Chapter 2

Miranda sat down at her desk expecting to review her magazine's budget prior to the monthly meeting. Instead she was faced with what appeared to be an unsolicited article on dogs. Why the hell is someone giving me an article on dogs? She glared at the paper thinking, if this is another Cruella parody someone is going to die. She was preparing to berate Emily for the arrival of such a document when she noticed the name Melissa Parsons in the text.

Oh joy The Devil Wears Prada too, she thought as she recognized the fictional editors name, It's a crossover! Miranda rolled her eyes at herself. I cant believe I know what that means! She put her hand to her head realizing tomorrow was Wednesday, or hell night as she routinely thought of Wednesday now. Ever since her children had found fan fiction she spends Wednesday evenings editing their work. Ahead of her was several hours of teen angst as she read and corrected stories highlighting the dating habits of wizards and vampires. Miranda cringed at the idea that someone might find out that she was what her children called a beta reader for Harry Potter and Twilight fan fiction.

Miranda pulled her self from her dread of the evening to come and looked back down at the document in hand. After just a few more lines she realized it really was fan fiction, Devil Wears Prada fan fiction. It didn't take long to realize that it was centered around Amanda, the fictional representation of her actual assistant Andrea. Miranda threw back her head in mirth, her laughter ringing out through the office. Oh my, I wonder if the evil editor is going to cause problems for her little assistant's love interest. After another page the world's most over qualified beta reader gasped in surprise. Oh my, the evil editor is the little assistant's love interest! Suddenly Miranda found fan fiction to be much more interesting than she had previously believed.

Emily arrived in her office a half hour later with the actual budget report and Miranda got back to her job. From time to time she glanced out of her office door to see Andrea looking rather distraught. It didn't take a genius to figure out that the story had landed on her desk in error. Andrea's face, witch was rather green, was a dead give away that she was the author. Another assistant with a crush, just what I need. Miranda had dealt with dozens of assistants who's admiration had moved in to the realm of the romantic. Budget first, silly little girls later, Miranda thought while she gathered her things and left for her budget meeting.

On the way back to Runway Miranda couldn't resist taking out her assistant's little work and continue to read it. Old habits die hard and without even realizing what she was doing she pulled out her red pen and began to edit. After she finished her first read through Miranda put her head back on the seat and closed her eyes. It was clear that Andrea was using her, not Lauren's fictional caricature of her, as the template for her story.

Miranda smiled as she realized how well her assistant actually knew her. I swear that I'm laughing at my own jokes. I almost know what she is going to have Melissa say because it would be something I would say. Miranda's heart felt warm in her chest as she realized no one has ever paid attention to her as well as Andrea does. All of the little touches that Andrea added to her daily life suddenly took on a bigger meaning. The thought of the bright smile that greats her each morning made Miranda's warm heart beat just a little faster. The realization of what it all might mean made her sit up straight in her seat and put the papers away. Silly little girl, she thought and put anything but Runway right out of her mind.

As hard as she tried to stop it her mind kept returning to what she was calling Andrea's little fic. Finally after she finished with the book Thursday night she gave in she pulled it out and read it again. In her mind she was discussing the work with its author. No, no, no Andrea! You can't have Melissa just starting to have those kinds of feelings with no back up. You need to add some history.

Miranda thought of her own history. At twenty she fell in love with a woman. She was surprised but felt loving Julie was worth what the future might bring. Julie however didn't think love was worth the risk. The brutal dumping that followed was gut wrenching. Fortunately for Miranda Julie married an up and coming politician, so there was no fear of an outing as Miranda herself became more well known. Miranda tapped her pen to her lip then smiled. Revenge at last, she thought as she wrote a sad tale of Melissa Parsons first love, Julie, being a victim of a violent crime.

And so it went, Really Andrea, if you are going to write about someone learn a little something about them first. David likes cats. You'll have to change this to Cats? Really?

You are having her use Andybear as an email address? That is a ticket to the morgue not the hospital in my book.

Miranda couldn't help but grin every time she read about cerulean blue. She was pleased that Andrea hadn't taken it on faith and did some research for her story. Miranda had fond memories of Nigel laughing his head off when everyone else had left his office that day.

"Damn woman," he crowed. "you are an evil genius! How in the hell did you come up with that right off the cuff?"

It was almost two in the morning before Miranda felt the story was acceptable. Now that you have edited this to your satisfaction. What are you going to do with it? After a moment of contemplation Miranda wrote a note and put it all in a large envelope with Andrea's name on it. She set it on the table in the entrance way and patted it affectionately. Miranda went off to bed grinning wondering what tomorrow would bring.

Miranda could see Andrea relaxing as Friday wore on. For the previous few days the younger woman had been extremely jumpy. Miranda could barely restrain herself from jumping out from behind a door and yelling boo. She actually let out a giggle when she thought of it. Having people witness that little break from the norm wouldn't have been so bad but Irv had just told a joke. Now the man was being insufferable with a delusion that he is actually funny.

From the upstairs landing Miranda watched her assistant's struggle with her dry cleaning and then grinned as the girl had a bigger struggle with what was sitting where she would be placing the book. Miranda nodded with approval when Andrea finally straightened her back and took the envelope. When Andrea finally walked out the door Miranda's face was graced with a smile of anticipation. She wondered if Monday she would continue to resist saying boo!

TBC