Notes from author:
We have reached the last chapter (plus epilogue) of "No Other Silly Girl Need Apply", and wow it has been a journey, and for several reasons. Firstly, because I finally made good on my word to finish long-term dangling unfinished stories. Secondly, writing it has been surprisingly easy (with a couple of exceptions) and a pure pleasure. Thirdly, I've had such great comments and occasional discussions in the comment section-which is truly amazing and humbling. I'm fairly sure I will miss NOSGNA a lot, and I am already thinking of a few shorts from Miranda's POV. I had some readers ask for that and I know I would like that too when a story is in the 1st person. Thank you so much for all your feedback and kind words! I'm so grateful for your time!
Gun
_
My day didn't start well. Miranda had only been in the office long enough to remove her coat and bag. She brought her phone with her along with her laptop in a slim briefcase and disappeared to a meeting. I checked her calendar and saw that Moira had set up time for four different meetings today, and this was also the pattern during the upcoming three days.
Miranda had set aside time for run-throughs and staff meetings, but everyone would have to bring their best efforts, as the time for those meetings was cut short by a third.
I had a persistent headache and popped into the kitchenette and took two painkillers. Certain that was because of stress as this was my last week, I rubbed my temples.
"Are you okay, Andy?" Moira said as she entered after me to rinse her mug.
"Yeah. Just a headache." I peered out the door and saw Benji at the copying machine. "How do you feel now that you're about to run the show here in a week?"
Moira smiled. "You've been great, letting me have your phone book, list of dos and don'ts, and so on. I just wonder… perhaps if I could call or text you if…"
"Sure," I said and returned the smile. "The first couple of weeks you can contact me if you need to. Try texting first, and if it is an absolute emergency, call me."
"I won't disturb you unless I have to. Miranda wouldn't like that." Moira laughed nervously. "Though, I think Benji will be great. He's very motivated."
"I can tell. He's dancing out there by the copying machine." I snorted as I indicated Benji swinging his hips in the outer office. I hoped Miranda's demands wouldn't stymie such exuberance—or that she would end up finding it annoying.
Back at my desk, I went through the drawers and threw away what I wouldn't need, or didn't want to keep. I was in the process of flipping through some cards that I had used in the beginning to memorize photographers, models, and brands, when the phone rang.
"Runway, Miranda Priestly's office." I grimaced as I pressed the receiver to my ear. I really needed the damn painkillers to kick in.
"Honey, it's your mother," Mom said at the other end.
"Mom? Why are you calling the office landline? Are you all right? Dad?" I stood and moved back into the corner, as far as the cord would reach. I saw Benji give me a concerned look.
"We're both fine, thank you." Mom laughed and sounded just like Moira did only moments ago. Nervous.
"Just tell me, Mom. What's up?" I leaned against the wall.
"Your father and I took a trip…and right now we're…in New York." Mom sounded as if she was ready to duck. I counted to five while harnessing my onset of nerves.
"In New York? You didn't let me know you were coming." I covered my forehead.
"I know. That was a mistake. I see that. But I was afraid you'd tell us not to come and I want so desperately to see you, honey." Mom sounded sorrowful, something she rarely did, as she was a go-getter who just went full steam ahead normally.
"I see." I had to sit down. I was dizzy from my headache. "Since you're here, we can meet for dinner or something."
"That'd be lovely. Will Miranda be there?" Did Mom really sound hopeful? I lifted my hair from my neck, trying to cool down a bit. "I don't know. She's always very busy."
"But we're here, well, in-laws, aren't we, your father and I?" Mom said uncertainly.
I nearly fell off the chair. Gripping my desktop hard with my free hand, I tried to make the world stop spinning. In-laws. Oh, God. "Yes, I suppose." Mom and Miranda were very close in age. This was one of the few unsettling things about loving someone twice your age.
I knew I had to bite this bullet and just try and make it work. Miranda might be outraged, but she kept saying that the townhouse was my home now, that we were equals, and she always said 'our girls' now, regarding the twins.
I inhaled deeply and let the air out slowly. "Mom? Why don't you and Dad come to dinner tomorrow evening? Around eight?"
"Wha-what? At Miranda's house?" Mom sounded shocked. I couldn't blame her. It wasn't that long ago when I tiptoed around the second floor and tried to figure out if Miranda wanted me to stay in the guest room or her bed.
"Yes. And it's my house too, practically speaking." I shrugged, knowing full well that Mom wouldn't see it.
"Richard. Dinner at Miranda's tomorrow at eight?" Mom called out to my father. His long silence spoke volumes.
"Richard?" Mom prodded.
"If that's what we need to do to see Andy…all right." Dad sounded apprehensive, which was hardly surprising.
