Team Building (Chapter 2 of 4)
Title: Team Building (2 of 4)
Author: DuWinter
Fandom: DWP
Pairing: Andy/OFC Andy/Miranda
Summery: Miranda and Andy are involved in a team building exercise.
VDay Exchange: Back-up author for the VDay exchange gift to Larry200. Part 2. Sorry for the delay in posting. RL took something of a sudden hard right and I'm still adjusting.
Prompt: Miranda hates Valentine's Day. Andy changes her mind. They aren't together. Smut is welcome.
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: No profit being made here. The Devil Wears Prada is the property of Lauren Weisberger and 20th Century Fox. They do not belong to me. I'm just playing with them for a short while. I promise to put them away neatly when I'm through.
Comments: This is not betaed. My fault, all mistakes mine and mine alone. Comments and constructive criticism feed the muse and the muse is always hungry.
Archiving: If Cryptic Rain wishes too she's welcome. If anyone else is interested please ask.
Andy's work cell phone rings at two o'clock on Sunday afternoon. Her day to this point has been lazy. She has slept in and she hasn't really got any plans. She's grabs the phone on the second ring and is surprised to see Miranda's number on the display. “Yes Miranda?” she says before the device can ring the fatal third time. Consequences for allowing a phone to ring three times when Miranda is on the other end of the line can be dire indeed.
“Andrea,” Miranda says, her tone distracted. “Are you busy this afternoon?”
Andy's mind stops for a brief moment. Miranda was asking her? Not telling, but asking? This was new and different. “Ahh, No, Miranda. I don't have any plans...”
“Good.” Miranda says, her tone not at all her usual cold, quiet, all business one. “Do you think you might be able to pick up a copy of this film you've chosen for our scene? Come by and I'll feed you dinner and we can start working on this silly project.”
Andy is confused at first. Miranda hadn't been in class. How did she know that Andy had mentioned a scene? To buy time to think she temporizes, “Scene, Miranda?”
“Yes, Andrea.” Miranda responds, her voice again beginning to resemble the persona that she is at work. It never does to keep the Ice Queen waiting for anything. “The one that you told the instructor that we would be preforming.”
“Yes,” the doe eyed girl answers, “How did...? How did you hear about that.”
Miranda laughs into the phone. “I had coffee with an old friend this morning. You apparently made quite an impression on him yesterday in the class. He spoke very highly of you to me as we talked.”
Andy's breathing is becoming both rapid and shallow. Oh gods! She thinks. She is going to have to show Miranda the scene. She's only picked it because she'd seen it the night before and it had made an impression. She'd only mentioned it in class because Nigel's partner had asked her and she wanted to seem like she was prepared. She'd never intended it to go any farther than that. She didn't realize that the instructor was standing behind her. And oh gods! Naomi knew the film! And now Andy was going to have to show Miranda the scene were wine is spilled and tops come off and oh gods! Andy has never been so thankful that she is alone in her apartment and not eye to eye with her employer. She flushes to the roots of her hair. “Ahhhh, I can get it Miranda,” she answers hurriedly. “I have to call a friend and see if I can borrow the VCR tape.”
Oh, don't bother with that Andrea. Give me the name of the film and I'll have Emily get us a copy on DVD. We'll likely need access to it while we prepare and we don't want your friend to have to do without their film for the next several weeks.
“Okay...Andy says. “It's called The Hunger. It's an early eighties film.
Miranda makes a note on a piece of paper. “And who stars in it?” She asks.
“Susan Sarandon, Catherine Deneuve and David Bowie” Andy answers, becoming more uncomfortable by the moment. How will Miranda react to this film she's likely never heard of? She wonders.
“Catherine Deneuve?” Miranda replies. “How charming. I was a huge fan of hers when I was with French Runway early in my career. Her performance in Le Sauvage was brilliant and I was present at the Cesar awards when she won for Le Dernier Métro.” Miranda sighs wistfully into the phone and Andy thinks it one of the most erotic things she's ever heard. “That was the last year I was living in Paris. Seems like forever ago now.” the white haired woman reminisces. Miranda seems to come to herself again and her tone is closer to the cold, quiet, all business one she uses so successfully on her employees. “May I expect you in an hour Andrea?” she asks....Asks Andy.
