Thanks for such a warm response :)

Words can't really describe how awesome you reviewers and alert-ers and favorite-ers are! Haha, you make me so happy :)

Can we keep this ongoing trend of awesomeness? That would make a super busy student more content with her life.

Again, thanks bunches!

Disclaimer: Owning Naruto would only occur in my dreams.

She had forgotten how much it pained her to walk in high heels.

And how much she hated her boss.

There she was, standing in the middle of a coffee shop, coffees in one hand, phone in the other, attempting to pay for the tea in vain. And her feet were killing her. Although Tenten had to admit that the two inch pumps did make her legs look long and slender, maybe the sacrifice wasn't really worth it. After all, it wasn't like she was trying to attract anyone.

Neji's voice echoed over the phone line. "Are you done getting my tea yet?"

"Almost, almost," she grumbled, fishing out cash from her purse by clutching the phone between the crook of her neck.

"Well, hurry up. My caffeine levels are fluctuating."

Click.

"Your menstrual cycle is fluctuating," Tenten whispered under her breath. God knows how she managed to stand that man's attitude. Which immediately led her to her next question: why the hell had she applied to his company again?

Oh, that was right. She had completely knocked his existence out of her mind, because he wasn't worth anything. He was still, and probably would always be, a self-centered jerk wad with a serious ego issue. It was minor consolation that she had unknowingly accepted a generous job offer, which just so happened to be in the company he owned. Which meant that she had no ulterior motive to getting involved in his business.

What had she ever seen in him? It would forever be a dark spot on her past.

The cashier popped her bubble gum and took the cash out of Tenten's fingers. "Gimmee a few clicks," she drawled. "Your tea will be here soon."

"Thanks," Tenten muttered, hobbling to the best of her ability to a chair nearby. Sighing with relief, she set down her things and took a seat. He really did work her to the point of exhaustion, so it was only fair that she make his life as miserable as possible in return. She thought it was a pretty good deal: humiliate your boss without getting fired in exchange for a life of servitude.

Groaning, Tenten stowed the cursed phone away and waited. Maybe that was a bad decision on her part, in the long run anyways.

Because even after all these years, and she hated that she had to admit it, he still looked smoking hot.

That didn't change the fact that he still had personality issues.

"One green tea, medium, with a serving of jasmine petals on the side," someone called. That was her cue to get up.

Tenten once again hitched the annoying accessories of coffee and a bag upon her arms, and went to grab the steaming cup of tea. "Careful, it's hot," the server warned.

Tenten smiled and took the cup, heading for the doors. "Don't worry, I've handled much worse."

She walked out into the warm spring air, breathing in the scent of nature. And then, she coughed realizing that it wasn't there and exhaust from a nearby car had filled her lungs. Great. The city, though bustling, had about as much fresh air as a desert had water. Tenten ignored the feeling of nostalgia that enveloped her, telling her she should go back to the country, where the fields were open and the air was pure.

She had a bet to take care of.

"It's okay," she said to herself, trying to return to her cheery persona, "I can handle him. In fact, I've been with him for nearly a month now and I haven't murdered him in his sleep. This is a good sign."

And then, right as she muttered the last line, her heel got stuck in a crack in the sidewalk.

She managed to save the coffee and regain her balance in time.

The tea however...was a different story.

She could only watch with wide eyes as the steaming beverage hit a suited chest, spilled onto the fabric, and then fell to the floor, dumping its contents out on the sidewalk.

And then, she looked up to see which unfortunate passerby she had mauled with a cup of tea.

Her mouth could only form six words. "I am so sorry, Mr. Uchiha."

Tenten watched him glance uninterested at his shirt (wasn't it hot?) and then look pointedly at her. She could only gulp and set her coffees on the floor and proceed to grab the spare napkins out of her bag. "I am so sorry. So, so so extremely sorry...it looks like an expensive suit, maybe the tea won't stain, but..." she was rambling and making a complete fool of herself. She had seen him around enough times and heard enough stories to know that the man was on par with Neji, if not even above him. Sasuke was the kind of man who would crush a company with no remorse whatsoever.

She had let him in to Neji's office a multitude of times as workers were being transferred to Uchiha Inc. She could never tell if he was teasing or telling the truth.

Her mouth kept muttering the word "sorry," when finally Sasuke said smoothly, "Stop."

