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Avoiding the inevitable

Chapter 18

Notes:

Hiyaa loves!

I hope y'all are enjoying the story so far! & Thank you for all your wonderful comments! They have been an absolute delight! They absolutely warm-up every single fiber of my being!

The next chapter might take me a little bit longer. But, have no fear! It is most definitely on its way! So, all I require is just a little patience. I'm working daily on this little project and I'm enjoying it immensely! So much so, that I'm even losing some precious hours of sleep because of it since I can't get the fact that I'm desiring to work on it non-stop out of my head! Haha!
So, no need to worry. The rest of the story will, in no uncertain terms, follow!

I've just decided to spend this weekend (may take me a little longer than that) to work out a few kinks in the previous chapters (how did it get so long already?!?!) I've just been powering through the whole thing, causing me to miss some key features I wanted to include, and some faults I need to clean up. So, I'll be working on fixing that for a couple of days.

I'm terribly sorry for the bit of a longer waiting period in uploading the next chapter. However, it is under construction!

So, just sit back, relax, and be patient my loves!

Your reward for your patience will be inevitable. ;)

Once again, an almighty thank you!

<3 <3 <3

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

The vexatious blaring of the alarm on her phone at an ungodly hour had Andy waking up with a tormented groan. She had barely slept at all last night as she lied awake, tossing and turning, even if it was in the most comfortable bed she’d ever had the luxury of sleeping in.    

Andy simply couldn’t get Miranda out of her head as she replayed the previous day’s interactions with her on a seemingly endless loop. It had been, by far, one of the best days she’d had since she started working at Runway. Andy adored how their banter seemed to flow so easily and light-heartedly between them. She couldn’t help but wonder if she had finally been able to accomplish the impossible by breaching one of Miranda’s endless, impenetrable walls. It certainly felt like she did.    

Her heart swooned as she recalled, in her mind’s eye, the many unguarded looks she had been graced with. Oh, how she loved Miranda’s endearing and tender smiles, the amusement and mirth glinting in beautiful arctic blues, and the wicked, yet playful looks when she teased and taunted.    

She couldn’t believe how privileged she was to have witnessed an entirely different side to the editor, to the so-called Devil in Heels. Miranda might be a true Dragon Lady at work and out in public, but the monikers she’d been given couldn’t have been further from the truth.    

Andy had witnessed and seen the adoring, loving and fiercely protective mother. She had seen the humorous and the delightfully whimsical side as they’d joshed with one another. But most of all, she had seen a side of Miranda she had never truly expected to reveal itself. It was mostly because of the latter that had Andy lying utterly restless in bed as her mind had swirled with pleasingly alluring, and yet utterly confusing thoughts.   

Once Andy had convinced herself that she hadn’t imagined things, or hadn’t been living in one of her daydreams, she had felt thoroughly thunderstruck and painstakingly bewildered. For she had seen and felt a certain intimacy exuding from Miranda.   

Her stomach fluttered as she brought Miranda’s intensely piercing gaze to mind. It hadn’t been the same one she received on a daily basis when they were at Runway. No, the way their eyes had captured one another yesterday had felt immensely more personal. Miranda hadn’t been looking at her assistant. She had been trying to see Andy, plain and simple Andy. Miranda had been observing and reading her as if she had been trying to see what was lurking inside of Andy’s mind, what she was feeling inside her soul.    

She was fairly certain that Miranda had been able to read her like an open book. Andy had entirely been living in the moment as her thoughts and feelings had consumed her rational mind. She hadn’t been thinking about masking and concealing her feelings for Miranda. She had simply absorbed the connection she felt flowing between them, needing everything Miranda was willing to give her like a drug. And it was exactly that what had caused Andy to be so utterly thunderstruck and bewildered.   

Miranda had, in fact, given her a dose of something, of herself. She had let Andy in to glimpse behind her business persona. She had lowered her walls so Andy could glance above them and interact with Miranda the woman, not Miranda the editor. And it was because of what Andy had seen that she was now thoroughly allured, yet confused.   

Miranda had shown the gaiety she felt because of Andy, she had shown the affection she held for her, she had shown the worry and protectiveness, and above all, she had shown a simmering intimacy. And it was the latter that Andy couldn’t fathom, couldn’t figure out.    

It had decidedly not felt as amicable reciprocity. The energy that had flowed between them was entirely too intense for that. The connection Andy felt was too electrifying, too magnetizing, too heated, and too rousing. Andy truly didn’t dare to believe it, but it almost felt too passionate. Naturally, Andy recognized it was because of the love she felt for Miranda, that it made her overly sensitive to their connection while absorbing these sensations flowing between them. Realizing that Miranda might’ve grasped at their affinity as well and that she, in fact, seemed to be affected by it, was something Andy couldn’t even begin to comprehend.   

