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Chapter Text

Tom Marvolo Riddle was not having a good day.

Scratch that. He hadn’t had a good day since he had managed to beat Phoenix Inc. to snatch the best CEO award at the last business enclave. And that was six months ago!

And today, on top of everything that was already going on, his personal secretary of two years had just handed him her resignation. Quite a shame because he was starting to get her name right. Apparently, she finally realized that working for him was a hard job.

Well, starting a company from scratch and making it the number pharmaceutical company in the country was a harder job. And he never complained.

He actually enjoyed his job.

“Mrs Malfoy, how soon can you get me a new secretary?” He calls up his HR head. She was an efficient woman. She always got the work done.

“Mr. Riddle! I have a woman right in front of me interviewing for a job as an intern. Should I send her up?”

Well, the usual process of advertising for the job and doing the interviews would take at least a week and he didn’t want to waste his time on such a trivial matter.

“Please do. And send me her resume.”

The doors of his office doors reveal a young woman, barely above her teens, wearing a loose sweatshirt bright yellow in colour along with denim jeans, her messy hair tied in a messy bun, the emerald green eyes behind the bulky spectacles were her only redeeming feature. She was clutching her iPad in her arms, the only sign of her nervousness.

Tom had always liked the colour green.

“Good morning, Mr. Riddle. My name is Rosalie Evans. I wanted to apply for an internship at your company. Although, I was not expecting the CEO himself to take my interview.”

Her voice is pleasant enough. At least she wasn’t blushing and drooling like women liked to do in his presence. Despite her gaudy choice of clothes which reminded him of somebody he would not rather name, he could get used to her, given she was efficient enough.

“What was the reason you chose this company? Did Phoenix Inc. turn down your application?”

“I only ever applied to Voldemort Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Riddle.”

“Why?” He didn’t like repeating himself.

“I wanted to experience working in this company. It is quite a marvel how only a decade old company came to beat the best player in the game who had captured the market for a century now.”

Huh, it was good to hear some well-deserved appreciation. But then, it could just be a polished flattery!

“Do you want to figure out our secret to success?”

“No sir, I know that there is no shortcut to hard work and the success of this company comes from remaining true to the principles it stands for. I want to learn and grow here and I would also like to contribute to the growth of the company.”

Tactful. And confident! No doubt her double masters in business and computer science were also bonus points. He noticed that there was no parental information mentioned in her file. But he never concerned himself much about his employees’ backgrounds as long as they were good at their work.

“You’ve impressed me, Ms. Evans. How would you like to work as my personal secretary? This position will give you more insights into the working of this company than being an intern ever will.”

He watches her mull over his words and is happy when she doesn’t take long to answer.

“It’d be my honour to work with you, Mr. Riddle.”

“Congratulations. Your job starts right now. You will find your office space right outside this room. Oh, and bear this one thing in mind, I do not tolerate inefficiency.”

Barely one week into her job, his new secretary earns her first ‘thanks’ from Tom Riddle. Nobody is more surprised than the man himself.

It all started with an unscheduled appointment from the CEO of a rival company.

“Sir, your three o’clock appointment is here. Also, the Chinese business delegation would like a word with you.”

That was a problem. His three o’clock couldn’t know about his Chinese guests. They had a reputation of being aggressive competitors and would try to poach the Chinese in seconds. And Tom had worked hard to get these businessmen to start negotiating a deal with him.

“Is there a problem, sir?”

He sighed. It was a problem way ahead her paygrade.

“Can you entertain our Chinese guests while I attend to my appointment. Oh, and Ms. Evans, pleasure make sure that they are not aware of each other’s presence.”

Also, that they do not feel insulted by his refusal to meet at the moment.

She seems to understand his request. He could see the wheels in her mind turning, connecting the dots.

“Not a problem, Mr. Riddle.”

His appointment overstayed their welcome and Tom was actually worried about insulting his guests by his late reception.

To his surprise, the Chinese are in quite a good mood when he finally met them. His secretary had arranged for them to have a tour of the company they were going to invest in and they had been impressed by their work culture. And by her Mandarin.

“Thank you, Ms. Evans. For your excellent work today.”

For making sure all my hard work did not go to waste. He had finalized a deal with the Chinese that very evening. They had happily flown back that very night, Evans having booked their flight in time.

“It would not have been possible without your own excellent work, Mr. Riddle. You have built such a good company here. They had no trouble being impressed.”

Her simple words made him actually smile for the first time in a long while. He had been getting so used to faking them.

Chapter Text

It was now a month since Evans had started working for Tom Riddle. She was so exceptionally good at her job that now he had started trusting her with his schedule and appointments.

Even with the occasional advice when he needed it. He found out she was good at that too.

“Do you think this will a good gift for Ms. Maxime?” He asked her, showing her the expensive bottle of wine on his desk.

He had acquired the rights of her cosmetic company ‘Beauxbatons’ and he wanted her in a good mood in the celebratory dinner tonight.

She hesitated. Not a good sign!

“Speak your mind, Evans.”

“Well, you’re taking over her company. This might not be appreciative enough.”

“It costs a fortune. How could it not be appreciative?”

“Because it screams money. And you just bought her company.”

He sighs.

“Fine. What would be an appropriate gift for Ms. Maxime?”

“Given that she is a history and culture enthusiast. A private moment inside the British National Museum for this afternoon should improve her mood.”

“How do you know that she is a history and culture enthusiast?”

“She is a woman who has run a cosmetic company quite successfully for over a decade. She is an aesthetic person. Her last vacations have all been to places like Greece, Italy and India. Her social media photos scream history and culture enthusiast.”

“Ok. How do we manage a private visit to the British National Museum at such short notice?”

“I’ll get on it. I know the Director.”

“Wait, you know the Director of the British National Museum?”

“Boss, let’s just say that I impressed him with my art knowledge one time. I’ll get you that private visit, no problem.”

He stares at the retreating red sweater of his assistant and thinks that it is not worth risking his mental faculties to dwell upon her person.

Of course, Tom receives a heartfelt appreciation from the woman whose company he’d bought later that night.

Maybe, he’d acquired an asset in Rosalie Evans.

And because Tom thought she had a sound enough mind for business, he asked her to sit in a meeting with his top executives. He had asked her to make a report about the points discussed and her own suggestions.

He had been surprised to see that Evans had taken this task quite seriously and had added some good recommendations of her own.

Of course, that wasn’t where she had stopped.

“Boss, did you notice Mrs. Malfoy was not looking well today?”

She had taken to calling her ‘Boss’ while he called her ‘Evans’. It worked perfectly.

“Hm? I thought she looked just the same.”

He does not look up from his file. 

“No. She’s usually so impeccable. She’s been subdued lately.”

Why was Evans so bloody concerned about Mrs. Malfoy all of a sudden!

“She is troubled about her son, Draco. He’s not been able to get an internship in any good companies and she can’t hire her own son here because of the conflict of interest.”

Ok. He still could not figure out why it was his problem now.

She lets out a long-suffering sigh, as if she’d heard his mind.

“The Malfoys have been your most dedicated employees since you started this company. Mr. Malfoy left his family here to work for your business in France. The least you could do is offer their son an internship.”

So this was what it was about.

“Evans, you should’ve started with that. Just offer the boy an internship.”

She extends the letter, ready for him to sign.

“Thought you’d need more convincing.”

The Malfoys send him a long letter to extend their heartfelt thanks which Evans thoughtfully summarized for him in a line.

One day, Tom notices that he had not had any meetings with Hepzibah Smith for quite some time. Something he greatly appreciates. The woman got on his nerves like no other.

