Deal With The Devil (Dramione)

Chapter Five: Directors' Meeting

Hermione was pacing her office quickly, recounting all the numbers she needed to regurgitate out at the Director's meeting. She'd gotten to work two hours early to prepare since the meeting was the first one of the day, and glancing at the clock, she realized she still had 45 minutes before it began.

She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she yelped in surprise when a knock sounded at the door. "Come in!" she called once her heart had settled back inside her chest.

Blaise popped his head into the office. "Whatcha doing, beautiful?"

Hermione choked. She would never get used to the Slytherins being nice to her. No, not Slytherins. She wasn't in school anymore – those lines shouldn't divide them anymore. "Getting ready."

Raising an eyebrow, Blaise stepped into her office and pulled the door close behind her. "You're just like Draco. He paces relentlessly when something is on his mind. We've had to replace the rug in his off three times since we started this company."

Hermione bristled at being compared to Malfoy. Blaise's dark eyes noticed. "I wasn't trying to insult you. I was just pointing out brilliant minds think alike." Hermione nodded curtly, looking away, slightly embarrassed.

Blaise strolled over and leaned on the edge of her desk. "So what's on your mind, beautiful?"

Hermione took Blaise in – he was wearing a three-piece suit, all in navy, that accentuated his dark features. He looked quite dashing, but Hermione found herself opening her mouth because he looked at her like he cared about what she had to say. He was asking because he was genuinely concerned, not for politeness's sake.

"I have this feeling that the meeting isn't going to go well." There. She'd put her fears into words, and they were out there. She couldn't take them back.

Blaise cocked his head and observed her nervous fidgeting. "Why would you say that?"

"You're going to laugh at me."

Placing his hand over his heart, Blaise said, "Moi?? Never!" His face dropping into severe lines, he added, "You can tell me, 'Mione."

Hermione eyes him warily. Could she tell him? And wherever had he come up with that nickname? Gazing into his warm gaze, Hermione made a decision. If there was only going to be one person in this company on her side, she was happy it was Blaise. She walked over to her desk and leaned against it next to him.

"All my life, anytime something bad was about to happen, I've gotten this feeling. I can't explain it. But I have that feeling now, and it's never been wrong before."

Blaise lifted an eyebrow. "Are you a seer?"

"What? No!" she scoffed indignantly. How dare he!

Blaise raised his hand in surrender. "I was just asking, dear—no need to bite my head off. Well, if your gut is telling you something is wrong, let me help. I'll quiz you until it's time to go so you can make sure you have everything down."

Before Hermione could stop herself, she flung herself at Blaise, hugging him quickly. She kissed his cheek as she pulled away, both of them grinning broadly. "Thank you, Blaise. That's exactly what I need."

They spent the next half hour holed up in her office, only coming out together when the clock struck five till.

"Oh, there you are!" Yessica called out to Blaise, strutting over to them. She threw Hermione a dirty look before gazing adoringly at Blaise. "Mr. Malfoy has been looking for -."