Author's Note:
Hello again! I would just like to say sorry for taking quite some time to upload this chapter! A lot has happened since the last time (i.e., moved to a new town) and I just never got the chance to put this up until now.
Before continuing to the story, I'd like to also thank the people who have left a review to this story (Ktpham and MadMlle) and to those who have favorited and followed this story! I'm glad that you guys are enjoying the story so far. To respond to Ktpham's latest review, unfortunately, I don't think I'll be including Theo/Blaise into the story. At least, right now, with the plot I have in mind, I haven't envisioned having them become active characters in the story. But who knows? The succeeding chapters are undergoing constant revisions, so anything can happen at this point!
Anyway, here's Chapter 4 and I hope you enjoy it!
A pair of heels can be heard clacking across the marble halls of the prestigious company building. It was five minutes until 2pm, so there weren't a lot of people in the lobby. As soon as she reached the reception, the receptionist looked up and gave her a smile.
"Good afternoon, do you have an appointment?"
Ginny smiled back. "Yes, I'm Ginny Weasley from the Daily Prophet. I believe I have a 2pm appointment with Mr. Malfoy," she said in her business tone.
The receptionist looked at her logbook to check the veracity of the appointment. When she found Ginny's name, she looked up and smiled again.
"Ah, yes, Ms. Weasley, please follow me to the elevator."
The receptionist went around her counter to guide Ginny to where the elevators were. She pressed the up button and told Ginny that the elevator will be there momentarily. When the elevator came, the receptionist pressed the 15th button and bid her a good stay at Malfoy Hotels and Resorts as the elevators closed.
As soon as it was closed, Ginny was left to her thoughts. The last time she saw Draco Malfoy was around a year ago. Just like their other meetings prior, they didn't contact each other after their last encounter. However, since they met in public last time, the Witch Weekly covered their "secret tryst", making it their main issue of the week. Since there was the weekly Sunday brunch in the Burrow, reactions were not so pretty from her family, especially Ron.
***Flashback***
As soon as she entered the dining room, all movements and noise ceased. Ginny looked at everyone, and she can see that Ron, especially, was slowly turning into a violent shade of puce. Before she knew it, Ron was in front of her, shoving the magazine in front of her face, and everyone else holding their breaths to see what would happen.
"Tell me, what in the bloody hell is this all about? Are you fraternizing with Malfoy now, too?" Ron asked in gritted teeth.
Ginny calmly took the article and looked at the spread. Typical, she thought. Plastered on the page was a picture of her and Draco sitting on the alfresco chairs outside the café, laughing at something. Of course, the article wasn't any better, saying things about a secret romance, defying all odds, Romeo and Juliet, all that great bollocks. You'd think with Rita Skitter gone, all these gossip columnists would straighten up a bit.
"It's rubbish. Forget about it." Ginny shrugged and attempted to step around Ron, but he won't let her. He looks like he's about to blow his top.
"Forget about it? There's a photo of you and Malfoy acting all cozy in the middle of Diagon Alley and you want me to forget it?"
Ginny sighed. "Listen, we ran into each other in the café. We talked a bit, drank coffee, then parted ways. Seriously, it was my first time to see him after a long time." It's not a lie, Ginny thought.
"But it's Malfoy!"
"Yeah, but I didn't feel like bantering. And apparently neither did he. So just drop it, okay. Seriously, it's no big deal."
"No big deal? Of course, it's a big deal! You're laughing with Draco bloody Malfoy!"
It was Ginny turn to lash out. "What do you want to hear, Ron? That I've been hiding a relationship with him even when I'm not? Or Merlin forbid, that I'm having sex with him WHEN I'M NOT?" That part was a lie, but he didn't need to know that.
"Grow up, Ron. And actually accept that people can be mature and civil with each other. Unlike. You."
With this, she stepped around Ron and he let her. She went to sit in one of the chairs around the table. Everyone looked at her.
