Author's Note:
I can't believe how wonderful my readers are! I am falling in love with this storyJ Thank you to all the newbie readers and reviewers.
Just to clarify a few things about the plot, let me give you a more detailed summary of what has and what will happen:
Hermione is 26, as is all her Hogwarts cohorts. She's the president of a company called VERSACELF, the wizarding division of the muggle company, VERSACE. Hermione loves her life until she finds out that Draco Malfoy happens to be related to her muggle boss, Donatella. Because of the family ties, Draco lands the job of Chairman of the Board and Production Manager, making him Hermione's boss. Hermione is not at all happy and decides that her life is going straight downhill. Draco, however, has different intentions.
See, ever since the fall of Voldemort and the capture of the Malfoy family and relatives, Draco was seen as a pariah of the wizarding world because of his name, even though he fought for the light side. Now, almost ten years after the war, Draco needs to get back into the good graces of society and decides that he will win the heart of the Wizarding World's most admired woman—Hermione Granger. Watch as Draco acts sappy and sweet while Hermione wonders whether or not he's the jerk she knew at Hogwarts.
Phew! Well, I hope that makes the story just a wee bit clearer to those who had a few questions. But don't get too excited- -Hermione is not an easy woman to win over, which we'll soon find out. Again, thank you.
~*~
Ginny Weasley was struggling to breathe as she ran up twelve flights of steps. She could have easily apparated, but in her current state of mind, she was not going to risk splinching herself.
She got to the floor she needed to be at and ran across the lobby and burst into a large office.
"Hermione Granger! I am going to kill you!"
~*~
Now, before jumping to conclusions, let's see where Ginny fits into the whole story.
Virginia Weasley was an ill-tempered woman, despite the sweet face and angelic smile. She was currently living in the muggle world working undercover for the ministry, spying on those who were intent on exposing the wizarding world. It was a pretty steady and boring job, but she liked living in the muggle world, and being able to take her anger out on unsuspecting criminals gave her a thrill every time.
She was constantly throwing fits, but no one really minded. Her temper went with her hair like the perfect accessory. But she wasn't always screaming. She really could be quite personable.
Ginny was also the only girl with whom Hermione could have a decent conversation with.
She was also Ginny's best girlfriend.
And now Ginny was mad, and had burst into a meeting Hermione was having with Draco over the Maschina account.
A flash of red appeared before Hermione.
"I cannot believe you never told me anything about these little trysts that you've been having with this…this….ugh! With Draco Malfoy!"
Hermione lowered her reading glasses and put down the file she was looking over. She was used to Ginny's small outbursts. They were almost as bad as Ron's.
"Ginny, dear, it's fantastic to see you. But I am in the middle of a meeting with Draco. Would you mind waiting for a bit?"
Hermione's calm voice only irritated Ginny even more.
"Draco? Draco? Since when did ferret boy become DRACO?! First my brother and Harry, now you've jump onto the Malfoy bandwagon. Have you forgotten what a waste of air he is?!"
Draco watched with an amused grin as the red-head continued to spit out every insulting word she could think of to describe him.
"Ahem."
Ginny stopped in mid-rant to turn her head towards the blond man sitting across the desk from Hermione. Her eyes looked him up and down, and then a glare was cast in his direction.
"I just wanted you to remember as you call me every name in the book that I'm sitting right here."
"I don't care if you were bloody naked right now and dancing a jig. I came here to talk to Hermione, not care about the feelings of a stupid, washed up git."
'Feisty little minx,' thought Draco.
Hermione stood up and grabbed Ginny's arm and took her aside.
"What is your problem?" said Hermione harshly. She knew Ginny was famous for her outbursts, but this was a bit overdone.
"Ginny, I'm sorry I haven't owled or called you. You were off in St. Petersburg at the time Draco came into the picture. I swear I was going to invite you for tea when you got back. Please, just, calm down."
Ginny stared at her best friend as if she had grown three heads, "Calm down? How can I calm down when your picture is plastered in front of Witch Weekly," said Ginny, waving a magazine around, "cavorting around town, at your favorite restaurant nonetheless, with that stupid piece of-"
"Witch Weekly? Ginny, what are you talking about?"
Draco had been listening and as soon as he heard about the picture on the magazine, and got up and walked towards the two women.
