As Hermione gathered her thoughts about what was happening between her and Draco, she heard voices outside the bedroom. She cringed, worried who it might be because whoever it was, would have no trouble deducing that she'd spent the night here. It was too obvious to try and deny it. She waited a few minutes, hoping that whoever it was would leave and she wouldn't have to come out of the bedroom, but it became obvious that wasn't going to be the case, so reluctantly, Hermione stood up and opened the door, poking her head round the door frame.

She could hear the voices clearer now and the visitor was definitely female. She sighed and decided to just face whoever it was.

"Yes, Draco," the voice said. "I think it's an excellent idea."

Hermione groaned and stopped walking - Abigail! This was all she needed! As she entered the room, both Draco and Abigail turned to face her. Draco gave her a small smile but for a second, Abigail's expression was astonishment, mixed with fury. After a moment, Abigail also smiled, but it was false, like a mask.

"Good morning, Abigail," Hermione said, as casually as she could. She walked over to the kitchen and poured herself a fruit juice as if this was the most natural thing in the world. She looked over at Draco and Abigail. "Did either of you want coffee or juice?"

"Good morning, Miss Granger," Abigail answered. "I'm fine for a drink, thank you."

"Hermione."

"Of course." Abigail was just as brusque as previously. The frosty tone of her voice was obvious but as before, her actual words were chosen carefully.

"You look busy," Hermione said. "I should be going."

Draco turned and looked at her. "No - there's no need. This won't take long - I just needed some paperwork for a meeting I have later."

"It's no problem," Hermione insisted. "There are a few things I need to check out with reception..."

"It's supposed to be your day off," Draco reminded her. "We won't be long."

Abigail watched this exchange and then spoke quietly to Draco. "Actually, I was going to ask if we could finalise the packages. I have several enquiries already for the new financial year..." She glanced over at Hermione. "It won't be very interesting for Hermione to watch us discussing business!" She smiled sweetly at Hermione, who was suddenly overcome with the urge to slap her.

"We can discuss the packages at the office tomorrow. It's my day off as well," Draco answered Abigail, who's mouth set into a straight line.

"Of course - I just thought it was becoming urgent..."

"It can wait another day," Draco answered. He turned to Hermione. "I need to double check a couple of things with Ginny...is she in?"

Hermione nodded. "Yes - she should be. Can't I check what you want?"

"I think Ginny took all the room and food details?"

"Yes - I'll get her to come up," Hermione nodded.

Draco stood up. "No - it's no bother. I'll go and find her and then Abigail can take a copy of this paperwork back to the office with her."

He left via the lift and Hermione wished adamantly that she'd left before he had. She searched for something to say.

"How long have you worked for Draco?" she asked, forcing a smile onto her face.

Abigail leant back in her chair and turned to look at Hermione slowly. "A while," she said and her eyes were challenging. Hermione didn't like it and she just nodded.

"You obviously enjoy your job."

"I love working for Draco - he's rich, intelligent and handsome. Who wouldn't?" Again the answer was a lazy drawl. Very different to her usual brusque manner. Suddenly Abigail stood up and walked over to Hermione who stared at her, surprised. "I think I will have a glass of juice."

Hermione nodded and poured another glass. Abigail drank it whilst looking at Hermione over the top of it. Hermione began to feel very unsettled and turned away.

"You're feeling awkward, aren't you?" Abigail's words made Hermione turn back again.

"Sorry?"

"I bet you're wondering why I don't feel awkward."

Hermione frowned. "I'm not following you."

"You're just another one."

"Another what?"

"Do you have any idea how many times I've been in this situation?" Abigail put her glass down and leant forward. "I turn up, at Draco's request , for a business reason and when I get to his house, or in this case, the hotel, a women emerges from the bedroom."

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "I'm not sure what you're implying, but I think you'll find it's none of your business."

Abigail sighed, dramatically. "I'm not 'implying' anything. I'm saying that you spent the night with him and now I'm here you don't know whether to feel awkward or superior."

Hermione felt her anger rising with this horrible women."I don't feel either of those things, actually! I think it would be wise if we end this conversation right now."

"Actually, I think it's very important that I say this," Abigail straightened her back. "Draco has his choice of women - he spends the night with them and then they're gone the next week."

"You're point being?" Hermione asked.

"My point is that you shouldn't read anything into this. With Draco, it's easy come, easy go." Abigail stepped backwards and waved her arm around the room. "You might think you're important, being Manager of this hotel and the 'famous' Hermione Granger but believe me, that won't be how Draco thinks. Draco's conquests are numerous but I've seen them all left behind... and I'm still here."

Hermione glared venomously at the hateful women in front of her. "Why is this beginning to sound like a threat?"