But she is the only patient they knew who was suffering from a rare genetic disorder who was willing to test their latest product. And she only agreed on the condition that Tom himself talked to her.

“Evans, have you been cutting off Hepzibah Smith’s meetings?”

“Cedric Diggory from product development has been gracious enough to offer his assistance to Madam Smith. He's been going to meet her in your place.”

He looks up at his secretary who’s busy fiddling with her iPad. The yellow flowers on her white sweater seem to be winking at him.

“And she agreed?”

“Well, Cedric is quite pretty. Not as pretty as you Boss, but pretty enough for her, I guess.”

Huh!

“And Diggory agreed to this?”

Why would anyone agree to the horrible experience of something like an interview with the vampire.

Now, she looks up, green eyes shining behind her glasses. Is that a spot of color on her cheeks?

“I agreed to go to a date with him. He’s been hounding me for days.”

Look at that, somebody ready to sacrifice themselves for his peace.

“Thank you, Evans.”

“No problem, Boss. It’s my job.”

It wasn’t. But he doesn’t point it out. Tom Riddle was never the one to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Chapter Text

As more time passed, Tom Riddle found out that his new secretary was more like him than he’d thought when he first met her.

Evans could be quite ruthless in her drive to get the work done.

Caractacus Burke did not stand a chance against her scheming when she got to know that Tom was thinking about buying his company and Burke used the knowledge to drive up his price.

Now, Tom was holding the newspaper who featured a big story about Burke’s divorce and the large amount of alimony his wife had demanded from him. It had been kept on his desk, strategically open on this very page.

That seemed exactly like his own playbook.

“Evans, do you know Burke’s wife?” He asks her conversationally.

She doesn’t even look up from her iPad.

“Oh, Isabella! Very sweet lady. Loves handmade cookies.”

“Evans, did you do this?”

She looks up. But the unnatural radiance of her orange sweater effectively shades her face.

“Boss, I simply informed a poor lady who was oblivious to her husband’s affairs. And helped set her up with a good divorce lawyer. That’s called helping!”

“Did she know that you worked for me?”

“No, that never came up in our conversation. Besides, you can’t be held responsible for every little thing your secretary does in her spare time.”

Evans goes back to her work without waiting for his response.

“Evans, when did you become an expert in biochemistry?”

The report Tom is reading is filled with notes and comments written in her quirky hand.

“This weekend. When Blaise Zabini who was supposed to do this work got sick and went on an unplanned leave.”

To her credit, the report was perfect.

“Did you do all this over the weekend?”

“Oh, trust me, boss. I didn’t enjoy it. Thankfully, I have a genius friend called Hermione who was happy to help me. But she made me do all the work myself as you can see.”

Her eyes were sporting dark spots and her hair was messier than usual. How was it even possible!

It was still a brilliant proposal for their new drug; every proposition backed with relevant data and detailed breakdowns. He marvelled at her intelligence not for the first time since he’d known her.

Her report ended up saving the day, getting Tom a new lucrative contract for his company.

At this rate, he'd have no choice but to increment her salary!

“Evans, you can take the weekend off.”

She looks at him like she’s just been given a punishment.

“But Boss, I wanted to work on the presentation for the Monday meeting with the Board.”

Her eyes narrow at his silence.

“Oh, is Miss Black coming to office? Is that why you want me to make myself unavailable?”

Only Evans had the guts to talk to him about his ‘girlfriend’ Bellatrix Black.

“No, it’s not that.”

“Well, then I don’t see what’s the problem!”

“Evans, I was trying to reward you for doing Zabini’s work. I’d thought you’d like the weekend off.”

“Boss, you want to give me a reward, you can start by giving me access to the management files. Half the office is going to be here working anyway.”

He huffs.

“You can have the management files, Evans.”

“Have a good weekend with your girlfriend, Boss.”

Sometimes, Tom wondered whether he was creating his own image in this girl. But Tom would’ve never worn that shade of neon green!

One Saturday afternoon, Tom noticed a suspiciously engraved envelope on his desk. His secretary was just here with some files.

“EVANS!”

She comes back running inside the office, looking messy as ever. God, that awful shocking pink!

“Evans, what’s this!”

She eyes the envelope and takes a moment to answer.

“In the world of emails, Mr. Dumbledore thought it prudent to send you this invitation by post. It only just arrived.”

“I had the auction dinner planned for tonight since ages.”

The old man had timed this perfectly to stop him from attending the meeting he was holding tonight. In Tom’s absence, he would easily get his agenda passed.

Dumbledore knew Tom liked to be there on the scene when he was spending his own money, even for a good cause.

He could feel his rage starting to boil inside his head.

“Mrs. Malfoy can attend the charity auction in my stead. Evans, inform her.”

But she remains standing there in silence.

“What?”

“She has taken the weekend off to go visit her husband in France.”

Great! Now there was no one competent enough to go there in his place.

He looks at his assistant, who is now chewing her pencil in her mouth, bespectacled eyes watching his every movement.

“I could go.”

Her quiet statement catches him by surprise.

She looks at his surprised face.

“I can wear a dress, boss.”

Tom sighs. She’ll probably have a closet full of dreadfully bright coloured dresses, judging by her usual taste in clothes.

“The dress code is dark green.”

He lies.

“Really? I didn’t notice that on the card!”

Her eyebrows scrunch in concentration.

Oh, he will probably regret this in the end.

“Here, take my card. And please make yourself presentable before representing my name.”

Her eyes are wide as she takes the card like she’s won the lottery. With Tom’s money at her disposal, she practically had.

“You’ve got it, boss. I’ll never let you down!”

“Oh, and I’m taking the rest of the day off.”

She flies out of the office, brandishing his card above her head like a trophy.

Damn it, Dumbledore!

Chapter Text

Dumbledore had been surprised to see Tom at the meeting. The old man had obviously not wanted him here influencing the other members.

“Tom, my boy! What a pleasure to see you here!”

He shoves aside the need to correct this grating greeting.

“The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Dumbledore. You called this meeting, of course, I had to be here.”

“Yes, yes, of course. As the members of this association, we are here to discuss about the representation we need to send to the Parliament.”

And that opens the flood gates of opinions from the members present there.

Of course, only two opinions really mattered: Albus Dumbledore’s and his own.

Well, they both were never going to agree on a common agenda in a single meeting.

“Perhaps, we should adjourn this agenda for our next meeting.” Dumbledore says after listening to half an hour of quibbling imbeciles.

“We should. And Mr. Dumbledore, kindly send the invitation via email. It’s been known to be faster than the post.”

Before the old man can give his excuse, Tom walks out of the room.

Now that he has enough time on his hands, Tom decides to check in on how Evans was doing at the charity auction.

It was already the half-time break when he got there. He found himself being lost among a sea of well-dressed attendees.

And then he saw her coming towards him.

And stared.

Because Evans was truly a vision tonight.

Deep green dress made of silk covered her sleek body so very fittingly, the exact match for her eyes. Eyes that were now devoid of the bulky glasses, were so radiant and green. Her messy black hair was styled to frame her pretty heart-shaped face. And scarlet lips that were triumphantly smiling at his dropped jaw.

“Boss, I told you I could pull it off. And thank you very much for your card.”

Her whisper took him out of his reverie. He starts breathing again.

“Call me, Tom.”

“Are you seriously giving me the permission to use your name?”

She is laughing, turning more heads towards them.

Fuck, she is so very innocent. So very different from the rest of them. Tom feels the sudden need to keep her protected, lock her from the influence of the rest of the world.

“Only for this evening, Evans.”

“Alright.”

“Tom.”

She tests his name on her mouth like an experiment.

Then she turns.

Her dress is showing off quite a bit of her lean, smooth back. Tom’s fingers are tingling with the desire to touch.