And yet, there was a deeply hidden part inside of Andy that didn’t feel entirely surprised by the unveiling of emotions. Yesterday had not been the first time Andy came to realize that her presence around Miranda had affected the other woman in a seemingly more profound, yet concealed, way.    

Lying awake Andy had reminisced about all the enrapturing, spellbinding moments they had shared, about all the minutes, if not hours' worth of palpable tension that had ensnared them in a clandestine bubble of their own making. How they seemed to become one another’s prisoners when their eyes constrained each other, capturing their souls in captivating confinement.    

It was in the early hours of the morning that Andy’s mind had suddenly exploded. Seemingly bombarded by the revelation of her epiphany that Miranda might, in fact, feel something for her. But it was the ‘what exactly’ of it all that Andy needed to unravel. Andy was aching to find out what it was that Miranda might be feeling for her, but she wasn’t entirely sure as to how she should embark upon this excavation.    

Andy was no fool, she knew she couldn’t simply walk up to Miranda and ask her what she truly saw in Andy. The change in their relationship was too recent and still too fragile, too much of the older woman was still locked away, Miranda was still undoubtedly too closed off about her emotions. Too much of her was still hidden away behind all of her defensive fortifications. They had not yet established that level of trust to earnestly and openly talk about their feelings.   

Nevertheless, Andy needed to know. She needed to discover and determine if she actually had any semblance of a chance with Miranda. Knowing that if she genuinely and beyond any doubt did, she’d unwaveringly go in an all-out war to breach Miranda's impenetrable fortress. She’d vanquish any lingering doubts and passionately conquer and triumphantly obtain the world’s most valuable treasure. She’d invade and secure Miranda's heart.   

But for now, an all-out war would be an unmitigated mistake in her strategy. Andy needed to scout out the outskirts of Miranda’s frontier first. To find the weaknesses in the unpredictable terrain and unyielding barriers until she found the chink in Miranda’s armor where she would fortify her position, build up her arsenal with insight by surveilling and through reconnaissance into Miranda’s unguarded openings.   

Andy laid out her game plan and today, at this godforsaken hour, would be her first venturing approach to unearth Miranda’s receptivity and responsiveness towards her.   

After taking a quick, heavenly rain shower in the marvelous en suite of the guest bedroom, Andy dressed up in the Armani t-shirt Miranda had given her and the True Religion jeans she’d worn to work, hoping she’d have enough time to spare to go home and change into something more appropriate before going into work after she finished making breakfast for Miranda and the twins.   

It was still dark outside at six in the morning as she glanced out of the kitchen windows. However, she had an inkling that it wouldn’t be long before Miranda came down to begin another long working day. So, first things first, she turned on and fumbled with the fanciest coffee machine she’d ever seen since she expected a hot cup of coffee would be one of the first things Miranda would crave in the early mornings. Next, she perused the fridge, gathering up several ingredients she needed to make a spinach with mushroom omelet to serve with toast and fruits to make a fresh salad. As she was cutting up the last bits of an apple to mix it up with the rest of the diced pieces of fruit in a bowl, Andy heard the tell-tale sound of Miranda’s heels coming down the stairs. She quickly washed and dried her hands before reaching for a mug she’d found earlier in one of the cabinets and walked over to the coffee maker.   

“Andréa?”   

Even though Andy knew that Miranda was closing in on her, her heart nevertheless skipped a beat when she heard the surprised query of her name being called in a voice that was still a bit hoarse from sleep. Turning around with a steaming mug, she flashed her mega-watt smile as she locked eyes with an exquisitely dressed and made-up Miranda.   

“Good morning, Miranda.” Andy inclined her head towards the bar of the kitchen island. “C’mon, have a seat. Let me spoil you with breakfast and naturally,” Andy raised her hand that was holding the mug and winked. “A center-of-the-sun, freshly brewed coffee.”   

Andy inwardly grinned when Miranda did what she was told as she walked over to sit on one of the bar stools with a slightly stunned look on her face.   

When Miranda sat down, she shook her head as if shaking off her bewilderment at finding Andy running her kitchen. Andy walked over until she stood behind and to the side of her, her chest almost touching Miranda's shoulder as she leaned forward to place the mug in front of her on the counter. Before pulling back, she turned her head, almost close enough to whisper in Miranda's ear as she nearly purred. “Enjoy.”   

