9.
Miranda looked up as a stunningly beautiful young woman entered the room. She turned towards Andy and saw happiness bloom on the other woman's face as she smiled warmly at the newcomer. As the woman approached, Miranda picked up on another emotion playing across Andy's face. "Maybe it was relief," Miranda thought as Andy stood to greet her visitor.
"Miranda this is my friend Sam. Sam meet by guest Miranda."
Miranda stood and reached out a hand. As the shook, Miranda could not resist her habit of assessing Sam's clothing. It was not her style, but she had to admit that the young woman pulled it off well. As they all sat, Miranda looked between Andy and Sam and saw everything she would expect from long term friends and quite a bit more. A sense of uneasiness settled in the pit of her stomach as she realized that unlike Lily, Sam appeared to have carte blanche access to Andy's home.
"Sam, can you tell us how that box connects to Miranda's problems?" Andy asked.
Miranda felt another sting hearing Andy's carefully chosen words.
"You mean my attempted suicide," she corrected in an icy voice.
She saw the hurt flash in Andy's expressive eyes and instantly regretted her tone.
Despite all the indignities she'd suffered recent years, she still found it difficult to have her life laid bare in front of a woman she cared for.
"You wouldn't be feeling this off balance if you just cared about her," her mind tried to correct.
She slipped her hand back into Andy's and squeezed hoping the silent apology would be enough for now. Her squeeze was immediately returned even though Andy's eyes stayed fixed on Sam's face. Miranda turned her attention to the young woman just in time see Sam's eyes drift down to their joined hands. The expression that appeared on the younger woman's face was not at all what she expected. Instead of jealousy or disapproval, Sam's face shifted from thoughtful, to satisfied, to something approaching happiness. It seemed that there was more to Andy and Sam's relationship than Miranda had assumed.
Andy cleared her throat prompting Sam to answer the original question, "The box was manufactured by a company called DeSima."
Sam went on to explain her connection with one of the companies founders and her trip to their offices this morning,
"The company is dedicated to address health issues that affect women.
In this case, they developed the box to treat severe and chronic insomnia.
The device showed initial promise during clinical trials, but when they began witnessing some disturbing side effects, they shut down the test."
Miranda and Andy both wore confused looks, so Sam continued, "They discovered that the device interfered with the brain's ability to achieve true restorative sleep which can have some rather brutal effects."
Recognition bloomed in Miranda's mind as she contemplated all the mornings she'd woken up feeling like she had not slept at all.
"The subjects first complained of headaches, increased anxiety, lack of impulse control and several dropped into deep depression."
"Ok, connect to dots for me here" Andy prompted.
"I went back to your former apartment and had a look around last night.
I found the device in the vent directly behind the bed along with high-resolution cameras in the living room, kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom," Sam answered.
There was a collective gasp from both Andy and Lily at this news, but Miranda remained silent as her mind tried to come to grips.
"I had this thing in my apartment last night, and I felt awful this morning. That was just from one night, and we have no way of knowing it was there."
"So you're telling me that this box caused me to try and kill myself?" Miranda asked.
Sam looked thoughtful for a moment before she responded, "Scientifically there are a lot of variables, but yes I believe that whoever put the box in your apartment wanted that end result."
Miranda took in Sam's words and felt some of the weight she'd been carrying begin to lift from her shoulders. Her problems were not all solved but knowing the circumstances that led her to try and end her life helped to settle her mind.
"Is that why they installed the cameras?" Lily asked.
"One of the reasons," Sam answered cryptically.
Miranda paled as she finally picked up on what Sam was not saying. There were recordings of the things she'd done in that apartment, and those videos could one day be revealed to the world.
That thought led to another so she asked, "Why would they do this to me?"
Sam's face took on a hard edge as she responded," I don't believe this was done just to hurt you."
The shock and hurt on Miranda's face must have been apparent as all in the room including the more standoffish Lily gave her looks of compassion. Miranda hated feeling this exposed. Andy was one thing, but Lily was not a fan and as for Sam. She wasn't sure what to think of Sam. It was clear the young woman had done much on her behalf, but her motives were more likely about pleasing Andy than anything else. Yet she had to admit to liking the women's no-bullshit demeanor. It reminded her of herself.
"Explain," Miranda prompted once she was able to get her emotions back under control.
"This was always about money.