She quickly shut up and pressed the white napkins to his chest, blotting up the tea that had soaked through. Tenten forced herself not to wince—the beverage was burning. The liquid seeped into the paper napkins, but it wasn't enough to completely dry the man's suit.

She mentally cursed her ineptitude and quickly stuffed the wet towels into her bag, pulling out a sheet of paper and scribbling her contact information on it. He still hadn't said anything, which made her more nervous. "This is my number—please get your suit cleaned and pressed, and I'll cover all the charges. I-I am so sorry," she said quickly, passing him the sheet of paper. His dark eyes scanned it, and then he gently creased the note and tucked it into his shirt pocket.

"I hope you know what you've just done," he murmured. Tenten felt a chill run up her spine. She bowed, trying to show how apologetic she was. There was really no end to her bad luck, it seemed. Hopefully he wouldn't tell Neji and get her fired.

"I'm really very sorry sir," she whispered, still keeping her head down. "I promise it will not happen again."

"Good. Now pick up your coffees and drop them off at the Hyuuga's place. Actually, forget that—I'll send someone to transfer them for you."

"Thank you, Mr. Uchiha, but—"

"And you will follow me. I hereby relieve you of your duties for the time being. We're going to have a little chat."

Tenten's mind immediately jumped to the worst case scenario. He was totally going to terminate her contract, and then she would have to find yet another job. She hung her head, previous mood dissipating in the air like steam on a hot plate. "I understand."

Well, it had been fun while it lasted. At least now, she was free from Neji's influence...

She wouldn't have to hear his bitching voice in the morning.

Or his occasional word or thanks or praise.

She would no longer have to listen to his complaints, and schedule his appointments, and fetch him drinks.

She should have been happy. She never wanted to reinstate her contact with him, not to mention, he had worked her hard for the past month. Tenten had been in charge of so many things that she felt like if she was fired, the entire company would fall apart. But it wouldn't, she said dryly to herself. It was merely a figment of her unexpressed desires that told her that she was worth something to him.

Neji didn't care for her in the least. And she didn't care for him either.

But that didn't explain the sudden weight upon her shoulders.

Tenten and Sasuke waited on the corner of the street for a minute or two before someone came to pick up her coffees. She told him to whom each beverage would be delivered to, eyes almost tearing. Although her time in the company was short, she had grown attached to her coworkers. It pained her to think that her final job was sending coffee to others. The bitterness of the fact was like another blow. Just because of her dumb heels...

It made her feel a little better when she remembered that Neji wasn't going to get his tea.

After the coffee-holder left, she and Sasuke were left alone, save for a few passerby. From the corner of her eye, Tenten could see the faint green stain of Neji's tea on his white dress shirt. Sasuke beckoned for her to follow him with a slight tip of his head, and Tenten grudgingly accepted. She walked with him to his car (an expensive model, the seats alone probably cost more than her salary), and not trying to seem rude, she sat in the back seat. He raised his eyebrow at the action.

"Not going to take shotgun?"

"I couldn't...not after what I did to your clothes."

"I insist."

So unlocking the door, she fulfilled his request and sat in the desired chair, trying not to look at Sasuke who slid into the car and started the engine.

"Where are we going, Mr. Uchiha?"

"Lunch," he said smugly. "Hyuuga will be so pissed."

Tenten felt her heart race a little faster at the mention of her boss's, soon to be ex-boss's, name. What had he just said? Why would Neji be mad that she was having lunch with Sasuke? She wanted to ask, but instead, sat still and folded her hands in her lap. Whatever the case, it didn't matter.

She was getting fired.

Once they arrived at the restaurant, Tenten saw Sasuke strip himself of his suit jacket so only his dress shirt and tie remained. She gave a small mental nod of approval—he looked much better that way. He beckoned her with a mild hand gesture, saying that she should accompany him inside.

Tenten barely dared to accept his offer. She had never been treated to anything so extravagant.

The restaurant was definitely high level; he must have wanted to soften the blow for her impending job loss. They took a seat outside where it was warmer and their table was basked in the afternoon sun. Crystal wine glasses were set before them, and Sasuke ordered some expensive-sounding wine that she didn't recognize.

"Order what you like," he said bluntly, opening his own menu.

Tenten decided to play it safe and ordered the third cheapest item.

"That's it?"

"Um...yes sir."

