New fic: The Cut, DWP
Title: The Cut
Author: chilly_flame
Pairing: Andy/Miranda
Disclaimer: I don’t own anything related to the Devil Wears Prada.
Notes: It took a while, but here’s the next bit in my Sick Day series, following The Upper Hand. Thanks to Xander for the read through!
Andy’s shoulders are hunched over the computer; she knows she needs to improve her posture, but right now, she has more important things to worry about. Namely, the rewrite on the summer scarves piece, which was approved last week but has since been unapproved now that Miranda has some time on her hands. As usual, Miranda micromanages everything in the magazine, which makes Andy a little crazy, but then again, after Andy read the piece, she realized Miranda was right. A few months ago Miranda sent down an edict to broaden their editorial text to appeal to not only the very wealthy but those aspiring to wealth as well. The advertising climate is shifting with the financial collapse, and it was “suggested” to Miranda that Runway increase its willingness to shoot for a larger demographic of active readers who actually buy items featured in its pages. Advertisers used to believe that the cachet of appearing in Runway was enough to bolster sales, but those days are over.
Like any intelligent leader, Miranda balked privately, but agreed publicly. After a while, she decided that it was the correct choice, especially considering where the markets are at this stage. Instead of worrying about the future, Andy focuses on her daily grind, and listens to Miranda’s concerns when the day is done. She has a far greater understanding of the business side of the magazine now than she ever intended; Miranda is remarkably free with her conversation when they are next to one another in bed. She divulges nothing secret, but she’s not ashamed to confess her concerns and uncertainties. In a way, this is a burden to Andy, but mostly it’s a privilege that she deeply appreciates. Miranda tells no one else these things, Andy is certain, so she holds the weight without regret.
These nightly conversations also tell Andy that Miranda has far more heart invested at work than anyone at Runway would believe. Sometimes Andy thinks that Miranda should play a little nicer at the office, but it’s not her place to say so, and she keeps her mouth shut. Then again, Andy’s a little less nice than she used to be. She doesn’t deal with idiocy well, and has much less patience for incompetence. She’s still considerate, but she’s also more open to cutting someone off at the start of a bad idea rather than wasting her time listening to something she already knows she won’t agree to. At first she didn’t even realize she was doing it, until Lucien brought it up once over lunch in the cafeteria. He approves, which makes Andy feel okay, but it makes her question if she’s inadvertently taking on Miranda’s traits.
It doesn’t really matter, though. Andy has less time than ever to suffer fools, since they are down an editor. She is doing two jobs while Stella is out with pneumonia, and today she ended up with the scarves piece. She cuts and rewrites with vicious precision. As she finishes the second paragraph, she notices that the normal sounds of office chatter have gone silent, and she looks up.
Miranda is staring at her with a piercing expression, one Andy can’t decipher. She doesn’t look mad exactly, but…
Then she remembers.
Oh. Whoops.
It’s Wednesday, and Miranda was out of the office all of Tuesday in meetings. They didn’t see each other last night, because Miranda had two evening events and Andy wanted to clean her dusty apartment.
This is the first time that Miranda’s seen Andy’s new hair cut.
She touches the blunt slant of hair that now hangs just to her chin, longer in front and shorter in back. It’s stick straight, which probably won’t last, but everyone has told her how stylish it looks.
Andy had some thoughts about Miranda’s reaction to her new look. In fact, some of those thoughts were not very… pleasant, which is why she insisted on going to her own apartment last night instead of to the townhouse. Miranda has always enjoyed Andy’s hair long. She’s never said straight out that Andy shouldn’t cut her hair, but then again, Andy didn’t even bring up the idea that she’d been thinking of changing her style.
But she had been, for a while. She considers the cut a multi-layered statement. “I make my own decisions.” “You’re not the boss of me. Except at work.” And, “I know you like my hair, but I’m cutting it just to see what happens.” That last one, Andy is ashamed to admit, is a big part of the change. It’s a power play. She wants to test Miranda, and test herself at the same time. Andy never thought a new hairstyle would be such a huge decision. But it is, at least when your lover is Miranda Priestly.