Abigail raised her eyebrows. "Not a threat - I'm just putting you in the picture."

"Really?" Hermione lowered her voice. "Maybe I should put you in the picture?" She was angry and she walked round the counter to face Abigail. "It's none of your business what Draco and I do. You're his employee - his P.A. - that's all. Also, I don't need the low down on Draco. I've known him far longer than you have." Hermione looked towards the lift. "Funny how you're attitude is so different once Draco is out of the room. I must bring our conversation to his attention."

Abigail raised one elegant eyebrow. "He won't believe you. He trusts me."

"How long have you been in love with him?" Hermione asked, directly and challengingly.

Abigail didn't flinch but there was a slight hesitation before she answered. "We have a working relationship."

"So why all the hate for his girlfriends?"

"You're not his girlfriend."

"You wouldn't like it one little bit if I was, would you?"

"At least he has respect for me," Abigail sneered as she said this. "I least I have respect for myself." She looked Hermione up and down in a way that made Hermione's blood boil. Hermione clenched her fists and tried to not rise to the bait. Her 'deal' with Draco about being his fake girlfriend for a while, sprang into her mind and she couldn't help but smile. Maybe it was time to start the pretence?

"Well, he's off the market so you can stop trying to impress him."

She watched as Abigail's face tightened. "Off the market?"

"Yes."

"What do you mean?"

Hermione smirked. "You really have got it bad haven't you? He's off the market because he's with me."

Abigail gave a sniff. "With you?"

"Yes - so you'd better stick to being his P.A. and nothing else."

"Since when?"

"That's none of your business," Hermione looked her up and down. "I'm going. Tell Draco I'll catch up with him later." She tried to appear calm but she now realised that she really needed to find Draco before he walked back in so that she could tell him that she'd started the lie about them already. She turned away from Abigail and started to walk towards the lift but Abigail's voice stopped her.

"He's bloody good, isn't he?"

Hermione halted her steps but didn't turn around. Abigail spoke again.

"Once tasted, never forgotten - I'm very much looking forward to the next time but don't worry, I'll wait until he's finished with his latest, meaningless fling. Oh - that would be you wouldn't it?"

It didn't take a genius to understand what Abigail was saying and it made Hermione feel slightly nauseous. She was saying that she and Draco had slept together. Although Hermione had already wondered about this, it wasn't pleasant to hear Abigail saying it. She took a deep, steadying breath, because it was obvious that Abigail was being antagonistic on purpose. She might even be making it up.

Hermione turned back to face her. She didn't really have a vindictive side but she wasn't a walk over and this girl was foul. She pinned a smile on her face, hoping it looked as false and cold as Abigail's did. "I'm sure Draco would be happy to hear that you approve of his 'techniques'." Hermione used the same, vague phrasing as Abigail had on purpose. Somehow it sounded dirtier that way! "It's a pity that he obviously didn't think the same about you."

"What do you mean?" Abigail's tone was icy now, her eyes narrow. "I keep telling you that I'm the only one he chooses to keep around. Only one of us will still be in his life in three months and it won't be you."

Hermione walked closer and nodded. "Well, it would seem to me that you were obviously lacking in the bedroom department as he doesn't seem in any hurry to repeat the experience, does he? It would seem that you're once tasted and completely forgotten!"

"All sweetness and light in front of him, aren't you, Granger? But this is the real you isn't it? Bitchy, sour faced and bitter. He'll see through you soon ..."

There was a cough and both women turned to see Draco standing by the lift. He was staring at them, the paperwork in his hand.

"Am I interrupting something?" he asked.

Hermione saw a look of horror pass across Abigail's face but she was glad Draco had found them arguing. She, unlike Draco's utterly nasty P.A., had nothing to hide.

"No - we were just discussing how Hermione deals with some of the more unpleasant hotel guests," Abigail answered. She had the sickly smile back on her face and she walked over towards Draco, holding her hand out. "Are those the signed forms?"

Draco didn't pass them to her and he was looking over her head at Hermione. "I hope I wasn't one of the unpleasant hotel guests you were discussing?"

Abigail gave a laugh but Hermione just walked over to the pair of them. Abigail was twittering on.

"Shall I take those, Draco. I'll then schedule us a meeting for tomorrow to discuss the packages..."

Draco ignored her and looked at Hermione. "Are you going?"

Hermione nodded. "Just until Abigail has gone," she walked past them and she could almost feel the relief from Abigail. Hermione couldn't help but gloat a little because the girls relief was premature. She stopped and turned back to Draco. "I can't bear to be in the same room as her any longer. She's a conniving, foul mouthed little bitch who wants you for herself and is as jealous as hell that we're now together. She needs to go - and I don't just mean from the penthouse."

She didn't glance back, pressed the button to the lift and stepped in.