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Hey! This is my first Alternative Universe and Modern Day story. I had this idea while daydreaming on a long bike ride, so you know it's gonna be good! Fingers crossed. Hope you review and follow. If you have suggestions, tell me and I can add them to later chapters! Thanks for reading.
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Sasuke Uchiha is known by many titles. He's known as the founder, CEO and President of The Uchiha Corporation. He is also known as a rich, smart, volatile, slacker genius.
He doesn't care what anybody thinks of him, whether it's his employees, friends, or even the stockholders and public consumers that fuel his business. He doesn't have much family anymore, but if they were still alive he wouldn't care what they thought of him either.
His company was one of the most successful businesses in New York City, or the Western hemisphere, or even the world! He had enough money to not care what anybody said about him. Yup, he thought he had the best life a 23-year old could have. Hell! Most of his friends were still struggling in college and he was enjoying the high life. Some people didn't like him ("some" being "most") because of how he made his fortune, but as anyone who knew Sasuke knew, he didn't care.
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Sakura Haruno is not known by anything. She just moved to New York because it had the best ("best" being "most affordable and still decent") college she was accepted to. She wasn't poor, but she certainly wasn't rich. What she lacks in finances, she more than made up for in how smart, compassionate and kind she is. Not to mention beautiful.
She was majoring in public relations, but was on summer break before going back for her senior year. She has many friends and she manages to make time to call her family.
Her life was on the right track, but she had some problems. First, her grades were just slightly less than where she wanted them. Next, her bank account was much lower than she wanted it to be. Lastly, she was recently laid off and her job search was not going well.
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Not Everyone
Chapter One
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8:18 pm
Sasuke could enjoy perks any other rich person could, but he wasn't like other people. He became rich pretty much on accident, so he was fine choosing to lounge on his couch on evenings like this and just watch TV alone. He's been alone pretty much his entire life, having just a couple of lifelong friends and his brother to grow up with.
Ring-a-Ring Da-Ding. Ring- a-Ring Da-Ding.
Sasuke dug his iPhone out from between the couch cushions he was lying on, half asleep. He looked at his lockscreen and saw the name: SECRATEMARI, which was his secretary and personal assistant, Temari.
"Hey."
"Sasuke! Are you watching the news?!"
"No I'm watching Family Guy why the hell would I watch the news?" Sasuke nonchalantly asked.
"Turn to CNN!"
"But there's a crossover with American Dad, so, you know…" Sasuke lazily retorted.
Temari was relentless, "Just turn to the news."
"Ugh, fine."
Sasuke reluctantly switched to the news and saw a story on none other than himself! Yay! He usually liked seeing himself on TV. This was not one of those times.
A news anchor was in the middle of a sentence: "…CEO Sasuke Uchiha, who hasn't been available for any interviews lately, was caught in a McDonald's parking lot. When asked for an explanation on his company's refusal to donate money to any charities, he had this to say:"
The feed cut to an amateur video of him getting dinner for himself just a couple hours ago in which he said, "Charity? Why the f**k would I do that?"
It cut back to the news anchor. "Mr Uchiha left before any further questions could be asked because he abruptly left. This is just the latest fiasco the youngest Fortune 500 CEO has been involved in, which leaves this anchor wondering "Why does Sasuke Uchiha hate charity?" for more on the story we go to—
CLICK. Sasuke turned his flatsreen off.
"Hey Temari, do you think I need a haircut? That video made me look like I need a haircut."
"What the fuck were you thinking? Everyone thinks you hate charities!"
"I don't hate charity, I just don't want to waste money on it. Even if I did hate it, who cares?"
"Your board members and lawyers have been calling nonstop! They want you to hire a Public Relations officer."
"What's that?"
"Someone that will help give you, and the company, a good image. The more people hate you, the lower board member confidence will be and then the stock prices will drop!"
"Yeah sure, whatever. Could you get a list of potential employees for me tomorrow?" Sasuke asked.
"Already on it. Will you even listen to him?" Temari responded.
"Her. I'm tired of working with old men. If I'm gonna have to work with someone face to face a lot it should be someone easy on the eyes. Women only, and nobody too old."
"Um ok, wait…is that why you hired me?!"
"Gotta go."