"Mom, put me on speaker." I waited and then heard how the sound from their end became a bit more echoing. "I have to lay down some ground rules as Miranda's girls, Caroline and Cassidy, will be there. They're twelve and crazy smart, so they might try and push your buttons. Don't engage. They'll see right through any biased comments, and they'll go on the offense if you say something less flattering about their mother—or me."
"What do you mean, less flattering?" Mom asked, actually sounding hurt.
"If you recall our talks last year, you've been judgmental and biased toward me. I can't allow this around the children."
"You sound like you think they're yours." Mom's voice came out low and unsteady. "Andy?"
"In a way they are. They've adopted me into their family unit, and they love me—and of course, I love them."
"That makes me happy to hear," Mom said and shocked me to no end. "I feared you might never get to be a mother if you insisted on living with that wo—Miranda."
"And now?" I rubbed my temples.
"And now you seem to be working toward motherhood," Dad said, and if Mom had just shocked me, his words had me gaping.
"We can talk more on Tuesday," Mom said. "As you're at work."
"All—all right. See you at eight tomorrow then. You have the address, right?"
"We do. See you then, honey. Bye." Mom sounded almost chipper before we disconnected the call.
As if life was trying to tell me something, Miranda pushed open the glass door to the corridor and strode into the outer office. She nodded at Moira who gave her a stack of message notes and then glanced at me—and came to a full stop.
"Are you all right?" She pressed her lips together, which I knew now could mean everything from utter annoyance to deep concern. Since she was looking at me, I thought the deep concern was the most likely.
"Andrea?" Miranda placed her laptop and phone on my desk, leaned across it, and put the back of her hand against my forehead. "No fever."
"No, I'm okay. Just a persistent headache. I've taken a couple of pills." I tried for a smile, but judging from her now obvious concern, I failed gloriously.
"In my office." She grabbed her things and walked ahead of me into her office. "I want thirty minutes free of calls and impromptu visitors, Moira."
"Yes, Miranda," Moira said.
Miranda closed the door and pointed to the settee in the corner that was out of view from the outer office area. "Sit."
I sat and it was a good thing I did, as the room spun even faster. "I'm dizzy."
"Are you prone to migraines, darling?" Miranda came and sat down next to me.
"No. My mother has them, but even if I sometimes get really bad headaches, I have never been diagnosed."
"It looks like a migraine." Miranda placed one hand on my forehead and one at the back of my head. Administering pressure, she made the headache worse at first, but then it was as if my entire brain went numb.
"Oh, boy…I think it's working." I tried to look at Miranda, but she kept my head in a firm grip.
"This used to work on my mother when I was a young girl." Miranda leaned in closer and murmured in my ear. "And I can't bear to see you in pain, darling. You know that."
"Same." I thought of tomorrow's dinner. I would have to talk to Elise tonight when we got home, but I needed to tell Miranda first. I might as well yank the bandage off. "My parents are in town, surprisingly. "I invited them to dinner tomorrow at eight." I held my breath, but that made my head hurt again, so I kept breathing.
"At eight." Miranda sounded distracted. "That should work for us."
I hated not being able to look at Miranda's face right then. She sounded so matter-of-fact, and that couldn't be right—could it?
"Are you truly okay with it?" I gripped her knee a little too hard.
"Calm down, Andrea. They are your parents, and you are entitled to invite them to your home. That said, I won't allow—"
"Me either," I interrupted and now I had to pivot toward her. Miranda lost her grip of my head, but whether it was her touch or happenstance, the worst edges of the pain had gone away. "I told them what I expected of them, as they'll meet you and the girls. From what I could tell, Mom was so busy talking about motherhood—" Oh shit. I saw Miranda's eyes widen, and I tensed.
"Motherhood. What brought that on?" Miranda asked casually.
"When I told them about the ground rules around the girls, you know what I mean, then my mother could hear how much I care about Caroline and Cassidy. She nearly cried as she had feared I'd never, ah, well, experience some kind of motherhood if I lived with another woman. My mom's not so well informed about donors and stuff…things." I tried for another smile.
Miranda's eyes had softened while I spoke and now, she kissed me lightly. "You're a tremendous mother figure to our girls. Especially now, when they need us both the most. Perhaps your parents can at least acknowledge that when they join us tomorrow."
I remained on the settee with Miranda the full thirty minutes she had to relax between meetings. She did work, but on her phone, and I just sat there and let my headache disappear. When the thirty minutes had passed, I kissed her.
"I love you," I murmured and stood. She did the same and fixed my bangs.
"I love you, darling." Checking the time, she sighed. "Three more days of this, and then I can finally get back to Runway. I need you to do the next run-through. Emily will pop in and help you."
