"Miranda, I don't know how, but you have to get on their good side again." Irv was absolutely livid since he found out sales on Runway has dropped dramatically.
"I would like to know what is expected of me. How about a dramatic publicity stunt where I degrade myself with some nobody young enough to be my daughter?" Miranda's sarcasm wasn't all too refreshing; it's what made her who she is.
"Fix it, Miranda or I'll assume you're taking your retirement early." Irv pointed a finger at her, making the editor want to reach out and snap it in half. Miranda pursed her lips and walked out of his office with Emily tailing her.
"Get me an interview with The Advocate. Get a hold of James and set up a meeting with him and Nigel. Then have Leslie up the publicity on the interview with The Advocate." Emily nodded as she jotted down every demand her boss shot out.
Miranda strutted into her office and sat down with a huff. She pressed a finger above the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes. She was getting a migraine. "Andrea…" It was barely audible outside her office, but the girl came running never the less.
"Miranda?" The older woman looked up with tired eyes. The older woman forgot her headache for the second that the brunette came into view.
"Get me something for this migraine, please." Andy nodded and walked out wondering if Miranda ever said please to anyone, including her friends.
It took her two minutes to locate the Excedrin and grab a Pellegrino. When she returned to the office, the lights in Miranda's office were off and the blinds were closed. It would have been completely dark if it weren't for the light coming from the outer office. Yet, she still couldn't quite make out the editor.
"Miranda?" Full lips whispered into the dark, as Andy squinted and looked around the room. She heard shifting before silver hair came into view, light catching it slightly. A pale hand stretched out while the other hand squeezed at the back of the owner's neck. Andy walked quickly to the desk, opening the bottle. She cupped Miranda's hand so that the pills wouldn't spill out and tapped out two white tablets onto a wrinkled palm. Hands still spooned, icy blue eyes searched the younger woman's. With her heart racing, the brunette folded the other woman's fingers over the pills and leaned over to place a kiss on the woman's alabaster knuckles. She sat the water down, her hand shaking. "Drink it down with water and I'll go get you some coffee. They say it works better with caffeine." Andy kept her voice at a whisper, mindful of Miranda's throbbing head. A strange giddy feeling consumed her. Five minutes later, Andy returned with her coffee. The older woman reached for the scalding coffee and drank a big gulp and prayed it would work while her second assistant scampered off.
"Emily." Miranda listened as she heard frantic whispers outside her door. She caught "She's calling you..." and "You need to pay attention..." before Emily very nearly sprinted over to Miranda.
"Yes, Miranda?" Internally, Miranda winced; the assistant was too loud.
"Emily, are you under the impression that I've suddenly lost my hearing?" Miranda didn't give any time for Emily to respond. "Have you confirmed The Advocate or James?"
"Yes, Miranda. The Advocate would like to speak to you on the 17th and I set up a meeting with James Holt and Nigel for next Friday. James said that he's on board with the direction you're taking and will assist with Jacqueline Follet in anyway he can." Emily didn't have to look at Miranda to know she was pleased
"That's all." As soon as Emily walked out of the office, Miranda rested her head in her hands and sighed. She should really go home, but there was too much to do. Hopefully, she thought, this migraine will fade away. She closed her eyes, willing herself not to fall asleep but couldn't fight it anymore. She drifted to sleep with her head cradled in the crook of her arm, breathing softly.
Andy walked into the dark office and halted as she heard the slow rhythm of deep breathing. She moved to turn on the light, then thought better of it. If Miranda was, in fact, asleep she didn't want to embarrass the older woman. Her eyes adjusted to the dark enough for her to make out Miranda's sleeping form. She looked peaceful, the brunette hated to wake her, but the run through was this afternoon. In fifteen minutes, the girl corrected herself. She reached out to gently caress a soft cheek, unable to contain herself. Smoothing back a few stray, silver strands of the older woman's hair, she smiled. Miranda stirred and sat up groggily, unaware that Andy had been adoring her.
"Was I snoring?" The editor wasn't embarrassed, but she did kick herself for falling asleep when there was so much to be done.
