Chapter Four

I cried myself to sleep Sunday night, and my eyes were still puffy when I was getting ready for work Monday morning. All this fighting and wallowing was exhausting, and now that the contract was signed and done, I had to refocus my efforts on surviving day to day life with Lucius Malfoy. In thirty days, I'd be his wife. A shiver went down my spine at the thought, because being his wife meant having sex with him at least three times a week for the foreseeable future, and that thought reminded me of how easily I'd given in to him yesterday in his study.

Warmth pooled in my stomach as I replayed the scene in my head. If you put aside the fact that Lucius was a Death Eater, a Pureblood asshole, and thirty years my senior, he was at least very handsome and intelligent. And his voice – I was a sucker for voices, and the way he said my name was like it was a dirty word. All in all, it could be worse. It could be better too, but it could definitely be worse.

With a sigh, I stopped myself from staring into the mirror and walked into the closet to slide on my ballet flats. I threw on a cloak over my black trousers, red blouse, and black blazer, grabbed my bag from the couch and stepped into the fireplace.

The morning went by rather quickly as I caught up on the paperwork that I'd missed on Friday, and I steadfastly ignored Artemis' attempts to chat about anything not regarding work. It was nearing noon when I heard a sharp knock on my open door.

I was sorting paperwork on top of a filing cabinet with my back to the door and I sighed before saying, "Artemis, I really don't want to talk about it. You couldn't even do me the courtesy of a head's up, and that is the least I'd deserve after all of the shit I put up with – oh." I had turned around and found Lucius leaning in the doorway against the doorjamb, his arms crossed, cane in hand.

"I've come to take you to lunch. Would you like Italian? A business associate of mine just opened a new restaurant in Diagon Alley."

I debated his offer in my head. On the one hand, I suddenly realized that I was starving, as I hadn't eaten anything since yesterday afternoon. On the other hand, I'd have to eat with Lucius Malfoy, and he was the most frustrating human being I had ever met. I was going to turn him down, lie and say that I wasn't hungry, when my stomach let out a loud growl.

"And now you cannot lie and say you've already eaten." Lucius said smugly.

"I wasn't going to say that. I was going to say I wasn't hungry, but since I haven't eaten anything since yesterday afternoon, my body didn't want to play along." I turned back to the filing cabinet and finished putting away the few pieces of parchment I had left.

"Do you normally take such poor care of yourself, or is this instance an oddity?"

I snorted and slid on my cloak before picking up my bag and throwing it over my shoulder.

"Yes, I'm sure you're very concerned about my well-being, Lucius. Can't very well be a good brood mare if I'm not eating properly, right?" I started to push past him but he stopped me by placing his cane across the doorway and I flinched.

He leaned down and whispered against my ear, "No, but if you're going to pass out, I'd rather it be because I've forced you to cum over and over again. Until you've begged me repeatedly to stop because you're so sensitive that you couldn't possibly stand to cum again, and yet I still coax one more out of you. Until you're spent, exhausted, near tears from being overstimulated. Only then would it be acceptable for you to pass out."

My face was on fire, and the simmering warmth in my stomach had dropped decidedly lower. I shifted on my feet, squeezing my thighs together. I glanced up at him as he pulled away, looking down at me. For a moment, I thought he was going to kiss me, but that ended when he retracted his cane and stepped backward into the hallway, offering me his arm.

I took a shaky breath and then slid my hand into the crook of his arm, allowing him to escort me to the elevator and into the atrium. I was probably being paranoid, but it felt like everyone was watching us. Everywhere I looked, I saw eyes following us.

"Is everyone watching us?" I whispered.

Lucius nodded without looking at me. "It could have something to do with the article in the Prophet this morning."

"What article?"

"The Prophet released the names of some of the first matches, Olivia. You and I were at the top of the list."

"The top of the list." I echoed faintly.

I didn't really like to be the center of attention. I was great one on one or in small groups, but years of being interrogated by people asking where I went to school instead of the private schools that the children of other politicians went to, and why I didn't talk about what I was studying, had made me anxious of large groups and being put on the spot. That's why I liked Ravenclaw – no one cared if you weren't particularly social as long as you were smart and liked to study.

I joined the Ministry because it was expected of me, but I really had no desire to rise very high because then I'd have to give speeches and hold meetings and all of that sounded awful. After graduating Ilvermorny, I had dabbled with a few Potions Mastery courses, as I had always done well and was quite passionate about it, but my father didn't like that idea and stopped paying for it. After I got the job at the Ministry and saved up enough money to get my flat, I moved out and went down to minimal contact, setting boundaries around their expectations as well as how they spoke to me. It didn't go over very well.