I nearly fell back across the small coffee table. "Damn. I mean, sure. I'll do my best."
Miranda smirked. "You can do anything, right?"
I swallowed. "Haha. Sure." Holy cow.
#
The twins were on guard duty by the window to the street. They perused every car that passed, competing who would spot my parents first.
"Is that them?" Caroline called out and I hurried to peer outside over their heads. "Which ones?" I didn't see my parents.
"The lady in the black coat. There." Caroline pointed to a couple that were at least in their early eighties.
"No, sweetheart. My parents are younger than that." I was not about to talk about age if I could avoid it tonight. It was bound to backfire.
In the dining room, Elise had set a beautiful, fall-decorated table, and I double-checked everything even if I knew it was unnecessary.
Hearing steps coming down the stairs, I went into the foyer and looked up at Miranda. And froze, though in a good way. She wore a formfitting blue dress, a color I didn't see her wear often, as neutrals were her usual forte. With a lopsided take on a sweetheart neckline, and the skirt ending just above her knees, she looked youthful and elegant at the same time. A thin gold chain held a square locket around her neck. "Beautiful," I said and hugged her when she reached me. "And that's a cute locket. New?"
"Yes. I saw it in the Closet and since there were three, I decided this was just what I needed. Open it."
Curious, I opened the locket with slightly unsteady fingers. Inside was a photo of the twins to the right, and, oh God, me to the left. "Oh, Miranda…"
"It's for the times during the day when I miss your faces too much." Miranda caressed my cheek and then let her fingertips run along my jawline, down my neck, only to stop at the deep neckline of my shirt. I wore the white linen shirt over black slacks and had found some sandals that fit better with it than my usual fuzzy slippers.
"I think they're here," Caroline called out again. "They arrived in a taxi and walked this way."
"Shit," I whispered, revealing my new bout of nerves.
"It'll be fine." Miranda took my hand and we walked out into the foyer to greet my parents.
#
"Are you going to try and persuade Andy to go back to Cincinnati?" Cassidy asked and managed to sound amicable as she violently speared an innocent piece of asparagus. She looked my father dead in the eye.
"Uhm. No. No, that's not the plan. We hope she'll…hm…you all, will come for a visit sometime." Dad looked like his tie was strangling him and I knew the feeling. It wasn't easy to be on the receiving end of a fully focused Priestly.
"Good." Cassidy offered a smile. "And we've never been to Cincinnati, Caro and I. Mom, have you been there?"
"Yes, I have, Bobbsey. It's a nice place." Miranda also looked a bit strangled, but she hid it better than my father.
Mom stepped in after sipping the red wine. "I hear you go to Daltons. Is that a good school?" She sounded a lot more natural, which appealed to Caroline.
"We love school, except when we have Mrs. Tillman. She smells funny," Caroline said, and I saw Miranda roll her eyes. I know she wanted to lock herself in her study with her noise-canceling headphones on.
To my surprise, and Miranda's too, judging from her expression, Mom laughed out loud. "I remember having one of those too. Her name was Mrs. Strowe, and I think she had overdone on mothballs."
The twins looked intrigued.
"Mothballs? Are they meant to keep all kinds of bugs chewing away on your clothes?" Cassidy asked. "I suppose it was better for Mrs. Strowe that she smelled funny, than had big holes in all her clothes."
"Girls. That's enough," Miranda said lightly and then turned to my mom. "Louise, I'm glad we get to know each other under more relaxed circumstances. I know Andrea has looked forward to this day." Miranda glanced at me, and it was obvious that she was playing nice for my sake. She wanted me to have a good relationship with my parents—well, as good as it was possible. My father's domineering personality wouldn't be erased by attending a dinner, but at least my parents ought to be able to see that I was happy.
"Mom," Caroline said. "Are Mr. and Mrs. Sach's our step-grandparents?"
I nearly slid off my chair. I looked at my parents and their expressions were almost comical. While Mom looked touched, Dad looked shocked.
"In a sense yes," Miranda said, her eyes gleaming with mirth. "It is truly up to Andrea's parents." Of course, it wasn't, but it amused Miranda to put my parents on the spot like that.
"I for one would love if I could play any part, if only occasionally, and from a distance—obviously," Mom said, and all the murmured conversation between the girls stopped. Gaping, they looked at Mom, and then at Miranda and me.
"For real?" Cassidy asked quietly. She looked stunned. "We—have one nanna, our, uhm, Dad's mom. But she's in a nursing home."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Mom said, clearly eager to keep the conversation going.
"She has Alzheimer's," Miranda said.
"A cruel disease," Dad said and that was the softest he had sounded since we sat down to eat.
