23.
Miranda's study was by far Andy's favorite room in the house. Warm colors, old fashioned comfortable furniture, oversized, soft cushions and family photos everywhere. And books. Lots of books. It was nothing like Miranda's office at Elias-Clark. No, it was the reflection of Andy's Miranda not the ruthless fashion icon. Andy curled up in the corner of the sofa and wrapped herself around a pillow that smelled curiously familiar. Inhaling deeply she took comfort from the scent she associated with Miranda, while listening intently to the editor. Occasionally she glanced over at Ed who was as distressed as it gets.
"First of all," Miranda addressed Andy, "I apologize, darling for putting you through this meeting, without warning you beforehand. I wouldn't have done if hadn't thought the secrecy was absolutely necessary. Secondly," She looked pointedly at Ed, "this is not a business meeting. We are not going to talk about Runway or the alleged "war" between us, unless it's unavoidable due to its attachment to our sole topic tonight. Is that acceptable?"
"If you say so." Ed still wasn't comfortable with the situation. After just seeing Andy for the first time in years, the spat with her had shattered Ed's already fragile inner peace. Her thoughts were running circles, trying to shape the mass chaos Andy's word had caused into something intelligible. She added the information she'd obtained through Emily with her own research and results of the math hit hard. Cordelia Black. It wasn't a lucky guess. The clues were there, right in front of her all along. That damn woman.
"Indeed, you may know her under that name." Miranda said.
Ed snapped her head up. She was unaware that she had said the name out loud.
"She is also known as Angelica Lowe, Karen Taylor, and Mandy Smith. These are the names my associates linked to her so far. I'm certain, they will dig out more of her aliases. Furthermore," she glanced at Andy, "you should know, that her birth name is Natalie Cooper."
Andy's eyes widened and covered her mouth to suppress a gasp.
"Cooper? Are she and Nate… um… are they related?"
"They are siblings." confirmed Miranda. "Andrea?" Miranda rushed to the younger woman's side, as she froze in place and all color drained from her features. Her eyes had an unfocused look, her lips were moving but no sound emerged.
"She's thinking." Ed said softly. "Her brain works like a computer, she's processing all the data she's acquired, analyzing all the variants. She blocks everything else out until she comes up with the best possible solution. It can be scary but that's how she works."
Miranda gently took Andy's hand and held it between hers. Not taking her eyes off of Andy she said quietly. "I've seen her reacting like this once before. It worked in my favor."
"How do you mean?"
"She came up with the best possible solution. She chose to give our relationship a try."
Ed huffed. Clearly it wasn't something she wanted to hear.
"And I wouldn't change that decision for anything."
Andy was back. She got on her feet and paced around the study. "I feel stupid. How could I miss all the obvious signs? Cordelia and Nate. They were the driving forces behind all the conflicts and misery we've gone through. The restraining orders? My book? How did I not see it?"
"It's not as simple as Superman and his stupid glasses." said Ed.
Miranda chuckled. "Agreed. Don't blame yourself, darling. Cordelia is a seasoned con artist. She has a long history of romance scams. You were not her only victims. However, the only ones she led a crazy revenge crusade against."
"What makes us so special?" inquired Ed.
"Actually it's you, Edna. Cordelia wanted you to suffer and Andrea was the convenient tool to cause the most pain to you."
Ed groaned. Leaning forward, she rested her forehead against her knees and groaned again. It was a disaster.
Standing up, Miranda glared at Andy over her reading glasses.
"Darling, stop galloping around and please sit down. You are making me dizzy."
Andy stopped at once, but didn't sit. She chose to back one of the book shelves next to Ed instead.
Miranda pulled a yellow folder from the top of a pile, towering on her desk and quickly flipped through the pages.
"Cordelia's usual targets were wealthy, married men, who were looking for a fling, an affair outside their marriage. While she is not your classical beauty by any means she has the ability to seduce anyone. Some of her victims went as far as calling her a succubus. Seduction, blackmail, departure. That was her routine."
"Don't I know it." muttered Ed.
