Chapter Sixteen: Father and Daughter

Stepping through the Clean-Screen into what he knew as BC Tower, Draco had a sudden overwhelming uneasiness overtake him. It was not only due to the fact that Sadie was nowhere to be seen, but also because they were getting closer to her goal, and closer to danger. His family was omnipresent and there were classes of wizards in every single empire around the world who were familiar with the Malfoy family. He was his father's son and would be instantly recognized and then his affair would be over. Sadie would be in more trouble than he had ever dared imagine. They weren't supposed to be going into the workplace. It was supposed to be private. But he guessed that some things just had to be extra complicated.

Speaking of complicated however, where was Sadie?

He had stepped into the fireplace at her father's penthouse condo and yelled the exact same thing that she had. He was mere seconds behind her and yet she was nowhere to be seen. Every other person in the office seemed to be blocking his view. Did no one follow regular hours at BonneChique? It was nearly 7pm. It wasn't truly late, not by his family's work hours, which ranged from 4 in the morning to midnight and beyond. One could be summoned at any time. But this was a business office. Draco had assumed that everyone would be gone at 5 or 6. Muggles, he thought distastefully. While Sadie was closer to many more muggles than he, at times Draco still had no stomach for the nonsensical species with whom he was forced to share day-to-day life.

It was not even a sluggish night at the office. People were rushing around with armloads of papers, clothing hangers both empty and full, suitcases and colorful boxes, and so forth. He did not even think it was this busy at the Ministry of Magic.

Someone grabbed his hand and instinctively he fought back until he found the owner of said hand. It was Sadie. She must have gotten lost in the crowd for a moment, driven by the hustle and bustle of people. She gave him a look to say, Found you and then turned to direct him through the throng of workers.

It was as loud as a beehive. How did these people get any work done? Draco thought idly to himself while Sadie expertly maneuvered through the crowd. It was almost as if when people saw her coming they came to a halt or sped up to get out of her way. Draco had to admit she did look like she was on a rampage. She didn't look furious, but he was certain that was just a mask she was carrying until she met with her father.

"What's going on?" Draco had to ask, inferring to all the people around them. "Is it usually like this?"

Sadie slowed to walk beside him as the crowd thinned. Shaking her head she said, "No, it's not. Usually there are about half as many people here. It must be the January issue. Either someone messed up or they're just really behind. We usually finish about mid-November for the magazine to come out in January. It gives people more time off at Christmas. Every other issue is done a month in advance. My guess is that they're all just really behind. Loden may very well be distracted due to the wedding, though that's not really like my father. He's the king of multitasking."

"I thought BonneChique was a fashion and cosmetics company."

"It is," Sadie confirmed, "but BC Tower is designated as head offices and the BCFashions Magazine Headquarters. BCFashions is the monthly magazine we distribute as part of this multibillion pound/galleon corporation."

"Pound?"

"Muggle money. We play in two different markets. It's part of the reason why BonneChique is so successful."

The way she talked about the company made Draco really open his eyes to the life she had been living away from Hogwarts. She was born and bred to be business savvy and she did it very well. She may not want to be under her father, who simply used her looks and time carelessly, but she took pride in the company of which she would one day own a huge chunk.

They went through a set of double doors and entered a deserted hallway. "Where is everybody?" Draco asked, unable to keep the question from burbling out.

"You ask a lot of questions for someone who is generally the strong silent type," she laughed, teasing him lightly. "This leads to the studio but it's a back entrance used by janitors and such. My father will be in the studio overseeing whatever late shoot they're doing."

"Why weren't you asked to partake in this issue?"

"I posed for the winter collection back in October. Whatever proofs they needed, they got and didn't require any adjusting." She said things so matter-of-factly. Draco didn't have a clue what she was talking about but it seemed that she did and that's all that mattered.

At the end of the hallway was another set of double doors. Sadie slowed when she reached them, took a deep breath and shoved one open. She released his hand and he knew she was preparing for battle, if not literally than figuratively. Loden was a harsh man with harsher principles. He would not give up his only daughter and meal-ticket that easily, even if he did have a new hot model back in his condo who was under contract.

It was Draco's turn to put on the calm, steady mask he was very good at portraying. It was like a second skin to him, whether he cared to admit it or not. He would be steely and strong for her, if it was the last thing he ever did.

There were a lot of people in this room as well, but also many strange metal contraptions that Draco didn't recognize. There were backdrops of plain white, blue-grey, green, and several other colours. Tall, thin models weaved to and fro and every few seconds there were flashes of light that made Draco blink a dozen times. Still he followed Sadie. While she didn't have a trajectory per say, she knew what she was doing. Her shoes clicked and clacked and it was as if by some sixth sense she located her father, surrounded by men in suits, laughing and having a jolly time together.

