Oh, my darlings. We are getting very close now. None of this is my doing. Miranda was insisting on all of it. But yes. We are much closer today than we were last time. I envision we maybe have... Gosh, maybe less than 5 chapters left? I say that having no real idea but... based on the very very very loose plan I have in my head that's probably right.
For disclaimer, see Chapter 1.
-0-
Since Cassidy's triumphant soccer success, the attention had turned to Caroline. Every Saturday, Andy would let herself into the Townhouse, make sure Caroline had eaten something and departed the Townhouse and make their way to the closest Subway station to go climbing.
Had Andy never started working for Miranda, she would have described climbing as one of the hardest things she'd ever had to do. However, as she had, it was only the second hardest thing she'd ever had to do and she took great delight in telling Miranda that as often as possible.
As time wore on, Caroline and Andy eased into the different movements and the different strength required to complete the somewhat complicated climbs. Andy had found a reputable gym not too far away from their street and Miranda had paid for a few private lessons for both of them. It had surprised Andy how quickly she and Caroline took to it. And after five or so lessons, they knew how to climb properly and efficiently.
As a rule, they stuck to the gym they had taken their lessons in. Sometimes, though, they went to different gyms throughout the city for a change of scene. Even if they had a great time on the new walls, they always returned to the original. Andy was nothing if not thorough and it was, hands down, the best climbing gym in New York. Very occasionally, Miranda and Cassidy joined them. Cassidy had even had a few turns, but had declared that she much preferred to be on the ground with a ball at her feet than fifty feet in the air.
Andy had seen Caroline smile brighter than ever on that day.
It was on such a Saturday, while Miranda was sipping a coffee quietly on a rickety-looking table that the gym brought out especially for her, that Andy heard her phone ring. She frowned, looking down from where she was, clinging to three holds with fingers and toes as Miranda turned over the screen and frowned.
It was unusual for her phone to ring on the weekend, and it usually only ever happened when she wasn't with Miranda.
"Andy, you okay?" Caroline asked from just a little below her, on the wall beside her.
"Yep," she called, looking a little longer at Miranda before deciding something serious was happening and she had to get down.
"I'm coming down," she called to her belay partner.
They'd tried to have Caroline hang onto the rope but Andy had been just a little too heavy for her to cope with. They'd made friends with another pair that climbed usually at the same time they did and they often swapped partners while Andy was climbing.
"Are you okay Andy?" Nick asked her as she unclipped her rope.
"Yeah, sorry. Just work," she smiled. "Caroline, once you're done, let Nick and Sandy climb on their own, yeah?"
"She's fine," Nick waved her off. "Go."
She walked over to where Miranda was practically spitting acid down the phone line.
"What happened?"
Cassidy looked worried but she shrugged. It wasn't until Miranda hung up the phone with an incomprehensible noise that Andy knew how serious that it really was.
"Who was that?"
"Nigel."
"What? Why is Nigel calling me?"
"You spoke to Uncle Nigel like that?" Cassidy asked, getting a glare from both Miranda and Andy.
"Go stick with your sister," Andy muttered, patting her on the backside to get her moving.
"Someone," Miranda hissed. "Has sabotaged this week's issue and all the pictures have been swapped out for pictures of animals."
"What?" Andy asked, incredulously. "I mean," she stared. "WHAT? But that's -" She shook her head. "That's almost impossible!"
"Evidently not, Andréa."
"But that," her brain kicked into gear as she worked the problem through her mind. "That means there's someone here and in the printers undermining us. Because that's been at the printers for -"
"Yes," Miranda seethed.
"Holy shit," Andy muttered.
Miranda had suddenly gone a very funny colour and Andy knew that this was the angriest she'd ever seen the woman. No amount of annoyance at Irv, or Stephen or Jacqueline Folet could match the anger she was exuding from every pore.
Making an executive decision, she glanced at the Twins, one of whom was still climbing and the other was being strapped in by Nick to take a turn while they were waiting, she held out her hand to Miranda.
"Come with me," she muttered. Miranda glared at her hand for a long while and then took it, allowing Andy to pull her up and through the gym to the back. Deciding against the public toilets, Andy pulled her inside the equipment room and locked the door behind them. "Talk. Before you explode."
"How DARE he," she almost yelled, shocking Andy more than anything ever had. "How dare he go after the magazine. I can almost understand him fighting me for this, but the magazine? The one successful magazine that the company has? I -"
She carried on hissing wildly as Andy tried to remember that the vitriol being spewed was nothing to do with her.
"You are not listening."
"I am," Andy muttered. "I'm just trying to remember that it's not me you're talking about."
