A/N: Hmm, I don't really have anything to say, so read on!
Standard disclaimer applies.
Chapter 2
Hmm, so his name is Naruto. It sounds like such a childish name for a man. In fact, I think it's the name of those fish cakes some restaurants and vendors put in their ramen. However, studying the blond man standing lax before me, Naruto is a fitting name. He has such boyish qualities, from the way he stands to his smile, but it works for him.
I giggle as he continues to shake my hand. He sure is a friendly one. I stop him before his endless shaking causes a rip in my blazer.
"Um, I don't mean to sound mean or anything, but would you please stop shaking my hand? I think my organs are getting all jumbled up."
Naruto's eyes widen before he pulls back his hand as if I've burned him. Oddly enough, I feel slightly guilty and regret telling him that, but he seems unaffected. If anything, he clasps his hands behind his head again and just smiles goofily at me.
"You have a really nice smile." Crap, why did I say that? He's going to think I'm hitting on him.
"Thanks, everybody tells me that. It's how I seduced my wife into marrying me." My eyes widen and my mouth slightly drops open.
Naruto's married?
"You're married?" I can't believe it. He looks so young!
"Believe it, and to the most amazing woman on Earth." I notice how he instantly got brighter when he said the word "amazing." Is she really that amazing?
"That's so," I pause trying to think of an appropriate adjective, "unexpected and surprising." Okay, so I used two adjectives and both don't seem very pleasant to hear, at least if it was my marriage some stranger was commenting on, but I believe honesty is the best policy even if the person you're talking to is a total stranger and could be a psycho robber. The look in Naruto's eyes softens and I'm instantly alert thinking I hurt his feelings.
"Oh, I'm sorry. That was totally out of-!"
"Those two words are so true." I gaze at him cautiously, afraid he's suddenly going to go berserk on me and start screaming profanities at me. He surprises me yet again when he laughs a true, boisterous laugh.
"Why do you look so scared? You haven't offended me if that's what you're concerned about." How did he read my mind? Just because he said he wasn't offended, it doesn't mean I believe him.
"So why are unexpected and surprising so true." If he's not offended, then he shouldn't be afraid to tell me why.
"Because I never imagined someone like her would marry someone like me." Naruto stares at the elevator doors and I can tell he's about to get lost in a world I don't know. I don't need to provoke him to continue talking. The words spill from his lips like the water gushing out of the fountain in the lobby.
"You see, when I was younger, I never did well in school. Most of the time, I'd either be messing around cracking jokes or I'd ditch and go somewhere else. My behavior towards education didn't bode well with Hinata's father." Hmm, Hinata must be the name of his wife. I don't' interrupt him and just wait patiently for him to continue on with his story.
"By the way, my wife's name is Hinata. She's from the Hyuga clan." My eyes widen in disbelief. This guy was married to the Hinata Hyuga, the heiress to the prestigious and noble Hyuga clan? I've never actually seen her but I've heard of her, or rather her clan.
Naruto continues, ignoring my bulging eyes.
"You can just imagine, me trying to court Hinata Hyuga while I was a total misfit in school. Her father wouldn't have any of it." For a moment, I do imagine it. I imagine Naruto trying and failing to ask Hinata out on countless dates, her father watching over her shoulder and denying Naruto permission. I imagine the kind of struggle that must've taken place for Naruto to finally win her. Wait, how did he win her?
"Then finally one day, Hinata mustered up all the courage she had in her shy body and told off her father. I was there as a witness and it was the most amazing, bravest thing I've ever seen her do. At first, I thought her father would go ballistic, but he just smirked and gave her a hug." Okay, I'm confused but melting. His story sounds so cute.
"After a year of being together, her father finally gave us his blessing and we got married. At the reception, he pulled me aside and told me the reason why he allowed our relationship to continue." He pauses and I look at him expectantly, telling him with my expression to continue.
"He said he's been waiting for the one man who could change her, strengthen her, and that when she finally stood up for herself, he knew I was the one man who changed her." Okay, that has got to be the sweetest thing a father could ever say to his son-in-law.
"He also gave me a threat that night." Jeez, talk about bipolar.
"He told me that if I didn't get my act together, he'd revoke his blessing and make my life miserable. Of course, it was to protect Hinata and ensure she lived a happy life. Beginning my sophomore year of college, I tried hard every day in school and graduated with a BS as an honors student." He puffs out his chest in pride.
"What was your major in college?" Judging from the way he's dressed professionally, I'd say he was a business major.
"Business." Bingo. There's still something missing from his story.
"You said it was your smile that seduced Hinata, so how did it work?"
"Oh, on our honeymoon she told me the physical feature she loved most about me is my smile because it brings out my eyes or something like that." Naruto shrugs nonchalantly as if the compliment was something he received on a daily basis, which I'm sure he did.
"It's true." Naruto looks at me with a confused look.
"Your smile. It's true. It really brings out your eyes." I have to fight exceptionally hard to repress the blush that's creeping its way onto my cheeks. Being in an elevator with a hot, adorable man will do that to a girl.
"Thanks! I think you're really pretty." Jesus, he just called me really pretty. Now I know my blush is flaring on my cheeks.
"Um, thank you I guess."
"You're welcome." Naruto gives me one last bright smile before the ding of the elevator signals our arrival to the forty-ninth floor.
The forty-ninth floor is a toned down version of the lobby. It has low ceilings adorned with crystal chandeliers, black and white marble tiles with veins of pure gold, but lacks stone pillars and a fountain. My chat with Naruto caused me to lose track of time, so I rush over to the receptionist stationed several dozen meters from the elevator. I'm aware that Naruto keeps up with me at a leisurely pace, courtesy of his long legs.
"Hi, how may I help you?"
I remember what the receptionist at the lobby told me and immediately respond with my name.
"Sakura Haruno." Hopefully, I'm not late.
"Ah, Ms. Haruno, we've been expecting you. Please head straight down the hall towards that door," she points down a hall, or rather the only place left to go on the forty-ninth floor. It's a long hall, the floor covered by a lush dark red carpet and, from where I'm standing, its walls decorated with large frames.
"Knock before you enter and wait for Mr. Uchiha's permission to enter. Good morning Mr. Uzumaki, how are you?" I don't wait to hear Naruto's reply and make my way down the hall. I can feel vomit rising up in my throat. What if I'm late and Mr. Uchiha reacts in a hostile manner? I don't dwell on it because I'm standing right outside his office door.
I inhale a big gulp of air and raise my hand to knock on the solid mahogany door, but a tanned hand beats me to it and grasps the doorknob. Alarmed, I turn my head to the side and find Naruto standing next to me, one hand in his pocket, the other on the doorknob, and a goofy smile plastered onto his face.
"W-What are you doing?" This man could jeopardize my chances as secretary if he just barges in there! Naruto rolls his eyes at me and opens the door. My mouth drops open. The audacity of this man! He waltzes in as if he owns the place and walks straight up to the swivel chair currently facing the floor-to-ceiling windows. Naruto smirks evilly as he approaches the chair and I already know what his intentions are. He wants to suddenly yank the chair backwards to scare Mr. Uchiha. This handsome blond man is either crazy or gutsy, or maybe both. However, before Naruto even has a chance to place a hand on the back of the chair, it swivels around.
I don't even have a fighting chance against the tomato blush coloring my cheeks.
Woo, chapter two! Please do something, follow, or review!
