DWP: Only With The Heart Part 1
1
Another sigh, another discarded layout. The elegantly dressed woman took off her glasses and ran the other hand through her perfectly coiffed white hair. Putting her glasses on top of the layout Miranda Priestly, editor in chief of Runway magazine, sat down in her chair and leaned back. She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. Weary and tired she felt a headache coming on when she heard the soft clearing of a voice from the doorway of her office. Leaning against the doorframe was her art director and oldest friend Nigel Kipling.
“I take it you don’t like any of the layouts“, he stated before he moved further into the room. In one hand he held two glasses, in the other a bottle of 21 year old Glenfarclas single malt whisky.
“What is there to like, Nigel?“ Miranda sounded every bit as tired as she felt. “These models all look the same. The same faces, the same dull eyes, the same empty expressions and the same uninspiring bodies.“
“So, what do you suggest?“ Nigel wanted to know as he sat down in a chair in front of her desk. He poured them both a healthy amount of the amber liquid before he handed Miranda one of the glasses.
“Cheers!“ He lifted his glass to Miranda and they each took a healthy sip from their drink.
Miranda enjoyed the warmth of the whisky as it burned down her throat. It warmed her from within. It was a change from how she usually felt, short lived as it may be.
“Again Miranda, what do you suggest“, Nigel persisted.
“I don’t know Nigel“, Miranda sipped her drink, lost in thought. “Lately I feel as if maybe Irv has been right after all. Maybe I don’t have it anymore. Maybe Jacqueline would indeed do a better job.“
“What?“ Nigel was taken aback. “You can’t be serious!“
Miranda took the last swallow of her drink before she got up from her chair. She walked over to the windows, looking down into the illuminated city. With unseeing eyes she stared at the endless stream of head- and taillights down on the road.
Now Nigel was really worried, he had known this woman for more than twenty years. He had been there when she climbed the ranks at Elias-Clarke, he had been there through the catastrophes of her first and second marriage. He had never wavered in his support when she had snatched his dream job and handed it to that Follet woman. Nigel knew the editor, the businesswoman, the mother, even the wife but this woman was a complete stranger. Never had he seen her like that. This bordered on dejected. It was so unlike the Miranda Priestly he admired and loved. A few crappy layouts couldn’t do this to her. There had to be more to it.
“Miranda...“ Before he could go on though she interrupted him with a hoarse voice without even turning around.
“Find me something different, Nigel. A fresh face. Somebody who is alive and warm. That’s all.“
She knew she asked for the impossible but when didn´t she? Thinking of a new face a picture came to mind at once. The sole photograph in her bedroom which kept her warm and comforted every time she looked at it. It was the picture of a young woman with gentle eyes, the most sensuous lips and the most beautiful waves of dark hair Miranda had ever seen. Miranda had acquired the photography nearly ten years ago at the exhibition of a young, upcoming and very talented photographer. The moment she had seen the picture she knew she had to have it and had paid a ridiculously overrated price for someone whose name was unknown to the art world. Now the picture hung in her master bedroom right opposite her bed. It was the last thing she saw when she fell asleep and the first when she woke up in the morning. She had often wondered about the woman in the picture and right now she wished it was her Nigel would find for the next cover.
“Yes, Miranda“, Nigel softly agreed, he knew better than to argue or ask what she exactly meant. When he left her she was still looking out at the city, her posture stiff and unrelenting.
On his way to his own office Nigel pondered over Miranda’s request. It was easier said than done. He was no magician, for crying out loud. How was he supposed to pull it off? With a sigh of his own he sat down in front of his computer to check his e-mails for the last time before he called it a day. When he stumbled across a dinner invitation Nigel knew he had found the key to solve his problem. He accepted the invitation before he shut down his workstation and with a new spring in his step he left the building for the weekend.
A week later said solution was in his office waiting to meet the infamous Miranda Priestly. It hadn’t been easy but he had managed. Nigel was convinced that she was it.
“Are you sure I am what she wants“, the woman asked as she was folding up her blindman´s stick to put it in her shoulder bag.
“You, my dear, are absolutely what she wants“, Nigel assured his friend.
“If you say so“, she wasn’t really convinced.
Flashing her a beaming smile she couldn’t see though Nigel took her bag and put it on his desk before he held out his arm for her to take.
“Right, let’s go“, he patted her hand on his arm. “Is it wise not to tell her you are blind?“
“This isn’t about my handicap, this is about my looks. For her to put my picture in her magazine I don’t need to see how I look in those pictures, do I?“
“No, but she hates being lied to“, Nigel said softly.
