Disclaimer: Characters belong to J.K Rowling, no money is being made. I write for my general love of writing and for those out there who love to read. The story plot is mine with inspiration taken from the hundreds of Harlequin Mills & Boon books that I have read over the years.
Warnings: Probably going to have some strong language. This is rated NC17-R for sex scenes and other adult content.
Authors Note: I was so happy with the number of follows, favourites and comments that I decided to write another chapter once I had recovered from my post-work catatonic state. If anyone has any favourite mills & boon clichés they want included, let me know and I'll see what I can do.
Summary: Typical Mills & Boon plotline. The young, wealthy, handsome, eligible Draco Malfoy, head of Malfoy Corporation wants the controlling share of the Potter Corporation and will stop at nothing to gain it. The only problem is that Edward Potter will only sign the shares over if a particular condition is met. That condition is Harriet, his granddaughter. Fem Harry, AU, Harry/Draco.
Harriet was busy reading through her to-do list when her phone rang. Pausing briefly to see who was calling, she smiled fondly when her grandfather's name light up the screen.
"Hi Grandpa. If you're hassling me about dinner tonight, I will be there on time, I've just got a few more things to wrap up in the office before I can leave". Since becoming the senior editor for the Potter publishing company, she had often been late to their weekly dinners. Something that her grandfather never failed to mention and bemoan when she finally arrived.
"Harriet, darling, while I expect you to be on time for dinner this evening, that is not the main reason that I called. I just wanted to check if you were currently seeing anybody?"
"Am I seeing anybody? You know better than anyone that I barely have time for myself these days, let alone enough time to start a relationship without you knowing". Harriet laughed as she replied, with the number of manuscripts that had to be read, reviewed and reported on, she barely even got to see her friends these days.
"I'm only asking because I was thinking of throwing a party at the end of the month. Just a small get together for everyone to catch up. I just needed to know if you were planning on bringing a young man with you, to think about numbers".
"Well unless some mysterious man springs up before the end of the month, it will just be me. If such a man does appear, I will let you know. I have to go now if I am to make it to dinner on time. I hope that Bertha has made her famous cheesecake for dessert, it would certainly improve this hellish week I've been having". Her grandfather had employed Bertha for as long as she could remember. Bertha had been a feature in almost every fond memory, usually involving her sublime cheesecake that never failed to improve one's mood.
"Of course Bertha will make her cheesecake, if only to entice you to come over more often. I'll let you go and see you later."
Hanging up, Harriet let herself mull over her current single status. While she was definitely enjoying not having to deal with the difficulties that relationships entailed, she did sometimes find that coming home to an empty apartment every day was a little lonely. She had moved out of her grandfather's place when she had started earning a decent living for herself, but still visited regularly. It seem though that good men were few and far between as most of them had either wanted her for her grandfather's money or as a trophy wife. Something she was definitely not interested in being. If being a successful businesswoman meant that a husband might not be on the cards for her right now, that was fine, she was happy to wait. As it was, she still had goals to achieve and enjoyed the freedom that being single allowed her and at 24, she was hardly on the shelf.
Turning back to the large pile of manuscripts that she had to review, she took a deep breath and began to skim the notes from the junior editor. After a while she looked up, noted the time and with a flare of panic realised that she would be late, yet again for dinner. Quickly placing the remaining manuscripts into her handbag, she bolted for the door, giving a quick goodbye to her assistant.
When Harriet arrived at the Potter Estate, she quickly checked her appearance in the mirror and hurried to the door. Letting herself in, she went to find her grandfather. Finding him in his typical chair in the study, she observed him quietly for a few moments. Edward Potter had been a strict guardian while she was growing up, but overtime had learnt to show his love for her. She had wanted for nothing in her childhood and he had done everything to try and fill the void that was left by her parents' deaths. She felt she had finally proved herself to him when she became the senior editor without his help. Allow many in the department had initially believed that her promotions were due to nepotism, they had soon learned that she had a shrewd mind and an excellent eye for detail.
"Ah, there you are. Only a few minutes late this evening, you're getting better", her grandfather glanced at her in wry amusement. He had accepted that she had a demanding job, much like his own and didn't mind if she was only a little late for their dinners. "Come, lets not keep Bertha waiting. She'll want to feed you up. She's always nagging that you're not looking after yourself and that you're far too skinny these days". Bertha was well known for her motherly tendencies and constantly worried over the eating habits of Harriet.
"I wouldn't say that I was overly skinny, just that I do occasionally miss a few meals due to work. However, I definitely make it up when I come for dinner. If I lived here permanently, you would have to roll me out the front door in the mornings!" Harriet chuckled at the running joke between the two. While she could be called slim, it was due to her penchant for swimming every morning and taking the occasional run when she needed to relieve some stress.
Following her grandfather into the family dining room, she breathed in the familiar smells of Bertha's cooking. This was one of the highlights of her week, having dinner with her grandfather and enjoying a delicious meal. Taking her seat beside her grandfather, she took a sip of the wine that was in front of her. Unusually, her grandfather was silent and was regarding her intently. When he didn't speak after a moment she asked, "is something wrong grandfather?"
