It had been almost a month since the family of five had gone to the zoo and spent the day visiting the various animal exhibits. The sun was shining brightly in the sky despite the coldness in the air and Miranda was sat at her desk working as normal. She had been at her desk for an hour already and everything seemed to be going well.
Andrea had travelled the night before to the Hamptons in order to interview a new up and coming designer that focused on animal-friendly, vegan clothing as there was due to be an animal rights issue for Runway. There had been a tip-off that Vogue was planning to do one and so Miranda had opted to get in first with an article for Runway. The tip-off had come from an ex-employee who had taken a job at Vogue but remained loyal to Miranda. She had only taken the job over at the rival magazine because the job that she wanted was not available to Runway but by the time that it was she was doing so well at Vogue that she had been promoted up a level from her original position.
Miranda had offered to take care of Emma whilst Andrea was away as soon as the article was offered to the younger woman. The idea of looking after Emma overnight for one, possibly two nights was rather appealing to the woman as she loved to spend time with the little girl, although, admittedly, it would have been even better to also have Andrea there with them. The mother and daughter had spent a lot of time at the townhouse with Miranda and the girls but were yet to move in officially with them.
The plan was for Andrea to travel up early as the designer had wanted to go for brunch but also she had a lot of different things to show Andrea as well as the actual interview that had to be carried out. Miranda suggested that rather than having to rush back that her assistant stays at their family vacation home in the Hamptons that night too.
Suddenly, Miranda heard her name being screamed, well to be precise she heard the word 'Anda' being screamed very loudly as it echoed throughout the hallways of Runway. The Editor-in-Chief stood up and rushed from her office as a panicked member of the Elias-Clark daycare team came running towards her office.
The daycare worker had Emma in her arms and Miranda scooped her up straight away, pulling her close to her and visually checking her for any form of injury, "What happened?", she questioned.
"She was playing in the playhouse with some of the other children and one of the little boys bit her when she picked up the doll that he wanted", the young woman explained, "She started to scream for you straight away so I thought it would be best to bring her to you".
"I want the other child suspended from the daycare until he learns that biting is not acceptable behaviour", Miranda stated in a tone that left no room for any arguments at all, "I will not stand for such behaviour". "I should be able to leave my child in your care and know that she is safe", the Editor-in-Chief highlighted, "I trust that the suspension will be effective by the time Emma attends tomorrow".
The young woman nodded, "Yes, Miranda", she said softly, "I will make sure that it happens".
Miranda carefully wiped the area where she could see the small bite mark on the girl's arm using a tissue that she had taken from her assistant's desk, "She will remain with me for the rest of the day", she stated, "That's all".
Instantly the Elias-Clark employee knew she was being dismissed so she simply nodded and quickly left the area in order to get back to the daycare centre.
"Shhh", Miranda whispered, "It's okay, he won't come near you again, I promise you that".
"He bited me Anda", she said between small sobs and sniffles, "He tried to eat me".
Miranda pressed a soft kiss to the little girl's cheek, "He won't be doing it again", she replied, "You'll be staying with me for the rest of the day, first I have some paperwork to do but then I have a meeting with Irv..".
"Icky", Emma said as she pulled a face that showed her disgust.
"Yes", she agreed, "Icky Irv".
The assistant that was sat at the desk outside of Miranda's office could not help but laugh.
Miranda did not comment on the laughter as she found the little girl's comment to be rather amusing as well, "After the meeting then I have lunch with Donatella but once we've had lunch then we can go home early".
"Tella!", Emma exclaimed with excitement, the little girl was rather fond of the eccentric Italian woman and Donatella seemed to be rather fond of her too. Donatella always brought gifts with her from her Young Versace range and she loved to see the child dressed up in them, especially new designs that had not yet been determined to be a part of any collection. Gifting Emma with new designs meant that Donatella got to see them on a little model without having to release the clothing publicly and it also meant that she could do it in a way that meant Miranda was paying attention to the childrenswear collections as well as the usual adult ones. Donatella treated Emma in the same way as she did both Caroline and Cassidy, seeing her, like many other people now did, as Miranda's third daughter. She was no longer just Andrea's as Miranda had willingly and rather enthusiastically taken on a parenting role in the child's life just like Andrea had done with the two redheaded twins.
