An Unexpected Request

Chapter 8

Andy was woken up by the insistent ringtone of her cell phone. It was Miranda. The older woman quickly said that Roy would take her to the clinic.

"But, Miranda, we agreed that I would take the subway, and-"

"Change of plans, Andrea. Roy will take you."

"But-"

"And by the gods, try not to freak out. We're already on the radar...It's no big deal...yet..."

"Bu-but...Miranda-"

"That's all," the editor hung up.

Andy spent a few seconds looking at her phone, until her eyes widen, when she finally absorbed the information. Agitated, she jumped out of bed. Unfortunately, her intrepid movement led her straight to the ground, as in her hurry, her feet curled up with the sheets.

After getting free of the bed linen, Andy got up grumbling insults. She went to take a shower, thinking about how much crap should be in the media, for Miranda warn her and say that she needed an escort.

* * * *

"Good morning, Roy," Andy shyly greeted, getting in the car. She had noticed 'suspicious people' around.

"Good morning, Andy. Miranda asked me to give you this," he was somewhat apologetic, handing her a newspaper. "And don't worry; 'they' are still few. I will deceive them about our destination. Miranda doesn't want them to know...well...you know...everything yet..." The driver stuttered, blushing.

Andy nodded in understanding, her face also very red. Then she sighed deeply, and began to read the damn Page Six.

New meat for the Dragon?

It was the title below a photo of Andy and Miranda at an event, back when the young reporter was still working at Runway.

In a subtle, but no less inquisitive and evil way, they mentioned the former boss woman having lunch with her former assistant at a famous restaurant in the city. They cited the intimacy reported by others customers as a 'shock'.

Even if covertly, they suggested that perhaps there was something more than friendship between the two women, remembering that they were both now single.

The story didn't contain much information, but they were already in the right direction. The cards were on the table. It would be up to Miranda and Andy, from then on, to lead the game to their advantage.

A good move from Andy was to clarify the situation for those who were important to her. As soon as she arrived home after lunch with Miranda, she called her boss, and then, her family. Stevie could feel betrayed to find out about them through the competition, and Andy's parents, would be crazy to learn about their daughter's new reality from the press.

With Stevie things were 'easier'. When he recovered from his shock and asked three times "You and Miranda Priestly?" It seemed that finally the man had assimilated the situation. His brain activity returned a mile a minute. Within seconds, Stevie inundated her with questions and requests for exclusivity. Something that to his extreme happiness, Andy granted.

It was part of the plan.

Miranda thought that having a newspaper where they could manipulate information according to their interests would be an excellent asset. Plus, she had exposed how much this could boost New York Mirror's sales. Despite her ethical sense and her discomfort at participating in Miranda's schemes, Andy had to admit that the woman might be right.

With her parents, it was a bit more complicated.

After stalling to say the name of the person she was in a new relationship with, Andy finally told about Miranda. She then had to stop herself from slipping off the couch, when she heard the resigned "I knew it" from her mother.