the taste of karma
Chapter 1
the beginning
With trembling hands, the purple-haired woman picked up the scattered photos on the marble table. After a mental pep talk, she flipped the photo. As though scalded, she threw the scalding photo on the table after a split second before sending the private investigator off.
As the investigator went out of the cafe, the petite woman clutched her head with both hands as she felt a headache coming. Her throat constricted and tears filled up her large lavender eyes, threatening to flow out.
Useless Her father's words echoed in her head in the midst of depression You're too weak to handle Hyuga Corporation Her cousin is right, he always is.
What would they say if they knew that she can't even control her husband?
That they never once had sex - yes, she was not afraid to say it.
That they slept in different rooms.
Ugly
Yeah, she was like what they said - useless, weak and ugly.
How could she compete with Neji, the prodigy of Hyuuga family? She wasn't good with business management like Sasuke. She wasn't as beautiful as the mistresses Sasuke brought home. She couldn't change herself no matter how hard she tried. Who could she blame?
She snorted with a teary-faced.
Myself
Then she broke out in a sarcastic laugh before crying at her pitiful state.
She was powerless.
She was nothing.
She was nobody.
It was 11.49 pm when the raven-haired man returned home. He was greeted with brightness of the living room instead of the usual darkness. The mistress of the estate sat on the large sofa in the living room, arms crossed and depression in her eyes.
"Why aren't you in bed?" the Uchiha asked as he took off his shoes.
"I couldn't sleep." Hinata replied softly.
"Why?" she looked up slowly at her husband, who had a worried look on his face to which Hinata almost snorted at.
Without any response, Hinata just glanced at her flawless husband before standing up and heading up to her room.
"Hinata," the Uchiha heir ran towards his solemn wife and grabbed her shoulders.
"What happened?" he inquired after turning the woman in his hands to face him. Hinata pried his hands off her ; she felt nauseous.
"Stop acting as though you care Sasuke. No one's here, it's only both of us right now." she looked into his wide eyes.
"What the hell are you talking about now?!" he snapped, to which Hinata was unfazed at.
"I know everything Sasuke," she whispered softly as tears filled up her eyes again.
"Know what? Know what, Hinata!" he grabbed her shoulders again and shook her.
"The table in the living room, right there." she looked at the carpeted floor as though it was something amusing.
At her statement, Sasuke paced towards the table in the living room with a irritated look. He picked up the envelope and showed it to Hinata.
"Open it." Hinata prompted, this time with more tears flowing down her porcelain face.
Without hesitation, he ripped the envelope open before removing the photos in it. The moment he flipped over the stack of films, he heard a loud slam of the door.
He sighed before walking up the stairs and towards the room his wife was in. Sasuke knew she was sitting and leaning against the door, he knew because this always happen.
"You hired a private investigator to check on your husband," it was a statement rather than a question.
There was no response, and that's when he continued, "This will not happen again, I promise to change."
Still no response.
"I love you, Hinata." he knew that that the four words would earn her forgiveness, it always did.
"Y-You promise to c-change?" she finally answered.
"Yes, it will be the last time. I promise." he replied.
"Okay."
Both of them knew he would never change his ways, because he is Sasuke Uchiha and Sasuke Uchiha was never known to keep promises, especially to his wife.
"Good morning, Hinata-sama." maids and butlers greeted Hinata as she went down the long and broad stairs.
"Morning, don't work too hard and tire yourselves." Hinata reminded with a soft smile before heading down to the dining room.
"What's for breakfast, Mrs Kimi?"
"Ah, good morning Hinata-sama. It's your favorite - pancakes and sausages. Specially for you." the Head of housekeeping informed with a wink before laughing along with Hinata.
After settling down herself in one of the dining chairs, Hinata reached for the remote control and switched on the large plasma television.
"Oh, morning news." Hinata mused before munching down on her pancakes.
'Good morning Japan! We have here today five of the most youngest and successful entrepreneurs of the year right here! All of them are eye candies of potential investors and even fan-girls around the world. The CEOs of respected and top companies in the world - we present to you Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki, Neji Hyuuga, Gaara Sabaku, and last but not least, Pein!'
Hinata cocked her head to the side when she noticed that one of the top entrepreneurs who she was familiar with was not present as well.
'It is such a pity that Shikamaru Nara, the CEO of Nara Law Firm is unable to attend today's interview. But fret not, he will be here next week for an exclusive interview with the Big Four! Now let's move on to our interview with these rising stars in the world of business.'
"Ah, explains why Shikamaru-san is not there. Busy with work as usual, must be his continuous procrastination." Hinata giggled at the thought.
'Now, Mr Uchiha, I'm pretty sure that the whole world knows about your friendship with Mr Uzumaki here. Could you please enlighten us on how both of you met and how both of you became best of buddies?'
'Well, both of us met in the most unusual way. He was the class clown and last in the cohort as usual, I was the class genius and top student. It just so happened that our teacher had the both of us in the same group for a project. Whenever we tried to discuss about ideas, he would always blabber nonsense which was completely unrelated to the project. It seemed impossible for both of us to become best friends at that time until something happened. We went to purchase materials for the project one day, and when both of us were crossing the road, bickering as usual, a car was speeding towards us. He didn't notice it but the I did, and I pushed him away and both of us landed on the other side of the road, safe.'
