Chapter Two:

I wake up slowly. My eyes open first, and about ten minutes later, I dare to glance around the room. It's swaying back and forth, but I can handle it. I gently place my palms behind me and push my back off of the creaky mattress. Everything's okay, except for the splitting headache, but I know that some Motrin will put that down relatively fast.

I'm sitting up now, and I swing my legs over the side of the bed, putting pressure on the soles of my feet, testing the waters. When I'm satisfied, I slide forward and gradually stand. And when I know that I'll be fine, I head for the kitchen area to get some meds.

"Sakura!" Ino's shout makes me want to punch her as I leave the confines of our dorm's single bedroom. Doesn't she know that I have a headache? "You okay?"

I nod once before grabbing a plastic cup and filling it with tap water from the sink.

"I heard you were out for a while," another voice says, and I turn to find Naruto, sitting on the couch. He has a goofy grin on his face, but I can tell by his tone that he cares.

I look back and forth between the two of them, but before I can say something, Ino cuts me off.

"We're back together," she says simply. "Friday morning… it was just a misunderstanding." And I can tell that she doesn't want to talk to me about her personal life, especially in front of Naruto.

Friday morning? My inner voice speculates.

"How long was I out?" I ask her.

"It's Sunday afternoon, Sakura. You passed out Friday night. You slept through all of Saturday."

Jeez. "I'm sorry," I say. It's all I can think of.

"Don't worry about it. Oh, and your Motrin's on the counter. I put it out for you." Ino smiles and I look down to find two small tablets. I smile back at her gratefully and take them, downing them both in one gulp. I put down my cup of tap water and walk over to them. I've been out for too long, so leaving them alone now really isn't an option for me. I sit down on the couch so that Ino is between me and Naruto.

"What happened after I passed out?" I ask Ino, after a moment of silent T.V. watching. I already know that my inner voice was about to pester me for an answer to that question, so I decide to ask it before she gets the chance.

"You mean with Sasuke?" Ino asks.

She's already on a first name basis with the guy!

I nod.

"I don't know. He told me to call Naruto and then left. And after that… well, we realized that our texts were just misunderstood. I thought he meant one thing and he thought I meant something else. How silly, right?" She laughs and I force a smile.

I can see that you two are back together, Ino! I want to know if I threw up all over Sasuke Freaking Uchiha, or something like that! Not what you learned about your two-week relationship with his friend!

I glance over at Naruto, and he smirks and shrugs at me. When he doesn't add anything, I press him to speak. I still have a few questions that need answering.

"Naruto, why did you tell him to come here? I thought he was in Paris for work."

He stops smiling, but I don't think he's offended. Ino watches the television, so I assume that she's already been through this with him.

"I was really drunk," Naruto says, rubbing the back of his head with his hand. "I don't really remember what I said to Sasuke. I remember leaving my house after I got Ino's last text, and he said that I sounded horrible when I called him. But he took his private jet right away." He pauses to let out an embarrassed laugh. "I guess I must have sounded pretty bad, because it didn't take him very long to get here."

They must be really good friends… But Sasuke did say that he owed Naruto a favor…

Ino suddenly turns to Naruto and wraps her arms around his neck, a pitiful expression on her face. She looks very motherly, holding him like that, and for some reason, I can't help but feel like Naruto left something out, and Ino knows what it is.

"He had to get back," Naruto continues, "So he headed to the airport right after he made this detour."

I kept quiet for a few moments until it became evident that conversation was over regarding this topic. What was so wrong with asking questions? Did something else happen that Naruto didn't want me to know? And if so, then what in the world was it? Why would multibillionaire Sasuke Uchiha come to Ino's and my apartment just to ask her to call Naruto? It just doesn't make sense to me. But I can tell that more inquiry wouldn't be permitted, so I decide to just sit there and watch television with them, trying my best not to feel like the third wheel again.

"Didn't you say that you were looking for a job?" Ino says suddenly, making me jump. I turn my head to look at her.

"Yeah. Why?" I ask her. I don't like it when she starts something like this. I never know where she's going to take it.

