A/N: So, a much faster update this time. Thank you all for the lovely review´s of the first two chapters. Hope you enjoy this one!

Around the world and back again

Chapter 3

Assembling the traveling company

"You… want to travel…" Andrea could do no other thing than to parrot back Miranda´s last statement. "…The world. Like the whole round thing we live on?"

"Yes." The older woman´s eyes sparkled in amusment while beholding her personal assistants confusion.

"Like not fighting back for Runway but visiting around 194 countries on our planet?" Andrea was still struggling to wrap her head around Miranda´s wish.

"If you have enough intellect to know how many countries exist in the world, you can surely understand the wording of my demand, can´t you, Andrea?" She purposely pronounced the younger woman´s name in her own special way, elongating her purr and softening her tone. "You have proven more than once to make the seemingly impossible, possible for me. So organizing a simple voyage shouldn´t pose a problem." She again turned towards the bookshelf and reached for an atlas. "Maybe this would help?"

Andrea shook her head and forced herself to the calm mindset that usually aided her in her former job. She withdrew pen and notebook and took a deep breath, facing the danger of asking Miranda to clarify her wish. Her boss sat down again and opened the atlas on the sitting table between them, trailing her fingers over the oval shaped image of the world. It had been a deep desire since she was a child to own enough money and have enough time to explore everything she could, travel to far away countries and live adventures instead of only reading about them. Andrea´s voice stopped her short daydreaming.

"What about your girls?"

"What about them?" Miranda´s answer spoke of slight impatience. "They will travel with us of course. I wouldn´t leave my Bobbseys behind and deny them such a fantastic and unique learning opportunity." Andrea only nodded resigned.

"I will hire a tutor then, so they do not fall behind in school?" At the older woman´s nod she scribbled it down and asked: "Do you need me to add anyone else on our traveling company?"

"Do ask Clara if she wants to travel with us. She probably won´t come though, leaving her family behind for such a long time. Tell Emily to quit at Vogue. She will visit Paris much sooner with us then under that dreadful magazine. She will take over Cara´s duties, if need is such. Oh, and tell Nigel to stop this nonsense about going to Armani and it would disappoint me greatly if he should forget to bring his equipment. It is time for him to explore his underappreciated gift as photographer. We will start in Europe, in a week. That should give you sufficient time to plan, Andrea. France, starting with Paris will be our second stop. I want to explore another country first, but just for a couple of days." Miranda circled with her finger around the shape of the assembly of countries across the pond. "I will leave the rest of the preparations in your capable hands. Surely you will manage." She directed a full blown grin and the hastily writing Andrea. "That´s all."

The younger woman finished writing and nodded with a blank face, still in shock over what lay ahead. After just a few seconds, Miranda´s eyebrow rose and set her into motion, scrabbling for her things and jumping to her feet. She walked towards the door and finally left with a quick "Goodnight, Miranda."

Andrea never heard the laughter that rose in Miranda´s sacred halls when the front door fell shut behind her.

Once outside, just managing to catch a stray taxi (who just seemed to keep appearing whenever she needed one), she pulled out her phone to check the time and, deciding it wasn´t too late to call the first person on her list, dialled Cara´s number.

That phone call was by far the easiest and shortest. As expected by Miranda, the woman refused the offer and instead proposed that she would take over the care of the townhouse, allowing Andrea to cross out an item on a to do list she had yet to really set up. Ending the call her mind was swirling with things she needed to organize in just a week, almost bringing tears to her eyes. What on earth was she thinking to take on this job?

Her phone rang. Nigel. Taking in a deep breath she steeled herself before picking up.

"Hey girl. Finished your last day under the Ice Queen? Listen, we, meaning Emily, Serena, Roy and me, decided to go for a drink at the cocktail bar you told us about. Care to join the merry band of former Runway employees?" His words rushed out so fast, she didn´t even had the chance to think of a reply before he continued: "Wonderful. See you soon, Tata." She gave the new address to the driver before falling back on her seat.

Maybe "Surviving the Organization of a World Travel for Miranda Prienstly" would sound good on her CV, if she managed not to keep herself from dying. It should definitely be up there with killing a dinosaur or wrestling dingos and crocodiles simultaneously. God, she needed to lay off of late-night-movies.

Entering the "Golden Sunset Cocktail Bar", the first thing Andrea noticed that she arrived just in time for Mojito Happy Hour. Maybe drowning in her favourite alcoholic beverage would be the nicer way to go? Well, at least it would make dealing with Emily a whole lot easier. Spying her friends at one of the back tables she wove her way through them and sat down with a sigh.

The others were grinning at her, voicing their welcome.

"Dragon lady breathing fire at home, or what did take away your usual smile?" It was Serena who asked, with her distinctive accent.

"Sort of." Andrea ordered two Mojito when the waiter approached before turning towards Emily and Nigel. "I need to speak with both of you." Nigel frowned while the Englishwoman rose an eyebrow. Did she have to take over all of Miranda´s mannerisms? "Miranda wants you both back under her employ."

"But…" "What…" Stopping the protest with her hand Andrea clarified.

"I went to deliver her dry cleaning when she hired me as her personal assistant for a project she wants to take on, now that Runway will not be her whole life anymore. She ordered me to get you both on board. And you know, what Miranda wants…"

"…Miranda gets." Chorused the rest of the group. While Emily and Serena started whispering to eachother, Andrea said to Nigel: "She wants you to bring your photographing gear." He cocked his head and nodded. He would always pick a job under his best friend over any other position. Even if Armani had sounded pretty decent. "I´m in." Andrea sighed relieved.

"Us too." At that the brunette was surprised, as it had come again from Serena. While the waiter approached and sat down both of Andrea´s drinks, one not even touching the wood of the table for a second before it had found his way into her hand, half of the liquid downed in a heartbeat. "Can´t have Miranda strutting around with my wife without me having an eye on her." Emily rolled her eyes and added: "At least I will already know what to expect with the bloody Devil."

"Probably means I will be rehired too." Roy shrugged. "Always liked the lady."

Andrea sized up her recently divorced friend. His wife had left him because of his irregular working hours. Adding him to their group would probably do him some good.

"Can you fly a jet, Roy?" At his nod, the young P.A. slowly started to grin. "Definitly hired."

"What´s the new project?" Nigel interjected.

"We, my dear friends, are joining her former Highness of the Fashion Industry on Miranda Priestly´s extravagant and adventurous …" The brunette purposely waited until they all had taken a sip from their drinks. "…round-the-world trip."

The resulting cascade definitely made Andrea´s day.

A/N: Enjoyed that one?

Upcoming: Organizing the travel

Any countries/ cities/ places you absolutly want them to travel to? I got the first visits in Europe already planned out, but i will try to incorporate as many of your wishes as possible.