"Yes", Miranda confirmed, "Lunch with 'Tella' will be at that Italian restaurant that she likes".
"I like it too", Emma said with a slight pout.
"Oh, I know you do", Miranda said with a slight chuckle before pressing a kiss to the child's forehead.
Emma snuggled up against the Editor-in-Chief as the woman's arms were securely wrapped around her, holding her close in a protective and supportive motion. The little girl had calmed down substantially since being brought up to the Runway floor by the daycare worker.
"Emily", Miranda said softly, "I need my coffee and a small hot chocolate, then I need you to get the photos from that shoot the other day". "Then whilst I'm in the meeting with Irv you will phone Moschino and inform them that no, we will not be featuring that.. collection in the magazine", she said putting emphasis on the word 'collection' which highlighted her disgust with the concept of it even being classified as one, "Then call the photographer from that shoot last month and ask him to do the photoshoot in two weeks time". Her demands continued for a while before she said, "Once I have finished with my meeting with Irv, I will be going directly to my lunch meeting with Donatella so I expect you to meet me by the elevator with our coats and bags", she said in her usual quiet voice, "Then after lunch, I will be going home with Emma and not returning to the office so inform Nigel that he will be in charge for the remainder of the day". "Give Emily the book to go over tonight", Miranda stated without explanation, "I will expect it on my desk first thing in the morning". "Call Cara and tell her that she will not be needed for tonight", she requested, "Then tell Roy that he will be driving Emma and me to collect the girls later from school before we all go out for dinner to that pizza place the girls love so much".
"Pizzaa!", Emma exclaimed with excitement, suddenly a lot happier than she had been.
The assistant nodded, "Yes, Miranda", she responded almost at the same time as what Emma had spoken.
Emma sat patiently in Miranda's lap, snuggled up against her whilst she finished the tasks that she needed to complete in her office and then when in Irv's office she behaved there too. There was a slight glitch when he attempted to greet her and touch her cheek but that was not only on Emma's part as Miranda had given him an icy glare capable of freezing anything or anyone. Throughout the entire meeting with the weird balding man, Emma sat comfortably in Miranda's lap observing Irv as if keeping an eye on him, just in case he misbehaved in any way at all.
It was not long before the two of them were entering the restaurant that Miranda's assistant had booked for the lunch meeting with Donatella although now with a child's seat added on to the booking, "Good Morning, Miranda", the eccentric Italian woman said cheerfully in greeting, "And Good Morning Emma!".
"Good Morning", Miranda greeted in response whilst Emma did the same with a bright smile.
Donatella put her arms out to Emma, clearly wanting a hug from the little one which the child was willing to do as she happily went into the woman's arms. The Italian woman grinned happily as she hugged Emma tightly, "Oh, look at you, you're growing so quickly", she pointed out as she pulled back slightly to look at her.
The hug did not last that long because it was not long before Emma was returned to Miranda's lap where she remained for most of the dinner despite jumping between the laps of the two women as well as the highchair that she had been given so that she could see above the table and eat her food.
Lunch was a happy affair where Miranda ended up getting exactly what she had originally wanted from the meeting, although there was the assistance of Emma who at the time of the agreement had been in Donatella's lap playing with the woman's hair calmly in an innocent and extremely adorable manner.
"You should bring her to all your meetings", Donatella said with a bright smile as she said goodbye to the two of them after lunch.
Miranda smiled softly, "I will definitely consider it", she stated as she watched the woman embracing her girlfriend's daughter.
"You must bring her next time we meet", Donatella insisted energetically, "She is such a darling".
"I will try", the Editor-in-Chief agreed as she took back the child, "I shall, however, have to make sure that it is okay with Andrea".
Donatella smiled, "Oh, I am sure that it will be fine", she insisted, "She is yours too after all".
'Mine', the Editor-in-Chief thought in her head before smiling, 'I like the idea of that'. The idea of Andrea and Emma being her family was something that she loved. Emma being her daughter and Andrea eventually being her wife.