With an almighty effort, Andy had to suppress a smirk as she noticed, due to their close proximity, Miranda’s nearly imperceptible little gasp. Sensing Miranda’s eyes on her, Andy moved away to stand back on the other side of the counter while she busied herself with preparing a plate for Miranda, and one for herself. She looked up when she heard Miranda’s soft, pleased hum as she took a sip of her coffee, nodding once before observing Andy again.   

“You are up rather early, seeing as you have an entire breakfast prepared. But you need not have done all this, Andréa.” Miranda said, then took another sip from her mug.   

“I know.” Andy smiled as she shrugged her shoulders. “But I wanted to. Sort of as a thank you for yesterday, and for allowing me to stay the night. I understand that that’s an offer you don’t make lightly.”   

Miranda frowned in confusion as she questioned. “Thanking me for what exactly?”   

“Well.” Andy leaned in closer on her forearms which were resting on the counter. “I know you had asked me to watch the twins for you, but nevertheless, I had a wonderful time yesterday.” She smiled her most genuine, heartfelt smile. “So, I guess what I’m really trying to say is thank you for trusting me and allowing me to spend time with them. Once again, I understand that that’s something you don’t take lightly.”   

Miranda blinked the confused frown away as her gaze intensified while staring deep into Andy’s eyes. Andy kept her soul open for Miranda to peruse, wanting her to see the sincerity she felt. After a long moment, Andy watched in secret delight as Miranda’s features softened, a small smile gracing her lips.   

“I see. In that case, you are welcome, Andréa. However, there is no need to thank me for allowing you to stay the night since I explicitly told you to stay.” Miranda’s gentle smile faded into an austere stare. “I would not have allowed you to travel across town at that time of night either way.”   

Andy felt slightly taken aback by Miranda’s sudden no-nonsense tone. She couldn’t help but question Miranda's obstinate demeanor about the subject. “Why though? You know I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself and getting home as well. It wouldn’t have been the first time I had to go out at night to do or get something you needed for work.”   

Keeping her eyes trained on Miranda, Andy noticed how she clutched the fork she was holding a little tighter as her jaw tensed, feeling dismayed as Miranda’s features hardened into her steely, indecipherable look as she gazed down into her coffee mug. A long moment of heavy silence passed between them with Andy mentally cursing at herself for venturing too far out of Miranda's comfort zone.    

Right when Andy was about to apologize, she watched as Miranda placed the fork down on the table, eyes looking up from under long lashes, seizing Andy’s again as she said in a barely audible, yet austere voice. “This had nothing to do with work, Andréa.” She paused for a moment, seemingly in hesitation. “This had been something entirely more personal.”   

Andy offered a tender smile as she sat back in her seat. Suddenly her smile faltered while she lowered her gaze in ambiguity as a memory of what Miranda had once said to her returned to the forefront of her mind.  

‘My life is my own, which you are irrevocably no part of. You are simply an unworthy assistant, here to do my bidding and fetch when I need fetching like the good little lapdog that you are. I do not want nor need your aggravating meddling into my personal affairs in what you might assume to think is for my benefit. Is your brain really that deficient that you are not able to comprehend that I simply need you to do  your job ?’      

“Andréa? Is something the matter?” Miranda questioned softly as she  thoroughly  contemplated the brunette.   

“Oh.” Andy shook her head, trying to shake off her reminiscing moment. “Nothing.” She smiled but knew it wasn’t earnestly reaching her ears.   

The raising of an immaculate eyebrow was all Andy needed to know that Miranda didn’t believe her for a moment.   

Miranda's soft voice turned sternly as she questioned lowly. “You would not dare and lie to me now, would you, Andréa?”    

Andy gulped, then chuckled half-heartedly. “Really, Miranda. It’s entirely irrelevant now.” She looked down again as she whispered. “Time changes things... I had hoped.”   

This time, it was Miranda who leaned forward on her arms as she ventured further. “What did time change, Andréa? What did you hope for?”   

Andy let out a heavy, defeated sigh. “You’re not going to drop this, are you?”   

Smirking wickedly, Miranda answered. “When have you known me to ever give up, Andréa?”   

Andy smiled, letting out an honest chuckle this time as she nodded, but once again faltered at the thought of voicing her memory. “Well-,” She began warily. “It’s just that-, y’know, things have been gradually becoming-, different between-, us.” She paused as she glanced up at Miranda’s intensely watchful gaze.    

Receiving a nod, Andy continued, feeling how her heart picked up speed as it thrummed against her chest. “I just-, I distinctly remember a time where you adamantly wouldn’t have tolerated me having anything to do with your-, well-, with your personal life.” She shrugged shyly. “I guess living on hope does pay off sometimes.”   

