Andy still wished she'd said No but couldn't. Not to Hill.

Hill, Hilary a friend from college had laryngitis and normally with a distinct voice hosted this radio station 107.1 FM late night. Dr Hilary Jules gave advice on air.

She had asked Andy for a huge favour.

Andy couldn't say no. So tonight here she was juggling her job at The NY Mirror and this.

Glancing at the time on her watch, 1:15am and an unlit board, no one on the other end of the line. Andy rich voice asked one question to any listeners. Popping on a Peter Cetera song. She didn't expect an answer she was on dead air.

Nursing her third coffee, a call made Andy jolt.

''I don't agree.''

''Okay caller why don't you agree? Love can happen at first sight.''

''First there is no such thing. If one isn't in love you're safe.''

Andy asked out loud. ''Safe?''

She listened to the caller, explaining. Just great she would get as her only one caller, a doozy.

''Safe from harm, so you don't care when your ex-husband tells you he never loved you, once. That you were just a wealthy portfolio to him, and in front of his and my own lawyers that being in bed with you was like manoeuvring a frigid body of ice. That he needed to unzip a Zamboni and ice saw to plough into me his wife Mrs Iceberg… ''

Ouch. Andy thought what an insensitive prick. No wonder this woman didn't believe in love, first sight or otherwise.

''Well I…

''No that's not a question. Romantic Love does not exist.''

Her voice made Andy react like Miranda.

''Love is a conceptualised fairy tale told to us that Mr Right on a white horse will come charging up and rescue us with love.''

Andy swallowed hard this lady calling into the station was cultured by her voice but also hurt and bitter. Sounded like she'd been crying.

''So what you're saying is Mr Right is a fairy tale.''

''Searching for Mr Right is a fantasy. Dr Jules. Fed to us by media. Wanting us to buy the concept.''

''What's your name caller?''

Pausing at Andy's directness. ''Mir…Miriam.''

''Well Miriam, I think love can hurt, but it is amazing also can be pretty incredible, messy, crazy and passionate. Love happens when we least expect it and I once read when you fall in love you hear Puccini in your head and of course to quote a well known line I would have rather loved than never loved at all.''

''Have you ever been in love? It sounds like your speaking from experience.''

''Matter a fact I have been in love with someone.'' Andy shared. She couldn't wait to switch the switch and hang up. This caller was giving her heart and mind a nosebleed.

''Did you hear Puccini in your head? '' Teased by her caller.

Andy snorted.

''Who was it?''

Andy blinked. Miranda was who she was in love with. Hopelessly.

''She was someone I worked with once. We grew apart over one thing. It was unrequited.''

''Oh. She. Didn't she know? How you felt.''

Andy sighed. ''No. Sometimes I thought her eyes told me. She was and is entirely out of my league. I'm a 4' she's a 10.''

Miriam's sophisticated voice softened to Andy. '' Perhaps you're a ten or twenty and just don't see this. Anyhow I like your anomaly way earlier, it's refreshing on holidays.''

Andy smiled. ''Thank you. Miriam. Can I play a request for you.'' Andy asked hopefully.

''No. Not tonight. May I…can I just talk to you. If you'd like to listen.''

''Sure.'' Andy decided to take this off air. ''Talk to me.''

Andy looped a whole hour of pop songs. Hefty playlist of Belinda Carlisle, The Bangles and a tune from Kim Carnes and Jon Secada were up next.

''Tell me about yourself. Miriam.''

''Well I have two daughters who are eleven and twins. They're both my world. We have a dog her name is Patricia.''

Had to be a coincidence, sure lots of people in New York had twins and a pet named Patricia.

''What kind of dog is Patricia?'' Andy held her breath.

'' She's a pedigree St Bernard.'' Surely it couldn't be who she thought it was on the other end of the line. Miriam-Miranda?

''My divorce with my ex-husband Stephen was finalised today and he was unpleasant. He relishes being hurtful to me.''

Andy face drained of colour yeah sure lots of women in Manhattan had ex's named Stephen. 1000s of Stephen's to a block radius Andy told herself and St. Bernard's and twins. Dear God she was speaking to her ex. Ex-boss.