Hermione grabbed the copy of the magazine from Ginny. Sure enough, there was a picture of Hermione and Draco laughing at dinner three nights ago. The caption read "A True 'Romeo and Juliet' Romance Blooming. Details inside."
'Details?' Hermione quickly flipped through the pages to find the article that contained 'details' about her and Draco.
She skimmed the page and gasped. Draco saw the look of anger in Hermione's eyes. Looking up, she sighed and began to read out loud from the article.
Snogs and Sleuth: The Best Gossip around Town!
By: Nina Sidwell
Can it be? This sleuthy reporter can tell you 'ay!' it's true! The newest couple to grace the front page is none other that Hermione Granger, Fashion Queen and Design Guru, not to mention a former part of the triumvirate that defeated you-know-who…
'Are you kidding me?' thought Draco, 'You-know-who…stupid fools….'
The lovely couple was spotted dining at Hermione's favorite spot, CIRQUE, last Monday evening. Ms. Granger tried to tell the members of the press that it was a business dinner, but we saw otherwise.
Miss Granger and the notoriously single and handsome Draco Malfoy gazed into each other's eyes during dinner, laughed gaily at each other's jokes, and shared a romantic kiss goodnight before Miss Granger apparated.
Could this be the beginning of the end for our bachelor and bachelorette? Mister Malfoy has made himself a fine choice. If Miss Granger will have him, surely he can't be so bad? Or perhaps Miss Granger likes living on the wild and dark side that the Malfoy family has perfected?
Stay tuned for more in-depth reports on this budding romance.
Hermione's throat felt dry. She looked up at Draco who was wearing an oddly calm expression on his face. Ginny was still red in the face.
"Oh dear," said Hermione. "I need to contact our PR department and have them straighten this out right away."
"Absolutely," chimed in Draco. 'I can't believe how fast the press got that out. But damn, this means no more one on one dinner's with her. Must think of something…..anything…'
"So, you're not dating this insufferable slime ball?" Ginny's expression quickly changed into one of absolute joy, like a child opening presents at Christmas. "Thank Merlin! I am absolutely thrilled to know that he is still worth nothing to you!"
'Nothing?' thought Draco. He didn't know the reason right then and there, but it hurt, just pinched really, when Ginny said that.
"Nothing to worry about Ginny. Why don't you ring up Harry and Ron and we can all have dinner at my place tonight. But we have work to do, so-"
"I know my cue, thanks 'Mione." Ginny gave her friend a quick hug, then turned to face Draco, "Touch her, in any way that causes her to be uncomfortable, and I will personally smear the Malfoy name worse than its current state."
Hermione and Draco watched Ginny apparate out to the office. Sighing, they both went back to the desk and to the files they were working on.
After a few moments of silence, Draco couldn't take the thick tension in the room.
"You know, it's not like it was bad press."
"No, I suppose not." Hermione pulled at a stray tendril of hair as she sat at her desk, tapping her quill on a piece of parchment. "I just don't understand where they would get such a stupid idea! You and me, together, in a relationship? It's rather funny actually."
"Yeah, real funny." Draco didn't make eye contact with Hermione.
'What is my problem? Why don't I find this as funny as she does?'
Hermione watched Draco shift around in chair, pretending to be completely absorbed in a file.
'Why is he acting so….oddly. Hmm..It was a pretty stupid article, and there was that mention of his family name, and that whole wild and da-'
"Granger?"
Hermione looked up. Draco was standing up with an armful of file folders.
"You looked lost in your thoughts there."
Smiling, Hermione gathered up the paperwork on her desk into a neat pile.
"Sorry, it's just been a strange few days."
"It certainly has. Well, good day Granger, I'll let you know if there's anything else regarding the account."
Draco turned to walk towards the door when he felt himself pulled back. He spun around to face Hermione, a warm smile on her face.
"Would you like to come over for dinner tonight? It's just my usual motley crew, but I'd like for you to come, that is, if you're free."
Draco was taken aback by her offer. Never in a million years did he expect Granger to invite him anywhere, especially to her home, with nothing but good intentions and a hot meal.
"It'll be my pleasure Granger."
"Fantastic! Be at my place around seven-thirty. We'll have dinner at eight."
Draco smiled, "Seven-thirty. I'll see you then."
As he shut her office door behind him, Hermione leaned against a wall and thought about what she had done.
'Well, dash the stupid rumors. He's just a friend after all. Yes, a friend coming to dinner…'
