The Office Affair
Chapter One
A/N: If you didn't gather from the summary, this story is set in the modern world. It is rated M for language, suggestive themes, mild angst and lemons. If anyone is interested in seeing the various fanart pieces done for this story, don't hesitate to ask ;)
Tenten woke up to a curious sense of peace though it was late and sunlight was practically pouring into her bedroom. Upon pulling the covers back she made a mental note to get a heater—the mornings here had a tendency to be unbearably cold.
Automatically though reluctantly she began to put some distance between herself and the warm bed.
A bed whose warmth taunted her to lie back amongst it's silk blankets and fluffy pillows.
With a resolute sigh Tenten made her routine journey towards the bathroom. A quick glimpse at the clock brought awareness to her semi-conscious mind.
She was running extremely late for the most important day on the job.
The first one.
After a warm quick shower, she brushed her teeth and combed her chestnut tresses into a neat bun—kept her bangs in place. She spent quite a while debating with herself over what to wear. Finally, having recalled something posted to her new boss' Facebook profile that implied he had a preference for the colour brown, Tenten's mind was set. It was kind of odd that he hadn't a profile picture posted.
Some may argue that it was a desperate attempt on her part to try and make an impression but it was also her favourite colour. So then, it would be safe to assume that her outfit choice was solely based on her own taste.
The suit she decided on was however too fitting for comfort. The deep chocolate-coloured skirt ended just above the knees—enough to show her long elegant legs. And the blouse in a lighter shade of brown which looked almost cream, started low enough for a tempting glimpse of her bust.
Fortunately the cute jacket that came along with it concealed all her upper feminine assets away from prying eyes. After slipping her feet into a pair of matching brown stilettos, Tenten stopped to admire her handy work in the mirror.
Not bad, she thought with a smirk.
She had never been one to praise physical beauty anymore than was necessary. And to be frank, she thought herself to be awfully plain in comparison to most women. But this morning she had a glow.
She saw it in the way the rosiness of her cheeks stood out against her evenly tanned skin. She saw it in the way the amber flecks of her eyes seem to burn molten gold amongst the hazel depths of her iris.
It was glow of a newly independent woman starting her life over in the big city.
And damn did that glow looked good on her. It felt good too.
She idly twirled herself around one last time, marveling at how her body had instinctively proportioned itself over the years to complement a posterior people always told her had been too much for her size.
Breakfast was slightly heavier than usual, but Tenten put it down to wanting to quell the sharp fingers of anxiety that clawed at the walls of her stomach. A ham and cheese sandwich, a bowl of Frosted Flakes and a cup of coffee later, she was grabbing her handbag, car keys and heading out the door.
7:45 a.m. caught her stuck in traffic, bobbing her head to the melodies being emitted from the car's speakers.
15 minutes.
That was the amount of time she had left before she would be considered unfashionable late. And judging from how moderately the traffic was advancing, it would probably take her half an hour or longer to get there.
"Tardy on the first day? You are fucking special, Tenten," she grumbled, gripping the steering wheel in utter displeasure.
It was pathetic.
How was she supposed to be anyone's Personal Assistant when she could barely even manage her own time?
Or life for that matter.
The traffic light hit green and the cars began to slowly accelerate.
"Finally," she grouched and applied a little pressure to the gas pedal, easing off swiftly because of the traffic really was bumper to bumper.
Just as she was about to beat the stoplight at the intersection and make a break for a less congested highway, a black sports car came out of nowhere and swooped in before her.
Tenten had to stomp heavily on the brakes to avoid a collision.
"Asshole," she slapped her palm against the horn repeatedly in irritation but the other driver was long gone, leaving her to fume behind her wheels at the front of the queue. "Fucking asshole."
To irate her further, when she did arrive at her destination, she was denied access to the property because she didn't possess the company's pass card.
She tried explaining that she wasn't an official employee as yet, but the security by the gate wouldn't hear of it.
"Identification please," he kept on requesting.
"I don't like repeating myself," she growled lowly in exasperation.
Seemingly satisfied that he had managed to distort her equilibrium, the man chuckled, "I'm just pulling your leg honey. We were told to expect you, Tenten," he drawled.
Her name rolled off the tip of his tongue quite patronizingly and she arched a brow.