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9:07 pm
Sakura was exhausted from her part-time job as a waitress. Cliché as it seemed, it was the only job Sakura could find this summer. Walking down the sidewalk home, she pulled her jacket close to her body to try to keep warm. It was dark now. She walked tiredly up to her crappy little apartment building. Sure there was graffiti on the outside and the heater didn't work on the inside, but she saved a lot of money! Kinda…
Sakura plunged her key into the lock and pushed her way in. She kept it fairly clean and she tried decorating as best she could, but it was still a crumby place to live.
She began boiling a pot of water to make tea to combat the cold. Sakura turned her tiny, standard definition TV on and began flipping channels.
Old movie, saw it already, corporate CEO blah-blah on CNN, cooking show, Family Guy…maybe—no…
Sakura sighed; nothing good to watch. She turned her television off and went back to take the kettle from the stove.
Ring Ring Ring…Ring Ring—
Sakura answered her cellphone (obviously not a smartphone), "Hello?"
"Hey Sakura whatcha doing?" asked her best friend.
"Hi Ino. Nothing, just got back from work."
"Still waitressing?"
"Yeah, I sent out some resumes for better jobs, but I haven't got any calls back."
"We should go clothes shopping!"
"Why?"
"For when you get a good job you have to look the part!"
"Uh, yeah I'll just take it one step at a time," Sakura giggled.
Ino told the pinkette, "Well I was just calling because Shikamaru and I are going to the movies and one of his friends is in town and he is really cute."
"Oh thanks for thinking of me, but I'm not really ready to date anyone right now," Sakura told her.
The two friends chatted like this until Sakura was too tired to go on. After hanging up she crawled into her tiny, empty bed and drifted off to sleep.
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10:10 am
Sasuke never wore suits. He thought they were uncomfortable and he preferred to go to work in jeans and a hoodie. He was sitting at his desk filing out some forms when Temari entered with a stack of manila envelopes.
"Mr Uchiha I have the Public Relations resumes you asked for," Temari let him know, "With the prerequisites you asked for."
"Hn, just set them on my desk."
Temari did what her boss asked and began leaving. She turned her head to the side, "Ibiki said we need to hire someone tomorrow at the latest…"
"Uh-huh."
Ibiki was their Chief Financial Officer who was hired by the board of directors, so Sasuke didn't have the power to fire him. He would if he could because Ibiki's a total douche.
Sasuke called out, "Dobe! Come here!"
Naruto, who was also known by this nickname, was Sasuke's lifelong friend and Vice President.
The blonde poked his head in from his connected office, "What's up?"
"Wanna play Xbox?"
"No I'm busy working," Naruto replied.
"…"
"…"
The two of them looked at each other for a silent moment, and then they both burst out laughing at the same time! Sasuke just chuckled, but Naruto, being the more emotionally open of the two, laughed longer.
"Ha! I'll start it up," Naruto choked out between bits of laughter.
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11:15 am
Sasuke and Naruto were playing some shooty war game for about an hour when Temari came back in.
She said, "Oh, taking another 'Moral Booster' ok, ok, that's good…did you pick a PR rep?"
Sasuke didn't take his eyes off the screen, "Hn."
"So who's the lucky lady?" Temari asked.
Naruto blurted in, "PR what? Lady who?"
"I don't know," Sasuke admitted.
"What?!" Temari exclaimed.
"Here," Sasuke quickly handed her a piece of paper and got back to trying to shoot Naruto. 'Moral Boosters' like video games, television, naps and playing more video games were crucial to business according to Sasuke and Naruto.
Temari scanned the paper, "Mr Uchiha, this is the warranty to a dishwasher."
"Oh, I mean, uh, her," Sasuke handed Temari a resume at random.
She took it, "Sakura…Haruno ok I'll call her, but she hasn't even finished college?"
"Yeah and I didn't finish high school," Sasuke honestly rebutted.
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12:33 am
"Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!" Sakura involuntarily exclaimed when she saw her best friend Ino and her boyfriend Shikamaru enter the coffee shop.
The couple immediately noticed the beaming Sakura and they sat down at the table with her.
"Calm down and tell us what's up," Ino playfully demanded.
"I got a job!"
