Hermione exhaled and straightened her suit jacket. It was far too warm for a suit jacket, but she wanted to feel professional in whatever environment she was walking into. The house- no manor- was more substantial than she expected. Her eyes traced the mountainous building and gulped before tucking her laptop back underarm with her purse in hand.
The garden in the front of the house was breathtaking with bright flowers and a giant willow tree. She couldn't believe that it was so beautiful. Part of her mind couldn't register that someone so cruel could grow up in such a lovely home. Her heels clicked on the stone walkway as she approached the entrance to the house. The woman timidly knocked with the huge brass knocker and waited patiently.
The door creaked open, and a towering man in a gray suit stood there. "Good morning, you must be Miss Kelly." The dark-haired man declared, and she nodded, holding out her hand.
He gazed down at her outstretched hand with an arched eyebrow. "Yes, well, it is a pleasure. Come in," he declared and stepped aside.
The entrance hall stunned her. It was dark in comparison to the exterior. It made her think of a rotten apple that was cored out by a worm. Still lovely on the outside, but tangled and dark within it. The black and white tile was pristine and there were fearsome pictures of people hung near the hallway. A bright chandelier hung from two floors up and really made it seem like something from Tim Burton if it was not for the window bringing in rainbow light from the crystal tears that hung.
"Master Malfoy is not dressed for the day yet; Lady Malfoy will be here to give you the tour momentarily." The stiff man told her and left her awkwardly in the angry room.
Hermione chewed her painted lips and took a few steps to the side to peer down another corner. She saw a door partly open and noted vast bookcases. Her heart sped up, and she quirked a small smile at the idea that she might eventually be able to read some of the volumes.
"Miss Kelly," A feminine voice entered the room.
Hermione turned the direction of it and smiled. "Mrs. Malfoy, it is lovely to see you," she declared, and the older woman arched an eyebrow.
"You are prettier than Regulus expressed to me," she said with a shrewd tone.
Hermione turned pink and cleared her throat. "Well, thank you. You are beautiful as well," she replied awkwardly, and the older woman smirked.
"Come now. I am going to show you the house. You will rarely be without an escort, but it just takes one wrong turn to be lost in this house." Narcissa waved her to follow.
They walked toward the library, and Hermione bobbed her head and listened to the minor amount of history the woman was expressing. She followed the graceful Malfoy through the bottom floor and took notes mentally on where to find things. She glided out to the patio and waved her hand at the overwhelming view.
"My heart and soul," Narcissa declared, and Hermione gasped.
Before them was a lovely flower garden with many different types of roses and other beautiful and bright flora. The trees lined the side and from beyond was a large pond with white feathered birds singing. They were gorgeous and almost ethereal looking. "Ah, yes, our prized white peacocks. It gets cold for them in the winter, so I have my handler make sure the pens are ready in the fall." Narcissa said and Hermione blinked at her a few times. "They were my husband's favorite," she finished with a forlorn look out at the birds.
"They don't go far?" Hermione questioned, and Narcissa shook her head.
"No, they have everything they need here. Come along. I must show you the upstairs. You will be working mostly up there," the Malfoy murmured, and Hermione nodded.
"Of course," Hermione replied, and the matriarch stopped.
"I understand," she whispered and gazed between her eyes. "I know what it is like to do everything for your child. You will do anything to protect and love them deeply. So do I," she finished with a breathy sigh, and Hermione smiled, chancing it by taking her hand.
"I am sure he is very thankful to have you after such a tragedy for you both. My condolences," Her voice was mild but edged tenderness.
The older woman straightened and smiled genuinely for the first time. "Miss Kelly, I think I might like you working with my son. He can be an absolute terror in his moods, but he has a tender heart."
Narcissa let her hand go and waved her along as they continued the tour. The hall where the pool, gym and theatre were just a passing suggestion as they made their way to the stairs. The staircase was large and just as extravagant and scary as the rest of the old house. The second floor was for guests, she was taken to one of the guest rooms to see the elegance of it. They skirted up past more relatives pictures to the third floor, where Narcissa turned to her.
"Now, one more thing before we enter Draco's wing. He and I have a shared belief in placing everything back where you found it. It would cause him a great deal of stress and anxiety. Also, it could create a hazard for him. Accidents are not something we want. Please respect that rule, and we will never have quarrel, you and I," Narcissa said with a nod.
Hermione made an agreeing motion and Narcissa pointed up the stairs. "That is my floor. No one is to go up there. I don't even allow Ramsey in my quarters. I like my privacy and so did my son before his accident. Take care to understand you are not just working where he lives… you are working in his only place he feels comfortable. You are a guest, not just an employee. Treat this space with genuine care and he will take great lengths to make your days here comfortable."
Satisfied by the girl's quiet agreement, Narcissa opened the door. They walked in and Hermione was a bit taken back. The hallway was completely bare of any decoration. Off-white walls with silver and green carpet were all that greeted them with a window at the far end. The wing had a wide berth and the doors were several lengths apart. The first door to the left was cracked and she could see a very Anguis styled bathroom décor from the dim light peaking through. The door on the right was shut and it was painted black.