When the waiter came, Tenten's eyes grew wide as Sasuke began to talk. Her lunch partner ordered the most expensive dishes, ignoring her previous choice, listing them off like he owned the place. She could practically see dollar signs floating in the server's eyes—he would be getting a good tip. Tenten shifted uncomfortably in her seat, not used to the high class atmosphere. The food arrived, steaming hot and delicious, and as she slowly began to pick her meal apart Sasuke began to speak.

His first words surprised her so much she almost spit the chicken in his face.

"Work for my company."

"E-Excuse me sir?"

She wasn't getting fired?

He must have been joking.

"If you can stand Hyuuga's regimen, you can handle mine with no problem. We need people like you, Ms. Kurenai." He sent a cryptic smile across the table. Tenten swallowed her food with a bit of difficulty and took a sip of wine to clear her throat.

"I would pay you a generous amount. Never mind the stain on my shirt, you can stop looking," he said with a chuckle.

"Yes sir," she answered, flushing and averting her eyes.

But she could hardly believe what she was hearing—he thought she was competent. Someone of a definite high level was asking for her to join his company. Tenten couldn't have felt more flattered. In any normal case, she would have accepted the offer in the blink of an eye. In fact, it would have been more logical if she had ditched her stubborn pride and allowed herself to leave the bet, and Neji Hyuuga, forever. Higher wages, probably a non-sadistic boss, relief from the ex-love of her life.

It should have been enough to tip the scales overwhelmingly in Uchiha Inc.'s favor.

But something that she couldn't understand was tugging at her heartstrings. She took another sip of wine contemplatively. Sasuke seemed to notice her silence and added coolly: "I'll give you a few days to think about it. Would that be okay?"

She still didn't answer, instead looking at the depths of the red drink. "I...I'm sorry. I can't accept." She cleared her throat, almost shocked at her own words.

He, unlike her, didn't look surprised at all. "I thought you might say that. Well, I had to take a chance, didn't I?" he said with a smirk, picking some food into his plate. "Seems like you're still somewhat...attached to Hyuuga."

Tenten's heart instantly went into overdrive. "I'm sorry, we're not like that sir," she said, voice wavering slightly for reasons unknown to her. The food was no longer appetizing, and she set her utensils down, trying to stop the heat flushing throughout her body, but in vain. Even the mere mention of their past brought back images she wanted to forget. And that moment in the office, when she had foolishly put her face so near to his...

And how her body had unconsciously targeted the warmth of his lips, how the memories had resurfaced and she really wanted him to kiss her—

The wine glass in her hand trembled slightly, sending ripples across the surface. "I appreciate your offer, Mr. Uchiha, I really do. But I can't accept it. Please respect my decision."

"Well of course. It's not a must; it's ultimately left up to you, of course," he said calmly.

"Well then, thank you sir," Tenten said, getting up and feeling quite lighthearted. It was like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She quickly snatched her bag up from the ground and placed a $50 bill on the table. Hastily, she wiped her mouth and struggled to talk at the same time. "Well then, thank you for your time. I should go now, Mr. Hyuuga is probably wondering where I am," she said, voice rushed. "Take the money and cover my share. Don't forget to call me for the dry cleaning either."

Neji was going to kill her when he found out that not only was she late, but she also didn't have his tea.

She was going to get hounded...

Why was she thinking of him at a moment like this? She should have been more concerned with herself, and the fact that she still had a job.

Sasuke lounged in his chair, watching her get ready. He took a casual bite of his food. "I will see you at the gathering then, Ms. Kurenai."

She groaned. Right...there was still that company party she had to worry about. She had forgotten Sasuke was coming too. "Yes, sir." Tenten gave a little bow of respect and headed for the door, dodging the waiters with catlike grace.

It was time to get back to work.

Needless to say, Neji was livid.

He had waited for an extra ten minutes, and Tenten still hadn't shown up. And then, someone from Sasuke's company had gone around delivering coffees which had supposedly been Tenten's job. But, when Neji extended a hand, waiting for his tea, the man just gave him a slow shake of the head and said that there wasn't any drink for him.

When he had further interrogated the drink-carrier, he had found out his secretary decided to go on a date with Sasuke.

Which was the reason for his disgruntled heart and hellish demeanor.

Not only had she abandoned her duty, but also decided to meet up with a rival business head for lunch. The papers in his hand wrinkled with his harsh grasp, and the grimace on Neji's face was so deep it could've been etched in stone. It simply wasn't right, first of all. She dared try to run away and shirk her jobs? And maybe, she was thinking of some romantic endeavor with Sasuke. If her plan was to make him pissed off, well, for once it was working. He had never been so angry.