Ten seconds pass, give or take, and no one moves. Miranda blinks, eyebrow raised. “Hmm,” she says, and stalks off in the direction she was originally headed, toward the main conference room.
Jocelyn exhales a huge breath from her perch on Stella’s empty desk. “What was that all about?”
Andy shrugs. “Maybe she didn’t like my hair.”
Jocelyn chuckles. “Don’t know why. I think its smashing.”
“Thank you,” Andy replies.
“Me too,” Gavin adds, from his desk a few feet away. “I meant to tell you earlier. It’s very sophisticated.” He’s kissing up, Andy knows, because he’s new on the job and trying to make a good impression. But he’s nice enough, and if Andy plays her cards right, she’ll be able to pass off much of her current workload to him. She’s been in her current position a short eight months, but a long-time features assistant editor named Sasha just bailed for Elle. It was a good move; after her departure, Lucien told Andy straight out that Sasha wouldn’t have been promoted internally if she stuck around.
“Some people don’t have what it takes,” Lucien had said. “Sasha didn’t put in the time, or the effort. Elle might be a better fit for her, but you never know.” Lucien had eyed her speculatively. “Are you interested in her spot?”
Andy had nodded.
“It’s a little soon, but I’ll get back to you about it in a few weeks.”
Andy expected to put at least a year in as an editorial associate before any thought of promotion to assistant editor. But the position is within reach, and she wants it. Badly. It’s the exact opposite of everything Andy expected out of a career, but something happened once she moved off Miranda’s desk. She discovered she is good at this job, and she enjoys the work. It’s kind of embarrassing to like researching fashion, but Andy has a taste for it now, and it’s addicting.
Of course, Miranda is addicting too. Miranda finds it very attractive when Andy suddenly reveals an expertise in the evolution of silk production through the ages, or when she waxes poetic about fractals used in computer fashion design. There is so much more to know, and learn, and Andy has become hungry for it, both for herself and for Miranda.
Her parents are confused, and Andy doesn’t know what to tell them. She still wants to work for the New Yorker, or the National Review, or the Times. But this is her life now. Work, and Miranda. She likes who she is, and especially likes knowing that she does great work and is appreciated by smart, interesting people. It’s good experience too. All those jobs that were supposed to open up after she spent a year as Miranda’s assistant will still be there when she’s ready to move on.
The one drawback is the inability to “come out” as Miranda’s lover. They are happy together, or so Andy believes. They haven’t talked much about going public for a thousand reasons, but it’s getting harder to keep her feelings secret. Not at work; that wall is easy to maintain there, because Miranda wears her professional face very well. But in her friendships, it’s like living two lives. She has told exactly no one about Miranda, and it’s sad that she can’t share stories about Miranda’s quirks, or the things that drive her crazy, or the things that make her smile.
It’s still worth it. It will always be worth it. But once in a while, she’d like to have lunch with Miranda in her office, or out at a nice restaurant. It’s unlikely; she’ll have to leave Runway for anything like that to happen. It’s funny-for so long she yearned to get out of this office and get on with her life, and now she wishes she could stay for good.
Head down, she keeps at her work until her phone buzzes on her desk. She glances at it. It’s Miranda.
BR, it says.
Andy rolls her eyes.
Can’t, Andy replies. too much work.
We need to talk.
Andy gets a queasy feeling in her belly. They wouldn’t break up over a haircut, would they? Miranda’s not that nuts.
redoing the scarves piece you requested. tonight I’m all yours. if you still want me.
Andy hits send and looks up at Nigel, who is staring down at her with a raised eyebrow. “I’ll take that,” he says, hand out and open.
Andy chuckles and stuffs the phone in her pocket. “Sorry, boss man. I’m almost done.”
“Usually when children are caught playing with toys during the school day, they have to hand them over to the teacher.”
