Well, it's been a long time since I've made a multi-chapter. Ugh, I swear, I haven't really paid attention to updating. I hope this year will be better than the last. Honestly, I was quite excited to get this new story out. It's kind of my current favorite. Teehee. :)

Summary: When Haruno Sakura was asked to work with Uchiha Sasuke for a big company project, out of all her expectations, love wasn't one of them. Pose for the camera. "I'm not feeling the chemistry. Try looking deeply into each other's eyes. That's good!" Oh, boy.

Chapter 1: Job Offer
. . .
Dreams are like stars...you may never touch them,
but if you follow them they will lead you to your destiny.
. . .

. . .

Emerald orbs swept through the semi-crowded restaurant. Her fingers were entwined and her elbows were propped up on the table. Checking her wristwatch for the time once again, she lifted one of her hands delicately, (unconsciously drawing attention to her ivory skin), and ran it through her silk pink locks as a sigh left her lips.

"Honestly, that guy..."

It was her first day off from work in months, (being an on-demand model, she was requested more times than often during the whole duration of her work) and hearing the news, her blonde High School friend had persuaded her to dine with him for dinner at one of the finest restaurants in Japan. This action effectively booked her first day off from work.

Uzumaki Naruto, her friend since High School was running late. Inside, Sakura knew that he had another motive for inviting her out all of a sudden. She knew the boy all too well to accept the fact that he had invited her out just to hang out again.

A flash of spiky blonde tresses caught her eye as she gawked (though not openly) at the familiar face of her friend.

He had matured, that's for sure.

His chubby cheeks from back then had turned to finely shaped ones, supported by a defined jawline. Under his casual attire of jeans and an orange polo shirt (she wasn't surprised, he had taken a liking to the color even back then), Sakura could make out the outline of his toned chest and body.

"Sakura-chan!" he exclaimed once he spotted her. It wasn't hard, really. Her strikingly natural pink hair always made it easy for people to spot her. Her hair was one of the reasons why she had never liked the game, 'hide and seek' from her childhood. She always lost.

The clock ticked by as they sat and dined for the evening. Stories of catching up were told, as well as funny experiences and memories from back in the day were shared.

"Getting to the point here, Sakura-chan. I'm sure you knew all too well that I didn't only invite you here because I wanted to just catch up, right?"

A soft chuckle escaped Sakura's pink lips as she drank from her water glass before responding. "Of course. It's like we're siblings, after all. I knew that there were attachments. Besides, judging from your mannerisms; you've grown."

From his prankster ways to working for one of the top advertising agencies throughout the country, Uzumaki Naruto had definitely stepped up his game.

"So, like I mentioned earlier, I managed to land a job at 'Itsumademo Advertising'. Pay is good and whatnot, but the job itself is beyond amazing! Of course I need to be at the set all the time when photoshoots take place, and I get to meet super hot models hired for a specific shoot!" Naruto's eyes were shining brilliantly as he continued telling Sakura the background of his job. His fists were practically palming the satin tablecloth from sheer excitement.

"Well that is quite exciting. Not to mention that I won't have to worry about you living and dying alone." She joked.

"Very funny, Sakura-chan. You're hilarious." He commented. Crossing his arms in front of his chest, Naruto pouted childishly as he wondered why people would even bother thinking that he'd die alone. He was good looking. Charming at times, not to mention he knew how to lighten up the mood. As he continued pondering, he failed to notice the hand waving in front of his face.

"Naruto, I was kidding." He heard once he resurfaced. "Besides, we were talking about your alterior motive, remember?"

The blonde slapped himself mentally as he recalled his job. It was important that he got this part done, for his job was at stake here.

"Right, right." His tone tuned serious as he looked at Sakura straight in the eye. "Sakura-chan, how would you like to work with me at Itsumademo Advertising as a part-time model? We could seriously use your… err—body. Not that way though!"

An eyebrow raised was her response. "And what exactly do you mean to say, Naruto?"

He cleared his throat. From the start he knew that this plan of his was going to benefit the both of them. The hired models, the fact that this project was under an entirely new category that the company had just decided to tackle on. Not to mention that if this project was a huge hit, a lot of doors for both the company and the hired models will open, all of course, under their favor.

"Would you perhaps be interested in working for a project under Itsumademo Advertising?"

It was a simple yes or no question. Of course she was leaning over to the positive side, and the words that would lead her to the whole contract signing and whatnot were already on her lips. But somehow a nagging feeling at the back of her mind kept her from voicing out the words ready to be spoken.

"Hold on, I think there's a catch here. Everything sounds too good to be true. Working for one of the leading advertising agencies in Japan and I'm guessing the pay will be high as well, not to mention the possibilities of another step in my career is definitely wrapped up with the package. Therefore, there must be a catch."

Oh, she knew him all too well, alright.

An amused smile appeared on Naruto's face as he thought fondly of the pink haired girl sitting across him.

"It's just that we decided to make you the face of the first ever magazine under the company. It's entitled, Ullzang. We don't really want to pressure you or anything, since this is a big project, after all.

"As you may know, 'Ullzang', when roughly translated means, 'Best Faces'. There was a board meeting a few days ago, and your name popped up as one of the possible main models for the company's new project. A little this and that from the other members, positive feedback from me — all of which, are facts about you, added to the fact that I know you personally as well as your face appearing on billboards all throughout Tokyo and numerous times on big pictures in Shibuya Crossing, the only thing you need to do now is say yes, and the deal is sealed." Naruto explained.

