A/N: You have all been so very patient with me and for that, I'd like to thank you with a just-shy-of-3000 word chapter. As I said before - Thanks be to who provided me with the key to the lock that helped me move on with this little thing. I am much indebted ;)

-0-

When Monday rolled around, Andréa got into the Towncar with two cups of coffee she'd already picked up from the local Starbucks. Miranda's eyebrow asked a question she clearly couldn't orate and Andy smiled and passed one over.

"One centre-of-the-sun latte and," she smiled, holding up a paper bag. "One low-fat blueberry muffin, and don't tell me you don't like blueberries cos I'll know you're lying." Miranda glared for a moment before she snatched the bag and reached in. "I even got you a fork," Andy smirked obnoxiously, holding the article up.

"Why are you still employed?"

Andy chuckled and nudged Miranda gently as she laughed. She sat back, used to what Miranda needed in the morning. The soft blanket of quiet that she needed to pull La Priestly into being. Andy flicked through her emails and paused, peering closer at the sender.

"I -"

"What?" Miranda asked, a little shortly.

"Um, Ann Shankley wants to meet for lunch."

"What?" Miranda's eyes widened and she leaned over and read the email as well. "Oh."

She sat back and went quiet. Andy waited. A personal email from the only woman on the Board of Directors was a big deal, even for Miranda Priestly and it required a careful response.

"Tell her I will meet her in the lobby at 11:30," Miranda muttered.

Andy nodded and tapped out an email before she put the phone away and looked up.

"I don't know," Miranda muttered before she could ask. "I've no idea. I think I've spoken to her three times since she was appointed."

"What's she like?" Andy asked, wondering if everyone who attained power was like Miranda.

"Confident," Miranda shrugged. "Driven, but kind. She listens when others would not."

"Huh."

"Not all of us are Dragons, Andréa," Miranda whispered.

"I happen to like dragons, Miranda," Andy smirked.

Miranda snorted and rolled her eyes as the car came to a slow.

"I'd introduce you, but -"

"I understand."

"Here," Miranda said, passing over her detritus. "Pretend that's yours, will you?"

Andy chuckled and took care of it, getting out of the car herself as Roy helped Miranda. They walked into Elias Clarke together, side by side, their heels clicking on the floor as they marched across the lobby. She remembered back in the day when she would cower like the rest of them, but today she was standing shoulder to shoulder with one of the most powerful women in the city.

It was heady.

"Miranda," Jack said respectfully as he held open the elevator door for them. "Miss Andy," he grinned.

"Hey Jack," Andy grinned. "How's the family."

"Well thank you," he smiled, taking his hand off the door as Miranda shifted. "Have a good day."

Andy nodded and stepped back. She smirked for a while and laughed when Miranda tutted quietly.

"How do you think I'm going to get the information we need?" Andy clarified without asking.

"You go in there and demand it," Miranda argued.

"And you'll get a version," Andy said sagely. "My way has less bloodshed."

"Ridiculous," Miranda rolled her eyes.

"I've put some Tylenol in your bag," Andy said quietly, after a moment. "And there's tea in your desk. Let me know if you want a cup."

"I'm not an invalid," Miranda almost snapped. She took a deep breath and looked up; Andy was just a fraction taller in her heels. "I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it," Andy shrugged.

"I am," Miranda muttered as the elevator slowed. Andy was about to step forward but Miranda squeezed her hand. "I apologise."

"I accept," Andy whispered, squeezing back and stepping away to hold the door. "Let's get it, Priestly."

Miranda snorted and stepped out, stalking into her office without another word. Andy decided she had better get on with rearranging the calendar. Lunch would come around much faster because they were both worried about it. She cleared the morning so there would be no delays and Miranda swung her sceptre like she always did; cutting swathes through the Art Department and leaving few alive.

"What the hell is going on?" Nigel muttered as he barely escaped with his life.

"Ann Shankley has requested lunch."

"That didn't warrant an email," Nigel groaned.

"No time," Andy smiled, getting up and joining Miranda as she called her name. "I'll fill you in later though."