“I’m not lying, I’m merely omitting. And don’t worry, I will tell her. But it shouldn’t influence her decision.“
Not entirely convinced Nigel led them to Miranda’s office. When Emily nodded her consent for them to enter he proceeded into the inner sanctum. Miranda was turning from the window when Nigel and a woman entered.
“Impossible!” Miranda whispered surprised.
It was her, the woman on Nigel’s arm was the woman from her bedroom picture, her deep brown eyes spoke of warmth and the smile of those same sensuous lips made Miranda catch her breath. Her shoulder length brown hair flowed freely just barely touching the open collar of her long sleeved white shirt. Hip hugging, form fitting washed out jeans and polished boots completed the picture.
“Miranda, please meet Andrea Sachs. The new face of Runway!“
“Andrea it is a pleasure to meet you“, Miranda softly said as she walked over to her guest to greet her.
“It’s an honour, Ms Priestly“, Andy greeted the older woman with a brilliant smile and an outstretched hand which was enclosed in both of Miranda’s.
“Miranda“, the editor corrected gently.
“Miranda“, Andy repeated equally softly. Her hand was still held in the older woman’s ones. As Miranda wondered about the beauty before her Andy felt warmth seep into her body. Unaware that the editor felt the same.
Confused by the display Nigel took a closer look at both women and he had the distinct feeling that something was indeed going on. But neither of them seemed to be really aware of it or at least tried to hide and ignore it. Just like Miranda’s face turned into its usual mask of indifference when she caught him staring at her.
“Please, have a seat!” Nigel held one of the visitor chairs for Andy before he sat down on the other. Miranda returned behind her desk and waited for Nigel to tell her where he had found this woman.
“Well?” The editor was getting impatient when no explanation was forthcoming from either of them.
“Before this goes any further”, Andy was the first to speak, “I want you to know Miranda that I’m not a model, I´m a writer.”
“I don’t understand”, Miranda was confused.
“I did quite a few model jobs during my time as a student at NYU”, the brunette went on, “and at one of the parties of a company I modelled for I met Nigel. We kept in touch over the years and when he came over for dinner last week he mentioned you were looking for a new face and here I am.”
“Hmm”, Miranda pursed her lips, not quite satisfied with what she had just heard.
“In case you are wondering why I am here then. To put it bluntly to do Nigel a favour”, Andy added with a sigh.
“I’m sorry Miranda, if that is not what you wanted to hear but I prefer to be honest and not tell you some bullshit. It would be an honour to work for you and your magazine but if you think I’m not what you are looking for or don’t like my attitude it can’t be helped.”
Andy was getting to her feet, taking a step toward the desk and held out her hand to Miranda to tell her goodbye.
“Think it over! Nigel can inform me of your decision”, Andy said when Miranda took hold of the offered hand wordlessly.
“When can you start?” Miranda suddenly asked without letting go of the younger woman’s hand.
“As soon as your and my lawyer approved of the contract”, Andy smirked. “I will send you the details.”
“Good. I will give you a call when everything is ready to sign”, Miranda got to her feet, still holding the other woman’s hand.
“I’m looking forward to it. Goodbye, Miranda”, Andy gently squeezed the hand that held hers carefully one last time.
“So do I. Goodbye, Andrea.”
Before Andrea left though Miranda had to know if she was right about Andrea.
“Andrea”, the editor called out softly causing Andy to turn a last time in the doorway.
“Yes?”
“Do you by any chance know a photographer named Charles Parker?”
“Yes. Why?”
“Nothing”, Miranda waved her off not ready to reveal the truth just yet, afraid of being considered weird. “Just curious.”
“Okay”, Andy drawled out not entirely convinced. “See you soon.”
“Yes. Soon.”
The editor was watching mesmerised as Nigel accompanied the woman out of her office. It was odd, really odd. Never had letting go of another person’s hand been so hard for Miranda. She hated to touch and be touched by other people but the younger woman’s touch had felt comforting. What the hell was wrong with her?
In Nigel’s office Andy collected her bag and Nigel brought her downstairs where he hailed a taxi that would take the brunette to her best friend’s office from where she would go home. Returning to the Runway floor Nigel was pondering the strange scene he had witnessed in Miranda’s office. He wondered what was going on with his friend. Something strange, indeed. Maybe it was strange but somehow it wasn’t so bad, not bad at all. Interesting was more like it. Well, he would lean back and see where this was heading and maybe help if help was necessary. Knowing Miranda she sure could need all the help she could get with whatever it was that was happening.
In another part of town Douglas Chapman, Doug to his friends, was looking expectantly at his visitor and best friend to spill the beans about her meeting with the infamous Ice Queen.