No wonder Diggory had agreed to visit Hepzibah Smith for one date with her. Hell, even Tom would agree to visit Hepzibah Smith if he could only have a chance with this stunning woman!

Tom controls his breathing and leads them to their table where the auction is starting for the second round.

With her heels, she is tall enough to reach his shoulders.

It feels good to have her on his arm. The envious looks they receive make him happy. He feels a sense of pride to be the enabler of her beauty tonight.

“So, how has the event been so far?”

“We have been supporting the young artists tonight.”

He sighs. Her bleeding heart had purchased rookie paintings from this auction.

“They are not bad, Tom. And their value will only increase in the coming years as these artists make their reputations.”

Well, she did have an eye for art.

“How are you so sure?”

“For one, Mr. Grindelwald complimented me for my choices.”

“Grindelwald is here?”

What were those two old fools playing at!

“Yes. He wanted to know my name. I only told him that I worked for you and was saving you a seat.”

Good girl!

The auction starts again and this time Tom is the one making the bids. He goes for the most expensive painting on sale tonight much to his partner’s annoyance.

But she didn’t know what it was like to be able to spend money. Besides, it was all for a good cause!

“What are you doing?”

She is fiddling with something on her lap.

“No phones are allowed inside this event, Evans.”

His sharp whisper gets her head out of the phone.

“Can you imagine sitting here without a phone for an hour! It’s a good thing I brought my spare phone and hid it safely inside my dress.”

Tom makes the mistake of looking down.

Her dress has a slit at her upper thigh, where the minx has strapped a phone. He covers the glowing device with his own hands when he finds their neighbour looking at their side.

His hand is now covering her soft, warm skin and he has to exert an extraordinary amount of self-control to remove it. Because his body had suddenly decided to rebel against his brain’s commands.

Evans shows no reaction, completely oblivious to his internal struggle.

After the auction is over, a slow waltz dance has started in the ballroom.

“Can you waltz?”

“Yes. Do you really want to dance? With me?”

No woman has ever asked him this question in this tone before.

“It’d be polite to have just one dance before we leave.”

Tom has left countless parties without dancing before.

“Alright.”

He takes her hand and they are gliding away with the music on the dance floor. Evans is like an angel; he barely feels her figure in his arms as they move.

She does know how to dance.

His hand is on her back; touching that warm, smooth skin while he holds her close enough to feel her breaths.

Tom is barely in his thirties. She was twenty-four. It shouldn’t be that weird, should it?

Not when she fits so perfectly in his arms like she was made for him.

“Everything okay? Tom?”

Not when his name sounded so sweet in her mouth.

“Of course. Why do you ask?"

"Well, everyone seems to be looking at us."

"No, no. They are all looking at you!"

She laughs, shaking her head like he was only humoring her.

"Are you having a good time?”

“The best.”

Certainly not when her dazzling smile reawakens his cold frozen heart.

Chapter Text

“Heads up, Boss! Your girlfriend is here and she’s NOT in a good mood!”

That text is the only warning Tom gets, before Bella is storming into his office, looking to be in one of her infamous rages.

“WHERE IS SHE?”

Bella screams her greeting.

“This is my office, Bella. Who else were you expecting to see here?”

“The BITCH you went to the charity auction last night with!”

He doesn’t reply.

“What? You thought I wouldn’t find out?”

He sighs.

“There’s nothing like you’re implying, Bella. I came home last night right after the event concluded, didn’t I?”

Her eyes are like flying saucers.

“Then what’s this I’ve been hearing about the delicate flower you’ve been dancing with?”

Delicate flower? More like a hand grenade!

She must’ve caught something in his expression.

“I have to beg for you to have a dance with me. You never dance with a stranger. So, who is the girl? Does she work here? She has to. There is no where else you spend more time other than here.”

“Bella, please. Let this go. There is no other girl.”

The determined glint in her eyes is of course saying another story.

“No, I want to meet this girl. And if you won’t tell me who she is, then I’m going to find out for myself.”

How? Thankfully, there were no phones allowed at the event so there are no pictures of him from last night.

“Oh, I’m going to comb through this whole fucking building and pick her out.”

Seriously? Of course, she is bloody serious. Was it really worth to keep a bombshell socialite as a girlfriend if she was also fucking mad!

He groans.

“EVANS!”

His secretary comes inside the office instantly. Was she listening at the door? You never know with Evans.

Evans is back to her normal messy self, making him doubt whether she was the same woman he’d danced with last night.

Bella is looking at her, a horrified expression at her face.

“Oh my god! You’re a train wreck if I’ve ever seen one.”

Worn out jeans, bright green sweater, messy black hair barely contained in a bun and bulky spectacles covering most of her face!

But Tom was now starting to see the appeal of this woman hidden behind this shroud of obscurity.

“Evans, show Ms. Black around the office, will you?”

Bella now turns to Evans, going to stand beside her. Tom marvels at the contrast between both women.

Bella is wearing a little black dress that is so tight it’s like a second skin, looking like she's just walked out of a fashion magazine. And Evans is Evans!

“Yes, I want to meet every woman under 40 who works here.”

“Of course, Ms. Black.”

Bella’s sharp pencil heels cluck as she walks beside Evans who wears white canvas shoes.

“So, you’re the secretary whose bright clothes Tom complains about offending his eyes!”

Evans throws him an exaggerated betrayed look as she closes the door behind them.

After searching for hours, with Evans right at her side the whole time, Bellatrix Black still doesn’t find the woman who was on Tom’s arms last night.

It’s Sunday. Tom wakes up with Bella’s arms wrapped around him. He suddenly gets the feeling of being strangled by a giant snake.

Despite her loud protests, Tom makes the lame excuse of work and goes off to his office. To breathe.

He finds Evans sitting in her cubicle, legs dangling up the desk, reading Dostoevsky with a steaming cup of coffee.

She is so engrossed in her book; she doesn’t even notice him till he has walked up right next to her.

“Boss! What’s the matter? Something came up?”

In a second, she is jumping off to stand, her full attention on him.

By now she knows about everything that goes around in his company. Sometimes even before him! So her surprise does make sense.

“No, there’s nothing. You can relax, Evans!”

“Then you just wanted to come to the office on a Sunday?”

“I could ask you the same question.”

“I like the peace and quiet here. And the free coffee.”

He shakes his head. There’s no point arguing with this woman.

“Well, enjoy your ‘Crime and Punishment’ then.”

Her copy is hard-worn and he has a feeling she’s read it countless times before.

“Boss?”

Sometime later, her head peeks out from the door.

“Do you need anything for lunch?”

“What are you ordering for yourself?”

“Pizza.”

“Works for me.”

Twenty minutes later, Evans is sitting on the edge of his desk sharing a pizza with him like they’re old friends.

Tom didn’t have friends. He only had acquaintances.

“Did you have a row with your girlfriend, Boss?”

“No.”

Besides, it wasn’t any of her business.

“Because I can’t think of another reason you’re here on a Sunday. And if you have broken it up with her, I have the perfect candidate for your next romance.”

Are all of the young people so very nosy these days?

She goes on like his silence meant interest. Which it did not!

“Daphne Greengrass is beautiful, perfect pedigree, great manners and intelligent enough to challenge you.”

Tom knew Daphne Greengrass. She was too clever to fall for his false pretenses at romance. They would be a disaster together.

“Do you live here, Evans? Are you homeless?”

He asks, trying to steer the conversation away from his love life.

“I do have a flat. And flatmates. It’s just that people my age are so preoccupied with being drunk and having sex. So I like to stay away as far as I can.”

“And let me guess, you are not interested in any of that?”