"So, does that mean we can choose later, if we want another set of grandparents?" Caroline put her utensils neatly on the side of the plate, clearly done with her meal. "I will have to think hard on that one," she said laconically. "I have to know that you like kids—and us, especially—first."
The subject changed after that, and we finished our dinner without more incidents.
After dinner, in the living room, Miranda poured some single-malt whisky into a glass for Dad. "Ice?"
"Neat, please. Thank you." Dad accepted the glass where he sat next to Mom on a couch, his arm around her. I wasn't sure if he was trying to protect her or keep her from joining the 'opposing team' or something.
Mom reached for my hand where I sat in the armchair on her left. "Thank you for allowing us to join us, Miranda…Andy." Mom chuckled and it seemed that her nerves had settled a little. "Have you noticed how your names fit together?" she asked.
"No, not really," I said and then I made the connection. "Mir-Andy." I had to laugh, especially as Miranda performed another perfect eye-roll. "MirAndy! We better not give that tidbit to the press." Together with the twins, I laughed helplessly and eventually, Miranda had to give a reluctant smile.
"You heard that, girls. Do not refer to Andrea or me as part of MirAndy. No matter how astute the abbreviation is."
"All right," Cassidy groused. "I just think that Mrs. Sachs was clever about that."
"Thank you, Cassidy," Mom said and nailed recognizing who was who. "I think you should call me Louise. And as you know, this is Richard."
The girls nodded after sending a 'this okay, Mom?' glance at Miranda and receiving a nod back.
We spoke amicably the rest of the evening, staying away from topics that could make the purpose of this visit implode. My Dad talked to Miranda about cars, something she knew more about than I could have imagined. Mom and Miranda had practically nothing in common unless you counted me. As it turned out, they exchanged some of my comical misadventures, albeit, Miranda made a point to not use her usual scathing vocabulary.
Mom in turn talked about stuff I'd said or done when I was a mere baby.
Eventually, it was way overdue for the girls to go to bed, and my parents took that as a sign that it was time to leave. I had told them about my new job, and that it was my last day at Runway in three days. My father had made a valiant effort to not cheer and do a rain dance, I could tell.
"I'll miss not working together," I said, but it's for the best, and I'll have plenty of time to figure out what I truly want to work with, while I chase people around New York, to squeeze some quotes out of them." I winked at Dad to make sure he understood that I was half joking.
"Sound like a plan, Andy," Dad said and patted my shoulder in an awkward display of appreciation. I still didn't trust him, but he had been on his best behavior all through the evening. I knew this could change from one moment to the next, and that made me wonder if I would always tiptoe around him as if I was walking of night-old ice.
When Mom and Dad's cab arrived, Mom hugged…and after a quick side eye toward Miranda, she bent to kiss the girls' cheeks. I wasn't sure if it was a reaction to the surprising caress, but the girls accepted it graciously.
Miranda settled for shaking their hands, and when Mom held her hand a little too long and studied her closely, I saw Miranda grow tense. I wanted to nudge Mom and get this awkwardness over with.
"You know, Miranda, now that I've met you, I understand so much better why my daughter cares for you. I can certainly see the appeal." She finally let go of Miranda and then joined my father on the stairs outside. "I think that's our cab."
Mom and Dad waved and then jumped into the taxi. As it drove off, I pulled Miranda with me into the foyer and closed the door. After setting the alarm, I turned and found Miranda right behind me.
"Are you okay?" I took her by the shoulders.
"I think Louise just broke Mom." Cassidy came and wrapped an arm around Miranda's waist.
As if Cassidy found a button to restart Miranda, she straightened and looked at us, one at a time. Then she started laughing so hard, she had to use me as support. "Oh, good God," Miranda said and laughed again. "That dinner will go down in history."
"So you're okay?" I asked again. She was acting just a little strange.
"I'm fine." Miranda squeezed me to her and then shifted her focus to the girls.
"Time for bed. Go set everything up and follow your routines, girls, and we'll be up to say goodnight."
I had already cleared the table with Mom's help earlier. Miranda had been hijacked by Dad and the twins in the meantime. This meant that we didn't have to deal with the dining room anymore tonight.
We tucked the girls in and when I bent to kiss Caroline's forehead, she hugged me tight.
"Think your mom meant it? That we could visit?" She looked up at me with bright blue eyes.
"I think she did. One thing at a time though. We have a lot of other things to deal with first." I kept my voice soft.
"Yeah. I know." Caroline curled up on her side. "' Night, Andy. Love you."
"I love you too. Sleep tight, sweetheart."
Miranda and I switched rooms and I went into Cassidy's. "You did so well during dinner," I said gently.
