A/N- Chapter five! this one annoyed the jeebers out of me, I couldn't seem to get it right! Well here it is, so far only edited by one of my betas Elyaeru.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. So there!
On her first day of work, Ginny felt like one of those impossibly important people you saw in the movies. She was continuously organizing meetings, letting people in to see Malfoy and of course, like he had promised, collecting his personally-made food from the café on the second floor.
Making her way back up from one of those journeys, she bumped into the blonde receptionist Ginny had met on the day of her interview. Smiling as she walked past her, arms laden with snacks, she was surprised and slightly hurt when the witch scowled back and strutted away. Shoving the woman from her mind, Ginny knocked on Malfoy's door before entering.
"Got your food right here, is there anything else you'll be needing?" she asked, placing the tray of sandwiches, soup and pumpkin juice on his desk. Looking up at him, she noticed he was massaging his temple and looking pained.
"Something wrong?" she asked instinctively.
"Headache," was all he said. Frowning, Ginny moved around his desk and gently removed his hand from his forehead, replacing it with her own.
"Merlin! You're burning up." She gasped, surprised by how hot he felt under her touch.
"It's that damn Claire," he rasped, "she's been following me around everywhere I go."
"Claire?"
"You know, the receptionist." he stated, getting annoyed.
"Oh her! Yeah, she was glaring daggers at me just before. What's the matter? If you don't mind me asking," questioned Ginny, too interested in the topic at hand.
"I do, Weasel."
"Ugh, Malfoy, there are already far too many people for me to hate without you working so hard to give me another!" Sighing at the glare he shot her, she decided it was not the best way to get the information out of him. " Look, just tell me about what's-her-face and then I'll try and take care of the problem. Deal?"
"Promise?" he asked, already forgetting her previous quip.
"Yeah, now tell me!"
"The damn woman won't leave me alone for a second!" he burst out, "When she first started working here, I found her attractive and well...one thing led to another, if you know what I mean,"
"I'm afraid so," shuddered Ginny, knowing exactly what he meant.
"Don't look at me like that Weasley, she was the one who kissed me first. She was also the one who wouldn't take no for an answer and kept trying to get closer to me. The slag even wanted to be my assistant once Malveira was gone. It's probably why she was scowling at you. My bet is you've already made yourself an enemy," he said matter-of-factly, picking up one of the smoked-salmon sandwiches Ginny had bought him and sniffing it.
Snorting unbecomingly, Ginny wondered what kind of desperate creature could stick to such a man so stubbornly. Certainly after a few days of being unappreciated by Malfoy, any self-respecting witch would leave him. There didn't seem to be much to like about him, other than his looks of course, so wouldn't a woman lose interest in a man so shallow and vapid?
"So, what exactly are you planning to do to get her off my case?" asked Draco, insolently nibbling at the crust of a sandwich, as if making sure it wasn't poisoned.
"Oh, you just leave it to me," she said, smiling mischievously, staring off into space and thinking of all the things she could to this 'Claire' woman. After all, who was she to pass judgment on Ginny without knowing anything about her? After ten minutes of watching Ginny look like a lunatic, Draco reminded her that she had work to do and that his headache was worsening at the sight of her. Sticking her tongue out at him, Ginny went back to her desk and started on the letters she had to send out to all the people invited to the Masquerade Ball that the Malfoy's would be hosting at the end of the year.
She had heard about the ball of course, when she was in Hogwarts and all the Slytherins boasted about it once they returned from the Christmas holidays. The way they went on about the ball, you'd think Salazar himself threw it! At least this year she'd be able to experience it herself because as Draco's assistant she must be invited, right? After all, it would sort of be like a gift for not sprinting away the moment she heard Draco was the man she'd be working under. Forgetting the money, of course.
Finally, two hours later, Ginny finished the invitations and stretched her arms and legs that were paralyzed in pins and needles, yawning and grunting loudly with her eyes closed. Opening her eyes with a goofy smile, she almost fell off her chair when she saw a man standing in front of her looking a bit apprehensive.
"Sir, I'm so sorry!" she blurted out, giggling. " I didn't see you there!"
"It's quite alright," he said, flashing her a brilliant smile that showed off perfectly white teeth "It's not quite the welcome I was looking for but it'll do."
Looking into his handsome face, Ginny realized he looked very familiar. Where have I seen him before?
"Could I please have a name, sir? So I can tell Mr Malfoy you're here," she blurted.
"Sure thing love-It's Christopher Amant. I was told to come here at about six thirty," he proclaimed, sending a bolt of recognition through Ginny.
Christopher was a French actor and photographer who worked in many famous magical plays in his teenage years. Once he stopped acting, he had turned to photography and Ginny hadn't seen or heard much of him since then. She remembered going to one of his shows in her youth along with her family, being teased by her brothers because she swore he looked at her for a whole ten seconds. Of course then, she was only a teenager. Now she was a woman and couldn't afford throwing herself at him the moment he smiled at her.
Must suppress fan girl squeal, she thought as she grinned into his blue-gray eyes and told him to hold on a moment while she sent a message to Draco, alerting him of Christopher's arrival. Hands shaking, she gestured him towards Malfoy's office and almost melted when he winked at her before he entered. Sighing as he disappeared, she turned back to her desk scolding herself for acting like a hormonal teenager. She picked up a quill to distract herself from the butterflies in her tummy, rolling it between her fingers and allowing a dreamy look to float over her face. Who knew the benefits of working for a Malfoy were this delicious?