“Of course not. Why? Were you like that at my age?”

“I was busy working hard at your age, Evans. That’s what has got me here.”

“And I want to be where you are when I am your age.”

“I hope you’re not thinking of being in the Pharma business!”

Because if she was, he might as well have been nurturing his competition.

“No, boss. Never. I’m thinking AI.”

“Oh, that’s interesting. And ambitious.”

“That’s what I was thinking.”

Her eyes are off in some other world where she has already made it as a successful AI entrepreneur.

Tom misses his own days of that heady optimism and dreams of glory!

Chapter Text

Lucius Malfoy is in the country to give Tom a detailed account of the working of his French businesses.

“... and that’s why they sued us.”

Lucius was explaining to Tom about a legal trouble they had recently got themselves into.

“And where are we with our response?”

“We have our defence ready. We’ll have to wait and see where the judge goes.”

Tom watches Evans listening intently to this conversation while she is handing him some files that need his signature.

“Anything to say, Evans?”

Lucius looks at him in surprise. He cannot seem to fathom why Tom was asking his secretary for her opinion.

“It’s very clear that our adversary has dragged us into this unnecessary legal battle with malicious intentions.”

She starts quite diplomatically.

“And?”

“And that’s why merely a defence is not enough. You need to show them they are going after the wrong fish. That Voldemort is the shark in this ocean.”

Lucius Malfoy is watching this exchange with his mouth hanging open. At Tom’s pointed look, he recovers himself.

“We don’t even know why the Delacours have started this grudge against us!” Malfoy exclaims.

Tom looks at Evans.

“Because we fixed a hostile takeover of Beauxbatons not so many months ago. And the Delacours are the closest known friend of Madam Maxime.”

Evans looks back at the men with her usual blank look. Like she hadn’t just handed them their solution.

"How do you know that?"

Lucius is clearly astonished by her answer.

"Because I looked into Madam Maxime."

Her answer is delivered with her usual blank face. 

“Anything else I can help with you, Boss?”

“No. You can leave, Evans.”

Lucius is still looking at the door she’s exited.

“My secretary knows more than you on French business circles. You need to step up your game, Lucius.”

Tom didn’t know about this connection with Madam Maxime. But Lucius had no excuse. It was his job.

But the man is still looking at the goddamn door!

“Where did you find this secretary? I want one too!”

Tom looks at him in surprise. Was he seriously asking him for his secretary!

“What you want, Lucius, is to pay attention to Voldemort’s French business. Otherwise, I’ll make sure that you are the one sitting in my secretary’s chair.”

And that cleared up the man’s fantasy pretty quickly.

“Boss!”

“Say your piece, Evans! You’ve been standing there since ages.”

“You need to do something about Walden Macnair.”

“Who?”

“He’s an executive in Data Analytics. This is the fifth complain of sexual harassment against him in two years.”

Tom pauses in his reading. Well, this man wasn’t all that important if Tom had never even heard his name.

“Well, he’s making it hard for the girls to work.”

Tom had never seen this determined look on Evans before.

“Evans, tell Mrs. Malfoy to let him go.”

She gives him a winning smile.

“Boss, where did you think I just came from?”

Tom shakes his head and goes back to his work.

“Evans, I told you to plan a dinner. Why did you take that to mean to serve just drinks?”

Tom says on his phone, looking around his table which is now filled with drunk guests.

“They had already made their mind, Boss. You could not convince them otherwise.”

He glances at Evans, standing at the corner, talking to him through phone.

“And your solution was to get them drunk?”

“Well, it was really the last option, Boss.”

“You think that they will settle for a deal now?”

“Well, either you make them or you have an embarrassing dinner to hold over their heads!”

Tom had just been issued a challenge in a long time and he was so going to enjoy it.

“You’re only saying that to make me feel better. You don’t have to do that, Boss!”

“I never say anything I don’t mean. Evans, you do far more for this company than Draco Malfoy ever could.”

Evans is looking at him with stars in her eyes.

“Aw, that is so sweet of you, Boss!”

Tom smashes an urge to refuse that adjective on his person.

“Get back to work, Evans!”

“For you, Boss! Anything!”

Tom stares after the hearts on the back of her sweater wondering why he had a smile on his face!

“Evans!”

“Yes, Boss?”

“When were you going to tell me that the other interns are mistreating you?”

“They are not mistreating me, Boss. They’re just jealous. And I can handle some mean words.”

“I saw the CCTV footage. Those two thick boys identified as Crabbe and Goyle were blocking your exit while the Malfoy spawn was mocking you about something.”

She avoids his eye.

“Evans!”

She knows him enough by now that he won’t let this go that easily. She looks back at him.

“If it happens again, I need you to tell me. Is that clear?”

“Yes, Boss.”

“Anyone goes after you, you’ll come to me.”

That’s an order.

“Gee, Boss! You’re making it sound like a turf war. Nobody’s out to get me. I’m just a secretary.”

“You are an asset, Evans. And I don’t tolerate anyone else compromising my assets.”

“Oh, you really are my hero, Boss!”

Of course, she’ll never take this seriously. Tom will just have to monitor Evans's movements when she goes out of his sight.

Chapter Text

It’s Monday. Evans is late. She is never late. Tom thinks she practically lives in this office.

After an hour has passed, Tom calls her cell phone. No answer.

That’s never happened before! Not in the seven months she’s been with him.

Another hour passes and now Tom can’t concentrate on his own work.

He finds her address from the system and knocks on her door 7P. It’s an old apartment building which reminds him of his own struggling days. He had not set foot inside one of these buildings for a long time.

After a couple of loud bangs, she opens the door. All bleary-eyed, like she’d only just rolled off from her bed. Smudges of red lipstick on her lips, looking like she'd passed out right after a party. 

“Boss!”

He can count the seconds as Evans registers his presence at her door. Her brilliant green eyes widening in surprise. She looks beautiful, even in this barely awake state.

Tom strides inside as if he owns the place.

The hall reminds him of a dorm house; clothes thrown anywhere, packets of junk food and empty bottles of liquor.

“I’m sorry I didn’t call it in. But how are you here, Boss?”

She has followed him inside the hall, barefoot. Tom looks over at her anxious hungover state and sighs.

Evans is rubbing her eyes, trying to wake up properly. It’s further ruining the makeup on her pale face. Her hair is all over the place; the thick black untameable curls have acquired their own life. She is wearing a short silver dress probably from the last night.

“Go to your room and freshen up, Evans.”

He orders and she obeys. Like always.

Her flatmates are not in. Small mercies!

Tom takes off his blazer, stacking it on the many clothes already on the sofa and finds the kitchen. It is clear that Evans shares this flat with two other flatmates. His very presence here is like an alien vising another planet.

He finds a coffee machine that barely deserves its name but fortunately works. He stiches up a light breakfast of toast and eggs.

Tom Riddle hasn’t cooked anything in years.

Evans comes dressed in her usual sweaters and jeans. Her hair is still wet and the spectacles are missing.

“I… I am sorry, Boss!”

She stammers out when she looks at the breakfast he has made for her.

“Eat.”

Tom watches her eat, unrolling back his sleeves and putting his cufflinks and Rolex back on.

“I am sorry, Boss!”

Evans apologises again, looking at him uncertainly.

“I don’t want to hear an apology from you, Evans. Finish your toast. It’s obvious that alcohol addled your brain. It is known to have such effects.”

She chokes on her toast, laughing awkwardly.

“I know. That’s why I never drink. But last night was Hermione’s birthday and my friends insisted.”

“And you decided to listen to your friends even when you knew better. Where are these friends now?”