Replacing you with the Follet woman caused the Elias Clark stock to crash almost overnight.
Both of your ex-husbands, Irv Ravitz, and the other members of this conspiracy all made millions when because they anticipated the stock would go down.
I believe they were counting on another stock price drop once news of your suicide broke. I expect that the details surrounding your final days along with the story of your blacklisting would've also been leaked to the press.
The resulting PR nightmare would cause the already battered stock price to free fall."
"It's a takeover," Andy said coming to the same conclusion.
"Yeah, I think so, but I feel like there's more to it than that.
The way they did this was more ruthless than it needed to be which suggest that the stakes are about more than just money or control," Sam speculated.
"Men have been known to be this cruel for any number of reasons." Lily pointed out.
"While that might be true, I think there is more in this case.
With a new editor at Runway maybe they can bring the magazine somewhere near its old highs, but it could take years for the stock price to rebound." Sam countered.
"What else is this about then?" Andy asked.
"That's just it, the first half of this scheme.
Firing and blacklisting Miranda. Shorting the stock.
Those are some seriously heinous tactics but not unheard of in the legitimate business world.
Even blackmailing judges is something I can see these men doing.
The black box and the video surveillance is something else completely," Sam concluded.
"It's creepy is what it is," Lily chimed in.
Each woman was silent for a moment as they contemplated what it would be like to have someone put surveillance cameras in their homes. Of course, Miranda did not have to imagine it because she'd lived it. She could not help but think about all of the things she'd done it that apartment, in that bed. Private things. Things with men who she hardly knew. Things she was not proud of. She squeezed Andy's hand pulling the younger woman from her thoughts as she focused on Miranda's sad face.
"I don't think we're going to solve everything today," Andy said picking up on Miranda's shift in mood.
"Sam can you keep digging into the financials to see if you can make sense of the endgame.
Lily thanks for the update, with Miranda's permission I'd like you to start working on some strategies for the custody hearing."
Miranda nodded her assent to Andy's suggestion without looking up.
"Let's get back together the same time tomorrow," Andy said then stood to walk her guests out.
Miranda had the vague sense of everyone leaving but was too trapped into her own thoughts to register much besides Andy's sudden absence. She sat there regretting every one-night stand she'd had in an attempt to soothe her pain. Regretted fucking the young man who had, in essence, became her drug dealer. She'd lost all dignity at that point, so the things she'd done and the things she'd allowed him to do to her were not pretty. Miranda Priestly would have never done anything like that, but apparently, Miriam could and had.
While she was beating herself up for her past mistakes, the more clinical part of her brain reminded her that she'd been in a lot of pain and not thinking clearly during the period in question.
It was a small comfort but comfort nonetheless. As she came back to herself, she realized that Andy still hadn't returned. She knew that she and Andy needed to talk, so she went in search of her young.
"Your young what," her mind prodded.
They weren't lovers and yet there was still an air of inevitability that surrounded them.
"What was she to Andy and what was Andy to her?" she wondered as she stepped into the kitchen.
She stopped in her tracks when she heard Andy and Sam talking.
"I really appreciate everything you've done for Miranda," Andy said.
"I knew it was important to you," Sam replied.
The two were quiet for a moment until Sam spoke, "I'm happy for you. For the both of you."
"I don't know if there is anything to congratulate," Andy responded.
Miranda felt her gut tighten at Andy's words. She turned intending to flee but was stopped by Andy's next words.
"There is so much going on with her right now. I have to put my feeling aside and concentrate on just being a friend."
"Bullshit.
"You've been waiting your whole life for her. You know it, and I know it, and I'll be damned if I let you waste your chance at happiness over hand ringing," Sam said with force.
Miranda was shocked not just by Sam's words but by a tone that brooked no argument.
"Look I get it, you're scared. Plunging in with both feet can be scary, but you and I know that it is worth it."
"I jumped in with both feet with you, and I've never regretted it," Sam proclaimed.
"Even when I broke your heart," Andy said in a quiet voice.
Sam reached out her hand and gently stroked Andy's cheek, "You did what you knew was best for both of us.
I won't say it didn't hurt like hell at the time, but here we are.
I love you Andy and nothing could ever change that."
