Part 21

"Holy shit, Batman was that Miranda's car? And I mean Miranda, your ex-boss, the ice queen of New York Priestly?" Doug blinked in shock and shook his head at Andy as she came closer to him.

"What?" Andy's voice was of surprise and she had to swallow down her stutter. "How did you know that?" she said through their embrace.

"I remembered, and I never forgot that chauffer of hers."

Andrea slipped onto the chair on the other side of the table. "God I'm starved; what are we having?" She bounced her eyes over the menu, ready to scarf up the letters if the server didn't hurry.

"I'm not that hungry," he teased, as he raked his eyes over his friend who was now this huge celebrity. She just seemed to uncharacteristically glow more than usual, but maybe it was just her getting all that California sun. "But I can see that you are. Worked up an appetite did you?"

"Doug," Andy warned, then as hard as she tried she just couldn't hold off her smirk, and once she finally looked up from the menu and saw the amused expression on his face, she couldn't suppress her giggles.

He waited until she was over her fit of laughter. "What is so funny?"

She blew out a breath. "Nothing. So tell me Dougie, what in the world have you been up to?"

"Me? Oh no, Honey, you first; spill it."

"Spill what?" Andy looked aghast and studied her menu. "Oooo the fish tacos look good."

Now it was Doug who snorted. "Tacos huh." He placed a finger to his chin in thought. "Hmmm, you know, since I'm a betting man, I would bet that from the look on your face when you walked in here….you'd think you'd be tired of fish tacos," he stated matter of factly.

Slowly Andy lifted her gaze from the menu and gave Doug a hard look, her eyebrow cocked intensely. "Excuse me?"

"Oh for shit's sakes Andy, just tell me. I am not that blind."

Right then the server came over. "Hi I'm Taylee; I'll be your server today. Are you ready for me to take your order?"

Andy grinned and nodded. "Yes please. I will have the fish tacos, since I never get tired of those."

The corner of Doug's lips turned up. "Ma'am we are in dire need of some cocktails; can you bring us some martinis please? And I'll just have your veggie bowl."

As soon as the server turned to leave, he glared. "You did…didn't you?"

"Did what?" Andy still played innocent. "I have no earthly idea what you are talking about."

"Yes you do. Damn it!" He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.

Finally relenting, Andy tossed a hand in the air. "So what if I did?"

That got his attention and he leaned forward quieting in voice. "No shit! Wait, you did? No waaaay," he mumbled.

"And it wasn't the first time," she grinned saucily.

The server now returned, bringing them some water and bread. "Your drinks will be right out." She narrowed in on Andy this time. "Wait a minute, are you…" she faded off and pointed a finger at her.

"Andrea Sachs," Andy said with a smile.

"No way!" Taylee exclaimed. "Could I get a pic with you?"

"Yes, only after I receive the best food of my life. You see I am so hungry right now and…" before Andy could finish Taylee cut her off.

"No problem, I will get a rush on your order. And just because I want to, I will bring you out the soup of the day for you to try as you wait." She rushed away, leaving Doug to roll his eyes at his friend.

Doug then clicked his tongue. "Not the first time?"

"I was planning to tell you, I just didn't know how," she explained softly.

Doug gazed at her for a moment, watching her nod slowly. "Really? So when did this start?" Then his eyes went wide. "Oh my god, you were sleeping with your boss. You dirty little whore," he quipped with a satisfied smile.

Andrea's mouth hung open. "You bitch," she snapped playfully. "I did no such thing, and keep your voice down."

"So did Nate know this? Is this why he left you?"

"No!" she hissed. "And no the first time that it happened, for your meddlesome information, was when I was filming in New Mexico."

"Serious?" He tossed his hand down. "How was it?" Then his eyebrows rose up. "And are you sure you didn't fuck your boss before then?"

Andy was starting to get annoyed. "What is it with you? And stop saying it like that," she fired, and right away Doug saw the teasing banter in her eyes change to being a little ticked off.

He took a big breath and sobered. "I'm sorry; I shouldn't have said it like that. I just…come on …this is Miranda Priestly we're talking about. I mean, my god, it is even a miracle that you are even here and alive to talk about it."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

He shook his head at her again. "I mean, if you didn't before, then why now?" He paused in serious thought, then exploded as it came to him. "Shit Andy, you can't be that dumb."

"Apparently I am," she said in a daze, not sure what her friend was getting at.

"She's fucking using you; can't you see that?"

"She's using me?" Andy repeated slowly, surprised to hear him say that to her.

"She never wanted you before, right? Now you're this big time star, it's a no brainer Andy. You will help her status, getting the attention of the new cute star that everyone wants. You know she has been on paparazzi's shit list ever since Stephen ran her through the mud like he did. Plus I heard that Irv is still trying to get rid of her."

Andy knew that Miranda went through a nasty divorce that made her look like she was the bad guy, even if Stephen got married to a girl younger than Andy only months after it was finalized. But the Irv thing, she thought that was over and done with.

"Are you even hearing yourself?" she sighed. "You are an idiot. For one, this would hurt her more than help her. Did you forget that we are both women, and she is…well she's older….and Irv would use this as a way to fire her."

Doug groaned. "Oh please, this is 2009; no one gives a shit about that anymore."

"Yes they do, so if you don't mind…you better keep that flappy mouth of yours shut. And one more thing, we either drop this now, or I am leaving."

"Fine, but…." He calmed and smiled. "At least tell me how it was."

Andy looked at him like he was a dumbass and sighed dramatically. "All I will say is, why would I go back for seconds…or even thirds or fourths?"

Doug snorted. "So um, who initiated it?"

