''She will find you Mir. Simple as that. Oh look there she is.'' Zelda pointed to the victim of one of her batty Aunt's crazy spells.
Miranda froze at who it was. The last person she expected. Brown eyes that haunted her, murmuring in disbelief. ''Andréa.''
Andréa Sachs somehow stupidly drank or ate one of her Aunt Zelda's recipes. Andréa could not be the person who was struck with a love spell. The last person Miranda wanted to deal with. Her last assistant hated everything about her, her magazine, her life.
In Paris in the car when Miranda had compared herself to her, Andréa ran away in revulsion.
Coldly in control Miranda would simply figure out a solution to this. Maybe Emily could take Andrea home to whatever hovel she lived in and watch over her until the Amas Veritas wore off.
She would double Emily salary if she did.
Were those flowers from the lobby downstairs? Miranda realised they were, watching Andy take another bundle of Tulips right off of Emily's desk in front of her. Cradling it with the stolen lobby ones.
Andy Sachs brown eyes sparkled from the potion, accentuated warm golden honey collided with Miranda's cool blue like electricity jolting through her.
Goofily smiling at the Editor. ''Hi.'' Approaching Miranda blissful.
''For you. Miranda.'' Handing them with a shy thrust to the rigid Editor. ''I could get you more if there not enough.'' Miranda took them from Andy, saw that there were plenty taken from Elias Clarke lobby.
Zelda complimented. ''That's nice. So thoughtful. Say thank you Miry.'' Miranda gave a withering glare to her Aunt Zelda over a manners lesson.
Saw out of the corner of her blue eyes, Andréa sniffed her sliver hair in rapture.
Turning back to Andy who was now nose to nose with Miranda. Smiling at Miranda like she was drunk no struck dumb with a love potion her Aunt made.
''Your eyes are so pretty.'' Confessing with a blush, Andréa was staring in full adoration looking into her eyes, making Miranda very uncomfortable and also unguarded with her former assistant so close to her, they'd never been this close before, Miranda sputtered out two words she never uttered to her former assistant.
''Thank you.'' Holding Andy's focused only on her eyes. Miranda saw open desire in these brown eyes. It was the spell making Andy's eyes blaze appealingly.
Andy smiled at Miranda fully, moving closer to her. Miranda brow quirked at Andy's purpose.
Stirring in Andy one thought. Had to have Miranda's mouth now.
Amas Veritas was coursing in Andy's system and it heightened the sensation of Miranda being near her, slowly brought her firm lips to hers.
Miranda's eyes widened at Andy's mouth crashing down onto hers.
Miranda's shocked lips parted and slid open immediately beneath Andy's slick mouth, warm and soft and being kissed thoroughly by her last assistant in this osculatory exchange.
Miranda's had never been kissed like this before. Dipped by Andy, pushed against the desk. Saw sparks around them fluttering.
Breaking free from Andréa, with her fingers Miranda wiped at her mouth, fully disgusted. Grimacing at the sensation that made her knees weak.
She'd been kissed by someone who hated her. There was no telling where Sachs lips had been.
''Melusine make this stop. Undo it. Please. There has to be a way.''
Melusine stared at Andy Sachs unconcerned, who was all lovey dovey eyed at Mir. ''Nothing we can do. Mir. It will wear off. Eventually. ''
Miranda could not have Andréa ravishing her mouth like that.
Zelda bubbled brightly. ''Don't fret Mir. I once had a Mesopotamian worship me, and Mel do you remember that cute passionate Sherpa prince wanting to make me his wife and live in the city that is not there. Shambhala. I was so much older, around a hundred.'' Miranda gave a hard look. ''Fine I was a mere one hundred and fifty.''
'' Joharv and I, it almost happened but then your Uncle Caiphas, stepped in and put a stop to it. Insulting his yak. Asking if Yetis will be attending the ceremony. Your Uncle such a stick in the mud.''
