Draco was at the gym when his Blackberry began to ring. "Hello?"
"Sir? I'm sorry to bother you, but it's Jenny. Um, there's a client here who says he doesn't have an appointment with you but he needs to see you right away. He also said he's not leaving until he sees you. He's been here since 9:30…"
"Who is it?"
"He says his name is Noah Puckerman? He flew in last night, he said. Knows someone you know?"
"I'll be there in 10 minutes. Put him in my office. Tell him he's not to touch anything. Not even the books."
"Yes sir, right away." He hung up the phone and hopped off the treadmill. He'd been dreading this day for 4 years. Ever since he left LA, he'd been waiting for this bastard to show up. This was not a good sign.
He changed clothes and got in his car. His driver didn't ask questions, but he was a little shocked to see Draco finished at the gym so early. Draco was lost in thought as they drove, wondering what could have possibly made Puck drive all the way across the country.
When he got to his office building, he rushed up the stairs. He was not going to waste time with the elevator. With Puck being in town, something had to be wrong. He couldn't bring himself to even think her name for fear of a breakdown right there in the office. How would that look? The CEO, crying like a baby in his building.
He stormed into his secretary's office adjoining his. "Where is he?" he could feel the sweat dripping off his arms from the sprint up the stairs. "Is he in the office?"
"Yes, sir, just like you asked."
"Good. Call that Chinese restaurant down the street and order lunch, please. Just get another order of what I usually get. Thanks, Jenny."
"Of course, sir." She dialed the restaurant and ordered the food. "If it's alright sir, I'll just go pick it up."
"Sure, fine, whatever. After you get back, though, no interruptions; cancel all meetings and phone conferences." He changed into his suit and threw his workout clothes into a gym bag in his extra closet.
He opened the door to his office and felt a sense of dread. "What's wrong? Is she alright? What's happened?"
"No, she's not alright! She hasn't been for the last five years, asshole! Where the fuck have you been?" Puck stated. Draco had seen him mad before, but this was different. Puck was more emotional about it this time. "Man, she won't even come out to the clubs with me anymore. She hasn't dated anyone in four years, Draco. Four god damn years! She doesn't want anyone but you. Why did you leave?"
"Puck, I had too. My father was going to take my company. Everything I've worked for in England, to transfer my business here, to be here in the States! I couldn't lose it all. I've worked too hard for this. If letting Santana go was the price I had to pay, I'd do it again. I love her, Puck, but I can't lose my company." Draco could feel the tears forming in his eyes, but he didn't care. Puck had seen him cry a hundred times in the year he'd been in California.
"You should have let the bastard take it! She's become a shell of herself, man. All she does is work. I invite her out with me all the time; she comes, has one drink, and leaves because she says she has work to do. Nobody has work to do at 3 in the morning. I'm not leaving until you say you're coming back with me to see her. She needs you, dude. She's never needed anyone before you. She hasn't needed anyone since. You're her everything."
"Puck, I can't just drop everything to see her. I have a business to run and clients to take care of. Do you know how hard I've worked for this? Coming out from my family's shadow? I've made myself the business man I am today. I will not let anyone take this from me the way my father's company was taken from him! I am a better man than my father!"
"Bullshit. I so call bullshit. You dropped everything today just to see what I had to say. And you say you're a better man that your father, but from what I know about him and the way he treated your mother, I'd say you're no better if not worse than him! You left her! Just like that! It was so easy for you to just fly back to England and take back your company. You're an ass, Draco Malfoy.
You can take a vacation or whatever, because I'm seriously not leaving until I watch you buy a plane ticket." He sat down in the chair behind my desk and put his feet up. Just then Jenny tentatively knocked on the door. Draco turned around, realizing now how heated the argument had become and just how loud he and Puck had been yelling.
Jenny peaked her head in the door, looking frightened. She'd never heard Draco get so loud and so angry. "Sir? I've got your food for you." She opened the door slightly. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"
Draco looked at Noah, who was smirking; knowing he had won, and the back to Jenny. "Can you get me two first class tickets to Los Angeles, please? I'm going on vacation. I'm not sure when I'll be back. Just change all my meetings to Skype meetings and keep the phone conferences. After you do that, you can go home for the day."
"Yes sir. Thank you, sir!" Jenny answered, looking happier than she had in weeks. Puck winked at her and she giggled. She handed me the food, closed the door, and sat at her desk to do as I asked.
I sighed and handed a take-out container to Puck and sat down across from him. "I can't believe this. Why didn't she call? Why didn't you call?"
"I didn't call because she asked me not to, dude. She didn't want any help from anyone. She doesn't even know I'm here. I finally broke down and came to you, because I can't stand to see her the way she is now. She's so broken. I couldn't take it."
"I'm sorry." Was all I could say after a few minutes. "I'm so sorry."
"I'm not the one that needs the apology, dude. You can tell her yourself when we get there. I already have an idea."
There was another knock on the door. "Sir?" Jenny said as she walked into the room. "Here are the tickets, just like you asked. And the only meeting I couldn't schedule as a Skype meeting was the one with your father… He says he has to see you in person."
"Then you'll tell him to reschedule. I'm going to LA on vacation." I said, taking the tickets from her. "Have him call me if he has to. I'll see him when I get back."
"Of course, sir. Have a good trip."
"Thank you, Jenny."
"Bye, Noah." She added as we walked out of the door.
"Bye, cutie." I heard her giggle again as we walked towards the elevator. "You mad the right choice, Malfoy."