"Well, you were different, Edna. You were the only one who actually contemplated marrying her. She saw a potential future with you or more precisely with your bank account. You broke your engagement and she did not handle it well."
"Didn't handle it well? She went bonkers and fucked up our lives because her early retirement plan went down the toilet. She feigned a romantic interest to get my money. She called me a freak. She got caught. What the bloody hell did she think was going to happen? Crazy, manipulative bitch. And that little scum brother."
"Actually at that time, Nate was a chef, he was not involved in her sister's business. He applied for the job for the right reason. He bragged about it to Cordelia and that's how the opportunity was born. She easily talked Nate into courting Andrea and when he secured his position, phase two of their plan was set in motion. You already know how that went."
"Yeah, we do." said Ed. Andy just hang her head and shrugged.
"Strangely, it wasn't their original goal to ruin the relationship between the two of you. However, Cordelia didn't mind it, when you, darling started to see her true colors and warned Ed."
"I didn't listen." Ed stood abruptly and let out a desperate sigh. "You gave me proof Andy. Logic. Sense. But I didn't listen."
"I didn't listen to you, when you expressed your concern about Nate. I got mad at you. Then I got mad at you again when you didn't listen to me about Cordelia. Then again, when you finally kicked her out and you became someone I didn't recognize anymore." Andy smiled halfhearted. Or was it a grimace?
"I didn't steal the company." said Ed.
"But you showed me those documents."
"Andy I threw a stack of paper at you, claiming those were contracts. If I remember correctly, those were the manuals of my smart office system. You never bothered to read them. You are still the co-owner of Martin Entertainment."
"Oh." Andy didn't know what else to say. It was too much to digest and they had just started.
"When I calmed down," continued Ed "I tried to contact you, but you didn't return my calls, messages or emails, expect that one time. You asked me to leave you alone, so I did."
Miranda quietly observed their interaction and decided to take back the lead.
"May I suggest, that instead of running circles again, literally and figuratively, I explain briefly what happened and then you can move forward effectively?"
"Might as well." answered Ed. "Andy?" she asked, looking at her for confirmation.
A small, almost invisible nod was all Andy managed to carry out. She was exhausted. Noticing Miranda's concerned expression, she waved and smiled slightly.
"I'm ok, Miranda. Please go on."
"All right. I'll make it quick. After the break up, it became Cordelia's obsession to ruin your life Edna. She figured, that keeping Andrea away from you would cause the most harm, knowing how much you loved each other. With Nate's help she made sure that you two stayed hostile. If you think carefully, you'll realize that everything you know either came directly from Nate, like the restriction orders, or they were assumptions you derived from what he said. He wrote that email to you Edna. He sent you away from the hospital, after Andrea's accident, while he lied to her and made her believe that you didn't care. He followed Cordelia's orders perfectly. You grew apart. There was no chance to repair your relationship, yet Cordelia wanted more. She continued to sabotage your career Andrea and of course she was the one who blocked your book's publication."
"But…how?" Andy asked.
"She impersonated Edna's personal assistant and threatened the publisher. Your sister is rather feared in business circles."
"Look who's talking." mumbled Ed. She definitely didn't like Miranda that much at the moment.
Miranda gracefully ignored the snarky remark.
"As I was saying, Cordelia wanted more. A chance encounter with Irv offered the opportunity to step up her game. You already worked this part out, didn't you?"
"I met someone who had useful insights on this topic, yes." Ed wondered how much Miranda knew about her connection to Emily. She clearly had some intel, or she was simply a witch. Or both.
"They ganged up and successfully created dissension. I once again, was stupid enough to believe everything I was told."
"I won't comment on that." said Miranda, which in itself was a statement.
"Cordelia is on the FBI's most wanted list. Unfortunately, she fled. She is a professional criminal, who has successfully avoided being caught all these years. However I have a plan to lure her out. I arranged for a press conference tomorrow. We will announce our utmost desire to work together in harmony, express our unity and commitment. That, and our little show in front of the press today should be alarming enough for Irv to try to contact Cordelia. If he does, my associate will hunt her down."
