Chapter Three
"Surrender to what is."
"Wait. What?" What the hell did he mean, handle the Malfoy money? I was just an International Investment handler not an accountant at Gringotts.
"I want you to help handle the Malfoy money, specifically our investments." Draco remarked rolling his eyes at me.
I was not expecting this at all, "You want me to be the sole advisor?!"
"Yes." Draco remarked rolling his eyes again, "Don't look so surprised."
"Of course, I'm surprised! I was not expecting something like this."
"Take it home, read it over. I want you to take your time thinking this over. Tomorrow we can go over everything and I'll answer any question that you might have." Draco remarked glancing at me.
I glance up at him, searching he eyes trying to wrap my brain around this. Why would he specifically request me, forcing Gringotts to approve of it?
"You shouldn't think so hard about it." Draco joked, earning himself a glare, "Is it really that surprising that I would ask for you?"
I huffed for a moment and shook my head. It was as if time hadn't even passed and a part of me still felt like that 16-year-old girl. It brought back old feelings and unresolved closure from our years at Hogwarts. It didn't help that he was even more attractive than I remembered and of course he knew this.
"I am a bit surprised, can you blame me though?" I remark finishing up my coffee.
"I'm sure you are already aware that your name is thrown out there in the business realm. The financial realm was never popular until you came along. Close friend to the Golden Trio, defender against evil and now you've been blowing up the financial realm." Draco trails on, eyes shining in amusement.
"You make it sound like it was a walk in the park or something. I hardly think that it's true; that I'm 'blowing up the financial ream' as you say. I don't even think I've made a dent, I'm just a normal investment handler."
"No matter. Look it over, we'll talk more about it tomorrow." Draco remarked shuffling some of the papers and putting it away.
"Of course." I remarked following suit, realizing that the meeting was coming to an end, "Was there anything else I can do for you or that you wanted to discuss?"
I glanced over to him as I stood up and my breath catches in my throat. I had caught him mid act as his eyes were trailing over my body and a devilish grin appears on his face when our eyes finally locked. I was frozen in my spot. How is it that after almost 10 years of no interactions he could still do this to me?
"I'll see you tomorrow Eva." Draco remarked as he followed me toward the doors, stopping for a moment giving me a sly smirk, "Oh and by the way. I do love that necklace. Whoever gave it to you must have impeccable taste."
With that he walked away as I stood there in shock staring at him in confusion, as he made his way to the Floo Network. He remembered?!
"Eva!"
Snapping out of it I found Claire walking towards me. In traditional grey wizarding robes she grinned up at me, waiting as my brain tried to catch up to respond.
"I just put paperwork on your desk that just came in." Claire remarks falling into step with me as I headed back to my office.
"Thank you, Claire. Did Jacob remark if he needed anything?"
"Not that he's told me."
"Okay, I'll be in my office and tomorrow I'll be gone for a meeting." I remark walking into my office.
Shutting the door I lean up against it shutting my eyes, trying to absorb the energy given off by the door. Solid and sturdy I tried to find myself. This wasn't my first encounter with someone I was attracted to and it wouldn't be the last. I kept reminding myself before gritting my teeth and pushing myself off the door. I had shit to do today and I was resolved that Draco fucking Malfoy would not distract me. Determined I sat down in the leather chair and stared down the pile of paperwork that disguised the fact that this was a desk.
The first stack of parchment was from Jacob and our account with Desmarais. The paperwork was a modern marvel. It was an enchanted binder where it had a twin that shared a connection. Anything written in either would be transcribed to the other. It was a thick red leather cover disguised as a faded ledger, to elude its real purpose. Pulling back the cover I flipped past sheets we had already transcribed to each other and stopped when I reached the most current entries.
The rest of my work day was absorbed in the Desmarais account. Going through each of the entries, making comments or references for both Jacob and I as he finalized the deal. Making copies I also prepared my portion of the contracts that Gringotts would handle to establish the International transactions that would be flowing between London and Paris. Groaning I finally shut the cover and whisper an incantation to keep the contents secured and leaned back into my chair. A grumbling noise reminded me that I had worked through lunch and had not eaten anything since this morning. Gathering everything I would need for my meeting tomorrow I closed my satchel and stood up to grab my cloak to head home for the night.
