Chapter 5

"I trust you explained to Mr. Malfoy that this is not normal convention for hiring one of our investors?" Mr. Grootpan remarks scowling at me, as he dropped the parchment onto his desk.

"I did sir. He was adamant that I still bring you the letter stating his proposal."

"Leave. I will speak with Mr. Malfoy regarding how business is normally conducted regarding investments and their handlers job." Mr. Grootpan remarked icily from his chair.

I nodded curtly before taking leave of his office and heading back into mine. I was still going through all the paperwork from the Desmarais account; I wanted to make sure there was no mistakes. By the time lunch rolled around I was still sorting through ledgers on how transactions would be moved and received when a knock sounded at my door.

"Come in."

Glancing up when door clicked open I was greeted by Claire who was sporting flushed cheeks. Choosing to ignore whatever was going on I waited for her to tell me what she needed.

"Ms. Edwards."

"Yes Claire." I remark waiting for her to get over her random bout of shyness.

"Mr. Malfoy is here requesting to meet with you." Claire remarked her eyes shooting to outside the door.

Oh yes! I forgot I agreed to go to lunch with him, "Yes let him in."

Moving to the side she glanced behind her as Draco strolled in, making eye contact with Claire for a moment as she blushed an ever-deeper shade of red as she shut the door behind her.

"So, this is your office huh?" Draco remarks surveying the room in a sweeping glance before walking over to a bookshelf and began to examine my pictures.

"Yes." I remark putting away my paperwork and waving the enchantment over it. "So how was your meeting? I'm assuming Grootpan did indeed call you in."

"He did and it's all taken care off." Draco drawled finally glancing my way.

He looked dashing as ever, even if he was wearing traditional wizarding robes with a cloak over it. He was still looking at the photos I had and I fought the urge to tell him to stop. It died when he brought up settling everything with Grootpan.

"Really?!"

Chuckling softly at my surprise he finally takes a seat in a chair in front of my desk, "Of course. Now I believe you agreed to going to lunch?"

He quirked an eye brow waiting for me to give a response. Rolling my eyes, I push my chair back, "Yes I do remember. Did you have somewhere in mind you wanted to go? I am still expecting you to tell me how you got Grootpan to agree in the very same day."

"There is actually. It's a little bistro not too far away from here. I've heard they have the best homemade pasta. Sure but not until we eat, I'm starving."

Draco remarks following me as I grab my wand and purse and we head out the door. I tell Claire I'm out for lunch, trying to ignore the fact that her eyes are solely on Draco as we walk by. We walk in comfortable silence as we head down the elevator shaft to the main lobby.

There was a lot of foot traffic as people took care of their banking needs during their lunch break. A few stopped and said hello to Draco or to me as we passed by; asking how we are and how happy they were to see one of us. Passing through the marble doors, I squinted as the June sun hit my face and the heat wrapped around me.

"Wow it's beautiful out today." I exclaim glancing about and enjoying the chance to be out in the sun. Watching people weaving about as they get their shopping down, chattering amongst themselves.

"Yes, a good excuse to get out for your lunch break." Draco remarks quietly, grabbing the back of my arm to steer me as a group of old ladies stop in the middle of the side walk as they stare into a tea shop.

I get a whiff of his cologne as I'm pulled up against him and momentarily forget about the crazy old ladies and whatever he had just said to me.

"I'm just used to having to work through lunch these past few years and eating later than normal." I remark as we pass a book shop, glancing in briefly as we take a turn to the left down an alley way.

"You should try it more often. Ah, here we are."

Draco remarked removing his hand from my arm and placing it on my lower back as he opened the wooden door allowing me to enter first. Was it me or was there a lot of touching going on? It was distracting and I could barely pay attention to anything but the feeling of his hand. Stepping in I blink as my eyes adjusted to the café. It was styled in a modern English taste and had fresh plants on the counter as well as in the corners.

"Table for two?" the waiter asked glancing between the two of us, a warm smile on his face.

"Yes. Some privacy as well." Draco states in a posh manner that I couldn't help but roll my eyes at.

The waiter nodded and ushered us to follow him through the door and into the back where the dining area was located. There were a few people here already, an older couple sat in a table next to the window, a group of four young witches sat chatting together dressed in work clothes; showing they were on lunch from one of the shops. We continued until the waiter took us to the back of the dining area and a small nook appeared behind a half wall.

Sliding into the booth and Draco on the opposite end as the waiter placed the menus onto the table, before requesting if we would like something to drink.

"Tea please." I remark placing my purse next to me.

After Draco replied the waiter left and I skimmed over the menu. It was obviously a family owned restaurant and the dishes were pasta based, based on whatever was in season.