"What if he doesn't know how to reach her?" asked Ed. It was a valid question.
"Doesn't matter. I assure you, one way or another, she will be caught and brought to justice."
Andy nervously chewed on her bottom lips. "What happens to Irv? Cordelia used him too, but it doesn't make him less of an asshole. He will keep trying to get rid of you Miranda. And Nate?" Anxiety had started to kick in, there were too many unknown variables and that never sat well with her.
"Irv? Honestly I don't know. So far this was the biggest stunt he pulled and his stabs are getting old. Dealing with him is not my priority, though." Miranda stepped behind her desk and picked up another folder. Scanning it's the contents she further replied to Andy, "As for Nate, that teeny problem has already been taken care of. Be assured he won't bother you again. Ever."
The last word was delivered so cold yet forcefully that both Andy and Ed froze in place and stared at Miranda. The small smirk playing in the corner of the editor's mouth spoke not only volumes but a whole symphony. Tchaikovsky, no doubt. Ed cleared her throat and looked at Andy. Andy mirrored her own deer in the headlight expression. Ed opened her mouth then closed it. She wasn't going to ask. Miranda rummaged through papers on her desk and failed to notice the ill silence.
"You didn't…?" asked Andy at last. No she possibly couldn't, but it didn't hurt to ask, right?
"I didn't, what? Could you be more specific please?" answered Miranda still not looking up.
"You know…" Andy gulped. What was the appropriate method to ask your girlfriend if she had put your ex-boyfriend six feet under? Someone must have already come up with the manual for that.
Miranda eventually found what she was looking for and lifted her head. Her eyes met two pairs of chocolate browns. Same color, same shape and the same astounded look. She pursed her lips. She did it a lot around these two.
"For God's sake, Andrea. I'm running a fashion magazine not the mafia." She held up a stack of paper. "Here is his hand written, detailed confession of all of his and Cordelia's activity concerning the both of you both and marginally Runway, thus me too. I also acquired a video recording. However, I'd advise against watching it. It's disturbing and reading this piece of human garbage's statement will be stressful enough."
Miranda handed over the papers, the sisters reached for it at the same time.
"Don't worry I wiped off the blood." deadpanned Miranda.
They yanked their hands back faster than lightening. Andy shrieked. Ed cursed. Miranda rolled her eyes and shoved the papers against Ed's chest, who reluctantly but took it. Miranda then turned to Andy who didn't appear to take her joke kindly and held up her hands.
"I'm sorry, darling. I'll play nice, I promise."
Andy's expression softened and she reached for Miranda. The editor pulled Andy into a gentle embrace and placed a lingering kiss on her cheek. Andy relaxed against Miranda, and tightening the hug she buried her face in the snow white locks. She was anxious and less than eager to go through Nate's confession. They already knew the basics, did she really want to learn the nasty details? Miranda had the same thought.
"You don't have to read it, darling. It's not necessary. You two can make your peace with what you have already learnt. I'll give you time to talk. Here, or if our home isn't neutral enough, feel free to leave and find someplace else. Whatever works best for you."
Ed furrowed her brows. Our home? They hadn't move in together already had they? That would be ridiculously fast, even by lesbian standards.
Andy beamed at Miranda. "OUR home is perfect. Right Ed?"
Ed nodded reluctantly, her sour expression didn't go unnoticed by Miranda though. The editor sent a challenging look towards Ed, who was smart enough not to take the bait.
"I can't imagine being anywhere else." Ed said. To herself, she thought, anywhere but here.
"Excellent. I'll go and check on dinner. It will be ready, whenever you are." She kissed Andy and took her leave. On her way out she grabbed a macaron from the table and bit in with gusto. She hummed in pleasure and called back over her shoulder holding up the cookie. "You should try the macaron Edna. It's as exquisite, as the woman who made it."
