Hermione was late, having found it difficult to escape from the throngs of businessmen and women at the conference. She rushed into the restaurant, glancing around.

"Hermione - Mr Malfoy is already seated," Garath said.

"Thanks Garath! I'm having a bit of a morning!"

"Well, let me show you to the table and we can wait on you for an hour."

Hermione smiled at her Restaurant Manager and followed him across the restaurant to her usual table in the far corner. It didn't belong exclusively to her, of course, but if it was free she generally sat there.

Draco looked over at her as she approached and she felt a twinge of nerves. She'd realised, in the hour she'd been away from him that what she'd actually done was ask him on a lunch date. How did she get herself in these situations? She decided to start their conversation with an explanation why she'd asked him, that she'd already prepared.

She sat down and Garath handed her a menu.

"I'll be back to take your order in a moment," he said.

"Thank you," Hermione looked over her menu at Draco. "Sorry I'm late. I was with the people from the business conference and it would have been rude to rush off."

"It's no problem, I've been taking in the atmosphere," Draco answered her.

"I thought of asking you to eat here so that you could sample some of the food. It will give you an idea of what we can do for you for your dinner party," Hermione said. She tried to sound casual whilst at the same time making it clear the reason for her invitation.

Draco looked at her and narrowed his eyes. "And here I was thinking you'd done it to drive Abigail into a fit of insane jealousy."

Hermione let her menu drop and stared at him, biting her lip. How did he do it? He seemed to be able to read her mind! She thought she'd been discreet about it. Draco put his head to one side.

"How silly of me," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Hermione was conducting an internal debate as to whether she should continue with her cover story or just come out with the truth. Some of it depended on whether Draco and Abigail were just boss and employee or anything more, and she had no idea either way.

"She was really annoying me," she confessed. She put her menu down and leant forward. "I'm sorry, it was really childish."

Draco sat back in his chair. "I should be insulted that you were only inviting me to annoy my P.A."

"Yes - that's not great either," Hermione grimaced. "Would you prefer we don't even bother to order?"

"Of course not!" Draco shook his head vigorously. "I'm bloody hungry!"

"Do you want me to leave?"

Draco now smirked widely at her. "No - but you've given me some great ammunition to use on you."

Hermione groaned. "Great!"

Draco leant forward. "So, how exactly did she annoy you?"

At that moment, Garath appeared with a bottle of wine. Hermione looked at Draco. "Oh, good choice of wine. It's the house special but it tastes just as good as some of our most expensive wines," she said.

"I didn't order it," Draco answered.

"No, it was me," Garath said. He smiled confidently at his boss. They'd worked together long enough now for him not to be concerned that she might be angry with him for choosing and bringing wine without asking first. "I know you like this one and I thought you should have a glass - given the day you're having."

Hermione saw Draco's face as surprise flashed across it, he then grinned. Hermione looked up at Garath. "I'm supposed to have a clear head this afternoon," she said.

"A couple of glasses won't do any harm," he answered and she smiled at him.

"You're a bad influence!"

"At your service!" Garath poured Hermione a glass and then turned to Draco.

"Sir?"

"Yes please," Draco said. "Put the bill against the Penthouse suite, please."

"Oh no! " Hermione protested. "This is on the house. I told you, this can be a sample for your dinner party."

"No. I'll pay - if nothing else, for the food."

"No." Hermione turned to Garath. "Put everything on the hotel tab please."

"Of course."

Garath took their order and brought them a large jug of iced water. Draco poured them both a glass and then leant forward again.

"So, you were going to tell me why Abigail annoyed you?"

"I'm not sure I was," Hermione answered him. "Maybe we should let it go."

"Why?"

"I wouldn't want to offend you."

"Me? Why would it offend me?"

"Well...she's your P.A. You obviously chose her for the job and have to work closely with her..." Hermione hesitated. "I think she likes you more than as her boss," Hermione said. She made it sound like it was all on Abigail's side, not daring to actually suggest he was having an affair with his P.A.

"Of course she does!" Draco answered without hesitation. "Could you work 'closely' with me and not be tempted?" He used her description with a smirk.

Hermione pulled a face. "Ooh! You're incorrigible!"

"Thanks."

"It wasn't a compliment!"

"So, you're not jealous of my 'closeness' to my P.A.?" Draco asked, using the 'close' word again. He gave her a teasing smirk and she rolled her eyes.

"Funnily enough, I'm not."

"Just checking."

Garath arrived with their meals and they ate in silence for a few moments.

"This is delicious," Draco said. "Excellent."

"Good - I'm glad you like it. We have some excellent chefs."

"I'd definitely like them to cater for my dinner party," Draco said.

"Okay. You'll be best to discuss the menu with Patrick - he's the Head Chef. He'll be working later so we can pop down and see him if you like?" Hermione offered.

"That would be great."

"Important guests?"

"Yes - I might be selling Wizard Times. They're potential buyers."