'' Mir. Did I ever tell you about the time I was seeing a lovely Peruvian hunk, flirting with me about the way to El Dorado of all places and singing to me, The Girl from Ipanema. Promised I'd have mountains of gold just for one night with me. Your mum warned me I'd hate myself in the morning.''
''Stop talking.'' Miranda warned. Silencing Zelda with a withering icy glare.
Miranda felt helpless as Andréa fawned over her, attempting again to smell her hair again, slapping her hands away from her waist. Turning her head away from Andy's puckered lips.
''Andréa listen to me, we no I need boundaries and distance please, your space is over there. Away from me.''
Miranda indicated away from her. The more far away from her the better.
''Mine is here. Do not cross it.'' Miranda sternly warned playful brown eyes.
Watching in apt shock as Andy looking drugged but still pouting with puppy dog eyes, reluctantly moving over to the spot Miranda pointed to. Across the room away from her.
Warned sharply as Andy attempted to slyly inch closer, to be near her. Timidly tried to cross her invisible set barrier but not daring to. Miranda watched her as if don't you dare Sachs.
''Sit down.'' Miranda blinked as Andy huffed but did so, obediently to her. It had to be the spell.
''Under it they'll do anything for you. Will obey only you.'' Melusine supplied sadly.
Miranda looked horrified at this information, her aristocratic brows rose into her hairline. ''Anything? Will obey me? ''
Andréa was not Patricia. In Paris and before, proved she was the most recalcitrant person Miranda knew.
Andréa was her own person. If she was aware of any of this, she would be so humiliated. No Melusine said Andréa wouldn't be able to remember any of this when the spell wore off. Good.
Zelda assured Mir. ''Yes. Anything you desire.''
Desire.
Miranda swallowed, no she would never abuse or use this power nefariously. ''Can't I send her away.'' Trying not to stare in alarm at Andréa occupying herself by puckering and kissing a picture of Miranda hanging on the wall.
Melusine warned Mir. ''No, now that Amas Veritas is set, it would be too painful unless you want Andréa to be in pain and agony away from you.''
Miranda looked at her Aunts incredulously, the pair of them thought she'd enjoy hurting someone helpless to this magic.
''Of course not. I may intensely dislike Andréa beyond anybody else, but I do not wish harm or pain on her. After Andréa returns back to normal I am never speaking to either of you again.''
Zelda asked carefully. ''Mirybelle why do you dislike her so much?''
Pink lips pursed at Zelda's question. The reason she disliked Andréa she was not sharing to anyone, least of all her Aunts. That was her private business.
''Miranda. You have some nerve. You bitch. Hanging up on me earlier.''
''Stephen.'' Miranda backed up from him not in time as he grabbed her arm. He smelt like he'd been drinking. It was 11 in the morning.
Stephen Tomlinson held his wife hard.
Melusine held Zelda back. One magic word and Tomlinson was on a one way trip to her penpals. If only Mel, would let her try a nasty spell on Stephen that was fitting for such a bastard. He treated Mir like crap.
Zelda didn't need to resort to casting anything on Stephen for hurting her niece nor did Melusine have to change him into a duck to be sold to a butcher for foie gras.
Mel knew this chef who would take the duck no questions asked.
Andy's voice ordered Stephen. '' Let go of Miranda. Right now.'' Looking angrily at Stephen. Possessive of Miranda.
'' You don't treat her like that or touch her. I think you owe this sweet yet very attractive lady an apology. Now.''
Stephen took in Andy looking at her nastily. Still holding onto Miranda's arm who winced in his grip.
''Like hell. I do. She's my wife and I can do anything I want to her.''
Amas Veritas was fuelling Andy on.
''No. Stephen you can't. I said let go of Miranda. Now. Say I'm sorry to Miranda for being such an asshole of a husband to you and a spineless fraction worm of a man and you don't hurt someone as wonderful as she is for any reason. Ever.''
Both Aunts liked this mortal of Miranda's.
Zelda agreed with Andy's thoughts on Stephen which involved a pair of pliers or bolt cutters on his most protruding part of his body and favourite appendage.