Once they were left alone an awkward silence surrounded them. Earlier the words of accusation came easily, but now? Now they had to figure it out. Figure out how to erase eight years' worth of misunderstanding, which essentially was not their doing but had been fed by their stubbornness and gullibility. What to say? How to say it? There was a time, when they had no trouble talking to each other, about anything and everything. Spent hours chatting about arts, books or how to make the perfect flaky dough. The macarons. Talking about baking seemed safe enough, a solid ground to start a conversation. Ed took a macaron and tasted it. Miranda hadn't exaggerated. It was indeed was exquisite.
"I don't think I ever had a flavor combination like this. Coffee, Cardamom and… wow… Basil?"
"I was experimenting. Something new…you know." Andy didn't elaborate any further. She didn't have to, Ed got it immediately. The macarons were created for someone new in Andy's life. Miranda. She made special cookies for Miranda and it could mean only one thing.
"You love her."
Why did that simple statement sound like an accusation? Had they not had enough of that for today? Or for a lifetime perhaps? Andy did not understand where Ed's negative energy came from. Shouldn't she be relieved and happy? Relieved that finally they could leave the past behind and happy that Andy found someone to love, someone who was the polar opposite of that fucktard Nate.
"I don't approve." added Ed, before Andy could form a response.
Now where did THAT came from? Andy was pissed once again, although she managed to keep her tone calm.
"You don't approve? You are under a false impression that you have a say in how and with who I live my life. Spoiler alert. You don't."
"Andy. Just listen. I don't like how she's wrapped you around her finger. You know now, that I was right about Nate. And I am right about Miranda, too. Her intentions are shady."
"Shady? Now you just sound plain ridiculous, Ed. What's wrong with you?"
"Andy…"
"Don't Andy me, Ed. Are you existing in an alternate universe, or what? Because in mine, Miranda, who you for some unclear reasons are continuously trying to denigrate, literally went above and beyond to help us."
"Yes she helped. My question is, why?"
"Maybe she helped because she cares for me? You still only see me as the ugly, fat girl, who cannot possibly attract anyone unless they have an agenda."
"Whoa, wait. I didn't say that. I just…"
"Stop it, Ed. If you want to go down that road, please do, but I warn you. I would choose Miranda over anything. Or anybody. She is off limit. Period."
Go down that road? What the heck? Andy and Miranda were sharing the same vocabulary now? Finishing each other's sentence too? Ed closed her eyes and rubbed her temple. This is not how this conversation was supposed to go. She was acting irrational. And ungrateful. She owed Miranda and had no reason to question her intentions. She knew, without Emily's voice in her head, that she was an idiot. She wouldn't have minded hearing it from the redhead directly, because affirmation was always good, also she needed a literal kick in the ass, to pull her shit together. If she didn't change her attitude, she would lose Andy for real this time and there would be no one to blame but herself.
"What the hell am I doing?" whispered Ed. She looked up just in time, to see that Andy was about to leave the room.
"Andy, wait."
"Why?" asked Andy, without turning back. "So you can keep insulting Miranda? Or me?"
"Can we please, start over?" pleaded Ed. "I'm such a moron and I'm really sorry. Distrust became a second nature of me during these years. My girlf…eh…a friend of mine told me that I'm like a dog with a bone, just can't let it go.
Andy slowly turned around and studied Ed for a moment. She looked sincere and Andy was willing to give it another try. When Ed opened her arms, Andy quickly crossed the room and fall into her sister's arms.
"I'm sorry" murmured Ed.
"I know. Can we please make this work?"
Ed hugged her tighter in response. They stood there hugging for hours, or it might have been minutes but time had no importance. What did was that they were going to make it work, together. Finally Andy withdrew and wiped some tears off her face. She cleared her throat to overcome the emotions that threatened to steal her voice.
"So you have a girlfriend?"
"I didn't say that."
"You so did."
"No I did not. Well maybe. Could be."
"What's her name?"
"Emily. We met at work. And" She pointed proudly at the scar on her face "She hit me. She's pretty fierce you know."
Andy shrieked, when she realized who Ed was talking about.
"Holy shit! Miranda's Emily?"
Ed smiled dreamily.
"She's my Emily now."
Andy playfully bumped into Ed.
"You got it bad, dude."
"Yeah, I do, don't I?"
They giggled. Yes. They were back on track.