Chapter Text
“ Rosalind do explain to me why you have on more layers than that petulant child in that one terrible Christmas movie the girls insist I watch each year?” Miranda’s sharp voice demanded before following up “It makes you look 20 pounds heavier.” Miranda looked over the young woman’s winter garb tiredly with a purse of her lips, an exhausted tone to her voice.
“ It’s -17 degrees and snowing outside Miranda….it’s basically an arctic tundra out here.” Rosalind shot back with a playful glare, pulling her scarf tighter around her slender neck whilst never breaking eye contact with the silver haired woman “ also as for looking 20 pounds heavier – firstly that’s rude, secondly it creates a type of show everywhere we go…it leads to a grand reveal wherever we arrive when I strip down and my svelte figure and stylish outfit is beheld by all in attendance.” She declared with teasing grandiose with a grin.
“ I don’t believe I have ever met anyone as dramatic as you.” Miranda scoffed with a shake of her head.
“ I’m Latina, the theater is in my blood…haven’t you ever heard of telenovelas?” Rosalind raised a perfectly manicured brow before snuggling down into the seat, all but disappearing in her oversized parka “ my Latina blood ,of course, is also the reason I can’t handle this New York cold, I’m not built for it…I’m built for the sun, not the snow.”
“ And yet here you are.” Miranda dead panned.
“ And yet here I am…” Rosalind repeated letting her head fall back against the seat turning to lock her gaze with the icy blue orbs beside her “would you like for me to leave?”
“ You’re a child.” Miranda rolled her eyes, toying with the roll of her silk blouse at her wrist “ I’m not sure how I’ve tolerated you this long.”
“ I could give you a list of reasons if you really want to know…”
“ I’m firing you.” Miranda sighed heavily with a shake of her head turning to looking out the window.
“No you’re not.” Rosalind said with a mocking sigh of her own, pulling out her phone to confirm Miranda’s lunch date with Donatella.
Miranda closed her eyes a moment, a mix of annoyance and amusement coursing through her veins at the young woman’s quick witted snark – this had been their relationship since the day they met nearly 8 months ago now.
The days following Paris fashion week had been an absolute shit show, Andrea had left them all in a bind having just simply abandoned ship not even bothering to tell Miranda, whom she left in the midst of a circle of vulture like paparazzi at the height of the weeks events, she was leaving much less training her predecessor.
It had taken Nigel restraining Emily’s hand to keep her from a murderous rampage towards the doe eyed aspiring journalist when she had to attempt to find out every detailed plan Andrea had arranged for Miranda for the coming weeks whilst also hiring and firing multiple new ‘Emilys’ – her homicidal lean rising to new heights when despite the chaos she’d left them in, Miranda still gave Andrea a glowing recommendation to The Mirror – well glowing to Priestly standards that is.
Miranda had found herself struggling to focus, overwhelmed by the insane schedule and lack of an anchor by her side – the lack of Andrea by her side, being the keeper of her days and , if she were honest, her heart.
She’d never admit the latter of course but it was that last detail of the situation that made it all the more difficult, yes the young woman had betrayed her professionally but even more so personally.
Miranda tasted bile in her mouth every time the humiliating memory of her make up free but tear streaked face looked across he hotel suite at the her young assistant and expressed the reality of the divorce that had been faxed to her by yet another husband, how she had allowed herself to trust the woman enough to cry over her girls – she had let her in more than anyone else, she had never cried in front of any of her husbands or acquaintances, much less staff.
Of course Andrea was more than staff, she was so much more, even if Miranda never vocalized it – their subtle brushes of fingers and allowing little walls to slip like sharing elevators and cars with the young woman should have been a clear sign and if not, that night should have said it all.
But apparently all of that went to not after Miranda’s alleged betrayal of Nigel - which she swiftly paid him back in doubles with a promotion and hefty pay increase within a month of their return.
The final nail in the coffin of course was Miranda comparing Andrea to herself – the editor would never forget the widening eyes of horror, the exhale of disbelief then the quick refusal and rejecting of the notion of being anything like Miranda.
She was disgusted at the thought of being like her – so much so that she left her without so much as a goodbye.
Imagine loving someone who at the thought of being compared to you was so put off they simply could not bear to be near you a moment longer.
It made her want to die.
And yes, she had loved the little fool.
Though again, she’d never admit it.
Not now.
Not ever.
