Apologies for a late update, I just have too many things to deal with. But finally, semester starts and I will have a more regular lifestyle.


With Hampton's show coming closer, it was almost time for Hermione to hand in her article to Lucius. So she decided to check out the rehearsal at the hall. As she pushed the door and entered, she heard a man's voice yelling,

"Come on girls, move quicker!"

A tall young platinum haired man was standing near the stage, clapping his hands while following the musical rhythm. He looked a lot like Lucius, yet obviously younger, so she guessed that this man would be Draco Malfoy.

Soon as the music finished and the girls bowed, Draco said,

"Two minutes break and we will get back to our rehearsal."

The girls sprang wild to their bags and pulled out their water bottles. Just as Hermione walked towards Draco, he turned around and dazed with slight confusion, then he asked,

"What are you doing here?"

"Huh?" said Hermione, puzzled.

"My father has told me about you," he replied. "Aren't you supposed to be in the office, editing your article?"

"Your father told you about me?"

"Funny, isn't it? You don't know your CEO."

Hermione was annoyed.

"It's not what you think, alright? You have never been in the office. How could you expect me to know anything about you, Mr. Draco Malfoy?"

Draco curled his lips, dissatisfied of her reply.

"Don't act smart around me," he said. "I'm watching you."

He clapped his hands and made the girls rehearsed for their performance again. Hermione frowned, it was merely two minutes and he reacted in a peculiar manner, as though he hated her. Quietly, she leaned against the wall and watched the girls singing. The girls were almost professional, as if they had practised the moves and song for years. By the time the performance was over, she sneaked outside of the hall. Just as she closed the door, she bumped into a tall figure.

"Ms. Black," greeted Hermione, shocked to see her.

"I was wondering where could you be," said Narcissa, with a slight hint of disdain. "Lucius demands your article to be handed in straight away."

"I…I'm still editing it," lied Hermione. "I will hand it in as soon as possible."

Narcissa let out a scoff and went away. Without hesitation, she hurriedly went back into the office and typed the whole article. After editing several times, she printed it out and headed to Lucius' office. Her knuckle knocked three times on the door and she entered the room. Lucius was resting in his armchair, laid back with his eyes closed.

"Mr. Malfoy," she greeted and placed the article on his desk.

Lucius let out a small groan of pleasure and sat up, then said,

"So is this your final edit?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Good, send this to Daily Observer."

He wrote an email address on the paper, Hermione picked up the paper and asked,

"Is there anything I should add in?"

Lucius showed a wry grin and asked,

"What do you want to add in?"

"Nothing."

"Then just send the article."

Hermione nodded and returned to her seat, puzzled.

"What's the matter, Hermione?" asked Kath, concerned.

"He just let me send the article, without checking."

Kath grinned and said,

"Then just do as he says. Why are you still worrying?"

"I thought he would…at least do some checking."

"He trusts your ability."

Hermione sighed and quickly sent the article to Daily Observer. Within a couple of minutes, the reply email came, and finally she could take a rest.

"Six o'clock already!" she exclaimed.

"Oh, have you seen Draco?" asked Kath.

"He's strange," replied Hermione with careful thoughts. "He doesn't seem to like me."

Kath giggled.

"Is that a problem?" she asked Hermione.

"Sort of."

"Can you solve it?"

"I don't think so."

"So why are you worrying when you can't solve it anyway?"

Hermione thought about Kath's words, then she said,

"What a logic."

Kath smiled and began,

"Do you want to have tea with me at the Roison—"

Before she could finish her sentence, Draco came in. He stared at Hermione for a while, then went to towards her. Hermione lowered her head and closed her eyes, then she felt him past her shoulder. When she opened her eyes, Draco was beside Narcissa. After a while, both of them went away, and Hermione asked,

"I never knew they're close."

"They are always close like mother and son, despite the fact that Narcissa is not his mother."

Hermione had no idea what made them close, but one thing for sure was that Draco probably hated her because of Narcissa. She knew Narcissa never liked her, and she hoped one day this could change, though it would never happen.

Suddenly, Lucius went out of his office. Everyone stood up and looked at him, his eyes scanned across the office, then asked,

"Where's Narcissa?"

Nobody answered. Lucius curled his lips and walked to Hermione, then asked,

"Where's Narcissa?"

Hermione gulped and whispered,

"She…left with young Mr. Malfoy."

Without any words, he immediately left, leaving everyone puzzled. Then, Adrian said,

"Yes! Finally free!"

All of them cheered and hurriedly packed their belongings, except Hermione. She whispered to Kath,

"What have I done wrong?"

Kath gave her a shrug, then continued tidying her desk. Hermione felt awkward, nobody was willing to give him an answer and Lucius demanded an answer out of her, as though taking the advantage that she knew little about the company and the staff working here. One after one, people left the office, leaving Hermione and Kath alone in the dark. Hermione whispered,

"Kath, tell me what have I done wrong?"

"Let's hope Narcissa won't deepen her hatred towards you."

"Then I shouldn't have told him."

"It's not your fault, you're forced, only that she doesn't know."

Just as Hermione picked up her satchel, her phone vibrated. She took it out and a text message appeared on the screen.

Help.

Diana, she gasped in her mind. Hurriedly, she dialled her sister's phone number, but no one answered. After a few failed attempts, she dashed out of the office.

"What's wrong, Hermione?" asked Kath, dazed with confusion.

Before she could reply, she went outside and jumped into a taxi, then dialled. Finally, someone answered,

"Diana, where are you?"

"Help me, Hermione…"

"Where are you?"

"Redmond Town…"

Redmond Town? Hermione was more than shocked to hear the word, why would her sister suddenly go to a nightclub, especially when that nightclub was known for home of gangs working hand in gloves. All of them were no common gangsters, during daytime they would dressed themselves as gentlemen, bearing the titles of presidents. But as night fell, they gathered in the nightclub, debtors would be taken to them by force and beaten up until they paid. Out of fear, soon as the taxi took her to Redmond Town, she got out of the taxi without taking change. The taxi drove off and she quickly sprinted into the hotel. Her fingers fumbled on the phone screen and she yelled,

"Diana, where are you?"

Moans came out of the phone and the call ended. She went to the reception and asked if they had seen a young girl with brown hair and slightly golden eyes. But the replies were curt and vague, so she gave up and began the search on her own. Then she heard screams coming out of a room and she peeped through the window.

"Where's your sister!"

A shriek burst out from a girl on the floor and she whimpered. Immediately, Hermione recognised her as Diana. She tried to open the door but it was locked. Voices shouted out,

"Try to steal money from my safe, you are quite a thief, aren't you?"

"Did you not say your sister will be here, rescuing you? Where is she?"

"She's coming," replied Diana with her weak voice.

"It has been fifteen minutes, we are getting impatient, young lady."

"Well, we will just chop off her hands, make sure that she won't steal anymore."

Just when she was about to knock on the door, a hand grabbed her wrist. She turned around and saw Lucius, staring at her.

"Let me go!"

"Now why is my dear Public Relation Officer here in a nightclub?"

"That is none of your business!" she yelled.

She tried to loosen the grip but it only got tighter and tighter, almost twisting her wrist.

"We have something more important to do."

Suddenly, Lucius lifted her and walked away from the room. Hermione struggled and yelled,

"Let go of me! I need to save my sister!"

Then she was covered by a handkerchief, as she smelled the aroma, her head grew heavier and heavier, then her eyes closed…