Miranda recoiled, looking hurt. Her hands were shaking.
"Not that I thought you were," Andy said quickly, taking one of those hands and soothing it gently. "But you get very angry and when you get angry you get very mean. I guess," she said quietly. "I have hang-ups about that."
"I -" Miranda took a deep breath. "Am sorry."
"No, I am, that's unfair for me to bring you in here and then panic."
"I will do better."
"You don't have to," Andy said apologetically.
"I will," Miranda smiled. She turned her hand over in Andy's and squeezed it gently. "Thank you for letting me vent. I cannot say that I feel better but I feel less likely to murder the next person to speak to me."
"Very glad to hear it," Andy chuckled, making Miranda smile. They fell silent for a moment. "So. What's the plan?"
Miranda's eyes grew dark and they met Andy's.
"We're going to crush them."
-0-
Andy and Miranda emerged from the equipment room ready to go to war. Caroline and Cassidy had finished climbing and they had packed everything up and were sitting at the little table, ready to go. In a quiet discussion with Andy, both decided that they would go with them to Runway so Miranda decided just to head there immediately.
The lobby at Elias Clarke was mostly empty except the echoing noise from Miranda's heels as she stormed across the floor. Security was holding an elevator for them and Andy ushered the girls inside and pushed the button.
"Girls, I want you to stay near Andréa's desk for the time being, until we figure out what has occurred and what we are going to do about it."
They nodded and Caroline leant against Andy's side as they rode silently. Andy took the time to consider that they'd come straight from the climbing gym and to the office and she was currently wearing nothing but a pair of Ultracor leggings - a personal present from Miranda to match Caroline's pair - and an oversized t-shirt over a sports bra.
"I should have changed," she muttered to herself.
"Nonsense," Miranda muttered. "You're off the clock."
"You look really good Andy," Cassidy said helpfully. "Like. Super hot."
"Cassidy!" Caroline squealed, right as Andy did.
Andy closed her eyes in embarrassment and shook her head. But, as the elevator slowed, she heard a small chuckle from her friend and boss.
"She is not wrong," Miranda smirked as Andy looked up. "You have worked hard and you are reaping the benefits. It is not an unpleasant sight to behold."
Andy gaped as the elevator stopped and Miranda stalked out of there like there was nothing at all untoward about what she said.
"Did she just -"
"Yup," Caroline said airily. "Let's go, Andy."
Andy shook herself and blinked as she tried to grab what was left of her mind and her dignity and own her own look in the lair of the most beautiful women in the world.
"Six!" Nigel cried when he saw her. "I like this look. Very boho chic workout feel."
"Nigel," she growled.
"Where is her Majesty? Hello little ones," he smiled, ruffling Cassidy's hair and cupping Caroline's cheek.
"She's in her office as far as I know. I," she shrugged. "What's going. What do you need?"
"We need a full reprint," he muttered. "Also, I'm sorry, I just can't -"
He grabbed her arm and turned her.
"Woman, you are looking svelte."
"Svelte? Nigel, come on."
"I'm serious. You have dropped safely down into a three. Maybe I need to call you Half-a."
"Fuck off," she muttered, remembering at last minute that the girls were with her. They giggled at her slip and she tugged on Cassidy's ponytail. "We are going to my desk, where we will remain and you should go and see Miranda about what we need to do."
"Yes boss," he quipped, making her roll her eyes. She steered the girls to her desk and set them up with a granola bar each while they got sorted.
The day was immediately chaotic. Luckily Andy had, sometime in the last six months, started keeping backup copies of the spreads. For a multi-million dollar magazine, why Miranda's assistants hadn't started doing that, she would never know, but she did and as such, it wasn't a total hassle to find them again.
The printers, however, was another story.
Miranda flatly refused to use them again. Ever. On pain of death. It took the back-up printers quite a long time to reset their machines and the budget got a massive hit as Runway was made to pay the price for the last minute requests.
By six, Andy was rolling her neck to ease the tension, her stomach was rumbled, almost constantly and the girls had gone home with Cara a few hours prior. Honestly, she was glad of it. After complaining one too many times, Andy had finally lost the ability to do two things at once and had them call Cara but now, Andy was beginning to wish she'd gone with them.
Miranda, however, seemed to live on the drama and worked tirelessly through the moments that it went dark outside her window.
"Andréa?"
"Yes Miranda?" she asked, stepping into the dark office.
"I -" she muttered. "Oh -" she stood, looking around.
"I'm here," Andy said, turning on the lamp and trying to keep the exhaustion from her voice.
