Mesmerizing

Author's Note: I've decided to grant the requests that I've been receiving for a modern Madera x Hinata story. In this tale, Madara will be Hinata's boss and at age 30, he'll have 8 years on her. This is because there has been a lot of interest expressed in that dynamic. If any of that bothers you, you might want to turn back now. For those of you still here, I hope you enjoy this story and reviews are always appreciated.

Chapter Notation: This isn't canon in Naruto, but I've decided that Madara will share a more direct familial connection with a certain character in this story than he does in the anime. See if you can guess "Mrs. Joo's" real identity.

Disclaimer: I don't own nothing and make no profit off of any of my stories.

Chapter 1

Even the building was beautifully intimidating, Hinata thinks to herself as she walks up to Tsukuyomi. At five stories tall, it towered magnificently over most of the surrounding buildings and its subtle golden hue to its paintjob was nothing short of dazzling.

"Well it's too late to turn back now." She takes a deep breath and gathers all her courage, before walking through the front doors.

This place was like something out of a dream. Even the windows seemed to shimmer when the sun hit them, giving off an almost ethereal feel to the place. "Hello." Hinata smiles at the receptionist as she quickly makes her way over to the blonde woman.

Her modest white high heeled shoes clicking slightly with every hurried step she made. "I was wondering, if you could tell me which floor Madara's Office is on? I have an interview at 2 with him." Hinata didn't really like wearing high heels, but it almost felt like blasphemy not to wear them inside a modeling agency.

"Oh boy." The receptionist laughs softly. "You've got an interview with Madara? Good luck." Her blue eyes were sparkling with amusement. "The boss's office is on the top floor. Room 515." Hinata notes her name tag said Ino. "First door on the right."

The Hyuga woman smiles and nods in gratitude. "Thank you." With every minute that passed, she was growing more and more nervous about the clock striking two. "Between the two of us, I think I'm going to need all the luck that I can get." If she could get this job, then maybe she wouldn't feel so anxious about her future outside her Clan.

Ino nods in agreement. "Be careful. The man doesn't have to do anything, but stand there to be distracting." Yeah. So Hinata had heard, a lot.

That's what the Hyugas called themselves. A Clan. While such a title might have sounded ridiculously old fashioned to most people, it was certainly accurate in their case.

They were an extremely traditional Japanese family and very much obsessed with honor, pride, and their reputation. All of which had been intertwined with the Clan's collective success in both the financial and personal sphere. Being a Hyuga meant that one had to excel and maintain a respectable image at all times. There was no real room for spontaneity or error.

Which meant that their home was essentially a beautiful prison. "So I've heard." One never truly had freedom in the Clan.

Hinata likened it to a hive of bees or a colony of ants. Everyone had their role in maintaining the hive or colony. Any deviation from that was not to be tolerated because it would be seen as a threat to their Clan as a whole.

"Believe me, people aren't exaggerating!" Ino winks at her. "Well good luck." Before returning her attention to her computer and no doubt, scheduling some more appointments.

Hinata nods and quickly strides off, but she was soon nearly blinded by the light from the beautiful crystal chandeliers when she made the mistake of looking up. "Yeah. You don't wanna do that." Someone laughs jokingly at her. "Never look straight up at those things."

Kiba Inuzuka. Hinata recognized the man from a few magazine covers. He was one of the male models in this place.

"Yeah." She rubs the back of her head sheepishly. "Believe me, I've learned my lesson."

He grins at her rather fantastically. "So I heard you talking to Blondie over there." Almost wolfishly really. "You're going upstairs to meet the big bad wolf, huh?"

Why did the handsome youth smell like steak? "I wouldn't call him that." Oh God, there was a barbecue stain on his white t-shirt! "But yes, I'm going to see Mr. Uchiha." Was the man absolutely crazy?! Should she tell him?!

"Well remember to look him straight in the eye, if you don't he'll walk all over you." The other youth shakes his head. "He's got that whole Old School Vibe going on."

