Hermione was completely stressed out as she sat in the lobby. Ginny couldn't pick Teddy up today for her meeting, and she could not find a sitter, so that left her with little recourse. The boy was sitting on the chair and swinging his feet as he read a story. Summer camp was starting next week, so she knew it was going to alleviate some of it. Things had been hard for them since Andromeda passed away, but the boy was resilient in ways she didn't understand. They would adapt as they always had.
The building itself was formidable with its giant screens and gadgets lying about. They were up on the tenth floor, and she was curious to see how far the view would go. However, she did not move as she sat there with her portfolio and laptop bag. Hermione wasn't sure what she should be prepared for, but it couldn't be easy.
"Miss Granger, Mr. Black will see you now," the woman at the desk told her.
Hermione hemmed and erected herself. "Now, you just behave when we go in there. You are charming, but I need you to be quieter than a mouse. Alright, love?" she whispered to the child who pulled his book to his chest.
He nodded and kissed his forehead before taking his hand. They walked together through the double doors and sitting at the desk was a sight. Regulus held so many features like his brother it was irrefutable that the man was indeed a Black. Blaise was sitting at the desk across from him and waved.
"She brought the boy," he snickered with a smile and Hermione huffed.
"I had a last-minute cancelation on my sitter. He will be quieter than stone, I assure you," she declared, and the boy nodded before sitting in the chair off to the side.
"Miss Granger," Regulus said with a polite smile and offered her the seat across from him and next to Blaise. "Mr. Zabini had shown me your resumé prior to your arrival. Color me impressed," he finished, and she beamed.
"Thank you, I have worked very hard for the knowledge I have obtained," she declared, and he nodded.
Regulus leaned back and folded his arms against his chest. "I noted such. However, there is something you need to know," he started, and her lips thinned. "I want to retire soon, and I don't see myself handing over the company to someone who isn't qualified nor not part of its origin. That is why Draco Malfoy is so important. That being said, his lack of sight is a hindrance, to say the least. That is where you come in, Miss Granger," he finished and arched an eyebrow.
"Oh, how might I ask?" she inquired, and he smirked; a replica of his late brother.
Blaise patted the table and smiled. "We need someone to be his seeing eye dog, Granger."
She frowned and Regulus waved his hand lightly. "He is insufferable, but a hard worker. We need someone to trust with his work, Miss Granger. The other- girls, Mr. Zabini, have hired did not have the credentials you do. You know what it takes, and we are willing to see how far you can go with it." Regulus responded, and Hermione chewed the inside of her cheek.
"You are telling me this because you do not want me to leave then. Once it seems like I can do the work you want to sign me in on contract." She said flatly, and Regulus nodded.
"Precisely. It may not, and you may want to leave after two weeks of working with Draco, but I can offer you much more than just income for your time and efforts. If you can help my cousin get through the delicate balance of his lack of sight, we can do wonderful business together."
Hermione folded her legs and leaned in the chair. "You are buying me off, Mr. Black?" she questioned with a small curl to her lips.
Regulus bent over the desk and raised an eyebrow at her. "I could, but that isn't business now is it?"
"Let's say that I do end up working with Draco for an extended amount of time. What are you offering?"
Regulus grinned with a wicked sheen to his expression. "Oh, I like you. You are far more intelligent than anyone gives you credit for. I am offering you a far more permanent position than an EA," he said, and his head tilted slightly.
"I want benefits, and eventual holiday time," she responded, and he bobbed his head.
"Fair."
"I want my own office," she announced and Blaise cringed.
Regulus exhaled and scrubbed his face. "You may have one if you like, but you will not be working at the building for some time." He said, and Hermione frowned.
"Where would I be working then? I cannot very well help him on the computer," she retorted, and Blaise cleared his throat.
"Draco works from home, Granger. We haven't been able to convince him to come to the office since the accident." He whispered and Hermione inhaled deeply.
Hermione closed her eyes and nodded. "Alright, but I still want an office when he does intend to work here." She said and inwardly gagged at the idea of going to his house.
"I want to retire in a year, Miss Granger. If you do indeed plan on working here... I need him to be present within that time and learning what it takes to run the company. If you can do that, you can have his job," Regulus said, and Hermione glowered at him.
"Why? Wouldn't Zabini be a better choice?"
Blaise smirked at her and arched an eyebrow. "Don't you think I know that. Which is why the board agreed to me running operations. You would be the prissy financial pants."
Hermione smiled and nodded. "Okay, I can see that. However, we are jumping the steps here. I haven't even worked one day with Draco yet. From what it sounds like, you have been through quite a few people regarding him."
Regulus relaxed his posture and nodded. "Correct, this is the only incentive. He will be spoken to about this and cannot fire you because I am the one who will be hiring you. If you want to quit, you have to come to me," He said simply, and Hermione blushed.
Blaise saw it on her face; she was having second thoughts. "What, are you afraid he will tease and snicker at you?" He declared with a hand wave.
"Well, we have a history."
Regulus scratched his chin and nodded. "I have a suggestion. It may seem odd, but listen to me."
Hermione gulped and bobbed her head. "Alright, I am listening."
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
Draco was tapping his fingers on the table in frustration. His mother told him that his cousin would be by for tea and he must be presentable. Aristocratic bullshit. That's what was drumming in his head as he sat in the drawing room, waiting. He was always waiting. It had become his state of life to sit and wait for someone else.
He heard footsteps and Draco caught the scent of patchouli. "Why do you wear such a disgusting scent, cousin?" Draco hissed.
