Nigel walked into the office and stopped at Emily's desk. "Did I just see-"
"Yup," Emily interrupted, clearly irritated.
"What in the name of Prada is she doing here?"
"Working"
"Did you bring her in?"
"Nope"
"Miranda hired her back?"
"Nope"
"Hello, could you help me out here? What is she doing back?"
"She just marched right in with a cup of coffee and went to work!"
"Did she get fired from the Mirror?"
"No idea."
"Well what has she said?"
"Nothing, she just came in with coffee then went out to get skirts."
"Has Miranda seen her?"
"Yes, she even drank the coffee."
"So, what did she say?" Nigel was getting impatient.
"She told me to play along and see what Andy's game is."
"Let me get this straight, Andy walked in here pretending she never left, and Miranda wants us to do the same?"
"Exactly"
"Why?"
Emily rolled her eyes. "As prone as she is to explaining things she surprisingly chose not to outline her thoughts."
Nigel shook his head, "God what that woman wouldn't do for a good cup of coffee, honestly."
"Emily," Miranda called her first assistant in to her inner sanctum. "Unplug the second computer, we don't want to give her a free pass to everything, tell her it's a virus or something. No access to scheduling or anything sensitive until we know what her endgame is."
"What should I do with her?"
Miranda blew out a puff of air, "Frankly Emily, if you can't find things for her to do why am I advertising for a second assistant at all."
"Yes Miranda"
"When she gets back," she pointed to her empty cup, "more coffee."
Miranda's day felt more peaceful then it had in months. It seemed having her wayward assistant back had a calming effect on the often-agitated woman. She smiled as she heard Emily getting a little payback, assigning Andrea with jobs such as reorganizing the supply room, a job that was admittedly severely needed. Best of all she brought lunch and coffee hot and on time!
"Andrea," she called the younger woman into her office, "arrange a grooming appointment for Patricia."
"Yes, Miranda."
"Andrea," the younger woman came in again, "remind Roy that the girls have riding lessons after school today."
"Yes, Miranda."
Miranda just couldn't resist calling Andrea into the office for small tasks throughout the day. 'Face it, you just like to look at her,' she ruminated. Miranda enjoyed the frisson of excitement that tingled down her spine each time her surprisingly returned second assistant came near. She didn't call her in only to look at her, but the view of her walking out was always a bonus.
"So," Miranda looked up and found Nigel standing in her doorway. "Are we really going to spend the day pretending that she still works here?"
Miranda's lips formed a little half smile, "Yes I believe we will."
"Why?"
"Why not?"
"Oh, come on, she left without notice and then spontaneously walks in three months later and you're just going to let her?"
"Hmm," she rested her chin on her steepled fingers, "yes."
"Once again, why?"
"I think with all the paper work around Paris I must have signed a vacation request and forgot."
"No."
"Possibly her mother was ill and that gave her 12 weeks under the family medical leave act."
"No"
Miranda glared at him, "I am happy to see her back no matter the reason, I missed her."
"There we go."
Miranda glared and continued, "I don't know why she is back. Maybe she got a job at Vogue and is spying for Anna."
"Doubtful"
"Maybe she got fired from her little newspaper and is desperate for a pay check."
"Unlikely"
"Maybe she missed me too." Miranda looked at him shyly.
"There we go," he smiled gently. "Honestly, the way you two danced around each other I was shocked that she left and even more shocked that you didn't chase after her."
Miranda straightened her back and glared at him. "I do not chase, Patricia chases, animals chase. Editors, especially married ones, do not chase!"
"But you missed her." She looked away. "What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to wait it out, she can't go on like this forever. It's a ridiculous little game we are playing, but let's face it, Emily can use the help."
"And you my friend don't mind the scenery," said Nigel grinning.
Andy felt her stomach clench when she noticed Miranda looking out at her. Of course, this was nothing new, from her first days at Runway she found the editor enticing, her whole body tingled when Marinda gave her the morning once over. She often dreamed of those piercing blue eyes looking at her in other circumstances, more intimate circumstances. Andy shook her head thinking, 'Nope not going there, married boss, repeat after me, married boss.'
Andy went over to Emily's vacant desk for a paper clip. She was rather annoyed that somehow most of the supplies from her desk were missing. 'That's odd," she thought as she stared at the date displayed on Emily's computer. She went to Miranda's office and stood in the door way.
"Sorry to bother you Miranda but I think Emily's computer has a virus too."
Miranda's eyebrows shot up, "How's that?"
"Well, I noticed the date display is three months ahead."
Nigel and Miranda locked eyes and then she looked back at Andrea searchingly.
"Andrea," she asked, "did you actually bump your head on the way into work this morning?"
The younger woman petted the back of her head. "Yeah, I have a pretty big bump."
"What happened?"
"This kid was trying to catch a Magikarp and ran into me."
"Magic what? Oh, never mind come here."
Andy's knees went week when Miranda put her hand on the back of her head and grazed over the bump. "Good God Andrea why didn't you see a Doctor you may have a concussion."
"Oh, I'm willing to bet she does," said Nigel sardonically.
Miranda glared at him, "Make yourself useful and call Roy we are leaving now. When Emily comes in tell her to cancel my day." She took Andrea's arm and lead her out of the office.
"Miranda what are we doing?"
"You, my dear, are going to the emergency room, you remember what those are don't you?"
