Chapter Three

My second day on the job, and I'm already in over my head. Hinata smoothed her hands over her knee-length lavender dress. It was 5:59, and she stood on her patio waiting for her boss to pick her up. She wondered what he was wearing-a tuxedo was hard to imagine, and even a suit was stretching it!

The sound of screeching tires had her shaking her head. Some reckless teenagers, putting everyone else in danger. The screeching got closer, and her heart sped up as bright headlights signaled the approach of a ridiculously expensive-looking orange car. Wait, orange? It couldn't be…! But sure enough, the car parked right in front of her house, and her blonde boss stepped out of the car before it was even fully stopped!

Naruto whistled as he looked his date up and down. "I'm glad you could come-how could anyone not be impressed by me with you on my arm?" His remark was both flattering and obnoxiously cocky, a behavior she already knew all too well, even after only working with him for one day! She looked down shyly, a blush painting her face as she walked towards the car.

"Ready to go?" he walked over and pulled open the door for her, and she couldn't help but smile as she stepped in…and then she closed her eyes and sighed as he James-Bond rolled over the hood and slipped in through the open window. "That never gets old!" he grinned and revved the engine.

"Sir, m-maybe we could…travel at the s-speed limit?" her voice was barely audible over the purring engine, but Naruto turned to her, surprised.

"Uh…'kay?" Nobody had ever commented about his driving before! Of course, he didn't often drive people around…nobody to drive with, he guessed. But he shifted into gear and tried to control his lead foot. It became a little easier when his eyes shifted to Hinata and saw her smiling happily at his boringly careful driving.

The quiet, however, he couldn't work with. "So, uh…" Hinata turned to him expectantly, "did I mention that you look s-nice?" She'd probably nosebleed or pass out or something if I called her sexy. I'd hate to get blood on the interior… "Oh, this is the GT-R I was telling you about! Nice, isn't it?"

Hinata nodded, looking around appreciatively. Then she turned to Naruto and gave him a small smile. "You l-look quite…h-handsome yourself…sir." His dark grey button-up shirt was tucked into matching slacks, and his sleeves were unrolled. No orange?

He chuckled. "Thanks. Oh, hey…" he reached onto the floor beneath his seat, taking his hands and eyes off the wheel! Before Hinata's heart attack could kill her, however, he was back up and tossed a piece of fabric onto her lap, regaining control of the vehicle. "What?" Hinata had her head leaned against the headrest, hand on her heart. "Aw, come on!" Naruto looked like a child who had just gotten in trouble for climbing on the kitchen counter. "We didn't die, did we? Hinata…hey, Hinata, I need your help!"

"With?" still panting slightly, she lifted the limp piece of fabric from her lap. It was a tie. Correction: it was an orange tie. She was going to ask him about his color craze sometime… "You need me to tie this for you?" she smiled at him, removing the last traces of panic from her voice.

"Would you? That'd be great!" Hinata reached her arms around his neck to put the tie in place, and even she felt the tension building. Her fingers brushed his warm shoulders as she tucked the tie under his collar, and she was glad that the darkness in the car hid her slight blush. Naruto focused all his attention on the road, thinking that it was a little ridiculous for him to be so tense as she tightened the knot near his neck. He'd been fitted for suits (though he had yet to wear any of them) by women plenty of times, and never felt much more than basic physical attraction…not that he'd ever acted on it. So why was it that with a woman whom he'd only known for two days it felt so much more…personal?

"Oh!" he spotted the restaurant, thrilled to find a topic. "There's the place. Are you ready for this?" Hinata hesitated, staring at the large restaurant. It was one that her father owned! It also happened to be the one that he frequented most, and everyone in the store knew his entire family, herself included! Naruto noticed her mortified look and pulled out his phone. "I saaaaaaid…are you ready for this?" his words synched with the lyrics of the song, his head nodding with the beat pouring from his phone.

Hinata's head hit the dashboard.

"What, no good?" he joked as he pulled into his parking spot-this happened to be his favorite dining joint, although nothing beats fast food-and shoved his now silent phone into his back pocket.

"It…it was a good try, sir," she sighed. While she unbuckled her seatbelt, Naruto stepped out of the car and walked around the hood, opening the door for her again. She stood, trying to keep balanced on her despicable heels. She gingerly took Naruto's proffered arm and together they walked into the restaurant, Naruto's head held high while Hinata watched her feet.

The difference between the two was gaping. Hinata was born into this high-society world, and she still wasn't comfortable with it. Naruto rose up from an orphan on the streets, and now he acted as if he owned the world, which Hinata found incredible. He had every right to be proud of where he ended up; it was hard work and determination that got him there! Hinata was a diligent worker, but determination was something that she'd never really understood. Determination meant resistance and strong will, but Hinata preferred to just go with the flow and see where life took her. She'd only ever resisted her father's attempts to pull her into one of his environmentally-degrading companies…and even then she was always this close to giving in.

