Miranda could barely contain her delight at seeing David in her front office. It was all she could do to keep from saying "Gotcha!" when she invited him in to her inner sanctum.
"Welcome to Runway" she said grinning at him.
"Thanks," he said smiling as he took a seat across from her desk. "I want you to know that the local food bank really appreciated the gift card!"
"Oh?" she asked, her eyes dancing with merriment.
"I decided that now that I have made some adjustments in HR, Rolling Stone will be just fine." They shared a look of amused exasperation.
Miranda decided to cut right to the chase.
"So have you come to interview Andrea?"
David shrugged, "I'm not sure how much she actually wants to work for me. She certainly didn't want to take the time to speak with me about it."
"Don't be ridiculous," Miranda replied sharply while shaking her head in annoyance.
"That was not a lack of desire it is what we call work ethic. She was probably devastated that she couldn't stop and talk with you." Miranda arched and eyebrow, "You're still here so I assume you watched her work. She is an exemplary employee."
"You certainly have her hopping." His expression changed from amused to pensive, "Even being the best assistant in the world doesn't make her a candidate for staff writer."
"If you have concerns about her writing why did you agree to publish it?"
"Because it was good." He locked eyes with Miranda, "and very well edited."
Miranda's lips twitched in amusement.
"Thank you," she said sardonically.
She reached in her desk drawer and pulled out a folder that contained Andrea's work. After glancing at it briefly she handed him the original copy of Andrea's article on colored hair. David spent a moment reading it before commenting.
"It's well done. I can see the edits were needed but I would have accepted it as is and edited it myself." He chuckled, "I'm not paying you for your editorial work, good as it is."
Miranda let out a genuine laugh.
"Yes, well I am sure Patricia will not suffer for the lack of a paycheck from Rolling Stone."
"Miranda, I am not actually looking for another staff writer right now."
"Your loss, why are you here?"
"Well, when the great Miranda Priestly offers a recommendation a person would be foolish not to take a look." He grinned, "I've never heard of you giving a recommendation to anyone." David paused "You really think I should make a space for her?"
"You'd be a fool not to."
David got up and walked over to the table in Miranda's office. He grabbed a copy of Runway and put it in front of her and said. "Put your hand on your bible."
She glared at him but did what he asked.
"Do you solemnly swear that Andrea Sachs is worth adding to my team and will be an asset to Rolling Stone worth hiring even though I am not looking?"
"Oh for God's sake David, of course I do."
He looked at her contemplatively, "She is important to you?"
"She has been an adequate assistant for over 2 years. There was one little bump a year ago in Paris, but she grew up."
"Miranda tell me what I may be letting me self in for? Are you seeing each other?"
"Honestly," Miranda rolled her eyes. "She is my assistant, I see her daily."
David sighed heavily, "Are you in a romantic relationship with Ms. Sachs?"
"No," Miranda replied looking down at her hands.
She felt her stomach drop and her throat constrict, she clenched her jaw at the thought of the implications of that answer. Andrea gone, working for someone else. Andrea gone and maybe falling in love with someone else. She looked up and straightened her shoulders.
"No," she said again curtly. "We are not in a romantic relationship," She paused, "yet."
David put his hand to his face and rubbed his forehead.
"It'll be a shit storm."
"Yes, well, so was my last divorce. We're used to it at my house." Then her face broke into an uncharacteristic grin. "She has the girls' stamp of approval. They indicated she would be worth the trouble. That's all I need."
"And she feels the same?"
Miranda steepled her fingers and rested her chin on them.
"We have not discussed it but Andrea has indicated an interest. I will know more once she is no longer in my employ. She may not be able to confront what you have so elegantly phrased," She put her fingers up in quotes, "the shit storm."
David glanced over at the door. "This will be one hell of a ride," He looked back and locked eyes with Miranda. She felt like he was trying to read her mind, they stared at each other and then he nodded, "I'm convinced, bring her in."
Andrea's nervous smile turned to an excited grin as she seemed to realize that she would be offered a job at Rolling Stone. "Hell no," Miranda thought to herself when she saw a twinkle in Andrea's eye that indicated she was ripe for the picking. Miranda was just as surprised as anyone when her hand shot out and grabbed the contract David was about to hand to her assistant.
Andrea's gasp of horror when Miranda ripped the contract, with barely a look, amused her no end. By his smile it seemed David was amused as well. Miranda was deliberate in snatching the second contract for review. It was actually quite good but in her estimation not good enough.
Miranda held in her amusement when David stepped out of her reach to offer the third contract. Andrea snatched it and barely read it before she handed it back signed. Andrea headed towards the office door hugging the employment paperwork to her chest. Lost in thought Miranda almost missed David's off handed comment. She choked on her just sipped coffee when the words "She's just embracing her contract," came in to her consciousness.
The day was busier than the usual Thursday. As much as Miranda wanted to spend her assistant's second to last day in the office it just wasn't possible. At eight o'clock she came back to the office to finish a few odds and ends before heading home. Miranda was disappointed upon seeing her assistant's desk empty. Not wanting anyone to know she was in her office and impede her from getting home she didn't brighten the lights. Therefor she wasn't surprised to discover Andrea had come back and not spoken to her, she was clearly unaware of Miranda's presence.
Miranda slowly walked up behind the young woman. She could tell that her presence had been noted when Andrea stiffened. Miranda stepped close to her and in a deliberately low voice whispered, "Just Embrace Her Captain. I believe that is excellent advice." She felt a tingle of excitement when Andrea noticeably shivered at her words. Feeling pleased with the response Miranda added an extra sway to her saunter while exiting the office.