'Ah, so this incident was what triggered the growth of your friendship and brotherhood. I see. Then Mr Uzumaki, do you have any comment about what Mr Uchiha had relayed?'
'Of course I do! There are so many mistakes in Teme's story, first, I wasn't the last in the cohort, I was second last! Secondly, I don't blabber nonsense, what I talk about is logical and sensible! Lastly, it wasn't Teme who saved me! It was me who saved his sorry ass, if not he wouldn't be standing right here and attending this interview!'
'Uh... Well then, let's go for a commercial break before continuing on our interview with the other promising entrepreneurs. See you in a bit, Japan!'
Just as the twenty year old woman was about to switch off the television, a familiar voice stopped her in her tracks.
"Shikamaru-san! What brought you here?" Hinata asked with a huge smile.
"Troublesome, I'm here to bring some documents for you to sign." Shikamaru said as he sat himself down on the sofa in the living room.
"What documents?" Hinata asked, her perfect eyebrows arched upwards.
"Sasuke, that troublesome guy, wants to buy you some property. Which explains why I skipped that troublesome interview to come here for you to sign the property agreement." the brunette replied as he looked around the house except Hinata, as though in guilt.
"Oh, okay then!" Hinata exclaimed before moving over to sit opposite the familiar figure.
"Alright," the lawyer muttered as he rummaged through his briefcase. "Here, just sign on page 2, 4 and 7." Hinata nodded before picking up the pen provided by Shikamaru to sign on the papers.
"Aren't you going to read the documents?" Shikamaru asked in surprise.
"Nah, I trust that you would've read the papers beforehand!" Hinata said as she continued to sign on the papers.
Shikamaru then whispered inaudibly under his breath.
"Sorry, did you say something Shikamaru-san?" Hinata inquired with a worried look as she handed the documents back to Shikamaru.
"Oh, it's nothing. I just remembered something troublesome I have to do back at the office." the almost guilty lawyer replied as he shoved the documents back into his briefcase.
"Okay then, I'll send you off to the door?" Hinata asked with uncertainty.
"It's alright, I can walk myself to the door. Good day and see you again." Shikamaru bowed before walking towards the door.
As he was about to pull the large door, he craned his neck to spare a glance at the female Hyuuga. Sorry Hinata, but I warned you Shikamaru sighed before moving out of the house. Once he got in his car, he fished out his iPhone and dropped a text to someone before placing his phone on the passenger seat beside him. The lawyer had a hunch that karma would come back and bite his ass, hard.
"Once again, we would like to thank these five young and talented CEOs for attending our early morning live interview! We hope to see them very soon, and we would like to wish them a prosperous and fruitful year ahead! We would also like to thank our audience for coming here and being so attentive as usual. Have a good day ahead and farewell, until next week!"
"AND CUT!"
The Uchiha stood up from his seat, his bottom numb from the interview. He fished out for his black iPhone and saw a message from Shikamaru, just as he was about to read his message, a deep voice stopped him.
"Looks like some Uchiha is happy that he got the CEO position of the company."
"Pein," Sasuke slid his phone back into his pocket.
"Don't get too ahead of yourself, Uchiha. You only got the position because Itachi left to join Akatsuki." the orange-haired man smirked at the young Uchiha who was growing red from anger.
"Right, as though the addition of Itachi can help Akatsuki. A ruined and shattered company cannot be saved even with the help of genius."
"Ah, then explain why I'm here even though Akatsuki was set up last year?" Pein challenged.
"I don't know, blackmail perhaps?" Sasuke shrugged his shoulders before walking off with a victorious smirk on his face.
"Everyone knows Uchiha Co. is only doing so well because of Uchiha Fugaku, not Uchiha Sasuke." a foreign voice joined in.
Sasuke stopped in his tracks as he clenched his fists, his anger rising at a rapid rate. He turned behind only to see the CEO of Sabaku Corps. smirking at him.
"Mark my words well, Uchiha. Don't get too ambitious, you're just seeking your own grave." Sasuke glared harder at the leaving redhead.
"C'mon Teme, we all know that both of them can't beat all four of us!".
"Don't state the obvious, Dobe." Sasuke glared at his blonde friend.
"Shikamaru asked me to remind you to check your phone, Uchiha." a monotonous voice interrupted their staring contest
Sasuke suddenly remembered and took out his phone immediately. He checked the message the lawyer had sent him and a huge smirk broke out on his face.
"The hell, Teme! You look like some serial rapist!" Naruto commented with a disgusted look.
"Well guys, we are one step ahead towards success." Sasuke said, still with the same smirk on his face
'Sasuke, Hinata has signed the papers. We can go through the transfer and divorce procedures soon.'
A/N : Well, it was something that I wrote a few years back. With a bit of editing here and there, I hope it's somewhat presentable. Pardon my grammar and spelling mistakes. Hopefully I'll update soon, maybe after my national examinations? Let's just keep our fingers crossed! Ja ne!