“Yes, Miranda.” Andy answers, “I'll can be there in an hour. As for picking up the DVD there's no reason to bother Emily. I can pick it up on the way over.”
“Nonsense Andrea. I wouldn't want to inconvenience you on your day off. You're already doing me a favor by rearranging your schedule and making time for me. Besides, that's what Emily is for,” Miranda answers, sounding every inch the icon.
“Okay,” Andy says, “See you in an hour.”
“I look forward too it, Andrea,” Miranda's sweet voice caresses
The early Sunday afternoon call to Emily is all Miranda, all the way. No greeting, no introduction. Just, “I want a DVD copy of the movie The Hunger. Catherine Deneuve, early nineteen-eighties. Have it delivered to the townhouse within the hour. Then call that place I like that does the Cornish hens on a bed of cellophane noodles. Arrange dinner for four to be delivered. I want to serve at six sharp. That's all,” and the line goes dead.
Emily, who had been partying with Serena until well after dawn and been woken from a sound sleep in her lover's arms, stares at the phone for a moment and then gently disengages herself from the blond woman's embrace. Serena moans her displeasure and in the absence of Emily's body, cuddles the red head's pillow as if it were her lover. “Where are you going?” Slurs the sleepy words from the Brazilian beauty. “Come back to bed.”
“Can't,” the Brit answers, already beginning to dress. “Duty bloody calls” she says with murder in her heart. Then looking at her lover snuggling into the warm spot she had just vacated on the bed her mood improves. “With any luck I'll be back in an hour or an hour and a half. Then I'll make brunch for us. I'll serve you brunch in bed.”
Almost an hour later Andy hurries up the street towards the front door of Miranda's townhouse almost colliding with Emily who's just leaving. Emily glares at Andy and the brunette girl holds out her hands and shakes her head. “I offered....” she says quietly in passing.
Emily snaps off the nasty thing she was about to say and nods, sighing, “I don't suppose it would be a weekend without at least one errand for Miranda.”
Andy turns and smiles from the top of the stairs “Hey, at least the rest of the day is your's I'm here to work on that silly team building thing.”
Emily stops and turns back to look at Andy. “You're the forth for dinner?” she exclaims.
Andy shrugs again and smiles a crooked smile at Emily . “She said something about feeding me when she called and asked if I could come over and work on our scene,” she says ringing the bell.
Emily rolls her eyes and shakes her head. “Don't get use to it. You're not anything special. It's just this silly team building project,” she comments in her haughty manner.
“Hey!” Andy says, caught somewhere between playful and indignant, “it could be your girlfriend spending Sunday afternoon with Miranda.” She freezes when she is suddenly aware that Miranda has opened the door and is standing behind her.
Emily, knowing at this moment she wants to be anywhere else, hurries off up the street, leaving Andy to face the inevitable question.
Miranda cocks her head and looks at the brown eyed girl standing before her. “And how, pray tell, Andrea, does Serena fit into our working on the scene?” She asks curiously.
Andy's reply is rapid fire, her words almost tumbling over each other. “weeellllll,” she says, “I kind of traded people we drew for the project so she could work with Emily and I could work with you.”
Miranda raises an eyebrow, unquestionably surprised. “Are you saying that you chose to work with me Andrea?” She asks very softly.
Andrea does not meet Miranda's eyes and nods silently.
Miranda lives in a world that people are always trying to use her. She can not remember a time she has not been acutely aware of this reality. Warning bells go off in her mind. Her voice is soft when she speaks. “And why would you do such a thing Andrea?” she asks, her voice soft, dangerous. Internally she's afraid of the coming answer.
Andy swallows and figgits, still not meeting Miranda's eyes. She knows better than to lie to the woman. Miranda has ways of knowing and it's a well known fact that not even your Gods can help you if Miranda Priestly catches you out in a lie. “Serena drew your name. But she was terrified of working that closely with you,” she offers uncomfortably. “It was kind of funny really. She was going off a mile a minute in Portuguese and it took Em and me like five minutes to get her to calm down and speak to us in English,” she shrugs. “When she told us what was scaring her I offered to trade her partners.”
Miranda stiffens a bit at this explanation. She knows she terrifies many of her employees She relies on it. Still, Andrea could have done what most of her employees would have. She could have turned her back and let it be the other clacker's problem. “And you Andrea?” she asks “Aren't you afraid of me?”