Miranda raised her eyebrows in a bewildering way. “What do you mean by that?”   

Andy rubbed at the back of her neck in her nervous manner. “I’d just hoped that-, well-, I guess I’d just hoped that we could do-, this.” She gestured her hand back and forth between them.   

“This?” Miranda questioned as she inclined her head to the side.   

“Yeah, y’know. Talk. I wanted to converse with you.” Andy chuckled as she shook her head. “Without wanting to bite each other’s head off, that is.”   

“Hm.” Miranda hummed as she interlaced her fingers and rested her chin upon the back of her hands, a diabolical look on her face. “You were a rather annoyingly cheeky and exasperatingly conceited little assistant back then, most definitely.”   

“Hey! Watch it.” Andy chaffed with a smirk. “You were  at least  ten times worse if you recall.” She jested as she crossed her arms over her chest and huffed.   

“Yes, well.” Miranda sniffed. “Let us leave the past where it belongs, shall we?”   

Andy couldn’t help but grin wickedly as she leaned forward again, then said in a low, teasing voice. “Does that mean we have a future, Miranda?”   

It took all the self-restraint Andy possessed and more to not lunge over the counter and kiss Miranda then and there as she felt utterly bewitched by the blush creeping up Miranda’s neck.   

She felt positively enamored as Miranda cleared her throat and teased back with a playful smirk. “Keep supplying me with my always perfect cup of coffee and we shall see.”   

Andy laughed heartily and flashed her mega-watt smile as she winked. “You needn’t ever worry about that. You can count on me, boss.”   

Still smirking, Miranda rolled her eyes good-naturedly as she finished the rest of her coffee.   

Chuckling, Andy glanced over at the clock on the wall, eyes widening. “Oh! I have to go. I need to hurry if I want to make it into work on time.”   

Miranda frowned as she questioned. “Why? Even if you were up at the crack of dawn, certainly your brain must have been able to comprehend that you can ride along with me. Or are you suffering from young-onset dementia and have somehow forgotten that we work together, Andréa?”   

Andy couldn’t help but giggle at Miranda’s sarcastic wit and the fact that she hadn’t realized what she’d said.   

Miranda raised an incredulous eyebrow. “What could I have possibly said to have you tittering like that?”   

Andy smirked playfully as she leaned forward once more and taunted. “Since when do we work  together , Miranda?”   

Miranda frowned, seemingly not understanding what Andy was implying.   

Gathering Miranda’s half-empty plate onto hers, Andy explained, trying to hide her mirth. “I thought I’d been working  for  you up until now. As a matter of fact, I thought everyone at Runway works  for  you.”   

Andy shook her head as she grinned. “No, scratch that. I thought everyone within the fashion industry works  for  you. Never  with  you.”   

Andy’s playful smirk grew teasingly darker. “Or have I suddenly become an exception to that hallowed testimony, Miranda?”   

Miranda rolled her eyes as she let out a snort. “You are entirely too ridiculous for your own good, Andréa.”   

Shrugging, Andy acceded. “Can’t deny that. You either take me lying down or you don’t.”    

As soon as those words left Andy’s mouth, she blinked as she realized what she’d said. Feigning a look of innocence, she glanced up, fully expecting Miranda not to have noticed the double entendre within her statement with a look of aloof indifference on her face. So, it came as an unanticipated surprise when her eyes were captured by Miranda’s intensely piercing gaze.   

It was futile to fight against her impending blush, feeling her skin heat up, and her heart suddenly going into overdrive as a mental picture flashed within her mind of Miranda doing exactly that, of lying on top of Andy while taking her body and inevitably her mind and soul, with the exact same penetrative scorching look Miranda was bounding her with now.    

Suddenly, all the familiar sensations washed over and enraptured Andy once again as she felt the air thicken inside the  bubble  she found herself in with Miranda. The temperature in the room raised by several degrees as the hot air seemed to clash and electrify, causing the tiny hairs on her body to stand to attention.   

This time, instead of letting herself drown in the sensations that were consuming her, she tried to focus on the origin that was causing them, tried to detect any changes in Miranda’s poised composure.   

Andy watched as arctic skipped opal, turning into ocean blue, only now perceiving that was by cause of the dilation of Miranda’s pupils. Only now discerning that the skin under the lightly applied blush on Miranda’s cheekbones seemed to darken the overall tint of the rose petal pink hue. Only now conceiving that Miranda’s inhale of breath ascended to her chest as her breathing deepened, as well as the slightly faster pace in rhythm.   

