Serena watched from the balcony as the two combatants began their dance. Behind her, the ongoing squabble between Emily and Nigel created a dull backdrop to her thoughts. Miranda was, as usual, holding court left of center, graciously accepting the obeisance of an adoring public, while Andy, for once, held her ground surrounded by lascivious fawners. They each sparkled in their own way. Andy, bright and vivacious, was a flame in red, searing sexuality drawing moths to be singed. Miranda, cool and regal in her signature black, spread a web of subtle sensuality that burned equally deadly in its iciness.
At previous events, Andy had migrated around the edges, always staying on the move, but tonight she remained stationary. Like Miranda, Andy had staked a piece of ground and now worked the group that formed around her, smiling and flirting lightly. Never once did she allow anyone to become too close, keeping them all at arm's length figuratively, if not literally. Serena wanted to applaud her efforts. If Miranda felt as Serena thought she did, the constant display of people attempting to entice what she wanted for herself would incense Miranda.
Moving her gaze to the older woman, Serena's smile became a bit more smug. Miranda looked stiff enough to break, but would she break tonight? Serena believed so, Nigel was betting so, but only time would tell. At the moment, they were more like two lionesses watching each other across the Savanna. Each waiting for the other to make a move, show a weakness, so that she could pounce.
As Serena observed, a tall, elegant woman of perhaps Miranda's age leaned in to speak softly in Andy's left ear. Andy inclined her head and lifted her left hand, fingertips resting lightly on the woman's jaw to steady them both and better hear what was being said. It was the spark that set fire to the grasslands. From her vantage point, Serena could see Miranda's previously undaunted will shatter. A space around Miranda cleared as pure rage seemed to emanate from her in waves. Serena heard Emily groan and Nigel chortle as Miranda spoke sharply to the assistant at her left shoulder.
"Pay up," Serena advised Emily.
"It's not over yet," Emily snapped.
"No," Serena appeared to agree. "It is just beginning. The lion has roared. Now we see if she faces another of her kind or the lamb."
Nigel and Emily exchanged a confused glance before turning back to the unfolding drama below.
-,-'-
"Andréa Sachs. Bring her to me," Miranda ordered, not bothering to glance at her first assistant.
"Yes, Miranda," came the murmured reply. Without hesitation the young woman began to filter her way through the crowd moving unerringly towards Andy. Everyone at Runway knew who Andrea Sachs was, the one who walked away and lived to continue working in the publishing industry. Andy had achieved hallowed status in the quiet halls of the magazine. The newest Emily bit her lip and breathed a silent prayer that Ms. Sachs was in a cooperative mood tonight, since it was apparent that Miranda was not.
Andy's lips quirked infinitesimally as, from the corner of her eye, she watched the quaking assistant draw nearer. For a moment, she toyed with the idea of sending the woman back to Miranda with a refusal, but her own memories of just what that would mean for the current Emily wiped the thought away almost before it formed. No, Andy would be content knowing that Miranda had been the first to break, though Andy wasn't entirely sure that being summoned as if before royalty by a minion was actually breaking. It was much more likely that Miranda had simply tired of their little game and having declared herself the winner, was now intent on claiming her prize. Andy had no doubt that Miranda would inflict her own unique brand of punishment for being forced to make the first move. She couldn't halt the shiver that coursed down her spine at the thought of what form that punishment might take.
Gaze fastened on the searing blue eyes across the room, Andy didn't acknowledge the Emily's murmured, "Miranda wants you." Andy bit her lip to keep from laughing. Oh, yes, I do believe she does. She quietly made her excuses and followed as the Emily made a way for them through the crowd. As she drew closer, Andy could feel her body responding to the fire in Miranda's gaze. For the first time she felt a small quake of fear. She has spent months just out of range, teasing Miranda unmercifully. Now she would be well within reach of Miranda's touch, and her claws. Andy found she suddenly felt less like the hunter and more like the prey. Her musings came to an abrupt halt as she found herself standing less than three feet from the woman Morpheus had crowned to rule her dreams.
They stood, gazes locked. Those around them showed the remarkable good sense to stay well back from two women. A subtle gesture sent the Emily away giving them an island of privacy among the throng.
"Miranda," Andy was the first to break the silence though she offered no more than that.
"Andréa," Miranda replied with a regal nod in greeting. She, too, left it at the single spoken word.
It then became a silent battle of wills, each following the old business adage that the first to speak loses. Their silence drew questioning glances from the people around them, though no one was foolish enough to interrupt. Miranda knew she could hold the pose indefinitely and had many times, while Andy fought to keep from fidgeting. Time stretched along with Andy's nerve. She began to feel that if she didn't move, didn't speak, she would explode right there in the middle of the ballroom.
"Your Emily said you wanted me." Andy barely managed to control a wince at the husky purr in her voice. A strong opening was good. Delivering it in a voice laden with desire, not so much.
"Did she?" Miranda murmured, her voice so soft that Andy took an instinctive step forward to hear her. "How premonitory of her."
Andy lifted 2 glasses from a passing tray. Offering one to Miranda, she took a fortifying sip of her own. Did Miranda just admit she wants me? Andy nonsensically thought of changing her name to Daniel, since she was obviously in the lion's den. And I'm definitely going to get eaten. A shiver ran down her spine as she caught her own double entendre. She had been so fixated on catching Miranda; she hadn't stopped to think about what she would do with her once she'd caught her. Andy's eyes darted nervously around and she thought of and discarded one response after another. Miranda's voice at last cut across her thoughts.
"As they say, Andréa, if you can't run with the big girls…" Her voice trailed off as she handed off her glass to a passing waiter and nodded to the Emily that hovered just out of hearing range. "Who knows perhaps this opportunity will come round again."
Something in Miranda's voice told Andy that it never would. This would be her one and only chance. Miranda had stated her immediate intentions in as clear a manner as she ever would. If Andy didn't step up now, she would have blown all the months of nerve wrecking effort. No, that wasn't going to happen.
"I'd like to see you home," she blurted.
Miranda appraised her, one eyebrow cocked in amusement.
"But then you'd have that long subway ride home."
"Maybe not," Andy responded taking a half step forward putting her well within Miranda's personal space.
"You surprise me, Andréa." Miranda smirked at the sudden courage being displayed. "Pleasantly so," she added.
"Then let me escort you home," Andy pushed, her heart pounding wildly. "I think we could elevate that 'pleasant' several levels."
"Several?" Miranda questioned, giving every appearance of thinking it over, though Andy knew Miranda had made her decision with lightning swiftness the moment Andy took that small step.
"At least." Andy stroked a finger down the outer edge of Miranda's hand from wrist to fingertip, the move subtle and ethereally light.
Miranda visibly shivered and spun on her four inch Louboutin heel to stride away. Andy's heart dropped as she thought she'd blown it by touching Miranda in public. That is, until Miranda paused and glanced back over her shoulder, eyes once again blazing.
"Are you coming, Andréa?" Not waiting for an answer Miranda continued towards the door.
I have high hopes, Andy thought as she hurried after Miranda unable to hide her anticipatory grin.
Far above, Serena smiled in satisfactions. "The lion leads the lamb to slaughter. Pay the man, Emily. I will make it up to you, my love."
Somewhat mollified, Emily handed Nigel a wad of cash. "This payback will be expensive," she advised Serena.
"But of course," Serena agreed. "The best ones always are." Slipping her arm into Emily's, she led her lover to the nearest staircase, leaving Nigel behind happily counting his winnings.