“Ha ha. I promise I’m on it.”
“Fine, fine,” Nigel says, and Andy relaxes. “I can’t believe you have time for a boyfriend, anyway. What’s he think about the new hair?”
Andy is embarrassed to feel her face flush a deep red. “Um, I-I, well-“ She hasn’t out and out lied to Nigel before about having a boyfriend. She’s implied she’s attached, but hasn’t said anything more. “I can’t say,” she replies, finally. As soon as the words leave her mouth, she wonders why she didn’t just say she was texting with a friend. He wouldn’t have known the difference.
Nigel eyes her, tilting his head. “Huh. I’m-“ He blinks at her, clearly wanting to know more. But he’s been less inquisitive in the last few months, perhaps sensing Andy’s reticence to share. “Well, I love it. It’s very sharp. And Miranda likes it too. It certainly caught her eye today.”
Andy swallows against a dry throat. “That’s good. But I’m not sure she does. Not that it matters, but-“
“No, she likes it. I know these things.”
Andy smiles weakly, and hopes he’s right.
---
Andy stays later than usual that night; it’s nearly nine when she puts her computer to sleep. She is mortified to be so anxious, but that doesn’t convince her to head to Miranda’s any sooner. But when she heads for the exit, she sees Miranda’s light on, and Alexis is at the second assistant desk, reading a magazine. Andy considers walking by as if she doesn’t notice the young, well-put-together woman, but ultimately she decides she’d better say something.
“Hey, Alexis,” Andy says. “Have a good night.” She glances over her shoulder toward Miranda’s chair. “Think you’ll be here late?”
“Oh, I-“ Alexis begins, but she’s interrupted by the soft voice that wafts out from the inner sanctum.
“Andrea,” Miranda says, and Andy has a funny flashback to the early days last year when she was utterly terrified of her boss. She grins, and shrugs at Alexis.
In the office, Andy waits in front of Miranda’s desk for a few moments, and she’s tempted to whistle a little tune in her impatience. She doesn’t, fortunately. When she finally sits down, Miranda glances up. “Hmm,” she says.
Andy’s guts twist. “Hi.”
Miranda looks over Andy’s shoulder at the open door that doesn’t really separate them from Alexis. “I’ll be leaving shortly. Did you eat?” Her voice is so quiet that Andy has to strain to hear her.
Andy doesn’t know what she expected Miranda to say, but whatever had crossed her mind, it wasn’t about dinner. “Um, no. I had a snack a little while ago.”
“James is keeping dinner for us. We’re having lamb.”
On command, Andy’s stomach growls. She covers her mouth, trying not to laugh, but Miranda’s smile warms Andy right up. “Sounds good,” she breathes. “Very.”
At that, Miranda leans forward, and asks Andy straight out, “Will you take the promotion when Lucien offers it to you?”
Andy inhales. Of course Miranda would know if Lucien was considering her, but Andy had tried hard not to think about it. There’s no avoiding it now. “I’m not sure. It hasn’t happened yet.”
Nodding, Miranda leans back. “I think-we should, or rather-“ Miranda lets out an exasperated huff. “Alexis,” Miranda calls out, voice raised.
The girl’s heels scuff the marble before she appears in the doorway. “Yes?”
“Bring me a latte. Decaf.” She adds with a raised eyebrow, “Hot.”
“Of course, Miranda. Just the-“ she glances over at Andy. Whatever she is about to ask--Andy’s sure that she wants to know if Andy would like one too-dies on her lips, and she departs in a flurry of clacking down the long hallway.
Andy relaxes a bit in her chair, and lets her eyes soften as she gazes at Miranda. “Convenient.”
“Well I had intended to wait till later to discuss this, since you so succinctly put me off earlier-“
“I was working!” Andy declares. “I just got the project this morning!”
Miranda rolls her eyes, “Yes, yes, I know. Regardless, it’s important. It’s your decision to make, of course.”
