Title: New Territory
Author: EllieWrites
Beta: Obviously no Beta! If someone wants to be mine (which will take a helluva lot of work) please please PM me! I'm new to all of this and have no DWP friends.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Devil Wears Prada or the characters but I have taken the liberty of borrowing them for this story. Please forgive any injustice I do to them as I have tried my best to stay true to them.
Well, it's a short one and a bit of a cliff hanger, but I have been inspired by all of your REVIEWS to continue. I even chose Starbucks this morning over McDonalds, paying up for better coffee just to try to get myself all Miranda'd up. Enjoy, and let's hope it continues...
Miranda stirred as her sleep was interrupted by an incessant tapping noise. Only the backs of her feet touched her lover, maintaining a connection that had several times in the past six months enabled a more restful sleep than she could have ever imagined. More than likely the young women's body had surrounded hers for the better part of the night, all but eliminating the bouts of insomnia that had once plagued the Editor.
In response to the sudden movement the tapping ceased, and smooth fingertips made contact with her naked back. They traced random patterns up and down, grazed her scalp, and sifted through her hair. It was heaven. She moaned in protest when again those same fingertips disappeared, and the tapping returned.
Sleep tainted speech emerged from the Editor, who failed in an attempt to muster her inner dragon. "Hmmm, there is a new rule, Andrea. No laptops in our bedroom, starting…now." The "now" was emphasized, but there was a hint of humor. Keeping her eyes closed and head resting on the pillow, she questioned, "Are you at least going to let me read it?"
Andy reached down to kiss the head of white hair next to her, running her hand down the side of the naked woman, placing one last lingering kiss on her neck. Then pulling the comforter up over the torso of her sleeping beauty she responded in a more focused voice than normal, "when the book goes, the laptop goes. I couldn't sleep because I had to finish. Go back to bed it's early." Andy planted one more kiss on Miranda's pale shoulder before typing away as quietly as she could manage.
Two hours later Miranda awoke to the smell of coffee, and a warm body pressing down on hers. This was much better. She opened her eyes to the sight of the love of her life wearing only a tank top, and boxer briefs. Damn that girl was all legs.
Her morning kiss was cut too short for her liking, and the Editor moaned at the sudden absence of the girl's weight. What followed was a quick rambling by Andrea as she pulled clothes out of her overnight bag and moved towards the bathroom. "I'm going for a run but I'll be back in an hour to wake you up properly. Don't go anywhere."
Sitting up gracefully, Miranda secured the scalding coffee between her two hands, and breathed in before sipping. "Shall I be concerned that my girlfriend is running away from me our first weekend alone together since returning from Paris?"
The Editor spoke loudly enough for the sound to carry into the bathroom. With a toothbrush in her mouth Andy stuck her head out, smiled upon seeing her lover savoring the freshly delivered coffee, laughed and disappeared once again. Moments later she sat at the end of the bed.
No longer smiling or laughing, Andy placed her hands in her lap and gathered her thoughts. "Miranda, I want you to read it." Andy paused a moment before continuing. "But at the same time I am terrified. There is no single person's opinion that matters more to me, but that creates a ton of pressure for both of us. This is work, and I want your honest opinion as an Editor, and not as my girlfriend."
Miranda contemplated her next words. "Andrea, neither of us can say for certain whether or not professional writing will be in your future. What I do know, and maybe I have failed to convey this to you often enough, is that you are an incredibly resourceful, intelligent, and impressive young women. If you want something you will get it because that's who you are. Very few people can challenge me Andrea, and you are one of them, and for that I respect you." She let this sink in a moment before continuing. "I will give you my honest opinion because that is what you deserve. If you allow me, I will read what you have written, and help you in any way I can. I am here for you, just as I trust that you are here for me."
Andy nodded, and feeling a drunken instability after Miranda's assessment of her, stood, and walked around the bed to the night stand where her laptop rested. She carefully removed the printed pages that lay beneath it. Shaken by the thought of having the Miranda Priestly read what she hoped would be her calling card to her future career, she laid the papers on top of the comforter, within reach of the Editor in Chief of Runway. Finally, daring to meet the eyes of the woman she loved, she announced, "I'm going to take Patricia with me, okay?" With a quick kiss bestowed on warm coffee flavored lips she ran from the room, without even awaiting an answer. Miranda sighed, and leaned her head backwards against the headboard. She hoped that she wouldn't inflict any long term damage on the young woman's heart that she cherished so dearly.