Andy looks up and meets Miranda's eyes and the Ice Queens sees determination there, and something else underneath. Something warm and wanting. Andy's words carry the weight of admirable frankness and honesty when she answers, “I'm trying not to be.”
Miranda steps back from the door, her iconic exterior showing nothing.. Andrea, her Andrea, made a choice to work with her. Not random chance, not silly fate, but a choice. She had done it by her own hand and she was here with Miranda. She was afraid and she was doing it anyway. In an instant the Ice Queens' interior is suffused by warmth. She looks out at her guest and smiles a warm smile. “It's very cold out Andrea,” she offers, her tone nothing like the deadly quiet one she uses at work. “Why don't you come inside and warm up? I'll mull some wine and then we can get started.”
The kitchen is warm and the pan of spiced wine and the one next to it of spiced apple cider smell wonderful. The twins have come down from their rooms, curious about the purpose of this new intruder, although they really pay Andy little attention, preferring to excitedly share opinions in twin speak with each other about some movie they are watching. Miranda stands at the stove, watching over and occasionally stirring the pans of heating liquid. Andy stands close by enjoying the heat from the burners. Miranda serves the girls first, large ceramic mugs of hot cider smelling of cloves, orange peel and cinnamon. The girls quickly retreat to their playroom and the movie they'd left on pause. Miranda places a large mug of hot mulled wine in Andy's hand and picking up her own cup moves to her downstairs study.
As they enter the room Miranda indicates that Andy should settle herself on the couch. Miranda moves to the big screen TV and picking up a remote moves to sit beside Andy. She hands the remote to her companion. “Show me the scene you've selected.” she says in her quietly demanding way.
It takes Andy a long moment to familiarize herself with the remote and another moment to identify and select the scene from the DVD menu. She feels a drop of sweat running down her neck. She's taking too long and she knows Miranda does not tolerate being kept waiting for anything. She notices that her heartbeat is rapid and her pulse is thundering in her ears. She is about to show Miranda a scene where two women end up in bed together. She knows she needs to get a hold of this situation before Miranda sees it and freaks out. She needs to explain to Miranda about how such a silly mistake ended them up where they were and to assure her that they can choose to do any other scene that Miranda might prefer. She turns to find Miranda's blue eyes on her. “Miranda, there's a funny story about how this scene was selected,” she starts, her tone laced with her nervousness and uncertainty. “I ran into Nigel and his partner during the class and we got to talking. The man working with him asked about you. About if we were working on the project. He asked what scene we were doing. I'd only mentioned this one because I'd just seen it the night before. We were supposed to be prepared and I know you've had a lot of other stuff on your mind....” She sighs, feeling her skin flush. She knows she's babbling. “You may not find this scene suitable...”
Miranda purses her lips. “This man working with Nigel, he is a Runway employee?” She asks, beginning to suspect she already knows his identity.
Andy looks at her. “If he is I've never seen him before. He said his name is Montgomery, Elais Montgomery.” She smiles. “He told me not to worry though, that he wasn't any relation to the Elias of Elias Clark.
Miranda closes her eyes, “No, only a godson and probably the most influential member of the board of directors,” she says softly. “I suspected that you had talked to him. As I said, he spoke rather highly of you when we had coffee together this morning.”
Andy swallows audibly. “Oh my Go....I.....I'm sorry Miranda...I was just.....” her voice stumbles.
Miranda holds up a hand silencing her companion. “You were covering for me. Just as I'd expect an assistant of your caliber to do.” She nods to herself and decides that Andrea deserves to know what's happening. “Elias came here this morning to warn me that there is more occurring here than just a team building exercise. Irv is making another power play. Trying to get me removed as editor-in-chief, again. This course is his vehicle. He knew I wouldn't take it seriously. Knew I wouldn't participate. He has convinced a number of the board that I am not a 'team' player. Convinced them that if I don't prove myself in that aspect by participating in this silly exercise, that I am a liability rather than the individual that has headed up, not only their flagship publication for the last two decades, but created the only Elias Clark publication that is consistently profitable month after month,” she declares. “Apparently, Andrea, not even I am above the possibility of termination if I do not complete the coursework.”