After weeks of enduring the chaos of the office post-Paris and the constant revolving door of inept assistant in the midst of her secret emotional turmoil Miranda made an announcement that had the entirety of her staff rushing outdoors to see if in fact the end times were upon them; Miranda was taking a vacation.
The editor and chief hadn’t taken time off since her two week maternity leave 13 years prior and even that had been forced upon her by the gash of her c-section and the insistence of her medical team, then husband and Nigel.
She had come to work with fevers, dizzy spells, migraines and a face numb from dental work – Miranda didn’t miss a day at the office.
But now she was declaring she would be gone for 4 weeks to the Hamptons with her girls and no one was to contact her – she would temporarily give the reigns to Nigel, who was more than happy to have a bit of control despite being concerned for his long time colleague and ‘most of the time’ friends mental health and wellbeing. He had asked her multiple times if she had been diagnosed with something terminal and simply wasn’t telling them or if she was finally getting help for the eating disorder she’d developed since their early days in fashion – at the last accusation she shut him down, threatening to revoke the offer of the taking of the reigns in her absence and giving them to Serena or Emily if he continued his unsolicited investigative reporting into her private life.
He reluctantly relented with his prying words but continued to worry in his mind.
Soon she was off to their beachfront home in the Hamptons, the ride there was quiet, a twin tucked into each of her sides sleeping, as they had left before the sun was up on a slow Sunday morning. She felt a bit nervous about the abundance of free time and if she were honest, it just being she and her girls.
Shame flushed her cheeks at the thought as it proved she relied entirely to much on Cara to care for them, proven in if when they were alone she was unsure of what to do to entertain them, to connect with them. But she shook those thoughts away, running her fingertips through each of their hair as the snuggled into her. She loved her girls more than anything on earth and was determined that this trip was one of reflection, restoration and reprioritizing her life.
Her children were getting older and so was she, there wasn’t time to waste on what didn’t matter – hadn’t she done that enough already?
The next few weeks were spent reintroducing herself to her children, to having hard conversations with them about what they needed from her – where she was doing well and where she was failing as a mother and leaving them lacking. It was difficult. It was a conversation that at some point they had all agreed to pause until their last evening here.
Some nights she found herself with a palm over her mouth in the shower to muffle her cries of despair and regret when she thought to the conversations had, the revelations she had come to but also her cries of lament were mixed with tears of gratitude that the pain of Paris had led her to this moment to pause and truly look around and see what was working and what wasn’t in her life.
In the early mornings before her girl’s were awake she would brew a searing hot cup of coffee with one sugar and a small bit of cream and make her way out to the private beach behind their Hampton home, there she would sink her bare feet into the sand and breath deep the ocean air and let it refresh her mind and soul – it was there, all alone except for the kisses of the morning sun against her skin that she allowed herself to think of Andrea – of what could’ve been but never would be.
She let herself ache, let herself question, let herself revaluate what had drawn her in and what had ultimately pushed her out of the girl’s life.
But one thing Miranda did not do on the secluded beach was cry – not because her emotions weren’t constantly welling up and threatening to spill over but because she only every managed to soak in about 45 minutes alone before she would hear the soft, slow steps of smaller feet padding down the beach to where she stood then two sets of slender arms would wrap around her waist. Caroline would grumble sleepily ‘ morning Mom’ while her tenderhearted Cassidy would lean up into her ear out of the hearing of her more cynical sister and whisper ‘ good morning Mommy’ and press a kiss to Miranda’s cheek and every morning it absolutely melted her heart. They would all three stand together in comfortable quiet watching the waves, the girl’s taking tiny sips of her coffee till undoubtedly there was one drink left in the bottom of the elegant porcelain cup that none of them could quite stomach that Miranda would dump out on the sand – she always thought she could perhaps make a little less so as to not waste but this was her routine and it just didn’t feel right to switch that up now.
After the last bit of coffee was dumped she would wrap an arm around each twin and walk them inside to make breakfast together. She loved to cook but very rarely had time to do so with the demands of her job so it was a special privilege to make three meals a day for her girl’s and even more precious to be able to teach them to cook some of her favorite dishes from her own childhood.
Most mornings they wanted Miranda’s famous French toast on fresh sour dough bread with sides of crispy bacon and covered with powdered sugar and maple syrup with glasses of cold milk on the side.
At home she very much monitored their sugar intake but here she let it go – wanting them to enjoy being children and also praying they didn’t develop her struggles with food and weight. Better a little extra sugar than extra mental pain.
