on to work blue…collar jobs like their father； with little time to
do anything but pray and work； a couple managed to get themselves
into and through the university； only to marry young and begin
having large families of their own。 Miriam was the single exception
to the family tradition。
After saving the small bills her older siblings would slip her
whenever they were able； Miriam promptly dropped out of high school
upon turning seventeen—a mere three months shy of graduation—to take
a job as an assistant to an up…and…ing British designer； helping
him put together his shows each season。 After a few years of making
a name for herself as one of the darlings of London’s burgeoning
fashion world and studying French at night； she scored a job as a
junior editor at the FrenchChic magazine in Paris。 By this time； she
had little to do with her family： they didn’t understand her life or
ambitions； and she was embarrassed by their old…fashioned piety and
overwhelming lack of sophistication。 The alienation from her family
was pleted shortly after joining FrenchChic when； at twenty…four
years old； Miriam Princhek became Miranda Priestly； shedding her
undeniably ethnic name for one with more panache。 Her rough；
cockney…girl British accent was soon replaced by a carefully
cultivated； educated one； and by her late twenties； Miriam’s
transformation from Jewish peasant to secular socialite was
plete。 She rose quickly； ruthlessly； through the ranks of the
magazine world。
She spent ten years at the helm of FrenchRunway before Elias
transferred her to the number…one spot at AmericanRunway； the
ultimate achievement。 She moved her two daughters and her rock…star
then husband （himself eager to gain more exposure in America） to a
penthouse apartment on Fifth Avenue at 76th Street and began a new
era atRunway magazine： the Priestly years； the sixth of which we
were nearing as I began my first day。
By some stroke of dumb luck； I would be working for nearly a month
before Miranda was back in the office。 She took her vacation every
year starting a week before Thanksgiving until right after New
Year’s。 Typically； she’d spend a few weeks at the flat she kept in
London； but this year； I was told； she had dragged her husband and
daughters to Oscar de la Renta’s estate in the Dominican Republic
for two weeks before spending Christmas and New Year’s at the Ritz
in Paris。 I’d also been forewarned that even though she was
technically “on vacation；” she’d still be fully reachable and
working at all times； and therefore； so should every single other
person on staff。 I was to be appropriately prepped and trained
without her highness present。 That way； Miranda wouldn’t have to
suffer my inevitable mistakes while I learned the job。 Sounded good
to me。 So at 7：00A 。M。 on the dot； I signed my name into Eduardo’s
book and was buzzed through the turnstiles for the very first time。
“Strike a pose！” Eduardo called after me； just before the elevator
doors swept shut。
Emily； looking remarkably haggard and sloppy in a fitted but
wrinkled sheer white T…shirt and hypertrendy cargo pants was waiting
for me in the reception area； clutching a cup of Starbucks and
flipping though the new December issue。 Her high heels were placed
firmly on the glass coffee table； and a black lacy bra showed
obviously through the pletely transparent cotton of her shirt。
Lipstick； smeared a bit around her mouth by the Coffee cup； and
unbed； wavy red hair that spilled down over her shoulders made
her look as though she’d spent the last seventy…two hours in bed。
“Hey； wele；” she muttered； giving me my first official up…down
look…over by someone other than the security guard。 “Nice boots。”
My heart surged。 Was she serious？ Or sarcastic？ Her tone made it
impossible to tell。 My arches ached already and my toes were jammed
up against the front； but if I’d actually been plimented on an
item of my outfit by aRunway …er； it might be worth the pain。
Emily looked at me a moment longer and then swung her legs off the
table； sighing dramatically。 “Well； let’s get to it。 It’sreally
lucky for you that she’s not here；” she said。 “Not that she’s not
great； of course； because she is；” she added in what I would soon
recognize—and e to adopt myself—as the classicRunway Paranoid
Turnaround。 Just when something negative about Miranda slips out
from a Clacker’s lips—however justified—paranoia that Miranda will
find out overwhelms the speaker and inspires an about…face。 One of
my favorite workday pastimes became watching my colleagues scramble
to negate whatever blasphemy they’d uttered。
Emily slid her card through the electronic reader； and we walked
side by side； in silence； through the winding hallways to the center
of the floor； where Miranda’s office suite was located。 I watched as
she opened the suite’s French doors and tossed her bag and coat on
one of the desks that sat directly outside Miranda’s cavernous
office。 “This is your desk； obviously；” she motioned to a smooth；
wooden； L…shaped Formica slab that sat directly opposite hers。 It
had a brand…new turquoise iMac puter； a phone； and some filing
trays； and there were already pens and paper clips and some
notebooks in the drawers。 “I left most of my stuff for you。 It’s
easier if I just order the new stuff for myself。”
Emily had just been promoted to the position of senior assistant；
leaving the junior assistant position open for me。 She explained
that she would spend two years as Miranda’s senior assistant； after
which she’d be skyrocketed to an amazing fashion position atRunway 。
The three…year assistant program she’d be pleting was the
ultimate guarantee of going places in the fashion world； but I was
clinging to the belief that my one…year sentence would suffice
forThe New Yorker 。 Allison had already left Miranda’s office area
for her new post in the beauty department； where she’d be
responsible for testing new makeup； moisturizers； and hair products
and writing them up。 I wasn’t sure how being Miranda’s assistant had
prepared her for this task； but I was impressed nonetheless。 The
promises were true： people who worked for Miranda got places。
The rest of the staff began streaming in around ten； about fifty in
all of editorial。 The biggest department was fashion； of course；
with close to thirty people； including all the accessories
assistants。 Features； beauty； and art rounded out the mix。 Nearly
everyone stopped by Miranda’s office to schmooze with Emily；
overhear any gossip concerning her boss； and check out the new girl。
I met dozens of people that first morning； everyone flashing
enor