Andy's demeanor goes from surprised at first as she listens to angry at the end of Miranda's explanation of the stakes involved in Irv's latest little scheme. Miranda notes the look of both resolve and determination on the girl's beautiful face. “That's stupid! Runway wouldn't be Runway without you. We have to stop this,” Andy's says sharply. “ What can I do to help?” She concludes earnestly.
Miranda smiles at her guest. “You can work with me to successfully complete the course. Elias assures me that if I do so this ploy of Irv's will fall flat on it's face.”
Andy nods. “Okay.” she answers, queuing up the DVD and starting the scene. “If you find this inappropriate I'm sure we can find something you like better.”
Having not seen the film before Miranda sits back on the couch and watches the scene in silence. Andy quickly takes a place at the far end of the couch and spends more of the time the scene is playing out covertly watching Miranda's reactions rather than the television screen. Sherry is spilled on the character of Sarah's blouse. Dabbing at the offending stain and the offer of a fresh blouse becomes touching, Touches become a passionate kiss. At the kiss Andy points the remote at the DVD player to stop the scene but Miranda reaches out, grasping Andrea's hand and stays it. Andy flushes as the two women on the screen writhe together naked in bed. Her arousal of Friday evening returns as do the feelings the movie had elicited. Her breathing quickens and she colors to the roots of her hair. She is afraid to look at Miranda. Afraid of the white haired icon's reaction. Miranda spares a glance from the screen and is interested in her assistant's reaction. Miranda wonders if the effect is embarrassment or something else.
At the change of scenes, Miranda is somewhat confused because the interaction between the characters is out of context. Andy, good at reading La Priestly, can immediately tell it doesn't make sense to the white haired woman by Miranda's small furrowing of her brow. She stops the DVD immediately and waits on Miranda's reaction.
“Andrea,” she says arching an eyebrow. “I do not understand the symbolism of rivulets of blood at the end of the scene.”
Andy nods. “Miriam, the blond character, is a vampire,” she answers, still watching and more nervous than ever now, seeing that Miranda seems so calm after watching a blatantly erotic scene of two women in bed together.
“Then I am further confused. If the character of Miriam is just feeding from the character of Sarah then the scene, while quite.....” she pauses as if searching for a word, “erotic, is hardly a love scene. Miriam is just using Sarah. It doesn't fit the required criteria of a romantic scene.”
“I'm sorry Miranda,” Andy answers softly, “I should have explained better. Miriam isn't just drinking from Sarah, they're sharing blood. Miriam is doing it to make Sarah a vampire like she is. So that they can be together.
Miranda cocks her head and glances at Andrea. “Well I certainly see that there will be a few logistical problems unless you suggest that we become naked and make love in front of the assembled employees of Runway,” she suggests playfully.
Andrea blushes again and Miranda finds it charming. The second assistant shrugs. “I thought we'd leave the scene at the first kiss...”
Miranda shakes her head, “No, because then the meaning of the scene is obscured. One doesn't know about the exchange leading to a....”she pauses a long moment and then smiles, “is life together a proper choice of words?”
Andy looks down, “If you'd like to choose something more appropriate...”
Miranda shakes her head. “No,” she answers firmly, “I let my partner down by not involving myself earlier in the decision making process.” She looks to where Andrea sits beside her. “I will not insult someone that has been covering for me by second guessing the choices she's made.”
Andy looks up, surprised.
Miranda nods, more to herself than to Andrea. “We will simply have to be clever in how we present the chosen material.”
Andy nods. “So I suppose our first step would be to get the dialog written down,” she offers grabbing her purse and drawing her notebook from it.
Miranda picks up the DVD remote from where it lies and re-queues the scene. “If you'll tell me when to start and stop....”
And so the afternoon progresses. It is a laborious process, taking the scene dialog down word for word and making notes on the action taking place while the words are being said, but the mood between the women remains relaxed and cordial. Andy notes with some pleasure that the Miranda she is dealing with here is not like the cold icon of the Runway offices. This Miranda smiles and laughs softly as witty observations are exchanged.
Miranda leaves the room at one point and returns with glasses of wine. One glass becomes three and as the room moves towards darkness with the coming of the evening the doorbell sounds. Miranda rises, smiling and suggests they break for dinner.
Andrea follows the woman to the front door and watches her direct the delivery people to the kitchen. She and Miranda retrieve their wine glasses and follow leisurely.