"I -" she glanced outside. "Lost track of the time."
"It's okay. I was just debating whether to come and tell you."
"I," she blinked. "Would you like to go for dinner?"
"Um," Andy was charmed. "Sure," Andy nodded happily. "Although, I'm not exactly -"
"Take something from the closet, there is some new True Religion that just came in. Have Nigel pair it with something."
"Yes, Miranda."
She wandered out of the office while Miranda started wrapping up. The halls were dark and empty and she took stock of her surroundings. It wasn't how she'd imagined her weekend going, but honestly and despite her discomfort, it wasn't something she was upset about. She craved the silent moments she spent working with Miranda. Even with Nigel flitting in and out, and before the girls went, their quiet muttering. It was peaceful, despite the reason they were there in the first place.
"Hey kid," Nigel smiled as she knocked on the doorframe.
"I've been informed I need to change. There are some True Religion somewhere. And Nigel has to pair something with it."
He chuckled and nodded, leading the way to The Closet and passing her an outfit.
"Try that and then we'll see."
She nipped behind the curtain, well versed in changing in The Closet after so long. She pulled on her jeans and shook her head at Nigel's cheek. There were rips up and down the legs and she opened her mouth to complain when a La Perla bra was thrown over the rail.
"I doubt you're wearing something appropriate."
"We were climbing!" she complained, taking it anyway.
"Hmm," he said, making her look around the curtain.
"What?"
"Nothing," he said, shaking his head. He had a look on his face that she couldn't read but he shook his head and smiled. "Come on, come on. Get on with it. Time waits for no man and Miranda waits for fewer."
She rolled her eyes again and ducked back behind the curtain.
"Miranda was saying that you have a lovely view of the Park from your place," he said suddenly, making her stop. She swallowed, her arms half in her bra as she tried to think on her feet.
"Um, yeah," she said, trying to figure out why on earth Miranda would say that to Nigel.
"And..." he said slowly.
"And what," she sighed. "What do you want, Nigel?"
"Nothing," he said gently as she pulled on the cropped jacket and yanked back the curtains. "Andy," he said gently, stopping her hands from pulling too hard on the bespoke jacket. "Nothing. I just thought it strange that our enigmatic leader had been to your place for long enough to see the view, that's all. I don't even know where you live."
"It's," she frowned. "She got me the place, okay? She's helping me."
"Sorry," Nigel said slowly. "Miranda Priestly is -"
"Yes. She's my landlord."
Nigel's face was a picture of shock as he struggled to comprehend the information.
"We're friends," she said, quieter still.
"I -"
Nigel cleaned his glasses, which Andy now knew was to give him time to consider his answer.
"Don't do that," she muttered. "Just say it."
"Say what, Doll?" he asked gently. "I think it's great. It certainly explains," he made a face. "Every single question I've had about why you don't come out for drinks anymore, or why Miranda has been in a perpetual good mood for, ooh," he chuckled. "Longer than I've ever seen!"
"Nigel," she huffed.
"I'm serious," he shrugged. "If you have both found a," he hesitated. "Friendship with each other that ticks all the boxes then, what do I care? I am a little hurt that neither of you told me, but," he considered it again. "I also understand."
"Nate left, after Paris."
"Okay."
"I, we had a," she made air quotes. "Come-to-Jesus moment, which you know. The day before she met you and explained." He nodded along. "I laid it out for her. What I needed, what I needed from her. What we, collectively, needed to do and," she shrugged. "She agreed. And more than that, she agreed to work with me to achieve it."
She recounted her friendship with Miranda back to him, giving him all the details and yet sharing very little. She had learned a lot from Miranda's lessons in reducing the 'oversharing' as she called it and when she finished, Nigel was polishing his glasses again.
"That's really something, kid."
"Nig -"
"No, I mean it! I really am glad. And," he said gently. "Now I know, I do truly understand why you wouldn't want to tell anyone. I see what you go through," he said gently. "What they say. Well, maybe now I know, I can come over for a drink and see this famed view."
"Sure," she smiled. "I'd like that."
"Andréa?" Miranda said gently from the door. "Are you ready?"
Andy turned and Miranda's eyes wandered down her body to her bare feet. A tiny smirk appeared and she cocked an eyebrow as their eyes met again.
"Nigel, perhaps you can find some shoes for our Andréa, while I call the elevator."
She turned and walked away and Andy chuckled.
"Um," Nigel said gently. "What -"
"Hmm?" Andy asked, expectantly.
There was a moment where they looked at each other and Nigel wore a look on his face that she just could not work out.
"Never mind," he smiled gently. "Let me get you the shoes. These will be perfect."