"If any of you lot have something say, I'd rethink it. There's no secret whatever with Draco Malfoy so just toss that in the bin." When no one said anything, Ginny said, "If there's no other reactions, let's bloody eat. I'm starving to death."
As if those words were magic, Mrs. Weasley instantly sprung to action and began telling people to start eating before the food gets cold. Ron returned to his seat beside Hermione, still fuming. Ginny didn't care much. Ron's feelings are Ron's problem. Besides, there really wasn't anything to explain to them. At least anything they would need to know. As she finished stacking up food on her plate, the noise back in full swing, she looked up to see her mother staring at her. Her gaze was questioning, but Ginny was unwavering. She just shrugged and started eating her fill, determined to put this "issue" behind her.
***End of Flashback***
Aside from that incident, Ginny didn't really have any time to think about Malfoy, as per usual. Their relationship or friendship or whatever always falls into a two-part cycle: meet and don't acknowledge each other's existence until they meet again. At least that was the cycle, until now.
The elevator dinged open, and Ginny went straight to the reception directly in front of the elevator. The receptionist, who she assumed is Malfoy's secretary, stood up and rounded the counter.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Weasley. I'm Patrick, Draco's Executive Assistant. If you will follow me, I will take you to his office." Immediately, Patrick started leading the way to the office.
Odd, why would an executive secretary address his boss with his first name? Ginny wondered until Patrick stopped in front of her to knock on a translucent glass set of doors. Ginny heard a faint "Come in" before Patrick opened the doors for her and let her in.
"Draco, Ms. Weasley is here for your appointment."
Draco looked up from the file he was studying and stood up. "Thank you, Patrick. Hold my calls until this meeting is over."
Patrick nodded and smiled. "As you wish. Let me know if you need anything." Then, Patrick left, leaving Ginny standing in front of the door.
It was her first time to come to this building, much less Draco's office. She can't help but look around and check her surroundings. His office is spacious, but that's probably because of the wide glass window that takes up the whole of the back wall as well as the lack of furniture and knick-knacks. Very different from the Daily Prophet.
Her eyes settled on Draco and realized neither of them has said anything to each other.
"My apologies, Mr. Malfoy. I don't know where my manners went. I'm pleased to meet your acquaintance again." Ginny said as she stepped forward to extend a hand towards Draco.
Draco took her hand to shake it. "The pleasure is all mine, Ms. Weasley. Thank you so much for coming on such short notice."
They let go of each other's hands and Draco directed her to sit in one of the armchairs in front of his table.
"You also caught me at a down time, so it's no problem," Ginny said as she sat down.
Draco also sat down and smoothed his tie in the process. "Glad to hear that."
"If I may break character for just a second," Ginny started, which earned a raised eyebrow from Malfoy, "but it's a nice office you have here."
Draco chuckled to himself. "Does it meet the expectation?"
This time, it was Ginny's turn to chuckle. "If you mean, if it's very Slytherin of you, no. But, I love the greys and the dark blues and the whites. Very clean and professional. Suits your personality."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Ginny cleared her throat as if to bring herself back to business mode. She turned to Draco, "Shall we get down to business?"
Draco straightened up as well. "Not quite. We're still waiting for another person. Unfortunately, it seems like he's running late, which is unlike him." Draco stood up and walked towards the little drink bar on his right. "While waiting, may I offer you a drink? Perhaps, a hot caramel macchiato?" Draco looked back at Ginny.
Ginny's shoulders instantly loosened at the sound of caramel macchiato. "Yes, please. That sounds good. Can't believe you remember."
Draco chuckled while preparing the coffee himself. "Of course. How could I not? You've been drinking that every single time we met."
"Not that time we met at a bar in Montreal."
"Ah, Montreal. That's true, but I clearly remember you saying you were going to grab a cup of it after."
Ginny smiled to herself. "Even I don't remember that."
Draco walked to Ginny, handing her the cup of caramel macchiato. "What can I say? I have a good memory."
Ginny took the cup and smelled it. How she loves caramel macchiato. "That you do." Then, she took her first sip. "This is good!"