"No, you were angelic…ally quiet." Miranda squeezed the back of her neck once more as she thought about that statement.
"Andrea, you would make a brilliant wife, the way you take care of me." The whispered words slipped out without intention. She let it go; it was said already and there was nothing she could do to take it back. The girl smiled and reached out to brush back a lock of silver hair back without thinking. She pulled back with a fear that she had gone to far, especially after what was said. Blue eyes searched brown with a softness the girl missed because of the darkness. "It comes natural to you, does it? What happened to hating me?" Miranda teased lightly.
"I never hated you." The older woman settled for that answer and another snort of laughter came out. Andy had to smile. "I like you very much… sometimes." With a glare, the editor reached over and barely swatted her on the arm
"Send them in." She referred to the gaggle of people outside her office. The assistant was already in motion, opening the doors to her boss' office to allow the racks to fit though. "And turn on the light, please and… thank you very much, darling." Andy flicked on the switch and looked back at Miranda in surprise to find her lips curled in a smirk and her eyes squinted at the light.
"Are you doing any better?" Miranda sighed and shook her head. "I'll call your masseuse and your acupuncturist and see what I can do to get rid of that migraine." Miranda nodded, letting her eyes slowly adjust to the light as she watched Andy leave her office through her lashes. Runway crew began filing in; as soon as they settled in her office, Miranda turned to the entire group.
"Do not talk; just show me what you have." Even with her whispering, her tone left them with a "do not fuck with La Priestly" feeling. Andy chose that moment to comeback into her office. Being the smart girl that she is, she walked up to Miranda and turned her back to the crowd.
"They both seem t-" Cut off by a warm hand on hers, Andy looked down then back at Miranda.
"Tell me later." Miranda gave her a quick pat before turning to everyone else, who were frantically looking for something that would please Miranda. Andy walked out of the office in a daze, trying to remember how Miranda's hand felt on hers. Andy sat at her desk, listening to the ruffle of fabrics coming from Miranda's office. After every outfit, Miranda gave a casual "no". Andy found herself smirking when Miranda finally got fed up. "Give me that Valentino." After a pause, Miranda seemed more aggravated. "The lavender cocktail dress." Another pause rolled by. "And the Louboutin magenta pumps." Andy heard her hum in satisfaction. "Nigel where are the accessories for this dress?" With an "mmm" Andy could tell Miranda was smiling. "Yes, Elsa Peretti has done a fine job with those pearls."
"We need something…" Andy had the outfit put together in her head and thought the outfit could use a belt and a jacket. "A jacket, maybe." Miranda "mmm"ed again, obviously pleased that their minds were working now.
"Her fingers are bare; put this on. And this too." Andy was upset she wasn't in that room looking at what that young model was wearing, it sounded interesting enough.
"Hmmm… add that vintage Chanel pearl belt." After a pause, Miranda went into warped speed. "Remove the jacket switch out the shoes with the Jimmy Choos silk satin and we're done. That's all." Everyone rushed out of the room not wanting to get Miranda in a bad mood. Andy saw the model rush by looking fabulous in her Tiffany notes cuff and amethyst iolite flower ring. "Andrea." Andy scurried into Miranda's office. Miranda didn't look up. "You were saying? Turn the light off." Andy flicked the light off and rounded the desk. "Thank you." Miranda rested her head in her arms on the desk.
"Both your acupuncturist and masseuse are on vacation…" Andy worried her bottom lip.
"Figures." Miranda was very sarcastic in everything she did.
"Together. I knew they owned the business together, but I didn't know they we-" Miranda interrupted.
"Lovers. Yes." Miranda said it like it if she was stating "Cher has had plastic surgery." It wasn't a big shock to her.
"Well your masseuse told me about a pressure point that could be helpful to relaxing the migraine away." Miranda "hmmm"ed and stretched out her neck, turning her head to place her forehead on her arms.
"Have at it, Andrea. God knows you've been looking for a new way to touch me." Miranda teased gently.
"I have not! You touched me last time…" Feeling stupid, Andy smacked her forehead.
