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Shikamaru was up to his pits in work. He still had to set up a build up for Chouji joining the band. Fans were still a little put off that Kiba had left the band. Fan blogs and reviews stated that Inuzuka had no right to quit the band and that there was a conspiracy making the drummer leave because of his performance in London. It didn't help matters when an angry Kiba called telling him to read an article on HMH Magazine. Upon finishing reading the said article, Shikamaru was livid, actually beyond that. The magazine reported that the reason why Kiba had left Soleil was because the drummer had fought with Naruto over Hinata. HMH Magazine also stated that the facts were from a "reliable source". If this pushes through, what the hell was he going to do with Chouji?

Besides, didn't the entire world see Hinata kiss Kiba at Albert Hall? Weren't there 2.4 million people who tuned in to watch it when it became viral not even half an hour after the concert? Was every person who saw that blind? It was obvious that there couldn't have been a love triangle when it was Hinata who kissed Kiba in the first place.

"From a reliable source?" Shikamaru read aloud. "These tabloid magazines are always saying that their little stories are from a 'reliable source'."

He needed to make HMH Magazine retract what was said in the article or else the build up that was planned for Chouji's career was going to have to be put off until this whole love triangle scandal was put to rest.

Shikamaru punched the pager on his desk.

"Get me the number for HMH Magazine."

/Yes, sir,/ his secretary said over the speaker.

Minutes later she paged back and gave him the number. Shikamaru immediately dialled ready to unleash his vindictive wrath on whoever was on the other end of the line.

/Hello,/ A voice answered on the sixth ring. /HMH Magazine./

"Am I talking to the editor or the owner?"

/Just a sec, I'll patch you through./

Shikamaru waited a good ten minutes on the line before there was a click on the line and a female voice was heard talking in the background.

/Hey, what do you want?/ The voice was much clearer now. /I'm really busy right now, so make it quick./

"I'm calling regarding an article you wrote on Soleil."

/What about it?/

"I want you to retract everything in the next issue of this magazine or else I'll sue your ass for everything you're worth. This slanderous article defames my clients and is totally fraudulent in nature. I can't let you make up stories without any basis for any truth. So I want your tabloid magazine to stop writing these fictitious exposes."

/Nara, yeah I know who you are,/ the woman on the line retorted menacingly. /Forget about it. I have proof—all of which are perfectly admissible in court, for your information—of all the stories I publish. So you can stick your lawsuit where the sun don't shine. I run a perfectly respectable business here. And if fans of your minuscule band want to know the truth, then I'm here to give it to them. It's called the freedom of the press. So just let your band take the media's criticism like the big boys they are./

"Who are you, how do you know me?" Shikamaru still had some fight left in him. "You have no idea who you're playing with here, I can bury you alive."

/It's you who doesn't know who you're playing with./ a laugh sounded from the other end. /I'm Anko Mitarashi, CEO and Founder of HMH Magazine, just so you know. You're on my turf, Nara./

Saying that the Soleil manager was surprised would have been an understatement.

"What do you mean that you're Anko Mitarashi?" Shikamaru stated. "Mitarashi is the Editor of the Konoha Press."

/I mean exactly what I said./ Anko snickered. /Actually, I'm surprised that you know who I am./

"I have a copy of the Press on my desk" Shikamaru uttered. "How can you write tabloids when you're also writing about the truth in everyday news?"

/It's called business, Nara. HMH Magazine is my side-line business. So, get out of my pond. You've already wasted most of my time. Although, I am glad that you're a fan of at least one of my papers./

That said, the tabloid-reporter hung up on a speechless Shikamaru.

Shikamaru didn't know what was going on here, if Anko Mitarashi said she had proof, it meant that there was proof. A head-honcho in the biz would not go walking around without covering her ass. There must be some way that she's getting the information. Shikamaru looked over the list of staff members he had for the band, he was sure that all of them were checked and verified even the cleaning staff was screened before being hired. It didn't make any sense, there has to be a spy in the company. It couldn't have been Kiba and the band members themselves. Even before any of them were famous, each member was a known recluse. Naruto was the only fame-hog, but it didn't help that he was a little claustrophobic, so he had to stay away from crowds.

Shikamaru knew he had to let Anko's case go, but he would be doubly sure to find out who was the rat. Over his dead body was anyone going to one up him in business and wreak havoc on his friends' lives.

XXXX

At Giordano's

Ino walked into the restaurant, with Sai in tow, and was greeted by the very nice, and very Italian owner, Arturo Giordano. He immediately led them to the best seat in the place where a reporter was there for an interview.

The reporter stood up and straightened her beige skirt.

"Hello, I'm Anko Mitarashi, it's great to meet you, Miss Yamanaka."

Ino shook the other woman's hand and introduced herself and Sai as her consultant. The threesome sat down and Arturo brought over two cups of coffee and a glass of iced tea.

"Well," Anko said before taking a sip from her mug, "I would just like to say thank you for meeting with me and for taking the time out of your, I'm sure, very busy schedule."

"It was no problem at all, Ms. Mitarashi." Ino took a slow sip from her straw. "I really am glad to be meeting with you."