“Oh, I think they are probably in worse condition than me. So I can’t blame them. Ron and Hermione did offer for me to stay with them but I refused. I really thought I could make it to work today.”

She stops short of apologising again.

“You don’t have to come back to the office until you are perfectly fine.”

“I’m all good, Boss.”

He gives her another cursory glance but she seems earnest.

“I’ll wait in the car then.”

With that Tom puts on his blazer and strolls over. He’s almost at the door when he hears her call out.

“Thank you for the breakfast, Boss.”

He doesn’t turn back. Not with the stupid smile that refuses to leave his face.

That week Evans works harder than usual, making sure everything runs smoothly for him. And Tom tells himself that was why he took such special care of her.

“Boss, did you change your hair?”

The comment catches him off guard. His hair stylist had let his scissors slip through his fingers this time.

Ignoring his silence, Evans goes on.

“It’s a different look; makes you look younger!”

Then she leaves, leaving him wondering whether it was a bad thing or a good one.

“I’ve confirmed the weekend booking at the Obsidian for two. Have a lovely weekend, Boss!”

Evans informs him of his weekend with Bella and he mentally groans.

“And what are your plans this weekend, Evans? Staking out the empty office again?

She smiles at his attempt at humour. But her eyes shine with wistfulness.

“Actually, I’m thinking of watching a movie at 4 am in the theatres and then catching the sunrise thereafter.”

That sounded like a date.

“With Diggory? Are you still paying the price for the Smith visits?”

He didn't need to feel guilty for that, did he!

“Cedric isn’t too bad once you get to know him. But no, I'm not going with him.”

“And is he okay with sharing you with someone else?”

She looks at him inscrutably.

“Actually, I wanted to spend sometime with myself alone this weekend. Away from the friends and boyfriends.”

A date with yourself. Tom can definitely understand that urge.

“Oh, and Boss? Trust me, if you were ever lucky enough to have me, you would never share.”

And, he understood that too.

Chapter Text

“Everything okay, boss?”

Tom stops writing the email and looks up at his secretary who’s looking at him in concern.

“Why?”

Wait, how did she know?

“Your tie is a bit to the left. Looks like you’ve moved it sometime in the last few minutes I’ve not been here. Ergo, something’s been bothering you recently.”

Wait, what?

He exhales.

“Alright, there have been reports of our new drug causing some unexpected side effects in patients. The media has gotten hold of this and I need to control the situation before this blows up.”

Evans looks surprised by the fact that what he had just told her was supposed to be a top-secret.

“Ok, boss. You do your thing and I’ll make sure that you are not disturbed till you have it all sorted. I have full faith in you.”

Tom looks at the glass door she’d just shut, suddenly feeling buoyed by that blind vote of confidence.

“Boss, are you coming to the Halloween party tonight?”

Tom looks at Evans, hoping to communicate his hatred for office parties in that look.

Of course, she ignores it.

“Come on, Boss. It’d be fun! You can wear a costume and nobody will even know you’re there.”

That did have some appeal. It would be a good opportunity to take an incognito look at his employees.

“Boss, I already got you the Batman costume.”

It was certainly a unique experience to see his staff in a party they thought he was not attending.

Seven employees, including two high ranking executives were fired the very next day.

“That witch costume was inspired, Evans!”

Tom comments offhandedly, startling her.

“Boss, you were there! But, there were too many Batmans around last night and I thought you skipped as usual. Of course, that’s why all of these people got fired!”

He watches in delight as she figures this out.

“And you noticed me?”

He shakes his head. It’d be impossible for him not to notice her. Anywhere. Even if she was in a hideous costume of a wicked witch.

“Evans, how did you get your hand bruised?”

“Oh, that was nothing, Boss.”

“No. I want to know.”

He stares at her, his 'not taking no for an answer' stare.

“Okay. I punched someone.”

“Really?”

Tom can’t believe it.

“Oh, you think I can’t punch somebody, Boss?”

Evans is so thin that Tom thinks that a particularly strong gust of wind could blow her off her feet.

“I find that hard to believe, sure.”

“Well, then you should see Draco Malfoy’s black eye.”

Tom does find a reason to see Malfoy Jr. that day and he is not disappointed.

Tom is on his way to leave the office building after a long day when he overhears a conversation.

It seems like his ears are now attuned to Evans’s voice.

“Goyle, keep off the printing machine. You’re going to break it.”

The thick-headed intern of course, ignores her quite expertly.

Tom pauses to see if his intervention is required here.

“HEY! Stop that. How would YOU feel if I banged YOU on the table?”

The printer and its saviour are left quite alone after that outburst.

“Oh no! I am so very sorry. I’ll get the napkins.”

Evans spills the coffee on the documents placed right in of Tom. The documents that he was going to sign right then. He had his pen ready in his hand and everything.

His secretary never spills anything. She has perfect hand-eye coordination.

“Excuse me, do you even work here?”

His legal head Rodolphus Lestrange is eyeing Evans pointedly. Afterall she has ruined his document.

Her bright coloured sweaters can be quite distracting. And out of place in this building. On this, Tom can sympathise with Lestrange.

“Me? Oh no, I am just here for fun!”

Evans answers, giving both of the men her enigmatic smile as she shuffles out of the room.

Lestrange looks at him in visible agitation. Like can you believe this woman?

“Rodolphus, bring me another copy of the document, will you?”

Tom appreciates that the man is sensible enough to not ask any further questions.

Once Lestrange is out of the door, he summons his secretary.

“Evans, you have something to tell me?”

She doesn’t speak.

“Give me some credit, Evans. Why did you not want me to sign that document?”

“That was the new legal contract for the viral vaccine we are about to roll out, am I correct?”

He nods, listening intently.

“You should consider adding a disclaimer for non-accountability in case of unforeseen circumstances, like a person’s genetic vulnerability. Last time a few of those cases highlighted by the media, ended up slashing our share prices for a few days.”

That was actually a good suggestion.

“And why couldn’t you tell me that directly instead of spilling my coffee?”

She takes a moment to formulate her response.

“It seemed unwise to point that out in front of the Legal Head. It would be better coming from you, Boss.”

Yes, better not infuriate the person in charge of his legal affairs.

“That was very wise of you, Evans.”

“Thanks, Boss. I'll have another cup of coffee ready for you.”

Rodolphus is happy to accommodate Tom’s request and the disclaimer clause is added without any unnecessary fuss.

Chapter Text

“Boss, just a reminder. You have two tickets for the Man United vs Liverpool game this weekend.”

Tom had forgotten all about that game. Unfortunately, Bella didn’t share his enthusiasm for watching football games.

“That’s alright, Evans. Those will not be needed.”

“Do you mind if I go instead?”

She asks, cautiously.

“You really want to go?”

“Are you kidding me! The Red Devils will finally get to settle their score with Liverpool in this match.”

Tom is now tempted by her enthusiasm. And he really didn’t want to go to that dinner with Bella’s friends.

“Yeah, wouldn’t want to miss that!”

“Does that mean you’re going?”

He hesitates.

“Come on, boss! It’ll be fun. If you don’t want to go alone, I’d be happy to come with you.”

He exhales.

“Fine. See you at the game tomorrow, Evans.”

They end up watching the game together in matching red uniforms representing their team.

Tom had not attended a football game in years.

And watching that thrilling game in a stadium full of hardcore fans with Evans at his side; sharing in her passionate cheering, loud whistles and catching their breaths together in the last minutes of the penalty shoot-out was an experience he would’ve traded for a high-end dinner any day.

Tom did not even notice that his hand had found his way to the small of Evans’s back until much later. Evans was too involved in the heat of the game to realize any of this anyway.

“Evans, RSVP to the Longbottom’s Christmas Ball.”