"Well, I was just thinking. Naruto, sweetheart, since you're friends with Sasuke Uchiha…"

"What?" Naruto barks out. "You can't be serious…" There's another period of silence, and it's getting more awkward each time it happens. Thankfully, Naruto saves the day by sighing. "I don't know, Ino. You want me to ask him if he has a position that's open?"

"For Sakura. She's been looking for a job for a while now, and seeing as Mr. Uchiha owns companies all over the world, he's bound to hire her, right?"

Ino, pushy as always. But for once, I'm glad she's so forceful. I could certainly use the extra money, and I have been thinking about getting a job for a while now anyway.

"I… I guess so. I don't know." Naruto looks confused and baffled. He's practically speechless. "I never really ask him for favors. And after what happened before… I don't think he'll want to hear from me for a while."

I see an evil smile creep its way to Ino's perfect lips, and I shiver. What's she up to? I don't like the look of the situation already.

"Why don't you give Sakura his number, and she can call him herself?"

My lips part and I let out a heavy breath in shock.

What are you trying to do, get me sent to a mental institution?! After what happened, I'm probably the last person he wants to talk to, much less hire for a job!

"I don't think so," I say quickly, but my tone gives me away. Even Naruto looks over at me sympathetically.

"Why not?" he asks, and they're both looking at me, so I'm forced to answer.

"Ino, after what happened—"

"Don't tell me you're embarrassed."

Yes, of course I'm embarrassed, you idiot!

"No, I just… I don't think he likes me very much…"

"What do you mean?" Naruto interrupts. "He told me you were very entertaining…"

He said that? Oh, my GOD.

"Naruto…" Ino says warningly. Obviously, the spikey-haired blonde doesn't know exactly what happened here before I passed out.

"I don't think he'd mind me giving you his number," Naruto continues. "But you have to make sure you don't go waving it around like a red flag. If he started getting random people calling his cell, he'd kill me." He pauses. "Or, I can just give you his secretary's number and she can schedule an interview for you."

I nod.

I can't believe he said I was ENTERTAINING.

"Well, I've got to go." Naruto kisses Ino on the forehead and stands.

Entertaining… What the hell is that supposed to mean?

"What? So soon?" she asks apologetically.

Holy crap. I threw up all over the place, right in front of him…

"Yeah. I've got to work tomorrow."

I can't call his secretary and ask for a job after that…

"Sakura, I'll text Ino his secretary's number tomorrow, okay?"

I nod.

Of course I won't get the job. He'll just see my name, and then he'll throw out my application. So, what's the point?

"Cool," Ino says, standing as Naruto closes the door behind him.

Cool, WHAT? What's so COOL about this, Ino? This is YOUR fault. Why did you have to tell him that I was looking for a job? Didn't you see what happened on Friday? You were standing right there as I barfed my brains out in front of him!

"Yeah," I say.

"Trust me, Sakura. This is a good idea. I have something to tell you."

What could I possibly want to hear from you right now?

"What?"

"He didn't leave right after you passed out. He actually stayed."

Huh?

"He wanted to stay to make sure that you were okay. But you were out for so long, and he had to be somewhere… You should have seen him. I think he thought your puking expertise was quite attractive."

Don't be an asshole, Ino-pig.

"Yeah, right."

"I'm serious! Sasuke Uchiha wanted to stay here to make sure that you were okay!"

I thought I felt like crap before, but you really know how to make me feel even worse…

"I'm going to bed."

"Call that number!"

"I will."

And then I'm gone. I don't want to talk to anyone anymore.

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"Sakura? …Sakura, wake up already!"

My eyes shoot open and Ino is right in my face. She's standing above me with a scowl on her face and her hands on her hips.

"What?" I ask sleepily.

"It's Monday, Sakura. Come on, get up. We have class."

Ugh. Five more minutes, Mom…

"Seriously, Sakura. You were out for about a day and you're still tired? Sometimes I wonder…"

I mutter under my breath and sit up. My stomach instantly growls, loud enough for both of us to hear it, and we giggle.