"Eva."
A voice called after they knocked on my door. A second later the door opened, revealing Claire, "You don't have to knock Claire."
Claire looks down at her feet, "Sorry."
"There's nothing to apologize for." I remark standing up and grabbing my cloak, "was there something you needed?"
"I have the instructions for security clearance for your meeting tomorrow at the Malfoy offices."
"Okay great."
Clasping the hooks to the front of the black cloak I turn back to her to grab the piece of parchment that she had stretched out to me.
"Kerry, the secretary has set up a secure Floo connection from your residence so that you can bi-pass the public lobby. She said that you will come to the floor that holds the head offices of the Malfoy Company and she will greet you there at the front where she'll lead you to Mr. Malfoy's private office." Claire remarks pushing her curly brown hair away from her face.
"Okay, thank you Claire. Is there anything else I need to know about my meeting."
I remark moving us out of my office and shutting the door with a lock. I didn't want anyone else stopping me or I would never leave on time. Claire kept pace with me as we headed for the Floo network.
"Kerry states that when she meets you that she'll give you a crash course in the security and from there she will be able to give you security clearance so that any time after you'll be able to walk through all the doors and levels without any restrictions."
"Good. I didn't realize that there was so much security." I remark in shock at the hinted details on how much was put into the company office.
"I thought the same so I did a bit of digging. According to what I found, when Draco Malfoy became heir and sole controller of the Malfoy money at the of end of the war, he added levels of security to the building to maintain his safety. Obviously, many did not trust the Malfoy family and because of their close ties with Voldemort. Many did not agree with Mr. Malfoy and his mother's pardon that Harry Potter and you pushed for, so because of early attempts for his life he added the security to not only protect him but also to protect the future of the Malfoy money."
"Wow Claire. I'm impressed and I'm not even going to ask how you found out all of this." I remark shaking my head in amazement. Saying goodbye and heading into the Floo Network I was ready to be home.
Heading into the kitchen first I dropped my purse on a chair and waved my wand as pots and pans began to move around the kitchen with the fridge opening as my dinner started to get prepared. I was being lazy tonight; normally I would cook the muggle way. After moving back to the States, I found cooking with no magic was soothing, almost a relaxing experience. Leaving the kitchen behind me I headed to the bedroom to change into more comfortable clothes, mulling everything that happened today.
What was this all about? What possessed Draco to contact me after all these years? It was beyond frustrating that the chemistry that I felt for him all those years ago was still there and I had to keep reminding myself that he's a stranger to me. We lost contact; lived our lives.
"It doesn't matter, does it?" I remarked to my owl as I fed her and she hoots in response. "I know. I've lost my mind."
I shouldn't be worried about this. This was business. Just another client for another job and there is nothing to worry about. I scold myself, stepping into the kitchen, checking a pan that had chicken sizzling. It was almost done and my stomach grumbled in response. I spent the rest of the evening pouring of the history of Malfoy Investments as I ate dinner.
Buzz. Buzz.
Fuck. Throwing the blankets over my head I groaned in realization that it was morning already and I had yet another meeting with Draco. I was not ready for this. Snuggling deeper into the blankets I doze off once more.
Buzz. Buzz. Ugh! I groan in frustration as my wand continued to vibrate on my night stand. I had fallen back asleep between my pillows, with the sheets tangled about me.
It took me a half hour before finally settling on an outfit and decided that coffee was going to be too strong for my nerves and contemplated if a shot was the most appropriate way. I settled on tea and spent the morning sitting on my patio, nursing my tea and forcing myself to think of anything but my lunch meeting. I sent an owl to Ginny and to Hermione letting them know I was back in town, promising that I would be in London long enough for us to spend time catching up.
Glancing up, 11:30 a.m., well it was time to head to my meeting. Gathering my purse and glancing at my makeup in the mirror once more I stepped into the fireplace and into uncharted waters.
