I apologise for the lack of update. I was so busy that I did not have any time for writing. Luckily Reading Week is coming and then I might have more time on writing!
One more thing, I have actually drafted a new story and I might publish it in near future while continue updating my current two stories . So stay tuned (online?). Drop me a note if you are interested in knowing the plot.
Lucius was resting in his chaise lounge in the evening when a knock rang on the door. A servant came in and said,
"Sir, a lady named Ms. Hermione Granger has come."
He raised his eyebrow, it was merely twelve hours since she left, and now she came again, without telling him in advance. With a small grin on his face, he said,
"Let her in."
The servant nodded and let Hermione came in. She was wearing the very same dress on the day they went to St. Tinie. She went towards him, bit her lips and handed a letter to him. Lucius was surprised to see the letter, quickly he unsealed it and read the letter. Then, he placed it on the table and said,
"Ms. Granger, is that your way of repaying gratitude?"
"Fifty thousand may seem little in your eyes, but it is a big amount that I can never repay."
"So this is your special way of showing gratitude?" said Lucius. "But it appears to me that you will need more effort in showing that…a lot more."
He took steps towards Hermione and she retreated, until she hit the wall. She could smell the strong cologne and her heart raced against her chest, pumping vigorously. His warm palm placed on her shoulder and made her shudder.
"Mr…Malfoy," stammered Hermione. "I…"
"Relax Ms. Granger, I am not going to kill you."
He walked back to the desk and he heard Hermione let out a huge breath. Then, Lucius picked up the letter and tore it into shreds.
"Mr. Malfoy!" she screamed.
"You will work for me, until you earn fifty thousand," gritted out Lucius' teeth.
She would then stay for at least two years, he thought. By that time, she would have forgotten that she had once wanted to resign.
"Are you available tomorrow two o'clock in the afternoon?"
"Tomorrow two o'clock in the afternoon?" asked Hermione. "Why?"
"Asking why is not quite a desirable behaviour, Ms. Granger," replied Lucius, grinning as he glanced her panic-stricken face. "However, it is my responsibility as the employer to inform you what are we going to do. Tomorrow we will decide which ballerina is going to come with us to the interview on television programme."
Hermione nodded. After an awkward moment of silence, Lucius said,
"Come now, Ms. Granger, a man needs rest, unless you still have something…undone."
Hermione backed a little, after a nod, she went out of the room, leaving Lucius grinning and chuckling at her reaction.
—
The next afternoon, she turned up at Lucius' office at two sharp. The moment she stepped into the office, Lucius stood up and tided his suit, then said,
"They are waiting at the Room 302."
He led her downstairs and went into Room 302. Five girls and a young man were waiting for them, three of them were no more than twelve and the other two were tall teenage girls, the young man was about the teenage girl's age. At the corner of the room, a lady was leaning by the grand piano. As Lucius and Hermione sat down, he picked up a large black box and said,
"Draw the lots."
One by one, the girls picked up slips from the box and showed them to Lucius.
"Descending order, starting big Clara."
The three little girls, the young man and the brunette teenage girl popped out of the room, leaving the blonde teenage alone, facing Lucius and Hermione.
"What's your name?"
"Sofia Mayer."
"Sarah, please play the music," ordered Lucius.
As the music started, Sofia began dancing across the room, performing each and every single move with perfection. As the music faded, she bowed and went out of the room, the other girl came in and did the same thing.
"Tell the girls to wait until I ask them to get in," order Lucius as the brunette girl went out.
He looked at Hermione, who was jotting down notes on the papers. He asked,
"So who do you think is the most suitable?"
"Tracy Clinger?" suggested Hermione. "She is a very polite girl but her skills were not as perfect as Sofia's."
"We are not here for choosing model students," reminded Lucius.
"Sofia then."
"Good."
He then stood up and walked towards the door. The three little girls were all looking at him as he said,
"Dolly, come in please."
The girl with blonde girl came in with the young man. Lucius remembered her well, she was also the cast for small Clara last year. It was not particularly successful, the doll's head fell off and she went to pick it up instead of continuing the performance. Apart from that, she was no doubt a fair ballerina, only that she was not as skilled as Lydia, nor as good as Karen at commanding the stage. She was somewhere in between.
Lydia was second. She had everything a ballerina wants, height, slimness and perfect moves. But this was exactly her weakness, without great capacity of relationship with the audience, it would hardly make the show to perfection.
Karen was always his favourite, though she was not as skilled as Lydia, her cheerfulness and angelic appearance could lighten a person's heart and bring everyone closer to her performance, as though they were, too on the stage.
Soon as all of them has finished performing, they curtseyed and went outside with the young man. Lucius turned to Hermione and said,
"Seems like the answer is obvious."
"Lydia is the best option."
Lucius's smile faded, then he said,
"Isn't Karen a lot more suitable?"
"Lydia would make a great appearance on stage," explained Hermione. "Her en-pointe is a lot more professional than Karen. Karen did not really dance as well as she did."
"And?"
"I believe with her skills, she would make a great appearance on television," pointed out Hermione. "Then people will realise the profession of our ballet students and teachers, then many will be attracted to take ballet classes here."
Lucius curled his lips, then he said,
"Karen is the most suitable."
Hermione was outraged.
"You asked for my opinion and now you ignore mine!"
"Isn't it always the right of having final decisions reserved for the chairman?"
"Sometimes I just don't understand what you want!" roared Hermione.
"Remember, half past eight, at Whales Television, Studio 47."
Frustrated, she stormed out of the room and Lucius grinned. Rarely woman would throw temper tantrums in front of him, not even Narcissa. She had always been careful not to cross him. Despite Hermione losing her temper, he did not feel cross at all. Caitlin had never crossed him, but that was another story. He wished she could understand his point of view but she was too furious to do so. He would have to make her understand, some time later.