"How long has it been since you've eaten something?" Ino asks. "You're so irresponsible."

"I had those pretzel sticks at the bar," I murmur.

"Complimentary pretzels with your alcohol don't count as food, Sakura. And besides, you threw up everything you ate anyway. So, technically, your stomach has been empty since Friday. Eat something!"

I realize with glee that my headache is almost completely gone. I barely felt her screech at me to have breakfast.

"Sure, sure. What do we have?" I ask, and I do it on purpose. We both know that we don't have breakfast food in the apartment. Ino sneers in a very unladylike manner.

"We're going to go get you an egg sandwich at the deli. We can split it if you want. I'm starving, too, you know."

"Alright. Fine."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

After class is over for the day, and we're standing in the parking lot outside the main campus's directory building, Ino looks over at me and smiles maniacally.

"Guess what I just got from Naruto?" she sings, and I roll my eyes. If she hadn't been bugging me for half the day about it, I'd still know what she was talking about. "Here," she says, "I've texted you the number. Call the secretary! Now!"

This is a horrible idea… Why is she being so pushy about this?

"There, I've sent it to you. Now make that call, Sakura!"

"Okay, okay."

I reach into my pocket when my cell vibrates from Ino's text message. I pull it out and dial the number. But before I hit send, I look at her.

"Don't tell me you want to be alone with the secretary…" she says jokingly. I don't answer and she rolls her eyes, turning around and walking in the opposite direction. "Whatever, Sakura. I'll be in the car. Don't take too long," she says in a sing-song voice.

I hit send and let the horror begin. A woman picks up on the second ring.

"Hello. Mr. Uchiha's office. How can I help you?" She sounds young. And pretty. I don't like this one bit, and now I like it even less. Why am I calling his personal office number just to ask for a job interview? It seems a little loudmouthed to me right now.

"Yes, my name is Sakura Haruno. I was told that I could call this number to schedule an interview for a job." My comment comes out like a question and I remember what my mother used to tell me about speaking on the phone. I hope the secretary doesn't think I'm a man. Or in pain. My self-conscious level rises dramatically.

"Oh?" the young woman on the other line says, disbelieving. "I'm sorry, who gave you this number?" She sounds polite, but my face flushes scarlet. I'm so humiliated. I knew this was a bad idea.

"Umm," I stammer. "S-Sorry." I don't want to give her Naruto's name. I feel even worse because I already gave her my full name. What did I do that for?

"Excuse me? Who gave you this number?" She sounds quite annoyed. I flush again.

Just hang up on her! My inner self screams at me. She only knows your name. There are a million Sakura Harunos in the world. Hang up!

"Miss?" the woman says when I don't answer her. I try my best to ignore my inner self as I take a deep breath.

"I don't remember who gave it to me. I'm sorry for calling. Sorry for wasting your time. I promise I won't give this number out to anyone else or—"

"Excuse me?" she interrupts, but I get the feeling that she isn't talking to me from the way her voice dies off, like she's holding the phone away from her mouth.

"W-What?" I stutter anyway, taken by surprise from her interruption.

"A young lady by the name of Sakura Haruno," the woman continues, and her voice is distant, so I know that she's talking to someone else. "She said she was calling for an interview… No, sir… I don't know who gave it to her… Excuse me, sir? …Yes, sir." Her voice comes back, loud and clear. "Miss? Are you still there?"

"Y-Yes."

"Mr. Uchiha will speak with you now." And I don't have time to respond, or think, before the phone on the other line is handed over. My worst nightmare comes true.

"Miss Haruno." It's not a question. He knows that it's me. And his voice is deep, dark. I can't tell if he's upset, angry, or just formal. I hope it's the latter.

Oh, gosh.

"Yes?"

"How are you feeling?" He's terse.

Oh, shit. He's referring to Friday.

"I'm fine. Thank you."

"You're calling for a job interview." Again, it's not a question. He knows why I called. I feel my ears heating up with embarrassment. I'm talking to Sasuke Uchiha on the phone! This is crazy!

"Yes."

"Naruto gave you this number."

If you know everything already, then why are you repeating it like this?!

