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’s　voice
  answer。
  “Hello。　You’ve　reached　PS　277　and　this　is　Mrs。　Whitmore　speaking。
  How　may　I　help　you？”
  “Is　Alex　Fineman　there？”
  “And　who　may　I　ask　is　calling？”
  “This　is　Andrea　Sachs；　Alex’s　girlfriend。”
  “Ah；　yes；　Andrea！　We’ve　all　heard　so　much　about　you。”　Her　words　were
  so　clipped　she　sounded　as　though　she　might　choke　any　moment。
  “Oh；　really？　That’s　。　。　。　uh；　that’s　good。　I’ve　heard　a　lot　about
  you　too；　of　course。　Alex　says　wonderful　things　about　everyone　at
  school。”
  “Well；　isn’t　that　nice。　But　seriously；　Andrea；　it　sounds　like　you
  have　quite　some　job　there！　How　interesting　it　must　be；　working　for
  such　a　talented　woman。　You’re　a　lucky　girl；　indeed。”
  Ah；　yes。　Mrs。　Whitmore。　I　am　a　lucky　girlindeed。I’m　so　lucky；　you
  have　no　idea。　I　can’t　tell　you　how　lucky　I　felt　when　I　was　sent　out
  just　yesterday　afternoon　to　purchase　tampons　for　my　boss；　only　to　be
  told　that　I’d　bought　the　wrong　ones　and　asked　why　I　do　nothing
  right。　And　luck　is　probably　the　only　way　to　explain　why　I　get　to
  sort　another　person’s　sweat…　and　food…stained　clothing　each　morning
  before　eight　and　arrange　to　have　it　cleaned。　Oh；　wait！　I　think　what
  actually　makes　me　luckiest　of　all　is　getting　to　talk　to　breeders　all
  over　the　tristate　area　for　three　straight　weeks　in　search　of　the
  perfect　French　bulldog　puppy　so　two　incredibly　spoiled　and
  unfriendly　little　girls　can　each　have　their　own　pet。　Yes；　that’s　it！
  “Oh；　yes；　well；　it　is　a　fantastic　opportunity；”　I　said　by　rote。　“A
  job　a　million　girls　would　die　for。”
  “You　can　say　that　again；　dear！　And　guess　what？　Alex　just　walked　in。
  I’ll　put　him　on。”
  “Hey；　Andy；　what’s　going　on？　How’s　your　day　going？”
  “Don’t　ask。　I’m　on　my　way　to　pick　up　Her　lunch　right　now。　How’s　your
  day？”
  “Good；　so　far。　My　class　has　music　today　right　after　lunch；　so　I
  actually　have　an　hour　and　a　half　free；　which　is　nice。　And　then　we
  get　to　cover　more　phonics　exercises！”　he　said；　sounding　just　a
  little　defeated。　“Even　though　it　seems　like　they’re　never　going　to
  learn　how　to　actually　read　something。”
  “Well；　have　there　been　any　slashings　today？”
  “No。”
  “So；　how　much　can　you　ask　for？　You’ve　had　a　relatively　pain…free；
  bloodless　day。　Enjoy　it。　Save　the　whole　reading　concept　for
  tomorrow。　So；　guess　what？　Lily　called　this　morning。　She　finally　got
  evicted　from　her　place　in　Harlem；　so　we’re　going　to　move　in
  together。　Fun；　right？”
  “Hey；　congratulations！　Couldn’t　have　been　better　timing　for　you。　You
  guys　will　have　a　great　time　together。　e　to　think　of　it；　it’s　a
  little　scary。　Dealing　with　Lily　full…time　。　。　。　and　Lily’s　guys　。　。
  。　Promise　we　can　stay　at　my　place　a　lot？”
  “Of　course。　But　you’ll　feel　right　at　Home—it’ll　be　just　like　senior
  year　all　over　again。”