With a harsh toss, the crinkled papers went and hit the rim of the wastebasket, then bounced and hit the floor. Neji swore, but refused to pick it up, fuming in silence.

She probably was never coming back. The slow smirk that Sasuke had given him before he left was enough to account for the fact that his secretary was now in Uchiha Inc.'s hands. Sasuke was never one to give up on something so easy; he had targeted Tenten from the very beginning. There would be no way she could resist the temptation of better wages and less demanding tasks. Neji felt the tiniest bit of guilt welling in him. It would partially be his fault if she left...perhaps he had expected too much of her?

But then came the more pressing matter: would she still go with him to the company party if she was no longer part of Hyuuga Corps?

Hiashi would kill him if he arrived with the terrible excuse that his date had been stolen by Sasuke.

And if Hiashi was after him, it would only be appropriate if Tenten became the sacrifice in his place.

"Damn her," he hissed under his breath. He couldn't shake the feeling that he had been somewhat abandoned by her. He had trusted her almost a little too quickly, put too much of his hopes under her wing. And now, she was gone, leaving the company in a more worse state than it had been when she first arrived.

So much for getting along well.

He wasn't going to forgive her.

EVER.

Suddenly, a knock came at the door.

It was too soon. For a brief moment, Neji half expected Tenten to come waltzing in with a smug smile on her face, only to place a resignation letter on his desk. But instead, it was Shikamaru from floor 2, holding a dry cigarette between his lips.

There was the slight feeling of disappointment on his shoulders. Then Neji thought about it further. There was absolutely nothing to be disappointed about. It was just Tenten's absence, nothing more. He had dealt without her for seven years, a few minutes was nothing.

But she had left him.

And then the anger resurfaced.

Shikamaru continued to stand, waiting for Neji's reaction.

Neji was so upset he didn't care who he unleashed his wrath upon. He scowled. "What do you want." It was more of a statement than a question.

"Just thought you might like to know that your secretary's having lunch with the Uchiha at that restaurant two blocks from here..." he drawled. "But, if you don't want me here, I suppose I could leave. I did go through all this trouble just to tell you—pressed the button on the elevator and walked all the way and everything."

Before the information had fully sunk in, Shikamaru had turned on his heel and headed towards the doorway. But before leaving, he added a side note. "They look pretty close to me."

And then the message had fully registered in Neji's mind. He instantly got up, heat, anger, and even a bit of relief surging through his body. In a flash, he straightened his suit jacket and rushed out the door, passing by Shikamaru and several other workers who were surprised to see their boss so worked up.

She was so dead when he caught up to her.

Shikamaru called from behind him. "I better be getting a raise for this."

Neji didn't bother taking the elevator, instead sprinting down the stairs and running out of his company. He could only hope that she hadn't left yet, that he could still grasp her arm before she left. And then give her the lecture of a lifetime, even if she was no longer under his control.

But then what about the bet? It would mean that she had lost. Which would consequently mean she owed him something. The mere thought was enough to lessen the frown on his face. Perfect. At least she would have that burden on her shoulders for a while.

He skirted around the street corner, only slightly out of breath. The restaurant was close now, and he could see the faint outline of Sasuke and Tenten at a table. They seemed to be chatting happily enough, which made him purse his lips. With a storm of heated anger, Neji walked into the restaurant, bumping into Tenten who looked like she was just about to leave.

When she noticed him, her brown eyes were wide, like a deer caught in headlights.

Neji licked his lips.

She was done for.

"So, where's my tea?"

In the background, Sasuke was watching the scene unfold. Neji made a mental note to deal with him later. He gave Sasuke a look that clearly said "stay out of this." He responded with a smirk and raised hands in defense.

She mumbled something incoherent. Neji couldn't make it out. "I'm sorry," he hissed. "I didn't quite hear you." He was barely keeping his rage contained...the fact that she had wandered off with Sasuke of all people still hadn't escaped him. And even more so, she had ditched him and was probably going to quit, just to run over to her new boyfriend's side. In a single moment she had probably done every possible thing on his taboo list. If she didn't quit, then he for sure was going to fire her.

Wait. Something was nagging at the back of his mind. Was it any of his business in the first place? All she had forgot to do was bring him tea...was that really worth firing someone for? Neji hastily pushed the voice away, choosing for once to trust the rush of emotions in him rather than his rationality.