''Oh I don't do I?''
Stephen gripped Miranda still. ''Are you going to make me stop. Come on make me.'' Roughly letting go of Miranda.
Andy was smacked by Stephen. ''Come on make me stop. Go on tough guy stop me.''
Pushing Andy back to the wall. It was no contest. Smirking at the assistant. Pinned and held by Stephen, digging into Andy's clavicle who was in pain from him pressing on it.
Melusine scanned around Runway for a vase to smash over Stephen's head.
Zelda's eyes widened at the sparkles swirling around Andy. It wasn't her or Mel doing it. Magic.
Mir.
Both saw it was her with a pointed finger stretched out at him.
Strongly and without warning a binder struck Stephen very hard. Smacked across the face. Hit by it again and once more. Folders and a few magazines struck him soundly as he yelped, then a stapler to his nose and a cup of unfortunately cold coffee splashed across his pants, all of them watched Miranda's handbag whack him swinging again lobbing another strike at him from the expensive purse and folders forcing Stephen who's eyes were wide, to move for cover to the elevators.
The stapler clicked precariously near his fly as he fled.
The stapler fell with a thud at the closing doors.
''Oh Mirybelle you did magic.'' Zelda cried. Thrilled almost clapping, she knew Mir had it in her still. Stifled down. It was like riding a bike.
''I am so proud of you.''
This was interesting. Mir hid it but she liked the young love-struck mortal named Andréa. Both Zelda and Melusine could tell.
Miranda bent down to Andréa concerned.
The elevators pinged open to Emily tottering in with Miranda's coffee. Four minutes and fifty seconds. With a quick gust of a swish to Emily who did not fall over the stapler.
Emily was obstinate she wasn't doing this. ''Shan't.'' Swallowing her almost response she'd never said this to her Editor ever.
Miranda had never been refused before over any request made to Emily. The snarky redhead with bright blue eyeshadow and McQueen was staring alarmed at Andy Sachs.
Gobsmacked as she caught Andrea again staring at Miranda weirdly. Creepy almost like a cult member.
Was she high?
Miranda had told her to have the rest of the morning and afternoon off. Emily sucked in her breath.
She was babysitting the sunny blimp. Take Andrea to her place. Why?
Never in the whole time Sachs worked here at Runway had she bothered to invite her out for drinks and be chummy or have a conversation with the carb eater, now Miranda wanted her to look after her for tonight.
Probably be given a barf Hallmark card or a knitted sweater from Sachs grandmother now.
Why was Miranda concerned even about her worst assistant? Andrea was the missing link of style and fashion.
Unless Miranda was worried about a lawsuit. Emily saw Sachs had hurt herself somehow. Bruised. Probably trying to take a swing at Miranda. Hoped Miranda lobbed her one. For Paris. Abandoning Miranda and Runway. The selfish cow.
Cutting her eyes at the vapid vacuous Ohioan.
It took some persuading on Miranda's part which made Emily seriously believe Andrea was on class A and B and also C drugs combined.
Miranda assured Andréa that she wanted her to go with Emily. Sent for Roy blimey buttering up Sachs for no lawsuit. Gathering her python purse, Emily steered Sachs away from Miranda. That took fifteen minutes of Andrea digging her heels in.
Told to simply keep Andrea at her apartment till tomorrow morning. Fine. Emily grumbled.
A pang hit Miranda as Emily guided Andrea into the elevator, tomorrow morning Andrea would've forgotten all of this which was good thing right?
In the car. Emily had to practically push Andrea inside the Mercedes.
''Oi. Sit still. No Andrea. Miranda's not here. Put your seatbelt on.''
Blimey you think Andrea would have gotten over her crush on Miranda by now. Face pressed to tinted windowpane looking up at the Elias Clarke Building. Emily swore Sachs closely resembled Patricia at the window.
Same dopey look. Sachs embarrassed herself without trying.
''Roy to my place.''