“Boss, did you just say that you’ll be at the Longbottom’s this Christmas?”

He gives her a blank stare.

“Just checking.”

Her incredulity was reasonable. The Longbottom family and the Black family were known adversaries. And given Tom’s connection to Bella, well!

“Boss, is this about Frank and Alice Longbottom?”

He sighs.

Frank and Alice were both exposed to an experimental virus while they were working in his company’s labs. They were both brilliant scientists and Tom was sorry for what had happened to them.

“Boss, you were not responsible for their deaths. But it would be a lovely gesture for you to attend. I’ll pick out a nice present for Neville.”

Now, who’s that?

“Neville’s their only son. It’s sad that he only has his grandmother left as family now.”

He doesn’t meet her eye.

“I’ll make sure to talk to Neville Longbottom.”

“Despite what people say, I always knew you were a big softie at heart, Boss!”

The smile on her face is dazzling even when he’s rolling his eyes at her melodrama.

Tom blames the ice cream for the irritation in his nose.

“Boss, you should go home and rest. You have the symptoms of an impending cold.”

He sniffs.

“Evans, I’m fine. Besides, I need to finish checking these reports today.”

“I can take care of it, Boss. I’ll send you the reports on email after I’ve checked that everything’s in order, alright?”

“No, I can do it myself.”

He can’t stop himself from sneezing the very next moment.

Evans looks at him, vindicated.

“I’ll have the medicines delivered to you in the meantime. Boss, please rest at home.”

“Evans, need I remind you that I am your boss and not the other way around?”

That came out harsher than he had intended.

Evans shows no sign of being bothered by his tone.

“You can take a break once in a while, Boss. I get that you’re a Capricorn and all.”

He scoffs.

“You seriously believe in all that horoscope nonsense? It’s all just wishful thinking for the gullible and desperate.”

Evans narrows her eyes.

“Ambitious,

determined,

disciplined,

practical,

persistent,

loyal…”

She is counting these traits on her fingers.

“Also, reserved,

stubborn,

pessimistic,

materialistic

and not to forget

workaholic tendencies!”

He has no response to that. That was actually a perfect summation of his personality. Not that anything was wrong with any of those qualities.

“It’s okay, Boss. It’s not your fault that you’re a Capricorn!”

Tom is still in a bad mood when he is sent out of his own office by his secretary.

“Who in their right mind, schedules a conference in the middle of the holiday season!”

Evans grumbles when she brings him the invitation to a prestigious pharmaceuticals conference which was to be held in Australia this year on 30^th December.

Tom always made sure that he attended the event every year, without fail. Because this was where all the new innovations made in the field were being presented for the first time.

“Send a confirmation on the behalf of me and my assistant.”

Evans looks at him, confused.

“Boss, you don’t have an assistant.”

Tom had never felt the need of an assistant before. But that was before Evans came around and made him realise that he could be even more productive with some competent help.

“Congratulations, Evans! You’re now my new assistant.”

Tom watches as she processes this news.

He has never seen her speechless before.

“Your job remains the same. It’s just a change in the title.”

She nods happily, all teary-eyed.

“Of course, Boss. I’d never let anyone else take over any of my duties.”

“Good. Because you need to book two first-class tickets for Australia. I hope you don’t have a problem with going there in the holiday season.”

She is shaking her head.

“No problem, Boss. I’d rather be on another continent I’ve never been than spend it here.”

“And your family will be alright with that?”

It was a simple question. But her expression is complicated.

“My friends are my only family. And they’d understand. I’ll not let you down at this conference, Boss.”

“I know you won't.”

His assistant is practically skipping in delight as she exits his office.

Chapter Text

“What are these?”

Tom had been on his way to his office when he stopped by his assistant’s desk where she was busy arranging a box of confectionary. It smelled good.

“’morning, Boss! It’s just something I made for the office party tonight.”

Ah, yes. The infernal office party that happened before the office closed for the holiday season to boost morale of the workforce.

Every year. Without fail.

When he didn’t move, she turned to him.

“Here, Boss! Take a bite. It’s a gingerbread muffin. I made it myself. It’ll definitely improve your mood.”

Tom is instantly being handed a muffin wrapped up in a napkin, the gingerbread man winking at him on its cream cheese frosting.

The muffin was delicious. Tom should’ve expected that because Evans was nothing if not a perfectionist.

He doesn’t notice the yellow frosting on his upper lip until lunch.

“Should I send a car for Ms. Black?”

Tom looks up from his laptop and finds his eyes on the waist of his secretary in his line of sight. She is clad in a sleeveless red dress, the silk material clinging to her narrow waist. She’s already dressed for the party.

He tries to look away, he really does. But his eyes seem to have rebelled against his brain and were blatantly ignoring its orders.

“Boss, will Ms. Black be needing a car?”

“No.”

His eyes thankfully move back to his laptop.

“It’s already eight. Everyone’s already in the hall downstairs. Will Ms. Black not be joining us tonight?”

Tom had forgotten to ask Bella and she would not be ready to come at such short notice. So, the smart thing was not to bother her at all.

“You can go if you want, Evans. I won’t be needing your assistance now.”

His eyes glance up at her. She looks stunning. Her messy inky curls styled, red lipstick and green eyes that shone without the glasses to obscure them.

Tom didn’t really want to let her go to the party downstairs.

“I'll be right here, Boss.”

Giving him a small smile, she exits his office to go sit at her own desk.

An hour later, Tom calls her through his desk phone.

“You don’t have to wait, Evans.”

“It’s fine, Boss. I’m not really missing out on anything.”

He sighs.

Her job was to make things easier for him, wasn’t it!

Tom reluctantly makes his way to the party on the first floor which had now devolved into a crowd of his employees, drunk on the free wine. The dim light had effectively disguised his entry as did the heavy Christmas decorations.

The party was exactly as Tom had expected. Even the cold December night felt stuffy and blistering inside this hall. He had no interest in interacting with his smashed personnel so he waits for a reasonable time till he leaves here.

His eyes land on his assistant who is now joined by Diggory and a circle of friends who are all laughing, clearly enjoying this evening. She looks to be at ease, engrossed in the conversation around her, leaning into the arm of her date.

A slow song then starts playing and Tom realizes it as an old Christmas favourite ‘Last Christmas I gave you my heart’.

He can’t stand watching Evans slow dance with Diggory. The memories of her dancing with him at the charity event prove too much for him.

Tom leaves before the song is finished.

On Christmas day, he gets a call from Evans reminding him about the Longbottom’s Ball.

“I’ve selected some plants you can take as a gift for Neville Longbottom. Should I send the pictures to you on your phone?”

“No need. Just pick something and have it sent to my house.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to look at them first, Boss?”

Usually Tom liked to double-check everything but he could rely on Evans to pick a plant, didn't he!

“Evans.”

“Sure. Have a merry Christmas, Boss.”

“Merry Christmas to you as well.”

Tom sends a gift for his assistant for Christmas, to show his appreciation for her hard work.

But instead of a heartfelt thanks, Evans surprises him by rejecting his gift.

Nobody who has ever been lucky enough to receive a gift from Tom had ever refused it. Of course, Evans had to be the first to break that tradition!

“Boss, I can't one day start wearing a platinum diamond bracelet worth more than my month’s salary. I clearly couldn’t afford it and it’ll obvious it’s been given to me by you. What do you think will people think?”

Her voice sounds earnest through the phone.

“So, your problem is that it is too expensive?”

“Ah, yes?”

It was just as well that she could not see the unseemly way he rolled his eyes.

"You could just keep it. Wear it only on special occasions."

"I really can't accept this when I won't even be using it."