Andy watches Miranda, and wonders what she’s thinking. The wheels are turning behind her eyes. “What do you think I should do?”
Miranda’s lips are pressed together, but her eyes never leave Andy’s. “Take the job. Lucien has assured me that you’re ready.” She licks her lips. “It does put a, well, kink in… everything else.”
Andy glances over her shoulder out of habit. No one is watching, or listening, she hopes. “You mean about us.” Miranda nods her assent. “That’s been on my mind too. But I can do that job, Miranda. We both know I can. No matter who I go home with at the end of the night, I’m good for Runway. I have more to offer than almost anyone else at my level, and even though I’m not a walking encyclopedia-“
“Andrea, you don’t have to sell yourself to me to get the promotion. Lucien is only waiting for Stella to come back to work before he makes the offer.” Gazing at the ceiling, Miranda adds, “And if you were taking a position at another magazine, I would tell you to negotiate up to what you’re worth.” She shakes her head. “God, this is not what I imagined for either of us. I should have sent you to Vanity Fair long ago.”
Andy gapes at her, open-mouthed. “I could have gone to Vanity Fair and you didn’t even tell me?”
Miranda seems to wake up at Andy’s words, as though she is surprised to have spoken her thoughts aloud. “At this stage, I would have had to ask for a favor, which I do not care to do, and it would have been another assistant position for someone below the editor in chief. A step down in both pay and responsibility.”
That mollifies Andy, a little. “Well, okay. I just wish I’d known about it.”
“There was no ‘it’ to know, darling. But I had the thought, simply to make it easier on myself. Without you here, there would be far fewer complications. Then again, I’d lose your talent, and enormous potential.” Miranda’s lips curl upward. “Not to mention your pretty face. Which is well-framed by that lovely haircut that you neglected to bring up last night when we spoke.”
Andy chuckles and looks down at her hands. “I was nervous.”
Miranda frowns. “Whatever for?”
Andy stares in amazement. “You’re joking, right? You, of the many lessons in belts and hats and shoes and what not to wear, telling me I shouldn’t be nervous when I get a new haircut and don’t ask for advice beforehand?”
“It’s your head. I don’t care if you shave it all off, you’d still be as breathtaking as you were the day we met.” Miranda is looking down at her nails when she says this; it’s typical for her to avoid Andy’s eyes when she is giving heartbreakingly sweet compliments. “In any case, you made a good choice. But the real question is, how do you feel about it?”
Andy shrugs. “I like it. It makes me look-“ Older. She narrowly avoids saying even though it’s true. “More sophisticated. And smart.”
“You’re both those things, so we can just assume the new cut has done its job. If you like it, I like it.” She sighs, and stands, which means its time for Andy to go. “And Vanity Fair’s not going anywhere. I only wish…” She trails off.
“You think there’s no way for us to make it work, with both of us here?” Andy is disappointed, because she doesn’t want to go.
“I’m not… I don’t know. But I’ll admit that it’s rather tiring, putting on the facade. It’s no one’s business. But it is business, which means I shouldn’t be telling you how to negotiate a job offer.”
Andy sees real regret in her expression, which makes her feel rotten. “Come on, Miranda, the whole world knows that you should always ask for more than what you’re offered. It’s not like you’re revealing top secret information.” She winks. “But I appreciate the tip.”
“Fine, fine. Now disappear. I’ll leave in fifteen minutes. Tell James for me?”
“Happily. I’ll open the wine before you get home to make sure it’s up to snuff.”
“The wine is already breathing, and if you take one sip before I walk in the door, you will be very, very sorry.”
Andy wants to walk around the desk and give her a hug and a kiss before leaving. Instead, she stands and awkwardly waves. “See you soon, then.”
“Very,” Miranda replies. She doesn’t smile, but her eyes warm in a way that makes Andy’s heart swell to bursting within her chest.
It’s a close call, but Andy manages to leave without going in for the kiss. At least for now. Later tonight, it will be a whole new ballgame.
