Killer Heels and Prada

Chapter 7

"James, I'm not an invalid I can walk, put me down," Miranda said as the elevator neared the lobby floor. James nodded and set her on her feet gently. Miranda started to pull out her phone to call Nigel , but when the elevator doors opened she saw him and James Holt standing in the lobby, and they immediately rushed over to them both as the stepped out of the elevator. "We were just told what happened. Miranda are you alright?" Nigel asked. (He was one of the very few people who could ask Miranda a question and not have their head taken off.) "Yes, Nigel we are heading back to New York tonight, James feels it would be safer, you the rest of the Runway crew are to stay here and get some rest and then come back tomorrow as was originally planned" "Miranda I.." "That's all Nigel." Miranda said before he had a chance to form his response. Behind them the other elevator opened and out stepped an officer with Miranda and James's things, and they walked outside and put them in the car. "I will see all of you back in New York tomorrow, Good night." Then Miranda and James walked out and got in the car that was waiting for them. "You can call your girls now." James said. "No, it's late here, which means its about 3 in the morning there, I will talk to them tomorrow morning when we get back." Miranda said. James nodded his head and they pulled away from the curb and headed towards the airport.

When they got to the airport the plane was ready to go and they got on the jet immediately, and took off shortly after. "James" Miranda said after sitting in silence for awhile. "Yes, Miranda?" James said and came and sat by her. "Thank you, for what you did tonight they would have shot me if it hadn't been for you." Miranda said quietly. "Miranda, as I have already said before it's my job to protect you, at least it's supposed to be." Miranda rolled her eyes "Supposed to be James?" she said sarcastically. "Yes Miranda, it feels like it's more than a job with you." he said. He looked into Miranda's eyes and smiled. "What do you say we try and take your mind off of everything that just happened?" "James whatever ideas your getting in that teenage hormone fueled head of yours, forget it, it is not going to happen." Miranda said coolly. "Miranda I thought we could talk." Miranda rolled her eyes. "Fine, talk." "Well I'm curious about something, I don't want you to get upset or anything, but it's pure curiosity." "Go on." Miranda said "Well you seem a little young to have solid white hair I was just wondering how long it's been that color, I mean M said that you were 49." James said. "I have been the Editor and Chief of Runway for 16 years now, I started out at the very bottom and climbed my way up, I was 33 years old when I took over as Editor. Around that time my hair had been turning white for about 3 years. I dyed it at first. I was once blonde. Anyways, I decided to stop dying it my once natural color, and the blonde hair color faded out, and by the time I was 35 my hair was completely white. Then I got my hair cut the way it is now, and it has been like that ever since, my iconic hair color and style." Miranda said. "Interesting, well the color and style looks amazing on you, but then again I get the feeling a paper bag would look good on you." Miranda rolled her eyes.

"Alight I have another couple of questions. When this whole thing started, and you were the only one left to target, M immediately decided to send me to you, I asked her why the U.S. didn't take care of it and she said because all of the murders had not happened in the U.S., but I don't think that's true. She wanted to help you, she knew exactly how you would act towards me, and she warned me. I don't listen. Then yesterday when you call her because I was infuriating you so, she called and told me that I should be on the lookout because you do know how to use a gun and a knife. How does M know you so well?" Miranda smirked. 'Wouldn't you like to know. You should ask M that and not me, if she wanted you to know she would have told you." James shook his head "Alright fine, how is it you know how to use a gun and a knife then?" "Well, I was taught a long time ago, when I was younger there was an incident, I was about 18 years old, and I came very close to being raped, a nice man came to my rescue, and then I was made to take self defense lessons, including how to use a knife and a gun. I haven't practiced in years, I haven't ever had the need, it only ever happened once, I remember the basics, but I'm not sure I would remember too much more than that." she said and shrugged. "You really are full of surprises your highness." he said lightly. "You really are the most amazing, beautiful and talented woman I have ever met." he whispered. Miranda surprised herself by realizing she was touched by his words. She looked at him and he leaned down to kiss her for the second time that night. Miranda pulled away before their mouths connected however. "No James." Miranda said. He nodded his defeat. "You look tired, you've had a long day why don't you take a nap, I will wake you when we get back to New York he said. Miranda nodded her head and James got up off of the couch so she could lay down, he covered her up and walked across the plane and watched as she fell asleep.

