Andy has now been working at her job for seven months and feels she’s getting the hang of how to satisfy Miranda’s impossible demands. Her current task is to help coordinate the upcoming engagement party at the Met. Miranda’s red, beaded Chanel gown for the event costs $40,000. Andy is appalled at the waste and says, “I couldn’t help a quick conceptualization of forty grand: two full years’ college tuition, a down payment on a new home, an average yearly salary for a typical American family of four” (245).

Andy gets a brief respite one evening before the party and offers to take Lily out to celebrate the end of graduate school for the semester. Lily wants to go to Benihana, where they meet Christian on the sidewalk outside the restaurant. He convinces them to go for a drink at a trendy bar where he’s meeting his agent. When they arrive, Christian introduces Andy to his agent, who offers to read some of her work when it’s ready. She’s thrilled at the opportunity and at Christian’s continued interest in her, even though she feels guilty about Alex.

The next day at work, Andy spends all day chasing down a lead on an obscure restaurant review for Miranda.