I tried to ignore the fact that his eyes felt like they could see right through you. Analyzing your every thought or action while his face showed no changes to his emotions. I was deeply curious why he asked for another lunch date- er… meeting. Was he wanting to talk more about his company and the job he hired me for? Is the lunch date just a way to break the ice more after all these years?

"Have you found anything you want?"

I asked as the waiter walked back placing the kettle of hot water at the table, "Here is the water. I've brought our selection of tea for you to choose from. Are you ready to order or do you need a few moments?"

"'Thank you." I murmur glancing through the box of tea.

"We need a little longer."

"Of course."

The waiter left and I chose a pomegranate tea while Draco selected an Earl Grey. Thanking him, he began to pour the hot water into my cup before pouring his own. A few minutes later we gave our orders for lunch and settled into a comfortable silence as we allowed our tea to cool down a bit more.

"So, tell me how did you convince my boss to allow you to break the rules?" I remarked taking a sip of my tea, as I tried to think of what we could talk about.

"I explained how much Gringotts benefits from having the Malfoy's do business through them." Draco remark with a smirk, "Naturally he then agreed to my wishes."

I shook my head in exasperation, I didn't know anyone else who could easily influence others with just a few words. "Somehow I feel that he takes more convincing than that."

"Oh, he did. Like all Goblins there is always a price if you want anything from them. I just happened to know what his price would be." Draco remarks mysteriously almost wanting to stop any more questions regarding.

"I see and should I know what exactly his price was?"

"I wouldn't worry about it too much, although I would suggest continuing working in your office until the end of the week before we move you to our location. I don't need Gringotts getting suspicious that I'm stealing one of their employees."

I snort in response, "They probably are already. They are goblins for a reason."

"Indeed." Draco remarked reminding me way too much of his crazy father.

Our meals came out and we chatted idly about Quidditch, popular news on what's happening at the Ministry. We never broached the subject about our personal lives or talking about our school years together. By the time lunch ended I felt at ease, a bit of teasing back and forth even.

"Again, thank you for lunch. I'm sure we'll be talking at some point soon." I remark, smiling softly up at him. Do we pretend we're friends or act like this was just a random occurrence?

"Yes, enjoy the rest of your work week." Draco remarked before pulling me into a hug.

While in only lasted a moment, I couldn't help the overwhelming feeling of familiarity of the countless times I used to be in his embrace. Flashes of our years of Hogwarts coming to my mind. Sneaking off to dark corridors or pretending to do homework in the upper levels of the library. But the second we pulled out of our embrace they disappeared and I couldn't help but wonder what was happening to me.

"Try not to skip lunches. You get a break for a reason you know." Draco replied as he walked away, giving me a devilish grin and sending me a wink before I could even respond.

The rest of the day was a blur as I came back to my office with new paperwork for the Desmarais account followed by a meeting with Grootpan. He wanted to discuss my job with Draco and what that entailed.

"I figured you would still be here."

"Harry!" I exclaim pulling my seat back and pulling him into a hug.

He grinned sheepishly at me as we hugged. He still had on his Auror uniform underneath his wizarding cloak.

"What are you doing here?!"

"Looking for you." Harry remarked as we settled on the couch, "Hermione owl'd me stating you were going to be able to come to dinner so I figured I would come by and catch up before you get bombarded by the kids."

"It's so good to see you! I see you have some grey hair, your age is starting to show." I tease, chuckling when he glares at me, "That is true but now that I'm back in London we'll have to grab lunch if you are not busy with raids."

I move about my office collecting my things as Harry spoke, "You know we are the same age, so if I'm getting old then so are you. Yes, I would like us to meet up. I miss hanging out with one of my best friends. God knows with the kids we don't get out as much."

"I can only imagine." I remark grabbing my jacket and turning back to him, "I'm all set."

We chatted amicably all the way to the floo system and said goodbye to Claire as we walked past. Harry began to fill me in on all the latest news at the Ministry and what kinds of raids they have been going on and any odd cases that seem to come. Once stepping into the floo I appeared again in the living room of Hermione and Ron's home.

"Auntie Eva!"

I heard someone yell before I felt tiny arms about my legs pulling me out of the fireplace and into the living room. Grinning I glanced down to see I had James and Rose both dangling from my leg.

"Guys get off her and let her into the room!" Ron hollered stepping into the room, shaking his head at the kids.

"Dad!" James exclaims in excitement as Harry stepped out of the fireplace. Harry laughed as James unlatched himself from me and went into his dad's embrace.

"Rose, look how big you got!" I exclaim picking her up and then adjusting her weight to my hips as I walked over to where Ron and Harry stood.

"Is that Eva I hear?"

Rounding the corner Ginny appeared with Albus in her arms. She looked good, dressed in jeans and a tee-shirt; her fiery red hair pulled back into a ponytail. Albus was just about a year old now with James a few years ahead of him. Rose was Ron and Hermione's kid and she was in between James and Albus' age.

