Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Lucius left his meeting with Hermione feeling quite confident that she would come work for him. He had talked at length about the various holdings he had and had also probed her to find out where her interests lie. He had quite enjoyed their conversation and overall it had been a very enjoyable afternoon. With the meticulous research she was carrying out, she had confirmed his belief that she would be a very valuable employee.

Even though it might not have been strictly necessary, he had also poured on the charm, doing his best to ensure that she realized his company was the best place for someone of her considerable talent, subtly flirting with her to make her feel important. He had enjoyed watching her reaction to the attention he lavished upon her. She had seemed quite flattered by the positive attention he had given her, making him wonder about her personal life.

Of course, he told himself, it was no real concern of his what the state her private life was. But then again he also knew how troubles at home could affect someone's job performance. He would not change his decision to hire her based on her personal life, but it was obviously to his advantage – and hers – for her to solve any personal problems.

He knew that no other company in Britain could offer her the diversity and challenges that his could. He had to admit that he was enjoying how difficult she was making it. Most people who were offered a job at his company would accept the interview without question. In fact, he almost never interacted with any of the new potential employees. But Hermione was different. He knew she had to be convinced it was in her best interest to work for him, to overcome their dark past, and he most definitely enjoyed the challenge.

This diversion was exactly the sort of thing he needed to relieve the tediousness of the day to day running of a large commercial empire. Of course he was not involved with every decision, having selected the best and brightest to run the individual holdings, but he required reports on what each branch was doing for his review.

Since it was only mid-afternoon, he decided to return to the office to peruse correspondence before his weekly dinner with Connor Greengrass. The two of them had never really been close at Hogwarts since Connor had been three years behind Lucius, but they had gotten on well enough. Once Draco had become serious with Astoria, the two men had formed a strong friendship.

Lucius had relied heavily on that friendship in the wake of Narcissa's illness. Connor had been able to keep him focused on the present and remind him that life was still worth living. For the last two years, Connor had been gently urging him to enjoy everything that life had to offer and begin dating again.

It was a prospect that did not appeal to Lucius. There were quite a few pureblood widows who he knew were salivating at the chance to land him. Some of them were bolder than others in flaunting their desires, and he was sure that once he resumed dating a number of them would turn quite brazen. Truthfully he was not interested in any of them. He was almost positive all they were interested in was becoming the next Mrs. Malfoy and having access to the money and the power that would come with it and were not at all interested in being his partner.

Once he decided to date, he would be very selective and hopefully choose the woman who was destined to be his wife, someone who would feel about him the way Narcissa had. She had really and truly loved him, and he had loved her. For now, he had not found that witch, not that he was really looking. He wasn't sure what he was waiting for, he just had not felt motivated to enter the dating scene.

After spending two hours going through the latest correspondence and reports and making comments for his secretary, he left the office to meet Connor at his private club. It had long ago become their habit to meet for dinner on Mondays. It had started at the club as a way to get Lucius out of the manor and around others, and they had never changed it.

Connor was waiting for him, martini in hand. Lucius took his seat and ordered his usual Scotch. "How is Felicia?" he asked cordially.

"She's doing well and sends her regards."

Lucius could tell there was something more Connor wanted to say. "And?" he prompted.

Connor set his drink down. "She'd like to have you over for dinner Friday."

Lucius immediately felt on guard. "And who else will be in attendance?" Felicia had taken to heart Narcissa's desire that Lucius not spend the rest of his life alone and often held impromptu dinners with someone she thought was a suitable pairing.

Connor set his drink down and folded his hands on the table. "Lucius, it's been three years. You should at least try to get to know some other witches. It's hard to find your match if you aren't out in the social scene."

It was an old discussion, and Lucius knew that Connor did it out of concern. "I do not want to do the social scene." He took a drink. "I can think of no less than ten middle-age witches who would throw themselves all over me in a very embarrassing manner if they believed I was interested in dating." At the last dinner Felicia had hosted, he had experienced just that. Amanda Belby had flirted rather shamelessly with him, clearly not willing to accept his lack of interest. She had even invited herself back to his manor as the evening was wrapping up.

"You don't know that," Connor said defensively.

Lucius upended his Scotch and ordered another with a wave of his hand. "No? Have you forgotten the last dinner already? Though I cannot blame you, as I have tried to repress that memory. There is a very good reason I limit my appearances at social functions." He wanted to choose the witch and did not want her choosing him.

Connor sighed. Changing subjects, he asked, "So, do you have something big planned in the business world? I noticed you had a decided spring in your step this evening, or perhaps you have found that special witch?" he asked with a twinkle in his eye.

"Now, Connor, you know that I couldn't tell you if it was something business related and that you would be the first to know if I had found someone. But if you must know, I am in the process of stealing away some more talent from the Ministry," he said deviously as he swirled his drink, admiring the amber liquid.

"I think you need a better hobby," Connor said pointedly.

Lucius grinned. "Oh come now, I thought you would find my actions noble that I would rescue our poor misguided youth from the drudgery of working at the Ministry," he said magnanimously.

"Oh, yes, very noble," Connor replied sarcastically. "You rescue them and increase your profits." Both men shared a laugh. Connor continued somberly, "Seriously, my friend, there is more to life than business. Perhaps if you put the sort of effort into your personal life that you put into your professional..."

While Lucius did not appreciate the implication, he knew it was the truth. If he put half the time into finding someone to share his life with that he had put into recruiting Hermione... He started to wonder if his pursuing her to work for him was in part because she was married. He could enjoy the chase because there was no chance of commitment.

"Lucius?" Connor asked.

"I'm sorry. Lost in thought," he said before taking a draught of his Scotch.

Connor leaned forward. "So is there someone you are considering, someone who would occupy your thoughts like that?" he asked eagerly.