"Yes."

He mutters something, and I can tell that he's pulled the phone away from his mouth. I hope I didn't just get Naruto into trouble.

"It's not his fault!" I shout into the phone, making sure he can hear me.

"What?" He's back.

"I said it's not Naruto's fault. He was just being polite. Ino and I managed to convince him. He was reluctant to give it to me, but he was just being nice. And I'd never give it to anyone else. And neither would Ino. You have my word. You shouldn't be mad at him. Please, it's not his fault."

"I wasn't blaming Naruto for anything."

"… Oh." I feel like a blabbering idiot again, and a period of silence follows.

"Miss Haruno?"

"I'm still here."

More silence follows.

"I'll have my secretary schedule an interview for you. Is there a specific department you would like to work in?"

Now this is something I haven't thought about, and I take a moment to think. I can hear his light breathing on the other end and I flush once more. He's getting impatient.

"No, I didn't really think about that," I say, unable to come up with a department that I'd enjoy working in. I don't even know what sorts of companies he owns, for crying out loud! How in the world am I supposed to know?!

"Oh." He's impatient again, but I think I hear a trace of amusement. I can't help but flush.

At this rate, you might as well go ahead and paint your face pink. My inner self laughs at me. I ignore her to the best of my ability.

"I don't really know what kind of business you're in…" I say, embarrassed.

"Then why would you call and ask for a job?"

Because Ino made me do it!

"I don't know. I just really need a job, and I was told that you might be able to hire me." I sound like such an idiot right now.

"Naruto told you that?"

"Yes."

I freeze when he doesn't say something in return. Just great. He hung up on you.

"Miss Haruno, I believe that—"

"Hello—?"

Stop talking like an idiot and keep your mouth shut! Let him speak!

"I'm sorry. Go ahead."

There's another moment of silence and I seriously contemplate hanging up on him. All I'm doing is making a fool out of myself. And that's a real accomplishment, seeing as I kind of did that already on Friday. How much less could he possibly think of me if I hang up on him?

"When are you free?" he asks, and his tone is impatient again. I want to tell him to forget about it, but something in his question tells me that it's a bad idea. If I back out now, I would really make a nuisance out of myself. I'm already wasting his time.

"I-I don't know."

Stop blabbering and think, Sakura! When the hell are you free? After class? During lunch? Mornings? After dinnertime? Answer him!

"Are you free right now?" he asks casually.

WHAAAAT?!

I take a risky glance over at Ino's car across the parking lot. She's staring at me and her eyes widen expectantly when my gaze lands on her face, through the slightly tinted windows. She smiles a perfect Ino-smile and gives me two thumbs-up. I quickly shake my head and give her a desperate look. She narrows her eyebrows and I look away from her.

"I think so."

Holy crap…

"Good. I'll let you speak with my secretary now. She'll tell you what to do from here. Is that alright?"

"Yes, that's fine. Thank you."

Did that horribly embarrassing experience just land me a job interview? Wow…

"It's my pleasure, Miss Haruno."

Oh, gosh. He sounded so hot just then… So dark and sexy…. Oh my. I think I'm going to hyperventilate .What the hell is wrong with me?

And then the phone is handed back over to the young woman that originally answered my call.

"Hello?" she asks, and I snap myself out of my trance-like fantasy.

"Yes?"

"The interview will be scheduled for tonight at seven-thirty. Is that okay with you, Miss?"

"Yes, thank you."

Seven-thirty… Don't forget. Whatever you do, Sakura, do NOT forget.

"Just give me a moment and I'll tell you the address."

A few seconds go by, and I hear a noise that sounds like the ruffling of papers and the opening and closing of desk drawers. I get the feeling that the woman is going through a lot of trouble to fit me in tonight for this interview. I wonder if she has to cancel anything… I feel bad, but excited. Did Sasuke Uchiha ask her to make room for me on the schedule? And if so, then wouldn't it be HIS schedule? Is HE going to be the one conducting the conference?

Oh, no… What have I just gotten myself into?

