted her gallantly. 'Wonderful Six go forth and forge writing for the Hoi polloi '.
Glancing at his Cartier, he had to get back. Kissing Andy on both cheekbones warmly. 'I'll call you but not ever at work!' Nigel paid for both of them and left Andy with a cheery wave goodbye.
That lunch had been five months ago. A lot had changed for Andy. Put aside dreams and shelved them permanently.
Whatever the something was, between Miranda and herself, Nigel had almost implied, Andy had sensibly extinguished. It could not happen. Could never happen. Be Realistic, Sachs. So incompatible to begin with, the stars were against them, to even be together, not that they ever were together, together, aside from age, monetary earning or lack of on Andy's meagre part and still owing a student loan that she'd repay at sixty at the rate she was earning, those were more than obvious barriers keeping them apart. Surely, they'd be an utter recipe for flirting with disaster.
Andy was Peace Corps, Organic, Oxfam and Pottery Barn. Miranda was Harry Winston, Maxims and Bergdorf's. No Sachs, never act on that feeling ever. Plain cuckoo crazy. Out of her league in every way. Miranda would grind you to pieces if she knew what her ex-employee really felt. For her. The L word. LOVE.
Andy wanted to crawl under a table or no be swallowed up whole by the carpet beneath her. Mortified, no try utterly and completely humiliated, there was no way to exit or leave without being noticed and like a shark smelling blood, Miranda had indeed noticed. Noticed her.
Particularly since Andy was their assigned waitress/server this evening. Icy violet eyes narrowed as her long fingers circled her champagne flute, running her fingertip over the rim, Andy remembered what that look meant reigned fury.
Andy was going to strangle Alaire, her Catering Manager, why hadn't she looked at the name of the party assigned to the table, then she could have fled in time, simply swapped and hidden. Too late. Here goes nothing. Breathe Sachs, it's just Miranda. Gulp.
Choosing to ignore Miranda completely was the safest option, silent treatment best standard operating procedure around her ex-Boss. Pouring each glass, rushing away.
How dare Andrea . Thoughtless. Irresponsible. Miranda quietly seethed, what to do in such situation, being served by a former second assistant who only five months ago ran away. Fled from the candid opinion that stings curmondgeous nasty as a viper Dragon Lady. This insufferable girl brought out her worse side. Nettled and challenged but yet hadn't you once enjoyed her boldness. Shown no fear of retribution, or mollified capitulation even in the first moment of meeting each other.
Andrea hadn't a clue of how to take or for that matter navigate the complexity that made up Miranda? Hardly tiptoed around her, Emily was always in a constant state of nervous anxiety around her idol but not the new girl.
Her Andrea, always watched, watching her with those insipid golden cognac honest unjaded eyes. Unnerved her, Undid her. What was wrong with her? Her Andrea! She wasn't a Hermes bag to carry about. Still not knowing really what had possessed her to write a recommendation, a personal one.
How come Andrea had got under her skin? Why the smart fat girl that captivated her so. Intrigued her, piqued her interest. Few ever did.
Sipping her flute, she could do so many things to her former lowly assistant, have her removed from her regal presence or fired in front of her. That would be more than fitting. Fulfilling payback. A well-earned comeuppance, Andrea well deserved. It would only take one word but yet Miranda couldn't do it. Why couldn't she? What stopped her from wanting to hurt Andrea deeply, viciously wound her the way she'd been. In truth it hurt, deeper than she'd ever admit, that Andrea hated her, no despised and loathed her was a lot to digest.
Half of her wanted to get up from this table and leave, to flee as quickly as possible away from Andrea Sach's sanctimonious unblemished measurement of right and wrong.
Andrea's eyes still haunted her, those hurt and mesmerizing doe like eyes in the limo looking at her as if she was evil incarnate had halted Miranda momentarily, than the glib comparison had sealed the deal. They were very alike had been the wrong words to flatter with. What she'd done to Nigel had earned Andrea's complete and utter disgust. Then everything had gone pear shaped.
Miranda's bitter part remained firmly rooted at her table. Seated, no Miranda Priestley did not turn tail and avoid facing anything thrown at her full on. By the end of this grand evening Andrea Sach's would explain herself and her rash actions to her former boss. Have a much needed answer as to why?