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sound negative； it’s just that it’s sleeting and I’m standing
outside and I have burning hot Coffee running down my left arm 。 。
。”Beep…beep。 The other line rang； and even though I almost burned my
neck with the lit end of the cigarette while trying to pull my phone
away from my ear； I was able to see that it was Emily calling。
“Shit； Lil； it’s Miranda calling。 I’ve got to run。 But congrats on
getting evicted！ I’m so excited for us。 I’ll call you later； OK？”
“OK； I’ll talk to—”
I had already clicked over and mentally prepared myself for the
barrage。
“Me again；” Emily said tightly。 “What the hell is going on？ It’s a
fucking Coffee； for chrissake。 You forget that I used to do your
job； and I know it doesn’t take that long to—”
“What？” I said loudly； holding a few fingers over the microphone on
the receiver。 “What’d you say？ I can’t hear you。 Well； if you can
hear me； I’ll be back in just a minute！” And I clicked my phone shut
and buried it deep in my pocket。 And even though I had at least half
a Marlboro left； I dropped it on the sidewalk and ran back to work。
Miranda deigned to accept this slightly warmer latte and even gave
us a few moments of peace between ten and eleven； when she sat in
her office with the door closed； cooing to B…DAD。 I’d officially met
him for the first time the week before； when I’d dropped the Book
off that Wednesday night around nine。 He had been removing his coat
from the closet in the foyer and spent the next ten minutes
referring to himself in the third person。 Since that meeting； he had
paid me extra…special attention when I let myself in each night；
always taking a few minutes to ask about my day or pliment me on
a job well done。 Naturally； none of these niceties seemed to rub off
on his wife； but at least he was pleasant to be around。
I was just about to begin calling some of the PR people to see about
getting a few more decent clothes to wear to work when Miranda’s
voice shook me from my thoughts。 “Emily； I’d like my lunch。” She had
called from her office to no one in particular； since Emily could
mean either of us。 The real Emily looked at me and nodded； and I
knew it was OK to move。 The number for Smith and Wollensky was
programmed into my desk phone； and I recognized the voice on the
other end as the new girl。
“Hey； Kim； it’s Andrea from Miranda Priestly’s office。 Is Sebastian
there？”
“Oh； hi； um； what did you say your name was again？” No matter that I
called at the exact same time； twice a week； and had already
identified myself—she always acted as though we’d never spoken。
“From Miranda Priestly’s office。 AtRunway 。 Listen； I don’t mean to
be rude”—yes； actually； I do—“but I’m kind of in a hurry。 Could you
just put Sebastian on？” If anyone else had answered I would’ve been
able to just tell that person to put in an order for Miranda’s
usual； but since this one was too dumb to be trusted； I had learned
to ask for the manager himself。
“Um； OK； let me check and see if he’s available。”Trust me； Kim； he’s
available。 Miranda Priestly is his life。
“Andy； dear； how are you？” Sebastian breathed into the phone。 “I
hope you’re calling because our favorite fashion editor would like
some lunch today； yes？”
I wondered what he’d say if I told him； just once； that it wasn’t
Miranda who was looking for lunch； but me。 After all； this wasn’t
exactly a takeout joint； but they made a special exception for the
queen herself。
“Oh； yes； indeed。 She was just saying how much she was in the mood
for something delicious from your restaurant； and she also said to
send her love。” If under threat of death or dismemberment Miranda
wouldn’t have been able to identify the name of the place that made
her lunch each day； never even mind the name of its daytime manager；
but he always seemed so happy when I said something like this。 Today
he was so excited he giggled。
“Fab！ That’s just fabulous！ We’ll have it ready for you as soon as
you get here；” he called with fresh excitement in his voice。 “Can’t
wait！ And give her my love； too； of course！”
“Of course I will。 See you soon。” It was exhausting to stroke his
ego so enthusiastically； but he made my job so much easier it was
well worth it。 Every day that Miranda didn’t have lunch out； I
served her the same meal at her desk； and she leisurely ate it
behind closed doors。 I kept a supply of china plates in the bins
above my desk for this purpose。 Most were samples sent by designers
whose new “Home” lines had just e out； although some I just took
directly from the dining room。 It would have been too annoying to
have to keep stock of things like gravy trays and steak knives and
linen napkins； though； so Sebastian was always sure to provide those
with the meal。
And once again I shrugged on my black wool coat and jammed my
cigarettes and phone in the pocket and headed outside； into a late
February day that seemed to get only grayer as it progressed。
Although it was just a fifteen…minute walk to the restaurant on 49th
and Third； I considered calling for a car but thought better of it
when I felt the clean air in my lungs。 I lit a cigarette and drew
the smoke in； when I exhaled； I wasn’t sure if it was smoke or cold
air or irritation； but it felt damn good。
Dodging the aimlessly meandering tourists had bee easier。 I used
to stare in disgust at pedestrians on Cell Phones； but given my
hectic days； I’d bee a walking talker。 I pulled my cell out and
called Alex’s school where； according to my fuzzy recollection； he
could possibly be eating his lunch in the faculty lounge at that
moment。
It rang twice before I heard a high…pitched； pinched woman’