An hour later Miranda stirred in her sleep and started thrashing about, and moaning "No" James got up and immediately walked over to her and gently shook her. "Miranda wake up, it's just a dream, wake up Miranda." he said softly. Miranda jolted awake gasping, with tears streaming down her cheeks. "It was only a dream Miranda, it's alright, your safe now." James said. Miranda nodded. James sat down on the couch beside her and without thinking he pulled her into his arms. "I dreamed about what just happened, but you weren't able to stop them this time James, this time they shot us both." Miranda whispered. James wrapped his arms tighter around Miranda. He knew she was scared, otherwise she wouldn't be telling him this. "Miranda listen to me, I am not going to let whoever is doing this kill you, I'm going to protect you. I'm going to find whoever is doing this." he said and pulled her into his lap. Miranda didn't move away, she just nodded. "James died in my dream, and I cried, I missed him." she thought and looked up and into his eyes. James brushed his hand against her cheek and then he leaned his head down, and this time Miranda didn't push him away as his lips met hers. Miranda's mind flashed to James lying wounded next to James's dead body, and she shuddered and responded to his kiss. She tangled her hand in his hair and granted his tongue access inside her mouth. She moaned softly when she felt his tongue brush over hers. She entwined her tongue with his and pressed closer to him. When parted when breathing became a necessity. James rested his forehead against hers and smiled. "She didn't push me away." he thought. Miranda pulled back and genuinely smiled at him. Then she leaned forward and pressed their lips together once more. They pulled apart sometime later and James once again saw the fatigue on Miranda's face. "lay back down and get some more rest, you really need it." Miranda shook her head. "Now listen I know that most people get their heads cut off for defying you, but listen, we will be back in New York in about an hour and I would like for you to nap until then, then we will get you home and you will go to bed. Lay down, I'm right here, nothing is going to happen to you. Miranda shook her head again and set her jaw. "Okay fine if that's the way you want it." James reached down to Miranda's waist and tickled her sides. Miranda gasped and busted out laughing, James laughed as well and was able to lay her down while she was defenseless, and he continued to tickle her. "James...STOP!" Miranda squealed. Now that she was laying down James stopped and allowed Miranda to catch her breath. By the time she did her eyelids were drooping heavily. "I hate you." Miranda whispered. "Good, now I'm right here, go to sleep." James said. He didn't want to walk back to his seat so he sat on the floor and stroked her arm as she fell asleep again.

When they were getting ready to land James woke Miranda up and she fixed her hair and he was amazed at the fact that she had no wrinkles in her clothes. "Only she could take a nap in her clothes and not wake up with wrinkles in them." he thought to himself. They got off the plane once it landed. It was a 3 hour flight and it was now 6 a.m. Miranda wasn't expected in the office until noon, and James was glad she would get some sleep. Miranda's blackberry buzzed indicating she had a text message. "Who in their right mind would be texting me at this early in the morning?" she said and pulled her phone out. The message was from an unknown number and she opened it to find a long text message.

Hey beautiful, and you are you know, the most beautiful I have ever seen. You being attacked tonight, well, as I have already explained this is only the beginning, I am well aware that you and your bodyguard escaped unharmed, however this was my intention, I knew your 007 agent would be able to protect you, I knew I would not succeed this time, it was not my intention. It was my intention to scare you, and by the looks of things you are scared. When it comes time for you to die I will be the one to do it. You and James looked awfully cozy on that plane, I have been watching you for quite sometime, I know what your doing most of the time, if James is as good as his job as he says he is, then he would have caught me already. Have a good rest, you have a lot of work to do tomorrow. All my love, X

Miranda started trembling. James took the phone from her and read the message immediately. James looked over at Miranda and saw her shaking. "James...he...he saw us, on the plane...he has been watching me, really watching me" ...