Chapter 3:::::The Partnership::::

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Don't own Naruto!


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Sakura glared at the computer screen in front of her with annoyance. The frustration vent with the confusion had her in a really bad mood since the meeting this morning ended.

The almost bankruptcy, the offering partnership,...the kiss.

Wait, back up. The kiss?

It has nothing to do with the kiss. Not one bit. Sasuke did that because he wanted to riled her up. Sakura was not stupid. She knows how the business world system operate and no way was she ever going to fall to the simple trick.

Sitting back against the leather chair with a huff sigh, she threw the pen on the desk lightly. There's no point in trying to work when her mind was obviously not on the job subject. Linking her fingers together, Sakura bit her lips and winced. She'd remembered the soft lingering smell of musk and wood and spices combined together as she inhaled the sweet scented smell that rolled off of Sasuke. She'd bet that he had to used this kind of trick to get what he want from the female species.

After all, she'd done the same trick for years to stay on top of her job. Thing was, it hadn't crossed her mind that someone out there would make her feel the same way as she did to others.

The beeping sound of the telephone shook her out of her reverie.

"Sakura, Li-sama is here to see you." came the sweet voice of her assistant. "Should I send him in?"

"Yes please." replied Sakura as she pasted on a sweet smile for her brother. Schooling her features, she tucked her platinum blonde hair behind one delicate ear as the double oak door squeaked open.

Li stepped in with a charming smile. His casual black button down shirt was a little rumple along with the khaki slacks.

" Had a nice flight?" Sakura asked as she grin lightly.

Li took the seat in front of the desk and scowl. "You think? The plane was damn uncomfortable enough as it is without wenches poking and prodding me every ten seconds."

Sakura laughed outright. Li was known for his cuteness that had the ladies within fifty mile radius batting their lashes at him. Of course, he'd had inherited the deep emerald eyes from their parents. While hers reflected innocence and hidden knowledge, his were mysterious, confident and definite menace when angry. She'd loved him anyway.

"I take it those flight attendance were hitting on you again." Sakura stated.

Li scowled. " Hell yes. All I wanted for a long flight from New York was a peaceful sleep before arriving to Japan. You would think that those women would take pity on college student instead of bugging the shit out of them. Especially me."

Sakura's lips twitched. Li was a sophomore in New York University, currently major in Business administration and political sciences. Traveling from state to state was tiring especially when he didn't keep normal hours like other people. The bag under his eyes showed his tiredness and weariness from the long flight.

"How's Papa doing?" Sakura questioned.

Li's scowl shifted into a tight smile. " Same as last time. The doctor said that his chance of surviving through the third stage was slim to none."

Sakura tried not to cry. Her brother was weighting the heaviness of their Father on his shoulder alone while she couldn't even manage their company without the help of others. Her strong brother was a survivor, a true Haruno. Sometimes, she felt like she's just a little ant compare to him.

"Hey, don't start leaking. You know, I don't really take everything those white coat people said to heart. They'd predicted that Father wouldn't make it five months ago. Now look where it got him." Li said as he stood up and came to Sakura's side.

"I know. It's just that you're there taking care of him and have school at the same time while I'm here destroying the company to bits and pieces." Sakura sobbed.

"That's not true. I heard about the partnership from Father. He and I both think it's a...wonderful idea." Li said hesitantly.

Sakura stopped sobbing and looked at her brother. "Wonderful idea? Daddy thinks it's a good idea to let that power grabbing jerk into our business?" Sakura asked, bewildered.

Li chuckled as he ruffled her hair playfully. " Calm down, sis. It's not like I'm telling you to get into his pants or anything. " Li didn't miss Sakura's blush. "We both know that business will go bankrupt soon anyway, so having him there as a partner will just lighten our responsibility. If this company fall, he will along with us."

Sakura bit her lips and contemplate over what her brother said. True that he will share the responsibility but Sakura couldn't figure out for the life of her why he would risk such a thing?

"Why did he offer in the first place?" Sakura muttered to herself.

"Who knows what goes through his head." Li said lightly.

"Grudge? Revenge?" sakura remarked casually more to herself than her brother.

"For what? it's not like you knee him in the balls or anything." Li said jokingly.

Colors shot up Sakura's face as she tried to hide her face.

Her brother's gaze on her grew. "You did?"

Sakura nodded meekly. Her brother's chuckle escalated into a full blown laugh only heightening her blush.

"Did he deserved it?" he managed to sound normal.

"Oh yeah." Sakura gritted out as she remembered what happened.

Li continue to laugh harder. Sakura's lips quirked as she watched her brother laughed over Sasuke's expenses.


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Sasuke threw the black ink pen on the desk carelessly as he sat back and rubbed his temple. Stocks of folders were stacked on his desk continually. It seemed that no matter how many times he read over files or document, the pile seemed to be getting higher and higher. Pushing the leather chair back, he stood up abruptly and walked toward the windows, looking over the busy city and the skyline of Tokyo.

