I told you that I was going to post two views at a time going forward. While my reasoning still stands, life is in my way and I haven't written a thing in weeks. I decided to post this because I don't want you to think that the fic might be abandoned! 'Groves of Sintar' took years and became an obligation, I promised myself never again! So here is a little something so you can keep the faith!
Andy knew immediately that Miranda had warned Nigel of her impending arrival. He looked her up and down in disgust.
"How you could have possibly thought that it was ok to subject us to this monstrosity?"
Andy laughed and reached out for the garment bags that Nigel was holding out to her. "Hey, I'm getting a new outfit out of it! I think it was a stroke of genius."
Nigel rolled his eyes dramatically.
"You're just lucky your stroke didn't cause any strokes."
He waited outside the dressing room while Andy went in to change.
"Yay! Chanel," she exclaimed joyfully when she opened the bag containing white linen slacks and a blazer. The second bag left her speechless.
"Well," Nigel asked through the door.
"I..Oh my God Nigel these are not closet cast offs."
Andy stepped out wearing a boat necked cerulean and white checked blouse.
"She picked these out, didn't she?"
"Hmmm" he replied noncommittally.
Andy did a little spin of excitement and headed for the door.
"Wait!" Nigel yelped at her. "For Chanel's sake wait!"
"What?"
He pointed to her shoes.
"Do you have a death wish? Oh wait no, it would be me she would kill if you left here in those."
Andy slipped out of her clogs and reached out for the pair of white Jimmy Choos that Nigel was holding. He pulled them back at the last second and caught her gaze.
"If this is about the shoes or the clothes or the recommendations stop now. If you leave now she will recover but…" His eyes bore into hers, his face stone hard.
"Nigel what?"
"I know what's going on, all the secret smiles and in-house jokes. Even if she hadn't shared her feelings with me I would know. I know her Andy, I know her inside out and you have the power to hurt her. If you aren't clear with your intentions you will hurt her."
"I don't want to hurt her, really!"
"Make sure you don't. Make sure you know exactly what you want before you move forward." He pressed the shoes into her hands and repeated the words, "Make sure," and left for his office.
Andy walked back to her desk lost in thought. She didn't even realize Emily and Miranda were staring at her until Miranda cleared her throat.
"Turn," Miranda said without preamble.
Andy grinned and did a quick spin.
"Don't you love the color?" She asked with laughter in voice.
"I always have, cerulean was a pigment introduced in the 1860s and is prominently featured in Claude Monet's La Gare Saint-Lazare, 1877, it's a favorite." Miranda responded dryly.
"I thought Oscar de la Renta introduced it," Emily said, her eyes darting between the other two women.
"Oh well…" Miranda said waving her hand airily. "I made that up."
Emily's mouth almost hit the floor.
"What?"
Miranda rolled her eyes and looked back at Andy.
"How was Irv? You did go up there did you not?"
"I did and I am sorry Miranda, I tried to stop her."
"Explain."
"As soon as Irv saw me in the office he clutched his chest. He had barely hit the floor when his secretary started CPR." Andy shrugged and continued, "I tried to distract her with knock knock jokes but it just didn't work."
Miranda patted her on the shoulder, "I understand, I am sure you did your best." She turned to head back to her office and glanced over at Emily.
"Close your mouth dear you don't want to be catching flies."
Once Miranda had left for the day Andy pulled up messenger.
A-She's gone
L-Kinda late
A yeah, I thought she might be waiting for the book to take it home herself
L-That would have been disappointing
A-ikr
L-What was she waiting for?
A-idk she just worked at her desk all afternoon, then she got a strange phone call and left.
L-Strange?
A-It came in on her direct line, the one that is usually reserved for someone important or the girls. She just said "What?" and then hung up.
L-Can you always hear her calls?
A-I guess, I screen her calls so I usually know what's going on. Mostly I tune it out.
L-So how was the rest of your day?
A-My butt hurts
L-ohhh has she instituted spankings if the coffee's too cold?
A-There's and image, thanks! With my luck if she did it would be delegated to Emily.
L-So why the aching ass?
A-I haven't gotten out of my seat since lunch. All errands have been assigned to Emily.
L-Why didn't you stretch when she stepped out?
A-She didn't, not once since lunch, not even to go to the bathroom. Nigel came in to see her for a few minutes but other than that no meetings or run throughs just nothing but sitting at her desk reading emails or something.
L-Well then her ass must be sore as well.
A-Nah she has a really nice seat.
L-Yes, you have mentioned that before
A-Ha Ha
L-So what did you do all day?
A-Worked on the DWP issue. I have the shoots and interviews all scheduled.
L-When?
A-Next week, I had to convince the producers to actually release the courtier from the movie for them to wear. Eventually I called the designers and got them to loan us some of it.
L-Wait, what, you're telling me that you are going to do interviews with Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway next week?
A-Yes
L-Wtf? No Caps, no exclamation points, do you even care?
A-Today, no I don't care. I just watched MP walk out of the office for the LAST time! I am waiting for the book so I can deliver it for the LAST time! So yeah, I don't care about anything else right now.
L-Ooooookay, so change of subject-what was she wearing?
A-You are so perverse
L-Hmmm
A- Black pin stripe Bill Blas power suit with white button down shirt
L-How many buttons?
A-Cut it out
L-Come on, how many were open?
A-Three
L-Yowza! Great view front and back!
A-Yes, for the LAST time
L-Stop, just stop, I can't do this for you. I can't be a little Jiminey Cricket whispering in your ear to tell you what's up with her. You know, you don't need me to tell you because you already know! So for the LAST time will you see what is right in front of your face.
A-Hey! You are the one who told me it couldn't work! You are the one who told me the kids and Runway made something between us impossible. You said that the media circus would be too much and it would be a risk to her life's work. Now you act like it's a forgone conclusion!
L-I'm sorry kidlet. I really believed that at the time and I didn't want you to get hurt. But after everything that's happened I think that she is worth the risk and I think that she thinks that too!
A-She did look pretty alluring today. It makes me feel tingly all over when I think maybe it was for me!
L-Now that's the spirit
A-When she left she actually had me hold her coat for her.
L-Pffffft She let you in that close with three buttons down?
A-Yeah and she smelled really good, it was so hot.
L-Can I come with you to deliver the book?
A-What?
L-I really want to be there tonight. You won't even notice me I promise.
A-Oh my god you are such a perv, you would never be able to get from England to New York in time.
L-Face time, face time would work. Just put the phone in the right spot.
A-Lara you will not ever be a part of my and Miranda's sex life. When we get to that point you will not be there!
L-YES, Finally! That's my girl- WHEN not if!
A-Brat, I'm scared, she could really hurt me.
L-And you could really hurt her, she seems to think the risk is worth it, do you?
A-I do, I really, really do! Oh gtg book's here
L-Go get her tiger!