"Yes, I did. Now massage me, Andrea." Andy moved behind Miranda and reached her hands out apprehensively. She rested her hands on the lean shoulders and began with gentle squeezing, which elicited a sigh from the older woman. Soon, with gained confidence, the girl was circling her thumbs over knots and slightly pinching the muscle at the nape of Miranda's neck. Her boss' masseuse told her to work where the shoulders curves into the neck. The other woman became uncensored. Moans, grunts, and a handful of "that's good" and "right there" slipped past her lips without restraint.
Despite her trying to remain calm, Andy got a little worked up listening to the older woman's obvious appreciation for the massage. Andy's face was flushed and either it was a true work out getting kinks out of someone's shoulders or the mere touch of Miranda made her blood boil.
"You have wonderful hands, Andrea." Miranda moaned and mumbled something about Andy's other hidden talents, making Andy blush harder.
"How's your head?" Miranda's head snapped up in attention.
"If I said it's much better would you stop?" The girl clamped down on her bottom lip to keep her from smiling too much. Truth be told, Andy was pleasantly shocked; Miranda didn't want her to stop.
"I do have work that needs to be done." The fashionista swiveled around to face her assistant and instead found herself at eye level with a seductive cleavage line. She glanced up at Andy's face and was able to tell that her attention was not on the woman before her.
"What?" The older woman turned her chair back around and saw as Emily scurried back to her desk. "Ah! Emily is ever the nosey one." The girl snorted in response.
"That was the fifth time she's done that." Miranda purred a "mmm" in understanding.
"She probably thought I sounded too satisfied in here. She couldn't possibly see in here. Her imagination is playing tricks on her." Andy gasped and looked down at Miranda, who had turned her chair once more. Taking a step back, Andy realized how close she was to Miranda.
"You don't think she honestly thinks we wer…?" Miranda arched an eyebrow and realized it didn't have the desired effect in the dark. Settling for a shrug, Miranda's mischievous nature gave her an idea.
"Andrea, would you massage my feet before you go back to work?" The older woman was up to something. The girl was all to curious to find out what. She nodded and knelt down. Miranda slipped out of her pumps and put a foot on each of Andy's thighs making sure to keep her own thighs tightly pressed together. As soon as her hands wrapped around the editor's foot, the older woman threw back her head and readied herself to cause a commotion. "Oh! Mmm! Andrea!" The brunette looked up in shock then began to laugh as she saw Emily's head pop up from around the corner. The fashionista shrank in her seat laughing silently. Her shoulders shook and her eyes brimmed with tears. Andy itched to kiss her. The young woman swatted Miranda on the thigh getting an "ugh" in return.
"You are positively evil, Miranda Priestly." Miranda chuckled shamelessly.
"Only on the days that end in Y." With her best shark smile on display, Miranda waggled her eyebrows.
"Ain't that the truth." Miranda pursed her lips sending Andy into a fit of giggles. Completely unlike herself, the older woman reached forward and cupped her assistant's face gently and pressed her forehead to the other woman's. It shocked the girl for a second then she smiled while Miranda pulled away.
"You're such a good sport, Andrea." Miranda slipped back into her pumps. "You may go back to work." The editor smiled and turned her chair around to continue on her days work. Andy, however, felt suddenly deprived.
"What if I don't want to work now?" She chuckled nervously. Swiveling around once more, Miranda realized that tone lacked humor. Her Andrea didn't want to feel alone.
"I think you've developed a little crush on your boss." Andy was thankful that it was dark in Miranda's office. She didn't want the other woman to think she was right..
"I think you're full of yourself." The older woman smirked when she saw Andy smile. She felt a tug on her heart when Andy stood.
"You'll miss me." An insecure joke slipped from the editor before Andy reached over and grabbed the back of the other woman's chair to turn her around.
"You'll miss me more." The brunette responded showing she had similar insecurities. Hearing the older woman sigh, Andy decided to plant a kiss on her cheek. Surprising herself and Miranda, she pulled back nervously.
"Maybe next time, you'll find the proper target." Miranda jested shyly. Andy flicked the light on when she got to the door. When she glanced back, she caught Miranda staring and blushing. On her way out of the office, she swayed her hips a little bit more than necessary.