They spent their days playing board games, painting, crafting, and at the beach building sand sculptures and swimming – no makeup, no perfectly coiffed hair – just them.
It was a beautiful blessing.
Miranda did find herself at times though when she sat on the shore watching the twins show her their latest ‘water trick’, wishing she had a partner beside her to laugh with, to touch, to soak in the sun and share sweet words and support – to have someone who would adore her girl’s the way she did and who would be her safe place not only while she was here in the sanctuary of the Hamptons but who could be her safe place back in the chaos of the city where her high demand reality lay waiting for her return.
The night before they were set to return she called the girl’s to sit with her on the dark green, velvet plush couch of the living room to talk with her.
“ Bobbseys…Mommy wants to talk to you about what life will look like when we go back to the city…” She began carefully, stomach sinking at how they both tensed at the idea of returning to their normal life “ I want you to know that our time together here has made me realize that I have missed out on so much with both of you...and I’m so …sorry.” The last word came out as strained whisper, Miranda didn’t apologize as a rule but for the daughter’s that she loved more than life itself she would break every rule to let them know how deeply she loved them “ and I want to do better…I’m not saying it’s going to happen over night and it will be a learning curve for me but…I am dedicated to us have more time as a family.”
“ We would love that Mom.” Cassidy piped up after a moment with a small cautious smile, her eyes hopeful but not fully believing the woman’s words.
“ Okay.” Caroline replied flatly, in no way setting any type of expectation that Miranda would follow through – she’d heard these promises her whole life, and Miranda did try for a few weeks but it always went back to how it always was – work first, everything else second “ I think I’m going to bed, goodnight mom, love you.” She stood up from where they sat not wanting to hear anymore.
“ I love you too Caroline…I love both of you, more deeply than you know.” Miranda desperately tried to stress looking between her girl’s, wanting to pull Caroline back down beside her and not let her run away but she knew her girl’s, Caroline would not respond well to feeling forced into closeness – regrettably she directly received that trait from Miranda.
“ It will be fun to have more time together.” Cassidy softly spoke up after a few minutes of Caroline’s absence, snuggling into Miranda’s side “ I believe in you Mom.”
“ Thank you my darling girl.” Miranda kept her voice soft so as to not let it break with the rising emotion from one daughters absence and the other’s tenderness “ I really want to change this time.”
“ I know, you will.” Cassidy assured though the slight waiver in her voice betrayed the good faith she was portraying.
The two sat in silence a moment before Cassidy began to worry her lip in thought, Miranda ever the observant force instantly noticed.
“ What’s going on in that beautiful mind?” She asked quietly, brushing a few auburn strands of hair behind her daughters ear.
“ Do you miss Andy mom? You don’t have to answer if it hurts to much.” Cassidy ask with extreme caution and nerves.
‘If it hurt to much’ ….these children were far to smart for Miranda’s liking.
“ I do sometimes.” Miranda decided on honestly, her chest feeling tight “ But she made her choice and we have to respect that….though she has left me in quite the lurch, Emily has hired and fired nearly 15 girls at this point…it seems no one can stack up to Andrea…” Miranda laughed with no humor “ She did text me last night saying that for the 3 weeks we’ve been gone she has had one young woman who has proved herself to be quite the talent but I will be the judge of that and make sure Emily isn’t just trying to not have to fetch my coffee every morning anymore.” She smirked playfully causing Cassidy to laugh lightly.
“ You know we miss her too, she was around a lot…” Cassidy began, a bit of emotion flickering through her gaze that broke Miranda’s heart “ she left us all really, not just you or the magazine….me and Caro too…it was very sad.” Her bottom lip pouted and for a moment Miranda feared the girl would cry, but ever the Priestly she swallowed thickly, took a breath then straightened her back before giving Miranda a determined look “ but we are okay now and we all three have each other and who knows maybe whoever this lady is she will be 10x better than Andy and maybe….maybe she’ll stay.”
“ We can only hope.” Miranda quietly answered her red headed love before pressing a kiss to her forehead then leaning her own against the same spot – she didn’t know what she would do without these girl’s to ground her.
Actually she did, she would fall apart.
Absolutely fall apart.
They were her reason, her only reason to go on.
“ Plus…” A smirk crept across her daughters face as she pulled back with glittering, mischievous eyes too look up at Miranda “ It will be fun to have somebody new to prank when she delivers the book the first time.”