Hermione thinned her lips and followed the older woman to the last door on the left. Narcissa opened it and turned on the lights before glancing back to her. "This is his office," she announced and moved inside.
Hermione stepped in just as Narcissa yanked open the curtains. The view was stunning and made her gasp. The Malfoy went about making sure things were straight. Moving one of the chairs a little, placing a book back that was out of place. The amount of precise and OCD this woman had was intimidating. Either her and Draco had photographic memory or something terrible happened to him in his lack of sight that caused them both to be overly cautious.
"Mother, where is this girl?" A stern voice entered the room, and Hermione pivoted.
She was not expecting the person her eyes rested on. Draco Malfoy was a gangly pale child with awful hair and a sour disposition. Ten years changed him in ways Hermione wasn't confident she liked. His hair was jagged and wet from a possible shower, but still moon-touched blond. His shoulders thickened and filled out his frame. Draco was still tall but now did not seem to be as a painted white railing as he once bared resemblance.
"She is here, I was about to go over your organization," Narcissa murmured.
The man had on darker glasses and a t-shirt with slacks; quite casual. Draco's cane in hand was a long black lacquered stick with a silver snake running up it. When he dragged it on the carpet it seemed like the snake itself was hissing. Hermione didn't move as he approached her, and his stick struck her shoes. His free hand went out, but instead of offering it, he took off his glasses and Hermione bit down on a gasp.
The woman knew he was testing her. Him and his bloody games still. Draco's face had gnarled scars on his cheeks, but his once icy blue eyes were now hauntingly frosted. "It is nice to meet you, Mr. Malfoy," she said with a chipper tone.
He placed his glasses on his shirt and offered his free hand. "Nice to meet you as well, Miss Kelly," he replied, and his lips thinned. "Mother, where is Ramsey?" He growled, pulling his hand away from hers.
The man was summoned with ease and entered the room. "Master Malfoy?" he asked.
Hermione's breath hitched and rose her eyebrows in surprise. "Yes, always lurking. Can you please bring me my tea," Draco's tone changed, and Ramsey hemmed.
"Anything for the ladies?" Ramsey questioned, and Narcissa waved him off.
"Not I, I am going to go visit Severus for the day," she replied and Hermione's cheeks tinted.
Draco tilted his head and thumped his cane on the ground in front of her. "Kelly, he is asking you a question," he hissed, and Hermione frowned at the Malfoy.
"Draco, we talked about this," Narcissa breathed with a warning tone.
"Get her some bloody tea too. Bring those biscuits as well. Thank you, Ramsey," Draco tossed his free hand and moved across the room.
Hermione was still scowling as the blind man moved and made it to his mother. "Draco, please behave yourself," Narcissa declared and patted his shoulder.
He kissed her cheek lovingly and nodded. "Go, enjoy your afternoon. I am positive Severus is dying to hear about your new project," Draco murmured, and she smiled, kissing his cheek.
Narcissa approached Hermione and nodded once at her. "Ramsey is usually within hearing distance. If he doesn't come when he is called, the phone of the desk has all the intercoms on it and labeled. He doesn't work on Sundays, but I highly doubt you will be here on the weekends." She said, and Hermione took her hand and shook it.
"Thank you for showing me your lovely home, Mrs. Malfoy. It is a dreamscape," Hermione responded, and the Malfoy woman smirked.
"You are a charming little thing. They don't have etiquette courses at Hogwarts any longer, but when I went, they did. You must have taken one," she mused, and Hermione nodded slowly.
A little lie would not hurt. "I went to boarding school."
Narcissa hemmed and bobbed her head. "That would be it then. Have a splendid day and do not let him wear you thin," she paused and turned to her son. "Be nice to this one, Draco." She warned.
"Goodbye, mother," he groaned and ran his fingers on the desk. Narcissa waved at the woman and left the room. "Now, sit," he ordered.
"Excuse me?" Hermione asked, and he patted the chair.
"I said, sit down," he commanded, and she rolled her eyes.
Shifting her bags from her, she stood in front of the bent man. "I wouldn't mind hearing a please from you," she declared, and his lips scrunched as his head was still turned.
"Please," he hissed and slapped the table. "Sit down."
He was listening for her, and her heels thumped on the carpet before the chair swiveled next to him. "Your welcome," she remarked, and his lips twitched.
"Just because you were hired by my cousin does not mean you work for him. You work for me," he announced and she glanced up at the sneering man.
"Just because I work for you does not mean you can treat me like a slave. Do we understand each other?" she asked, restricted annoyance was in her tone.
Draco tilted his head, and his lips curved slightly. "Fair enough. You do the job, and we will get along just fine."
"I highly doubt that," she murmured and he heard her clicking the mouse.
"Why did you want to work for me if already you are rejecting a cohesive working relationship?" he inquired, and she exhaled.
"I need the money, and your colleague offered me the position," she said truthfully, and he heard her clicking in the password; his mother had a pamphlet of passwords on the desk for her he was sure.
"Husband who cannot provide for his wife?" he snickered and pulled away from the desk.
"No, a son. I have never been married," she declared, and he chuckled finding the nearby chair. "Not that any of this is your business."