Before she could ask what Kiba meant by that, the friendly model was giving her even more advice. "Oh and be careful in those heels." He winks at her. "I've seen more than one girl fall on their ass on these tiled floors. They're squeaky clean cause they just got waxed." He gestures to a yellow sign that indicated the same thing.

Right. She was going to have to remember that. "Thanks, but you might want to change." The lavender eyed woman blushes as she glances at ugly the stain. "Before someone sees that."

Kiba laughs. A loud belly laugh that got the attention of the few people who were mingling in the lobby. "Oh that's on purpose. It's for a photo shoot to look authentic or some bullshit like that. Thanks for looking out for me though." He shakes his head. "Anyway, I gotta go! I'm Kiba by the way."

Hinata barely had time to tell him her name or that she already knew who he was before the model had darted off. "Well he seemed friendly enough." She shakes her head as she continues on her surprisingly perilous journey to the elevator.

"Oh don't worry, I'll go get the backup suits!" A red head woman wearing glasses and a bikini informs darts outside of one of the rooms and skids across the floor as she darts into a changing room. "Damn it!"

Kiba was definitely right about the floors. The swimsuit model was lucky that she hadn't fallen on her ass. Those beautiful tan, brown, and beige floors really had just been waxed and were a force to be reckoned with.

"And it looks like a lot of shoots are going on." The bluenette observes, hearing the sounds of cameras clicking rapidly in the nearby rooms as she weaved her way towards the elevator.

It was not an easy task, but she managed. She managed because she had to. After all, she was on her own now. The only support that the young woman could expect from her family now from here on out was emotional and even that was in doubt.

Surely, Neji and Hanabi would still associate closely with her. Her father would be at best lukewarm and as for the rest of her Clan, it was likely they would keep a cool distance from her now.

That was fine though. Hinata had made her choice. She had chosen freedom over financial security.

"Hurry up!" A busty blonde holds the door for her. "Or you're gonna have to wait for the next one!"

Damn it. She had been thinking too much. Hinata had nearly missed the elevator. "Thanks." Hinata looks at her sheepishly as she squeezed herself into an elevator filled with entirely too many people and tries to force her heart to stop pounding.

At that same moment, Madara sighs as he glances at expensive notebook on his desk. It was how he had been rather pitifully attempting to manage his schedule since his secretary had quit to pursue a career in nursing.

He should have expected it though. The woman had been working at his company to pay for her tuition. Madara just hadn't expected her to quite so abruptly after paying off her student loans, but he couldn't blame her. The woman had chosen to pursue her passion and that was something Madara Uchiha could respect, even if it was inconvenient.

"It's probably just as well." He chuckles. "Sakura's hair was too distracting anyway."

Of course, he owned a modeling agency and Madara was used to seeing virtually every hair color imaginable, but he had never seen natural pink hair before. Oh well. There was a first time for everything and speaking of first, he was about to meet Hinata Hyuga for the first time.

He was an honest enough man to admit that her last name had immediately captured his attention. What on Earth was a Hyuga woman doing, applying to be a secretary?!

He knew that family well enough to realize they were all blue bloods to the core. "Mr. Uchiha, I just sent Hinata Hyuga up to see you a few moments ago." So it was curiosity as well as her resume that had perked his interest, he muses to himself as Ino's voice jerks him out of his thoughts.

"Send her in." Well he, supposed now his curiosity was about to be satisfied in any case.

At precisely 1:55 P.M., Hinata walks into his office and smiles at him. It was a beautiful smile. A smile that made him wonder why she hadn't applied to be a model. Until he got his answer at a moment later, when she shyly shakes his hand. She was a beautiful flower indeed, but a wallflower.

A demure woman like this likely would find modeling to be a living Hell. Though her kind smile and unassuming nature might make for a damn fine secretary.

He smiles at her. "Hinata Hyuga, I presumed." Normally, he did enjoy making potential employees squirm a bit, but Madara found that he didn't have the heart to do that to her.