"I'm already late. I'd appreciate it if you didn't waste any of my time," she told him tightly.
He goggled at her for a few seconds. "You know, I'd never image that adorable face of yours would come with such a stern little mouth," he laughed again.
She frowned.
Her patience was running on reserves.
A car horn sounded furiously from behind and Tenten glanced into her rear view mirror, flushing both in embarrassment and annoyance.
Embarrassed she had apparently made an enemy on the first day of the job, regardless of how faceless him or her maybe. And annoyed because she recognized the car as the one that had previously overtook her.
"Just give me a minute," the guard yelled and muttered. "Impatient asshole."
Tenten found herself snickering to herself as she drove off; the black car following close behind.
She drove for what seemed endless minutes trying to find somewhere to park her car. For a second she was plagued by the ridiculous notion that she was lost. There was a particularly stylish convertible—distinguishable because of its obnoxiously loud purple colour—that Tenten was certain she had passed at least four times.
Blessedly she found an unoccupied parking space. And cursedly the black car from earlier slid past her, beating her to it—almost killing her in the process, she would like to add. It was a wonder how the driver avoided the collision. This sector of the parking pot was smaller, narrower—like it was exclusive and designed only with the owners of Porches, Lamborghinis and other fancy vehicles in mind.
Tenten's grip on the steering wheel would have been lethal around a person's neck. She was already running late and this motherfucker was not helping her cause at all. Violent tides of rage flooded every last bit of her being, drowning the tan of her face in an angry shade of red. She killed the engine and swung her legs out the car to stand at her impressive height. Albeit just barely managing to balance herself on heels she normally walked in as if barefooted. Whoever he or she was, they were going to have their ass handed to them.
The driver exited the car before Tenten completely closed the distance between them. Lucky for them, she bristled silently, because she would've hauled them out the vehicle had they not moved.
"Are you blind? I was going to park there!" she demanded, throwing her hands up frustration. "You could have killed me!"
"Don't worry your pretty little head I'm sure all of you are very much intact," he ran his eyes insolently along the length of her body causing her cheeks to burn and her posture to go rigid—more out of irritation rather than embarrassment. "No harm done," he sneered.
"Did you purchase your license?" she bit out shortly. "You could have killed me!"
"But I didn't," he dismissed, walking away.
Tenten couldn't believe the nerve of him. "Where am I supposed to park now?"
"That's your problem, not mine," he said coolly
"What a fucking asshole," she mused gingerly and returned to her car to resume her tedious voyage around the parking lot once again.
After what seemed like an endless lifetime of driving around, she finally located another empty spot. This time Tenten gave a cautious—somewhat nervous—glimpse into her rear view mirror. She making sure there wasn't another bastard waiting to delay her pursuit of solace and sanity.
She breathed a sigh of relief when she backed up her car without any interference. With head held high, bag in hand and a very noticeable fabricated smile, Tenten made her way towards the main entrance to the enormous skyscraper. She marvelled at the immaculate lawn, fresh tarmac on the ground, the pristine glass doors and windows. There were quite a number of security cameras. The parking lot looked to be a car mart for vehicles valued at three years worth of a surgeon's salary.
The air-conditioning was like a blustery winter chill than a cool summer breeze. It was perhaps a little over eager in greeting Tenten when she entered the lobby. The same could be said about the beaming pretty dark-haired woman that sat at the front desk. She was talking into her headpiece when Tenten stopped before her desk but immediately ended the call and shot her the brightest of smiles.
"You must be Tenten," she said rather than enquired.
"Hai."
"You're late," her brows drew together but the smile was back in a matter of seconds. "I'm Shizune," she stood and extended her hand.
"Tenten, please to meet you," the brunette offered politely, though she was aware the woman already knew that.
She shook Tenten's hand rather enthusiastically before returning her attention to the stack of papers on her desk. "Sakura should be here any minute to escort you up," she informed her. The smile was still there—like it was plastered to her face—perfect row of white teeth, dimples and all.
Tenten busied herself with taking in the decor of the lobby. Tasteful furnishing, expensive art and loads of glass, she mentally noted. Couches with wooden frames, no doubt made from the costliest wood, bookshelves and a fancy water cooler completed the space. It was spacious and scarcely furnished as most lobbies tended to be.
