Chapter 7

Hermione picked up her new phone for the tenth time. There was only one number listed in her contacts. His number. She dared herself to call him. Double dared. She had been practicing what she was going to say for an hour now. She was ready. Come on Hermione. You can do this.

It was ringing. Maybe he wouldn't pick up. Maybe he was busy. Maybe he-

"So you got my gift? I was hoping you would call. Did it meet your approval?"

Oh my God, she forgot how to breathe. She forgot her speech. She forgot her own name.

"Hello?"

What was she thinking. She couldn't do this.

"Are you there? I can't hear you breathing. Hello?

She couldn't hold her breathe any longer, she let out an exaggerated breath.

He laughed, "Ah. There you are."

That laugh. It always suprised her when he laughed. It wasn't his evil laugh; it wasn't even sarcastic or cruel. It was a honest laugh; a happier time in their lives laugh. Gods help her, she missed it.

"I would love to hear how your voice sounds when you are not yelling at me."

Would he recognize her? No. She was Ella. She stuttered, "Although I appreciate the gesture, Mr. Malfoy-"

"Draco."

"What?"

"My name is Draco'," he corrected her, "You may call me Draco."

She huffed, "As I was saying Mr Malfoy, my answer is still no."

He sighed, "Why? Just hear me out. I mean, are you mad at me? I can't imagine why, we haven't even met yet.."

"That really isn't the point. I just can't."

"Why? At least tell me why?"

She sat down, "Why is not important."

"It is to me."

"Why do you want me? I'm sure anyone else would love to-"

"No. It has to be you."

"Why?"

"I've already told you, my fiancee wants you."

"And if you don't get me?"

Should he tell her the truth? What could it hurt? Maybe she would feel sorry for him and do it, "Well, she has threatened to call off the wedding if you don't come."

Hermione felt a headache coming. Sure, she wanted to hurt him, but some part of her wanted him to be happy too. Was he happy? The papers claimed that he didn't love Sapna. Did he love her? Did Hermione really want to know the answer?

"Mr Malfoy-"

"Draco."

She cleared her throat, "Mr. Malfoy, do you love your fiancée?"

He didn't respond. What the hell kind of question was that? "I dont see how that is any of your business."

"You are making it my business. I want to know the kind of people I will be entertaining."

He thought about how to answer that question. He learned a long time ago not to lie about these kinds of things. It came back to bite him, "I, um, well it's difficult to explain. Um-" Silence. He couldn't think of a damn thing he could say that would sound adequate.

She took his silence as the answer, "Why would I sing for anyone who does not know what love is. You're using this poor girl to save your business? No Mr Malfoy, I will not have any part in that.. "

Click.

/

Mr King was standing in his living room rambling; something about Sapna being upset. A lovers' quarrel. Yeah right. Draco was sure there was no love lost between them. She didn't love him. She wanted to own him. She wanted to control him. She wanted to be able to tell all her friends that she tamed Draco Malfoy.

He nodded absent mindedly as the other man went on and on. Ella's words were still on his mind. How dare she? Who was she to question him about love? What did she know about him- wait. He did this. He had invited her questions...to get to know him better. He had invited her remarks. He shook his head.

"So you two are okay?"

Draco snapped out of his haze, "What?- Oh yes, yes. Everything is fine. It was just a small argument."

"Over what?"

"Oh, um," he said the first thing that came to his mind, "Ella."

Mr King nodded his head, "I see." He put his hand on Draco's shoulders, "I know that she can be a handful, but she has a good heart. She will be a good wife."

He looked at Mr King, confused, "Sorry? Who?"

"Sapna. She will be a good wife."

Draco nodded again, "Of course sir."

/

Sapna was quick to forgive him, after all, he promised no more secretaries, no more late nights and no more sex with strangers. He needed the merger to proceed as planned. He would've promised his undying devotion, if he thought she'd believe him. She wouldn't though. She just wanted him to be alone and miserable. She wanted power over him. He conceded.

Ella, on the other hand, had gone back to ignoring his phone calls. He would have been happy to let that go, but Sapna wouldn't hear it. She thought it was the least he could do to prove his commitment to her. So here he was again, sitting in his living room with his phone in his hand. He needed a drink. He needed the whole bottle. These women would be the death of him.

An hour and half an empty bottle later, he could feel the whiskey taking over.

Flashback

"What do you want from me Hermione? You know the kind of man I am. You knew from the start."

"I know, but it's different now. I'm different now. I thought you were too."

He turned away from her, "Well I'm not. I've always been me. I'll always be me. Just me."

Flashback ends

"Hermione." He smiled. Hermione Granger. The Queen of all that was right and just in the world. Hemione Granger. Golden girl. Hermione Granger. Pull my fucking heart out and step all over it. Hermione fucking Granger.

Leave a message...

He picked up the phone, "Listen here Ella, I may not love my fiancee, but I know what love is. It's getting your heart ripped out and fucking spat on." He was slurring, "It's seeing her stupid face everywhere. It's hearing her stupid voice in my head all day...It's dreaming about her every night." He was shouting now, "It's her stupid eyes and her stupid lips. She's so stupid. Everything about her is stupid. Love is stupid."

Click

He threw the phone across the room and sunk down to the floor. Tears flooded down his cheeks, "And I'm stupid. Hermone, I'm stupid." He clutched his chest, whispering, "Where are you? Why did you leave me...alone. I'm alone."

/

"Draco, get up." She shook him. "Draco!" He didn't move. She put a finger under his nose. He was breathing. She brushed the hair from his face. He really did look like an angel. The same face that spat venom at her, looked so innocent. His eyes fluttered. She wondered what he dreamt about? Was he invincible? Could he fly?

She smiled as he nuzzled his head against her hand. Could she make him love her? Maybe if she just tried a little harder...maybe if she was just a little more patient. Maybe if-

He stirred grabbing her hand and holding it to his chest, "Mine. Mine. My Mia."

She pulled her hand away and stood. He snapped awake.

"Who is Mia?"

He sat up, "What?"

"I said, who the hell is Mia?"

He blinked rapidly, "What are you talking about?"

She eyed him, "You called me Mia."

He blushed, shaking his head, "You misheard."

She walked towards the fireplace, "No, I don't think I did."

Draco slowly stood up, "It was just a dream. It meant nothing."

Sapna stepped in, "It had better not."