"Garath, could you send a buffet selection up to the Penthouse, please. I've opened the portal," Hermione was speaking into her wand.
"Roast beef." A voice said in Hermione's ear and she glanced round to find Blaise standing right behind her. "Can we have roast beef sandwiches?"
"Garath, as well as the normal; can you make some of the sandwiches roast beef, please?"
"Of course, Hermione. I'll send it up in a few minutes." Garath's voice came through her wand.
Hermione put down her wand and looked over at Blaise who displaying his dazzling smile. "Moving is hard work!" he said, as way of an explanation for his request. He and Theo had been helping Draco move in, although it hadn't really involved much work.
"Really?" Hermione looked at his disbelievingly. "The hotel staff have done everything and by magic. I suggest you try moving the Muggle way and then you'll change your mind about how hard today has been."
"Of course, you know all about Muggle stuff," Blaise said. "Can we expect to see Ginny this afternoon?" He gave a look around the Penthouse as if she might appear at any moment.
"No. It's her day off."
"Who's the blonde girl? The one that was here talking to Draco?" Blaise asked.
"That's Lily Berkeley," Draco's voice butted in before Hermione could answer. "She's the Marketing Manager and very nice too."
Hermione stared over at Draco, who seemed to know an awful lot about Lily. It was hard to tell exactly what he meant by nice. She decided it was best to presume he meant helpful and nice.
"Mmm...definitely a 9," Blaise said.
"You throwing out 9's far too readily, lately," Theo said, joining in the conversation as he walked past.
"I know, but they've all been deserving," Blaise insisted with another devastating grin.
Hermione had politely kept out of the conversation. She was here as the hotel manager and although she was dying to know what they were talking about, she had to hover discreetly in the background.
"If you give too many 9's out, you'll end up handing out a 10," Theo said. He glanced over at Hermione, his dazzling blue eyes piercing her. He had the sexiest voice she had ever heard, it was smooth and deep with a husky tone. Theo didn't look away as he continued to speak. "You know you can't give a 10 unless you're intending to start something serious."
Hermione hadn't really understood exactly what they were talking about but something about Theo's tone, almost made her blush again. His actual words didn't sink in for a moment but then suddenly, their meaning squeezed its way into Hermione's brain. Were they scoring women? Giving them a mark out of ten?
"Are you scoring women out of 10?" she blurted out, forgetting her role as hotel manager and about being discreet. All three men turned to look at her and she immediately wished she hadn't spoken. Theo looked over at Draco and it was Draco who spoke.
"Would you like us to score you?" he asked and then laughed.
"You are actually scoring women out of 10?" Hermione repeated.
"It's just a thing we got into doing," Blaise said. He had the good grace to look ever so slightly ashamed.
"I don't think Miss Granger approves," Draco said. Hermione sighed and turned away from them.
"If you don't need anything else, Mr Malfoy, then I'll be going," she said, bending down to pick up some files she'd brought up with her. As she straightened up again, she felt a hand on her arm and Draco reached over, taking her files from her.
"I haven't decided if I need anything else yet," he said. He was close to her and he seemed tall, her eyes were level with his collar bone. She snatched the files back from him.
"Well, if you do find anything we've missed, please just ring down to reception and someone should be able to help you," she answered.
"But they won't be the manager, will they?" Draco took the files back and Hermione glared at him.
"If you need me, they can tell me," she said. She held her hand out for her files but he just looked down at her.
"I was just going to open some champagne," he said. He looked round at Blaise and Theo who were watching them, with interest. "Three men drinking champagne in the Penthouse Suite is just sad, so you have to stay. We need female company."
Hermione nodded. "Is that so? Maybe I could send Lily up being as she's a 9! Surely champagne deserves at least a 9?" She heard Theo and Blaise chuckle.
"I think Hermione's female principles have been insulted," Draco said, to no one in particular. "We're not being sexist."
Hermione grabbed her files back. "You can be as sexist as you like. It's your penthouse." She walked past Blaise and Theo. "Welcome to our hotel, if you need anything just let me know."
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
There was a quiet knock on her door and she called for her visitor to come in. She'd just had a really tedious meeting with the Director from their advertising partner. He was a creepy man, with piercing eyes and apart from her personal dislike of him, Hermione was also becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the service they were providing. The hotel needed to advertise, but this agency didn't seem to understand the importance of the advertising being first class.
