IMPORTANT : I decided to change the title to "An Un'Official' Love Story". It previously used to be called as 'The Prince of Her Life'. So, guys don't be surprised, the story is still the same.
Thank you for your suggestions, all of you. All three of them were thoughtful. I liked 'The Prince and the Protege' but then decided to do away with the 'Prince' part.
Thursday was another disappointment for Hermione's alter ego, Emma Sawyer. There was no further development on the case she was pursuing and she had even given Legillimency a thought, one time in her desperation. The day was put to a worse end when Ted had given her his phone number once again when she had told him she'd lost it and told her to call him 'anytime' if she needed his assistance. She had to force a smile at him, and it had taken her quite a lot of effort to not recreate the Draco Malfoy incident.
The moment Hermione entered Mr. Prince's office that day, she knew that he wasn't in a very good mood. When she tried to ask about what had happened, he had brushed her off saying it was something about 'company issues'. But, she did know enough of his infamous moods to anticipate a disastrous lesson ahead. And she was proven right.
Mr. Prince had begun by testing the mindscape Hermione had spent half of the night creating. He had completely tore apart the scene, pointing out the numerous flaws in it. He hadn't even spared the detail in the background portrait of the Hogwarts corridor she had constructed. Apparently, he had spent enough time stalking those corridors to remember every detail. Besides, he had criticized her choice of Hogwarts as the setting, saying it would be better to select a neutral place which had no history to go with it.
All in all, the lesson got worse as it progressed. Hermione had the feeling that she was being punished for something she was not even guilty of. But then, she had spent enough lessons with the ex-professor to know that he could never really keep his foul moods from affecting his teaching.
"I am very disappointed in your performance, Miss Granger. I expected quite a great deal from you." He exclaimed, after he had demolished her Occlumency shield by his brutal Legillimency attacks. Did he really expect her to become an expert Occlumens in just three days?
Hermione was almost gearing up for a witty comeback, but caught herself in time. Instead, she bowed her head and replied, "I am very sorry for letting you down, sir. I will try to do better in the next lesson."
For a moment, Mr. Prince had looked at her with an incredulous expression, before he broke into a chuckle. "That was almost Slytherin of you, Miss Granger."
"I did have the benefit of being familiar with you criticizing my work before, sir." Hermione replied, relieved that somehow the bad spell had passed.
"Hm."
"So what exactly is on your mind, sir? If you don't mind me asking."
"There's been a complication with one of the crucial deals the company is involved in. The other CEO is demanding a public declaration of our association, which will require me attending a very public party. Which further implies my face getting plastered on the front page of every muggle magazine available. I've tried very hard to keep myself out of limelight as much as possible, and now this." He told her, and Hermione felt his desperation in his voice.
"So, this company? Is this a no-maj company?" Hermione asked, a sudden idea forming in her mind.
"Yes. But what does that have to do with anything?" Mr. Prince inquired.
"Everything. So, you are worried that your face will be all over the American no-maj magazines, if the reporters get wind of you, right?"
"Yes. But I don't understand how that solves the problem. Getting my face plastered over the no-maj media is worse than the wizard media." Mr. Prince huffed.
"I get that. But what if we find a way so that you can attend the event without getting your face photographed?" Hermione smirked.
"I'm listening." Mr. Prince said, interested in where Hermione was going with this.
"The other company wants a social event to secure the deal, right? What if the party is a Masquerade themed one? You know, where your face is covered with a mask." Hermione explained, mimicking a mask.
"I do know what a Masquerade Ball is, Miss Granger. And I think you may have found an answer to my problem there somewhere." Mr. Prince offered, thinking over her suggestion.
"Well, you can always find a solution if you are willing to share the problem, Mr. Prince." Hermione took the chance to comment.
"I know what you are trying to imply there, Miss Granger. I did order my executive officers to try and find a way out of this. I should think about firing them." He reflected, leaning back on his chair.
Hermione let out a dramatic sigh. "And here I am, being rewarded with a lesson full of gruesome Legillimency attacks. Quite an employer you are, Mr. Prince."
The dark haired man looked at her in exasperation but Hermione could detect some fondness hidden there somewhere. "I am still your employer, Miss Granger. Do try and remember that before trying to annoy me."
