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of the week！ Harrison and Shriftman is putting it on； for
chrissake—you can’t beat that。 Say yes。” He squinted his face into
exaggerated puppy eyes； and I had to laugh。
“James； I’d really； really like to—I’ve never even been to the
Plaza！ But I really can’t change these plans。 Alex made reservations
at this little Italian place right by his apartment and there’s no
way I can reschedule。” I knew I couldn’t cancel； and I didn’t want
to—I wanted to spend the night alone with Alex and hear how his new
after…school program was shaping up； but I was sorry it had to be
the same night as this party。 I’d been reading about it in the
papers for the past week： it seemed that all of Manhattan was
ecstatically waiting for Marshall Madden； hair colorist
extraordinaire； to host his annual post–New Year’s blowout。 They
were saying that this year was going to be even bigger than usual
because Marshall had just published a new book；Color Me Marshall 。
But I wasn’t going to cancel on my boyfriend to go to some star
party。
“Well； OK； but don’t say I never asked you to go anywhere。 And don’t
e crying to me when you read inPage Six tomorrow that I was
spotted with Mariah or J…Lo。 Just don’t。” And he huffed away； half
joking that he was angry； half not； since he seemed to be in a
perpetual snit anyway。
So far； the week after New Year’s had been easy。 We were still
unwrapping and cataloging presents—I had gotten to unveil the most
stunning pair of Swarovski…encrusted stilettos this morning—but
there were none left to send and the phones were quiet since many
people were still away。 Miranda would be returning from Paris at the
end of the week but wouldn’t be in the office until Monday。 Emily
felt confident that I was ready to handle her； and so was I。 We’d
run through everything； and I’d taken nearly an entire legal pad
full of notes。 I glanced down at it； hoping I’d remember everything。
Coffee： Starbucks only； tall latte； two raw sugars； two napkins； one
stirrer。 Breakfast： Mangia delivery； 555–3948； one soft cheese
Danish； four slices bacon； two sausage links。 Newspapers： newsstand
in lobby；New York Times； Daily News； New York Post； theFinancial
Times； theWashington Post； USA Today； theWall Street Journal；
Women’s Wear Daily； and theNew York Observer on Wednesdays。 Weekly
magazines； available Mondays：Time； Newsweek； U。S。 News； The New
Yorker （！）；Time Out New York； New York； theEconomist 。 And on and on
it went； listing her favorite flowers and her most…hated flowers；
her doctors’ names and addresses and Home phone numbers； her
household help； her snack preferences； her preferred bottled water；
every size she wore in every article of clothing from lingerie to
ski boots。 I made lists of people she wanted to talk to （Always）；
and separate lists for people she never wanted to talk to （Never）。 I
wrote and wrote and wrote as Emily revealed these things throughout
our weeks together； and when we were finished； I felt there was
nothing I did not know about Miranda Priestly。 Except； of course；
what exactly made her so important that I’d filled a legal pad with
likes and dislikes。 Why； exactly； was I supposed to care？
“Yeah； he’s amazing；” Emily was sighing； twisting the phone cord
round and round her forefinger。 “It was the most romantic weekend I
think I’ve ever had。”
Ping！ You have a new e…mail from Alexander Fineman。 Click here to
open。 Oooh； fun。 Elias…Clark had firewalled instant messenger； but
for some reason I could still receive instant notifications that I’d
received a new e…mail。 I’d take it。
Hey baby； how’s your day？？ Things are crazy here； as usual。 Remember
I told you that Jeremiah had threatened all the little girls with a
box cutter he’d brought from Home？ Well； it seems he was serious—he
brought another one to school today and sliced one of the girls’
arms at recess and called her a bitch。 Not a deep cut at all； but
when the teacher on duty asked him where he’d gotten such an idea；
he said he saw his mom’s boyfriend do it to his mom。 He’s six years
old； Andy； can you believe it？ Anyway； the principal called an
emergency faculty meeting tonight； so I’m afraid I can’t make
dinner。 I’m so sorry！ But I have to say； I’m happy that they’re
responding to this at all—it’s more than I had hoped for。 You
understand； don’t you？ Please don’t be mad。 I’ll call you later； and
I promise to make it up to you。 Love； A
Please don’t be mad？ I hope you understand？ One of his
fourth…graders hadslashed another student and he was hoping I’d be
OK with him canceling dinner？ I’d canceled on him my first week
because I’d thought my week of riding around in a limo and wrapping
presents had been too demanding。 I wanted to cry； to call him and
tell him it was more than OK； that I was proud of him for caring
about these kids； for taking the job in the first place。 I hit
“reply” and was just about to write as much when I heard my name。
“Andrea！ She’s on her way in。 She’ll be here in ten minutes；” Emily
announced loudly； obviously struggling to remain calm。
“Hmm？ I’m sorry； I didn’t hear what—”
“Miranda is on her way into the office this moment。 We need to get
ready。”
“On her way into the office？ But I thought she wasn’t even ing
back to the country until Saturday 。 。 。”
“Well； clearly she changed her mind。 Now； move！ Go downstairs and
get her papers and lay them out just the way I told you。 When you’re
done； wipe down her desk and leave a glass of Pellegrino on the
left…hand side； with ice and a lime。 And make sure that her bathroom
is stocked； OK？ Go！ She’s already in the car； so she should be here
in less than ten minutes； depending on traffic。”