"Hi Ginny" I reply as she pulled me into a side embrace.

"Hello to you to. You look good." Ginny remarked with a grin as she glanced over me, "Come, us girls are chatting in the kitchen."

I laugh as both Ron and Harry roll their eyes and I follow Ginny down the hallway and into the kitchen. Hermione was leaning over a steaming pot with her curly hair pulled back in a bun.

"Hello Hermione. What are you making for dinner?" I ask as Rose squirmed out of my hands and took off down the hall to where the boys were at.

"Stew and bread rolls from the market. There's some wine open on the table, help yourself." Hermione remarks as she continued to concentrate on the stove top.

With a glass of wine in hand, Ginny I sit at the kitchen table, "So you're working for the Malfoy Company now?" Ginny remarks smirking over her wine glass.

"Yes."

"From what Hermione told me it sounds like there could be sparks flying."

"Ginny!" I exclaim in frustration which only makes Hermione and her bust into a fit of laughter, "There's no sparks flying! This is totally professional!"

"Oh, I'm only teasing Eva. You haven't dated much since Vince called it quits and then you disappeared to Paris for work. With Malfoy, showing up out of the blue and needing your help. He's single, you're single and you can't lie he's easy on the eyes. We've been dying to hear about any crazy guys you've met going out with Jacob after work. So you can't blame us for teasing you a bit about Malfoy." Ginny states bluntly.

Hermione continued chuckling and I could only roll my eyes at my two friends. Leave it to them to rub it in and then tell me I'm not giving them enough gossip.

"I can't get involved with him. You know what Gringotts is like about employee, client relationships; especially while on a current job." I replied firmly glancing between them to get them to drop this topic, "Can we move on to something else. Tell me everything that been going on with you guys?"

"No reason to get all in a tuff. I'm sure if the boys knew they would banging on your door trying to convince you otherwise. We know it's business and we wouldn't want you to just jump into anything with him. I mean it's Draco Malfoy we're talking about." Ginny replied.

They finally relent and Ginny begins to tell me all the news going on with the team and any upcoming matches she has. Hermione filled me in on her job and her goals of moving father up the ladder. When dinner was ready we all made idle conversation as we tried to keep the kids seated long enough to eat. While the kids played I learned about how the Auror's Department was still trying to track down Malfoy's old body guards, Crabbe and Goyle.

They went into hiding after the war ended and the Ministry was still trying to track them down. It was refreshing to be able to relax with them and joke around about all our memories together. Of course, I got an earful about agreeing to work with Draco from both boys when they heard the news. Telling me to keep my guard up and that if I smelled anything suspicious I should let them know. To be perfectly honest I thought they were being a bit overly dramatic.

"It was so great to see you guys. Now that I'm back we need a proper night out and leave the kids with a babysitter." I remarked hugging them goodnight and promising to meet up with them later before finally heading back home.

…..

"Everything has been finalized so we can officially close the paperwork for Desmarais Company."

Jacob began as he paced the room listing off any items or comments made after my departure. I was relieved to finally be done with this and glad that my partner was so thorough.

"That's good news then. Great job finishing this up for me. I hope my notes made sense that I was sending over earlier in the week."

"No, the notes were a great help and it answered some of the questions they ended up asking." Jacob replies finally taking a seat in a chair, "So tell me is the rumor true?"

I rolled my eyes, he could be so dramatic. "What rumor?"

"That you have become the investment advisor for the Malfoy company. I even heard gossip that you were at lunch with him earlier this week." He made a whistling sound at the end and grinned cheekily at me.

"Yes, it's true I will be the company's advisor when dealing with Gringotts. How is there gossip about a lunch?"

"You should know by now that anything the Malfoy family does is in the news and this is big news. Not only for Gringotts to have secured the position but also because of you."

Sighing I rub my temple as a headache begins to form, "Maybe but it all seems a bit ridiculous."

"People are going to talk. Rita will be watching you and him like a hawk." He flourishes his hands as his grin widens, "You know Rita loves anything to do with a Malfoy and enough evidence to make a love story out of it."

"You make it sound like some silly romance novel." I remark, throwing a wad of paper at his head in annoyance.

"Hey!"

"I really do hate that women!" I remark ducking as he threw it back at me, "Are you disappointed to be back in England?"

"Disappointed? No. I love Paris but it's always good to come home. Well I should get going. I'm supposed to have a meeting with Grootpan regarding a new project." Jacob remarks standing up to leave, "It's going to be weird not having my partner in crime."

"I know it's a bit weird doing other work and not having group dinners going over all the papers."

"I'll still be coming in to bother you.'"

"I wouldn't expect anything less. Good luck on the next project, make sure to tell me all about it." I call out as he waves a goodbye.