Hermione put up her most innocent expression. "Me? Annoy you? I would never even dream of that, Mr. Prince."
"Oh please, your acting skills may have worked on Minerva, but they won't be working on me. Now, go and work more on your abysmal mindscape. Or do you need me to demolish it again for you?" He was smiling mischievously at her now.
"Fine. I'll take my leave then. Have fun planning your party, Mr. Prince." Hermione shot back.
"Did you just roll your eyes at me, Miss Granger?" came an amused question from Mr. Prince.
"I don't recall anything in my contract forbidding me to do that. I don't even know why I still act so childish sometimes." Hermione mused out loud before apparating out, leaving an even more amused Mr. Prince behind.
Hermione spent the rest of her evening, working on her Occlumency. Before she went to her bed, she checked her phone to find an email from Mr. Prince.
From: S. Prince
Subject: My good fortune
Date: July 25 2012 19:01
To: H. Granger
I am glad I did give you the job, Miss Granger. You've turned out to be a very capable employee. I feel I owe you an apology for my rude behavior earlier today.
I had always wondered how Potter and Weasley managed to stay alive all those months they spent as fugitives; now I know.
S. Prince
CEO, Prince Pharmaceuticals
Wait, did he just apologize for being snarky during a lesson? Hermione smiled at the thought.
From: H. Granger
Subject: 'My' Good Fortune
Date: July 25 2012 22:47
To: S. Prince
I can safely assume I am the only student to have ever received an apology from you, none the less for your teaching methods. Too bad I can't gloat over it publicly! I do find your company particularly pleasant when you aren't being your snarky self.
I find myself asking what reason you would have to flatter me; I don't even give you your salary!
Hermione Granger
Junior Scientist, Prince Pharmaceuticals
From: S. Prince
Subject: Your Good Fortune Indeed
Date: July 25 2012 22:49
To: H. Granger
I don't need to flatter anyone, Miss Granger. I was simply stating the obvious truth, but you are free to interpret it however you like.
Also, I am not usually snarky; I usually have a good reason for when I do act like one. Its getting late; don't waste your whole night working on your lessons. I'll know if you do.
S. Prince
CEO, Prince Pharmaceuticals
From: H. Granger
Subject: Demanding Teacher
Date: July 25 2012 22:51
To: S. Prince
I do need to work hard if I have to maintain your exemplary standards. Are you having fun planning your party already?
Good night
Hermione Granger
Junior Scientist, Prince Pharmaceuticals
From: S. Prince
Subject: Getting my party planned
Date: July 25 2012 22:52
To: H. Granger
Were you fishing for another compliment there, Miss Granger? I do owe you for that brilliant idea. Also, may I remind you that I am the CEO of the company, so I have people who can plan my party for me. I don't waste my time on those ludicrous things anyways.
Sleep well; you'll also need your mind rested to do well in the Occlumency lessons.
S. Prince
CEO, Prince Pharmaceuticals
Friday morning found Hermione taking the elevator to the twenty-first floor, the Manufacturing Department. She twirled her 'Intern' id in her hand absentmindedly while she watched her reflection on the elevator door. A woman having straight black hair, the perfect peachy skin, a lean body and ocean blue eyes was staring back at her. Four days of impersonating a stranger, and she had yet to get any of the evidence she had been looking for. Perhaps, this wasn't really one of my better ideas! She thought, gloomily.
Hermione straightened her black pencil skirt, as she walked out of the elevator. And then she was greeted by her least favorite person in the building.
"Emma! There you are!" Ted exclaimed happily, when he saw her arrive. Hermione needn't use Legillimency when she could plainly see his eyes checking out her form.
"Hello, Ted! What's got you so excited today?" Hermione managed to ask sweetly.
"Oh, seeing you always gets me excited, Emma. But today, we are all going to have a little field trip! Actually, it's supposed to be a surprise visit, but then I always had the good graces of our manager. It'll be announced when we all go inside." Ted told her.
It was clear to Hermione that he was trying to impress her with his connections. Yet, it was interesting to know that the department had field trips. Also, Ted already had the inside information on what was supposed to be a surprise visit.