She stepped inside and Miranda waved her hand at her.

"Shut the door."

"Talk to me?" Andy asked, sitting.

"I'm worried."

"About Ann?"

"No about the price of tea in China," she snapped, pinching the bridge of her nose immediately. "I -"

"May I offer a suggestion?" Andy said, ignoring the barb.

"Please wow me, Andréa," Miranda said testily.

"It's not a meeting with the board, it's a meeting with Ann. On her own. At a restaurant. There are two possibilities. One, she wants to get in your pants -"

Miranda had taken a sip of Pellegrino and it splattered against the desk as she choked.

"Sorry," Andy laughed. "Sorry."

She took the glass and wiped up the water and offered a tissue to Miranda to mop up her chin. Miranda glared at her and Andy laughed again.

"I'm just going to say that that was karma for the bitchy comments you've been throwing at me all morning and leave it at that."

Miranda paused and wiped her chin. She sighed and threw the tissue in the trash and picked up her mirror. Andy watched as she wiped a smudge and reapplied her lipstick. She took another moment before putting away her compact mirror and looked up.

"I am not apologising again."

"Fine," Andy smirked. "I won't tease you again."

"Fine," Miranda nodded. "Now," she said matter-of-factly. "I shall assume the reasons for Ann's meeting is not reason one. What is reason number two? Me, being summarily dismissed from my magazine?"

Andy shook her head.

"No," she said gently. "No, this is personal. She wants to speak to you alone, out of the building. So, stop worrying and please try not to fire anyone else?"

Miranda glared at her and then threw her glasses on the desk.

"Fine," she groaned. "This is most inconvenient timing."

"Take the Tylenol, don't be a martyr," Andy soothed. "And stop panicking."

"Fine," Miranda rolled her eyes. "Ma -" she paused. "Would you make me a cup of tea?" Their eyes met. "Please?"

"Yes," Andy smiled. "Of course I will."

The pep talk worked and nobody else was called in for a last-minute meeting where they were cut off at the knees. Andy spent the time catching up on the Accounting reports while they waited for eleven o'clock. When it rolled around, Andy was eyeballs deep in the budget for the latest shoot and when she realised Miranda was standing at her desk, she jumped.

"Jee-sus! How long have you been there," she asked.

"Not long," she smirked. "You seemed busy."

"I wish I could share your amusement for your budget, Miranda, but I just can't."

Miranda chuckled and nodded for her coat. Andy gave her a look and she got up and helped Miranda into it. She felt the tight shoulders and squeezed them gently.

"This is what you do," Andy whispered as she smoothed the collar down. "She might be higher on the ladder, but she's not better. Go kick her ass."

Miranda smirked and pulled out her sunglasses.

"There she is," Andy grinned. "I'll see you when you get back."

"I've locked up," Miranda nodded, her hands fiddling for a moment before she took a deep breath and nodded once. She turned and fled, leaving Andy to watch her go.

-0-

Truth be told, Andy had come to enjoy the moments that Miranda was out. Not because she didn't like Miranda being in her office. On the contrary, she loved sitting at her desk working just within earshot of Miranda's muttering. Not many people would know that she spoke to herself while she was creating. Andy rather enjoyed listening to her babbling uncontrollably while she swapped colours or struck lines through a particularly woeful bit of editorial.

But there was a different energy when she was there alone. For one, nobody visited. And for another, Andy could take off her shoes, hiding them beneath the desk and walking barefoot on the carpet.

She'd just sat down after a quick rummage through the invoices in the cabinet when the phone rang.

"Miranda Priestly's office?"

"Andréa, we are at Le Bernardin. Join us."

"Sorry?"

"You heard me. Roy is waiting."

She didn't get a chance to ask any more questions as the phone was hung up and she stared at it.

Miranda. Wanted her to go to Le Bernardin. With Ann Shankley?

Shaking herself from her stupor, she quickly went through the routine of locking down the office, taking care to make sure it was done correctly, even though she was in a rush. There was very little that hadn't been turned into digital copies but what there was, was hidden in a folder between the stacks of magazines in the lockbox in her bottom drawer. She took one more look around, checked the lock on Miranda's door and then shut her computer down and left the office.