Well at least not too much. It was important to stop and smell the roses sometimes or to put it more simply, to enjoy life's little pleasures.

"Yes, I am." She smiles at him shyly. "And you must be Mr. Uchiha?"

Yes, that was what the name plaque on his desk said. "Yes, I am." He chuckles softly at his internal sarcastic joke. "Though please call me, Madara. We do like to operate on a first name basis around here, when everyone is comfortable doing so."

Madara could be formal when he had to be. That was just part of running in such wealthy circles, but he much preferred to be a free spirit. That was why he had founded his modeling agency in the first place.

"M-Madara then." She smiles at him. "You can call me Hinata. It's only fair." The woman was such a sweet creature.

He as almost afraid to put her with the models. Of course, there were a lot of stereotypes about models and most of them weren't true, but every so often you really did run into someone who lived up to every single one of them. It was those people who would likely eat someone like Hinata Hyuga alive.

Still, that didn't necessarily matter too much. She was going to be a secretary. Her contact with most of the models would be fleeting at best and there was something about that smile and those eyes that was well mesmerizing.

He nods at her. "Good. So Hinata, I suppose we should just address the elephant in the room." The Uchiha smiles slyly at her. "There is no sense beating around the bush. Judging by those beautiful eyes of yours and your last name, I'm assuming that you are somehow connected to the Hyuga Dynasty so to speak."

"You could say that." Those beautiful lavender orbs harden with resolve. "Hiashi Hyuga is my father and I do love him, but I'm my own p-person. My last name has nothing to do with this job." Hmm. Well now that was VERY interesting. Perhaps, she was not such a wallflower, after all.

On the other side of the city, Hiashi Hyuga sighs. Hanabi was clearly mourning the "loss" of her beloved older sister. The two of them had been close and this couldn't be easy on her.

"Hanabi, Hinata's decision to move out had nothing to do with you." He places his hand on her shoulder comfortingly. "Your sister loves you, but not everyone is suited for our family's lifestyle."

That was putting it mildly. Most people who were born into the Hyuga Clan eventually came to understand that being a Hyuga was both a blessing and a curse. Their family's influence afforded them numerous privileges and opportunities, but it also came at a cost.

That cost was being in the public's eye. Having every move that you made scrutinized. There were obviously some people who just couldn't handle that kind of pressure and thus, every once in a blue moon a Hyuga would decide to strike out on their own.

His daughter gazes up at him, blinking back unshed tears. "Hinata left because this is not a family. This is a business." Those words were painful to hear, but to some extent…he couldn't completely disagree.

Hanabi's assessment wasn't entirely inaccurate. Their Clan was indeed a family and a powerful one, but they were no ordinary family. Their line could be traced back to the nobility of Japan and had flourished both in the Old World and New World for hundreds of years. It was something to be proud of and a tradition that he didn't plan on breaking.

"Hanabi, you shouldn't say such things." He sighs and embraces her. "I know that this isn't always the easiest family to be part of, but never doubt for a moment that I do love you and your sister." Even if Hinata's latest decision did vex him greatly.

To his relief, the high school student returns his embrace. Perhaps, a bit reluctantly, but she does it all the same.

At seventeen, Hanabi was still a minor and she couldn't follow Hinata without his consent. "I know that you love me and Hinata, but our family is going to end up destroying itself one day." Which was frankly a relief because the proud Hyuga Patriarch was quite certain that she would have followed her sister, if that hadn't been the case.

"I won't allow that to happen." That was a promise.

It was only natural that teenagers and young adults would be more likely to rebel against such a system. Hiashi did hope that eventually Hinata would come to her senses, but if she didn't…well he would do his best to keep his younger daughter from copying her example. He couldn't "lose" both of them.

She should have seen that coming. Of course, Madara was going to ask. Her family was a household name and a successful businessman like him was most certainly going to be interested in it.

