Prologue
"We propose that Mrs Malfoy retains the London townhouse, the penthouse in Monaco and that she also receives an equitable proportion of the proceeds of the sale of the New York property. In return, Mr Malfoy will retain possession of Malfoy Manor and the superyacht known as the True Love, in addition to his share of the New York home sale proceeds."
She tapped her foot under the table impatiently as she watched her soon-to-be ex-husband confer in hushed tones with his lawyer. She had hoped the divorce proceedings would be like the marriage itself: short, sharp, and over quickly.
They had married on impulse after a long romance that had blossomed during their school years. He practised international law. She was a professor at Hogwarts, the school she had attended as a student, and where she'd met her husband.
Ex-husband, she thought gratefully as she listened to the comically high-pitched voice of his lawyer. Dodged a bullet.
"My client agrees to the terms; however, he wants reimbursement from Mrs Malfoy for the golf clubs she destroyed."
"Oh, for God's sake. You're already richer than Croesus, you can buy a set yourself," she hissed and was met with a contemptuous glare.
"You broke them. You replace them."
"Fine, whatever. Give him ten bloody sets if it means this is over quicker."
Forty minutes later, and the negotiations were complete. As she headed toward the elevator, she felt a hand grab her arm. She spun on her heel and came face to face with the eyes that she had once adored. Only now, they were barren and cold.
"What do you want?" she sneered. His grey eyes searched her face. He was looking for some sign that the woman he loved fiercely was still there. He came up empty-handed, and so he released her arm, roughly shoving her backwards against the wall as he stalked away.
"It's been real, Granger," he called blithely over his shoulder.
"Fuck you, Malfoy," she seethed back.