Lucius led me to one of the fireplaces and we stepped through together into the Leaky Cauldron. As it was the lunch rush, the Cauldron was very busy, and as we went through, various people greeted Lucius and he responded. It was like being with my father. Yet another reason to dislike him.

By the time we made it to the restaurant, I was gripping his arm so tight that he had finally noticed. We stepped inside and the hostess immediately said, "Mr. Malfoy! How lovely to see you. We have your table ready, if you'd like to follow me."

Every table in the restaurant was filled and everyone was dressed significantly posher than I was in my standard work attire. She led us to a table and Lucius pulled out a chair for me, waiting until I took off my robe and laid it and the strap of my bag across the back of the chair and sat. He placed his hands on the back of the chair and leaned down.

"Are you alright?" he asked against my ear.

I nodded quickly, focusing on my breathing, staring down at the table cloth as he took the seat opposite of me. The waitress was there an instant later, setting down two glasses of water and a basket of breadsticks.

"Would you like a moment to look at the menu, Mr. Malfoy?" she asked cheerily.

"Please bring us two glasses of the '93 Chianti Classico that Antonio has set aside for me, and we'll both have the Carbonara."

I should be more upset that he ordered for me without even asking me what I wanted, but I was just grateful to not have to talk to anyone. I took a sip of water and picked up a breadstick, tearing it into pieces. The waitress came back and set down two glasses of white wine. Then we sat there in silence for a few minutes as I shredded the breadstick, only eating a few bites, and when I finally did a cursory glance around the room and found that the only person watching me was Lucius, I relaxed a little. He had unbuttoned his suit jacket and was leaned back in his chair, one hand on his thigh and the other holding the wine glass.

"Would you like to tell me what just happened?" he asked as he took a sip of his wine.

"Not particularly." I popped a piece of bread into my mouth, smiling at him.

He stared at me for a moment with his hand clenched around the wineglass and I mentally prepared for a fight, but, surprisingly, he let it go.

"Why did you join the Ministry?"

"Um… I mean, I grew up in politics and my father really encouraged me to follow what I know." I shrugged. "It's okay. I enjoy the work, particularly trying to encourage Muggleborns to come back to Britain. I think we're an important part of the British Wizarding World and we bring a different perspective." I paused and then added, "Of course, I'm sure you disagree."

I know I shouldn't dig at him, but I couldn't resist. But again, he doesn't rise to the bait.

"If you hadn't listened to your father, what would you have chosen?"

I blinked at him in surprise. Was he asking me a serious question about myself without giving an order?

"I probably would have gone for my Potions Mastery. I got the highest marks in our year for my Potions O.W.L.s and then for the final exams at Ilvermorny I was highest again." I took another bite of bread. "Professor Snape was a fantastic teacher. I really hated that he didn't teach Potions during sixth year, and then… well, I wasn't at Hogwarts for seventh year."

Severus Snape had been cleared of the murder charges for Professor Dumbledore, but I still wasn't sure how to feel about it. Not to mention the massive schoolgirl crush I'd had on him fifth and sixth year – I'd been devastated when I thought that he'd betrayed us all by killing the Headmaster.

"Why don't you go back for your Potions Mastery?"

I reached my hand out and grasped the glass of wine and took a sip. I much preferred a red wine, but the Chianti Classico was nice, and of course since it was Lucius' choice, I'm sure it was expensive. I wasn't prepared to have Lucius actually taking an interest in me, and it was kind of unsettling.

"It's expensive, and as you so eloquently pointed out, I live in a 'tiny, decrepit flat in Muggle London' for a reason. Plus, going for my Mastery while pregnant probably isn't the best idea. And if I wait until after the kids, I'll have two young children."

"Those are excuses."

I wasn't able to respond immediately as the waitress brought our food over. She looked down at the shredded remnants of the breadstick on the small appetizer plate and barely concealed her disdain. Suddenly I was very aware of my lack of jewelry, sans engagement ring, and that I wasn't in a dress or even a skirt. The waitress was wearing three inch heels, a nice black skirt, silky white blouse, and her makeup was flawless, topped with blood red lips. Her pretty blonde hair was in loose curls down her shoulders and she had silver earrings glinting in her ears. I had done the bare minimum of foundation today without even a bit of mascara, and my hair had started out down and loose but a few hours ago I had thrown it up with my wand stuck through the knot.

