Mesmerizing
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. Well I could be wrong, but I'm sensing this is something of a niche pairing. Most people wouldn't think of it, but the people who do are very enthusiastic about it. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter.
Viewers' Choice: Counting Izuna, Madara had four brothers in the anime. So let me know, if you want Mrs. Joo to have more sons. I have some interesting possibilities in mind for Madara's other brothers (or half-brothers). Majority will rule.
Chapter 2
The next day, Madara takes out his phone at breakfast. He had to place a phone call. It was his sacred duty to warn Izuna that the Black Widow was on the move again.
"Izuna Uchiha of Tsukuyomi Modeling Agency speaking." Not that she ever stopped moving, but it was the principle of the thing. "How may I help you?" His brother was more tenderhearted than him and might actually be foolish enough to attempt a reconciliation with the woman.
Despite the situation, Madara couldn't help, but chuckle at the other man's rather formal greeting. "Madara Uchiha of Black Widow Bloodline speaking. Here to warn your sorry ass that said black widow is on the move again." Best just to be blunt, he thinks to himself as his eyes lazily glance around his own kitchen.
Truly, he was ridiculously proud of it. It was beautiful and elegant with it's pristine white and oak wood floors. Elegant, but simple. Mrs. Joo as she called herself these days, would have despised it. (Which was just another reason to love it in his mind).
"Madara, how many times have I told you not to call her that?" Izuna sighs in exasperation.
Hmm. Hundreds. Maybe thousands of times. "I see no reason to not to call the woman what she is." Though that didn't change the accuracy of the statement.
The oak dining table matched the floors and the ivory white cabinets were the exact same shade as the ceiling and walls. "You know that nothing was ever proven." He probably could have gone into interior design, if he had wanted to. Oh wait. His brother had said something, Madara probably should stop letting his mind wander so much.
"Because she's far too smart to get caught." She might be a spider, but the woman was highly intelligent. "Once or twice is probably just bad luck." That much Madara would give her. "The third though?" The woman was a highly skilled predator, after all. "Danzo is lucky to be alive and we both know it!" Danzo had been Mrs. Joo's fourth husband.
He hears Izuna sigh on the other line as Madara settles into his comfortable white wavy chair and takes out the morning paper. "I love you, Madara, but you've got to stop this feud you have with her." Here the CEO could just imagine his adorably foolish little brother shaking his head.
Izuna just didn't understand. That woman didn't have a maternal bone in her body. Not that Madara really required such things, but it was irritating to see how the lack of a real parental bond had impacted his brother.
"I didn't start this feud, but I will be the one to end it." That was a promise that Madara had every intention of keeping. "You'll see."
Izuna seemed less than convinced by his assurances though. Which again was vexing, but Madara would deal with it later. Usually, the other man had complete confidence in his ability to handle things, but Mrs. Joo had always been a sore spot for both of them.
"I don't care who started this war." There was a slight growl to the Marketing Directors voice. "At this rate, I will be the one to finish it." Oh really? Well that sounded rather interesting. "Though I doubt you called me today to just rehash our old debates about our saintly mother."
There was a trace of bitterness to Izuna's voice that most people would have missed. Madara didn't though. That was good. Maybe, the message was finally reaching him after all.
Still, he couldn't help but quirk an eyebrow in amusement as he flipped through the newspaper and prepared his response. "Our saintly mother is throwing a not so saintly fit about our upcoming fashion show in Rome." Which quite frankly amused him.
"I don't see why." There was a frown to Izuna's voice now. "She's doesn't currently have any events scheduled in Rome." Izuna would know. It was likely he had checked.
Ah. The pancakes were nice and fluffy. "Something about it being a matter of respect." Just the way he liked them. "Her first husband proposed her in Rome." If only dealing with Kaguya was as easy to manage as cooking pancakes. "So now she thinks she has some sort of claim on the city."
His brother sighs on the other end of the phone. "Well, try to clear your schedule. We'll have lunch and discuss this." The other Uchiha pauses for a moment as if remembering something. "Did you finally replace Sakura?"
That was one of the things that he had always admired about his brother. The man could remember anyone's name, even if he had only met them once. It was a useful little ability that Madara lacked.
"Yes, I did." He smirks at the thought of the cute bunny that had walked into his office. "Though she only started yesterday. It will take the woman time to get everything in order." A cute little bunny that was feisty enough to distance herself from the Hyuga Clan. "I think that I can manage to pencil you in though." To say the least, it was quite the enigma to him and well, Madara had always loved a good mystery.
Izuna's amusement was soon rather apparent. "What's your name and how long is it going to be before your chasing after her skirt?" Pft. Honestly, the other man made him sound so much more of a rogue than he actually was.