“So?” He tried to push her into telling the tale of the visit to the dragon’s lair.
“So what?” Andy asked with a smirk.
“Tell me about the old dragon! How is she?”, Doug was impatient.
“I wish you wouldn’t call her that”, Andy sighed.
“What? Old or dragon?”
“Either”, Andy said with a frown. “She was actually quite nice.”
“Huh?” Doug was flabbergasted. “We are talking about the same Miranda Priestly here, right? Editor in chief of Runway?”
“Yes, you goof”, Andy smacked him on the head. “She was nothing like I imagined her to be. She was cordial, really. Her voice was all husky and her skin was so smooth and soft.”
“What?”
“What, what?”
“Care to listen to yourself?” Doug couldn’t believe his friend. “You sound as if, as if...”
“As if what?”
“As if you have just fallen in love with this woman at first touch, so to speak.”
“Oh, don’t be ridiculous. We’ve only just met”, Andy huffed at the insinuation. “This is the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard.”
“If you say so”, Doug wasn’t convinced though. Love at first sight was out of the question here but he thought his phrasing was quite accurate although he should add first hearing.
“Can we go home now?”
“Yup, absolutely. I just shut down the computer.”
In her office Miranda was gazing out the windows as it has become her habit lately. Although she couldn’t really see what was going on down on the streets the constant stream of New York´s busy life was oddly comforting and soothing. Today’s meeting with Andrea Sachs had left her unsettled but not in a bad way. She still couldn’t explain her reluctance to let go of the younger woman’s hand or the feeling of loss she had experienced when she finally had to. Andrea’s skin has been warm and soft. Her smile was radiant something Miranda wanted to see as often as possible. With an angry shake of her head she turned from the window and found Nigel observing her thoughtfully from the door.
“What?” She asked harsher than intended, returning to her desk where she sat down briskly.
“Love at first sight does happen, you know”, the bald man said softly.
“What are you talking about? Have you smacked your head on the clothes racks on your way here?”
“I’m neither blind nor stupid, Miranda”, Nigel continued unfazed by her ridicule. “Andrea has made quite an impression on you today. I dare say you, my friend, suffer from a serious case of love at first sight.”
“Don’t be ridiculous! I don’t fall in love like that. That’s preposterous”, Miranda scoffed at her friend. She thought again of the picture in her bedroom but realised suddenly that Nigel was talking about the meeting she had had with Andrea for he didn´t know of the photography.
“Whatever you say”, Nigel smiled knowingly. “Goodnight, Miranda.”
“Goodnight.”
The lawyers were quite busy to meet all of Andy’s conditions but in the end the editor was quite willing to give her consent to all of them in order to recruit Runway’s new face. A few days after the first meeting Andy was again in Miranda’s office to sign the contract. And just like the last time Nigel was by her side all the way through. When the white haired woman suggested to celebrate Andy had to decline unfortunately but they agreed on another day to meet for lunch. Much to Nigel’s dismay Andy had neglected to mention that she was blind and he wondered if the brunette had maybe passed the right time to tell Miranda without any repercussions. There was nothing he could do about it except urge Andy to tell as soon as possible.
When the women met for lunch Andy had been the first to arrive and she was already seated patiently waiting for Miranda. If she was completely honest she had to admit that she was looking forward to meeting the editor again so soon. She enjoyed the older woman’s company, her quick wit and the sound of her voice. There was something about Miranda Priestly that touched Andy in a way nobody else had so far. Which given the knowledge about the editor was pointless because there was no way Miranda could have more interest in her than that of a new employee.
Miranda arrived at the restaurant in her usual air of haughty arrogance which caused a distinct change in the room’s atmosphere. Andy sat up straighter when she felt the tension and heard the hush fall over the room. The fast clicking of heels was drawing nearer to her place and the gentle breeze of a very special perfume announced the arrival of the older woman. Andy smiled at the white haired fashion icon, causing Miranda to smile in return at the pleasant welcome.
Miranda leaned down to greet Andy with air kisses on both cheeks, unheard off for someone she had known for such a short time. But it felt right to do and nobody would dare question her anyway so she just did it.
“Sorry, for being late”, Miranda apologized as she sat down, “but a small crises in the art department was calling for my attention.”
“Don’t you worry”, Andy waved it off, “I do understand the obligations of your occupation.”
“Well, quite so”, Miranda continued, “it is impolite.”
“You are here that is all that matters, is it not?”
“Yes, it is”, the editor agreed softly. “Have you decided what are you going to order?”
“Not really, maybe you could do it for both of us. Because I take it you know the restaurant.”
