Normality

Contrary to popular beliefs, Draco did occasionally get some work done.

At this particular moment, he was skimming over the most recent campaigns to improve Spellbound and perfecting his ideas on rough travel that he was planning to introduce the second Franklin walked out the doors of the building.

However, that wasn't the only thing his mind was fixed upon. He knew he had to get rid of Ginny- and he knew the only way he could do that was by blackmail.

He knew he had to do something quickly...but there didn't seem much that he could do. She had a golden reputation in the company and her slate was completely clean. He had even researched her past careers since leaving Hogwarts. There wasn't much aside from a brief spell in the Ministry of Magic-which she had left at her own accord, and a boring job as a waitress.

Thinking there might have been some dirt there, Draco had visited her employer, only to find that Ginny had been a favourite, only leaving when a job in tourism had unexpectedly come up.

It really was a dead end. How could you blackmail someone with nothing to blackmail them with?

He supposed he could create some false rumour, but she had too much going for her and too many people to vouch for her...he would only be endangering his own career.

It had been a week since their little closet escapade, and not a single moment had been wasted. Not only did he have Ginny to worry about, but also the details for his trip needed to be finalised. All the details were almost ironed out, and at the company's campaign launch the following day, he would unveil his plans.

A sudden knock at the door brought him back to reality.

"Come in," Draco called gruffly.

Franklin walked into the office, smiling at Draco, then asked in a pleasant tone, "How are the plans coming along?"

"Good thanks, it's a bit of a rush though- everything has to be perfect by tomorrow."

"That's true," Franklin said, stroking his chin thoughtfully, "it has to be delivered perfectly as well- we don't want anyone getting any funny ideas about the conditions."

Draco nodded, absentmindedly, shuffling his papers, "I think I've got it pretty much worked out. Did I tell you about the publicity tour?"

"No, not yet. Have you figured out where to go for your first expedition?"

"Yes...I was thinking Australia. It's got that remarkable outback--I read all about it the other day. Apparently its very remote...bit of a challenge really."

"Sounds great," Franklin nodded enthusiastically. "Mind don't mention it to Ginny though! She'll hate the idea...always had a bit of a attitude to living it rough."

Draco's head snapped up.

"Pardon?"

"Oh, nothing, just saying that Ginny had always particularly hated dust and such. I remember a year or so back, I asked her if she could long-distance Floo to Arabia to check out a luxury hotel the desert. She was excited at first until she found out she would have to do a day of rough traveling...then she turned it down flatly. No amount of encouraging could make her change her mind."

"You don't say..." replied Draco, smirking evilly. "Are her opinions to roughage still the same?"

"Very much so. Her brother Bill told me at her birthday party that she told him she wouldn't be caught dead in Egypt...or Australia for that matter. He was doing a dig at a curse site in Australia about a month back, and he was going to invite the whole family to go. Apparently Ginny was the only one with some free time- and she refused him flatly!"

Draco had hit the jackpot.

"Well, as interesting as this conversation has been, I think I need some time to get my notes into order. Thanks Franklin!"

"That's fine," said Franklin, looking bemused as he left the office, sending curious looks at Draco from over his shoulder.

Draco grabbed a spare piece of paper and began to scribble down his ideas. If Ginny hated rough travel with such a passion, surely she would quit before risking it.

Virginia Weasley was toast

~*~

Ginny hated missing her lunch break...especially when it was all the fault of a certain blonde that she despised. All because of his stupid company revamping, she was being forced to go through file after file after file...and only a week after her birthday as well!

She hadn't been exactly sure what her twenty-sixth birthday was supposed to signify. At least a change in life- not the usual day after day boredom that comes from slaving away at your enemy's files.

Being Franklin's PA had seemed all right- sure he got grouchy sometimes, but he was fair and never tried to pin her with any work that wasn't justly hers. Draco Malfoy on the other hand...he was a different kettle of fish. For the past week that she had been under his command, Ginny had file after file pushed upon her as well as several other documents to process. She was positive none of it was meant for her either.

Glaring as she tried to understand a particularly badly written parchment, Ginny finally gave up with a loud sigh and left her office, slamming the door behind her.

She decided that in her current state, the best way around it would be some coffee...yes, extra caffeinated coffee.

Wandering down the long hallways, Ginny stopped only occasionally to say hi to several employees that she was on good terms with. The very last door on the hallway she avoided however, as if was the office of one of the few people in the comy that she didn't get on with...Renee Wagner.

Renee was a German blonde, with big blue eyes that believed she was better than every other person in the company. She had the body of a super-model, which she wasn't afraid to flaunt (judging by her belt-like skirts and midriff tops) and boy, was she a slut.

If Ginny didn't know Franklin better, she would have said Renee, judging by her complete lack of, well, any sorts of skills, had slept her way into the company.

Bracing herself, Ginny walked past the office, cringing against the loud, and obnoxious voice that was Renee's.

"Sweetie...no, Sweetie. You listen to me. Franklin's finally quitting."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes...I heard from Lucy t a total spunk is taking his place...you know, that Draco guy whose office is near by?"

Ginny paused, mid-hall, interested suddenly in the conversation. Peering around the doorway, she fought hard to suppress her sniggers as she watched Renee sitting on the edge of the table carefully charming nail polish onto her Rita-Skeeter like talons.

The other girl was Tiffany, a nervous, lackey sort of girl who was the main administration girl for Spellbound. She had fluffy, long brown hair and worshiped Renee.

"I'm so jealous of Ginny," whispered Tiffany. Hearing her name, Ginny slunk back a little so that she could only hear their voices.

"Of that little slut! Everyone knows she spends her life trying to shmooze up to Franklin!"

"You mean to say," Tiffany said quickly, "that Ginny has been sleeping around with Franklin!"

"No you idiot. I mean she's been sucking up to his family. Who else would fucking baby-sit his kids. What's she trying for...Nun the year?"

Ginny, sniggered softly and peered around the corner again. Tiffany was now looking very confused, and Ginny couldn't blame her.

"Then how is Ginny a slut?"

"Because...because. Um, well I heard that Draco and her were enemies...yeah, enemies. So why would Ginny be his personal assistant unless she wanted to, uh, shag him senseless? Yeah. That's it."

"Wow, Renee," Tiffany breathed, "you are, like, so smart!"

Thinking that more innocent brain-cells were being murdered by listening to this conversation, Ginny pulled herself away from the door and snuck into the kitchen trying not to be too obvious.

It was only when she had her back resting against the white cabinets of the kitchenette, coffee machine on, that she relaxed. It was always interesting to discover what your fellow workers thought about you...In a place as small as Spellbound, Ginny had walked into several conversations about her.

Funny...I've been called boring, a prude and too frigging normal, but this is the first time the word 'slut has come up. Ginny mused while sipping her latte.

A clatter sounded behind her and Ginny turned to look, intrigued. To her disgust however, it was just Draco, smirking at her as if her birthday had come early.

"That's Virginia."

"Virginia. Ever considered a trip to Australia?"

"Are you crazy! W...would I want to go to Australia?"

"Never mind. Thanks."

With that he strode out like the cat that stole the canary, only pausing to shoot back over his shoulder, "See you tomorrow at the presentation. Oh, and I need to speak to you in my office when it's all over."

"Sure thing...asshole," she whispered bluntly.