"I didn't want your mom and dad to think that we're spoiled monster brats." Cassidy looked up at me, her eyes the same hue as Caroline's, but infinitely more seasoned—which was mindboggling for such a young girl.
"And you made a super impression, so you can check that off your list." I winked, which rendered me a real smile.
"Think you'll be able to sleep?" I tucked the covers around her.
"Yeah, no problem. Meeting new relatives is exhausting." She turned on her side, just like Caroline, and pulled ther covers up over her shoulders. I tucked them around her, while my mind reeled at her words. Cassidy was never careless with words—after all, she was the daughter of a great editor.
Turning around, I saw Miranda in the doorway, and it was obvious that she had overheard.
"Relatives," she mouthed at me, and I could only raise my hands, palms up.
"No idea where that came from…" I whispered.
"No doubt our lives will never be boring." Miranda tugged me into her arms after she closed Cassidy's door, except for the usual two-inch crack. Placing her lips against my ear, her breath tickling me, she continued in a composed tone, "Do you want to tuck me in too, Andrea?"
#
Our bedroom was my favorite room in the house, but right this second, I only had eyes for Miranda. She had begun to remove her beautiful blue dress, and I sat on the foot of the bed, unable to move—all I could do was stare.
Miranda didn't pay any attention to me, which was of course a complete act, but took off every stitch of clothing methodically. When she was naked, she sauntered over to me and pulled me to my feet.
"You're overdressed." She unbuttoned my shirt and tossed it onto a chair. Next was my sports bra, which she tugged over my head and then sent it flying to land on top of my shirt.
Miranda knelt in front of me, and seeing her on her knees before me, it took my breath away. I looked down at her elegant white hair and knew before we were done, it would be a lovely, tousled mess.
Sliding down my trousers and briefs at the same time, she caressed my legs through my stockings as she removed the last of my clothes. Rolling the stockings down, she kissed the inside of my knee, and once I was as naked as her, she continued with her open-mouth kisses up my thigh.
"Miranda…" I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to stand much longer.
"Right here." She pressed her lips just above where my folds met. My clit ached for her tongue, her fingers, anything, but all I could do was let her take her time, and wait for all the pleasure she was so eager to give me.
Miranda kissed past my pubic hair and up to dip her tongue into my belly button. I shivered and placed my hands on her shoulders. I needed support.
She drew a long line with her tongug, humming as she found my left nipple. "Oh, I love this," Miranda murmured. "I just have to have it." Sucking it into her mouth, she let her tongue torment and soothe at the same time. Nipping with her teeth, she made me whimper and cling to her.
"You like this…you want my mouth on you, don't you, darling?" Miranda kissed a trail over to my right breast and raised it to her greedy mouth. While she worked it hard with her tongue, she rolled the other nipple between her fingers.
My hands caressed her everywhere I could reach. My legs grew weaker by the second and as if she sensed it, she made me turn around and gently pressed against my back until I climbed onto the bed and stood on all four.
"You're showing me such trust, Andrea," Miranda murmured huskily as she cupped my ass.
"Yes." I managed to get the single word out without whimpering, but I trembled so hard, that I had to bend down further, which meant I was even more on display.
"Mm. Yes. Like that." Miranda slid her fingers in between my folds. "Oh, God. So wet. Tell me what you want."
"You know. What I w-want," I managed to say. "Inside."
"Like this?" Miranda pushed against me, and I felt her enter me, I pressed my face against the bed as it made me scream. She stretched me just so and then started to thrust her fingers in and out, at a perfect, maddening pace. I moved my hips against her, and she growled.
"You're mine, Andrea. Like this, right this instant, you belong to me. With me."
"Only you. I belong with you," I whispered hotly. I was starting to see spots, and my thighs clenched. "And you're making me…"
"What Andrea, what?"
"You're making me crazy and I'm so close…" Then I wanted nothing more than to have her face-to-face. I wanted to watch her, watch me, come." I pulled forward and Miranda must have felt the loss of contact acutely as she cried out and followed me up on the bed as I turned around.
I spread my legs and pulled them up toward me, holding my knees tight to my chest. "Please, oh please…" I wasn't above begging.
"You…oh, God, you're everything…" Miranda pushed her fingers back in and then latched her mouth to my clit. Her tongue flicked my most sensitive area, and I moaned her name over and over. She pressed her tongue against me and then sucked at my clit and I came so hard, I lost my vision and hearing for God knows how long.
When I finally managed to open my eyes, all I wanted was to get my hands on Miranda. She was lying next to me, one hand supporting her head and the other resting on my stomach.
"You came very hard," she said. "I nearly came just from watching you."
"You sent me into orbit," I said, still hoarse. Miranda looked unphased, but I knew it was a front because her hand on my stomach gave her away as it trembled so much.
