Janeway and Seven transported to an alley near the Elias-Clarke building. As they walked down the street, Janeway kept subtly, she thought, sniffing the air. Something smelled wonderful.
"It is coffee, Captain," Seven supplied with a faint curl to her lips.
"What? Seven, I wasn't…" Janeway stopped as Seven lifted an eyebrow in a doubtful expression. Though she had seen Seven with her implants masked on at least one other occasion, Janeway was again struck by how very beautiful her Seven was. The denial she had planned died on her lips. "Yes, all right. I wonder where it's coming from." She began to look around for the source of the enticing aroma.
Seven pointed across the street to a shop with a large sign over the door that read "Starbucks." "It is an establishment that serves various forms of coffee drinks, Captain. I came across it in my research. It is apparently Miranda Priestly's favorite source of that drink."
"Hmmm. Maybe I should check that out while you're having your interview. I'll just wait for you over there." Janeway continued to speak though she never took her eyes off the intriguing Starbucks. "You have that 'cell phone' device B'Elanna rigged up to disguise your communicator? You can call me on that if you get delayed."
"Of course, Captain," Seven responded in a wry tone.
Janeway took a step away, then stopped and turned back to Seven. "Be careful," she cautioned, her concern apparent. "We don't know what's causing these spells yet."
With a nod, Seven headed into the building and, after a longing glance, Janeway went in search of the source of that heavenly smell.
Miranda ignored the incessant ringing of the phone. Once she had discovered how to activate the caller ID on her console, she had used it to simplify her day. A quick glance now told her whether the caller was someone she wished to speak with or not. If the response was negative, she merely allowed it to ring until they gave up and ceased to bother her. While she insisted her assistants never let more than two rings pass, she did not believe that applied to herself as her time was much too valuable for such nonsense. Only the truly important people would be allowed to reach her in the first place, so for Miranda it was business as usual, though a tad louder than she preferred.
As yet another call rang in, she rolled her eyes, wishing for perhaps the hundredth time since she had sent the last new girl packing the previous afternoon, that Andréa would settle whatever emergency had befallen and return to her place at Miranda's side. It really was too much to expect Miranda to function at optimal efficiency with all these tedious details eating at her time and attention. Why she was expected to concern herself with them she could not fathom. That's what assistants were for. The fact that she currently did not have one manning either of the desks outside her office was not her concern.
Reaching for her phone, intent on calling Nigel and instructing him to drag Emily to one of the desks and chain her in place if necessary, Miranda was startled when the phone suddenly ceased ringing and a voice spoke in the outer office.
"Miranda Priestly's office…No, I am sorry. She is about to go into a meeting." Miranda heard the clack of keys as someone typed something into one of the computers. "Yes, that is correct. She wishes twelve skirts for today's run-through…No, I do not believe anyone has been delegated to collect them. You will simply have to deliver them." Miranda arched an eyebrow at the imperiousness of the tone. "Yes, I realize you are calling from Calvin Klein's showroom. Are you aware you are calling Miranda Priestly's office?... I see. Well, if you do not choose to deliver the skirts, that is certainly your prerogative; however, they will then not appear in Runway. Whose profit margin do you believe this will affect most drastically?...A wise choice. Delivery at 4:00?" Miranda's eyes widened as an extremely beautiful cool blonde head gazed around the corner at her. Speechless, she held up three fingers. "Ms. Priestly prefers 3:00," the blonde continued before ending the call and walking into Miranda's office.
Miranda looked her over slowly, wondering why this one hadn't graced the cover of Runway already. "And you are?" she asked in chilly tones, though anyone who knew her could tell she was impressed by the blonde's handling of the skirt delivery.
"Annika Hansen. I have an interview with you for the position of second assistant," Seven informed her, handing over the résumé' she had compiled after thorough research into the best format and credentials to use.
Miranda looked over the "one page wonder" carefully. Impressive. Equal to Andréa's, in fact, though without the strong leaning towards journalism. This one had studied art, design, and business. "Why should I hire you?" Miranda asked, laying the résumé' aside and going through the formalities.
"I am eminently qualified. There is no one else currently answering your phones. There are currently fourteen items needing attention that are beneath your notice." Noticing that Miranda's neutral expression had not changed, Seven spent a few seconds processing the information she had gathered on the woman in order to find the one fact that would sway Miranda. Confident that she had found it, Seven said, "You prefer a Starbucks venti, no-foam, skimmed latte with an extra shot, served at exactly eighty degrees centigrade or 175 degrees Fahrenheit."