Of course, Madara greatly admired the feminine form. He wouldn't have opened a modeling agency, if he hadn't. So sue him?
There was a difference between sparing an appreciative glance (or a dozen of them) and actually pursuing someone though. He was constantly surrounded by beautiful women. So it took more than a pretty face or some lovely curves to keep his attention for long.
"Her name is Hinata." He smirks. This was going to be fun. "Hyuga." His brother would recognize that name as well as anyone.
There was a pregnant pause on the other end until Izuna did something very not Izuna-like. "Oh fuck!" He swore.
His foolish little brother rarely indulged in the habit. After all, he was a Marketing Director and to Izuna, his image was everything. Not that Madara blamed him for being conscious of such things. It was the man's job to be that way, but it still afforded him endless opportunities for entertainment on the few occasions, he managed to catch his brother off guard.
"Well, I've only just met the woman." Madara chuckles. "I wouldn't go that far as of yet. That would be terribly rude to assume such things."
He hears Izuna fall over. "PERVERT!" Though the elder Uchiha Brother knew that his relative knew that he was merely teasing him. (Mostly, she was rather easy on the eyes).
"You say that as if it was a bad thing." Madara turns off the stove and places his pancakes onto his plate. "There is absolutely nothing wrong with embracing the sensual side of life. Anyway, I shall see you at lunch." And with that, he hangs up on a fuming Izuna.
It was going to be a good day. He could already sense that. Anytime, he could annoy his brother before Noon in such a fashion, well Madara knew that such an occasion boded well for the rest of the day! It was truly the simple things in life, that brought him the greatest joy. (Such as annoying his baby brother)!
A short while later, Hinata had to admit that she was rather nervous. Of course, that was understandable. Not only was it her first full day at her new job, but Madara Uchiha was also her boss.
"Blue today." Madara smiles at her as he hands her his notebook. "It does look rather fetching on you. Blue is an interesting color." Who also was an expert in Fashion Psychology.
Hinata blushes and takes the notebook. "Thank you." Which she wasn't sure if that was an actual thing or not, but apparently it was when a certain handsome CEO was involved.
The bluenette was suddenly rather glad that she'd only had toast for breakfast. Madara's smile was more than enough to make her feel like a colony of butterflies had settled inside it.
Of course, it wasn't as though men had never flirted with her. From time to time, someone would notice her in the background. Either for her family name or for other reasons.
It was just that Madara was in a different league for so many reasons. "I don't expect you to fully have a handle on that for at least a week." The most important of which was the fact that he was her boss.
He was firmly off limits and besides, Hinata was reasonably confident he was just that charming to most people. He was probably a natural flirt. It'd be silly to assume otherwise. The man did own a modeling agency.
"That's very understanding of you." She smiles at him as she skims the pages. "Though I'm sure that I can get a handle on your schedule sooner than that." No matter how busy it was.
Madara smiles at her as looks over a few modeling portfolios. "We shall see. It is good to see that you're feeling more confident today." How he knew that was beyond Hinata's understanding, but she merely nods as she continues looking at the schedule.
No wonder he had said a week! This schedule was jammed full! It was a miracle the man even had time for a lunch! Though there were a few ways, she could see to free up at least some of his schedule.
"I'd say three days. Maybe four and I should have this all sorted out." Well at least that was what she was hoping. "You took a chance on me and I don't want to let you down!"
He laughs softly at that. "I doubt that will be an issue. Though you are full of surprises." She didn't see how. "Most people would have asked how I knew you were feeling more confident today."
Oh that. She had just filed that under the I Don't Want to Know Category. Curiosity was a powerful force, but it could also get you into a lot of trouble. It was best to resist the impulse to ask.
"I'm not most people." She smiles softly at him.
He smirks at that in a manner that made her shiver slightly. "Yes, I am beginning to see that. Well blue is a more confident color, but it's also not one that is particularly flashy in most cases." Though that was apparently just how her body was going to respond to his smirks. "You want to be noticed, but you don't want to steal the limelight." It was an involuntary reaction at this point.
Once again, his Fashion Psychology was disturbingly accurate. Maybe, she'd call it Fashionology. Hmm. Was that a real term or not? Perhaps, she'd have to do a web search when she got home tonight. That was likely going to be bugging her all day now.
"That's true." She feels her face burning a light pink color. "I'm a secretary. Not a model. So there's no reason to stick out."
He begins sorting the portfolios into three stacks. "You shouldn't be so self-conscious about such things." Hinata suspected that he was actually constructing Yes, No, and Maybe Stacks. "You're a beautiful woman and you only stick out more because you're surrounded by women who doing their best to get noticed as that is part of their job."