The clicking of heels against the tiled floor brought Shizune's head up from her desk again. "That must be Sakura," she said.
Tenten was astonished to see a woman with a fair head of pink locks—that had to be the result of some mishap in genetic mutation—and the most striking pair of emerald eyes. They sparkled like the gem themselves. She wore a grey skirt suit quite similar to Tenten's, though she didn't quite fill it as nicely as the brunette did. Her hair hung loosely over her shoulders and Tenten had to admit that however peculiar the shade of it was, not many people could look quite as natural a beauty as Sakura did with it.
Cherry Blossom.
What a suiting name, Tenten reflected.
"Good morning Tenten, Mr. Uchiha is expecting you," Sakura's voice cut through her musing. There was something terribly stern and professional about her. Tenten couldn't help but feel it was forced. She turned to regard Shizune a warm smile, "How's Iruka and the little one?"
"He's doing great—they're doing great," Shizune's dark eyes held a special kind of softness as she went off into a ramble about the recent antics of her newborn and Iruka—her husband, Tenten figured. "He's already talking about another baby," she laughed.
After Sakura's brief exchange with Shizune she instructed Tenten to follow her. They took the elevator to the fifteenth floor and stopped out a door that had "Mr. Uchiha" engraved on it in gold. It was then that the nerves attacked and Tenten could not stop her churning stomach or wipe the sweat from her palms.
"Relax," Sakura soothed, rubbing her back in a sort of motherly way.
"I don't understand why, but I'm sort of nervous," Tenten confided with a blush.
"There's no need to be. It's not like you haven't already gotten the job," she reasoned, cracking a smile.
Before she had the chance to ask any questions, Sakura pressed the buzzer and almost instantly she was buzzed in.
"Come on, you're already late," she led her inside and closed the door behind them.
Tenten felt a shiver creep along her spine. The temperature was drastically lower than that of the outside. She found it rather ironic that a man thought to be from hell would dwell in such a cold place. Then again, it could just be a reflecting what was in his heart. Fire and ice—yeah, his icy heart would not object to him firing her ass if she fucked up.
The last thing Tenten expected of a man who everyone spoke so fearfully of was that she would find some woman sitting on his desk—her legs crossed, her pretty face breaking out into a sly grin.
"She's here," she announced, running accessing cerulean eyes over the foreign brunette.
Something must've amused her because she snickered and Tenten could do nothing but flush in mortification. The blonde's beauty was unearthly but there was something very sinister about her—something that truly was not of earth. Tenten shuddered.
"You may take your leave now, Sakura." His voice was very authoritative, making Tenten's skin prickle and shivers take up what felt like permanent residence in her spine.
"Good luck," Sakura bid softly then left.
"You can't be serious. You're replacing me with a brunette?" the blonde pouted and hopped off the desk. She continued to rake her eyes over Tenten as though looking for reasons to approve or disapprove. Then she turned back to the desk, "You can do better that this."
Tenten squirmed lightly under the woman's critical eyes—steely and cold.
"Ino," the voice was a rough undertone as he commanded, "Leave."
Ino pouted, "But I— "
"Get out!"
Tenten winced, but Ino who seemed to be accustomed to the tantrums he threw when disobeyed sighed in of defeat and complied. As soon as the door closed behind her Tenten went to take her respectively seat adjacent to her new boss.
There was an awkward silence and the more Tenten waited for him to say something the more anxious she got. She began to fidget; intimidated by the fact that she couldn't see his face.
"Good morning Mr. Uchiha," she said breaking the silence.
"Sit," he ordered.
"Yes sir, Mister Uchiha sir," she said and bit her lip in sheer annoyance with herself. What was this, the fucking military? "I'm sorry for being—"
"Please call me Sasuke," he cut her off. "Mister Uchiha makes me sound old," he spun his chair around and smirked at her. Instinctively she stood up when his onyx gaze fell to her stunned expression. "Or do you prefer moron?"
"You?" she gave out grimacing.
A/N: Please excuse any faulty grammar, diction etc. I am currently giving this story a second rewrite because my English has improved since the initial posting and subsequent first rewrite. It is a second language. Thank you for reading. Reviews are greatly appreciated ;)