“ Oh you little devil!” Miranda let out a loud laugh, tickling the girl who burst out into a fit of giggles trying to get a way from her a moment before Miranda pulled her into her lap and let her rest her head against her chest, cradling as if she were 3 instead of 13 “ You know I love you so much don’t you? Despite my flaws? I know I’m not a perfect parent Cassidy, I do but I hope you can…”
“ Mom stop…” Cassidy interrupted “ you aren’t perfect, but you are perfect for us.” She stated so sure it made tears well up in Miranda’s eyes “ and yes, we know you love us…and we love you too, so much. Always.” The girl leaned forward to kiss her mother’s cheek before cuddling back into her embrace.
Miranda pressed kisses into the girl’s hair and whispered more tender affections reserved just for her ‘babies’ before they walked hand in hand up to their room, Miranda tucking the girl in and then going to press a kiss to Caroline’s forehead who lay sleeping in her own bed.
As Miranda snuggled into her own king sized bed she felt a swell of gratitude for these three weeks she had spent simply being a mother and being Miranda. Not the editor and chief, not the fashion icon – just Miranda.
It was like fresh breath in her lungs and energy in her bones to face whatever waited for her in New York.
Fast forward to two days later as she walked into her office where a searing hot coffee and cup of Pellegrino waited for her in perfectly polished glass cup, recent magazines expertly laid out across he glass desk and a warm vanilla candle lit in the window sill drawing her into the space, making it feel warm and cozy, a bit more like her getaway in the Hamptons than the usual cold, no-nonsense ambience she worked so hard to curate in the world of Runway.
But she found herself allowing it.
Enjoying it.
It felt like home.
Soon she heard the sound of what she assumed were Emily’s 6 inch stilettos approaching, she lifted her head to call her long time assistant into her lair to began machine gunning out a list of tasks for her to perform and to ask where the hell this ‘fabulous’ new woman was but her words stopped in her mouth as her eyes fell upon someone she had never seen in Elias-Clarke…and she was absolutely confident she wasn’t someone she had simply overlooked.
This woman could not be overlooked.
There before her stood an impeccably dressed young woman – she was slender but somehow also had curves in every place one would want them, her hair was almost black and fell in soft curls to her waist, her skin was a smooth light caramel color, her full lips were painted in a dark red that brought out the green in her sparkling hazel eyes that had yet to notice Miranda’s presence.
Her toned legs moved with effortless elegance in the sky high, red bottomed Christian Louboutin heels as if she had been born in them, her arms were full of different bags of designer samples – the muscles of her biceps flexing as she carefully held each item tight as if it were treasure, she hummed softly as she looked over each item in her arms with a final nod, clearly confident and satisfied that she had everything she needed.
Miranda couldn’t help but appreciate the knee length, black Prada dress she wore clung to her body as if it were tailored just for her and the expertly added accessories of thin diamond tennis bracelet and matching drop earrings. The entire look was stunning.
She was stunning.
Blue orbs instantly snapped up from her wondering of the young woman’s outfit and figure as she realized the brunette was turning on her heel towards her office, Miranda quickly put on a practiced face of annoyed indifference before speaking.
“ Oh there you are.” She all but spat, causing the young woman to freeze in place, eyes widening slightly at the sight of the Editor and Chief “ you must be my new Emily.”
There was a few brief moments of silence as their eyes met, before the new assistant did something none of the others ever had at the first meeting with the Ice Queen.
She took a deep breath then….she smiled.
Not just any smile, a big, brilliant smile that lit up the room and made Miranda feel a bit….nervous and to warm.
“ That would be me.” The brunettes soft voice chuckled as she walked confidently up to Miranda’s desk, beginning to set each of the bags down she had in her arms before meeting her curious gaze once again “ however most people call me Rosalind, but I’ll answer to whatever pleases you most Miranda.” She grinned “ It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“ What’s all of this all over my desk??” Miranda quickly turned the conversation to the bags strewn across her desk, feeling off kilter at the girl’s easy conversation and seeming lack of intimidation but as she looked over the items her initial annoyance turned into confusion “ These are…all things I was going to ask you to pick up…I….even the newest Marc Jacobs….what is the meaning of this? How did you-“
“ I have access to your calendar and to your most prized clients and connections, I have been doing intense research on your patterns and habits as an editor and what I came to realize is that you like to always be first.” Rosalind stated matter of factly, carrying on before Miranda could refute her claims “ you want to be the first to look through every new item and every new line your favorite designers and brands have so that you can choose first, publish first and keep runway first in the rankings of fashion magazines…it’s how you’ve beat Vogue in the rankings consistently for the past 15 years is it not?” She didn’t wait for an answer “ It’s brilliant really, but you already know that and certainly don’t need my praise – but it is a fact and an excellent strategy that I plan to make sure is always executed when you need it but preferably before you need it. I’m here to anticipate your needs and wants, to have what you desire waiting for you not you waiting for it.”