Before she had to turn her phone off, Hermione thought about informing Mr. Prince about this update, but she didn't have his phone number, just the email id. She typed up a quick email.
From: H. Granger
Subject: Field trip
Date: July 26 2012 08:57
To: S. Prince
I think I'll definitely get some answers today. Could get late for the lesson. Going on a field trip with the department.
Hermione Granger
Junior Scientist, Prince Pharmaceuticals
"Who are you texting?" Ted asked when he saw her turning off her phone at his arrival. His face had crunched at the thought of her being with someone else.
"Ah, just a friend back from England. I was just going to turn it off now." Hermione faked a smile.
"Great, I think Mr. Cooper is going to announce about our trip soon." Ted said, clearly relieved.
Hermione followed him inside the working area and found the other engineers standing there with the surly looking manager.
"Now that all of you are finally here." Here, he gave Hermione and Ted a glare before continuing. "We are going to go for a quality check outdoors. I don't think I need to tell you to do your work and check the quality of the products for a last time before they are sent over for their sale."
All of them were then led back downstairs where a company bus was waiting for them. A twenty minute bus ride later, they reached a warehouse, which had a big sign of 'Prince Pharmaceuticals' at the gate.
And there, she came face to face with the manager of the warehouse who turned out to be the same man who had interrogated her in the dark corridor that night.
"Jack Allen. And you must be the beautiful Emma, Ted's been talking so much about!" The burly man held out his hand uncomfortably, probably at going out of his character to be charming to her. Ted's doing, no doubt.
Hermione took his hand, with no visible reluctance. "You and Ted must be very close then, Jack. You never told me about him before, Ted." She accused Ted, who shared a conspiratory glance with Jack.
The engineers were supposed to be checking the final products before they were sealed and shipped off. Emma, being the intern, was tasked by the manager to merely observe. She was quite happy with the arrangement, as it gave her the perfect opportunity to watch over her suspects.
Jack seemed to hover around Ted, Scott and the two other engineers who seemed to belong in their little group. He was the one arranging the boxes for them to test. The manager was doing nothing, as he usually did. By the lunch hour, Hermione was sure she had figured out how these men were carrying out their dirty work. Jack was the one smuggling illegally made products with the genuine stock and Mike and his cohorts gave their approvals to the added pile, thus sealing it with the company's authority.
At lunch, Hermione finally decided to put her stock of Veritaserum to use. She offered to get them the drinks from the cafeteria at lunch and added three drops each to all of their drinks.
"So, how are you finding New York, Emma? Not that I really care!" Jack was the first to speak. He himself felt surprised at his own words, while Ted gave him a mock punch. So the Veritaserum has been modified to compel the subject to speak out the truth. Ingenious, Mr. Prince!
"Quite pleasant. Thank you for asking anyway, Jack." Hermione replied, ignoring his last words.
"It would've been much more pleasant if you decided to accept my dinner invitation. Ah, I would've fucked you senseless afterwards if only you'd let me." Ted was the one who spoke next and immediately regretted it.
He tried to apologize but his next words made it worse. "Emma, I'm not at all sorry for what I have said, just for ruining my chances with you."
"It's okay, Ted. It happens. Let's forget about that and talk about something else. How did you and Jack meet?" Hermione asked, eager to learn everything while she can.
"Um, we were together in college. Although, Jack wasn't so good at engineering, I kept his company because he made up with his imposing muscles." Ted blurted out, earning a glare from Jack.
"Hm, so do you still remain informed of your work, now that you both work in the same company?" Hermione inquired.
This time, Jack beat Ted to the answer. "Yeah, we do. Not that I like him very much, it's all for the money. We are running our own business at the sidelines of the company, and we do make a hefty profit now."
Ted looked like he was about to murder Jack, while Jack looked horrified at what he had just revealed.
"So, how does this business go about, Ted?" Hermione turned her eyes at Ted now.
"It's all been my masterplan. Since, Jack and I had jobs at such convenient departments and well, the owner never does check up on us, we decided to earn some money for ourselves. Jack here has the access to all the rejected goods, which he slips in with the standard stock. All we have to do is approve the pile and the rejected goods become authentic. And now that I've recruited other engineers for the job, the number of extra products will increase further and so will our profit. Even if people do get side-effects from the medicines, the name of the company is going to be smeared. We aren't even going to get any trouble." Ted explained. The other three engineers now had a horrified as well as confused look on their faces.