Andy shook her head. "Okay that's enough; it's your turn to spill."

"I have nothing to spill." He then looked nervous and his breathing became deeper.

"Doug?" Concern filled Andy's brow. "What is it?"

"There is…well this is something I should tell you."

"Okay, I'm listening."

Doug inhaled a deep breath and then swallowed. "I'm gay," he blurted.

Andy wanted to laugh and tell him she kind of already knew, but she pretended to be surprised. "Wow," she breathed.

He eyed her for a moment and then heaved a breath. "Oh please, you already knew, didn't you?"

"Maybe." She wrinkled her nose at him. "Well okay, when I gave Lily that bag years ago, and you knew more about it then I did, that kind of was a dead giveaway."

"So?" he drawled, and played with the toothpick full of olives in his drink.

Andy now chuckled lightly. "So now it's your turn to spill about your love life."

He shrugged, with a frown. "Lack thereof, you mean."

"Well I do know a few eligible bachelors."

His eyes lit up. "Oh?"

….

Andrea had just gotten home from her afternoon with her friend Doug, but after everything he said about Miranda still left a bitter taste in her mouth. She took off her heels and hung up her dress, and then flopped down on her bed. She had just closed her eyes when the doorbell rang. She forced her eyes open at the sound and groaned and rolled over, sitting up tiredly.

She thudded back to the door. "Who is it?"

"It's me."

Andy knew that voice and gritted her teeth, as she released the lock for the door downstairs. A minute later she heard the knock. She wasn't surprised to see Jacqueline standing there, but she was a little shocked to see her in such a large oversized coat, especially with the heat today.

"Andrea, may I come in?"

"Yeah of course." She didn't quite know what to say or do with this unexpected visitor.

"Hello Chéri; you look uneasy." She dipped her head. "You want me leave?"

No, it's fine. Can I get you something?"

"No, I'm fine, thank you," Jacqueline responded politely, and sauntered closer. "Wait, on second thought, yes you can get me something."

The look that this woman was giving Andrea made her swallow. "Oh okay…what?"

"You," was her lone seductive whisper as she moved forward and softly kissed her before she had time to respond. Andy immediately went rigid and gently pushed her away.

"You have got to stop doing that," Andy voiced as she stepped back.

Puzzlement and a little hurt clouded Jacqueline's eyes. "Kissing you?" she exhaled. "Now why would I ever want to do that…especially since you're wonderful at it?"

Andy blushed hotly. "Well," she stammered. "I guess thank you, but you see…" she tried but fell short once Jacqueline shredded the trench coat to reveal a very sexy high neck mesh black corset. "Oh good lord," she uttered and now felt hot everywhere. She had to admit that this woman had a very nice body, but it didn't at all compare to Miranda's.

A saucy smile graced the French woman's lips and she traced her fingers tantalizingly slow up Andy's arms. "I think you approve."

Trying desperately to keep it together, Andy looked up. "It is very nice; who designed it?"

A soft laughter echoed across the room. "Oh my beautiful Andrea, does it matter?" she husked next to her ear, before she kissed it. Andy shuddered from it, and forcefully shook herself out of her grasp.

"Yeah no…" she blurted. "But as nice as it is, you have to leave….now," she voiced, and grabbed her coat off of the floor and forcefully shoved it to her.

"What is it?"

"Please, I need to ….I need …" god what the hell was wrong with her? She loved Miranda, so why was this so hard? Because you're a hot-blooded woman, which kinds of likes having older successful women throw themselves at you?

"You need me Andrea," Jacqueline voiced, her hand palming Andy's cheek.

"No, I need to make a phone call."

Narrowing in and really examining Andrea's face, Jacqueline realized exactly why she was acting that way toward her. She then growled and pushed her face away. "You fool," she spat. "You know she will only hurt you."

"No," Andy protested, yet deep down she kind of was thinking the same thing.

Jacqueline quietly slipped her coat back on and turned to leave. "Don't say I never warmed you," she fired with a hard glare, and then slammed the door behind her.

"Shit," Andy cursed. "I hope I didn't mess that deal up," she muttered, and then swiftly looked for her phone to call Miranda. She screamed once she realized she deleted her cell phone number. She tried the number she remembered from her days working for her, but it just told her that the number was no longer in service. "Shit shit shit, think," she fretted anxiously and tapped the phone to her forehead. "The house, I know that one, and she did try to call me on it." She quickly dialed and groaned once she got her voicemail, and all she could do was frown as she left a message, hoping that she would call her once she got it.

"Why aren't you home?" she voiced to her quiet apartment. "Think… now what?" Then suddenly she had an 'oh duh' moment. "Nigel!"

She quickly dialed his number and it went straight to voice mail. "Oh my hell….. nooooo," she complained, and dialed it another five times before giving up and leaving him a text to call her pronto.

…

Miranda sat in her office at Elias-Clark, checking and rechecking her phone and wondering why she hadn't heard from Andrea yet. She decided to come into the office since everything was a mess, and because she really didn't want to be home alone. It was nearing now eight o'clock, and the heavy feeling in her chest wouldn't go away.

She leaned back in her chair and stared up at her ceiling. "I guess I could call her," she whispered, and decided to do just that. But once she heard the weird automated voice saying that her call was blocked, dread filled her chest and she stared down at her phone, trying to understand why she would do that. She tried again, wondering if she messed up somehow. Yet again the same thing happened. She blew out what was becoming a very anxious breath and grabbed her bag and dialed for Roy to come and get her. She now wasn't in the mood for anything; she wasn't even sure right then that she would even take Andy's call if she even dared or cared to call her right now.