"How do you want me to pleasure you, Miranda?" I asked softly, barely able to wait for her reply.
Miranda's cheeks colored and her hand on my stomach flinched. "I want you…on top of me…"
I remembered the time Miranda had told me she liked when I pinned her down. I rolled her onto her back and climbed in between her legs. Our mounds met as I pressed my stomach and breasts against hers. She was like a flame against me. I kissed her. Long, slow kisses that eventually had her whimpering. Following her jaw, I traced her neck, one of my favorite places to kiss, and as always, I reminded myself to not leave any traces. Instead, I used my tongue and tasted her gorgeous skin down to her breasts. Her nipples were hard, velvety, and puckered just enough to create sizzles in my brain as I sucked and bit gently into them.
"Andrea!" Miranda arched, clawed at the bedspread, and moaned my name. She tried to wrap her legs around me, but I held them spread wide. Slowly I kissed my way down, the opposite of what she did to me, and paid a lot of attention to her belly button. Miranda squirmed under me and her hips rolled, probably of their own volition.
"And now?" I asked as I lifted my head to look at her.
Indeed, with severely tousled hair, and half-open mouth, Miranda seemed too far gone to speak. I waited patiently and it only took another moment before she placed a shaking hand on my head and pushed. "Taste me. I want that. Your mouth on me…"
I grinned and slid further down. Parting her folds, I blew gently at her glistening pussy, my mouth watering. "Only my tongue?" I licked along her fold, separating them further.
"Use. Your fingers…damn it…" Miranda growled again. "Please, just fuck me. Please, Andrea…"
I felt my moisture coat my thighs at her words. I positioned three fingers at her opening and massaged it until she began whimpering again. I pressed my tongue against her clit, amazed at how swollen and hard it was. Pushing my fingers inside, I felt how tight she was and knew it had to burn.
"I said…fuck me…" Miranda's hips undulated under me and I began thrusting, quick and hard, while I sucked at her inner labia and her clit.
Miranda yanked a pillow over her face as she came. There was no way she could be quiet. I thought I heard her curse in between the keening wails, while her inner walls had my fingers in a firm, pulsating grip.
Moisture coated my chin as I massaged her clit with my tongue. I couldn't get enough of her, and the taste of her sizzled right up into my brain and that was all I needed to start coming. I managed to stride her leg and pushed myself against her hard shin, rubbing and rubbing. It was all it took, and I came with surprising force.
I rode out my orgasm with my tongue on her clit and when I felt Miranda come a second time, I slowed my pace, softening my touch as I withdrew my fingers.
Crawling up next to her, I buried my face against her neck where her pulse hammered against my lips. It was as if I tasted her life, her love, and after a few moments, her arms wrapped around me.
"Andrea," she rasped. "God, Andrea…" She sobbed and shivered as she turned us onto our sides. "You…what…" Incoherent, she took my face in her hands and kissed me. This was the part of Miranda that only I knew, that I would be the only one that would ever know.
"I love you. I will always do anything you want…just like this. And more." I looked into her eyes and saw tears forming and falling. I knew she wasn't sad, just overwhelmed. What I hadn't counted on was that the sight of her teary-eyed beauty would make my tears begin to fall.
"Andrea, I love you." Miranda wiped at my tears with her thumbs. "I do. I'm so grateful for you, for your love, for everything."
"Same," I managed weakly. "Every day with you is a miracle. It's hard to imagine that there was a time when this seemed impossible."
"Yes." Miranda nuzzled my cheek and kissed away more tears. "And now it seems that so much is possible."
"Yeah." I ran my hand up and down her back and decided that the goosebumps were not from pleasure, but she was getting cold. I tugged at one of the many blankets at the foot of the bed and covered us. "I have to pinch myself daily sometimes. And then when you and I eat breakfast with the girls and everything is just, you know, regular life, I don't have to pinch myself at all. It's being with my family. It's my life and I love it."
Miranda pulled me in and hugged me so hard, I yelped. "Yes. That. Exactly that. It's our life. I won't let it slip through my fingers." She sounded as if she spoke through clenched teeth, and I kissed her again, gentle, chaste kisses, meant to soothe.
"It's up to us," I said softly. "We won't slip, and if we do, we catch each other, right?"
Mellowing, Miranda melted against me. "Right."
We murmured sleepily to each other for a few minutes, and Miranda grew increasingly heavy in my arms. I loved that feeling too. Sweaty, smelling of sex, and clinging to me—it all made Miranda into the person I was the only one privileged to embrace. Smiling from pure joy, I finally allowed sleep to claim me.