Author: chilly_flame
Pairing: Andy/Miranda
Disclaimer: I don’t own anything related to the Devil Wears Prada.
Notes: It took a while, but here’s the next bit in my Sick Day series, following The Upper Hand. Thanks to Xander for the read through!
Andy’s shoulders are hunched over the computer; she knows she needs to improve her posture, but right now, she has more important things to worry about. Namely, the rewrite on the summer scarves piece, which was approved last week but has since been unapproved now that Miranda has some time on her hands. As usual, Miranda micromanages everything in the magazine, which makes Andy a little crazy, but then again, after Andy read the piece, she realized Miranda was right. A few months ago Miranda sent down an edict to broaden their editorial text to appeal to not only the very wealthy but those aspiring to wealth as well. The advertising climate is shifting with the financial collapse, and it was “suggested” to Miranda that Runway increase its willingness to shoot for a larger demographic of active readers who actually buy items featured in its pages. Advertisers used to believe that the cachet of appearing in Runway was enough to bolster sales, but those days are over.
Like any intelligent leader, Miranda balked privately, but agreed publicly. After a while, she decided that it was the correct choice, especially considering where the markets are at this stage. Instead of worrying about the future, Andy focuses on her daily grind, and listens to Miranda’s concerns when the day is done. She has a far greater understanding of the business side of the magazine now than she ever intended; Miranda is remarkably free with her conversation when they are next to one another in bed. She divulges nothing secret, but she’s not ashamed to confess her concerns and uncertainties. In a way, this is a burden to Andy, but mostly it’s a privilege that she deeply appreciates. Miranda tells no one else these things, Andy is certain, so she holds the weight without regret.
These nightly conversations also tell Andy that Miranda has far more heart invested at work than anyone at Runway would believe. Sometimes Andy thinks that Miranda should play a little nicer at the office, but it’s not her place to say so, and she keeps her mouth shut. Then again, Andy’s a little less nice than she used to be. She doesn’t deal with idiocy well, and has much less patience for incompetence. She’s still considerate, but she’s also more open to cutting someone off at the start of a bad idea rather than wasting her time listening to something she already knows she won’t agree to. At first she didn’t even realize she was doing it, until Lucien brought it up once over lunch in the cafeteria. He approves, which makes Andy feel okay, but it makes her question if she’s inadvertently taking on Miranda’s traits.
It doesn’t really matter, though. Andy has less time than ever to suffer fools, since they are down an editor. She is doing two jobs while Stella is out with pneumonia, and today she ended up with the scarves piece. She cuts and rewrites with vicious precision. As she finishes the second paragraph, she notices that the normal sounds of office chatter have gone silent, and she looks up.
Miranda is staring at her with a piercing expression, one Andy can’t decipher. She doesn’t look mad exactly, but…
Then she remembers.
Oh. Whoops.
It’s Wednesday, and Miranda was out of the office all of Tuesday in meetings. They didn’t see each other last night, because Miranda had two evening events and Andy wanted to clean her dusty apartment.
This is the first time that Miranda’s seen Andy’s new hair cut.
She touches the blunt slant of hair that now hangs just to her chin, longer in front and shorter in back. It’s stick straight, which probably won’t last, but everyone has told her how stylish it looks.
Andy had some thoughts about Miranda’s reaction to her new look. In fact, some of those thoughts were not very… pleasant, which is why she insisted on going to her own apartment last night instead of to the townhouse. Miranda has always enjoyed Andy’s hair long. She’s never said straight out that Andy shouldn’t cut her hair, but then again, Andy didn’t even bring up the idea that she’d been thinking of changing her style.
But she had been, for a while. She considers the cut a multi-layered statement. “I make my own decisions.” “You’re not the boss of me. Except at work.” And, “I know you like my hair, but I’m cutting it just to see what happens.” That last one, Andy is ashamed to admit, is a big part of the change. It’s a power play. She wants to test Miranda, and test herself at the same time. Andy never thought a new hairstyle would be such a huge decision. But it is, at least when your lover is Miranda Priestly.