Draco sat back at his desk and smiled. "Glad you like it. The least I can do for all your troubles."
Ginny took another sip, closing her eyes, enjoying the sensation of coffee. "Then I would like more, please."
Draco chuckled, and, in that moment, there was a knock on his door. Ginny immediately put down the cup on the desk and wiped off any foam or coffee around her mouth. She stood up as the door opened to reveal her brother, Percy.
"Percy?"
Percy looked up and nodded to Ginny, all business-like. "Hello, Gin. I see that you made it." Then he turned to Draco. "My apologies, Draco. Suddenly had a last minute call with Mr. Bergers. He wanted to make sure that we have finalized the budgeting for deliberation."
Draco stood up as well when Percy entered. He nodded at Percy's statement. "Mr. Bergers is such a nitpicky associate. I trust that all is well, then."
"Very much. Not a thing out of place."
"Good." And similar with Ginny, Draco offered Percy the seat across Ginny.
They all sat down, but Ginny had a confused look on her face that Draco took notice.
"What's on your mind, Ms. Weasley?" Draco asked.
Ginny opened and closed her mouth a couple of times before voicing her thought. "I'm sorry, but I can't help but notice that your employees seem to call you on a first-name basis."
Draco smiled. "It's a company policy. I want everyone to feel like they can talk to each other regardless of age or position. It creates a more open environment, makes it easy to do business with each other."
Ginny nodded in understanding and looked at her brother who was also nodding.
"Since, technically, you're not part of the company, you don't need to follow this rule, but you're open to calling me Draco if you would like to."
Ginny seems to consider, but she said, "I think I will settle with calling you Mr. Malfoy, but thank you for the option, likewise."
She turned to her brother, "Knowing how professional you are, it must've been difficult for you to switch to a first-name basis with your boss."
Percy frowned while Draco chuckled. "It took a while to break him, but he got there," Draco said with a smile on his face.
"Well, he won't stop badgering me until I called him Draco," Percy said with a frown.
"You'll live, Perce," Ginny teased.
Feeling teased by his other companions, Percy cleared his throat and started handing a file each to Ginny and Draco.
"Anyway, here is the proposal we wanted to do with you."
Ginny opened the file and started scanning the documents in front of her as she listened to Percy explain.
"Basically, we're opening our first hotel abroad in Spain-Granada to be exact-next year. While it's a popular tourist destination among muggles, it's not yet popular among wizards. One of the reasons might be that the wizarding world and muggle world in Granada is mixed. So, you see, most wizards are uncomfortable with interacting with muggles and, as you know, wizards can't be trusted to move among muggles, especially inexperienced ones. With your exposure as a travel columnist in the Prophet and as a rising photographer, our company would like you to do a feature, not just about the hotel, but also about Granada."
Percy paused to let Ginny absorb what he just said. After a few seconds, Ginny spoke out.
"So, in a nutshell, you want me to write and photograph about Granada and the new hotel," she said slowly.
"Yes." Percy answered curtly.
"Think of it as a marketing strategy." Draco chimed in.
Ginny nodded. "So how many features are we talking about and where is this being published? Are you using the Prophet?"
"If you look at the next page of the document," Ginny flipped to the second page, "the details of the feature is written."
Ginny read the brief. Write about Granada. Okay. About the hotel. Okay. Include a guide to muggle interactions. Okay. Publishing a book? Ginny snapped her head up the moment she read those words. She looked to Percy, then to Draco then back again.
"You want me to write a book on top of writing articles for you?" Ginny felt incredulous. That's a lot of work!
This time, it was Draco's turn to explain. "We might not have been clear. We want you to produce a travel book on Granada, which will also feature our hotel. Similar to the one you've published a while back. Since Granada is basically a wizarding tourism wasteland, our hotel will be the first for wizards. At the same time, we're helping out the Ministry in Spain to boost Granada's wizarding tourism, which hopefully improves the relationship between Wizarding England and Spain. Hence, Percy's importance." Draco looked at Percy who nodded back.
