New Fic: The Kid Stays in the Picture, Part III.
The Kid Stays in the Picture
Part III.
NIGEL.
Nigel looked Andy up and down with a nod. She'd gone a little more daring than usual, with a Vivienne Westwood sheath and the Louboutins Nigel had scored for her on his last visit to Christian's office. Her lips were dark red, and with kohl-lined eyes, the overall effect was stunning. Miranda was in for a treat.
They chatted sporadically in the cab, Andy talking about her latest assignments, and the fact that she was very much enjoying being single. Now that Nate had moved to Boston, she loved having her freedom. Especially now that Miranda wasn't calling at all hours of the night.
For a moment, Nigel wondered if he'd been crazy when he agreed to this scheme. Maybe Andy was right, and a life away from Miranda would be better for both of them. But then the car pulled up outside the St. Regis, and Andy was already up and out on the sidewalk waiting for him. They were exactly on time.
As they strolled to the suite, Nigel sent his final text to Emily.
Going in. Be here in less than 5.
Upstairs, Nigel unlocked the door. The foyer was not long, and it opened out onto a sumptuous main room that glittered with candlelight. A small dining table was set with glasses and hors d'oeurves, one of which Nigel snapped up as soon as he spotted it.
"Wow," Andy said. "I guess we're early?"
"James said he'd be here in a few minutes."
"This place is gorgeous. I've only been in the bar downstairs." She went to peek out through the curtains at the view of Fifth Avenue.
Nigel looked around. "This is certainly nicer than I expected," he muttered, wondering exactly how much the bill would set him and Emily back. Oh well.
As they made small talk, Nigel took a final turn around the place to be sure everything was right. He hoped Andy didn't notice that every phone in the suite was missing, including the one from the bathroom. He also kept an eye on Andy's bag, which he knew contained her cell.
When he heard the key in the lock, a few things happened. His heart started to race, and he had the sudden urge to pee. But he stayed focused, grabbing Andy's purse and bolting for the door. "Be right back," he said, swinging the second set of doors almost shut.
Miranda stood in front of him, glorious in a burgundy Donna Karan dress that dipped low. The priceless Buddha charm lay nestled in her décolletage-Andy wouldn’t be able to take her eyes off it. "Happy Hanukah Miranda, so nice to see you," he purred.
She looked immediately confused. Emily scooted in behind her, eyes terrified. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, Irv invited me. I'm an expert at the Dradle game, and I make my own latkes. Come on in."
Five seconds later, he slammed the door shut behind Miranda. Emily jammed it expertly and they both backed away.
Their breathing was incredibly loud in the otherwise silent hall.
Not a minute later, he heard the furious pounding of a fist not a foot away from his head. "HEY!" came the muffled shout.
"That's Andy," Emily whispered, still clutching Miranda's enormous Marc Jacobs bag. "Get outside and please tell me you can't hear it!"
He ran for the door and slipped through it. It was utterly peaceful in the hallway. The walls must have been triple sound-proofed, which was one of the reasons why Emily had chosen it. The St. Regis was known for its luxurious accommodations, as well as its discretion.
"Not a sound," he said when he crept back inside.
"Oh, thank god."
There was a noise like someone kicking the door. "Nigel, you are DEAD TO ME!"
He shook his head. "So melodramatic."
Emily shuddered. "I've got to go. I told Caroline I’d be there by 7:30. I've gotten thirty texts from them in the last ten minutes."
"Good. Give me the bag." She handed it over, and he confirmed that Miranda's cell and Blackberry were inside.
"The hotel phones are in that closet." Emily nodded in the direction of a narrow door. "Hook them back up before you go, all right?"
"Got it."
"Call me when you know something. Anything. Even if you're in jail."
"Glad you believe in the power of positive thinking, Em. See you soon."
They shook hands.
Nigel crouched in a Louis XVI chair in the foyer and waited for the yelling and pounding to quiet.
He sat for ten minutes, sweating profusely.
Nothing happened.
Finally, he left for the bar, and set his phone alarm to go off after 90 minutes. That ought to be enough time.
Once seated on a tall stool in the bar, he ordered a martini. “I’ll need another one in about five minutes,” he told the bartender.
---
NIGEL, DRUNK.
He gave them an extra fifteen minutes, mainly because he wanted to finish his fourth drink. That way, it wouldn't hurt so much if Andy kicked him to death, or poked his eyeballs out with the stilettos he'd given her out of the kindness of his heart.
Shit.
He lurched into the elevator, and for a moment, it was like the walls were closing in. So much for thinking that the booze would help. Now he was both drunk and paranoid.
Screw it, he thought. Just open the damned door and take whatever comes. Once he arrived in the foyer, he only briefly considered vomiting into the potted plant in the corner.
He unjammed the door the way Emily had shown him and knocked softly. When he put his hand on the knob, it jerked away from his fingers and flew open. Miranda stood there, imperious and silent. "Bag," she said. Nigel handed it over.