"I have a proposition to make to you" Edward cleared his throat, trying not to sound nervous.
"Of course, I'm assuming its regarding business since you're being so formal"
"You could say that it regards business. As you know, I'm getting on in my years and need to make plans regarding the safety of your future".
"Oh grandpa, you're not that old and of course you must know that I am fully capable of taking care of myself so there's no need to worry so much"
"But I do worry about you. I worry about how others may take advantage of you or those who might try to exploit you. I only worry about you because I care so much and want you to be happy".
"I am happy. I have a good career, I have goals and I feel like I am doing something that I really enjoy with my life."
"Yes, you do have all that but you do not have someone to take care of you when I am gone. You don't have someone other than me who will always have your best interests at heart and would do anything to protect you."
"Not this again, I don't need a husband right this minute. I'm sure someone will come along when we're both ready. At the moment, I am too focussed on my career to worry about such trivial things".
"Having a husband is not trivial. They are someone that you can rely on, someone you can trust. That is why I have approached…"
Harriet cut her grandfather off angrily, "Why have you approached someone? Who have you approached? I thought you had given up the notion of an arranged marriage! I'm 24 years old and fully capable of looking after myself, despite what you think!"
"I know you can look after yourself, its others that I am worried about. Sit down! Hear me out. Give me a chance to explain". It was then that Harriet noticed how weary her grandfather had become over the years, he seemed to be more strained than usual and he took a moment to compose himself. Noticing this, she took a calming breath and sat down.
"Harriet, my child. I will not always be there to look after you and as much as you might think you can do it alone, there are times when you need someone else. If you agree to think about marrying the young man that I have picked, he will be able to support all of your decisions and take care of you. He is an honest and decent man, and I have chosen him to succeed me in my business"
"Succeed you? But that would mean that my work would be under his effective control! He would be able to decide whether or not Potter publishing, which I have worked tirelessly to build up would no longer be under my control. This isn't fair!" Harriet was close to tears at the thought of losing her publishing house, it was where she felt that she could truly shine and she had poured her soul into its walls.
"Hush my dear. If you agree to marry this young man, who will be my successor, I will ask him to sign over the company into your name and give up any control that he might have had. That way, the company will be yours entirely and he will have no claim over it. That is, if you marry him. Otherwise it will be up to you to convince him to allow you to run the business"
"You still haven't told me who it is I'm supposed to be marrying". Harriet knew that convincing another businessman to give up the profits that Potter Publishing made would be difficult. They had a majority share of the publishing market and were set to release a number of hoped best-sellers over the coming year. It would also mean that a total stranger, with no ties to the company would have input into how it was run.
"Draco Malfoy"
Harriet looked at her grandfather, dumbstruck. She had hear of Draco Malfoy, who hadn't? He was said to be incredibly handsome, wealthy and an astute businessman. She would definitely have a hard time getting him to sign over control of Potter Publishing if his habit of getting his own way were correct.
"Draco Malfoy has agreed to marry me? I can't really see how you managed to get him to make such an offer" Harriet snorted. While she had often been described as beautiful by others due to her sea-green eyes, long eye-lashes, jet-black shoulder length hair, lithe body and graceful profile, she was hardly likely to grace the covers of fashion magazines.
"He has agreed to marry you and only waits for your acceptance. He will make a fine husband. You might not think so at the beginning, but you two are well-suited" Edward watched his granddaughter carefully. He knew that she was imagining how difficult it would be to convince the notorious Malfoy to sign over the publishing company and hoped that it would work in his favour.
Taking a deep breath, Harriet acknowledged that perhaps marrying this wealthy man might not be the worst case scenario. It would allow her total freedom for the publishing company, her 'husband' would most likely spend the year overseas expanding his business and he clearly wasn't completely stupid. She was sure that they could come to an arrangement regarding rooms and no encroaching on each other's privacy. Her grandfather had specified that they have a traditional marriage, just that they get married.
"Once it is put down in writing and I have met this Malfoy, I will let you know my final answer. I have a spare hour tomorrow and will call on him them. You can tell him to expect me. If that is all, I'm afraid I'm going to have to go. I have a lot of work to do" Harriet stood quickly, bent over and kissed her grandfather's cheek and then walked out as steadily as she could.
Once she was out of the room, she leant against the wall and let out a shaky breath. Oh boy, she had not expected that bombshell when she had arrived for dinner. It seemed that her grandfather had not lost any of his cunningness when it came to getting what he wanted. He clearly very much desired her marriage to Malfoy and tomorrow she was going to find out what he had promised, bribed or blackmailed Malfoy with to get his proposal. If you could call it that. Straightening herself back up, Harriet walked out to her car and drove back to her apartment for a large glass of wine.
Back in the dining room, Edward Potter smiled to himself. It seemed that everything was falling into place and if everything continued to do so, he would be walking Harriet down the aisle at the end of the month. All in all, a good day's work.
Note: There seems to be plotting galore! So in the next chapter, Harriet confronts Draco about his reasons for proposing marriage. Sparks and tempers may fly :)
