Thomas Riddle did not like incompetence. Far from it. He did not find it adorable or sweet or silly when people made mistakes. Certainly not when those mistakes cost him even minutely. It certainly explained his secretary’s presence in his office, standing before his desk with her head bowed low, and tears on the verge of falling from the glassy huge eyes.
He suspected it was genuine remorse that she showed. It did not matter though. Not when remorse would not bring back the fifteen minutes he had spent correcting the spelling of Josue in the entire contract. They were overtaking the firm for Merlin’s sake, the least she could have done was spelt its name right, but apparently that was a bit too much to ask of people he paid to do their job.
Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous.
“Remorse now is not going to help you, Ms Brown.” He said. “The best you can do is return to your office and start packing. It would save you time.”
Ms Brown started sobbing in the pathetic sort of way only women trying to blackmail lesser men ever did. It was another mistake she had made.
“Get out.” He said, sharply. “Get out of my sight right this instant.”
It was harsh, he could tell with the intensity Brown had grabbed her skirts and dashed from the room, letting the door slam before her, as she sniffled away, her cry growing louder, and then distant before all he could hear was the sound of ticking clock.
Before all he could hear was the sound of wasted time.
Thomas Riddle took a deep breath. Fifteen minutes wasted was not the world lost, and he had known even before he had hired Lavender Brown that he could do better.
Certainly he wasn’t as good at hiring people as he had thought.
A moment passed. And then another.
Better let experts handle it then, he thought with a sign and inched forward to pick the telephone. The numbers punched with long, sleek fingers while his eyes were closed.
Waiting for Lord Malfoy to pick.
It certainly wasn’t long.
“Good Morning.” Said the sleek bored drawl from the other side. “May I ask who I am speaking too?”
Tom almost rolled his eyes as that. He had heard the same drawl for the past five years and had gotten used to it, in the past two. Lord Malfoy-Lucius Malfoy-the lord of one of the wealthiest most respected estates of London, was also one of the most infuriating and arrogant lords of all London. It had not surprised him when he had met him first, to perceive even before he had talked more than a sentence to see it.
Abraxus Malfoy hadn’t been a wise man after all. It was only natural his son would follow suit.
“Lucius.” Tom said, greeting softly. “This is Thomas speaking.”
The effect was instant. The bored drawl immediately became more focused, and intrigued.
“Lord Riddle!” Lucius exclaimed from the other side. “What a pleasant surprise? How may I help you?”
Perhaps had this been any other day, or perhaps had Tom not spent the last twenty minutes fussing over a spelling mistake, he would have asked Lucius how his day had been.
But it wasn’t any other day unfortunately.
“Lucius. It’s always a pleasure to hear you.” Thomas said, flattering. “But I am afraid I have a little request to make of you today. I am in all reality quite embarrassed to ask it however.”
“Please, Tom.” Lord Malfoy said, not leaving any space for doubt. “There is no need for embarrassment among friends. I cannot stress this more. How can I be of use?”
Well didn’t that make things much easier, now?
“You know Lucius.” He said, stitching his web. “How utterly useless secretaries can be sometimes?”
The hum of agreement from the other side encouraged Tom. He had thought it would take more than this to blind Lord Malfoy.
“Absolutely.” There was a pause, and then. “Is this the issue? You require a competent secretary?”
Tom admitted letting some of his well perfected embarrassment creep into his voice now.
“You caught me Lucius.” He said, smirking when he could practically hear the smugness from the other side of the receiver. “I am in need of a competent assistant, and I have long learnt my own selections are of no use.”
He would never admit it but the reply that came from the other end relieved him.
“You are in luck, Tom.” Lucius said, smugly. “I have just met a brilliant young lad, and he would be entirely perfect to our kind of work. He even carries decent blood. Hadrian Potter? Have you heard of him? His father ruined the name when he was just a child and was murdered along with his wife. Hadrian has been raised without the wealth of course, but I can see the blood of Fleamont lives in him. You must meet him.”
Hadrian Potter did sound intriguing.
“I trust your opinion then, Lord Malfoy.” Tom said, as if he had surrendered. “If you would be so inclined to introduce us.”
“Of course, Tom.” Lucius agreed easily. “He has been invited as well to the evening ball on the fifth. I can very well see to your introductions then.”
Saturday then. He could survive until then.
“Thank you, Lucius.” Tom said, almost genuinely. “I most grateful.”
“Nonsense, Lord Riddle.” Lucius said. “The pleasure is mine.”
It certainly would be if Hadrian Potter lived up to his reputation. Tom had to admit that in all the five years he had known Lucius Malfoy, he had never once heard him this impressed with someone, especially not someone who was below station.
What had happened with the Potters had been unfortunate to say the least. James and Lilly Potter had been murdered in the fresh of the night by their own close friend Pettigrew, who squandered away the wealth and family estates under the pretence of being the manager. James’ trust of his friends had not helped this, and it was a long time before Sirius Black another close friend of Potters and then heir-now lord-of the estates of Black, had intervened.
By the time he had discovered of the Potters deaths it had been too late. All the family wealth had been squandered away, and nothing was left.
The young-then two-Hadrian Potter missing as well.
And now he was back. After twenty two long years of not existing.
Now wasn’t that interesting?
tangentwithtanner
janainaart
titsay
snowghoul
stormborns
kaledo-art
gummygunk
pixelskylines
discoholicmusic