Ariella
"Did I do alright?" Ariella asked quietly as she walked hand in hand with Harry back towards her office. "Baby, you did so fucking good," Harry offered under his breath, keeping his voice lowered. She nodded hesitantly as they re-entered her office. Only once he closed her office doors did she sag against the wall, the tremble in her hands returning as she released a breath she had been holding. "Nothing about that was weak baby, you did so fucking good," Harry murmured affectionately cupping her face and stroking her good cheek. She nodded as her eyes filled with unshed tears, she had dreaded this meeting since her attack but equally wanted it over with. "I'm so damn proud of you," Harry added affectionately guiding her gently back inside toward her desk.
"One hour," Harry assured her, settling her into the armchair closest to her desk, the piece was large and comfortable. A soft knock on her door had her looking up as Harry let Peloma and Martin into the office. A small tea tray in hand Peloma sat with Ariella while Harry went over Black Industries newest security protocols with their new head of security. "We can correspond via email and phone," Peloma explained, a tablet in her hand showing this week's schedules. "To everyone else, you will be here, working in your office, only Martin, Mr. Malfoy and myself will know you are working from home-" she added gently.
Both Ariella and Draco wanted to keep the news of her attack out of the media; any indication of an attack, unsuccessful or not, would tell their clients she was weak. Ariella painted on a small smile for Peloma as she realised she might have already failed Black Industries.
"... Mr. Burke has a delivery ready," Ariella picked up the words with sudden clarity as Peloma spoke them. "The house elves," Ariella murmured, the reason for her attending the gala at all that night. Peloma nodded, a small smile lifting her lips as she looked to Ariella, "28 of them" she added. A small laugh escaped Ariella as her eyes watered with entirely new reason. She nodded happily, she had completely forgotten about all the good that happened that night, and it was actually working. "The old floor, it's now unattended?" Ariella questioned. "Yes, all of the division heads offices now reside on this floor with respective floors for their divisions" Peloma informed her. Pushing her earlier sadness aside she nodded, sitting forward and collecting Peloma's tablet. "Have the old floor remodelled into housing for the elves. Contact Hermione, she'll want to manage their well-being, possibly bring a team of counsellors on to help aid and support the elves' understanding of what ownership and freedom means" Ariella instructed, a sense of direction finally returning to her.
"Did I hear you say house elves?" Harry murmured happily as he returned to her side. Another small laugh left her as she nodded, continuing her sketch of the floor modifications on Peloma's tablet. Handing her back the tablet, Peloma gave her a smile of approval and left the pair of them in her office. "So, that's why Hermione was here that night?" Harry mused softly crouching down next to her, his hand trailing her thigh affectionately as he looked up at her with nothing but love. "I wanted to help Hermione with her house elf proclamation before attempting to hire one," Ariella admitted with a small smile. Harry's smile widened fondly, tugging her heart strings as he looked up at her. "That's why you needed investors," he reiterated as he started to understand. She nodded, "We got them," she added quietly. His features softened, "Of course you did," he whispered proudly, tucking her hair behind her ear.
"Malfoy can handle things here, let me take you home beautiful," he offered gently. She nodded as she realised he had barely touched her since the attack. He had given so many gentle signs of support and affection, but never anything that might push or suggest for more. Grasping his neck, she pulled him closer kissing the lips she missed so much as a low groan reverberated through his chest. "I don't want to hurt you baby," he admitted, stroking her still injured cheek ever so gently. She shook her head, "You won't," she countered completely confident as he stood, her hand in his as he pulled her to her feet. She was so completely and devastatingly in love with him. "Come on," he urged gently, pulling her toward the floo with a small smile. Relief filled her as she looked around the office just before they left. This was her office, and today she had taken back what Yaxley had attempted to take from her.