"Do you have somewhere to write this down, Miss?" the woman asks me. I quickly pull my purse off of my shoulder and rummage through the contents. I find a dull pencil and a piece of crumpled scrap paper with old notes on it.

"Yes. Go ahead." I say, flipping the paper over and picking at the top of the pencil to make sure it writes.

"It's 731 Corporate Drive, off the Interstate, Exit 35. There's a Corporate Court right before it, so make sure you take the Drive. It's about three miles out from the Court."

I scribble as fast as I can, writing down the address first and then memorizing not to make the turn onto the wrong street.

"Did you get all that?" the woman asks, and I can't help but notice how polite she's speaking now. It's much different than the fake tone I heard when she first picked up the phone. I wonder where the sudden change came from.

"Yes. Thank you. Can I ask you who I'll be speaking with?" I hold my breath.

"Why, Mr. Uchiha, of course." I mentally whimper. She sounds like it was the most obvious answer in the world. "Isn't that the reason why you called this number? If you wanted a specific job, you should have called the head of that department. Not this office. This is Mr. Uchiha's personal contact line for business."

I make a mental note to scream at Naruto the next time I see him as I head across the lot to the car. What in the world was that dumb blonde thinking? What in the world went through Ino's head when she made me do this? I don't want to do it anymore!

Oh, suck it up, Sakura! It's done and over with. Just do your thing and get that job!

But, why does it have to be Sasuke Uchiha? Why can't I talk to someone else? ANYONE else. This is killing me, and I wonder what my chances are about the multibillionaire forgetting all about my call. It's slim to none, I know. But I silently hope that he calls and cancels. I really don't want to do this.

"How'd it go?" Ino asks as I quietly slip into the passenger's seat and she starts the car. "Did you get the job or what?"

"I have an interview," I manage to squeak out.

"That's great, Sakura!" She tilts her head to the side when I frown at her. "What happened? I would have thought that you'd be happy to finally get a chance at a job like this. You've been looking for quite a while with no luck. This is a good thing, Sakura! Stop frowning!"

"Naruto gave me his personal secretary's number," I say solemnly.

"So what?" She doesn't get it.

"So, I have to talk to him to get a job. I think he cleared his schedule to fit me in."

"He? You mean you spoke to Sasuke Uchiha on the phone?" She's giddy with delight. "I thought you said you talked to his secretary. How did you manage that?" I frown at her giant grin. She's such a gossiper sometimes.

"I don't know. One second, I was talking to some lady, and then I was talking to him." I still can't say his first name.

"And he cleared his schedule for you? Sakura, I think he likes you… I mean, he likes you, likes you. Why else would he do that? No offense, but I'm sure a guy like him has plenty of workers, and doesn't really think about conducting singular interviews and hiring individuals. I mean, he's probably got thousands of people under him. He must really like you to do this for you."

Yeah, that's what I want. To have a guy that likes me as my boss… Oh, jeez.

"I don't know. I'm nervous. And after what happened on Friday…"

"Sakura, get it through your thick skull already! I'm telling you the truth. This guy has got a thing for you. He stayed an extra hour at our apartment to see if you were okay. And he wasn't there for me, Sakura. That was pretty damn obvious. He kept checking in on you up until the moment he walked out the door. And now this. You've got to be blind to not see what's going on! He likes you! Multibillionaire, businessman, hot-and-gorgeous Sasuke Uchiha fucking likes you!"

I frown as she pulls out of the parking lot. It's almost empty now because of our delay. But I can't help but feel a little better from hearing Ino's words. I even allow myself a slimmer of hope that maybe she's right. But I don't allow my hopes to get too high. I don't want them to fall down too hard. I just know that would be painful.

Why not? My inner self says proudly. I'm semi-beautiful, semi-intelligent, and I can't hold alcohol very well. What's not to like?

"Just do this job-meeting thing and you'll see what I mean," Ino says as we pull into the parking lot for our apartment building. "Trust me. I wouldn't lie to you about something like this. You've got something here, and I'll be damned if I let you waste it. You're going for this, Sakura. No complaints. You hear me?"

I nod once and step out of the car.