A/N: So, there's intrigue, but I didn't plan on it so yey? It's all a nice surprise isn't it, whenever I do these things... I'm going grey with all the stress of these open-ended dramatic pauses.
See disclaimer, Chapter 1.
-0-
Miranda woke on the sofa and noticed a cup of steaming coffee and the book. She blinked, rubbing sleep from her eyes and remembering vaguely that she hadn't taken her makeup off the night before. That was almost as unusual as her falling asleep for the whole night on the sofa.
"Morning," Andréa said gently. "There's this," she put down a packet of the makeup wipes Miranda favoured. "Coffee. Book. Go wild. Cass is up so she and I are going for a run. I told Caroline you're in here but Cara is here in ten so there shouldn't be any need to disturb you."
Miranda didn't reply but just as Andréa turned to leave, she gripped her hand and squeezed just a little.
"Don't worry. You'll figure it out."
That was the thing, wasn't it? Ultimately, no matter how good Andréa was at her job, Miranda had to be good at her job to get them through this. Everything fell heavily on her shoulders and she slumped down, sighing into her mug as the cup of heavenly liquid scorched her throat. Andréa had taken to making her coffee most days and it was divine. She somehow managed to get it right every single time.
She was sure it was magic.
She worked on the book, getting lost in her thoughts as she scored through the pages. Everything looked dull. In everything she looked at, she saw dollars instead of fashion and she had vowed should she ever get like that she'd resign.
She was just pondering that thought when Andréa sat down gently beside her.
"We going in boss?"
"We need to start diversifying," she muttered, putting plans of retirement on hold for a moment.
"I know," she said easily. "I have a list."
"You," Miranda frowned, her brain making a rather comical screeching noise like in one of Cassidy's cartoons. "What?"
"This isn't the end of print publishing, Miranda. We just need a few more modernised avenues to draw readers. Youtube videos, social media etc."
"How did you -"
"Educated guess? And I glimpsed some of Accounting's talking points when Peter stopped to chat the other day."
"Tell me."
"Well," Andréa chewed her lip thoughtfully but Miranda just wanted to shake her so she'd go faster. "My initial thought was to break down the articles into smaller chunks but," she winced and Miranda felt that in her soul. "That would break Runway into something else. And Runway is," she shrugged. "Runway. I think, leave it exactly as it is. Be the one that refuses to bow to the masses. But," Andréa touched her hand before she could interrupt. "Show them a different side. Behind the curtain, as it were. What about filming a run-through? No explanations, not commentary. Just an unedited version of how you go from -" she laughed. "A belt, to a whole four-page spread."
Miranda was gobsmacked. Truly and utterly without words.
"I mean, it's just an idea that I -"
"Are you ever going to stop surprising me, Andréa Sachs?"
"God, I hope not," she chuckled, looking relieved and offering her hand. Miranda took it and squeezed gently. "I told you. We're a team. Let's get on with ruling the world, yeah?"
Miranda nodded.
"Will you -"
"I've already sent a list of points to Alex and Patrizio. They'll have options on the desk by tonight.
Miranda felt her equilibrium returning and she stared at the woman beside her for a long while. She had no idea just how good she was going to be. Leaving it for now, she patted the knee where their joined hands were resting and went upstairs, appearing half an hour later, dressed to kill.
"That's my Miranda," Andréa said gently as she helped her into her coat. "Don't let 'em kill you, boss. They aren't you. They don't know you. You're better than all of them."
"I'm not sure they know you either, Andréa," she smirked, trying desperately to hide it with a twitch of her lips.
"I'll take care of you like you're taking care of me." Andy nodded. She chuckled and held up her little finger. "Pinky promise."
Miranda scoffed and immediately shook on it.
"You will go far in this world Andréa Sachs," she said quietly. "I simply cannot wait to see just how far."
-0-
The wobbly moment Andy had witnessed the week prior had galvanised her need to do better. She was absolutely on top of everything she could be as Irv Ravitz came in the door. Miranda was supposed to be at a meeting with Thom Ford but unbeknownst to anyone, Thom had stomach flu. They had quietly stayed at the office, enjoying an uninterrupted hour of silence.
Irv did not look happy to find that out.
"Irving," Miranda said quietly as she stood and walked around the desk. "To what do we owe this unexpected pleasure?"
"Um, nothing, Miranda. Just wondering if you had those new budget reports?"
"Unusual for you to come down and get them yourself, isn't it?" she practically whispered. Andy wanted to look away, but the vitriol they were both staring at each other made it hard to look away.
"Enjoying your new," he smirked at her. "Position Andrea?"
She swallowed and looked straight at him, not wanting to look at Miranda in case he got the wrong idea.
"I am enjoying the greater responsibilities a lot, Mr Ravitz," she said evenly. "Though it is sometimes difficult to keep the pointless interruptions from Miranda's door. You'd think she was making as much money for the company as Auto Universe some days, instead of the half a billion dollars she is," she kept her breathing steady but she could feel Miranda's eyes burning her. "It's amazing where they find the budget that they do, don't you think? I was talking to Max only yesterday, you know the free-lance photographer they were using before he went solo? They broke even, or just about, last month and got an increased budget this month! Accounting must be brilliant to come up with so much for them, considering their return, no?"
"I'll have those reports now," he growled.
"Oh, well there's probably another hour until they're done. Do you want what I've got now, or the completed set in an hour?"
"Later is fine."
He left without saying anything else and Andy sighed, pinching her nose with shaking fingers.
"Sorry," she mumbled when the door finally closed.
"Were you being truthful?"
"Yeah, about Max? He's got a gallery showing next week. He actually bumped into a friend of mine, it was how we met. He was telling me about Auto Universe yesterday. He's worked all over and he couldn't believe it."
"The editor is Irv's wife's cousin," Miranda said quietly. "Not another word," she said quietly. "It's not enough to get him gone, but it is a good start."
"Should I have -"
"You did fine," Miranda smiled. "He deserved it after, once more, making derogatory marks about your character."
"What about your character?"
Miranda snorted and winked as she went back to her desk. Andy thought about it and knew that with all that was moving and changing at Runway that Miranda would have no chance to gather more dirt on Irv. She'd missed the signs before Paris, she wasn't going to miss again. Andy made a note to spend some time visiting the other floors and seeing what she could find out. Most knew her as Miranda's assistant, but a few more knew her as the put-upon waif that was at Miranda's beck and call every moment.
That would be the advantage she would have over everyone else.