Ten seconds pass, give or take, and no one moves. Miranda blinks, eyebrow raised. “Hmm,” she says, and stalks off in the direction she was originally headed, toward the main conference room.
Jocelyn exhales a huge breath from her perch on Stella’s empty desk. “What was that all about?”
Andy shrugs. “Maybe she didn’t like my hair.”
Jocelyn chuckles. “Don’t know why. I think its smashing.”
“Thank you,” Andy replies.
“Me too,” Gavin adds, from his desk a few feet away. “I meant to tell you earlier. It’s very sophisticated.” He’s kissing up, Andy knows, because he’s new on the job and trying to make a good impression. But he’s nice enough, and if Andy plays her cards right, she’ll be able to pass off much of her current workload to him. She’s been in her current position a short eight months, but a long-time features assistant editor named Sasha just bailed for Elle. It was a good move; after her departure, Lucien told Andy straight out that Sasha wouldn’t have been promoted internally if she stuck around.
“Some people don’t have what it takes,” Lucien had said. “Sasha didn’t put in the time, or the effort. Elle might be a better fit for her, but you never know.” Lucien had eyed her speculatively. “Are you interested in her spot?”
Andy had nodded.
“It’s a little soon, but I’ll get back to you about it in a few weeks.”
Andy expected to put at least a year in as an editorial associate before any thought of promotion to assistant editor. But the position is within reach, and she wants it. Badly. It’s the exact opposite of everything Andy expected out of a career, but something happened once she moved off Miranda’s desk. She discovered she is good at this job, and she enjoys the work. It’s kind of embarrassing to like researching fashion, but Andy has a taste for it now, and it’s addicting.
Of course, Miranda is addicting too. Miranda finds it very attractive when Andy suddenly reveals an expertise in the evolution of silk production through the ages, or when she waxes poetic about fractals used in computer fashion design. There is so much more to know, and learn, and Andy has become hungry for it, both for herself and for Miranda.
Her parents are confused, and Andy doesn’t know what to tell them. She still wants to work for the New Yorker, or the National Review, or the Times. But this is her life now. Work, and Miranda. She likes who she is, and especially likes knowing that she does great work and is appreciated by smart, interesting people. It’s good experience too. All those jobs that were supposed to open up after she spent a year as Miranda’s assistant will still be there when she’s ready to move on.
The one drawback is the inability to “come out” as Miranda’s lover. They are happy together, or so Andy believes. They haven’t talked much about going public for a thousand reasons, but it’s getting harder to keep her feelings secret. Not at work; that wall is easy to maintain there, because Miranda wears her professional face very well. But in her friendships, it’s like living two lives. She has told exactly no one about Miranda, and it’s sad that she can’t share stories about Miranda’s quirks, or the things that drive her crazy, or the things that make her smile.
It’s still worth it. It will always be worth it. But once in a while, she’d like to have lunch with Miranda in her office, or out at a nice restaurant. It’s unlikely; she’ll have to leave Runway for anything like that to happen. It’s funny-for so long she yearned to get out of this office and get on with her life, and now she wishes she could stay for good.
Head down, she keeps at her work until her phone buzzes on her desk. She glances at it. It’s Miranda.
BR, it says.
Andy rolls her eyes.
Can’t, Andy replies. too much work.
We need to talk.
Andy gets a queasy feeling in her belly. They wouldn’t break up over a haircut, would they? Miranda’s not that nuts.
redoing the scarves piece you requested. tonight I’m all yours. if you still want me.
Andy hits send and looks up at Nigel, who is staring down at her with a raised eyebrow. “I’ll take that,” he says, hand out and open.
Andy chuckles and stuffs the phone in her pocket. “Sorry, boss man. I’m almost done.”
“Usually when children are caught playing with toys during the school day, they have to hand them over to the teacher.”