"And mine?" Andy asked, her voice flat as she followed Miranda into the foyer. He handed that one over too.
Neither of them said a word when they walked out the door.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" he said to the empty hallway.
---
EMILY, CAROLINE, CASSIDY.
"What do you mean they didn't say anything?" Emily squawked. Both twins' heads were in Emily's face as they tried to listen in on the conversation. "Oh, fine," she said, and put the cell on speaker. "Tell me again what happened?"
"I opened the door and they walked out. That was it. It was weird." Nigel hiccupped.
"Are you drunk?" Cassidy demanded.
"Yep. But the phones are all back in place, and I'm going back to the bar. You'll probably know more soon so call me. If I don't answer, that means I've passed out. Don't bother with a message unless it's good news."
"They didn't give you any indication of anything?" Emily asked.
"None. Sorry. Gotta go." Nigel hung up.
Cassidy hugged Emily tightly. "Oh man, we are fucked!"
"Watch your language," Emily said sharply. She shook her head. "I don’t understand."
Caroline snuggled closer into Emily's lap. "She's going to be so mad. Emily, I don't want you to die!"
Emily deflated. "Me neither."
There were fifteen very long minutes of hand-wringing until Caroline heard the car. She grabbed Emily's arm and they set off for the bottom of the stairwell. The trio stood holding each other protectively when Miranda unlocked the door and came inside.
Her face was blank when she spotted them.
No one moved.
Emily thought perhaps she would be fired, and that she'd have to go back to England if Miranda had her green card revoked.
Cassidy believed that every game system and form of entertainment in the house would soon disappear.
Caroline decided she could live without the television, but if her mom took the computer, she was running away.
A noise seemed to startle all four of them, and Andy stumbled in and shoved the big door closed. "Geez, thanks for waiting, Miranda. You're such a roman-" Andy realized then that they had company. "-tic."
Caroline yelped in joy.
Cassidy clapped her hands.
Emily started breathing again.
"It worked!" Cassidy shouted, jumping up and down, yanking at Emily's arm. "Oh my god, it worked! We did it!" She leapt at Emily, grabbing her in a bear hug. When Caroline's weight joined hers, Emily hunched over, still unable to tear her eyes from Miranda's.
"I can’t believe it!" Caroline said, her heart squeezing in her chest. Even in those first few seconds she knew her mother was happier. That hopeless look was gone, and in its place was an expression of pleasure that made Caroline feel safe and secure.
"So you were all in on this?" Andy said dryly. "I should have known."
"It was my idea, really," Cassidy said.
Emily and Caroline both nodded. That was true.
Miranda lifted her eyebrow and glared at Emily. "I should fire you. And have you deported."
Emily swallowed.
Andy nudged her. "Stop it. Em, you're fine. You're ridiculous, but your job is safe."
"So now you're telling my employees what their jobs are?" Miranda asked her.
Andy rolled her eyes.
Emily relaxed completely then. If Andy was rolling her eyes at Miranda, they were practically engaged.
Miranda took off her coat and tossed her bag on the hall table. "Go home, Emily. You've gone above and beyond the call of duty. And despite my better judgment, you're not fired. Do us all a favor and keep this little escapade to yourself, won't you? Otherwise I make no promises."
"Of course, Miranda." Emily smiled, and hugged the twins. "Good work!" she whispered.
"Bye, Em," they both said to her, with giant grins on their faces. "You saved us," said Caroline.
That was kind of sweet, Emily thought.
The girls flew into Miranda's arms, and got the first real hugs from her that they'd had in weeks. Caroline and Cassidy looked at each other and high-fived from within Miranda's embrace.
Emily put on her coat and turned to look back once before walking out.
Andy was watching her. "I owe you," she mouthed quietly.
Emily nodded. "You certainly do," she mumbled, and left the townhouse. “Everyone owes me."
---
NIGEL, STILL DRUNK, AND EMILY.
Emily sidled up to Nigel, who had his nose in a glass. "Hey sailor, new in town?" she leered.
He looked up and appeared to barely recognize her. "You look familiar."
"I should. My little plan worked like a charm."
"It did?" That perked Nigel up, until he frowned. "What do you mean your little plan? I believe it was our little plan."
"Oh fine. You did help," Emily said. "I think we deserve to stay the night in the room upstairs. We paid enough for it."
"How much?"
Emily shrugged. "My Christmas bonus should cover it."
"You think you're getting a bonus this year?"
"We'd both better get one. We just saved the entire corporation from utter disaster."
Nigel had to agree. "I doubt Runway would have had a staff by the end of the month if something didn't change."
With the true sense of accomplishment that comes only from a job well done, Emily sighed deeply. "I love it when a plan comes together." She glanced at Nigel's empty glass. "How many have you had?"
"Um, four. No, five," he said.
"Bartender," she waved. "Bring me five-what are you having?"
"Martini," Nigel said with a growing smile.
"I’d like five more Martinis." She tapped the table. "Just line them up right here."
The end, mostly.
On to the extras! In other words, Part IV.