By this same sixth sense, Loden Morris swiveled his head and met his daughter's gaze. Draco saw his eyes narrow and his face darken. He was not happy to see Sadie. He turned to his entourage briefly and then clipped away, moving swiftly in their direction. Sadie froze and whereas in the apartment Draco had kept his distance, he knew this was not what she needed right now. He got as close to her as possible, restraining himself from placing his arm around her waist. He had a strong urge to shove her behind him and tackle the talk man striding towards them. But he resisted. Sadie relaxed minutely, leaning back into him the smallest amount. Her shoulders straightened however and her head tilted with conviction. He had never seen such fire.

"Sadie," Loden growled when he reached them. "What are you doing here? I did not send for you. Go back to school. I'll see you when you break for Christmas."

Sadie shook her head. "No, Dad, you won't."

"What do you mean?" Loden's eyes flicked to Draco and in other circumstances Draco would have smirked at knowing something that Loden did not. But he did no such thing and just started back.

"Do you want to have this conversation here?" Sadie asked lightly, gesturing to the models, stylists, and make-up artists who squabbled around them.

"We will have no conversation anywhere. Go back to school."

He made to leave but Sadie spoke up. "I saw Candy."

This made Loden lurch to a stand-still. "Where?"

"The apartment. She was…surprised to find me there. Even more so when I made her levitate three feet off the kitchen floor."

Loden's eyes glowed something akin to his daughter's. He was livid. "Office. Now. Go."

Sadie smiled sweetly and reached back to grab Draco's hand before continuing in a different direction. She pressed a button on the wall when they stood before a set of metal doors. The doors opened to reveal a metal box. They stepped inside and she again pressed a button with the number 15 on it. Before the doors closed Draco saw Loden talking to the gentlemen he had left earlier, indicating some business had arisen, no doubt. Draco was certain he would follow them to the office momentarily.

The doors opened with a "DING" announcing their arrival. Sadie stepped out into a large room paneled with windows and stainless steel. It was similar to the apartment, save that this room had a rich brown carpet instead of marble floors and heavy oak furniture instead of stainless steel.

This was the office of a business magnate, someone with power and money, someone who flaunted it to business clients who came into this magnificent office. It was strange, Draco thought, that while Sadie was very high class and had some very nice designer clothes, she was completely content most of the time to wear jeans and a comfy sweater, rather than something that showed others exactly how high-fashion she was. She and her father were very different in that respect.

Sadie walked to the desk at the far end of the room and promptly plopped her ass down on the edge. Draco looked at the sofas and chairs laid about and instead of sitting in one, took to leaning against left wall, close to Sadie, but in the shadows enough he wouldn't be in the direct line of fire. He was good at this, standing silent and watching but being at the ready if it was required of him to act.

The door opened at the end of the room and Loden Morris entered. He shut it behind him with a click and locked it as he went.

"Won't you sit, Sadie?" he asked, walking forward to the sofas.

"No, I don't think so," Sadie countered. "I believe you may need to sit by the end of this conversation however."

"What are you talking about? I thought we had settled everything, including your inheritance, which was the last time you brought up such a serious conversation."

"This isn't about my inheritance, Father. This is about my freedom."

"Oh how dramatic," Loden rolled his eyes. "You're just like your mother."

"I am more like my mother, and proud to be, than you will ever understand."

This was the girl that Draco now understood he loved very deeply.

"And what's this about you levitating Candy three feet off the floor? You know she doesn't know we are magical!"

"Did I know that? Can you recall any conversation in the past where you told me specifically that she was a muggle and had no idea we could do magic?"

"I'm certain…" his voice drifted off.

"You're not certain, are you?" Sadie looked pleased she had stumped her father. "Well she knows now, and if she still wants to marry you, you should probably know she's only doing it for your money."

"That's a lie!" Loden exploded. "Candice cares about me, loves me, and she is with me because I can offer her a life she has never had before."

"Yeah a life that comes with perks such as flowers for breakfast, jewelry for lunch, and trips to the French Riviera for dinner. Who are you fooling, Father, because it certainly isn't me."

"Sadie, you are coming dangerously close—"

"Close to what?! Being thrown out of the company? Fine, I don't want to be a part of such a corrupt organization anymore."

"Don't be so childish. You are the face of this company and you are my daughter and are legally obligated to fulfill all the commitments of your contract."

"Any legal binding contract will be null and void as soon as I turn 17 in March. That's only 4 months away and as of right now, I do not feel compelled or obligated to renew my contract."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm saying that as soon as I turn 17, Dad, I am gone."

It had been a while since I'd made this threat to my father. Every other time I had done it though, it had been years away from my seventeenth birthday and had no real legitimacy. I couldn't make the argument and win, and I think he knew that. But today I could see the fear in his eyes when I told him I would be gone, and I could see the fear and uncertainty there.