Well that was a fair point. She'd never met someone who was as direct about Madara though. Most of her family preferred a more subtle way of getting their messages across. To the outside world, it was almost impossible to read their true intentions and that was just how they liked it.
Clearly, that was not the case with her new boss though. Madara was ridiculously blunt. Though he got away with it because the man radiated some sort of primal charisma.
"I'll try to keep that in mind." She doubted the man had ever felt self-conscious about everything. "Though not everyone can prance about like a peacock with such ease."
As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Hinata regretted them. Oh God! What had she done?! She had just insinuated that her boss was a peacock!
She was probably going to lose her job now! Hinata doubted that Madara was the sort of man to take insults laying down! How could she have been so stupid?!
Unbeknownst to Hinata at that moment, Neji was walking into the lobby Tsukuyomi with a bouquet of lavender roses in his hand and his girlfriend at his side. Which wasn't too out of place seeing as Tenten was a model here.
"Do you know which room she might be in?" He glances at the cute brunette curiously. "Or should we just leave it at the reception desk."
Tenten smiles at him. "Well I know which room she'd be in, but we really shouldn't risk interrupting her on her first day of work." That was a good point. "So I'd just leave the flowers with Ino and leave it at that."
Her smile was what made Neji fall in love with her. Tenten was a cute, very athletic model. While she lacked the flashy factor that so many of her colleagues had, she radiated a genuine wholesomeness that had catapulted her to success in her chosen career. In his opinion that was mostly because of her smile and her beautiful doe eyes.
"That seems like a fine plan." Which was something Neji could appreciate.
He preferred things to proceed in an orderly fashion. He couldn't entirely help it, of course. Neji was a Hyuga and for better or worse, that had shaped who he was as a person rather profoundly.
Tenten winks at him. "Don't forget, I get to pick where we're going for dinner tonight." How could he forget?
Goodness only knows where his lover would drag him to this time?! Though Neji knew that it was a good thing Tenten had come into his life. If she hadn't, he likely would have died of boredom long before now.
"I won't forget." He smiles at her as he strides towards the reception desk. "Can you please see that these flowers are delivered to Hinata Hyuga?" That was being run by a pretty blonde.
A fact that didn't go unnoticed by Tenten as she holds his hand. Well he supposed it was a good sign that she cared enough to be jealous and Neji couldn't help, but feel more than a little smug at that.
"Of course." She beams at him. "Tenten, did you finally convince him to try out? We are holding amateur auditions next week and I'm sure that he'd get a slot with that princess hair of his!"
That made Neji twitch. Princess hair?! Just because a man took the time to properly care for his hair didn't meant he had princess hair!
Tenten laughs and shakes her head. "No, I don't think that this is really Neji's scene." She smiles and kisses his cheek. "Which is just fine with me. I'm not sure that I could handle having even more women drooling over him."
"Shame." Ino giggles. "Well don't worry. I'll be sure to have these sent up to Hinata as soon as possible."
It might have been vain, but Neji did enjoy knowing that his girlfriend viewed him as desirable enough for her to be worried about such things. Of course, he'd never take anyone up on whatever offers were being extended to him. Tenten was more than enough for him.
Madara's eyes dance with undisguised mirth back in his office. She really did look like a cute, frightened rabbit at the moment. Though he really should put her mind at ease.
"I suppose there are far worse things than being compared to be a peacock." He chuckles at that. "For example, my brother often compares the texture of my hair to that of a porcupine."
Hinata shakes her head quickly. "It's more like a lion's mane to me." She was apparently rather well versed in zoology, it seemed.
Not that Madara minded. It did bring up several interesting possibilities in his mind. While the long sleeved blue jacket and matching business skirt were enticing, the Uchiha would be lying if he pretended not to be interested in what she would look like wearing a leopard print version.
He'd always had a fondness for cats of all sizes. So her lion analogy was fairly apt in his mind. His hair could easily be mistaken for a lion's mane, he supposed.
"I can live with that." He chuckles as there was a knock on the door. "Come in!" And soon enough, Rock Lee scampers inside his office.
Yes, the man's name was actually Rock Lee. His parents had named him after rocks. Unbelievable.
With a name like that, it was a small wonder that the boy was so eccentric. "I got some mail for you, Madara and some very youthful flowers for Lady Hinata!" Though the CEO certainly had to admit he was very enthusiastic job.
Never once since employing that boy, had Madara ever received his mail late. He just really wished the man would shave his eyebrows a bit and stop babbling about the Power of Youth. (Whatever that was supposed to mean).