“Gladly.”
Miranda Priestly wasn’t in the habit of apologising or explaining herself yet she had done both. What was it about the younger woman that caused her to act so uncharacteristically? Was it because she felt so very much at ease in the brunette’s presence? Try as she might she didn´t really know why. All she knew was that it felt good for a change, being Miranda and not constantly the editor in chief, the Dragon Lady, businesswoman or responsible mother of two pre-teenage girls. The white haired woman relaxed even more the longer their lunch lasted, when a call by Emily reminded her of her afternoon appointment she sighed, sad that she had to leave Andrea’s company so soon.
“Can I give you a lift?” Miranda asked as she handed the waiter her credit card.
“No, thank you, I’m going to wait for a friend and he’ll drive me home”, Andy smiled.
“Well, I suppose I will see you again next week for the first shooting”, Miranda got up to say goodbye.
“Yup”, Andy nodded, before Miranda air kissed her again and made her way out of the restaurant. Andy felt like laughing out loud when she felt a common sigh of relieve go through the restaurant when the editor breezed out of the room.
By the end of the week Miranda was weary and tired as hell after another exhausting day at the office. Sitting back in her car on her way back home she found looking out of the car window and watching the scenery roll by quite soothing to the mind. It was late again and she was thankful that the girls were already with their father for the weekend, sparing her the usual guilt of the working mother. When the car stopped at some traffic lights the editor spotted two familiar figures on the pavement in front of a restaurant. Leaning forward to get a closer look, Miranda recognised Nigel and Andrea saying their friendly goodbyes after having obviously dined together.
She saw Nigel kissing both of Andrea’s cheeks before he went off to his car, with her finger just above the button to roll down the car window and call for Andrea to offer her a ride Miranda stopped in mid-motion when she saw the younger woman reach into her purse. The editor couldn’t suppress a gasp of surprise when the brunette took out white sticks which she unfolded into a large cane she used to help her find the way to the taxi stand.
Blind. Andrea Sachs was blind. Miranda didn’t know what she should think. She felt like a fool and she felt betrayed. Why hadn’t Andrea or Nigel told her? Was this all a ruse from her friend to get back at her? Would the younger woman do such a thing? No, she didn’t think so. Miranda was good at reading people and Andrea hadn’t struck her as cunning or deceiving. The younger woman was sweet and warm but why hadn’t she told Miranda about her blindness? Was she worried she wouldn’t get the contract? If she was honest it hurt to know that people or Andrea had thought she couldn’t trust her not to be prejudiced and even more so that Nigel didn’t think so either.
What she had witnessed outside the restaurant kept Miranda occupied for the rest of the evening way into Saturday. Replaying her meetings with Andrea she was confused over her own inability to realise such a crucial fact about the younger woman. She didn’t have the faintest idea that Andrea was blind, nothing in the brunette’s behaviour ever indicated as much. On Sunday Miranda called it quits, she looked up Andrea’s home address in her files, took her car keys and sat out to get to the bottom of this.
It took her longer than she suspected to get to Andrea’s house upstate New York, where a vast woodland with hills and nearly untouched nature could still be found. It amazed the editor that something like this still existed in such close proximity to the metropolis. Turning into the driveway Miranda was surprised to find Andrea’s home to be larger than she had expected. It was a one story half-timbered house with a heavy oak door and potted well maintained plants on either sides.
The white haired woman climbed out of her Lexus and walked towards the door feeling a bit uneasy because now that she knew that Andrea was blind she was worried that she might act differently although it didn’t change a thing how she perceived and felt about her.
When she pushed the doorbell it was immediately answered by the barking of a dog and the hushed voice of a woman telling the the dog to stop barking.
The door opened and Miranda found herself face to face with a dashing looking Andrea who had a hand on the dog’s collar. Smiling when she recognised the scent of her visitor Andy greeted Miranda with surprise in her voice.
“Miranda, hi, what brings you out here?”
The editor faltered at the greeting, shortly unsure if what she had seen the other day had been a delusion of her tired mind. Because how could Andrea know it was her when she hadn’t said so much as a word. A short gaze into the house although confirmed her knowledge. Next to Andrea on a rack hung the cane and a leash as it was used for guiding dogs.
Instead of a greeting Miranda blurted out what was on the forefront of her mind, sounding as hurt as she felt.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Sighing at the question Andy knew what the editor was referring to without having to ask.
“Please, why don’t you come in and we talk?” Andy suggested.
“All right.” Miranda agreed readily.