She messaged Nigel and Roy, telling Nigel they were both out and making sure Roy really was waiting. She got a flurry of text messages from Nigel asking questions, but she let him wait while she confirmed with Roy.

"Hey," she said as she slid into the front seat. "Do you know what's going on?"

"No," he muttered. "But she was serious when she went in. And then she called me and told me to come and get you."

"Huh," Andy nodded, sending a short reply to Nigel finally. "Weird."

"You don't know?"

"No."

"Reckon it's bad?"

"No," she said with a wince. "But it's not necessarily good."

"You'll get it straightened out," Roy chuckled as they pulled up. "You always do."

"One day we're going to stop using you for two block trips. I can't imagine how much we'd save in fuel costs alone."

"And then, you'd ruin those pretty clothes," Roy chuckled as she got out. "I doubt she'll go for that."

"That's why they pay you the big bucks, Roy," she smiled. "Thanks."

"I'll be around," he nodded before she closed the door.

She checked her reflection in the mirror momentarily and decided that she was Miranda's right-hand woman. She had every right to be at that table. Channelling their energy from this morning, she strode in and was shown to a table before she'd even opened her mouth.

"Ah," Miranda smiled, genuinely. "Here you are."

"Miranda," she said respectfully. "Ms Shankley."

"Ann," she said, standing up and offering her hand. Andy took it and they shook. Something passed between them that she couldn't name and she watched carefully as Ann chuckled and patted their joined hands.

"I'm not here to cause trouble," she said with a soft smile. "You may rest easy."

Andy frowned and looked at Miranda with a question in her eyes.

"Ann has just been telling me about the cameras she's had placed in the Elias Clarke building."

"Cameras?" Andy said, pausing half-way into her seat.

"Sit, Andréa. We've already ordered."

"I -" she glanced at Miranda and tried to catch up. Miranda was smirking into her wine glass but Ann was more forthcoming.

"I invited Miranda to lunch as an apology," she explained. "For believing she was part of something I have had my eye on for some time."

Andy didn't say anything, but she turned away from Miranda and gave Ann her full attention. She was less worried after noting that Miranda looked like a cat that had just eaten someone's prize canary.

"It had come to our attention that there were," she chose her words carefully. "Some unanswered questions, that seemed to be originating from the office of the CEO. We monitored those questions until we got a few answers. But," she shrugged. "Naturally they offered only more questions."

Andy still didn't speak, and Ann smiled.

"I like you," she said with a smile. "You listen and you wait before offering."

"I," Andy hesitated. "Learned from the best."

"Yes," Ann smiled. "You have. We tracked some of the questions and they found a home in one of the accountants inboxes. Along with some questionable reports that didn't match what we had on our own files, we discovered that the questions we had seemed woefully inadequate. There were reports from Runway and AutoUniverse and some of the ancillary staff salaries as well. Obviously, we take this seriously."

Andy nodded, her brain buzzing with the information.

"We placed cameras in areas where there have never been cameras before. Not secret," she clarified carefully. "But, new," she shrugged. "When we came to installing them in the Runway offices, your office and Miranda's required a key that our general maintenance team did not have. I had to get it in writing that the security team would not be fired for opening the door from every board member before we were allowed in." Andy smirked and glanced at Miranda before she turned back to Ann. "When we went to install our own equipment, we found yours."

"I -"

"It's fine," Miranda muttered, sitting forward. "Keep listening."

Andy glanced at her and she nodded, still looking smug.

"Obviously," Ann continued. "We weren't aware of any new installations and instead of disturbing them, I ordered copies of the tapes. I was told that they were unavailable without prior consent." Andy chuckled. While nobody had told her that one of the Board Members had come looking for copies, they also hadn't given them up either. The key to the offices was one thing. The tapes were apparently quite different. She made a note to buy Jimmy season tickets for the Knicks.

"I assume," she said, redirecting her focus to Ann. "That requesting Miranda's presence means you've found something? An apology could have occurred at any point after whatever it is, blows over."

