“Hester!!” Nadine clean left her chair. Swiped her friend with the nearest thing to hand, a copy of a magazine. It passed purely through air rather than meeting any part of her visitor, but conveyed her incredulity at this news.

“Merlin save me! Am I hearing things?” She threw the magazine down. Gestured about her head with both hands, suddenly animated. “Why did you let yourself be one of his conquests!”

Edwin Glass had a reputation amongst the witches of the Ministry. He had chased skirt for decades and never married or even got engaged as far as Nadine knew. He had always been a flirt, only overshadowed by the outrageous Lockhart who headed up Seven. When he flirted with you, the whole floor knew as he was incapable of speaking in a tone quieter than shouting. When Glass had tried to flirt you increasingly wanted to wash yourself. Nadine and Rex had become a thing early enough that Glass had not tried anything too far.

"Swear down it's not like that!" Hester shook her head. Over and over. "He did not come for me. No. It was all work. Policy. Career. Not dutty!" Put her hand to her forehead. "If I want to move up. I need his words. I can unlock doors Nadine. But Glass can have them opened for me." Hester was career oriented. Assertive. She did not need her boss to open doors. But if he was pleased to...

“You’re going to tell me he’s ‘different once you get to know him’,” Nadine persisted. “I did not see that coming. Oh my days. You got to be prepared for this to get out. He’s the bloody Minister!”

Nadine put her head in her hands. Hester had decided to play a delicate game here. What with the wizard’s reputation and his power. He could as easily make Hester, and get her seen for a brilliant job somewhere else in the world as destroy her if he decided to. As much as Nadine had agreed with his decisions since taking office he was still a man in power. He was no Zephyr Persepolis or Kingsley Shacklebolt.

“Hex me sideways Hester.” Nadine exclaimed. “If this gets out it won’t be me. I promise you. No way I am telling anyone that… But if you marry him, I’m going to tell everyone I heard it first…!”


End