Looking down at the other papers on her desk, Miranda began to rattle off instructions. "Take the desk on the left. Notify Human Resources the position has been filled. Call Donatella and change our lunch to any day I'm not available. Cancel my meeting with Irv and move it to next week. I'll need to see the budget projections for the next six months as well as the final budgets for the last twelve. Find out where Emily has been hiding for the last two days and move any deadlines she has forward by at least six hours." Hide from me, will she? "Notify Jocelyn and Nigel that the run-through is now at 3:30 instead of 4:30. See that they get the skirts when they're delivered, and I want coffee. Ten minutes. That's all." Miranda looked up and was surprised to see the new girl nod and turn away without a pad or pen in sight. She barely suppressed the sigh that threatened to escape. For just a moment she had hoped.
Turning back to her work, she wondered how long she should wait before calling Human Resources herself.
Janeway was seated at a table drinking from a very large coffee cup when she saw Seven walk into the Starbucks and proceed to the counter to place an order, all the while keying information into one of the hand-held computer interfaces that B'Elanna had provided them. Knowing that the ex-Borg didn't care for the taste of coffee, she hoped it was a sign that the interview had gone well. As Seven glanced her way, Janeway waved her over.
"Does this mean you got the job?" she asked as Seven came to stand in front of her, thumbs still rapidly moving over the small unit.
"Yes, Captain. I believe that it does. I have a list of tasks to complete as well as retrieving an adequate serving of coffee for Miranda Priestly," Seven looked up as one of the baristas called to her. She moved to the counter and took the proffered cup only to hand it back to the stunned young man. "This is inadequate. I specified 175 degrees Fahrenheit; this is 173.2 degrees. You will remake it to the desired temperature immediately." She walked back to the captain to continue their conversation, never once having paused with her inputting.
"What is the significance of the variation in temperature, Seven?" Janeway asked.
"For the coffee beans to release the maximum amount of the essential oils necessary for optimum flavor and aroma, the water must be at exactly 175 degrees. Higher temperatures cause these oils to evaporate whereas lower temperatures do not allow for a full release. It is the temperature Miranda Priestly prefers as well," Seven explained without ceasing in her task.
Janeway laughed. "I should put you in charge of my replicator. It never seems to get the coffee hot enough."
"I will make the necessary adjustments when we return to Voyager," Seven assured her, still thumbing the interface.
"Seven, what are you doing?" Janeway finally gave in to her curiosity.
"Miranda Priestly gave me a list of tasks and a direction to retrieve her coffee in ten minutes. I have 3.2 minutes left to comply."
Shaking her head, Janeway took a sip of her coffee. "I believe she meant she wanted the coffee in ten minutes, Seven, not the entire list of tasks as well."
Seven looked up as she assumed her normal parade rest stance. "It is inconsequential, Captain, as I have completed the assignment. I must retrieve the coffee now. I have arranged for you to meet with an individual to obtain quarters for your photography studio. The information is in your hand-held unit. I will return to the shuttle when I have completed my day's tasks with Miranda Priestly." Spinning on her heel, Seven took the remade coffee from the barista and, with a nod that it was acceptable, left the establishment, her long legs eating up the distance as she returned to Elias-Clarke and Runway.
Miranda had worked her way through the stack of paperwork and was examining the proof sheets from the last photo shoot when her nose twitched. Coffee. She glanced to the side just as Seven placed a large Starbucks cup near her hand on the desk. Miranda lifted a pinkie and rested it against the cup. Hot. She lifted the cup and took a sip. Perfection. Perhaps she should hold off on calling Human Resources, at least until Andréa returned. Annika could handle phone calls and get Miranda's coffee order right, so she wasn't entirely hopeless.
Miranda looked up to where Annika stood with her hands linked behind her back in a vaguely militaristic pose. Interesting. A military background had not been mentioned in her résumé'. Miranda stored the information away for later perusal and opened her mouth to dismiss the woman.
"Miranda, I have notified Human Resources that the position is filled. Your lunch with Donatella Versace is canceled. The meeting with Irv Ravitz will occur on Wednesday next week. The budget projections and final budgets are in your in-box. I can provide you with hard copies if you prefer. Emily Charlton has been moving through the building, changing location approximately every 23.4 minutes. She is currently located in a small office located at the back of the offices of a publication titled Auto Universe. She has, however, been there for the last 2.6 hours. It is possible she considers this a safe place to avoid being found. She has been notified that her deadlines are now due 7.2 hours prior to the original stated times. Nigel Kipling and Jocelyn Baker have received the new time for the run-through. Nigel Kipling has sent a 'clacker…'" Annika looked perplexed by the term, but continued. "…to receive the delivery of skirts from Calvin Klein. He will rejoin Jocelyn Baker after he has completed reviving Emily Charlton. Is there anything else you would like for me to do?" Annika finished.
Miranda's eyebrows had steadily risen throughout the recitation and she stared at Annika momentarily speechless. "Umm. No, that will be sufficient," she murmured and watched as Annika strode from the room. It appeared she would not be calling Human Resources after all.