"Would you like for me to take that for you?" She asked, pointing to the plate.

"Um, yes, thank you." I mumbled, sliding my hand over my hair as she swapped the small plate with the Carbonara.

With a flick of her bouncy curls, she turned and walked away, but not before I heard her mutter, "Unbelievable."

I flushed and picked up my glass of wine, taking another sip. It was strong, and as I hadn't eaten anything except a few bites of bread in twenty-four hours, it was starting to go to my head.

"Eat, Olivia." Lucius said as he placed a cloth napkin in his lap. "And if I find that you are skipping meals again, there will be consequences."

I gaped at him, shocked. He couldn't be serious.

Lucius watched until I followed suit and placed a napkin on my lap, and didn't start eating until I had taken my first bite. I had to stop the moan that threatened to come out – it was delicious. I wasn't overly fond of Italian food, but this was far and away the best I'd ever had. I tucked in, ignoring his comment about making excuses and the waitresses comment as well. We were halfway through the meal when he broke the silence.

"If you would like to go back for your Potions Mastery, that can be arranged. And Severus shall be available, should you need any assistance."

I looked over at him, chewing slowly.

"Why do you care so much?"

"Contrary to your beliefs, I do not intend to make you miserable. In fact, I'd rather prefer it if you were, if not happy, comfortable. I have no desire to live and raise children with someone unhappy."

"Does Professor Snape know that you've offered his tutoring services?"

"Severus is a good friend of mine, and he was speaking of your Potions accomplishments last night. You made quite an impression."

"Professor Snape remembers me?" My voice came out as a squeak.

Lucius' eyes were boring into me, practically searching my face. Apparently I wasn't doing a very good job of trying to keep my emotions in check.

"He spoke of you with as much regard as Severus can muster. I've never heard him speak positively about a student."

I couldn't help the blush that settled on my cheeks. Apparently my school girl crush hadn't quite run its course.

"I'll think about it."

We finished our meal and Lucius stood, asking me to wait a moment while he disappeared into the back of the restaurant. A few minutes later, he returned and put on his cloak. He then came over and helped me with my cloak before guiding me back to the front of the restaurant with a hand on my lower back. A man was waiting for us and he immediately put out his hand and Lucius took it.

"Antonio, this is my fiancé, Olivia. Olivia, Antonio owns the restaurant."

"It is wonderful to meet you." Antonio said with a slight accent, taking my hand and placing a kiss on my knuckles.

"The food was amazing. Thank you for coming to Diagon Alley." I said sincerely. "We need new businesses."

"The pleasure is mine." He let go of my hand and returned his gaze to Lucius. "Again, I am sorry about the waitress. It has been handled."

Confused, I turned to Lucius as well. "What -?"

"All is forgotten, my friend. I must get Olivia back to the Ministry." Lucius cut me off, shaking Antonio's hand before placing my hand in the crook of his elbow and leading me out into the Alley.

I gasped as an icy wind whipped across my face and I instinctively tucked myself a step behind Lucius to make him take the brunt of it.

"What was he talking about? What was handled?" I asked against the back of his arm.

"No one insults a Malfoy. And as my fiancé, you are a Malfoy."

I stopped walking and he paused to look back at me.

"What did you do?"

"Olivia, if she cannot conduct herself appropriately, then she does not deserve to be working in an establishment that I have invested in."

"You had her fired?"

"Her comment at the table was the least of what she said about you, and none of it was flattering. It seems she has a rather jealous streak and was under the impression that she would've been a better choice for me." He reached back and took my hand, placing it back into the crook of his arm and pulling me forward. "According to her, our children would've been beautiful blondes."

I gawped at him as we walked into the Leaky Cauldron and stepped up to the fireplace. "Did she say that to you?"

"She did."

Lucius didn't say much more as he walked me back to my office.

"Thank you for lunch." I said, clasping my hands in front of me, still reeling from the information about the waitress. "It wasn't… torturous, I suppose."

"I believe that is the best compliment you've paid me, Olivia." Lucius responded with an arched eyebrow.

"The only compliment I've paid you." I corrected.

He nodded and I stood there awkwardly. Was I supposed to kiss him goodbye? I suppose he hadn't been horrible at lunch, and in his own twisted way, he had stood up for me. I finally decided and stood up on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek. As I moved to step away, he cupped my cheek and pulled me back as he leaned down and kissed me hard. He left me breathless as he pulled back, running his thumb along my bottom lip.

"Enjoy the rest of your day, Olivia."

I stood there, lips parted slightly, as I watched him leave.