“Ha ha. I promise I’m on it.”
“Fine, fine,” Nigel says, and Andy relaxes. “I can’t believe you have time for a boyfriend, anyway. What’s he think about the new hair?”
Andy is embarrassed to feel her face flush a deep red. “Um, I-I, well-“ She hasn’t out and out lied to Nigel before about having a boyfriend. She’s implied she’s attached, but hasn’t said anything more. “I can’t say,” she replies, finally. As soon as the words leave her mouth, she wonders why she didn’t just say she was texting with a friend. He wouldn’t have known the difference.
Nigel eyes her, tilting his head. “Huh. I’m-“ He blinks at her, clearly wanting to know more. But he’s been less inquisitive in the last few months, perhaps sensing Andy’s reticence to share. “Well, I love it. It’s very sharp. And Miranda likes it too. It certainly caught her eye today.”
Andy swallows against a dry throat. “That’s good. But I’m not sure she does. Not that it matters, but-“
“No, she likes it. I know these things.”
Andy smiles weakly, and hopes he’s right.
---
Andy stays later than usual that night; it’s nearly nine when she puts her computer to sleep. She is mortified to be so anxious, but that doesn’t convince her to head to Miranda’s any sooner. But when she heads for the exit, she sees Miranda’s light on, and Alexis is at the second assistant desk, reading a magazine. Andy considers walking by as if she doesn’t notice the young, well-put-together woman, but ultimately she decides she’d better say something.
“Hey, Alexis,” Andy says. “Have a good night.” She glances over her shoulder toward Miranda’s chair. “Think you’ll be here late?”
“Oh, I-“ Alexis begins, but she’s interrupted by the soft voice that wafts out from the inner sanctum.
“Andrea,” Miranda says, and Andy has a funny flashback to the early days last year when she was utterly terrified of her boss. She grins, and shrugs at Alexis.
In the office, Andy waits in front of Miranda’s desk for a few moments, and she’s tempted to whistle a little tune in her impatience. She doesn’t, fortunately. When she finally sits down, Miranda glances up. “Hmm,” she says.
Andy’s guts twist. “Hi.”
Miranda looks over Andy’s shoulder at the open door that doesn’t really separate them from Alexis. “I’ll be leaving shortly. Did you eat?” Her voice is so quiet that Andy has to strain to hear her.
Andy doesn’t know what she expected Miranda to say, but whatever had crossed her mind, it wasn’t about dinner. “Um, no. I had a snack a little while ago.”
“James is keeping dinner for us. We’re having lamb.”
On command, Andy’s stomach growls. She covers her mouth, trying not to laugh, but Miranda’s smile warms Andy right up. “Sounds good,” she breathes. “Very.”
At that, Miranda leans forward, and asks Andy straight out, “Will you take the promotion when Lucien offers it to you?”
Andy inhales. Of course Miranda would know if Lucien was considering her, but Andy had tried hard not to think about it. There’s no avoiding it now. “I’m not sure. It hasn’t happened yet.”
Nodding, Miranda leans back. “I think-we should, or rather-“ Miranda lets out an exasperated huff. “Alexis,” Miranda calls out, voice raised.
The girl’s heels scuff the marble before she appears in the doorway. “Yes?”
“Bring me a latte. Decaf.” She adds with a raised eyebrow, “Hot.”
“Of course, Miranda. Just the-“ she glances over at Andy. Whatever she is about to ask--Andy’s sure that she wants to know if Andy would like one too-dies on her lips, and she departs in a flurry of clacking down the long hallway.
Andy relaxes a bit in her chair, and lets her eyes soften as she gazes at Miranda. “Convenient.”
“Well I had intended to wait till later to discuss this, since you so succinctly put me off earlier-“
“I was working!” Andy declares. “I just got the project this morning!”
Miranda rolls her eyes, “Yes, yes, I know. Regardless, it’s important. It’s your decision to make, of course.”
