Knock Knock

She knew that knock. She heard it at least twice a week on her door at home. To anyone else it was just a knock. A 'I wonder who that is' knock. But for Hermione she would wait for it and look forward to it. She had been listening to that knock for four months now and since they had seen eachother three times that week alone she felt like it was drummed into her.

That knock meant that it was their time. To forget about work and forget about the barriers they set up between one another at work. It meant they were on their own and they could do whatever they wanted. No one there to interrupt. When the door closed behind them it was just the two of them.

"Come in." She called out. Anticipation would always build whenever she saw him. Whether it be that first week they saw eachother after the night of the Christmas party or whether it be four months down the line. Whether he was turning up at her house or her office, she felt the same everytime. He pushed the door open slowly and stopped abruptly when he met her eyes, as if he weren't expecting her to be there. His eyes flickered to her cream blouse then back up to her face.

"Can I have a word?"

"Sure."

They looked at eachother for a few moments before he pushed the door closed.

She looked at her watch. "I've got ten minutes."

"Bevan?" He sat down in the chair infront of her desk and leant back.

"Yes."

"Again?"

"He's got a few additional questions before he signs." She placed her elbows on the desk and leant forward watching him so relaxed. He was usually in here arguing with her or telling her off.

"I met up with Jack last night. He told me some things about Bevan."

"What things?"

"That he was a bit creepy... hands on."

"I know." She'd noticed the way he would wrap his arm around her chair or stare at her chest when she was talking. He wasnt exactly the most unobvious man to deal with.

"He also said that he was pushy and a bit overbearing..."

"Are you sure Jack isn't trying to put you off so he can swoop in on the deal?"

"No, he's my friend. We're competitors but we dont screw one another over. That's been our rule for a long time."

Rules. Those stupid rules. He loved rules. "We all know rules can be broken, Draco." She shouldn't have said that. She just couldn't help herself. It was innocent really. Everyone breaks rules. They broke it after work yesterday in his office. She smiled at the thought.

"Don't, Granger." He smirked.

She leant back in her chair studying him.

"So I'm Granger now?" She was trying to push him as she always did. This was the exciting bit. Seeing if he would crack.

"I'm just saying... watch him." He didn't crack. He was straight back to business. But there was concern written all over his face.

"Are you worrying about his intentions with me?"

"No."

"So your worried about me?"

"Yes. As my employee I'm worried about you messing this deal up."

She rolled her eyes at his comment.

"We had this conversation... It's done."

"Not until that paperwork is on my desk it isn't."

"It should be tomorrow."

"Should be's dont give me much hope."

She was waiting for him to say something. Invite himself round or invite her round later but he stood still looking at her before he nodded and spoke.

"I'll see you at three for the Dakin meeting."

He grabbed the handle and left the room. She took a deep breath and looked at her watch. Five minutes. She needed to focus. Remove Draco from her mind for the next few hours and focus on Alfie Bevan and his leering looks and smarmy comments.

.x.

"Why do we have to give you so much information? Our future investments, our staffing levels?"

The young wizard opposite her couldn't be more than 20 years old yet he had a sensible brain. He was pummelling her and Draco with question after question that Draco selfishly left her to answer with little more than a nod of recognition when he thought she did a good job. Like a good girl. He was infuriating most of all when he was silent.

"We're planning a very large investment in you and your company. It's only fair that we know what your plans are, where you spend your money."

"But..."

"Look," she said leaning her elbows on the desk and bending ever so slightly forward. His eyes immediately fell to her blouse. It was only one button, very subtle but it made him gulp. She spoke softly to him. "All large investment companies will do this. They vet you to make sure their investment is going to have a return. We're the best because we work with the best."

She noticed Draco out of the corner of her eye. He was sat next to her leaning back in his chair. He shifted his body ever so slightly in her direction.

"What we see from your preliminary paperwork is that you are the best at what you do. There isn't another company that does what you do, they way you do it."

The young wizard in front of her gave a small smile and adjusted his purple tie.

"It makes you special and we like to find the diamond in the rough."

His smile grew wider. He was putty in her hands.

"We want to give you the investment. We just have to take precautions for ourselves. You can understand that right?"

"Yes, yes I know."

"Good. Can you get it to us Monday?"

After the formal goodbyes were done Draco showed the young wizard out of the office leaving Hermione alone in the meeting room to look over the notes she had made. After a few minutes Draco returned and sat back next to her, pulling over some of her notes in front of him.

"Still think it's a good idea?" He asked her keeping his eyes fixed on her notes.

"Definitely. I think we can increase the share for the money though. Another five percent should give us a better stake in the business than the fifteen percent he's offering at the moment."

"I agree."

"I'll negotiate next week when we have the information from today."

He nodded reviewing the notes still. Silence settled as she continued to scribble information down she remembered from their conversations. Draco coughed and her head turned to look at him. He looked at her.