Miranda backed out of the room as the two women exchanged a tearful hug. As she walked up to Andy's bedroom, her mind went over all that she'd just learned. She'd been right and wrong at the same time. Yes, Andy and Sam had a past. From the sound of it, they'd been deeply in love, but the relationship was now clearly in the past. Sam had even pushed Andy to see the truth about them, and Miranda felt quite warm towards the girl for it.
As she entered the bedroom, she recalled all of the new clothing still laid out on the bed. She grabbed several of the items and took them into Andy's walk-in closet. The space was not as large as the closet in her former home, but it was plenty large enough for the both of them. She looked around the space realizing it was true. Andy had had already cleared out space for her new things.
Now she finally understood. Andy was already committed to a future with her, but she wanted to give her all the time and space she needed to catch up. She rolled those thoughts around her head as she organized her things in Andy's closet. Andy had already given her the most important thing she could. She gave Miranda hope and the means to fight for the things that mattered to her. And all she asked for in return was nothing. That kind of devotion filled Miranda with sense of wonder and something else. A feeling that was far from unpleasant.
Deciding she no longer needed the formal clothes she was wearing, she picked out a pair of her new silk pajamas. On second thought she put her original choice away and chose a pair of Andy's well-worn pajamas instead. She had found that she quite enjoyed wearing the other woman's clothing. She stripped off all of her clothes then took a long look at herself in the mirror. She was still thinner than was healthy but otherwise, she liked what she saw.
"Well I could use a trim," she thought staring at the triangle of hair at the junction of her thighs.
She ran a hand through that hair feeling a resurgence of her earlier arousal. That familiar warm feeling dulled a dulled a little as she remembered the conversation she needed to have with Andy. By the time she'd dressed and returned to the bedroom, she found Andy waiting in her chair.
"Are you doing ok?" Andy asked.
Miranda nodded her head before sitting on the ottoman facing the younger woman.
"If there is going to be an us, there are some things that you need to know," Miranda began.
Andy tried to stop her, but Miranda held up a hand and continued," For a time I did not care what happened to me.
I was in a great deal of pain, and I did things to dull that pain.
Degrading things, things that I dearly regret."
Now my enemies may have video evidence of those things.
I am no longer capable of being embarrassed, but the things that I've done can come back to hurt my children and you.
I hate the thought that the people I care for the most might suffer because of my mistakes."
As Miranda told Andy all of it, she had to admit that it all sounded far worse saying it out loud.
How could this woman want her now, now that she knew the truth? Miranda turned her head away from the beautiful woman but found her progress stopped by Andy's soft hand against her cheek.
"I listened to what you had to say now I want you to listen to me. I won't say that what you told me didn't hurt."
Miranda's heart sank with those words.
"I hate that you were ever in that kind of pain.
I hate that these selfish men caused you that pain, but I will not let them win Miranda.
I will not allow what they did to you come between us.
I will not live in fear of what they could do to you, to us.
Tonight we will need our rest because tomorrow we start hitting back."
Miranda was astonished by Andy's words and damnit it felt good to feel like she had someone in her corner again. She also knew that unlike before she would not push away those who wanted to help. It had been a mistake to ignore all the offers of help and support she'd been offered after her firing and subsequent blacklisting. By the time she realized her mistake to much time had passed. Now, with all she'd gone through her pride as no longer an issue.
Miranda felt herself pulled into a warm hug as the other woman did her best to provide comfort. A feeling of warmth and peace dropped over her as Andy pulled her closer. Miranda soon became keenly aware of a pleasant sensation as her unrestrained breasts pressed firmly against Andy's more voluptuous chest. She took a moment to just enjoy the feeling before the younger woman finally released her. Their faces were still close, so they only needed to lean forward a few inches for their lips to meet. The kiss was so soft and so sweet all Miranda could do was to let out a sigh of pure contentment.
When the kiss finally ended the two women looked at each other with faces showing a mixture of delight, wonder, and joy. The next kiss came naturally as Andy took the lead. Miranda felt Andy's hand run through her short silvery locks as she was drawn even closer. Andy ran her nails over Miranda's scalp causing the older woman to moan in pure lust. Finally, Andy broke the kiss and Miranda had to force herself not to pounce on the younger woman.
Seeing Miranda's desire Andy spoke quietly, "Miranda, I am a patient woman, and I am willing to wait until you're completely ready."
Miranda appreciated the other woman's words and new them to be entirely genuine, and yet the desire to give herself to the other woman was so strong.