Andy is amazed as she watches the two delivery people from the restaurant unveil dinner. This is not your normal takeout food. Dishes of fine china with what looks to be a gourmet meal laid out on them. Small roasted birds of some kind on a bed of clear noodles and asparagus with some kind of sauce. The kitchen smells divine to Andy's mind.
Miranda moves easily in this space, obviously very familiar with it. She presses a button on a discrete panel and speaks to it. “Girls, Dinner is on the table. Please wash up and come down to eat.”
The delivery people finish their setting up and discretely withdraw. The twins come hurriedly into the room and quickly take their seats. Miranda motions Andrea to the seat at the foot of the table. The girls watch Andrea with naked curiosity. They had been at home during a couple of dinner parties Miranda had thrown in the formal dining room. Usually important people from the world of fashion. A guest at dinner in the kitchen is something that's never happened before. And this guest is mother's second assistant. Her being Mother's guest at dinner is certainly not the normal state of affairs hence Caroline and Cassidy's curiosity. What they do notice immediately is that their Mother is relaxed, even jovial. Not at all the cynical and cutting persona she presents when there are guests present. This is their Mother's persona when she's at home on a good day, when she's relaxed and they all can laugh and have fun together. The twins communicate with one another silently, almost telepathically, as only identical twins can. They immediately know that there is something different about Andy from anyone else their mother has ever brought home.. They also silently concur that Andy's presence is a positive thing. Again without speaking they mutually decide that it is something to be encouraged. Caroline smiles “So, Andy,” she asks, “do you like movies?”
Miranda is pleased at how smoothly dinner progresses. Her girls, who can be every bit as sharp and acerbic as she can, bring none of their usual tricks to the table. To Andrea they are polite and attentive. They behave themselves and the only thing that Miranda would have different is that they tend to talk over one another in their desire for Andy's attention, but they are still children and such can be forgiven in the excitement of having a new person into their home. Miranda is surprised at her own reaction. She sits at the head of the table listening to Andrea and her daughters banter back and forth about this and that and realizes that she is throughly enjoying herself. That she has been enjoying the company of her second assistant almost since she opened the door to her this afternoon. It is an unusual state of affairs for Miranda. It is not that she dislikes people. There are just so few of them that are even worth noticing. She realizes in her musings that Andrea has always been one of the few that are. “Girls,” she says, “please go upstairs and make sure your homework is completed. Then you may watch a movie or play your video games until bedtime. Mummy and Andrea have work to do. We would appreciate it if you did not disturb us unless it's an emergency. I'll be up at nine to tuck you both in.”
“Yes Mummy.” the twins chorus in unison. “Goodnight Andy” they call out as they race for the stairs.
Andy rises from the table unbidden and helps Miranda clear the table as if it were the most natural thing in the world to do. Miranda feels a secret flush of pleasure seeing the girl so at home in Miranda's space.
More wine is shared and an invigorating hour of a rapid fire exchange of ideas on how to stage the scene has Miranda feeling more alive than she has in years. This is what she lives for. The very blazing sun of creativity at it's core. Somehow so different from the interminable layout meetings and run-throughs that she endures each week. There, she has become the arbiter of taste and beauty. Her's the only voice saying what will and won't be placed in each issue of Runway. The only opinion that matters. Here, with Andrea, it is a shared process. A meeting of the minds. Andrea, perhaps lubricated with the fine vintage they have been consuming, argues her ideas both passionately and convincingly. Miranda finds that she is thrilled that Andrea is holding her own, not deferring to La Priestly's every whim.
Andrea has been gone for several hours. Miranda prepares for bed and her mind wonders back to the girl and what she feels beginning between them. She has known for some time that Andrea has a brain. That she is the most capable assistant that Miranda has ever had. One of the few consistently competent people in her entourage. She also knows that the girl is raw metal, needing only the firm but loving hand of a metalsmith and proper tempering. Wheels begin to turn in Miranda's head and an idea begins to tickle at the corners of her mind. Andrea is waisted in her present position. She is far to intelligent to run the silly errands she does each day. This is something of a conundrum as Miranda has no wish to lose Andrea. She realizes that seeing this girl several times a day is one of the few joys of her work-a-day world. She thinks for a moment of demoting Emily and having Andrea as her first assistant but realizes immediately that the girl would be as waisted there as she is as second assistant. Miranda spends long moments wondering if she is ready to surrender the girl. To push her out of the nest as it were and send her on to something worthy of her talents. As she slips into a decadent raw silk nightgown that cost more the the GDP of some third world nations she smiles. She has four weeks to examine the problem and consider solutions. Andrea can't go anywhere until after the course is complete. Until after Valentine's Day. Between now and then they will be spending considerable time together. As the white haired woman slips into her huge bed she sighs her contentment. Plenty of time to find a way that she can give Andrea what she needs while satisfying her own wants as well. All it will take is a little creative thinking.