Miranda swallowed thickly.
Who the hell was this young woman? Where did she come from? How had she figured her out so quickly before even meeting her? Why wasn’t she terrified of the Dragon lady?
Why did the Dragon Lady find herself somehow terrified of her?
“ That’s all.” Miranda flicked both hands into the air, dismissing the brunette who gave a small smile before turning on her heel and walking away “ shut the door on your way out.”
Rosalind complied, making her way to the desk assigned to her to begin diligently working on answering emails and making follow up calls.
Miranda sat in silence, staring at her lap top but not actually seeing anything on the screen.
After a half an hour of this she picked up her phone to call Nigel, slinking to the back corner of her office as to not be heard.
“ Miranda! I-“
“ Where did we procure this young woman from?!”
“ Hello to you too.” He gave chuckle.
“ I’m serious Nigel, she gives me an odd feeling like….I don’t know…she came in here with so much…Oh…off putting confidence the moment we met!”
“ How dare a woman be confident at her place of work! You should fire her immediately!” He mocked with a fake gasp.
“ You know what I mean!” She all but growled, turning to watch the young woman working without distraction, eyes focusing on the way her straight teeth bit at her full bottom lip and…
“ Miranda I think the problem is that the last assistant you had was a hard worker, excellent at her job but….mousy and a bit skittish…you overlooked it and maybe even….entertained it…” He carefully chose his words not wanting to invoke the dragons wrath “ because Andy meant…uh..a ‘great deal’ to you…because had she not, that type of personality would have annoyed you to no end….and you became accustomed to that type of temperament…but Rosalind she is superb at the job but she is also just…superb all around as you will quickly come to find out – the whole package, if you will.”
“ Nigel…how many of ‘the whole packages’ have I fired over the years? Anyone can put on couture and order coffee….but can she keep up with me? She has been with Emily and I assume from your seeming approval of her, with you but she has not been with me…with the Dragon Lady, The Ice Queen…she hasn’t had me snapping demands in her ears or pulling her from her family and friends until her life falls apart, till I’m all there is around her and she realizes I’m not enough…” Miranda’s hand pressed for support onto the window facing the New York skyline,her head drooping down a bit at the last quickly said words and the wave of emotion that came with them and the memories they implied.
“ Miranda…if I could be so bold…”
“ Don’t.” The words came out more as plea than a command.
“ You both made mistakes…this isn’t all on you…”
“ It is Nigel…it is all on me…it is always me…my failings, my inability to be human.” She refuted him “ if you had seen the look of horror on her face when I compared her to me.”
“ She’s a kid….fresh out of college, you can’t let that…”
“ So is Rosalind, is she not? She can’t be a day over 27 Nigel and It seems monsters still scare children even in this modern age.” She sighed heavily before carrying on “ how long before this one walks? And the next? And so on? Before I know it you and Emily will be out the door to Vogue.”
“ Me at a second rate Runway? I think not!” He declared with mock offense, in attempt to lighten the mood, that had the edges of her lips quirking up though she wouldn’t let him know.
“ Yes well…I suppose I should go.” She commented but didn’t press the end button, her eyes moving to the flame flickering at the windowsill “ that slender little beast lit a candle in my office, can you believe that? What magazine does she think this is, Home and Gardens?” She scoffed with a roll of her eyes.
“ But did you blow it out?” He challenged.
She was silent a few moments.
“ No.”
“ Mm..” He grinned into the phone.
“ I don’t appreciate you judging me.” She glared into the Iphone despite him not being able to see her, she knew by the light chuckle between him instructing one of his assistants to move quicker on a project for the next edition of Runway, the glare was felt.
“ I like to call it observing, pondering, assessing the situation…” He began with a wide smile in his voice.
“ Goodbye Nigel.” She sharply responded hanging up the phone, done with the conversation and with her longtime colleague knowing her far to well for her liking.
She took a moment to simply breathe, inhaling deep – the warm, full smell of the candle enveloping her like a blanket, it was…acceptable.
Maybe she would allow it to stay.