"Forgive me." He smiles at her disarmingly. "That was in very poor taste of me to pry into your personal life in such a fashion when we have just met." Kiba was definitely right about this one. "You're right, of course. You are most certainly your own person." This one really was a wolf.

Hinata smiles back at him all the same. "There's nothing to forgive." It was hard not to. There was no denying that Madara was a wolf, but he was also a very charming one. "Anyone would have asked and you were right, it's better to talk about such things now."

A charming wolf with very impressive "fur", the bluenette thinks to herself as she tries to suppress a giggle. She'd never seen a mane like that before. It actually came all the way to his hips in dramatic spikes and yet, it still looked soft.

"Excellent." His smile never wavers as he shows her the copy of her resume. "Well Hyuga or not, I have to say that your credentials are impressive." He chuckles as he points to her education. "You've certainly attended some of the finest schools in the country."

That was true, even her preschool had had a Wait List a mile long. Things had only gotten even more competitive as she continued her education. To say the least, if nothing else…Hinata was sure that she deserved a few gold stars for that section of her resume.

He smiles at her. "Your work experience is mostly connected to your family. Which isn't surprising." That would always come back to haunt her. Though her father would give her a recommendation without an issue. "Though I do see that you've worked as a lifeguard."

Hinata nods at that. She loved swimming and during the summer the position had given her ample reason to stay at the beach while providing her a chance to help people. Her father had liked it because it taught her responsibility and thus, he had indulged her "summers of independence" so to speak.

"That's right." Hinata nods as she tries her best not to fidget under those eyes that were black as coal and just as smoldering. "It's not really directly related to a receptionist job, but it did make me good at noticing details."

He issues another throaty chuckle. "I wouldn't say that. My business schedule is my life. So once again you're guarding lives, just in a different manner than before." How the man could make such a mundane action sound so exotic, Hinata didn't know.

Perhaps, it didn't matter. She doubted that she was the only woman who had noticed that he had laugh that she could only describe as masculine. Maybe, she really was in over her head. Kiba was right. This man was a predator.

She doubted that Madara was unaware of the effect he had on people. It was likely that he used his natural charisma and slightly intimidating presence to his advantage.

"In that case, I would do my b-best to guard your schedule." Hinata smiles at him, hoping that her stuttering habit wouldn't cost her the job.

She had largely outgrown it. Every so often though, it would come back. Mostly when she was nervous. Like now.

He smiles at her. "Excellent. Well truth be told, I don't need to drag this interview out overly long." Madara's smile turns into a smirk, which Hinata was suddenly sure was his more natural expression. "Truthfully, I already knew everything about you that I needed to know when you walked into the door just by your outfit."

Hinata blinks. Normally, she would have found that highly unlikely. Then again, Madara owned a modeling agency. He might not actually be bluffing.

"And what does my outfit tell you?" Hinata was almost afraid to ask, but fortune favored the bold. "Madara?" So she was going to have to push through her natural shyness.

His eyes glance over her in a way that made Hinata want to blush, but she manages not to. "You chose gray. Meaning you don't want to stick out, but you want to be seen as professional." That was true, her jacket and pants were gray.

"T-That's true." That didn't sound so bad.

Though it was obvious, Madara wasn't done. She could practically hear the wheels turning in his mind. This was a predator who was sizing up its prey.

In this case, that might be a very good thing or a very bad thing. "The design is simple, but elegant. You're naturally shy until you're made to feel comfortable, but you are an excellent planner and good at soothing more dominant personality types."

He could tell all that by looking at a jacket?! Hinata didn't know whether to be impressed or disturbed!

This time, she really did blush. "W-Well that sounds accurate enough." Damn her stutter!

"Of course. Your pants are a more striking shade of gray. Meaning you're trying subconsciously to detract attention to your face because of your natural shyness or perhaps you simply view your legs as your finest feature." He tilts his head. "They are rather lovely and the cut of the outfit flatters you, but I have always been more of a b-" Madara was suddenly cut off by Ino's voice.