Andy watches Miranda, and wonders what she’s thinking. The wheels are turning behind her eyes. “What do you think I should do?”
Miranda’s lips are pressed together, but her eyes never leave Andy’s. “Take the job. Lucien has assured me that you’re ready.” She licks her lips. “It does put a, well, kink in… everything else.”
Andy glances over her shoulder out of habit. No one is watching, or listening, she hopes. “You mean about us.” Miranda nods her assent. “That’s been on my mind too. But I can do that job, Miranda. We both know I can. No matter who I go home with at the end of the night, I’m good for Runway. I have more to offer than almost anyone else at my level, and even though I’m not a walking encyclopedia-“
“Andrea, you don’t have to sell yourself to me to get the promotion. Lucien is only waiting for Stella to come back to work before he makes the offer.” Gazing at the ceiling, Miranda adds, “And if you were taking a position at another magazine, I would tell you to negotiate up to what you’re worth.” She shakes her head. “God, this is not what I imagined for either of us. I should have sent you to Vanity Fair long ago.”
Andy gapes at her, open-mouthed. “I could have gone to Vanity Fair and you didn’t even tell me?”
Miranda seems to wake up at Andy’s words, as though she is surprised to have spoken her thoughts aloud. “At this stage, I would have had to ask for a favor, which I do not care to do, and it would have been another assistant position for someone below the editor in chief. A step down in both pay and responsibility.”
That mollifies Andy, a little. “Well, okay. I just wish I’d known about it.”
“There was no ‘it’ to know, darling. But I had the thought, simply to make it easier on myself. Without you here, there would be far fewer complications. Then again, I’d lose your talent, and enormous potential.” Miranda’s lips curl upward. “Not to mention your pretty face. Which is well-framed by that lovely haircut that you neglected to bring up last night when we spoke.”
Andy chuckles and looks down at her hands. “I was nervous.”
Miranda frowns. “Whatever for?”
Andy stares in amazement. “You’re joking, right? You, of the many lessons in belts and hats and shoes and what not to wear, telling me I shouldn’t be nervous when I get a new haircut and don’t ask for advice beforehand?”
“It’s your head. I don’t care if you shave it all off, you’d still be as breathtaking as you were the day we met.” Miranda is looking down at her nails when she says this; it’s typical for her to avoid Andy’s eyes when she is giving heartbreakingly sweet compliments. “In any case, you made a good choice. But the real question is, how do you feel about it?”
Andy shrugs. “I like it. It makes me look-“ Older. She narrowly avoids saying even though it’s true. “More sophisticated. And smart.”
“You’re both those things, so we can just assume the new cut has done its job. If you like it, I like it.” She sighs, and stands, which means its time for Andy to go. “And Vanity Fair’s not going anywhere. I only wish…” She trails off.
“You think there’s no way for us to make it work, with both of us here?” Andy is disappointed, because she doesn’t want to go.
“I’m not… I don’t know. But I’ll admit that it’s rather tiring, putting on the facade. It’s no one’s business. But it is business, which means I shouldn’t be telling you how to negotiate a job offer.”
Andy sees real regret in her expression, which makes her feel rotten. “Come on, Miranda, the whole world knows that you should always ask for more than what you’re offered. It’s not like you’re revealing top secret information.” She winks. “But I appreciate the tip.”
“Fine, fine. Now disappear. I’ll leave in fifteen minutes. Tell James for me?”
“Happily. I’ll open the wine before you get home to make sure it’s up to snuff.”
“The wine is already breathing, and if you take one sip before I walk in the door, you will be very, very sorry.”
Andy wants to walk around the desk and give her a hug and a kiss before leaving. Instead, she stands and awkwardly waves. “See you soon, then.”
“Very,” Miranda replies. She doesn’t smile, but her eyes warm in a way that makes Andy’s heart swell to bursting within her chest.
It’s a close call, but Andy manages to leave without going in for the kiss. At least for now. Later tonight, it will be a whole new ballgame.