"You are correct," Ann nodded, taking a sip of her wine.

They paused while the waiter brought out their food. Andy glanced again at Miranda and got a small twitch of the lips as her food arrived.

"We ordered the tasting menu," Miranda said conversationally. "My treat."

Andy didn't dispute anything, but she realised suddenly that they were eating a three hundred dollar menu.

"Thank you," she said quietly.

"I had them swap your first course with the scallops," Miranda muttered, nodding to the different dish. "Ours has Foie Gras. I know you don't like that."

She tried not to blush as she smiled at Miranda.

"Thank you," she said earnestly.

"You are most welcome. Enjoy," she nodded.

Fish had not been her favourite at any point in her life, but she ate what she was given happily. She knew the importance of this meeting and the importance of the menu and she ate her scallops happily once she'd tasted them.

"This is delicious," she said, a little surprised.

"Sashimi gets a bad rap," Ann chuckled. "But it is delicious if it is done right."

"I find Eric to be a magnificent chef," Miranda smiled. "I think you will enjoy this experience, Andréa."

They spoke of other things while they ate, Ann asked after the twins and before long had Andy joining in as well. By the time dessert rolled around, Andy was sufficiently relaxed.

Their plates were cleared and a round of coffees ordered as Ann sat forward.

"I won't beat around the bush any longer. You have been very patient with me," she chuckled, smiling at Andy.

Andy just shrugged. She didn't mention she had the patience of a saint after working for Miranda for so long.

"We have evidence of embezzlement."

Andy's mouth dropped open.

"You're kidding. Ir -" she swallowed the name. "The CEO?"

"Yes. I received word from our forensic accountant this morning, hence my email. I am interested to know what you have."

She looked over at Miranda who looked as if every Christmas had come all at once.

"Tell her," she said happily.

"Um," Andy shook her head trying to dispel the shock. "So we have video evidence he broke into Miranda's office and safe. I also have video of someone switching out my budget reports with phoney ones. I have no hard evidence that it was him, but I watched him give the instructions." Andy laid out all the evidence, starting with the videos and ending with Mindy and her photos. As she came to a close, Ann sat back.

"You have been busy," she said, clearly impressed.

"We work well under pressure," Andy chuckled, forgetting herself just a little. "We know he has someone in HR and Security for one, the stills Mindy was sent are from a video."

Ann nodded and was about to speak again when her phone beeped. She tapped out a reply and nodded to them both.

"Well, ladies," she said finally. "I apologise, but my time is at a close. I would ask you both to let me handle this now. Given the already caustic relationship you have with him, Miranda, it would not do to have this blow up in our faces."

"Andréa will hand all of our evidence over to you and I will gladly wash my hands of it."

"Excellent, Andrea -"

"Andy," she said quickly. "Please."

"Very well, Andy, have you met my secretary?"

"Only in passing, but I know her number."

"Il leave you to get in touch then. Thank you, Miranda, for the lovely meal. Perhaps we should do this again. Soon. My treat next time."

"It's been a pleasure, Ann. Thank you."

Andy felt her eyebrows twitch but she rallied and shook hands before Ann stepped away putting Bose buds in her ears and calling up her car.

She sat back in her seat and looked at Miranda in shock.

"This is the beginning of a most fantastic week, Andréa," Miranda muttered, oblivious to the fact that a beautifully serene smile graced her face.

Andy blinked until she felt dizzy, trying to wrap her head around it until she realised she could not.

"I," she shrugged. "Am in shock apparently," she laughed. "This is excellent!"

"Yes," Miranda agreed. "I'm almost tempted just to go home."

"Ooh," Andy said, crashing back down to earth. "Can't do that, sorry. You have Philip Lam's people at 4."

"And so," Miranda smirked."There is no rest for the wicked."

Andy laughed as Miranda stood and she followed helping her with her coat again.

"I told you to kick her ass, didn't I," she quipped as they stepped away from the table.

With that, twenty other patrons were lucky enough to witness Miranda Priestly, The Devil in Prada, laugh as most people had never heard before.