  “Too　bad　she’s　losing　that　cheap　apartment。　Other　than　that；　it’s
  great　news。”
  “Yeah；　I’m　psyched。　Shanti　and　Kendra　are　fine；　but　I’m　kind　of　done
  with　the　whole　living…with…strangers　thing。”　I　loved　Indian　food；
  but　I　did　not　love　how　the　curry　smell　had　seeped　into　everything　I
  owned。　“I’m　going　to　see　if　Lil　wants　to　meet　for　a　drink　tonight　to
  celebrate。　You　up　for　it？　We’ll　meet　somewhere　in　the　East　Village
  so　it’s　not　too　far　for　you。”
  “Yeah；　sure；　sounds　great。　I’m　running　to　Larchmont　to　watch　Joey
  tonight；　but　I’ll　be　back　in　the　city　by　eight。　You　won’t　even　be
  out　of　work　by　then；　so　I’ll　meet　Max　and　we　can　all　meet　up
  afterward。　Hey；　is　Lily　seeing　anyone？　Max　could　use　a；　well　。　。　。”
  “A　what？”　I　laughed。　“Go　on；　say　it。　Do　you　think　my　friend　is　a
  whore？　She’s　just　free…spirited；　is　all。　And　is　she　seeing　someone？
  What　kind　of　question　is　that？　Someone　named　Pink…Shirt　Boy　stayed
  over　there　last　night。　I　don’t　think　I　know　his　real　name。”
  “Whatever。　Anyway；　the　bell　just　rang。　Call　me　when　you’re　done
  dropping　off　the　Book。”
  “Will　do。　’Bye。”
  I　was　about　to　stash　the　phone　when　it　rang　again。　The　number　wasn’t
  familiar；　though；　and　I　answered　it　out　of　sheer　relief　that　it
  wasn’t　Miranda　or　Emily。
  “Mir—er；　hello？”　I’d　taken　to　automatically　answering　my　cell　and
  Home　phone　“Miranda　Priestly’s　office；”　which　was　supremely
  embarrassing　when　it　was　anyone　except　my　parents　or　Lily。　Had　to
  work　on　that。
  “Is　this　the　lovely　Andrea　Sachs　whom　I　inadvertently　terrified　at
  Marshall’s　party？”　asked　a　somewhat　hoarse　and　very　sexy　voice　on
  the　other　end。　Christian！　I’d　been　almost　relieved　when　he　hadn’t
  resurfaced　anywhere　after　massaging　my　hand　with　his　lips。　But　all
  the　feelings　of　wanting　to　impress　him　with　my　wit　and　charm　that
  first　night　came　rushing　back；　and　I　quickly　vowed　to　play　it　cool。
  “It　is。　And　who　may　I　ask　is　this？　There　were　a　number　of　men　who
  terrified　me　that　night　for　dozens　of　different　and　varied
  reasons。”OK；　so　far；　so　good。　Deep　breath；　be　cool。
  “I　didn’t　realize　I　had　so　much　petition；”　he　said　smoothly。　“But
  I　suppose　I　shouldn’t　be　surprised。　How　have　you　been；　Andrea？”
  “Fine。　Great；　actually；”　I　lied　quickly；　remembering　aCosmo　article
  I’d　read　that　had　exhorted　me　to　“keep　it　light　and　airy　and　happy”
  when　talking　to　a　new　guy　because　most　“normal”　guys　didn’t　respond
  so　well　to　hard…bitten　cynicism。　“Work　is　going　really　well。　I’m
  loving　my　job；　actually！　It’s　been　really　interesting　lately—a　lot
  to　learn；　tons　of　stuff　going　on。　Yeah；　it’s　great。　What　about
  you？”Don’t　talk　about　yourself　too　much；　don’t　dominate　the
  conversation；　get　him　fortable　enough　to　chat　about　his　favorite
  and　most　familiar　topic：　him　。
  “You’re　a　rather　deft　liar；　Andrea。　To　an　untrain