Ginny was confused. "So you're working with the Ministry here and in Spain?"
"Yes," Draco said as he nodded.
"So this is not just a business thing?"
"No."
"So it's a big deal?"
"Yes, we have to reach certain wizarding traffic rates in Granada after a year of opening."
Ginny nodded and started thinking of the terms, speaking of which she hasn't heard of yet.
"What are my terms?"
Draco passed the baton to Percy, so Percy explained. "On the third page, we have written the terms and the proposed schedule. It's not final, so feel free to negotiate after."
Ginny read through the third document. So the book will be financed by the company. Okay. Royalties at 20% after selling. Okay, not bad. All expense paid. Okay. Until the publication, I get paid 700 galleons a month. What?
Ginny looked up again, "700 galleons a month?"
Draco raised his eyebrows. "Is that too little?"
Ginny shook her head. "That's more than enough! Are you sure?"
Percy chimed in. "We know how tough this will be for you since you also have a full-time job. This is just to compensate for all the time you might lose from work. We know they pay you by the hour."
Ginny nodded in disbelief. Alright. I'm not gonna complain any further. Then she continued to read. Feature about Granada and the hotel on the travel column of the Prophet, pre-release. Okay, can deal with that.
"Hold on." Ginny looked up again, and both men's heads snapped in her direction. It seems like they were talking about something important before she interrupted. "Did you course this through my editor or through the Prophet?"
"Not yet. We were hoping to talk with you first to see what you think. We'll schedule a meeting with the Editor-in-Chief and the travel editor after this meeting, if you agree to the terms," Percy answered.
"Alright," and she resumed reading. The schedule shows that she'll be doing her travelling, shoots, and interviews in the next six months. After which, one year is allocated to the whole process of publication. Ginny decided that the schedule seems tight in the next year and a half, but doable.
"If I'm gonna be truly honest, I don't see any problem with the terms. The schedule's a little tight with all the traveling and drafting, which worries me a bit since I do have a full-time job. But other than that, I don't see myself rejecting this proposal." Percy looked triumphant, and Draco smiled a small smile.
"However," Ginny looked at them both, "I would like insurance to be covered as well. Both for me and my equipment. Accidents happen on site and sometimes it can't be helped, but equipment is expensive and hospitalization is expensive too. So, if you can include an insurance policy for me, my equipment, and possibly my assistant, I would be good to go for this project."
Percy and Draco exchanged looks. "I'm sorry, assistant?" Percy asked.
Ginny nodded curtly. "Yes, I need my assistant to help. An assignment as big as this, I would need somebody to assist in scheduling, reserving, and acting as a second opinion, among other things. It's just the way I do my work."
Percy and Draco looked at each other without saying anything, but their eyes seem to be communicating. After a minute or two, they broke contact and Percy spoke,
"We can't make a decision about your assistant right now since that would mean we have to create a separate contract for her. We would have to discuss about her terms as well, so I apologize if we can't deal with that condition immediately. As for the insurance, we will include an insurance policy for you and your equipment. We'll have to meet with HR and finance first to see how much we can provide. When we've sorted out the details, we'll send you an owl and set a meeting with you again. Is there anything else you need to hash out?"
Ginny nodded. "No, I think that's all for now. If something comes up, I will owl you."
Percy nodded. "Wonderful."
Both men and Ginny stood up.
"Thank you again, Ms. Weasley, for your time. Please wait for my secretary to contact you about your concerns."
"It's my pleasure, Mr. Malfoy. Thank you for having me."
"Let me escort you to the elevators."
Draco walked around his table and towards the door. Percy and Ginny followed him. Draco opened the door and immediately Patrick stood up from his chair to press the down button on the elevator. As soon as the three of them reached the elevators, the door opened up and Ginny stepped in.
"Thank you again, Ms. Weasley. Till we meet again next time."
Ginny nodded and smiled as the elevator doors closed.
