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into it； watching the straps bite into the already swollen flesh。 In
another few seconds I had it buckled and was returning to an upright
sitting position just as Miranda walked in。
Frozen。 I was absolutely frozen in midmotion； my mind working fast
enough to understand how ridiculous I must look； but not quite fast
enough to move。 She noticed me immediately； probably because she was
expecting Emily to still be sitting at her old desk； and walked
over。 She leaned on the counter that ran over my desk； leaned over
it and even closer to me； until she was able to see my entire body
as I sat； immobilized； in the chair。 Her bright blue eyes moved up
and down； side to side； all over my white button…down； my red
corduroy Gap miniskirt； my now buckled camel…hair Jimmy Choo
sandals。 I felt her examine every inch of me； skin and hair and
clothes； her eyes moving so quickly but her face remaining frozen。
She leaned closer still； until her face was only a foot from mine
and I could smell the fantastic aroma of salon shampoo and expensive
perfume； so close that I could see the very fine lines around her
mouth and eyes that were invisible from a more fortable distance。
But I couldn’t look too long at her face； because she was intently
examining mine。 There wasn’t the slightest indication that she
recognized that a） we had； in fact； met before； b） I was her new
employee； or c） I was not Emily。
“Hello； Ms。 Priestly；” I squeaked impulsively； even though somewhere
in the back of my head I knew that she hadn’t uttered a word yet。
But the tension was unbearable； and I couldn’t help but barrel
forward。 “I’m so excited to be working for you。 Thank you so much
for the opportunity to 。 。 。”Shut up！ Just shut your stupid mouth！
Talk about no dignity。
She walked away。 Finished looking me up and down； pushed backward
off the counter； and just walked away while I was stuttering
mid…sentence。 I could feel heat ing off my face； a flush of
confusion and pain and humiliation all wrapped into one； and it
didn’t help that I could feel Emily glaring at me。 I pulled my hot
face upward and confirmed that Emily was indeed glaring at me。
“Is the Bulletin updated？” Miranda asked to no one in particular as
she walked into her office and； I noticed happily； directly to the
light table where I’d arranged her papers。
“Yes； Miranda。 Here it is；” Emily said obsequiously； racing in
behind her and handing her the clipboard where we kept all of
Miranda’s messages typed as they e in。
I sat quietly； watching Miranda move deliberately around her office
in the picture frames that hung on her wall： if I looked at the
glass instead of at the photos themselves； I could see her
reflection。 Emily immediately busied herself at her desk； and
silence prevailed。Do we never get to talk to each other or anyone
else if she’s in the office？ I wondered。 I wrote a quick e…mail to
Emily； asking her as much； which I saw her receive and read。 Her
answer came back right away：You got it； she wrote。If you and I have
to talk； we whisper。 Otherwise； no talking。 And don’t EVER speak to
her unless she speaks to you。 And do not EVER call her Ms。
Priestly—it’s Miranda。 Got it？ I felt again as if I had been
slapped； but I looked up and nodded。 And it was then I noticed the
coat。 It was right there； a great big pile of fabulous…looking fur；
all bunched up on the end of my desk； with one arm dangling off the
edge。 I looked at Emily。 She rolled her eyes； waved her hand toward
the closet； and mouthed； “Hang it up！” It was as heavy as a wet down
forter ing out of the washing machine； and I needed both hands
to keep it from dragging on the floor； but I gingerly hung it on one
of the silk hangers and gently； quietly； closed the doors。
I hadn’t even sat back down when Miranda appeared next to me； and
this time her eyes were free to roam over my entire body。 Impossible
as it seemed； I could feel each body part ignite as she eyed it； but
I was frozen； unable to dive back to my chair。 Just as my hair was
about to catch fire； those relentless blue eyes finally stopped on
mine。
“I’d like my coat；” she said quietly； looking directly at me； and I
wondered if she wondered who I was； or if she didn’t notice or care
that there was a relative stranger posing as her assistant。 There
wasn’t so much as a glimmer of recognition； even though my interview
with her had taken place a few weeks earlier。
“Surely；” I managed； and moved toward the closet again； which was an
awkward maneuver because she was currently standing between it and
me。 I turned my body sideways to keep from bumping into her and
tried to slide myself past her； reaching to pull open the door I had
just shut。 She didn’t move a single inch to let me pass； and I could
feel that the eyes had continued their roving。 Finally； blessedly；
my hands closed around the fur； and I pulled it carefully to
freedom。 I wanted to throw it at her and see if she’d catch it； but
I restrained myself at the last second and held it open as a
gentleman would for a lady。 She shrugged into it with one graceful
motion and picked up her Cell Phone； the only item she had brought
with her to the office。
“I’d like the Book tonight； Emily；” she said as she walked
confidently out of the office； probably not even noticing that a
cluster of three women standing in the hall outside the suite
scattered immediately upon seeing her； chins to their chests。
“Yes； Miranda。 I’ll have Andrea bring it up。”
That was that。 She left。 And the visit that had inspired office…wide
panic； frenzied preparations； even makeup and wardrobe adjustments；
had lasted just under four minutes； and had taken place—as far as my
inexperienced eyes could see—for absolutely no reason whatsoever。
8
“Don’t look now；” James said； his mouth as immobile as a
ventriloquist’s； “but I spy Reese Witherspoon at three o’clock。”
I swiveled immediately as he cringed in embarrassment； and； sure
enough； there she was； sipping a glass of champagne and throwing her
head back in laughter。 I didn’t want to be impressed； but I couldn’t
help it： she was one of my favorite actresses。
“James； darling； I’m so glad you could make it to my little party；”
quipped a thin； beautiful man who came up behind us。 “And who do we
have here？” They kissed。
“Marshall Madden； color guru； this is Andrea Sachs。 Andrea is
actually—”
“Miranda’s new assistant；” Marshall finished； smiling at me。 “I’ve
heard all about you； little one。 Wele to the family。 I do hope
you’ll e visit me。 I promise that together we can； um； smooth
over your look。” He ran his hand lovingly over my scalp and picked
up the ends of my hair； which he immediately held up against the
roots。 “Yes； just a touch of something honey…colored and you’ll be
the next supermodel。 Get my number from James； OK； sweetie； and e
see me anytime you get a minute。 Probably easier said than done！” he
sang as he floated toward Reese。
James sighed and looked on wistfully。 “He’s a master；” he breathed；
“simply the best。 The ultimate。 A man among boys； to say the least。
And gorgeous。” A man among boys？ Funny。 Whenever anyone had used
that phrase before； I’d always pictured Shaquille O’Neal making a
move toward the hoop against a small power forward—not a colorist。
“He’s definitely gorgeous； I’ll agree with you there。 Have you ever
dated him？” It seemed like the perfect match： the associate beauty
editor ofRunway dating the most sought…after colorist in the free
world。
“I wish。 He’s been with the same guy for four years now。