Tenten looked around, flustered under his gaze. Good. If he was making her uncomfortable, then by all means.

"Your tea," she finally managed to say slowly, "I accidentally spilled it on Mr. Uchiha."

"Which brings me to my next point," Neji said harshly. Who cared where is tea went? If it wasn't in his hand, anything else was irrelevant—even if she had dumped the beverage on Sasuke. "What were you doing with that man in the first place? Did you accept that job offer already?"

"How did you know he offered me—"

Neji finally blew. Not wanting to cause a public scene (he wasn't that far gone yet), he grabbed her wrist and yanked her out of the restaurant. Sasuke's laugh echoed in his ears. She didn't say a word, just looking at him, confusion written over her face. The people around them watched on with interest as Neji dragged them over to a secluded area on a bench. The skin of her hand was soft against his fingers, and it somehow began to ease his heart. The pounding in his chest decreased in anger, and grew in another more wary, more affectionate area.

"I know," he said coldly, "Because I know the type of man he is. So tell me. Did you accept it or not?"

"I can't believe you wouldn't even trust me," she snapped, finally showing her true colors. "Do you think I'm that low of a person? To ditch you? Do you think I'm that dumb not to realize that hell, I would be losing the fucking bet? You are as much of an asshole as you were when I dated you! You haven't changed at all!"

That sent a spark down Neji's spine. She was pushing the blame onto him.

Well, two could play at that game.

"You want to yell?" he asked, voice a deadly whisper. "Then by all means, yell all you like. You are the one who hasn't changed. You're still hot headed, impulsive, and loud, arrogant and completely oblivious to things that are happening around you."

She looked shocked.

He continued, unable to stop the stream of phrases that were coming out. "And you know what? Perhaps it would be better if you went to Uchiha Inc. You've been bent on making my life a living hell since I hired you."

There was something else in her eyes now.

Hurt.

And suddenly, Neji's mouth went dry, and he couldn't say anything else. For the first time in years, he realized a sincere apology was in order. It wasn't based off the communications book, nor his past experience, but on instinct alone.

He felt guilty.

What had happened to that anger he had against her a few moments ago?

Even worse, it looked like she was about to cry.

His suspicions were confirmed when the tears fell hard and fast, and she replied with a choked up voice that cracked at odd intervals. She wiped away the tears as they came, looking at the ground, but talking to him in that hurt tone.

He gulped, the guilt eating him away.

It was his fault.

"And you don't think you've been making me miserable too? At least I've been trying to keep up with your hellish requests. But I get it. I don't care if I lose the bet anymore. Take whatever you like from me. You've destroyed most of it anyways," she said, biting her lip and scrunching her nose to keep more tears from falling out.

He didn't want this. Neji tried to stop what she was going to say next, to apologize for his harsh terms, but his voice box refused to obey him. At the most important moment, he was speechless.

"I quit." She took a breath, eying him with a harsh gaze brimming with tears. "And just so you know, I rejected his offer because I thought I couldn't let you down. But now that I see how you really feel, I've got no regrets. See you later. Actually, I'd rather not to see your face ever again. Forget the party. Use your dumb corporate power to take whatever you want to fulfill this dumbass bet." She slung her bag over the shoulder without casting him another look. "I'm out of here."

The crowd that had gathered to watch the public soap opera slowly dispersed, leaving Neji alone on the park bench.

Just one line.

One line had ruined everything.

But he had wanted her gone, he reminded himself. She was nothing but a nuisance. She had only done a job. Business and personal issues: separate.

Then why did it hurt so much?

He got up slowly, letting the blood rush to his head. Right...that was the question. Why was his heart in constant turmoil? He was upset with her, happy with her, angry with her...

Mostly angry with her. Or pissed off at her.

Yet now, all he felt was extreme guilt.

The ground looked like a good place to stare at for a while. People were shooting him dirty glares, whispering about what a terrible person he was. But they didn't know anything about their relationship, or what had happened in the past. It was none of their business in the first place.

"Good job," someone said sarcastically as they passed him, "You made her cry."

Neji chose not to respond.

With a grudging acceptance, he realized that he had really screwed up this time.

Aw, poor schmuck.

What did you think? Don't worry, their relationship will get there!

R & R! Constructive criticism is welcomed :)

-Miss S