Hermione stared at him. "You might sell Wizard Times?"

"It's not our best seller and it's time consuming. It takes lots of manpower to fill it with all the Financial and Business data. If I can get the right offer, I can move those staff to help on the other publications." Draco put down his knife and fork. "That was lovely - I'm glad you invited me, whatever your reasons were." He gave a chuckle at the guilty look on Hermione's face.

"Well, hopefully Patrick can excel himself and the food will impress them so much they make you a ridiculous offer," Hermione said.

"Will you help me pick the menu with Patrick later?

"Of course - but it's best to just go with things you like."

"I think you know how to chose a menu better than me," Draco said. "Will you be around on Saturday?"

"It's my day off," Hermione said. "But if you need me to come in and supervise, I can?"

"Do you have anything in your wardrobe other than business suits?" Draco asked and Hermione looked at him enquiringly.

"Of course I do - why?"

"Well, it always looks better if the host has a partner..."

Hermione stared at him, not sure she was understanding his meaning correctly. "Are you asking me to host the dinner party because I'm not particularly good at serving food and..."

"No! I'm not asking you to host it! I'm asking you to be a guest - my guest...my partner for the evening," Draco explained and Hermione gaped at him.

"Your partner?" she repeated. Was he joking?

"It'll be a strictly business arrangement," Draco explained. "You don't need to send your boring boyfriend down here to warn me off."

"He's not boring!"

"I'm just quoting your best friend."

"Well don't. She doesn't know what she's talking about," Hermione huffed at him. "She's only ever been attracted to the type of man who treats her terribly until she swears she'll never be gullible again - until the next time."

"Weasley likes bad boys, does she?"

Hermione regretted her outburst and sighed. "Let's not talk about her behind her back."

"Why not? Blaise likes her, we could play matchmakers."

"Is he a bad boy? He seems nice enough if a bit crazy," Hermione asked.

"He is crazy - he knows how to enjoy himself," Draco said. "But he wouldn't mess her around."

Hermione pulled a face. "How on earth did we get onto this subject? I'm not here to arrange Ginny's love life for her!"

Draco laughed. "Okay - so how about it then? Fancy pretending to be with me on Saturday?"

Hermione shook her head. "I don't think so - what if they find out I'm the Hotel Manager?"

"I don't mean you have to re-invent yourself! This isn't an undercover operation. You'll be introduced as Hermione Granger - Hotel Manager extraordinaire who just happens to be going out with Draco Malfoy - brilliant entrepreneur."

"You must know a hundred women who would be better suited to doing this for you. I can't think why you want me to do it," Hermione said.

"Hermione - I do know hundreds of women who could sit there and look pretty for me and if I didn't I could hire one for the evening!"

"My point exactly."

"I don't know anyone else who can actually join in the conversation - express a knowledgeable opinion and offer advice. I wasn't joking when I said I wanted to introduce you as the Hotel Manager. Do you know how impressive that will sound?"

Hermione dabbed her lips with her napkin and then took a gulp of wine. This conversation was making her jumpy. "Are you telling me you want brains instead of beauty?" she asked.

Draco frowned. "Certainly not - I need both."

Hermione's face showed her surprise at his compliment and she bit her lip. Was she just being manipulated ? Draco seemed to have just the right thing to say at just the right time. A little teasing humour here and there, throw in the odd compliment...

"Why do I feel as if I'm being manipulated?"

"Because you are," Draco answered her, totally unashamedly. "I'm not pretending otherwise but you'd be doing me a huge favour." He gave a shrug.

"Is this why I might be getting free advertising for 9 months?" Hermione asked. She gave a little smile that took the sting out of her words.

"No - that was a genuine offer on my behalf."

Hermione sniffed and took another sip of wine. She had no idea how long they'd been sitting here - probably far too long but she had to admit she was enjoying herself. Yet again, in the company of Draco Malfoy. Well, she wasn't an idiot so she decided to make one last stand.

"I might be able to help you," she said with another grin and Draco sighed.

"What do you want?" he asked.

"Who said I want anything?"

"I know when I'm about to be manipulated."

"My diary is quite full - in fact it's very full," Hermione said. "I really don't think I'll be able to fit an appointment with Abigail in."

"You don't want to meet her?" Draco translated.

"I mean, I am the very important Manager of the best wizard hotel. You'd think that would warrant me an appointment with the Director of Silver, would you?"

Draco's eyes fixed to her face. He seemed to be taking in the details and just as she began to feel uncomfortable he spoke.

"Even if you won't agree to helping me on Saturday - you're appointment to discuss your advertising will be with me," he said, the tone of his voice gentle. "You only had to ask."

Hermione bit her lip, feeling a little embarrassed by his sudden change of tone. She took another hasty sip of wine. "I'd better have a look my wardrobe for a suitable outfit then," she said.

Draco's face broke into a grin. "Great!" he said. "That's great."

Thanks for all the comments so far. x