He rummaged through the closet and pulled down a pair of six-inch, low cut boots and let her hold his shoulder while she pulled them on.
"How do I look."
"Beautiful," he smiled. "Really. Now, you need this," he said, handing her a bag. "And," he turned and produced a beautiful, sparkling necklace that hung low between her breasts. He slid in two dangling earrings and stepped back. "Have a good night, yes?"
"Are you coming down?"
"I have a few more things to take care of, and then I'm going home to a nice bottle of Merlot."
They walked to the elevator together, arm in arm until they met Miranda, standing with her hand in front of the doors.
"Ah," she smiled. "There you are. Nigel, thank you for your help today. I," Miranda glanced at Andy. "Thank you."
"You," Nigel said carefully. "Are most welcome. Enjoy your evening, ladies," he said, stepping back and watching them enter the elevator. As the doors closed, Nigel's face turned into a smirk and something passed between Miranda and him that Andy didn't understand.
"Oh," Miranda sighed eventually, as the car started moving. "What a day."
"Is there anything else for us to do tomorrow?"
"No. I am assured by the Printers that they will have the copies in the stacks by Monday. They are going to run a double crew, which," she bit her lip. "Will cost us more than not, but," she shrugged. "We can do nothing about that. We will recoup the cost with the next issue, no doubt, but that does not mean he will not make us squirm until then."
"I hate him," Andy growled.
"Hate is a strong word, Andréa," Miranda soothed, her arm curling around Andy's as the elevator came to a stop. "One that should be reserved for ex-husbands and pitiful parents. Not one that should be wasted on insignificant, jumped-up dwarves."
Andy laughed as they walked leisurely through the lobby. Roy was waiting, as patiently as ever, and he greeted them happily as they stepped towards the car.
"Ladies," he touched his hat. "You do look lovely tonight -" Miranda chuckled. "Where are we off to tonight?"
"Oh, I think somewhere nice," Miranda said conversationally. "Perhaps the MoMA?"
"Miranda, I'm not dressed for that!"
"Nonsense," Miranda waved her off. "You look beautiful."
"Wait," Andy frowned. "I do?"
Miranda looked caught for a moment before rolling her eyes.
"You do. I will not repeat it. Nigel has promoted your best assets, which is to say, you are perfectly dressed for any occasion that you join me for. So," she offered Andy her own lipstick from her purse. "Do not worry so much."
Andy held the lipstick in her hand for a moment before shrugging and putting some on. As they pulled up to the MoMA, Miranda glanced at her and Andy stayed very still as she reached out and ran a thumb under Andy's bottom lip.
"There," she said gently. "Perfect."
Andy was still reeling when they got out of the car and were seated immediately.
After ordering drinks and a starter, Miranda sat back, fiddling with her bracelet and staring at everything except Andy.
"Ok, what is going on?"
"Hmm?"
"Why aren't we talking?"
"I," Miranda shrugged. "Have nothing to say at present."
"But you're being weird."
"No I am not," Miranda huffed.
"Oh yes you are," Andy laughed. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Miranda."
"I had a good day today," she said, though Andy knew that was not what was on her mind. "From the moment we arrived at that terrifying gym, throughout the painful nature of today, I had a good day. And yet," she sighed. "Someone sought to derail this -" She waited while the sommelier poured the wine. "Someone sought to usurp all of our hard work and that, Andréa, is unforgivable."
"We'll get him," Andy smiled. "I'm sure we will."
"We must," Miranda huffed. "It is imperative. I will not have him destroying the magazine."
"Miranda," Andy chuckled, sitting back with her glass of wine. "We'll get him."
"Hmm," she nodded. "How is the wine?"
"Delicious," Andy smiled. "Are you planning on eating something other than steak?"
"I eat other things," Miranda pouted. "As you well know."
Andy chuckled and after a moment, Miranda smiled.
"Cheeky," she muttered. "The Beef Wellington is delicious here. It is what I often have."
"So steak, but wrapped in carbs?"
"Oh be quiet," Miranda teased as the server joined them.
They ordered their food, both getting the Wellington in the end, and were left alone again.
"Tell me something I don't know?"
"Andréa," Miranda muttered. "You know everything about me, I am sure."
"No I don't," she chuckled. "Everything about you since I met you, not much about you before?"
"What would you like to know?"
"Do you have siblings?"
"I do not," Miranda said, looking amused. "Do you?"
"Yes. One sister, we're not as close as I'd like. She is older than me and takes after my mother."
"Are you still not on speaking terms?"