Only now comprehending that the clues she had been craving for to decipher her effect on Miranda had been right in front of her eyes all along.   

Andy also acknowledged that it would not have been obvious to ascertain if you hadn’t been looking for any telltale indications. After all, Miranda was the reigning champion in meticulously keeping her cool and calculated composure as well as the titleholder in keeping up her fortifying masked appearances. Every look was purposefully intentioned and every move was deliberately executed, both carried out and performed with utmost perfection.    

So, it came as absolutely no surprise whatsoever that Miranda, seemingly within the blink of an eye, reeled in and barricaded the restraints on her self-consciousness and rationality once more.   

The curtains of the windows to her soul closed with such vehemence, consequently rupturing their bubble, and inevitably releasing Andy from their linking spell.    

In one swift motion, Miranda stood up from the barstool, her cold eyes staring Andy down as she spoke with her soft but conscientiously controlled voice. “I have to wake up the girls, but I will find you something to wear and leave it in the guest bedroom so you can change. Even if you were to leave now, you would still never be able to make it into work in time.”   

Andy nodded as she gathered up their dishes and empty mugs. “Alright. I’ll just prepare some plates for the girls.” Trying to lighten the somewhat uncomfortable tension between them, she jested. “And I’m truly grateful for the ride, Miranda. My boss would’ve probably fired me if I were to be late. She absolutely detests tardiness.”    

“Hm.” Miranda hummed, her face still as indifferent as ever. “Well, aren’t you fortunate then?” And with that, Miranda turned around and left.   

***   

The two women were seated in the back of the town car while they were on their way to Runway. Andy’s mind swirled in puzzlement as she, once again, tried to solve the mystery of the enigma that is Miranda Priestly. Right when Andy finally figured out another intricate piece of the complex, labyrinthine puzzle, naturally, Miranda had to raise and fortify her defenses anew since their distinctive little moment during breakfast.    

Andy had absolutely no clue whatsoever as to what Miranda was thinking. Granted, she’d discovered a couple of little telltales of the effect she had on Miranda, but what was it exactly that had been swirling through her mind at that moment. What was it that Miranda thought of her, or how she felt about her?    

When it came to Miranda’s thoughts and emotions, she was the perfect equivalence to a closed book, a book that had several latches and chains securing it adamantly shut, keeping its contents safe and hidden from the world, stowed away in a tungsten metal chest that was locked and bolted, that not even a nuclear explosion would be able to crack open. However, Andy knew that one of the keys she needed to unlock Miranda would be patience, and another one would be understanding.    

If she was indeed correct about Miranda thinking something more of her than just her assistant, then she understood that it would take time for Miranda to come to terms with it, as well as understanding that Miranda’s position was not a fact that she could ignore. Miranda was, after all, her boss, and in the middle of a divorce, and those were just a few facts from the tip of the iceberg that consisted of their unlikely situation.    

Miranda had every right to close herself off as she did. There was simply too much at stake for the editor, and Andy needed to tread about their circumstances as if she were navigating a minefield. She needed to be patient and show Miranda that she could be trusted to the core, wanted her to know that she could put her faith in Andy and that she did not need to doubt the fact that Andy would guard it with her life.   

Andy would also prove that she was no ignorant fool, that she understood the dire consequences if even insignificant, nonsensical speculations were to go around. She would show Miranda that she understood the possibility of their jobs being on the line, and it wasn’t just Miranda’s job, it was her reputation as well. Something Miranda had worked strenuously and vigorously for to develop, obtain, and reign, for well over twenty years of her life.   

Thus, all would come to light in due time. For the time being, all Andy could do was to make sure that no curious stares would glance their way because of the abnormality of them arriving at work together, and deflect any sense of an uncomfortable awkwardness about their situation.   

When the car started to slow down before stopping in front of the Elias-Clarke building, Andy turned to face Miranda and spoke up with a reassuring smile on her face. “I’ll just head out across the street to pick up your coffee. That way, people won’t think anything peculiar about us going into work together.”   

Miranda gave her a long, incomprehensible stare before she nodded curtly, then turned and gracefully stepped out of the car when the driver opened the door for her. Andy watched her go until she disappeared inside the building, thinking that her life had never been so complicated before and that the growing complexity of their relationship wasn’t even remotely close to its supremacy, not by a long shot.  

Notes:

If you read my note at the beginning, then you know now that it will take me a couple more days to update the next chapter.

So, in the meantime, I'd sincerely love to know what you think about the story so far?

What have been some of your favorite moments?

& Are there certain aspects that have stuck with you until now?

Let me know what you think!

Thank you for reading!

To be continued...