The week passes. Runway travels its usual turbulent course. Problems with the next issue to go to press require long nights three out of the five days so Miranda and Andrea manage only two short meetings to discuss the coursework and to begin working on the scene. Again Miranda throughly enjoys the turbulence of their first disagreement. It centers on which of them should play each part. Andrea is convinced that Miranda should play the character of Miriam. Miranda disagrees thinking that Andrea is the one to play the powerful vampire. The discussion is spirited and Miranda is challenged by the intransigence of her partner's position. She does, however get her way in the end. Not by demanding or ordering it, but by convincing Andrea of the merits of her position.
Saturday rolls around and Andy sits in the assembly room at the Elias Clark building waiting for the course to begin. In her lap sits a cardboard carrier tray with a scalding hot latte and a cup of coffee for herself. She is immediately aware of Miranda's entry into the room. Somehow she always knows when Miranda enters the room theses days. In a moment the regal woman takes a seat next to her. As Andy looks up her eyes meet an amused smile and Miranda's eyes sparkle. In her hand is a cardboard tray identical to Andrea's. “It would seem that we had the same thought,” Miranda offers, laughter at the edge of her tone. Something inside Andrea clenches. Miranda had thought to bring her coffee. This is so outside anything Andy might expect that it makes her suddenly concretely aware of the fact that something is happening between them. At that moment the amplified voice of Naomi Ravits cuts through the general quiet roar of chatter going on around them and calls this session of the course to order.
Naomi is in excellent form today. She is charismatic, charming, funny and engaging. She has the staff of Runway eating out of her hand with the exception of one pair of stunning, if cold, blue eyes. Miranda strength is reading people. She has spent years training herself to observe and to process what she sees. This is her strength in the board room. She sees and intuits. This allows her to know her enemies. What she sees here is a beautiful young woman, moving as gracefully as a jungle cat back and forth across the stage. Miranda remembers watching a leopard at the zoo moving the same way in its cage. It was feeding time and the leopard swept back and forth, back and forth, its eyes never leaving the bowl of meat on the feeding cart. Miranda is immediately aware that this predator's eyes never leave her brunet companion. Miranda knows her rival for Andrea's affections.
As the class progresses the instructor leaves the stage and walks among the assembled throng. Miranda watches as the woman moves, slowly, carefully, and most importantly, casually, through Runway's employees. Miranda's lips purse and her eyes narrow as the woman approaches her final destination. The destination that Miranda had know she was coming to since the woman had left the stage. Naomi concludes her comments standing before Andrea, smiling down at her. “Okay class,” the instructor says, “that's it for the lecture. Let's everybody get with their partners and see what you can get done on your scenes today. There are only two class periods after this one to get things together.” She then leans down and speaks quietly to Andrea. “Coffee after?” She ask softly.
Andy looks slightly uncomfortable and glances to Miranda then back to Naomi. “Naomi, may I introduce you to my boss, Miranda Priestly?” She says softly indicating her companion with a gesture of her hand, “Editor in Chief of Runway.” Naomi's eyes widen as she realizes who it is sitting beside Andy and glaring at her through icy blue eyes. “Miranda,” Andrea continues, “This is Naomi Ravits, the course instructor.”
Miranda purses her lips and, still seated, offers the teacher her hand. “Andrea, I fear, is busy after class,” she says in her terrible quiet professional voice. “Our week has been hectic with the next issue due to go to print. We haven't had proper time for the coursework and need to make up the time we've lost.”
In a moment of intense clarity Naomi intuits her rival for Andy's affections. She smiles down at the icon her eyes flashing as she thinks, Bring it on, old woman. Bring it on.