"You did well." That was it. No smile. Just you did well. At least it was something.

"Wow." She sat back in her chair and looked over at him. "A compliment from you?"

"Don't get cocky Granger." He raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not, it's just a shock." She folded her arms over here chest and smiled. He was already regretting saying it.

"I compliment you plenty."

"Do you know when you last complimented me about work?"

He looked at her as if to say 'As if I remember' and she huffed at his condesending look.

"When you offered me the job. You said 'Happy to have you on board. We've heard great things.'" She mimicked him.

"Your point being.."

"It was over a year ago."

"I've complimented you since then."

"Please refresh my memory."

"How about when I told you I liked the way you sucked my dick?" That she wasn't expecting. He never spoke like this at work. Maybe it was thoughts of their rendezvous yesterday making him excited. It certainly made her excited.

"Or when I told you, you had a spectacular pussy?"

So he wanted to play...

"I believe your words were 'Fuck Granger you suck... wow.' And 'Tight fucking pussy, so... fucking wet, fucking glorious.' Or words to that effect." She mimicked again. He hated it. And she loved that he did.

"And that's not a compliment?"

"No." Ridiculous.

"You want me to compliment you more?"

"I don't want anything from you."

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

The silence consumed then again. Although this time she couldn't concentrate on her notes and his eyes never moved from one spot on the parchment.

"How was lunch?" He asked quietly.

"Hands-on." She mused.

She heard him shuffle slightly in his sear. "Did he..."

"Nothing I can't handle."

"You say this but it seems to be a regular occurrence."

She remembered their conversation from earlier that day.

"Is this concern you're showing for me again?"

"No." He said it as if she were being ridiculous.

"Then let me get on with it."

Silence resumed.

"It sounds to me like you like it."

She slammed the paperwork on the desk and turned fully to him. Today was a day where he pushed her. Usually it was the other way around.

"How does it sound like that?"

"Your always lunching with him." He stated as if it were obvious.

"Two times, on business."

"Is it business?"

"Yes?" She knew exactly what he was meant but asked anyway. "What are you implying?"

"I'm not implying anything. I'm just making sure your not spaffing your expenses where you shouldn't."

Her heart picked up speed. Half because he was making her annoyed and half because he was; albeit it not directly; asking if she was seeing anyone else.

"No you're not."

"I am." He stood up, quickly pushing his chair back and walking round the table away from her.

"You're asking if I'm fucking him." She said it slowly and calmly. He looked round at her placing his hands in the back of another of the chairs. He held her gaze.

"Are you?"

She left it a few seconds before she answered holding his stare. Why should she be straight with him when he didnt even have the guts to do the same for her? She looked deeply into his grey eyes before purposely turning back to her notes.

"What would you say if I was?"

"It's none of my business who you fuck, but if your fucking them on the pretence of a working lunch then it is my business. Because it's my business."

She was still looking down at her notes. It gave her a distraction. But it wasn't helping. All she thought of was him and his words. Indirect questions. Making it out like he was asking about her conduct during work? He was stupid to think it wasnt glaringly obvious

"Is this about business?" She asked slowly and quietly. Maybe if she was calm they could have a proper conversation about this.

"What else would it be about?"

"You not wanting me to sleep anyone else?" Her heart was hammering in her chest. She wanted to know. She wants him to say. Just me and you. That's it. No-one else.

"I don't want you to sleep with anyone else... during business hours."

She shook her head. Denial. Denial. Denial.

"That's not what you meant."

"It's exactly what I meant."

She placed her head in her hands on the table and rubbed her temples. He was giving her a headache.

"Why don't you just ask me?"

"Because I don't care about the answer." He walked over to the window and rested his hands on the windowsill.

She lifted her head from her hands and placed them on the table breathing slowly. She tried to still her heart. Slow it down. She was worried he could hear it. Beating and pushing against her rib cage.

"Are you fucking anyone else?" She asked calmly again. Watching the way his shirt tightened over his back when he took a breath.

"In business hours? No." Yet he managed to piss her off, again. He was being awkward. She was being direct. She felt like she was shaking. Hold it together.

"What about outside business hours?"

"That's really none of your concern is it?"

That was it.

"Well, whether I do or do not fuck Bevan definitely doesn't concern you." She stood up, snatching the paperwork off the table.

"It is if it's business hours..."

"I don't fuck Bevan in business hours." She snapped. Walking towards the door. "But as you said, what I do outside of work is really none of your concern." She reached the door and grabbed the handle.

"Is that a yes, then?"

She turned and stared at him. At his stupid face for asking. He knew. He was jealous but wouldn't admit it. So she wouldn't tell the truth. Fuck him and his mind games.

She twisted the handle and left the room. Storming down the corridor straight into her office, grabbing her bag and heading out the door. It was past five anyway and she couldn't bear to be around him any longer.