#
Epilogue
I walked into the Elias-Clarke building for the last time as an employee, and it felt—weird. That was the absolute best word to describe it. I knew when I left later this afternoon, that my access card would have been replaced by a visitor's pass—albeit a perpetual one. Miranda would see to that. She would make sure I had complete access to her office.
I arrived later than usual this morning, as I had done the exact opposite at the Mirror's building. Handing in the visitor's pass they'd given me last time I was there, they'd given me an employee access card. I had also been assigned a desk, and I liked that it was the adjustable type that made it possible for me to sit or stand, depending on my mood. I was out in the bullpen, which I also liked, as that gave me a feeling for the pace and the ambiance, rather than being locked into a little cube.
I took the elevator up along with a bunch of other people, some who took the time to wish me the best of luck as they knew I was leaving. Sometimes it felt like half of New York knew I was leaving, but that was just paranoia. People had honestly moved on to more current news and didn't give a crap.
The Runway offices were buzzing as always, and there was something in the air that I didn't think could be linked to my departure. I wasn't that important, and it wasn't as if they wouldn't see me ever again. I saw Nigel stick his head out, and merely wave and disappear again. Odd.
Further up the corridor, Serena and Emily met in the corridor, let their hands run along each other's arms, while they kept walking. As Serena walked toward me, I saw her smile ignite and she grabbed me and did a little twirl. "Last day, Andy!" She laughed let me go and continued her way.
When I reached the outer office, I saw that Moira had now moved to the first assistant desk, and Benji was busy typing on the computer where Moira used to sit. Things were moving fast, and even if that sort of made it easier, it was still bittersweet. They were going to see a lot of Miranda, that I would miss out on. Then again, I saw all the most important parts of Miranda's life. I wasn't going to miss out on Runway altogether as I meant to take sneak peeks of the Book.
Benji looked up and grinned. "Miranda said you could go right in."
The door to Miranda's office was closed, hence his words, and I rapped my fingers against the glass before I opened it.
Behind her desk, Miranda sat, looking like the proverbial canary-swallowing cat, and smiled at me. It wasn't exactly that loving, sweet smile she reserved for me and the girls, but a predatory, very smug smile. I faltered at the door, unsure what was going on.
"Miranda? What's with the look?" I gestured to her face.
"I have no earthly idea what you're talking about," she said and still the smile was there, in plain view.
"Come on. You look like you just bought Vogue Magazine only to cancel it." I rounded the desk and kissed her lightly on the lips, not caring in the least who might see.
"Don't be ridiculous. Why would I do something like that?" Miranda crossed her legs and played with her locket. "You and I are due in a meeting in…" She checked her watch. "Twelve minutes."
God. Was this the surprise sendoff they'd planned? Not very subtle. "All right."
"We might as well go." Miranda stood. "Bag!"
Benji showed up with Miranda's bag and took my coat. Confused why I was needed in a meeting if it was in fact not part of a sendoff, I followed Miranda like so many times before. She led the way to the elevator and to my shock, she pressed the button for the executive floor at the top floor of the building.
"Where are we going?" I checked my outfit in the fuzzy reflection on the metal door. I was hardly dressed casually, but I had relaxed the super fashionable style by adding some of my clothes.
"Patience, Andrea. I keep telling you to have patience."
I gawked. "You're kidding, right? Do you lecture me about patience? Geez." I shook my head but had to return her smile. She was up to something, that much was clear.
I had never been to the executive floor, only ridden up with Miranda in the elevator, and then returned down to Runway again. The cream-colored carpet was ridiculously deep, and I wondered how anyone could walk in four-inch heels in it. We walked soundlessly past the empty reception, which surprised me. Didn't anyone have to man the phone at all times at this level? Weird.
A door to the left, almost at the far end of the corridor, stood open. Miranda motioned for me to step inside, and it turned out to be an enormous conference room. I realized that it was where the board of directors met. Yet again—why was I here?
People were beginning to mill in, and I saw Bertrand and Cindy Caulder stand next to…Nigel? I frowned. He seemed at ease chatting with them, but I was starting to get a very familiar Alice in Wonderland feeling.
"You can relax, Andrea," Miranda said quietly. "We're not going to have a meeting today. We've had all the meetings necessary already." She waved for me to join her as she walked over to Nigel and father and daughter Caulder.
"Andy!" Cindy kissed me on the cheek and so did her father, whom I'd never actually talked to. "I hear it's your last day and then you're on to serious news reporting." She smiled broadly.
"I am. Yeah." I tried to anchor myself by looking at Nigel, but his expression didn't reveal a thing.
"It's only a matter of moments now," Miranda said and there it was again, her eerie smile.
"Not a moment too soon." Nigel came to stand on my other side. It was as if they were rallying around me.
