Chapter Text
“Andréa.”
The voice slipped elegantly through the small office making its intended recipient aware that their presence was being demanded. Three years ago, that voice would have had the young assistant trembling in fear. Since the incident in Paris, it has only brought a feeling of comforting warmth paired with a slew of eager butterflies begging to burst forth from her abdomen. Andy found herself just a little bit dizzier every time Miranda called her name. It was as though the white-haired beauty was an all-powerful witch casting spell after spell with every letter that made up Andy’s name. Fighting a barely containable grin, Andy stood from her desk with her notebook and began her march into the dragon’s lair.
Passing through the glass doors, Andy was presented with a sight that never failed to steal her breath away. The Devil in Prada, blessed with the gift of eternal youth, was seated behind her desk. Her signature curl of snowy white hair hung perfectly against her forehead. Glasses perched low on her nose, sapphire eyes gazing upon the screen before them, perfect lips giving no sign of irritation or annoyance. She was dressed head to toe in pure perfection. Her black blazer hung on the back of her chair. She wore a white button-up with the top three buttons undone and sleeves rolled up just before her elbows. A pair of black slacks hugged every single curve that the woman owned and a red belt held the slacks in place. On her feet were a pair of Louboutin’s. The woman before her exuded pure elegance and sophistication.
Andy stood before her in the doorway with a slight dusting of pink painting her cheeks. She found herself almost unable to take the last few steps towards the editor’s desk. Miranda Priestly was a gorgeous woman. While it didn’t begin to describe the older woman, it was all Andy could think of at the current moment. Her eyes quickly took in all that was the devil in Prada. All of her thoughts came to a screeching halt as her eyes rested on the older woman’s exposed chest. The few buttons that remained undone of the older woman’s shirt proved to be a large distraction to the young brunette. The small expanse of creamy flesh was certainly a deliciously intoxicating sight to see. Unfortunately, ogling the older woman was not an option now or ever as there was a job to be done. Mentally shaking herself out of her thoughts, she fell into her assistant persona and approached the editor.
“Yes, Miranda?”
Her voice cracked slightly and the brunette mentally kicked herself for not being able to keep herself in check. Outwardly, she only slightly flinched. It almost went unnoticed but Miranda had seen from her peripheral and knew better than to ignore her Andréa’s actions. Instead of questioning her assistant, she only quirked a single perfectly shaped eyebrow.
“It has come to my attention that Cara has come down with some sort of illness. Of course, I will not have my Bobbseys surrounded by anything that would allow them to come down with the same illness or worse. Therefore, instead of having you wait for the book tomorrow, I need you to pick the girls up from school and stay with them until I am able to return home tomorrow night. You may utilize Roy’s services as you please.”
By then, Miranda had lifted her eyes from the screen and was facing her first assistant. Her challenging gaze informed Andy that there was absolutely no room for her to fight her commands. Unfortunately, the gears in Andy’s head seemed to stop turning. Had Miranda really asked her, no, told her to leave work early tomorrow to take care of her children? The same two children who had once upon a time convinced a naive Andy to climb the stairs of the townhouse and walk right into the middle of a fight between Miranda and her ex-husband? The same two twin girls who Miranda trusted their lives with only very specific individuals? Andy had to have been dreaming. Maybe she was having a nightmare?
“Miranda, I’m sure I can find a perfectly good sitter for the girls-”
“Excuse me but I think I may not be hearing you correctly. Do you think I care if you are capable of finding a suitable sitter for my Bobbseys? This was not meant to be a debate, Andréa. You will do exactly as I say or you can clean up your things and kiss your job goodbye.”
The young brunette knew she shouldn’t have opened her mouth in the first place but who could blame her? Now with her job on the line, she had no other choice but to do as Miranda had commanded. Despite the editor being a bit harsh at times, Andy liked her job. She worked long, grueling hours and carried out some very detestable actions, but she always gained in the end. She locked eyes with the older woman and found herself bending to Miranda’s will. Whether it was because she was entranced by this woman or because she desperately wanted to keep her job, she would not know. Instead, she found herself speaking without thinking yet again.
“Yes, Miranda. Dalton is releasing their student early tomorrow so I will leave at 11:15 to pick Caroline and Cassidy up on time.”
Andy not only kept Miranda’s schedule in order but also the twins’ schedules. She also kept a detailed list of any allergies or medical issues the Priestly women had (none), emergency papers in case anything came up, and numerous other lists. The brunette was in charge of keeping their lives in order and making them as easy as she possibly could.
“Good, now get Patrick on the phone for me. That’s all.”
Miranda flicked her wrist and turned back to her work as Andy walked back to her desk. The young woman was deep in thought as she carried out the task the older woman had given her. Andy’s mind was reeling. How exactly was she supposed to take care of two teenagers that she knew very little about besides the essential information?
“I have Patrick on the line.”
She heard Miranda pick up the phone in her office. Andy sat back at her desk unsure of how the next day would play out. Would the twins be the end of her job at Runway? Would Cara magically not be ill and be capable of taking care of the Priestly twins? She turned back to the computer before her and continued her work. Across the way, the new second assistant was staring at Andy as though she had three heads. The young blonde’s work was long forgotten as she found herself listening to the conversation between Andy and the editor. Her jaw hung slack for only another moment before she composed herself. She quietly muttered to the brunette before continuing with her own work.
“You’re really in for it now Sachs…”