"Please call me, Anko." The reporter said. "So, shall we get started then?"

"Sure, I'm ready." Ino said demurely before straightening her blouse and leaning forward with rapt attention; focused.

"First question: what makes Yamanaka Flowers so successful?"

"As you might know, Yamanaka Flowers specializes in wedding arrangements, so we've sort of have been synonymised as the wedding florists in town. Also, I'd have to say that Yamanaka Flowers wouldn't be so successful without our excellent staff. I only hire the best, mind you, Ms. Mita—I mean, Anko."

"What do you mean that you hire only the best?"

"Well, we go through a very thorough screening process. I make sure that every employee has vast experience in the industry. And our HR department have certain protocols to follow before an employee is hired. The last step being a meeting with me. But, as the company expands, I think that this last step will become unnecessary. It's a very draining process, but it is definitely worth it in the end if I get people I can trust to uphold Yamanaka Flower's reputation."

Anko had to admit that the blonde wasn't as stupid as she would have thought.

"Question two: doesn't it take its toll on your personal life?"

"What personal-life?" Ino laughed. "Well, I do love what I do. Helping to make sure that couples get the dreamy-romantic wedding they want doesn't seem like work to me. Every design I create brings me so much joy that it becomes very personal to me. I guess that's the extent of my personal life."

Anko smiled politely. The woman before her definitely knew how to re-direct a question.

"Witnessing all these weddings must make you think about having you own, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, of course, it does. Being surrounded by flowers and wedding bouquets and table pieces does that to a person."

"Are you content by yourself?"

"What do you mean?" Ino asked gracefully, although knowing where the reporter was going with the question. "I have a lot of support from my family, friends, and clients."

"I meant to ask if there is a man in your life." Anko got to the point.

"No, no one serious." Ino thought about Naruto and his laid-back attitude. "Just the occasional dating, I guess."

Anko smirked, ready to pounce on her victim. Ino's smiled faltered when she noticed the expression on Anko's face.

"Next question: how did you get Kiba Inuzuka as a client?"

"I beg your pardon?" Ino said, slightly offended.

"It's a fact that Yamanaka Flowers wasn't a contender in the floral-design industry until after the Inuzuka-Hyuga wedding."

"For your information, Hinata is my best friend and we've known each other for years. When she got married to Kiba, they had wanted a small, private wedding. I did the flower arrangements for her as a friend and that's the end of the matter. I don't see how this matters so much."

"Did you ask Mrs. Inuzuka if you can do the floral arrangements for her wedding knowing that it would be detrimental to your success in the industry?"

"I did not!" Ino sputtered. "How could you—"

"Thank you, that's all I need." Anko scribbled down a couple notes. Sai watched silently, a stoic observer. "Last question: there have been reports of you dating Rockstar, Naruto Uzumaki, is there any truth to that?"

Ino's eyes widened in shock the question.

"I won't answer that question!" She stated.

"How come?"

"Aren't you supposed to be asking about my company? My personal life has nothing to do with my business."

"So, is that a yes to dating the front-liner of Soleil?"

"I'm leaving," Ino declared. "Let's go, Sai."

Anko laughed manically. "Are you shtuping that guy too?"

"I am not going to sign the press release for this interview, so therefore, according to the law, anything said in this interview can't be used in any newspaper."

"Who said anything about using this for the newspaper?" Anko enjoyed the baffled look on Ino's face.

"Aren't you writing for the Konoha Press?"

"No, I'm the editor of the Konoha Press, but I'm writing for HMH Magazine."

"A tabloid?" Ino shrieked. "You lured me here under false pretence, I'll sue you!"

"I did no such thing, I said that I was going to meet you here, I didn't say that I wanted to do a story on you. You probably assumed that. Anything said over coffee and drinks in a public setting, wouldn't be considered an interview at all. I asked a few questions, and you answered willingly. Miss Yamanaka, what we had here was a conversation between acquaintances." Anko stood up from her seat, and pulled on her long trench coat. "It was really nice to meet you, Miss Yamanaka. I hope to see you in the future."

Ino couldn't do anything but watch the woman walk away. She turned to Sai with watery eyes. Sai still kept silent. He tried to comfort his boss by giving her a pat on the shoulder, but it only made it worst. Ino turned and cried on his shoulder. Maybe he should have said something. As Ino's subordinate, he wasn't permitted to say anything, but as her only friend at the moment, maybe he should have.

"I'm sorry, Miss Yamanaka." He said uncomfortably. Women's tears always made him want to run away. Business, he could deal with, but emotions were something foreign to him. "I should have done a background check on her before coming here."

"It's my fault, Sai, I never should have agreed to see her, the witch!" Ino wiped at her face. Luckily, they were tucked away in a cozy corner of the restaurant away from curious eyes. "Let's go, Sai. I'll call my lawyer and see what he can do about damage control. Although, I don't think that the business will be in jeopardy, she only wanted information on my connection to Soleil."

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A/N:

This chapter continues the parallelism between both Ino and Shikamaru's lives. I would like to thank all those who read and reviewed. I appreciate all of you. The reviews encourage me to write and to do better. Thanks for your continued support, you know who you are.