A loud bang from the corridor made us all jump. Miranda looked wide-eyed at Nigel, but Bertrand Caulder merely chuckled. "I dare say that's our cue."
When Irving Ravitz stormed into the conference room, followed by male and female suits, he was livid. "Miranda!" he bellowed and shook his fist as he approached us. "Don't think I don't know that this is all you're doing."
"No, Irving," Miranda said calmly. "This is your doing. Your incompetence. Your intrigues. And your corruption."
"Coming from a woman fucking her damn secretary!" Irv turned his wrath to me, and I felt Nigel and Miranda step close to me, and, oddly enough the Caulders and a few people I'd only glimpsed at functions.
"Back off, Irv," Nigel said. "Just leave and don't make such an ass of yourself. It's that, or security escorting you. It's no different for you or any other disgruntled employee."
Irv growled, and that made me snort and begin to laugh. I couldn't help but compare how terrifying, or sexy, Miranda could be when she growled, and this man sounded like a rodent with a cold. Miranda shot me a surprised look. Perhaps she thought that James's assault had made me afraid of furious men. If it had been someone other than Irv, perhaps I wouldn't have laughed like that, but no, I wasn't afraid.
As it turned out, before anyone had to call security, Irving stormed out with a huff.
"Please. Can someone tell me what just happened?" I looked at the people around me who all seemed to be in the know.
"The board relieved Irving Ravitz of his position. This could happen as fast as it did because we headhunted his replacement in record time." Miranda smiled and put her arm around me. "Bertrand Caulder has agreed to step up as Elias-Clarke's new Chairman of the Board, while Cindy here takes over their empire back in Texas. It will allow her more time to properly plan for the magazine she hopes to bring to fruition soon and establish herself as the CEO. Bertrand told me early on that he has fallen in love with New York and wants a change of pace." Miranda smiled at the burly man from Texas, who tipped his Stetson.
"And Nigel?" I asked, my head spinning.
"Nigel is going to leave Runway but stays in the building as editor-in-chief of a new men's magazine. Emily and Serena will share his former duties until Emily feels secure in shouldering it entirely." Miranda looked around the conference room where those who knew what was going on filled in and explained to those who didn't. "Nigel—I think it's time to return to the office." She winked at him.
I stared. Miranda winked at Nigel. When had that ever happened?
"Oh, right." He smiled at me. "I'll see you later, Six. Got to run." He hurried out of the conference room, and if there was ever a spring in anyone's step—it was in Nigel's.
"Ah. Love." Miranda murmured and placed a hand at the small of my back. She nodded to the Caulders who now joined the rest of the board of directors that came into the room. "Let's go."
"Love? Oh, Nigel. Yeah." I chuckled as I walked beside her. "I'm happy for them. I hope it lasts. Perhaps it's because I'm so in love that I want the same happiness for other people I care about."
"In love?" Miranda pressed the button for the elevator. "Sounds familiar." She gave me that sweet smile I loved so much.
"It should, considering how well I keep reminding you." It was my turn to feel just a tad smug as Miranda flinched at my words.
"Andrea. Behave." Her eyes belied her words. If there hadn't been a security camera in the elevator, she would have kissed me.
When we stepped off the elevator at Runway's floor, the corridor was full of people shouting, "Surprise!" and as I had allowed myself to relax into the soft feeling of being happily in love, I had sort of forgotten about my sendoff. Thus, Serena and Emily were convinced they'd pull one over on me, which made their day.
Miranda stepped aside and allowed everyone at the office to come up and hug me, talk to me, and generally wish me well. I kept finding her in the crowd, but she remained just out of reach, talking to Nigel and still not taking her eyes off me. When the allotted hour with cake and presents was over, she walked up to me and guided me back to her office.
She sat down on the settee and crossed her legs. "If you want, you can have the rest of the day off—"
"No thank you. I mean, it's sweet of you to offer, but I'd rather make myself useful until we go home."
"As long as you don't insist on waiting around for the Book." Miranda's eyes, bright and alive, regarded me. "I have a few texts that have been edited by completely incapable people. I'm not sure how they ever graduated from university, as their lack of common sense and any sort of skill is staggering." Miranda tilted her head. "I suppose you could take a quick look."
I couldn't keep my feelings in check any longer. Sliding along the settee, I pressed my body to hers and kissed her on the lips. Once I let her go, she was looking wild-eyed and gasping.
"Andrea…" Her voice gave in and she just stared at me as if she hardly believe I just kissed her like that in the office.
I smiled, adjusted her bangs into their usual shape, and whispered, "I told you I would do anything for you.
And I'm sure even Benji and Moira in the outer office could hear Miranda growl.
END