"What have you done to the drinks? Who are you exactly?" Mike asked, panicked.
Before Hermione could get to her purse where her wand was hidden, Jack had gripped her arms and was taking her towards the back of the warehouse. Hermione instantly regretted choosing the farthest table of the cafeteria. She had wanted to avoid any public eyes and now her own plan had backfired on her.
Hermione was harshly thrown at the rough floor of a deserted backyard. Five men had circled around her, their eyes fixated on her. If only she could get to her wand somehow!
"She looks so delicious lying there by herself!" Ted said, not ashamed of his words this time.
"Oh yeah, that she does!" another engineer had blurted out, clearly under the effects of the truth serum.
"Now, you start by telling us who exactly are you and who are you working for?" Jack asked, snatching up her 'Intern' id.
Hermione didn't bother with the acting this time, and just glared at the looming men.
"Do you think you can get out of this unscathed, if you don't comply with us?" Another man was laughing at her.
"I don't like repeating myself, Emma. Or whoever you are. Who are you working for?" Jack asked once again.
Hermione knew that she wasn't getting any other chance to get out of this mess. Suddenly, Mr. Prince's warning about the muggles ran across her mind. She concentrated on her mental shield, and the familiar fire brought her instant comfort.
She mustered up all her energy and muttered, "Accio wand!"
Her purse came flying at her side. Relieved at her wandless magic bout, she wasted no time in taking out her wand, while her assailants were distracted by the flying purse. She pointed her wand at them.
They started laughing at her action, not recognizing the wand for what it was.
"Do you really think you can attack us with that little stick, Emma? Be a doll and just answer Jack's questions and we can have some fun together after that. Come on, I've been working hard for you since the last four days!" Ted was saying.
"Little stick? Let me show you what this little stick is capable of, then!" Hermione sprung back to her feet and shouted, "Incarcerous!"
In the next second, Ted and the three others were tied with ropes, unable to move. Then, Hermione turned to the frozen form of Jack.
Jack however, was quick to get over his shock and tried to pounce at Hermione, she quickly shot him with a 'Petrificus totalus'. The man crumpled down, hitting the floor hard.
"Who are you?" Mike asked, utterly panicked.
"You don't need to remember that, do you?" Hermione raised her wand at him and muttered, 'Obliviate'. He looked hazed for a moment before succumbing to unconsciousness. She obliviated the other two insignificant pawns, before turning to Mike.
"No, no, no. What are you doing to us, witch?" Ted spat, struggling uselessly against the thick ropes that bound him.
"You couldn't be further away from the truth, Ted." Hermione laughed coldly and Ted looked at her in shock. Oh yeah, the innocent unwitting Emma Sawyer persona was long gone! "You need to understand that you were willing to play with the lives of innocent people simply to satisfy your greed. You betrayed your employer without a single thought and never cared for his reputation, one that he has built with years of his hard work? Ready to face your judgment, Ted?"
"Oh, do get me out of these ropes and I'll give you a taste, you fucking witch!" Ted growled.
Hermione felt a sudden rage build inside her. This man was pathetic and so vile that his arrogance seemed to boil her blood.
"Fine. Have it your way, then." Hermione said bitterly and removed the binds from him.
Then, instead of facing her, Ted began running away from her. Such a coward!
"Sorry Ted, but you do have to pay for your sins! Crucio!" Hermione muttered.
Ted fell down to his knees as soon as the spell had hit him and was now crying out in agony. Hermione felt a sudden thrill down her spine at his pain, and as soon as the spell was lifted, the thrill was gone. She despaired at the loss and just wanted to experience it again.
Ted was still writhing at the floor, and Hermione had raised her wand once again, "Crucio!"
The euphoria was back again and Hermione was revelling in it. It was broken merely a few seconds later by a deep, rich voice, "That'll be enough, Miss Granger!"
Hermione opened her eyes to find a pair of onyx eyes on her, bringing her back to the reality.
Thoughts?...