Her eyes flicked over to her new assistant once again, she was an enigma…setting the stage from ‘go’ to set herself apart from any other assistant Miranda had ever employed with her innate courage and bold confidence.
Miranda’s eyes widened as Rosalind’s eyes glanced up to meet hers before giving her a warm smile then looking back to her work, not waiting for or perhaps expecting any kind of response.
There it was again…that warm feeling in her chest…maybe she was entering menopause….it was just…it was far to hot in her office.
“ I’ll be back at 1pm, have my lunch waiting.” Miranda announced, heels clacking aggressively against the marble floor.
“ Yes, Miranda.” Rosalind chimed without hesitation, something about the melodic nature of her voice causing Miranda to wobble lightly on one step of her high heels.
“ I’m losing it.” She grumbled to herself once she was encased in the empty elevator on her way down, leaning back against the wall and closing her eyes, trying to ground herself before the ding of the floor she needed brought her back and she walked coldly through the lobby to where Roy awaited to whisk her away to the escape of her choosing.
The next few weeks Miranda had, to everyones chagrin, made it her personal mission to challenge, test and push Rosalind as hard as she possibly could with snide comments, impossible tasks and ungodly work hours all while wreaking havoc on every other employee and project in her wake.
But much to Miranda’s chagrin, Rosalind met every challenge thrown at her with grace and exceptional ability, always capping it all of with a smile….with that smile that drove Miranda mad with a confusion she had never felt to such a degree and had her calling maintenance to demand they turn down the air conditioning as it just kept getting to damn hot in her office over and over.
3 months in, Miranda relented, mostly out of exhaustion and having no more creative ideas of villainy to torture Rosalind with and instead rewarded her….well she doubted she would call it that….with the task of waiting for and delivering the book to her home.
Rosalind happily accepted, not even minding the late hours as she enjoyed having time to clean out her inbox before spending the evening filling her sketchbook with dreams.
The first few times were uneventful but the third time Rosalind arrived the twins were home and ready to trick their mother’s newest assistant. They brought Rosalind a travel mug with hot coffee, telling the brunette they just ‘wanted to be friends’ and this was their way of ‘welcoming’ Rosalind, they encouraged her to take a drink, all but coming apart with anticipation at what awaited her in the cup.
It was coffee, but coffee full of vinegar and hot sauce.
Rosalind gagged and the girls began to giggle, she sat the cup down on a nearby table and gagged again – the girl’s let out another set of giggles but when Rosalind grabbed her throat with her hands and began to stumble, their faces paled.
“ What’s wrong with you?” Caroline demanded harshly, panic creeping up her spine.
“ I’m….I’m….I’m allergic.” Rosalind coughed and gagged out before passing out on the foyer floor.
Both twins stood in stunned horror before Cassidy turned in horrified anger.
“ YOU KILLED HER!” She hissed at Caroline.
“ ME?! THIS WAS YOUR IDEA!” Caroline refuted before looking at the still assistant “ oh my God….we should call 911….mom is gonna kill us….I –“
Both girl gasped and let out a squeal as Rosalind suddenly sat up with a satisfied smirk on her lips.
“ Well that was easy.” She quipped.
“ Wait…you….you’re not allergic….you…YOU TRICKED US!” Caroline pointed an accusing finger at the brunette.
“ Ah…correction…I OUT tricked you….” Rosalind stood up, smoothing at the wrinkle of her pant suit before looking at the two red heads with glimmering eyes of amusement, leaning in “ I have 3 baby sisters who are all under the age of 15, I assure you that any tricks you’ve pulled over on the other silly girls will not fly with me and I will prank you back…every.single.time.”
The girl’s looked at her wide eyed, never had an assistant been so outspoken with them much less out smarted them at their own games. This one was different.
“ I like you.” Caroline shocked Cassidy and Rosalind both with the declaration, a sly smile spreading across her face that Cassidy soon mirrored.
“ Yeah me too.” Cassidy agreed.
“ I like both of you two, you’re smart.” Rosalind beamed, her voice now soft as she met both of their eyes that were glued to her “ so that being said, I think we’re stronger together than trying to out do each other…I say we team up, what do you think?”
Both twins exchanged looks, talking in a language only twins could speak before giving her a nod as all three of them let out soft laughter shared smiles.
“ Alright sweet girls, I better go before your Mom catches me and throws me out into the street.” Rosalind teased in a whisper looking around as if she were afraid, this made both twins giggle like they were all three sharing a secret only they knew.