Opening the door further for the editor to step inside, Andy kept a strong hold on her dog, not knowing if Miranda was a dog person or not. Her Labrador guiding dog Lily was friendly and exuberant. Always happy to meet new people and a good judge of character. By the way she was behaving now Andy could tell that she found Miranda more than okay and wanted to greet her properly. It was time to introduce the two of them. Closing the door behind Miranda Andy ordered Lily to sit and contain her excitement for a bit longer. Tail wagging the Labrador was waiting to get a good scratch from the new human in her leader’s home.
“Before we continue may I introduce you to Lily”, Andy smiled her infectious smile, Miranda had come to associate with the younger woman. Odd how fast things could become memorable. “She is my eyes, protector and most trusted advisor where other people are concerned.”
“Nice to meet you Lily”, Miranda held out her hand for the dog to take in her scent. When Lily was done sniffing the white haired woman was allowed to scratch her behind her ears much to the dog´s great delight. “I take it I passed the test.”
“You certainly did”, Andy assured her.
Andy led Miranda into her spacious living room where in an open hearth a cosy fire was crackling and an inviting couch was already occupied by a Siamese cat who looked with suspicious eyes at the newcomer. She was obviously reserving judgement unlike Lily. Typical, Miranda thought. For this ones approval she had to work way much harder, not quite sure why she even wanted to.
“Take a seat please”, Andy gestured at the couch where she herself took a seat next to the cat who instantly climbed into her lap. She settled down and started to purr when Andy started to stroke her fur with gentle fingers. Seeing this, the thought that popped into Miranda’s head caused her to catch her breath for a moment. `I wish it was my head lying in her lap and she was stroking those elegant fingers through my hair. I could compete with the cat in purring, I am sure.´
Sitting down at a safe distance from the younger woman, Miranda smirked when Lily flopped down at her feet. So, at least one member of the household was in her corner.
“May I ask you something?” Miranda was still intrigued how Andrea knew it was her at the door before saying a word.
“Sure.”
“How did you know it was me when you opened the door?”
“Ah”, Andy smiled knowingly at the older woman. “You are wearing a unique scent. I would recognise it anywhere. Due to being blind my other senses are better tuned to make up for it. But like I said your perfume is unique, just like you are.”
“Well, quite so”, Miranda was flustered by the compliment.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable”, Andy apologised with a frown, wondering if she had gone too far in her appraisal of the older woman.
“You have not. It is just that I do not often hear such words spoken with such honesty and without malice that it surprised me a bit.”
“But this is not why you have come, now is it?” Andy said with a sigh.
“No. Why did you not tell me, Andrea?”
“I was afraid you would say no if you knew.”
“Did you really think I would be so prejudiced?” Miranda was hurt by the younger woman’s bad opinion. “I know my reputation, I am not completely obtuse but I have always thought of myself of being fair where skill and aptness is concerned.”
“I am sorry, Miranda”, Andy tried to explain, “it’s just that I didn’t want it to be an issue. I pose for your magazine, look pretty and interesting and I didn’t think my blindness to be of importance for doing the job. I don’t want to be pitied or receive any special treatment. I’m capable of doing it and I don’t need people fussing over me because I can’t see.”
“I do understand your reasoning but why have you not told me after signing the contract?” Miranda insisted.
“I meant to but it was never the right time so far and before you even ask I asked Nigel to keep quiet about it as well.”
“Still, were you going to tell me before your first shooting or have you planned to show up at the scene with Lily and expect me to treat you like the rest?” The editor was still a bit miffed.
“No. I have been thinking about how to tell you since Friday. I met Nigel for dinner and he kept pestering me about it.”
“I see”, Miranda said slowly. She knew she wasn’t the easiest person to deal with, even her children often had difficulties approaching her. She had never meant to be like that, least of all with her children whom she loved more than anything else in the world. Miranda simply found it hard to convey what she felt and show those feelings openly. A long time ago she found out how dangerous it could be to do that and ever since she kept a tight reign on her emotions. Knowing how she was hurting the people who loved her but she couldn’t help it. So how would this young woman know that Miranda Priestly was approachable when everybody else, including her loved ones, knew different?
“I am sorry, Miranda”, Andy said softly, covering Miranda’s hands with one of her own. Once again the editor was surprised how warm and smooth the brunette’s hand was. How good it felt to be touched by another human being in such a caring way.
Slipping one hand from underneath Andrea’s and putting it on top, Miranda looked up into a worried face, feeling the desperate need to reassure the other woman that it was quite all right.
“It is all right, Andrea”, the editor said with a warm smile. “Let us start anew. What do you say?”
“I think I like that a lot”, the brunette smiled in return.
TBC Part 2