Entering through the back gate with Patricia in tow, Andy anxiously awaited her fate. She had spent months, more than eight specifically working on a fashion based human interest story. Her piece tracked the journey of three up and coming designers, all of whom made their debut at Spring Fashion Week in Paris. The story documented their struggles and achievements up until, and through the Fall Season.
The piece revealed history of the designer's lives that ultimately inspired their collections. It described their upbringing, varying educations by school, or by trade, creative processes, attempts to secure funding, and concluded with quantifiable responses to their Fall Collections. Orders were coming in, partnerships were being offered, and Andy was privy to all of it. Her piece was not an expose, so she revealed nothing secretive or damaging to any of the parties, but the intimate details ensnared the reader, cementing it all together as a tale of survival in a cutthroat industry.
Andy had used her charm to cultivate trust with the three subjects of her piece, giving her unlimited access over the many months to document their experience. One particular designer, Alejandro Romero, was the subject of Nigel's latest fashion infatuation. Nigel had yet to discover the Argentinian during the spring shows, but Andrea had. Apparently they had shared a laugh at the opening night's events, both being new to the scene and overwhelmed by all of it. After that they had kept in touch via phone and email, and Andrea had befriended him. His showing in Paris was underwhelming, but he had revamped for the Fall Shows and finally found his way. His story was the most compelling, as he was the son of a tailor, self-taught, who later in life finally got his chance.
Andrea's writing was engaging. She brought her subjects to life, remained impartial, and forced the reader to invest their outcome. Her maturity was evident in her overall portrayal of the fashion arena, as she showed no favor or preference to any of the subjects she mentioned be it the designers, buyers, or backers. She merely helped the reader share in the experience of these artists, as they attempted to navigate their paths to success.
Miranda was floored. While she had known that Andrea was using fashion as her subject as it was relevant to her current position, she had not anticipated anything comparable to the gem that lay before her. Miranda had underestimated the young women yet again. She had expected more of a fluff piece, well written of course as she had seen one or two of Andrea's writing samples, but nothing could have prepared her for this. She should have known.
The walls were closing in on the Editor. She faced an impossible situation. Her Andrea had just written for Runway, and she probably did not even know it. Or maybe she did. As an Editor of the premier book in the industry, Miranda could not pass this up. This piece was the perfect follow up to Fall Fashion Week, and with minimal editing could still make the next print deadline. Photos were needed to accompany the piece, but that was workable.
But this was Andrea, her secret lover, who was still her first assistant. When this ultimately came out, as it of course would, page six would have a field day. This decision to feature Andrea's writing would provide endless ammunition for the tabloids. Andrea's career may even suffer rather than advance from being published in Runway.
Maybe she was overreacting. That was possible. This was all new, taking something else into consideration besides her precious book. Maybe she was reading this article with rose colored glasses, and her opinion was biased. Last night they'd had incredible sex, and this was affecting her brain. No, that would not do. She was still Miranda Priestly, and this girl was good, very good. She would just have to hold her cards tightly until her decision was made. In the meanwhile, she would find a way to distract Andrea, and knowing her Andrea that should not prove too difficult.
After removing Patricia's leash, and her shoes, Andy hesitantly made her way up stairs. She had taken a leisurely run, more so than normal with the two hundred pound dog at her side, but it had helped to calm her nerves. She was ready for whatever Miranda threw at her.
Andy spotted her article on the night table beside Miranda, who had remained on the bed covered in her gray robe. She was focused on the Book, post-its ready, and pen in hand. Andy paused in the doorway and waited impatiently to be acknowledged. Laying the book beside her and meeting the girl's puppy dog eyes, Miranda spoke, "Andrea, I read it." She paused, sighing at the look she knew too well from those who sought her approval. "This is our only free weekend together this month, and if you are amenable I would prefer to discuss your work in depth at a later time. Will you allow me that?"
Andy was surprised and clearly disappointed. Miranda was withholding her judgment, and how could that be positive? She desperately craved some level of feedback, but she could see that Miranda was upset about something. She knew better than to push.
"Miranda are you okay? I'm not trying force you into anything. You know that." Miranda moved towards her younger lover and took her by the hand pulling her close. "I will leave you with one small comment to ease your mind, alright darling?" She looked Andrea in the eye so she knew the girl would believe her, and without a hint of levity in her voice noted, "Acceptable." Miranda then smiled, turned, and tried to pull Andy with her, glancing back at the stunned beauty who had yet to move. "Darling, let's go get you cleaned up shall we," and at that a confused but relieved Andy was stripped and half dragged into a shower where she promptly abandoned any thoughts of her writing what so ever.