"Did you find my email yet? I need you to check them for me," he announced and she was silent. "Kelly, emails?" he said with more force.
"Oh, I am sorry, yes," she declared and realized her nodding wasn't going to be useful on a blind man.
"Find the one from my cousin," he told her and Hermione clicked the mouse.
"This is the statement for this month. Your stock is up, but profits have grown stagnant at a half a percentage rise the last two months," Hermione declared as she scrutinized the screen. "Seems to me that he is making moves to buy someone out," she remarked, and Draco snorted.
"You know this or guess?"
Hermione glanced at the busy email. "He has bought quite a few shares into a company called Monotel. Just in the last two months," she said, and Draco hemmed.
"Well, you are as smart as they say. Monotel. Find the email sent a week ago with that as the title," he ordered, and she did as he bid.
Her eyes scanned over the email, and she gasped. "Wow, that is quite a plan he has. It is a sound venture by the looks of it. Has this been read to you?" she asked, and Draco made a sound of agreement.
"Write a new email to him. I want you to tell him that I think we need to negotiate now that we have a good sum of stock. This was, after all, my idea," he declared, and Hermione glanced over at him.
The Malfoy was leaning in the chair and running his fingers over the side of the table. "It is a great plan, Mr. Malfoy." She told him and turned back to the screen.
To say that he impressed her was reaching, but she was a bit relieved to see he was business savvy. She typed out the email and read it back to him with swift measure. Draco was scowling and waved his hand. "No, don't add in that last bit. Just pen that you transcribed it and send it off."
It was hours of this and Hermione knew he was brisk with her for reasons only he could answer. She did her work and sipped her tea while he talked her through everything slowly. If anything, Hermione was a quick study, but by his attitude, she was nowhere near as efficient as he wanted. Blaise was correct in his corny reflection; she was his bloody seeing eye dog.
However, in the same breath, she was learning more about Black Industries than she ever thought she could. Draco handled the financials reasonably well, and he was stellar at numbers she found. It was the operations that he seemed disinterested in altogether.
"Tell him to contact Blaise. I don't feel like going to sit with stiffs in a fucking office," He growled at her after an email came through.
Hermione just listened and made sounds of agreement. She was not going to suggest anything nor was she going to rock the boat on the first day. Making a stand about his attitude was enough for one day.
There was a knock at the door. "Sir, would you like to take your lunch in the dining room?" Ramsey said, and Draco scratched his chin.
"Yes. That sounds appropriate," Draco replied.
Ramsey glanced at her and raised his eyebrows. "Miss, would you like to join Master Malfoy in the dining room as well?"
Hermione shook her head. "No, that won't be necessary, I couldn't inconvenience you," she declared, and Draco groaned.
"Kelly, food is included," he snapped, and Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I will take mine out to the garden then," she declared with a nod.
Ramsey bowed gently, "Yes of course. Will that be all, Sir?" he asked Draco who patted the table next to him.
"Take mine out there as well, Ramsey. I will join Miss Kelly this afternoon," he replied, and Hermione held back a sound of distaste.
Hermione turned back to the screen as the butler disappeared. "Regulus send you another email."
"What does it say?" Draco inquired, listening carefully.
She irked him. Helen Kelly did not make sounds nor bob her foot. She did not shift in her chair or tap the desk. Nothing that would note her presence if it weren't for her voice creeping into the silence every so often. It was unnerving.
He had grown so used to listening for people moving that because she did not, it was a terrible situation to sit so far from her. He hated that Pansy liked to gnaw on pens. Susan liked to roll her fingers on the desk enough to be annoying. Even Tracy had a bothersome tick of smacking her lips as she sat at the desk. Not Helen. Helen was quieter than death.
"It says that he will start tomorrow. He needs your esignatures on a few documents, and that will be enough," Hermione announced and he nodded.
"Good. Tell him to send them over," Draco commanded, and he heard the clicking of the keyboard. "Don't you get tired sitting in the same position for hours?" he inquired, and he heard the sound of her chair turn slightly.
"Beg your pardon?" she asked and sent the email off.
"You don't move," he said flatly, and she frowned even though she knew he couldn't see it.
"Well, I am working. That's what I do," The woman declared, and he placed his ankle on his knee.
"You don't move at all. No quirks or twitches. Plain shifting once and awhile," Draco reiterated which caused the sound of her huffing entering the space.
"Well, I am focused. You were listening for my movements?" she inquired, and a smirk landed on his face.
"I am always listening. It is my way to see," he responded.
He heard the squeak of the chair and the shifting of fabric. "Well, I hate to disappoint you, Mr. Malfoy, but I am not going to move so you can see," she said stiffly and he snorted.
"You a bloody difficult woman," he noted.
Hermione was forcing herself not to bob her foot in announce as she was turned to him. "That maybe so, but I am here to work, not amuse you."
That made him bristle, and he scrunched his face up. "You have bloody nerve," he spat, and he felt the woman rise from her chair.
"I am going to lunch. I hope when we get back to work, you can focus on that and not my lack of ticks, Mr. Malfoy." Hermione spoke and did not wait for him to dismiss her; she just left.