"No," Andy shook her head. "No, we've not spoken since," she swallowed "Paris."
"Come now," Miranda muttered. "Surely you are not still on edge about that? That moment changed our lives," she sipped her wine greedily. "For the better."
"I know," Andy nodded. "But it was," she thought about it. "A moment that literally changed my existence. You did that."
"No, Andréa," Miranda sat forward. "You did that. I was just swept along in your wake."
"Miranda -"
"I'm serious," she smirked. "I told you, I am nothing. A woman with two children and a dog. You are the one with the world at her feet. You are the shining light to which all are drawn. It is a pleasure to watch you succeed, Andréa."
"You're crazy," she chuckled, sitting back with a huff.
"I am," Miranda chuckled. "I have been told many times."
"I didn't -"
"I know," Miranda nodded. "I did not think that you were serious."
"Well," Andy shook herself. "This turned bizarre."
"Indeed. Let us talk of something less fraught. I was reading an article yesterday about -"
They talked until the staff asked them, rather haltingly, to leave. The girls had called earlier to say goodnight and they'd followed up their delicious dinner with coffee and a small bowl of creme brulee that they shared and they had talked excitedly about everything from the social constructs that women were placed under, all the way to the perpetuating unfairness of sports scholarships in universities. But now, it was time to go and Andy helped Miranda with her jacket, dropping her own over her arm.
They walked leisurely out of the exit and Andy laughed as Roy stood, throwing his paper into the car and stepping forward to get the door.
"This man needs a raise."
"Andréa!" Miranda said scandalously.
"Sorry Roy," she chuckled. "The wine was pretty strong," she giggled.
"You are not drunk," Miranda smirked.
"No, but I'm on the way," Andy grinned, feeling the world spinning slowly.
"Hopeless," Miranda scoffed. "Roy, do you need a raise?"
"I -" he stared at her. "No, Miranda."
"Nevertheless, I'll pay you from my own pocket for tonight. I've kept you much longer than I should have. Perhaps we will do that from now on?"
"Miranda, I -"
"Send me an invoice," she waved her hand airily as Andy grabbed it and helped her into the car. "Lord, I haven't drunk this much in a long time."
"Since Paris," Andy giggled when she got in, slumping against Miranda's side. "That was so funny."
"I'll thank you not to repeat it," Miranda muttered, sliding her arm under Andy's and settling down. "How long Roy?"
"'Bout ten minutes."
"Andréa," Miranda muttered.
"I'm sleepy," she sighed, the wine having loosened her senses. "You smell good."
"Thank you," Miranda whispered.
Andy felt a soft touch to her cheek and she sighed once more, pressing her face into Miranda's arm.
"Don't get comfortable," she mused. "It is time for you to go home."
Andy blinked as she felt the car slow, even as she was sure she only just got in. She sat up, rubbing her eyes.
"Ah," Miranda said, taking her hands. "Andréa, surely you have learned by now that you cannot just rub your eyes."
"There are so many rules," she whined.
There was a quiet chuckle from Miranda as she tried to bring her mind back to normality.
"I'm never drinking with you again," she murmured. "I already said that once."
"We have fun," Miranda said. Andy heard her smile in her tone.
"Oh be quiet."
Andy shook her head and looked sideways at Miranda as they pulled up to her building.
"I've really enjoyed this."
"As have I. We will do it again."
"Promise?"
"I do," Miranda nodded, smiling gently. "Now," she sat forward and pulled Andy's jacket over her shoulders. "Hang this up when you get home. And wash your face."
"I'm not a kid," Andy said with a frown.
"I know," Miranda whispered. "But you are quite drunk and lord knows you may not even make it to your door."
"Hey!" Andy said, coming out of her comfortable haze to protest.
"That's better. I shall not feel quite so bad letting you go on your own."
"You," Andy said, taking Miranda's hand. "Are like nobody I've ever met. And I'm really glad to be your friend."
"As am I," Miranda nodded, using the hand Andy was holding and pulling Andy's close to her face. "Goodnight, Andréa."
"'Night," Andy smiled as Minrada pulled her in for a hug. "Sleep well."
"And you," Miranda whispered.
She pulled away and got out of the car. The brisk air sobered her a little and she bent back down to look at Miranda.
"Thank you," she said genuinely.
"Thank you, Andréa," Miranda answered. "I will wait here until you are inside."
"'Kay," she nodded. "'night Roy."
"Goodnight Andy," he chuckled.
She made her way into the building and turned at the last minute to wave. Miranda had the window down and as Roy pulled away, their eyes met and Andy took a deep breath.
It was so nice to have such a good friend.