Hinata recognized her the receptionist instantly. "Sorry to interrupt Madara, but Mrs. Joo is here no." Uh oh. The bluenette knew what that meant.

"Tell her to come to my office. I'll be with her shortly." Madara shoots her an apologetic look as the call ends. "I do apologize, Hinata." He shakes his head. "But Mrs. Joo, is a very important client. Though if it's any consolation, you're hired. How soon would you be able to start?"

"As soon as you like." Hinata was more than a little stunned at this development, but she wasn't going to argue. "When would be best for you?"

Madara smirks at that. "So eager to please." Which made Hinata blush as her mind took that the wrong way. "Well that's always good. I find that enthusiasm can overcome an experience gap more than half the time." Yes, she had taken that the wrong way.

What on Earth was she thinking? Mr. Uchiha might be charming and flirtatious, but that was just part of working in this industry. He wasn't actually hitting on her!

"Excellent. Well why don't you go and have lunch?" He smiles at her. "And you can meet me back here in an hour, we should be done by then." Madara pauses for a moment and then adds. "If not, try back in a half hour. I'm afraid that Mrs. Joo only takes private meetings and she's unpleasant company at the best of times."

Hinata smiles at him and shakes his hand again. "That's alright." She couldn't believe it! "I'll see you in an hour or two." She had gotten the job!

"Of course, I look forward to it." He nods at her as Hinata quickly darts off, trying her best to save her happy dance for when she was in private.

Madara shakes his head in amusement as he watches the young woman scurry off happily. She was such a cute little thing. Honestly, Hinata reminded him of a pet rabbit he had once had as a child.

Mrs. Joo most certainly did not illicit such fond childhood memories though, the CEO muses as the woman comes through his door a few moments later. It was strange really. Those lavender eyes of hers were so familiar and yet, so utterly alien a the same time.

He knew the color wasn't natural on her though. "Thank you, for agreeing to see me so quickly." They were the same color as Hinata's, but hers were contacts. "We have much to discuss, you and I."

There was also another key difference. The expression. Hinata's eyes were shy and kind. Mrs. Joo's were like ice. Their color was also just as fake as her current last name.

He nods at her in acknowledgement as he gestures for her to sit down. "Of course." Which she does.

Her maiden name had been all, but forgotten. Though he supposed, that her name meant Queen in Japanese. She just happened to be a Queen who changed Kings an awful lot. The woman had been married four times and it probably wouldn't be long until Husband Number Five came along.

"I heard through the grapevine that you were planning on unveiling some of your designs from your new fashion line in Rome." Ah so that's what the Black Widow wanted. "We've never really stated as much explicitly, but I thought you understood that I have a personal attachment to that city and that is where I host my own fashion shows."

Oh he knew that she did. Something about her first husband proposing to her there. Still, the woman was in for a rude awakening, if she truly thought that Madara Uchiha was going to surrender his right to do business in a city because she had some sentimental attachment to it.

He smiles charmingly at her. "Yes, I'm aware." Perhaps, he could reason with her and if not, he was prepared to go to war with her. "Though we're not hosting shows on the same day or in the same venue. So I fail to see the problem." It wasn't a direct competition.

"It's a matter of respect." She shakes her head. "My business is closely associated with that city. Do you understand the waves this will make in the modeling industry, if we were seen as rivals?!"

Oh he understood. That was part of why he was doing it. "It will be good publicity for us both." Rome might not have been built in a day, but Madara was confident that he could solidify his fashion empire with one. Mrs. Joo's agency was the last one that was truly a rival to Tsukuyomi.

She shakes her head. "Very well, Madara." Her lips turn into a cruel smirk, made even more unnerving by the ruby red lipstick that was smeared over them. "I hope that you realize you've just entered a battle that you can not possibly hope to win."

"I shall take that into consideration." He shakes his head as she gets up and strides towards the door. "Just as you should remember that pride comes before the fall, Mother."