She was surprised to see Draco step into her office and she stood up.
"Is everything okay?" she asked.
"Yes, everything is fine - better than fine," Draco answered.
"Would you like to sit down?"
"No - I'm here to invite you back to the Penthouse for a celebratory drink."
Hermione hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "That's very nice of you but I can't."
"Why not?" Draco looked at her desk and his eyes fell onto the brochure left from her meeting. "You use Blakes?" he asked suddenly.
"Yes, we've used them for years," Hermione answered. She realised that Blakes were Draco's competition, at least in the area of press advertising.
Draco shook his head. "Well, that's a conversation for another time and one we definitely must have. My point is, all this can wait."
"Maybe it can but unfortunately I still can't come."
"Why not?" Draco repeated his question.
"I can't fraternise with guests."
"You've just clocked off."
"It doesn't matter. I can't socialize with our guests, it wouldn't be proper." Hermione realised she sounded stuffy, so she added. "I am sorry, it would have been nice."
Draco put his head to one side. "This rule applies to all the hotel staff?"
"Well, we don't encourage it."
"Pity your Entertainment Manager hasn't read her staff handbook then, isn't it?" Draco grinned and Hermione stared at him.
"Ginny? She's upstairs with you?"
"Yes."
"It's her day off."
"Blaise asked the reception clerk to get hold of her and then invited her. Are you going to have to dismiss her?" Draco smirked.
"Of course not."
"But you'll have to reprimand her?" Draco questioned. It wasn't until he continued that Hermione understood where he was going with this. "So, you'll have to come up to the penthouse right now and give her a severe telling off, won't you?"
Hermione couldn't keep her chuckle from escaping. He was clever and he'd turned Ginny's presence upstairs into a perfect reason for her to come up as well. He was irritating and annoyingly persistent but Hermione could not help but be flattered that he was making so much effort to get her to join them. She saw Draco's lips curve into a smile and felt annoyed at herself for being manipulated so easily.
"Okay - I'll come."
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
As she entered the penthouse, Theo handed her a champagne flute and Ginny greeted her with a hug.
"I didn't know if you'd come," Ginny said.
"Neither of us should be here," Hermione said. As Ginny went to protest, Hermione continued. "But, I thought I'd listen to your advice and bend the rules for once."
Ginny grinned widely. "I have a feeling there will be plenty of rule bending."
The Penthouse now looked lived in. There were some snacks on the dining table, bottles and glasses on the long kitchen counter with stools placed along it. The blinds at one end had been shut, leaving just a view from one side and the lighting was subtle. It looked welcoming and Hermione, who hardly came here at night, was impressed. No wonder they had no trouble renting this suite.
Hermione took a sip of her drink and tried to relax. "You've look settled in already," she said to Draco who was pouring himself a drink.
"I am," Draco nodded. "Thanks for all your help."
"Oh, it's no problem - just doing my job."
"I wanted to ask about next weekend. I'm having some people over and I wondered if the hotel could do the catering?"
"Of course. What were you thinking of? A buffet?"
"No, actually I was thinking of a proper sit down meal. Is that possible?"
Hermione nodded. "Yes - I'll have to speak to Garath and make sure we haven't any other bookings that night but we can do a meal to whatever standard you want. I'll check with Garath now..."
"No, you won't." Blaise came up behind her and took her glass from her. "Stop talking business with her, Draco. Come and dance with me, Hermione."
There was music playing but not loudly and Hermione shook her head. "Oh no! I can't dance - not like this."
"I'll turn the music up."
"No, really..."
Blaise looked her up and down. "You need to get changed - you're all formal."
"No, I won't be staying for long..."
"You have clothes in your office, why don't you go and change?" Ginny said and Hermione narrowed her eyes at her.
"I can't stay, not this evening."
"You're not meeting Jack. He's away at that conference, isn't he?" Ginny didn't take the hint and smiled wickedly at her friend.
"Who's Jack?" Draco asked
"My boyfriend," Hermione answered.
"Does he work at the hotel?" Draco asked.
"No. He provides training and staff to companies."
Ginny yawned loudly and Hermione glared at her. Draco watched them questioningly. "Is this a private joke?" he asked.
"Yes," Hermione said. "Just ignore her." Ginny yawned again and Hermione sighed loudly.