“ Good night Rosalind.” Caroline spoke first.
“ You can call me Rozzy, it’s what my sisters call me.” The brunette winked as she made her way to the door.
“ Sweet dreams Rozzy, be careful on the subway, I hear there are people who pee on there.” She wrinkled her nose in disgust, eyes flickering with concern.
Rosalind had to hold back the full laugh she wanted to let out at the girl’s slight snobbishness, but it in no way put her off because it was all wrapped up in the kind concern of the 13 year old that melted her heart.
“ I’ll be careful.” She assured before walking out the door.
The girls shared whispers about their new friend as they made their way to their bedrooms full of glee.
Unbeknownst to any of them Miranda had concealed herself in the shadows of the hallway, watching the entire scene unfold – including the ‘passing out’ of her assistant, in disbelief that her girls had fallen for it and also, surprisingly amused and impressed that the young woman had even gone through with the whole charade, knowing Miranda could have emerged at any point and rebuked her for it.
But it was the sweet exchange at the end of Rosalind’s conversation with her girls that made the room warm, the way she looked into her girl’s eyes with such kindness and the way she spoke with a tender almost maternal tone that drew the often anti-social twins in to instantly trust her and want to form their little alliance.
She had stayed hidden as to not break the moment and take away from what it clearly meant to her girl…what it meant to her.
From there on out the girl’s always wanted to know ‘where Rozzy was’ and if ‘she was delivering the book tonight’ and ‘can she stay for dinner’ or ‘ we can do dinner then watch a movie, we want to show Rozzy our favorite’….and Miranda gave in every time.
Convincing herself it was for the girl’s was easy when they were all four at the table and Miranda was rolling her eyes at the young woman’s antics as she flicked a retaliatory pea at Caroline who had assaulted her with a baby carrot a few moments prior.
But when the girl’s went to bed and it was just the two of them, sipping Miranda’s wine of choice of the night and sitting on her plush sofa talking about the day and sparring in light snark that had Miranda fighting back laughter more often times than not…it was hard to justify it as ‘just for the girls’.
Miranda had never been one for conversation but with Rosalind it was easy…mostly because the young woman didn’t fear her, something that at times annoyed her as it all but decimated her main piece of armor she hid behind, but the lack of fear opened up an ease to the conversation, to natural ebbs and flows of communication that she hadn’t ever had before – not with any of her husbands….and not even with Andrea.
The thought of the young woman still deeply hurt the editor which kept her from fully letting down all of her guards with Rosalind but, she simply couldn’t keep up the high walls she had built with others in the presence of the brunette, mostly because she wouldn’t allow it.
Miranda would never forget one day when she was particularly cruel to the young woman and how Rosalind had went toe to toe with her over it.
“ You will not speak to me like that Miranda Priestly!” Rosalind’s voice was dangerously low as she approached where Miranda stood behind her desk.
“ Won’t I though?” Miranda challenged “ I’m confident it’s my name at the bottom of your checks Rosalind Sanchez so if I were you I would shut up and do my job or find a new one.” The threat had come out with intentional harshness, hoping to scare the young woman into submission but instead she squared her shoulders and set her jaw.
“ Fine.” She simply said beginning to walk away before turning back and looking Miranda directly in her eyes “ I don’t know who did it, but it wasn’t me and it’s insufferably unfair of you to take it out on me.” Rosalind’s words came out sharp, thrown like daggers through Miranda’s chest as her eyes blazed with hurt and fury as she turned away, stomping her heels to her desk.
Miranda should’ve thrown her out of the building but instead she lowered herself shakily into her chair, completely blindsided by how effortlessly the Latina beauty had read her truth despite the façade she put up. She truly had a gift. She was a gift.
And God Miranda felt guilty.
Later that day when Rosalind was about to fetch Miranda another coffee, Miranda called her into her office.
“ When you pick up my coffee…” She began seeming distant and nonchalant despite the slight tremor of her fingertips over the keys of her laptop she stayed staring at “ be sure to get yourself a drink and a pastry….that’s all.”
It wasn’t an apology.
But it was.
And Rosalind knew it.
“ Yes Miranda.” She grinned like a cheshire cat with a little flick of her foot behind her as she turned to go make the purchase, a little move Miranda didn’t miss.
The room was warm again.
Fast forward to the present where they sat comfortably close in the car, once again exchanging a bit of snark before arriving at their destination for a day full of meetings and a quickly scheduled run through that neither of them were looking forward too as Miranda was already sure it would be a massive failure which meant it would be even if it wasn’t, once her mind was set that was it.