"Wow…" Shikamaru sarcastically said.
Ino lightly punched his shoulder, "That's great Sakura! Where?"
"That's the exciting part: it's at the Uchiha Corporation! I'm the new Public Relation officer!"
"Oh my God! That's incredible," Ino smiled and exclaimed as Shikamaru rolled his eyes, "Do you think you'll work with Uchiha himself?"
"I-I think so. They probably need the extra help from all the news he's been in."
"He's hot," Ino added.
"Hey!" Shikamaru gibed.
Ino corrected, "OH, you are too of course!"
"Yeah yeah," he scoffed.
"Sakura we have to go shopping!"
The bubblegum haired girl stuttered out that they should, but she would be too busy preparing for the job. Ino wouldn't let up about how "appearances matter" and stuff like that. Sakura loved shopping, but she couldn't afford anything good at the moment and that was embarrassing. Eventually she got her to agree to go shopping later this day, but Sakura wasn't expecting much.
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5:27 pm
"Get out here already Sakura; let me see!" Ino squealed.
"Um, ok I'm coming out," Sakura tentatively said.
Sakura walked out of the dressing room wearing a professional skirt with a matching jacket over a white blouse.
"It looks really good," Ino complimented.
"Oh, y-yeah I guess it does…" Sakura muttered looking into a mirror. She grabbed the price tag from under the jacket sleeve, "Ino I can't afford this!"
"But it looks so professional and sexy."
"I have plenty of professional clothes already."
"You could buy it, wear it to your first day and then return it," Ino coaxed.
"Hm, I guess that could work…"
"Just be sure to keep the price tag on and keep the receipt."
"Ok I'll do it!"
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9:01 am
Ok Sakura don't be nervous…well, being nervous is normal for the first day on the job….
She walked through the Uchiha lobby on shaky legs up to talk to the receptionist. She got directions to where to go.
So far so good…wait—did she tell me to go to the CEO's office?!...It's ok, just stay calm…
Sakura got in the crowded elevator with other Uchiha employees. Slowly they all got off on various floors. The CEO worked on the top floor of course, so that's where she was going. In a few minutes she was they only one in the elevator.
Oh what if I screw up? This is the first real job I've had.
Sakura approached the secretary's desk.
"Hi how can I help you?" the blonde haired green eyed woman asked.
"U-uh," Sakura began but her voice cracked. She gulped hard and tried again as confidently as she could, "I-I'm Sakura Haruno. Today's my first day as the P-Public Relations officer."
"Oh yes follow me to his office," Temari said and then stood up.
"His?" Sakura asked, following Temari.
"Sasuke Uchiha, our boss."
Oh God this is…this isn't good…what if he's strict, or has high standards. Of course he has high standards he owns the company! Don't be stupid Sakura you're going to get yourself fired!
Temari interrupted her thoughts: "Let me see if he's busy."
Temari opened the door and poked her head in. Just a second later she came back, "Ok Miss Haruno you can go right in!"
"Oh ok, thanks…"
Temari walked away. Sakura grabbed the door knob and took a deep breath before pushing it open.
I wish she would stay…I hope Mr Uchiha isn't angry, I hope he's patient and he's nice and he's, he's…
…he's wearing a hoodie?
Right off the bat he wasn't what she expected. She knew he was the youngest CEO currently in the city, but she thought he'd be in a suit typing up some business report or signing "make or break" contracts. Instead he was wearing a navy blue hoodie, with messy spiky hair and he was typing something up on his phone with a grin. If she had to guess, he was txting a fashion model.
Sakura realized she was standing awkwardly in the door frame too long so she spoke up, "Hello."
He looked up and met her eyes from across the room.
Wow, he is just as good looking in person.
"Hey, are you Sakura?"
"Y-yes."
"Come, take a seat," Sasuke said and then gestured to the seats on the other side of his desk.
Here we go…
Next Time: Sakura and Sasuke get to know each other. Sasuke says something even worse on national news and Sakura does damage control. Naruto tells Sakura some interesting facts about Sasuke's past.
There ya go! Chapter one down, many more to come. How do you think Sasuke got so much money? I'd love to hear your ideas and predictions.
Follow, favorite and review because that's what the cool kids do! Probably.