Although everything seemed surreal and a dream to her, Sakura couldn't help the feeling over giddiness that washed over her. She was chosen to be the main model of the first ever magazine line that will be published under the name of one of the widely known advertising companies in Japan. Who wouldn't be excited?

"Well," she started off, "It's not like I can say no to one of the most exciting projects I have ever been asked to be a part of." Naruto nodded. "I'm not crazy enough to say no to an amazing project like this. So Naruto, you can expect me to be there on the day of the photoshoot or whatever it is that you guys have in store for me."

A warm smile spread throughout Naruto's face as the whole business air floating around them dissipated, which immediately brought the two back to the whole catching up activity.

He sighed in relief visibly, (of course, this being one of the ways to revert back to the friendly atmosphere and out of the business one) as he wiped an imaginary sweat from his forehead.

"Thank goodness. I couldn't stand another moment of being all serious and business-y with you. I mean, it's you, Sakura-chan, my best friend since High School. We'd joke about the silliest things, and being serious with you, well… it's scary!" he admitted, laughing as mirth and amusement filled the expression in his eyes as he was swarmed with joyful memories back during their High School year.

And during the rest of the evening, they reverted back into joking and discussing once again about wonderful memories from back then. The time had slipped past them, no doubt. By the time that Naruto had checked his watch, it was already quite late. So after getting the bill and walking out of the restaurant, not to mention making sure a cab had already been called for Sakura, it was time to say their goodbyes for now.

"Bye, Naruto. It was nice catching up with you after all this time." Sakura stated before hugging the blonde to her. She felt him reciprocate the action before pulling away and opening the cab door ready to step in.

"Oh, and by the way, it just occurred to me that you mentioned something about me being one of the main models for the magazine."

"Hmm?"

"I just wanted to know my fellow co-models that I will be working with is all." She clarified.

"Ah, well you see when I meant main models, I don't mean the monthly thing going on for all magazines. No. Actually, it's sort of like a done deal. There won't be any specific months or a limited number of months, that is, that the models will be featured on the magazine. When we mean main models, it's quite the literal term, actually. Of course there will be guest star models and all that, but it's kind of like a television series, I guess? Where the main leading actors will be present, and at times there will be guest star actors and such. That kind of thing."

"Ohh, I see. And the models besides me are…?"

"The company has chosen four main models. 2 boys and 2 girls. I'm sure you know them quite well. They're shall we say — discovered models as well, just like yourself. I'm sure you'll be happy to know that one of your best friends since High School and fellow model as well will be Yamanaka Ino."

Sakura didn't even mind the fact that she probably looked like a gaping fish at the moment. Knowing that her new job seemed more like a reunion than a project shocked her to no end. "You're kidding me, right?" were the strangled words that she managed to croak out from the excitement and disbelief that clouded her system.

"No, not at all. Not to mention Sai will also be there. I'm sure he's quite familiar to you since he always appears on TV in talk shows and ads. Commonly revolving around the concept of art."

Sakura nodded. "And the other?"

An amused smile appeared on Naruto's face as he thought about the last person she'd be working with. "It was quite hard to get him to agree to this whole thing. He is sort of a big shot type of person, after all. All the girls fawning over him, not just because his face and body are labeled "A Masterpiece", but because of his high status as well. His family's big company is known throughout Japan as well as various countries."

A brow rose as Sakura's response. She would be working with this type of person? Now that would be quite fun.

"Can you believe that the company got the Uchiha Sasuke to work as one of the main models for Ullzangz? It came as quite a shock to the board members when they received a confirmation from his manager."

Oh yes. Disbelief rose in Sakura's chest as well. She knew the guy. No, not in person, but she's seen him all over TV as well as pictures of him on billboards modeling for only high-classed brands. She heard the rumors. Rumors that turned out to be true after all. All about the fact that it was quite hard to get a hold of a person with his accomplishments. He didn't work for just anyone. Although, it did make sense, since after all, he was going to sign a contract with Itsumademo Advertising, after all.

"How exactly?" she questioned with interest. Completely forgetting about the taxi driver obviously impatiently waiting for her to get in and drive to her destination in order to receive his added pay.

"It was kind of an advantage. I knew the guy from college before he decided to go into his current multi-career. We were — shall I say, best buddies. Well, nothing actually changed. We still are, so it wasn't that hard to get him to completely accept."

The taxi driver immediately turned his head to the opened door. "Miss, if you're ready, we should probably get a move on before we get into traffic."

Sakura spared a glance at the driver before nodding then turning back to Naruto.

"I'll see you first thing on Monday then." He said before urging her to get going with a smile on his cheery face.

Sakura nodded before giving him a friendly peck on the cheek before completely ducking in the cab. She felt the cab begin to move as she looked back at Naruto's slowly fading waving form.

"Uchiha Sasuke, huh?" she spoke to herself silently as she thought of the male fondly.

So far she hadn't regretted the decision she made of accepting Naruto's offer. The perks were much to her liking.

. . .

To be continued

I'd really appreciate it if I received reviews on your views on the first chapter! I focused more on introducing the whole concept and getting the boring details out immediately, that way I won't have to include them in later chapters.

I posted up some other accounts of mine on my profile. Feel free to contact me outside of F.F! :)

Reviews give me motivation to update, so do send them!
I sometimes end up abandoning works because of my nasty habit of losing interest, so help me by clicking that review button and sharing your thoughts with me! It would mean a lot! Don't be a ghost reader now and just click that Story Alert button. :)

Until the next update!