"Jack is tall, dark and handsome. Impeccably dressed, fairly well off and intelligent," Ginny said to Draco, who looked bewildered. "And the final thing about him is he is boring - utterly boring and she could do far, far better."
"Ginny!"
Draco grinned at Ginny who shrugged. "I'm just saying it as it is."
"You're just saying it as you see it," Hermione corrected her. "I'm sure Draco doesn't want to talk about my social life."
Ginny did another exaggerated yawn and then grinned before walking over to Blaise and Theo who were sitting on the sofas.
"Why don't you sit down?" Draco indicated one of the high stools. "You look like you're going to bolt for the door any second."
Hermione felt a little ashamed at her ungracious attitude. She should be grateful that Draco was being pleasant. If they could get on it would make his stay at the hotel far easier. She decided to stay for an hour, rather than feeling the need to rush away. She hadn't anything planned, this evening so an hour could do no harm. She nodded to Draco and then eyed the stool next to her. Why did they make these things so high? How was she supposed to get on that? Even if she managed it there was no way she could do it elegantly, especially in her skirt.
"What's the matter?" Draco asked.
"Nothing."
"You're going to leave, aren't you?" he asked and something about his tone, made Hermione glance over at him. She bit her lip and blinked rapidly. "I'm fighting a losing battle, am I not?"
"No. I'd just decided I was going to stay for a while, actually," she said. She looked again at the stool and decided it was time to swallow her pride and confess. "I was just wondering how I was going to get on the stool without the aid of a ladder..."
Draco glanced at the stool and then back at Hermione before his face broke into a wide smile. His eyes softened and he gave a little laugh. "You really are short, aren't you?"
"I really am!" Hermione agreed. She glared at the stool. "These things were made to torture anyone under 5' 3". I hate them - so you need to turn around while I climb on. It won't be pretty." She now actually gave a small giggle herself.
Draco was still laughing gently at her. "Or I could just help you?"
"No!" Hermione said, putting her glass down and approaching the stool. "This fight is between me and the stool."
Draco put his own glass down and walked around the counter. "Don't be ridiculous, you'll never make it in that skirt. I'll lift you up."
"No!" Hermione protested again. "Really, I can do it." Draco shook his head and reached out towards her but she backed off. "I can't let you lift me onto the stool - that's just embarrassing."
"Stop making a fuss!" Draco said. He grabbed Hermione's waist and pulled her towards the stool. She continued to protest but he was stronger than her and she couldn't stop him.
"What's going on over there?" Blaise called over.
"I'm helping Hermione onto the stool."
"Helping or forcing because she doesn't look happy about it?"
Hermione decided to stop wriggling and let Draco help her. It would be excruciatingly embarrassing but now they had an audience her protesting would just make it worse. She let Draco's hands grab her waist tighter and then she automatically put her hands on his arms as he lifted her onto the stool. He didn't let go immediately, his hands resting on her waist.
"Okay?" he asked. She wriggled on further to cover her embarrassment.
"Yes, fine...thanks."
Removing his hands and stepping away, he looked down at her legs. "Do your feet reach the support bar?" He smirked widely at her and she narrowed her eyes at him.
"Now you're just enjoying this too much."
"Oh yes! I really am!" Draco didn't bother denying it and he handed Hermione her glass back. "Now drink this and I'll pour you another."
"No, I'll just have the one thanks."
Draco put his hands on the arms of Hermione's stool, leaning close and giving it a little twist. "I have you trapped, you can't get down and if you don't drink lots and enjoy yourself, I may have to twirl the seat."
Hermione stared at his face, close to hers. His eyes were dancing, his lips curved into a teasing smile, his hair flopping into his eyes...she felt something and blinked. He had a casual shirt on, the sleeves rolled up and the top button open. His skin, visible at his collar was close to Hermione and she tried desperately not to stare at it. She lowered her gaze but found herself looking at his arms, the muscles flexed to support his weight on the arms of her stool. She'd felt the tight muscles when she'd grabbed his arms and now she was staring at them.
She looked up again, only to find Draco watching her, his eyes intense on her face. They stared at each other, just for a moment before something else came into her vision. Draco had reached her glass from the counter top and was now jiggling it slowly in between their faces. Hermione was suddenly overcome with mirth. She gave a little giggle which turned into a laugh. Draco smiled back at her, enjoying her merriment. He then pushed her glass into her hand.
"That's better," he said.
"It really isn't," Hermione said but she was still smiling.