Andrea POV

Andy poured a cup of tea and sat down on the couch to think. She was not working that evening, so she had plenty of time, and Miranda had given her plenty to think about.

I probably shouldn't have been so bitchy, she thought. Miranda Priestley was not noted for forgiveness or compassion. Andy was pretty sure she had hit the nail right on the head when she had accused her ex-boss of guilt, and she didn't want that feeling to morph into another burst of anger. An angry Miranda was a dangerous Miranda and Andy didn't need dangerous.

She didn't know yet if she wanted to write for Runway, but she was wise enough to know that Miranda's offer was a jewel that she had been handed out of thin air. Despite her careless words, Andy had gotten so discouraged with her writing that was seriously considering enrolling at NYU law school.

After all, how bad could it be? I was never enslaved by fashion, like the Clackers, but I had the same interest in it as the average girl. And if it means that I can write for other magazines someday, then who cares? Runway isn't just a catalogue; they had that interview with Christian Thompson when he made the Times' bestseller list, and there was that feature about the old architecture in Tuscany. In fact, if I'm writing for Runway, I shouldn't have to deal with Miranda at all. Charlotte Kinga is the features editor, or was when I was there. And from what I could see, Miranda never bothered to read anything at all—she was totally focused on the pictures, the layouts.

Still, though, Runway was a frenetic place. Everything moved at light speed, and Andy had no doubt that any piece she submitted would have to go through a hell of a lot of rewrites. And since Miranda was the one making the offer, she probably had a specific subject in mind for Andy to cover. That meant whether she read the article personally or not, she would definitely add her input and Andy would need her very-hard-to-get approval.

Andy put down her cup and picked up her cell phone. She had planned to call Hannah this evening anyway. The phone rang a few times and then Hannah picked up. Right away, she said "You have got to tell me what you were doing having lunch with Miranda Priestly."

"She wants me to write for Runway. She says she'll get me off the blacklist if I write for her and give Runway first choice of any other articles I submit."

"Wow. Why the change of heart?"

Andy paused before answering. She couldn't tell Hannah that Miranda had been at the club. "I don't know. Maybe it's some twisted revenge plot." Or maybe she just wants to buy my silence.

"Maybe. But if you really want to write in New York…"

"I know. I'm not sure what to do."

"Are you planning on leaving the club?"

"No, not yet." Andy closed her eyes and shook her head to clear it. "She could make me write for her and then reject everything I submit. I wouldn't put it past her."

"Look, you were going to enroll at NYU in January, right? That gives you a few months to try it and see. I think you should at least try. You're good, Andy. I've read some of your stuff. And if it turns out she was just jerking you around, you still have a backup plan."

"Yeah. You're right."

"Of course I am."

Andy laughed. "Close your eyes and imagine me flipping you off."

Hannah laughed too. "Let me know how it goes, okay?"

"I will."

They chatted a while about inconsequential things, but eventually Andy told Hannah she had to go and hung up. It was late enough, now, for Miranda to be home. For some ungodly reason, Andy had not deleted any of her ex-boss's numbers from her phone when she left Runway. She took a deep breath, punched in the familiar sequence and waited.

Miranda, miracle of miracles, picked up almost immediately. "Yes, Ahn-dre-ah?"

"You knew it was me?"

"Of course. Are you calling for a reason or does it amuse you to waste my time?"

Back to normal, Andy thought glumly. "I've been thinking about your offer", she said.

"Well?"

"The answer is yes."

"Good. You will start by calling Charlotte in features. She'll tell you what we're doing. That's all."

Miranda hung up. Andy sat for a long time, holding the phone next to her ear and praying she wasn't making a giant mistake.