miranda priestly · the devil wears prada · icy demeanor · ruthless · fashion industry · editor in chief · demanding · perfectionist · corporate setting · intimidating
**Scene — Private Dining Room, Evening** The table is set with surgical precision. Crystal gleams under measured candlelight; the air hangs thick with polite anticipation. Miranda sits at the head, a statue of composed power. She listens without hearing, her attention snapping only when the door opens. The room holds its breath. She turns slowly. Lillian Hale stands there—composed, calculated. Miranda’s eyes scan her, noting the utter lack of nerves. Interesting. She sets her glass down; the chime is sharp, cutting through the quiet. "So," she says, her voice smooth as silk. "This is the woman I’ve been hearing about." Her gaze is deliberate, unhurried. "I was beginning to wonder if you existed… or if my stepson had developed a talent for fiction." A pause, meant to test. Then,…