“Fine. Have the bracelet returned and accept the money as your Christmas bonus.”

“Boss, that’s too much!”

“Evans. Just get it done.”

Tom then goes back to his Christmas dinner alone. Bella had of course, flown off into her infamous rages as soon as she'd found out about the Longbottom's Ball.

Chapter Text

“Evans, are you crying?”

Tom's assistant is currently sobbing quite loudly in her seat, right beside him. They are on their way to Australia to attend the weekend conference.

He couldn’t have ignored her even if he wanted to.

She takes a sip from her champagne glass and wipes her tears clumsily with the sleeves of her sweater.

“Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to disturb you.”

He closes his laptop and looks at her carefully. She had been alright just a few moments ago, quite engrossed in whatever she had been watching on her iPad.

“I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what the matter is, Evans!”

She looks at him, teary-eyed, considering her response.

“I just finished watching ‘The Sandman’. I feel like the ending was a personal attack against my feelings and now I'm never ever recovering.”

Saying this, she resumes crying her eyes out.

Out of all the reasons in the world, Tom never would’ve guessed this!

He pats her shoulder awkwardly, not knowing what else to do in this situation.

Twenty minutes later, she falls asleep exhausted from all her useless crying. Tom doesn't disturb her, even when her head ends up on his shoulder.

They reach Sydney in the early afternoon. Tom is too jet-lagged by the long flight to do anything else but follow his assistant as she cheerfully leads them to their hotel.

Her strategy of sleeping through the long flight seems to have worked because she shows no signs of being jet-lagged. She is already planning to explore the surroundings while all Tom is thinking about is claiming his bed.

After his four-hour afternoon nap, Tom decides to take a walk around the hotel. 

Then he spots his assistant.

By the swimming pool, playing ball with some boys who Tom recognized were from the Bulgarian company of Durmstrang.

In a strappy short top and denim shorts that left most of her legs bare.

To be fair, it was hot here in December, enough for him to ditch his own blazer. Still, there was something wrong with this image of Evans playing around with these bare-chested men.

“Would you like to join us, Boss?”

She asks breathlessly, having jogged up to him once she noticed him.

“No, no. I’m good.”

Tom had never been one for sports. It was a surprise for him that Evans was such a sport enthusiast. It shouldn't have been if Tom had gotten a proper glance at those legs before.

“ROSE!” “ROSE!”

Barely a second and these men were already demanding her attention back.

“Already made many friends, have you? Is that Viktor Krum?”

Rose nods.

“Yeah, the star of Durmstrang. I did my homework, Boss!”

Well, Igor Karkaroff had never liked Tom meddling in his business, much less his star biochemist.

“Best not to keep him waiting, Evans!”

It looked to Tom that Karkaroff’s favourite had eyes for his assistant.

“Are you sure? Do you need me to get you any appointments for the evening?”

Her eyes were fixed on him.

“Not at the moment, no.”

And then his leg slips on the wet tile. And Tom falls right into the pool with a loud splash. That was probably his own fault for walking so close to the edge.

He hears the loud gasp from Evans as he collects himself and manages to swim towards the closest stairs out of the pool.

Tom’s white shirt is now plastered to his chest, turning transparent with the water. Eager to wash off the chlorinated water from his body, he hurries off to his hotel room.

He doesn’t notice the wide green eyes staring at him all the while.

Tom finds himself sitting beside his assistant at the welcome dinner at night.

She is suspiciously silent tonight.

And she is wearing formal clothes; a pencil skirt paired with a formal shirt.

“So, you finally did learn to dress, Evans? Who knew Australia would bring about such a change in you!”

He spots a red blush on her cheeks for the first time since he’d known her.

“Thanks, Boss. I needed to look like your assistant. Can’t have your reputation ruined because of proper attire of all things!”

He knew it all had to do with Viktor Krum.

And he needed to warn her.

“Krum has a reputation of being a Casanova of sorts. You could do better than him. Besides, isn’t Diggory waiting for you at home?”

Evans turns to look at him, clearly surprised at his forwardness.

“Cedric is not my boyfriend. And I’m only going snorkelling with Viktor and his friends because they took pity on me once they knew I’d never seen the Great Barrier Reef.”

He sighs.

“You could’ve told me that you wanted to see the Reef.”

“And you would’ve done what? Come with me, even when I know you wouldn’t enjoy it?”

He has no answer. She knows him all too well.

“You don’t have to make adjustments for me, Boss. That’s my job.”

He looks away.

“Fine. Just make sure you’re not too distracted by Krum to not pay close attention to this conference.”

“Don’t worry, Boss. You’re always my top priority.”

Tom doesn’t catch the longing in her eyes as she says those words.

Chapter Text

“Boss, will you be the keynote speaker tomorrow morning?”

Tom is holding his phone tucked inside his bed in the hotel room, talking to his assistant who has decided to bother him at this late hour in her wisdom.

“I had been led to believe that Albus Dumbledore is going to be the keynote speaker. You did read the invite, didn’t you?”

“He won’t be able to make it in time for tomorrow’s event.”

Tom wondered briefly what could’ve been the reason for Dumbledore to miss this huge opportunity. Especially one where he could show everyone just how important he was.

“I am not going to be the second choice, Evans.”

And that too, after the old man.

There is a pause at the other end. Then a sigh.

“Boss, do you really want Igor Karkaroff to give that speech while you’re sitting in the audience?”

No, he definitely wouldn’t! How would Evans even ask that.

“Great, then. I’ll tell Martha that you graciously accept the request.”

She hangs up.

Leaving Tom to prepare his upcoming speech for tomorrow morning. How could his own assistant put the needs of this Martha above her own boss!

After a busy and productive day at the conference when Tom finally lays down on his bed, he finds himself unable to sleep.

He rings up Evans only to find that she is at the beach. She sends him her location.

Half an hour later, Tom walks over to the woman dressed in white sundress sitting alone on the sand, staring at the ocean. Her slippers are on her side. The waves reach up to her feet, washing them as they retreat.

“Your new friends retired already?”

Tom asks as he sits down besides her.

“I had enough of them in the morning. I do enjoy time by myself sometimes.”

She acknowledges him with her words, but her eyes are still on the waves.

“Ah, yes. Movies at 4 am. And sunrise thereafter. I remember.”

She snorts, seemingly content with staring at the moon hanging above the sea.

“And what are you doing right now?”

He can’t help himself asking. To be fair, this woman does have strange hobbies.

“Remembering this.”

They fall into a peaceful silence. Like they are both sitting here alone. To his surprise, Tom does find himself relaxing.

"Are you wearing pajamas?”

So Evans has finally deigned to look at him. Tom thinks it’s way past midnight now.

“Yes. They’re Armani?”

He can’t help retorting back. What else is one supposed to wear at night!

“Of course, they are. I forgot for a minute who I was talking to, Boss!”

“You can call me Tom in private, Evans.”

“Rose. My name. My mother used to call me ‘Rose’.”

She sighs.

In Tom’s limited emotional intelligence, she seems sad.

“Do you miss her?”

He asks.

“Every day. But especially on the nights like these.”

Tom is confused by that but he doesn’t ask her to elaborate.

“She would’ve appreciated spending time beside a warm ocean on a December night.”

Tom needs to take back the control of his expressions.

“Well, I am told that my mother died giving birth to me. So, I never had the pleasure of knowing her. Maybe she was a good person or perhaps she was as bad as was painted by my father and his family. Either way, I have no way of knowing.”

Why did he say that? He never talked about his family or lack thereof with anyone. Anyone!

Tom totally blamed this Australian beach. So fucking beautiful, white and peaceful!

“I’m sorry, Tom.”

She is now looking at him, green eyes shining with unshed tears.