The deep tones of Regulus's chuckle filled the room. "Because I happen to enjoy the smell, Draco. How are you today?" he asked and Draco heard two other sets of footfalls.
"Who is with you today? Blaise and my mother?" Draco remarked, picking up his teacup.
"Afternoon, Draco," Severus's voice entered the space.
"Ah, Severus, this is a work meeting then," Draco responded and sipped his tea. "My mother convincing you I need to step down?"
There was shuffling, and someone cleared their throat. "No, Draco. We have come to talk to you about your new executive assistant," Blaise murmured, and Draco groaned.
"I don't have one yet. You haven't let me interview anyone," he spat, and Regulus's laughter filled the room.
"I did, and I hired her," Regulus declared, and Draco jerked, causing his cup to clatter against its saucer.
"You did what? You agreed that I could hire who I want to work under me, Reg," Draco growled, and his grip on the plate hardened.
"I lied. You have come down to vapors, and I am stepping in. Helen Kelly will be starting on Wednesday." Regulus declared and Draco could hear the strain in his voice.
Draco gulped his tea down before setting the cup aside. "Kelly? I don't know a Kelly. How do we know she isn't going to steal from my estate?" He inquired with venom seeping in his voice.
"She isn't, and she isn't going to be treated like Miss Parkinson either," Severus droned, and Regulus chuckled.
"Darling, give him a moment, he isn't used to being ganged up on," Regulus said, and Draco groaned.
"She is qualified and knows what I require?" he asked with aggressive tones in his voice.
"More than qualified, Malfoy. I checked it over myself," Blaise declared.
Draco scrubbed his face and shook his head. "Fine. Seeing as you backstabbing codgers did this on your own."
"That's a good man. I am sure you will find her proficient. Her qualifications are well applied. She isn't half bad to look at either," Blaise snickered, making Draco scoff.
"Maybe you will actually come over now," he retorted and Blaise's tenor tones filled with laughter. "She could be god awful to look at, and I wouldn't know the difference either way," Draco mused, and one of the other men followed with a sigh.
"Do try to be presentable, Draco. She is an asset, and I would hate to have her ran off because you cannot keep your insolence at bay," Regulus murmured.
Draco exhaled and lounged in his armchair. "Seeing as I don't have a choice, I will play nice. However, if she so much as hinders me, I am sending her back to you." He said with a nod.
"Please do, I would love to see how she feels about holiday in Naples," Blaise teased, and the Malfoy groaned.
"One of these days a smart girl is going to tell you that your cock is too used and crooked for her, Zabini," Draco growled, and Blaise's laughter filled the room.
"Crooked is still fine. It is the small ones you need to watch out for," Regulus snickered, and Draco felt the heat build up in his face.
"I much prefer tits to wankers anyway," He murmured and scrubbed his face.
"Can we carry on?" Severus inquired, discomfort in his voice.
"One of these days you need to be loud and proud, Sevie. It is a beautiful thing, and you are seeing a very powerful man," Regulus purred, and Draco fidgeted in his chair.
"As riveting as hearing about your sex lives are, I have much more important things that require my attention," Draco grumbled with a sharp exhale.
"Astoria not putting out, Malfoy?" Blaise taunted, and Draco thinned his lips.
"Astoria isn't putting out for me, but Fred Weasley is on my shite list," Draco growled and clenched the chair arm with his hand. "She shagged him a week ago, so I threw her out."
The room grew quiet, and Draco hated not being able to see their faces. It was moments like this that sight really took precedence. It was alarming the first two years. People would get silent, and his panic would ensue. Now, it was just a pain in the arse. He pinched his expression and grunted.
"Well?" he inquired and a throat cleared.
"I am sorry, mate, I didn't know," Blaise replied, and Draco waved it off.
"It wasn't like it wasn't bound to happen. Not many can stomach a cripple," the Malfoy spat.
"How about we shelf this conversation and see if Ramsey will make us lunch?" Regulus offered and Draco bobbed his head.
"That would be much more appealing than this," he responded and stood up. "Let's sit out on the landing so I can smell the roses," he finished and reached for his cane.
He heard the ruffling of clothing and feet planting on the ground. "I can invite over that bird with the pretty voice later. She did fancy you a bit," Blaise offered, and Draco moved his free hand in dismissal.
"No, she was fond of my money, Zabini. They are always fond of the wealth. Cripple or not, money talks." He said and started walking from the drawing room.
He counted his steps internally and waited for his cane to hit the side table in the hall. The audible sound of wood and vibration gave him clarity, and he turned right. The entrance hall used to give him difficulty until he found different landmarks with his cane over the years. One of the floorboards always squeaked just a little as he walked closer to the tile and from then on he would count and run his cane on floor lightly until he would reach the dining room.
That was how he had to navigate. It was painful to think his sight granted him the freedom of lack of focus. "Cousin, you are doing much better," Regulus commented, and Draco sighed.
"I refuse to be handheld, Reg. I want to be able to do everything I could do before, but without sight," he murmured and tapped around for the edge of the chairs.
He eventually got to the door and opened it. He was confident they followed because it would throw his navigation off, so he never complained. In his mind, it was a small picture. A mock-up of what he remembered growing up, so that indeed help that he could recall that when he felt lost in his own home.
The air smelt warm with the flora and grass in the distance. "The sun is warm, it must be pretty today," he sighed, and a hand embraced his arm.
"Let me help you, mate. We are going to the table," Blaise declared, and Draco nodded.
"Thank you," he murmured, and they sat down to enjoy the summer afternoon.