1 - The Email

A/N: Just to remind you this is book 2 of the Veronica Weasley series. If you haven't already, then please go back and read book one first. Enjoy!

*****

"How was the wedding? Sorry I couldn't make it but Daddy insists we leave the country during the anniversary."

"It was alright," I shrugged, throwing myself down behind my desk. "Any calls?"

Luna shook her head despondently before getting up to put the kettle on.

"Make sure it's a coffee," I barked. "Don't try and give me that fucking Gurdyroot crap again. It tastes like bogeys."

"Daddy says it helps put a good layer of hair on your toes - you'll thank me for it in the winter!"

Why on earth I let her loose on our customers, I'll never know.

Not that we had any.

I was still seething about the wedding. It would have been perfect advertising for the company. I could see it now: Ron Appetit, the Chosen One's only choice.

I mean, there had to be something gained from being Harry Potter's best mate, surely?

"How's Hermione?" Luna enquired as she sat the mug down upon my desk. "Still madly in love?"

"She moved in with Neville last week." I said, trying not to sound too bitter. "Which means I'll probably have to move back in with my fucking mother as I can't afford to rent a two bedroom flat on my own thanks to this poxy business."

"Oh, can't you find anyone to share? I'm sure there are plenty of people who'd want to reside in London."

I'm sure there were, but I was very particular about who I shared a bathroom with. And I had liked living with Hermione. I would never admit it aloud but it broke my heart when she told me she was moving out. I spent the last week walking around the lonely flat feeling as though I'd lost a limb.

And the thought of returning to the Burrow made me feel even worse. I loved my parents but I couldn't stand to see the pain on their faces. And I couldn't stand to be around all the memories of Fred.

I looked at Luna wondering if I should ask her to move in, but then quickly discarded that thought at the sight of those radishes dangling from her ears. It was bad enough having to work with her.

Although that wouldn't be for much longer if we didn't reel in some business anytime soon.

And just then, the phone rang.

I looked at Luna excitedly as she answered it.

"Ron Appetit's, here for all your catering needs." She trilled the greeting that I had coached her to use. "This is Miss Weasley's secretary at your service, how may I help?"

I watched expectantly as she made a series of agreeable sounds and animatedly scratched something down in her notebook.

"Excellent, we look forward to doing business with you. Goodbye."

My heart was pounding with excitement as she hung up.

"Well?!" I asked impatiently as she continued to scribble something down.

"Hermione would like to order three rounds of ham on white and one cheese and pickle on brown. To be sent to her office immediately."

I sat back, disappointment washing over me. Great. A fucking pity order.

"We're not a little fucking sandwich shop!" I bellowed, slamming my fist down on my desk. "We should be catering for functions! Weddings! Funerals!"

Half an hour later, I was slamming the paper bag of sandwiches on Hermione's desk.

"Ronnie, you really need to work on your customer service if you want to make a success out of this." She intoned, tutting at my sneer.

"Don't fucking patronise me Hermione." I spat. "You know tedious office sandwich drops was not what I had in mind when I built this company."

"Well, I assure you you're making my little work force that little more productive and motivated thanks to your undoubtedly delicious sandwiches." She smiled.

I know she was just trying to cheer me up, but it didn't fucking work.

"Any news on Harry and Ginny?" She asked as I perched on her desk, no intention of going back to my office anytime soon.

What was the fucking point? There was bugger all to do except order Luna to type up a measly invoice for this pathetic lunch drop. It was hardly going to be worth the time and resources. In fact, I already knew I was making a loss just by employing Luna.

"Nah," I said moodily. "Still, it's hardly going to be much of a honeymoon for Ginny if she can't even have a fucking drink. Fancy going to Hawaii and not being able to have a cocktail on the beach."

"They're in love," Hermione sighed wistfully, "I expect they'll barely leave the hotel room."

"Do me a fucking favour and don't talk to me about love." I sneered.

They were all fucking deluded. There was no such thing as love. It was all just chemistry and biology making us want to shag so that we'd get knocked up, thus ensuring the continuation of the human race.

"Ronnie, don't you think it's about time that you put yourself out there?" Hermione said tentatively. "All these one night stands are making you bitter."

"No, what's making me bitter is the fact people can't accept that I don't want to be in a relationship!" I spat, feeling frustrated at having this same conversation over and over again. "This is the twenty first century Hermione. If a woman just wants to have casual sex with no commitment, then she should be able to do so without judgement!"

Hermione squirmed on her chair and wrinkled her nose. "It just seems so..."

"Cold? Bitter? Seedy?" I finished for her.

"No," Hermione said firmly. "I was going to say sad. You make out you're not capable of love, but I know you, Ronnie - I know you just can't admit that Draco-"

"STOP!" I shouted, standing up at once, covering my ears. "I don't want to talk about this any longer. I've got a business to run."

And with that, I stormed out of her office, my heart thudding furiously.

I couldn't talk about him. It hurt just to think.

I ran out of the Ministry and flew down the street back to Ron Appetit's. The bell tinkled as I pushed open the door.

"Welcome to Ron- oh, it's you." Luna said. "How's Hermione? Did she like the sandwiches?"

"Fucking creamed herself," I muttered, striding back to my desk and angrily waking up my computer. I decided I may as well try and revamp some of my set buffet packages.

"How about we do themed buffets?" I said, thinking of Harry and Ginny's. "You know, like bringing back the sixties?"

An email popped up on my screen, entitled 'Urgent'. I clicked on it.

Dear Ms Weasley,

Your name was passed onto me and I pray to Merlin that you will be able to come to my rescue. I am in urgent need of a caterer for my engagement party after being let down by a company at the last minute. I require a two hundred head buffet spread for this Saturday. If all goes well, Ms Weasley, I shall offer you the wedding appointment too. Please contact me as soon as possible with an answer and hopefully, quotes. You will be compensated of course for the short notice if you choose to go ahead.

Yours sincerely,

Miss Bambi Peverell

"Oh my fucking god!" I breathed, not entirely sure to trust what I was reading.

"What is it?" Luna asked, looking up from her desk, frowning. "Not bad news, I hope?"

"We've been offered a two hundred head engagement gig!" My heart was hammering excitedly as I hurriedly typed my reply. "We can do this, right? This Saturday - gives us five days to prepare. If all goes well they said I could do the wedding too!"

"But - two hundred? In five days?! Ronnie, I don't think we have the capital in the bank to do that right now. And we'll need to hire more staff."

"Nonsense!" I cried. "I'll get my brothers to help out."

"Who's engagement party, anyway?" Luna asked curiously.

"Some bimbo called Bambi," I said shrugging my shoulders. "I mean, who the fuck calls their daughter Bambi?!"

"Bambi?" Luna said, her jaw dropping. "As in Bambi Peverell?"

"Yeah, why? Do you know her?" I asked, cocking an eyebrow. I had to admit, the surname certainly sounded familiar to me.

"Ronnie, don't you remember? The Peverell brothers! The original owners of the Deathly Hallows!"

"Fuck me, they've got to be rich. This could do wonders for the company Luna! Finally, I am saved!" I cried, rushing out a big yes to this wonderful Bambi woman and sending my reply with the click of a button. "I wonder if she's marrying anyone we know?"

"Well we certainly do know him, Ronnie. We went to school with him, after all."

"Oh?" I asked, suddenly feeling nervous at the funny look she was giving me.

And I knew, with a cold trickling dread, what she was going to say before the name left her lips.

"Draco Malfoy. She's marrying Draco Malfoy."

*****

Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top