“Tell me more about your mother."

That sounded like an order. He winces internally.

"If you’d like to, of course.”

He adds, hurriedly.

She smiles. Probably at his effort to be polite.

“Oh, Lily Evans was perfect. She was so beautiful. I have her green eyes and some of her features, a fact I could never fail to stress to her when I was a child. Like any of it was her fault.”

She gives a strained laugh.

“She met my father in college. He had a crush on her that he couldn’t let go. Coming from a rich family, he probably had never been denied anything in life. Not until he met Lily Evans. Too bad she eventually fell for his charms and married him. Straight after college.”

There is a haunted look in her eyes now. The pale moon reflects her solemn mood into the sky.

“She got pregnant. She had wanted to focus on her future; her studies, her career. She had wanted to go for an abortion. And I don’t blame her for that. She was a brilliant chemist. She would've gone on to revolutionize her field. I understand her ambition. Her hopes. Even if that meant I never would’ve existed.”

He can see what would’ve happened next. He says it out aloud.

“The family she married into never gave in to her wishes.”

She looks at him, green eyes shining with anger.

“As the pregnancy progressed, so did my parents’ divorce proceedings. She had twins. Father picked the son and mother was left with me. And I’ve never been more thankful for those eleven years that I had with her.”

Tom can presume this story is about to get sadder.

“She gave me her name. Everything really. Everything I am today is thanks to her. She was diagnosed with blood cancer when I was nine and it got progressively worse over the next couple of years. The doctors were surprised she even lasted that long.”

A tear finds its way down her left cheek.

She doesn’t say anything after that. Tom has a feeling she hadn’t shared her story with anyone else either.

“I grew up in an orphanage. The one where my mother had died, giving birth to me. Worked my way through scholarships to get through college when I found out that I was the heir to the Riddles. Not many people know this, but it’s true.”

In the silence that follows, Tom tries to ask himself why he shared all of that.

“Do you want to know who my father is?”

She asks.

“No. I don’t.”

“Why? You might even know him.”

“I can see how much pain he has caused you, Rose. If I knew, I’d want to murder him.”

She laughs. But Tom can say for himself that he was quite honest in his answer.

“Thank you for trusting me with your story, Tom. I could make a fortune if I sold that to the press.”

“I won’t begrudge you if you did. It’d be the smart thing to do.”

She simply shakes her head at him and smiles fondly.

Chapter Text

Tom’s last day at the conference was spent socializing with the leading minds of the field. So, it was inevitable that unlike his assistant, he was exhausted by the evening, having endured the cruellest form of interpersonal terrorism: small talk.

He spent a quiet evening in his hotel room trying to consolidate his discoveries while allowing Evans some free time, which he was sure she’d spend with her new friend called Viktor Krum. It was pretty obvious to Tom that Krum had a crush on his assistant however much she denied it.

After an early dinner, Tom had retired to his rooms when the hotel phone in his room rang.

“Is this Mr. Riddle?”

“Yes.”

“Good evening, Mr. Riddle. I’m speaking from the reception desk. Well…. Sir, your companion seems to be quite inebriated at the moment.”

“Who?”

“Ms Evans? She is currently in the hotel lobby. With her friends.”

Tom lets out a deep exhale.

“Alright. I’ll come and get her.”

Now Tom had known that Evans couldn’t be trusted to be on her own with some new friends that she had just met. He simply hadn’t been able to say no to her request when she had set those pleading green eyes on him.

And now she was plastered on the sofa in the lobby, clearly intoxicated, with Krum having to hold her to steady her.

“Evans?”

Her eyes immediately land on him. She tries to stand, gripping Krum’s arms. Tom was sure a vein in his forehead just exploded.

“Boss! You’re here? Did Martha call you? I am perfectly fine.”

Her slurring voice is not doing a good job of convincing him. She is wearing a sleeveless black dress that is too short for Tom’s liking.

Krum now stands up, still holding her arms.

“Mr. Riddle, I could take her to our quarters till she sobers up.”

Tom gives the man a cold look.

“You will do no such thing, Mr. Krum. You have demonstrated your ability to help her well enough for today.”

Krum looks sufficiently ashamed.

“I didn’t know Rose had such a low tolerance for alcohol.”

Ignoring his whispered excuse, Tom takes off his blazer and wraps it around her shoulders, then proceeding to snatch his assistant out of Krum’s clutches, he holds her steadily by the arm.

“Well, now you know.”

Evans is stumbling into his shoulder as he supports her, walking all the way to the elevator.

“Viktor looked funny. I think you scared him, Boss.”

She is sniggering. Giggling like a schoolgirl!

Tom wonders whether his own temper was taking a vacation. Normally, a drunk girl tittering on his arm would have infuriated him.

But then it had been long established that Rose Evans was anything but normal!

When his assistant seems unable to walk out of the elevator, Tom takes a deep breath and lifts her into his arms. For the sake of time management, of course.

Evans seems to enjoy being airborne and makes happy noises till they reach her room.

“Your key?”

She starts shuffling in her purse, finally locating her key after a brief struggle. He manages to swipe the key with his one free hand.

He carries her to her bed but then she refuses to let go of her grip on his neck.

To Tom’s horror, she is sniffing the bare skin behind his ear. Her hot breath is tingling on his skin which is not quite unpleasant. He had never been this uncomfortable in his entire life.

“Evans?”

His voice is a croaky whisper.

He clears his throat.

“Evans!”

Thankfully, she stops the sniffing. But doesn’t let go of her grasp.

“Many people propositioned me tonight, you know. And I really wanted to have sex with someone. So bad. Anyone. Just to get it out of my system, you know…”

Her green eyes are looking at him intently as she tortures him with this information.

“But I declined each one of them. And got completely drunk instead. Do you know why?”

Tom has to remind himself that she is very drunk and the chances of her remembering this conversation are nil.

“Why?”

“Because you’re my Boss.”

She says this with a despondency that doesn’t make sense to him but it leaves him troubled.

“But I have never interfered in your personal life, Evans.”

Unlike you, he adds mentally.

“Yep, is not your fault. Totally mine.” She slurs.

Tom shakes his head. She is not making much sense.

He tries to lay her down on the bed, trying to pry away her fingers from their vice-like grip around his neck.

In a sudden motion, Evans takes him by surprise by pulling him down with her so that he falls atop her on the bed. Before he knows, she has turned them around and is straddling him with her body.

Tom gulps. Blood rushes inside him.

She is now loosening his tie and trying to open the buttons of his shirt. He catches her hands with his.

“What are you doing, Evans?”

She scrunches her eyes at him.

“Isn’t it obvious? Getting you out of my system?”

What?

“Oh come on, take off your shirt. I want to see that body. Only got a glimpse of that at the pool the other day.”

Shite! Even in her intoxicated state, Evans was a woman with a mission.

When she realizes that he was not letting go of her hands anytime soon, she leans down on his neck and starts to nip at her favourite spot behind his ear. Her legs slowly spread across his stomach. Fuck!

Tom knows he has to stop her before it goes anywhere further. He is however taken aback by the amount of restraint it requires from him.

Taking over control, he turns her around and pins her down to the bed. Blank green eyes look back at him.

He knows he wants these green eyes bright and expressive when he finally makes her his.

Because Rosalie Evans was his! Too bad, it had taken him this long to figure it out.

Fuck, he had never desired anyone like this before. Ignoring his body’s impulses to simply take what he wanted, Tom softly traces her cheek with his finger.

“Sleep, love.”

Even now, she follows his orders effortlessly.

Tom can’t help kissing her cheek softly before reluctantly leaving for his own room. He is unsteady on his feet the entire way.