"You wouldn't dare leave," his voice shook only slightly and I was even more empowered to continue. This was going exactly as I had planned.

"I will leave. I will not attend your wedding to Candy. I'm going to Mom's wedding instead."

His head snapped up. "Your mother's getting married? She told you this?"

"Ugh don't look so surprised. Mom and I get along far better now than you and I ever could. I have met him and I have spent more quality time with my mother in the last 2 months than I have with you in the last two years."

Loden looked bewildered and I cast a cursory glance to my side, seeking out Draco, who was hidden in the evening shadow at the side of the office. He was my secret protector and for his strength I was eternally grateful.

My father must have caught my glance and having fallen to sit on one of the leather sofa backs he stood up abruptly and took a step toward Draco. I moved faster and was between my father and my lover in mere seconds.

"This is all your fault, isn't it? You've poisoned her mind against me."

"You're delusional," I cried at my father. "I have only ever wanted your respect. I have wanted to be treated as your daughter, not some employee. This was too much for you though, it would seem. You have poisoned me against you all on your own. There is nothing more to it."

"There is much more," my father continued as if he barely heard me. He shoved me aside with little effort and I was flung into the side of the desk. "I recognize your face, boy. How could I not see it until now? You're a Malfoy."

I was bent over clutching my side looking at Draco whose eyes kept flickering back and forth from me to my father. His eyes were wild with rage and I knew that it was no longer my responsibility to stop my father. Draco could take care of this himself. I nodded to him when next he met my gaze.

"You sir," his eyes turned dark as they fell on my father's advancing figure, "need to watch what you say next. I am a Malfoy, this is true. So perhaps you know the might and power we are capable of. You know that harming me would come back on you and your family tenfold. What you do not know, is that I care about Sadie and I have no wish that you, despite your ignorance and arrogant nature, or your daughter come upon any harm. But I would advise you now to back away from me and leave Sadie alone."

"She is my daughter; I will do as I wish with her. You however, may leave at any time."

I had never seen my father so dark. He had turned into a completely different man in just a few minutes. He was harsh and willful in his business dealings, but here, now he was a demon. I didn't care anymore what happened as long as Draco and I left this office alive without him. I'd never go back no matter what he offered me.

"I am no daughter of yours, Loden. Not for the rest of my days. Draco, I want to leave." I stood and my side twinged in pain. I stepped towards Draco who nodded and held out his hand. My father intervened though and grabbed my wrist.

"You're not going anywhere!"

"Let go of me!" I demanded as I tried to yank myself free of his grasp. He held firm. "Let go of me!" I repeated.

"You are my daughter! My property! I taught you to be better than this, better than him!" he jutted his chin towards Draco. "Perhaps there is a lesson to be learned in this mistake you have made."

I couldn't see what was happening but suddenly my father's other hand was extended and in it was his wand. "What are you doing!?"

"You have ruined my relationship with Candy, revealed our secret, and you have come here thinking you can just run away with this boy without any consequences. Well you are sorely mistaken and I am going to show you my will, even if I have to spell it out on his skin!"

"Who are you!?" I cried, trying again to free myself. It did no good, I was still trapped. My eyes searched out Draco who still stood ten feet away, his wand now in hand and extended towards my father.

"Let her go Morris," Draco growled. "Or so help me Merlin I will end your days here and now."

"Ha!" my father guffawed. "You don't have the guts to end a life, boy," he spat out.

"I have to eventually; I might as well practice on someone less great." Draco muttered, probably louder than he meant to. I frowned at him and he simply shook his head.

"What is he talking about? What are you talking about?" Loden asked.

I shook my head, my hair now having fallen out of its up-do. "I don't know, I swear. I don't know! Draco, just erase his memory and be done with it. Nobody needs to get hurt."

"He is hurting you Sadie. This is a far nobler cause for killing someone than what I have been ordered to do. I cannot allow him to hurt you like this."

"It doesn't hurt," I winced, a tear coming to the corner of my eye as my father inadvertently squeezed tighter around my wrist.

"Don't be brave for me!" Draco yelled. "I don't care anymore. One last chance Morris! Let her go and I won't have to kill you."

There was a great flash of light next and I attempted to duck away and found myself free from my father's grasp. I moved in the direction of where I'd last seen Draco, but found my way hindered by a tall hooded figure. The light subsided and I gasped in shock when I realized that there were several hooded figures in the room. We were surrounded.

I head whipped around in search of Draco and when I finally found him all breath left my body and my heart stopped. The woman holding him was not hooded, but from the look in her eyes I could tell she was bat shit crazy. And she had her wand to Draco's throat.