Fifteen minutes later, a beaming Christopher strutted out of the large double doors with his handsome cloak billowing around him. Refraining from eyeing him with a dopey grin, Ginny settled for chewing the end of her quill attempting to seem indifferent and somehow sexy. Her bubble was burst, however, when he merely strolled away without looking back even once. She huffed angrily at his retreating form and begrudgingly looked away.
"So, another heart beating wildly over Amant," came Malfoy's voice from her left, giving her a scare. He stood, leaning on the door frame of his office, shaking his head at Ginny.
"It's disgusting." He sighed. "I don't understand what you lot see in him. He's a chronic lady-killer but all you see is his pretty face. It's pathetic really."
"Jealous much?" asked Ginny, trying to mask her embarrassment.
"Why should I be? I am a more notorious lady-killer than he." Malfoy scoffed. "He's too old, past his prime, he should just give up already."
" Isn't he only twenty-eight?" questioned Ginny. " I'd still call that young, and past his prime? I think not! He's perfectly...in his prime. "
"Gah! Screw him, I don't feel like discussing that rat anyway. My head's about to split open." growled Malfoy, showing obvious distaste towards Amant. "He's an unmistakable twat who thinks he can waltz into my office and push me around. He's supposed to be working for me, goddammit!"
Able to guess the reason for his arrival, Ginny still needed to know a few more facts about Amant. There had to be some sort of history between the two men for Malfoy to get so worked up over him.
"How do you know him?" she asked, getting straight to the point.
"His mother was a famous Veela, Francesca Amant, also, sadly, my mother's best friend. And no, Christopher and I never got along. He's always tried to bully and shove me around. That's why I'd prefer it if my assistant didn't fall head-over-knickers in love with him, you should know where your loyalties lie," he finished, shooting Ginny a disapproving look.
"Shove it Malfoy, you can't blame a girl for admiring a fine creature when there is such a lack of eye-candy in this place. Especially since I'm stuck in this department, working for you," said Ginny mischievously.
"Then imagine how I feel! Having to look at all the gorgeous women that work here, only to come back to my office and find you waiting for me," he retorted, smirking cunningly.
"If he annoys you so much, why is he still working for you?" Ginny inquired, getting right back to the point.
"Well, because he's valuable to our company," replied Malfoy, a bit put out by the fact that Ginny had stopped their fun little argument. "I can't let our squabbles get between business, although the man makes it damn near impossible! He just had to be the best photographer we have, though I still can't figure out why he decided to turn to photography right when everyone hailed him as the 'next big thing'."
"Yeah, I never understood that either...Maybe he decided to stop acting for some charmingly noble reason," suggested Ginny, eyes lighting up.
"Or maybe he's just a brainless troll who decided to give up fame, fortune and fit women for a job behind the scenes," countered Malfoy, in a tone mocking Ginny's.
"Actually, he still gets the fortune and the fit women. He doesn't really need fame to get him that, he was blessed with looks and charm."
"Well, he still doesn't win."
"Oh, grow up!" she exclaimed in a high pitched voice.
"Bite me," hissed Malfoy.
Ginny raised her eyebrow at him. "That's the best you can do?"
"Well, would you rather hear you're fired?" he questioned cheekily. "Because with the direction you're heading, I'm starting to think I have no use for you. So, if you don't want to be out of your job, I'd suggest listening to me and doing whatever I say. Got it?"
"Uh-huh sure," Said Ginny, nodding in agreement. "On one condition."
"And what would that be?" Draco questioned, not at all surprised.
"You get me in with Amant."
"Or, I could just fire you." He smirked.
"Or you could let me finish," she snapped, attempting to pick up where she left off. "If you introduce me to him, I promise I'll do whatever you ask of me. Work will be a breeze for you, your life will pass by completely smoothly. Come on, I know for a fact you can barely do anything for yourself. So, do we have a deal here, Mr Malfoy?"
Draco eyed her incredulously, wondering who the hell she thought she was. Here was this girl, practically willing to sell her soul, all for some washed-up star? He'll never like her back, he thought, no matter how filthy the man is, he will never lower himself to the standards of a Weasley. Then again, Draco didn't have to promise her anything. All she asked of him was to be introduced to Amant, not delivered right into his bed. Also, he could picture in his head all the things he'd make the little Weasel do for him...he'd make sure she was nothing more than a House-Elf. Yup, I think it's time to be evil.
"Yes we do, Weaselette," drawled Malfoy, all previous signs of a splitting headache vanishing. "I'll be attending a party next Saturday. Amant will be there, giving you the perfect chance to meet him properly. After that, you'll owe me big time, no matter what the outcome is. If you do come, make sure you behave, I don't want to find out you spent most of the night attempting to hump his leg."
Rolling her eyes, Ginny managed to keep her twitching hands by her side and not around Malfoy's neck, squeezing the life out off him. This'll help me make it big, she forced herself to think, it's not just about Amant anymore. Willing herself to smile sweetly, Ginny made up her mind, speaking before truly understanding the meaning of her words.
"I'm all yours."
End notes: So? whadya think??? please, please, PLEASE review. I love feedback and currently, I'm not getting enough :(
Hugs to anyone who reviews!