"Not at all," he replied simply. "Though it would be good if there was." He forced a smile. It was no good thinking of Hermione that way. She was married, and he would not invite the scandal of being a home wrecker. Even if there would be no scandal, he still believed in the sanctity of marriage vows, though some of his contemporaries did not share that viewpoint.

"Have you thought about a fling?" Connor asked casually as they started their meal.

"A fling?" Lucius asked incredulously. He could not believe his closest friend had suggested something so frivolous and out of character.

"Why not? You're single and in the prime of your life. I think many men our age would love to have a fling," Connor pointed out.

"I think many men our age have had a fling," Lucius replied glibly and they both laughed at his joke.

Connor shrugged. "It might be a good way to ease back into the dating scene."

"The only problem with that is the fact I am fairly well known," Lucius pointed out as he waved his fork at Connor.

"Go somewhere else. Someone as handsome as you should have no problem finding a willing witch." Connor grinned slyly.

Lucius had to admit that perhaps Connor had a point. An anonymous fling might feel good, reassure him that he still had it. Of course, that sort of behavior was not in his nature, not even before he had married, but perhaps it was time for a change, and a change of scenery. An anonymous fling could be quite liberating and exactly what he needed.

The rest of the meal was spent on more mundane topics of conversation such as politics, weather and business generalities - nothing of any real importance and more to fill the dead space while they were eating. It was all very much part of their routine.

When Lucius returned home, he poured himself a Scotch and stared into the fire, losing himself to thoughts stirred up by Connor's observations. Yes, a fling might be exactly what he needed. Something that was pure lust with no strings attached. Unfortunately, his thoughts then drifted to Hermione – the one woman he could not have.

As he thought about her, he realized that he had been flirting rather heavily with her when he had been trying to convince her to come work for him. He had tried to rationalize that it was in order to earn her confidence and put her at ease, but as he thought more and more about her, he knew that it was something more. She was exactly the type of witch he wanted. She was bright, driven and most importantly someone who did not care about his money. She would see him for who he was and not the size of his vault.

Downing his Scotch, he poured himself another and quickly downed that, trying to drown out the thoughts of Hermione. She was married. To Weasley. To Weasley! While he was no expert on the young man, he did know that Weasley was not her intellectual equal and given her behavior that afternoon, Weasley did not even seem to value what he had.

Perhaps her job stress was not the only stress in her life. He had actually been surprised to learn that she was working for the Ministry. Most young, married witches started families, and she had clearly not done so. He began to wonder if there was a reason for that that did not involve the stress at her job. After all, she could have easily quit her job and started family, yet she was sticking it out. And now he nearly had her convinced to come work for him. Could there be unrest in her marriage?

He downed a fourth glass of Scotch that evening. "It's a foolish fantasy, old man," he admonished as he got unsteadily to his feet, starting to feel the effects of all the alcohol. Taking hold of his chair, he waited for the room to stop spinning. Once it was reasonably stable, he aimed for the door only run squarely into the door frame. It took him quite some time to make it to his room. At first he bounced off the walls until he just settled for leaning against it as he shuffled down the hall and up the stairs.

When he made it to his room, he tried to take his shoe off, but collapsed to his bed and decided he was quite comfortable before passing out.

The next morning Lucius awoke to raging headache and the nausea that accompanied a hangover. He noticed that he was under the covers and his nightclothes. Clearly the house-elves had looked after him. He sat up and immediately regretted it. Quietly he said, "Katta."

"Yes, master?" the house-elf replied exuberantly as it popped into his bed chambers.

He winced and grabbed at his head. "Quietly," he chided and watched the elf's ears dip at being chastised. "Bring me something for a hangover," he instructed.

Katta bowed before disappearing with a crack.

He winced at the noise house-elves created when Apparating, but he knew there was little to be done about that and braced for his servant's return, which was only about a minute later. He shooed her outside his bed chambers so that he did not have to hear that thundering crack again.

He downed the vile concoction as quickly as he could. As clarity returned, he could not believe that he had drunk so much. The wine had flowed freely at dinner, and when combined with copious amounts of Scotch he had drunk both before and after dinner, it had been too much. It was very unlike him to get drunk. He prided himself on maintaining control. At least he was reasonably sure that he had not appeared drunk in public since he had made it safely home.

He got to his feet and shuffled to the bathroom, feeling better, but not yet one hundred percent.

Hermione. He had been thinking about Hermione last night. He wanted to blame Connor for suggesting that he start dating again, but he knew that would not be fair since he had been thinking about her quite a bit the last few weeks, and not just as a new employee.

As he showered, he forced himself to push her from his mind. There was nothing to be done. Lucius might not have the strongest morals in the wizarding world, but he did believe in the sanctity of marriage, and he would not have her cheat on her husband – no matter how much he believed she deserved someone better.

After drying off, he stared at himself in the bathroom mirror. He still looked good. He had a few wrinkles, but they made him look distinguished not old. And unlike some of his contemporaries he had not let himself go physically. No, he was every bit the fine catch he had been thirty years ago when he had wooed Narcissa.

Thirty years. It was such a long time ago, more than half his lifetime. That was the real reason he had not started dating. When he had married Narcissa, it had been for the rest of his life. He always imagined they would grow old together. Yes, he had flirted with other witches over the years, but it had always been harmless. Narcissa had been aware he did it and did not mind. In fact, she appreciated that he had also flirted with her.

But dating was much more than flirting. Dating was exposing yourself, your emotions to another person and hoping for their approval. As Lucius Malfoy he basically had his choice of eligible witches, or did he? Did he fear rejection and was that why he was avoiding dating?

Whatever trepidations he had about that, it was finally time for him to move on with his life and quit hiding in the past.

And a fling seemed the perfect way to do that.