"Naruto, my boy! Welcome, welcome!" an older gentleman-Hinata recognized him as Mr. Higarashi, the manager-greeted them. "And Miss. Hyuuga, too! Two of my favorite guests on a date, I see. What great news!"

Naruto turned back to look at her. "You come here, too? I've never seen you around!"

"M-my father owns the restaurant." Naruto whistled appreciatively.

"Your table is right this way." Mr. Higarashi led them through the quiet, crowded restaurant, stopping at a table seating Jiraiya and his date, a gorgeous brunette much younger than him. Also seated was a woman with blonde hair who was downing glass after glass of wine, mumbling about wanting something stronger. Next to her was a kind-looking man with long white hair; not nearly as long as Jiraiya's, though.

"Granny! You're the important client?" Naruto's eyes widened, and then narrowed as he plopped into his chair, dejectedly pulling Hinata's out as well. The blonde woman glared at him as she reluctantly set down her glass. "Don't start with me, Naruto. Dan and I are here to talk business, so there's no real reason for you to be here; isn't there a fast-food restaurant for you to bother?"

"Hah, I wish! I didn't want to be here anyways," he mumbled in reply. Hinata felt a little lost, as she usually did when people were antagonistic towards him…which was often. Naruto turned to her with a grin. "Well, at least I get to show off my date! This is Hinata Hyuga, my new assistant."

"You poor girl…" Naruto's lips puckered in disapproval, and Jiraiya stepped in.

"Alright, you two! Hinata, this is Tsunade and her husband Dan. They run a medicinal company. You ever heard of Nawaki? "

Hinata nodded with a friendly smile. "My father provides them with a lot of materials."

Tsunade looked thoughtful for a second. "Hyuga…oh, Hiashi?" she set her chin in her hand. Hinata nodded, suddenly feeling like a name-dropper. "Perfect! Can you represent him in this, then? I need some new supplies…"

"I-I can pass on the word, ma'am." She hated relaying business information to her father; when it came to deals, he was a shark going in for the kill.

"Hey, get your own lovely messenger girl, Granny! This one's taken." Naruto hooked his arm around Hinata's shoulders, and Hinata reached for her water, hoping the cold would combat the heat rushing to her face.

"Look at that, Naruto. She's trying to drown herself to get away from you."

The rest of the meeting went just like that-Jiraiya, Dan, and Tsunade talking business, Tsunade and Naruto talking smack, and Hinata occasionally being called on to answer for her father, which she did not particularly enjoy. Jiraiya's date was quiet, only occasionally speaking when Jiraiya turned to her.

When it was over, everyone left feeling satisfied (besides Naruto, who was outraged because Tsunade's insults were far more clever and frequent than his).

"Well Naruto, I'd say this meeting was a success!" Jiraiya clapped Naruto on the back as Tsunade and Dan headed off into the parking lot.

Naruto wasn't nearly as impressed. He yawned. "Yeah yeah. Great. So…"

"And Hinata, your second day on the job and you're already more useful than Naruto!"

"Hey! What the heck, old man!" Grumbling to himself, Naruto stomped back to the car. Hinata watched him, feeling as though she betrayed him somehow…

"I was only kidding, you brat! But if you wanna be that way, then fine!" HOOOOOONNNNNNNKKKKKKKKK! Naruto leaned his hand against the horn as he glared at Jiraiya!

"Don't-" HONK "Cut it-" HOOONK "You're being-" HONK HONK HOOOOOONK! "You little-!" Naruto, thoroughly enjoying himself, pressed repeatedly as Jiraiya cussed him out. That is, until Hinata snuck into the car and disabled the horn.

"What the-? How'd you do that?" Naruto searched around for this mythical horn-disabling button while Hinata smiled; glad to finally have a use for that trick!

"Sir, can we leave now? We do have work tomorrow, after all."

"Aaaaawwwww, do we hafta? You'll still get paid, promise!" he cheerfully waved goodbye to Jiraiya, earning a confused head shake and a scowl.

"I can't let you pay me if I haven't done anything."

Naruto grinned. "Out of the gutter, Naruto, mind out of the gutter!"

Hinata's face created a new shade of red that night.

Naruto pulled in front of Hinata's house, and suddenly felt lost. Should he walk her to the door? That felt like such a kid move…but would it seem rude if he didn't? In all his 21 years, he'd never been on a date before-ever. Of course, this was a business dinner with his employee, and they barely knew each other. Did that matter? He'd probably be better off walking her up-

"Goodnight, sir!" her quiet voice called from the other side of the street.

FAIL. She must have gotten out while he was thinking! Note to self: Stick to not thinking.

"Eh… 'Night, Hinata! See ya tomorrow!" He sped away, feeling like a total dunce.

Yay! Dan's alive! And I got the chapter out before I leave for camp! Please review? You know you want to. The button's right down there. Theeeere you go!

P.S. Nawaki was Tsunade's brother's name.