Her eyes wandered back over to the brunette, she looked so lovely today, she’s wore a new lip combination….a dark brown outline and lighter pink in the middle that made her lips look even more full, luscious really….
Miranda groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose, what was wrong with her? Had she not learned her lesson from the last pretty little thing that had been in this car?
Albeit they were nothing alike apart form both being entirely to much younger than her but still.
“ Migraine?” Rosalind asked softly, her brows knitting in concern that made Miranda’s heart flip in her chest.
“ No just…not looking forward to these meetings, especially with Richard.” Her nose crinkled at the name of the designer who’s line they would be seeing.
“ I know…he never stops talking…ever.” Rosalind rolled her eyes, pleased when Miranda let out a tiny puff of air that she had come to lable in her mind as Miranda’s ‘outside laugh’.
“ We’re here ladies.” Roy’s low voice announced before he exited the vehicle to open Miranda’s door to let both of them out “ good luck.” He winked at them both eliciting an eye roll from both women causing him to chuckle before he climbed back into the Mercedes to continue his day till he was summonsed back to pick them up.
As they made their way almost into the building, Miranda barking out orders for Rosalind, the older woman didn’t notice a grate on between the concrete slabs on the ground and stepped directly into one, her stiletto heel getting stuck and suddenly she was plummeting towards the ground face first.
Before she could even put out her hands in attempt to break her fall, a strong arm slipped around her waist and pulled her to the side firmly causing her to stumble forward full into Rosalind’s arms who teetered a bit on her own heels but held her steady.
They had never been physically close like this, yes near but never close – they brushed shoulders, reached across one another when going through the days notes, skimmed finger tips when exchanging items but they never touched. Not like this.
Miranda’s heart rate sped as Rosalind’s toned arms held her waist tight, Miranda’s hands on gripped the young woman’s shoulders she leaned against for support – God she smelled delicious, like amber and vanilla…a bit like the candle in her office, the scent wrapped around Miranda, pulling her closer into the young woman as their eyes met – Rosalind’s chest rose and fell heavily, Miranda’s breath catching in her lungs as her eyes flicked down to Rosalind lips then back to hazel eyes that looked both shocked and intrigued and something else Miranda couldn’t quite name as she leaned forward, their noses brushing.
“ Miranda…I…are you okay?” Rosalind uncharacteristically stuttered at the close proximity but made no move to separate herself from the older woman, instead pulling her up and more into her arms.
“ I’m….fine.” Miranda swallowed thickly taking in the features of the young woman’s face in a way she never had before “ you have freckles.” She whispered moving one hand from Rosalind’s shoulder to brush her finger tips across the spattering of light freckles across the bridge of Rosalind’s nose and across the tops of her cheeks “ I’ve never seen them before.”
“ They’ve always been there.” The younger attempted to joke but the air was to thick, the tension to strong as they both leaned dangerously close, Miranda’s breath warming the full lips of the Latina who began to close the gap between them when…
A loud car honk on the nearby city street brought Miranda out of the seeming haze she had fallen into in Rosalind’s arms, causing her to recoil back not at the woman in front of her but at her own beguilement of said woman, she wobbled on the one high heel she had on and the other bare foot.
“ My shoe…go get my shoe.” She snapped her fingers at Rosalind who jumped a bit then nodded rushing to go pull the high heel out of the grate with a grunt then rushing back to without out thought move to her knees in front of Miranda with the shoe causing the older woman’s eyes to go wide at the sight before her that had her mind going wild and her face blushing at the scenarios her rebellious brain was churning out at lightening speed.
“ Here let me…” Rosalind gestured to the bare foot in front of her, and after Miranda’s initial hesitation she lifted the dainty foot and let Rosalind slide it on “ there, perfect.”
Rosalind quickly stood back up and straightened herself out and then they just stood there, not even a foot between them, staring at each other.
Both wanting to speak but having no words.
Hearts running wild in their chests, nerves sending shivers all over their skin.
“ Rosalind I…” Miranda began then shook her head, steeling up “ I needed to be in that office 5 minutes ago, we are late so stop gawking and let’s go!” She commanded, stomping off to the doors, leaving Rosalind stunned before running after her.
As Miranda walked into the designers building she couldn’t help but notice that this building had the exact same problem as Elias-Clarke….it was so warm…to warm.
God, why was it so damn hot?