Andy smiled at Miranda making it clear that she was feeling the same way. Instead of giving in to their shared desire Andy patted the chair next to her inviting Miranda to sit close to her.
Miranda took the seat and felt comforted by Andy's closeness. She pulled her legs up underneath her and moved her head onto Andy's shoulder. She felt at peace as Andy's arm draped across her shoulder. Miranda let out a little sigh of contentment feeling like she was exactly where she belonged.
Later that evening both women had finished dinner when Andy offered Miranda first access to the en-suite so she could prepare for bed. When she was done, she climbed into the bed and waited for Andy to take her turn. The younger woman came out dressed in similar silk pajamas.
"She looked good," Miranda though giving the woman a full once over.
Miranda became distracted as her eyes fell upon the gentle sway of Andy's now unfettered breasts. Never in her life had she found another woman's breasts so captivating.
"Like a moth to a flame," she thought remembering the old saying.
Andy's soft laugh pulled Miranda away from her careful study of the other woman's body. Whatever Andy saw in Miranda's eyes caused the younger woman's laughter to dry up in an instant.
When Andy reached for her folded blanket, Miranda intercepted it then looking up into lovely brown eyes.
"Will you join me in our bed tonight?"
Andy looked unsure, but Miranda would not hear of it.
"I would really like it if you were close to me tonight," the older woman said just above a whisper.
The smoldering look on Andy's face made it clear that Miranda was testing the younger woman's self-control. Andy nodded her head before slipping into the bed. The two women spent a long awkward moment just looking at each other before Miranda spoke, "we should get some rest if we are to go on the offensive tomorrow."
Andy nodded her head, and they both lied back on to the soft sheets. Miranda rolled onto her side but did not feel Andy follow her. Finally, after several minutes of silent contemplation, Miranda sat up in bed. Andy sat up too and just stared into Miranda's captivating blue eyes.
"I won't break if you touch me," Miranda said.
"I, I don't want to take advantage of you."
"You won't but for now just touch me ok," Miranda said before she reached down and undid the top two buttons on her top.
Andy's eyes were instantly fixed on the newly exposed flesh. Miranda took Andy's hand and maneuvered it into her top placing it gently onto her left breast. She felt the younger stiffen for a moment before she relaxed into the intimate contact. Miranda's heart rate sped up as Andy began to reverently caress the soft skin under her palm. This time when Miranda lay back down Andy followed moving close behind her. As they got situated, Miranda smiled as Andy's hand managed to find its way back inside of her top. Her last thought was of how right it felt to have Andy's hands on her body then she was consumed by sleep.
Later in the night when Miranda woke she found herself now laying on top of Andy's chest. She felt warm and protected in a way that she'd never felt in her whole life. She snuggled close tucking her head under Andy's chin. The other woman sighed as she wrapped her arms around Miranda pulling her even closer. As she closed her eyes again thoughts of the younger woman doing more than just holding her flooded her mind.
When Andy opened her eyes, it was clear that things had changed since she'd fallen asleep. For starters, the older woman now lay firmly against her chest which was fine with her. What she could not figure out was how they'd both ended up topless, a circumstance that she had even less reason to complain about. Her night had been filled with dreams of the silver-haired beauty laying on top of her. In her dream, they'd been doing something far more intimate than just snuggling. She felt goose flesh break out over her shoulders and chest as her mind began to register the sensation of being chest to chest with the alluring woman. Her heart began to hammer as her body reacted on its own accord. Her nipples tightened then peaked, and she wanted to squirm as she felt slick between her legs. Andy felt the familiar ache, but given Miranda's position across her chest, there was simply nothing she could do about it. Instead, she closed her eyes and tried not to think about making love to the woman who was so tantalizingly close. She failed miserably.
Miranda opened her eyes feeling refreshed. The last few days had been a revelation. She knew that part of it was being away from that dreadful box, but deep down she knew that even before her downfall that she'd never slept this peacefully. Not that last night had been entirely peaceful. She'd woken several times in the night and had at some point taken off her top. She blushed as she remembered slowly unbuttoning Andy's top feeling a desperate need to feel the other woman's skin against her own. It would have seemed like a violation if she wasn't keenly aware of the other woman's desires. She looked around finally realizing that the younger woman was no longer in bed with her. Andy's spot was still warm so she must have just gotten out of bed. She looked around expecting to find the woman had fled to her trusty chair. She found the chair empty but solved the mystery when she heard the shower running in the other room.