''I am sorry to hear that Miriam.''

''Don't be he was…very unloving and didn't understand my work.''

''What do you do?''

''I am an Editor of a magazine. Runway. Do you read it.''

Andy lied. ''No.''

It was her, no doubt. Andy almost fell off her chair. Miriam was Miranda. She had such a warm voice to Andy on the line. Didn't want to ruin this between them.

''So your work is very involved.'' Andy questioned with faux ignorance knowing all too well how Runway was a hectic workplace environment. Bordering on tenser than lockdown in a correctional facility.

Miranda exhaled out. She liked this radio dj's voice it helped her calm down tonight.

''One could say that.'' Miranda mulled.

Cradling her phone. Enjoyed talking to someone who didn't know her. Smiled into the receiver as this Dr Jules made her relax pushing her head back against her pillow in bed.

This was nice. Forgetting she was Miranda Priestly for a little while.

Subway

Andy was still in shock. It was Miranda. She'd talked to her former horrible boss last night until almost 4am. Relieved Miranda hadn't realised it was her. They had a conversation between each other that didn't involve the Book, Emily, piping hot coffee or Runway. Or Andy being verbally eviscerated.

Miranda seemed lonely was the best word for it. Very lonely and human.

Andy had an idea.

Runway Offices 17th Floor

Emily and the new girl eyed it. Both just curious. Emily Charlton kept glancing at it. Miranda had an admirer. Racking her brain who.

In the last few months, no one came to mind to the nosy redhead.

There had been no cancelled appointments for dinner dates and no sign of anyone remotely of XY in the townhouse with the dry cleaning like shirts or suits or calling Miranda at the office. Emily felt she would know. After all she was Miranda's first assistant since Andy left.

Emily still was shocked Miranda hadn't once called the new second assistant Andrea. Even spitefully. That name was not to be repeated in the office ever.

Serena made the mistake of second day with Miranda back from Paris saying her name in front of Miranda and poor Serena knew now, never mention Andy again. Especially in front of Miranda.

The look given could freeze coffee in the Sahara.

Roy text her. Emily was well prepared for their tempestuous Editor's arrival.

Miranda arrived. Tossing her coat to the new assistant Serena who swiftly hung it with care.

''Emily I want Mesial to do that photo shoot…'' falling silent as she entered her office.

Blue eyes widened at it, placed on her desk.

Cream colour and blush pink roses with a grey satin ribbon. The card read. ''To new beginnings. Enjoyed our conversation Miriam. Talk to me anytime maybe tonight. Tune in.''

The fresh blooms were beautiful as she smelled them.

Nigel complimented the bouquet. ''Exquisite.'' Craning to read the card. Miranda covered it from prying eyes behind horn rimmed glasses.

Put a smile on The Dragon Lady's face all day.

Andrea Sachs never put a smile on Miranda's face. She saw her again, stilled from slipping into her chauffeured town car. Pretended behind sunglasses not to acknowledge Andrea's presence nearby. Cringing would she wave again. Gauche and lacking propriety.

Holding her bouquet, planning on being home earlier tonight for Cassidy and Caroline. Make it up to them tonight with a cosy Thanksgiving and long special girl's weekend together.

Had Emily clear her schedule.

Looking back before sliding into the heated car at that insufferable sunny infuriating former second assistant who walked away from her with no explanation. What on earth was she smiling at? Like a concussed buffoon. Did Sachs do ganja?

Ducking her regal coiffed head into the silver Mercedes. Roy was nodded at by her to take her home.

Roy saw the flowers. Miranda Priestly sniffed them again, the scent made her beautiful face become softer, her eyes crinkled as she inhaled.

Roy wondered who was brave enough to send flowers to his capricious boss.

Andy saw her former icy editor clasping her impromptu flowers. Miranda liked them. Cherished her gift.

Hadn't binned them because she didn't know they were from Andy. Elated at this, as a snowy gust swept over Andy in a sea of city pedestrians crossing this Thanksgiving.