"Flowers?" Hinata smiles as she takes them. "Thank you, Lee." Before promptly reading the card.
It was annoying to admit, but Madara was a man who believed in being honest with himself. He felt a bit jealous that someone was giving his cute secretary flowers. Which was ridiculous.
There was nothing wrong with her having a personal life. She was a sweet bunny. Surely, someone else would notice that and he couldn't fault whoever the man was for doing so.
"Who are they from?" Curiosity could be a real bitch sometimes. "Forgive me, I shouldn't have asked that. I should respect your privacy."
Hinata didn't seem offended though. "Oh they're from my cousin and his girlfriend." Her smile positively radiant with genuine warmth as she directs it at him. "They just wanted to congratulate me on getting the job."
Ah well that made sense. "That's nice of them." He then turns his attention to Lee, quickly take his own mail. "Thank you, Lee. I'm sure that you have other deliveries to make." He smiles at the other man as he dismisses him.
It was hard not to smile while she was around, Madara decides. Then again, who could resist a cute, little bunny?
On the other side of the city, Kaguya was privately fuming. That boy constantly defied her at every turn. It both made her proud and furious.
"With all due respect, I fail to see what the issue is." One of her board members tilts his head. "We aren't hosting any shows in Rome during that time frame. They aren't competition."
Her eyes narrow. Only the sight of her beautiful office was enough to soothe her ire enough to keep from throttling the fool! Because that's what he was a fool.
Luckily for him, the stately gray walls and grand table that her board members were currently sitting at always provided Mrs. Joo with something of a therapeutic effect. The table was made of handsome wood, but it was polished to such extent one's reflection practically gleamed into it. Which always made her feel powerful for some reason.
"No, but it will gain him a foothold." The idiot should know that! "Never underestimate Madara!" He was her son, after all.
The man was a predator. Just like she was. Perhaps, that was why they clashed so much. So was Izuna for that matter, but he at least wouldn't openly defy her in such a way.
Luckily for him, the man appeared to have at least a few survival instincts still in tact. "Yes, Mrs. Joo. I apologize." Good. He should apologize!
Fortunately, the plush, black leather chair she was sitting on was comfortable enough that even her irritation at this fool was beginning to melt away. Though the priceless works of art that adorned the walls and the luxuriously elegant purple carpet under her feet also added to her sense of ease.
"Well it's concerning, but what should we do about the situation?" Another board member looks up at her with wary eyes. "Madara has every legal right in the world to host his shows wherever he wants as long as he secures the proper authorization."
That was true. She couldn't stop him from putting on his show, but she could make sure that he never made that mistake again. "I'm sure that we can think of something." The aging woman shakes her head. "You're all dismissed. Other than Madara's fruitless endeavor, I believe that we've covered everything quite thoroughly."
The men and women in the room quickly make themselves scarce. None of them were masochistic enough to overstay their welcome when it came to Mrs. Joo.
"That's better." The lavender eyed woman pours herself a glass of wine and sighs. "Now, I just have to surmise the best way to deal with my headstrong son."
That and she would probably need to change her contacts soon. Kaguya derived great amusement out of wearing them though. Everyone wondered, if she was related to the Hyugas somehow with them and that was precisely why she wore them. A little mystery could go a long way towards lots of free publicity.
Izuna understood that at least. That was probably why he had become a Marketing Director and well, Madara was more frustrating. Honestly, the two of them would have done so well in her company, but Madara had wanted to prove that he could make it on his own and Izuna had followed suit.
"I'm glad that they're close." She sips on her drink. "I just wish that the two of them were better at understanding the natural order of things."
The natural order of things was quite clear. She had brought them into this world and she could take them out of it, if need be. Honestly, they should know that by now.
Mother knows best. That was the old saying that had been around for years and not without good reason. Children really should learn to understand that sooner and then so many problems would be adverted.
"Oh well." She'd just have to deal with Madara's stubborn independent streak. "I suppose that it's time for some tough love."
He'd likely inherited it from his father. That was probably part of the reason why she had been attracted to the man in the first place. So few people weren't cowed by her.
The fact that he wasn't had both been refreshing and infuriating. A trait that he had passed onto Madara. Izuna could also be rather rebellious though. Just in a more subtle way.
"I suppose it's a good thing that my hair is already naturally this color." Or her sons would have caused her hair to go gray by now. "At least I've aged gracefully." So that was something. "Now to deal with my wayward children before I become a grandmother and they take after their foolish fathers!"
It was a bit frustrating that none of her children had walked down the aisle yet. There were no grandchildren in her life, but she was certain that would change relatively quickly. Just hopefully after she taught Madara a valuable lesson. Mother knows best!