She initially thought to give the woman her privacy but the longer she lay there, the more she thought about how the shower was more than large enough to share. She stood before stripping down to nothing. She walked over to the bathroom door and slowly pushed it open. Her eyes fell towards the shower then froze at the sight before her.
This time when Andy opened her eyes, she felt Mirada snuggle closer if that was even possible. She wouldn't have guessed that Miranda Priestly would be a snuggler, but given the opportunity, the older woman seemed to have no problem taking full advantage. Now she remembered the other woman helping her out of her top in the middle of the night. Remembered how Miranda had looked at her, looked at her breasts. The heat between her legs returned, and this time she knew that she would need to do something about it. Waking Miranda was an option, but she had meant what she said about being patient. She rolled the other woman on her side allowing her to grasp her pillow instead. She stood for a moment looking down at Miranda's nude back, short grey hair and smooth pale skin. She leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on one shoulder blade before she fled the room. She stepped into the en-suite and started the shower. She ditched her bottoms and looked at herself in the mirror. It was hard to miss the signs of her arousal. Her skin was flush, her nipples erect, and she could clearly see the glistening of her own wetness.
"I want her," the younger woman said aloud.
"You love her," her mind corrected.
She stepped into the shower closing her eyes as the warm water flowed over her body. A moment later she cupped her own breast imagining it was Miranda's hands caressing her. She squeezed a nipple anticipating how Miranda would touch her. Just thinking about being touched by the older woman left her breathless and close to the edge. She ran a hand over her sex and let out a low groan. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. She'd have to be quick, but her need could not wait any longer.
Miranda stood perfectly still as she found herself watching Andy in what was clearly an intimate moment. Her mind told her body to move, to back out of the room but it was useless. Her eyes raked in the sight of the curvy brunette standing with the detached shower head between her beautiful thighs. The pleasure written all over her lovely face took Miranda's breath away. She'd never seen anything so beautiful in her life, and she never wanted someone like she wanted Andy right now. It astonished Miranda how much the sight aroused her. Her whole body vibrated with desire. She needed Andy's hands on her body.
Instead of moving backward Miranda found herself inching forward until she was just on the outside of the glass-enclosed shower when it happened.
"Oh, Miranda," Andy moaned as her self induced orgasm thrummed through her body.
That was it for Miranda, hearing her name spoken with the perfect combination of reverence and lust was simply too much. Before she could stop herself, her hand was on the shower door. She opened it then without hesitation stepped in. Time seemed to slow as Andy opened her eyes. The look on her face wared between shock and embarrassment until her eyes took in Miranda's nude form. Miranda placed her hand on the back of the taller woman's neck pulling them into a slow sensual kiss. In that kiss, Miranda felt all of her reservations fade away. Her body wanted this, and her mind and heart had finally caught up. She stepped in closer so that not even the steaming water could come between them. She opened her mouth giving Andy's eager tongue full access. She gave herself over to the younger woman yielding in a way that she'd never done before.
"I could give this woman full control, and she would never hurt me," Miranda thought.
"Unless you ask her too," another part of her mind chimed in gleefully.
The kiss grew more intense as Andy seized the control that Miranda had so willingly given. In a smooth motion, Miranda was turned around and pulled back flush against Andy's chest.
"You have no idea what you do to me," Andy whispered into her ear before she attached her mouth to the long column of the older woman's neck.
"That's it," Miranda moaned, "Mark me. Make me yours."
Andy took direction well locking her mouth onto Miranda's neck. Miranda's back arched as she felt Andy's teeth graze the delicate skin beneath. And just like that, the younger woman-owned Miranda, mind body and soul.
AN: I warned you that things are heating up. This was a natural stopping point, but we will definitely pick things up here in the next chapter. This is good news for Miranda but don't expect some magical return to her former self. For better or worse this experience has changed her, and it will take some time for her to figure out who she is now. The good news is that she will have Andy in her corner through it all. Be on the lookout for a familiar DWP face in the next chapter, but like everything in this story, there is a twist. Let me know what you think.
On a personal note, I have to thank you all for your thoughtful and insightful comments. I want you to know how much your words meant to me. Thank you.