The Uchiha empire was build at the heart of Tokyo with many buildings connected into one surrounded by the mega shopping complex that attracted thousands of tourists each year. His father had been managing almost every aspect of every business branch his grandfather had started. From electricity to telecommunications, from real estate development to retail, from shipping to internet, his father singled handedly took over the business at the tender age of twenty one. Now, retired and happy, Fugaku and Mikoto Uchiha had been on vacation, hopping from the exotic sight of India to the classic elegance of Europe. Not a bad place to be when they're happy and obviously in love.

He took out a cigarette, lighted and placed it against his lips. He didn't bother to think about what the future would bring. All that he's ever done since graduating from Harvard School of Business with an excel GPA was focusing solely on managing the business into something more useful and powerful. Since his brother, Itachi Uchiha announced that he didn't want anything to do with the fortune, he'd extract himself from the long reach of Fugaku and left for Vadinar, a small coastal town located in India and build himself a fortune when he struck an oil well without the help of his inheritance.

He's glad that his brother had gotten what he'd always wanted, but his happiness was replaced by the heavy weight of responsibility that fell upon him when he graduated and left Massachusetts to come back to his homeland. His father had handed over every business relation into his name alone and now he's the sole owner of a multi-billion dollars empire at the age of twenty eight.

That's exactly the reason why he didn't have time for romance and all that stuff with the addition of didn't want anything to do with love. He's been brought up with nothing missing and everything he'd ever wanted. Surrounded by love and devotion from his parents as well people who are closed to his family, he'd known nothing but luxury of living the wealthy life of the billionaires. They had treated him as if he's the king of the world and that's how he'd grown into the shoes of the arrogance and one who know his own power.

That was the basic principle he'd been brought up by. The greed in human nature was a natural thing. Only the strong will survive in this world, therefore, the analogy 'Survival of the fittest' had suited him just fine. He didn't bother to care with anyone else or offered his help without any benefit in return. No one does anything in this world for free. Everything has a price and if one is willing to pay for it, he's willing to take it without question ask.

With the mention of owning over fifty percents of the world stock market, he was practically the youngest individual ever to achieved such thing, but that didn't stopped him from going further to grab more power. That had brought his mind to why he was willing to risk a part of his fortune over the Haruno industry? He was never foolish nor the fool. His father had taught him well about gaining everything and loosing nothing.

The soft sound of his secretary's voice interrupted him. "Uchiha-sama, Mr. Andrew is here at your request."

"Thank you, Mai. send him in." Sasuke said as he stubbed the half smoke cigarette into a crystal decorative ashtray. The double oak door slide opened noiselessly as a person stepped in.

"Thank you for being here today." Sasuke began in a natural tone.

"It was no problem." said Andrew, a tall man with light brown hair said with a smile. "I gather it was something important that you have to have me fly out here over night?"

"Somewhat. Scotch?" Sasuke asked as he nodded to the crystal flute on the table. Andrew nodded and lifted the glass to take a sip. "I need you to oversee the business in the state during my absence. I will be in Tokyo for a while."

"Ah. I heard you recently began a partnership at one of the company. I hope it's going well."

"It's a slow going but it's doing fine."

"Good. Don't worry about New York. I'll see to it personally." said Andrew.

"I trust you. How's Maria doing?" Sasuke asked in a softer tone when he inquired about Andrew's wife.

"She's doing fine."

"And Alexandra?" Sasuke asked with a quirk brow.

Andrew chuckled. "Like a little whirlwind. She's got her Mama in a panic every time she left the house."

Sasuke finally smiled. "Still the same, I see."

"When are you going to pay a visit to Maddy?"

"Hopefully soon. I heard that she's doing fine. Just lost her first tooth last week." replied Sasuke. Maddy was the orphan he's adopted three years ago when he had encountered a building on fire. Little Madison had captured his heart in a second with her big blue eyes and her curly blonde hair.

"Bring her over to New York sometimes. I bet Alexandra and Madison will hit it off nicely." Andrew suggested.

"I know. Two little tornadoes at the same place." Sasuke said fondly.

Andrew glanced at his watch and sighed. "I got to go if I'm going to catch my flight back home."

"You can use the company jet." Sasuke said obviously enough.

"And get trapped doing nothing but work all hours? No thanks. I'd like to see my wife and daughter when I land, not the chauffeur." Andrew said with a grin.

"Suit yourself." Sasuke shrugged as Andrew left.

Sasuke was caught up in all the paperwork when his secretary knock on the door. Mai poked her head in tentatively. At the age of sixty, she looked ten years younger due to the loving she'd received from her husband as well as her children. Or so she told him so far.

"Sir, I just confirmed the transferring you've asked for with the Haruno boards and they are delighted to have you join their company. I take it you would like me to change my office as well?" Mai said with a quirked brow.

Sasuke grinned. "After thirty years of working together with my father as well as myself, you know that I can't run my office without you."

Mai walked in and sat in the soft leather chair. "So you've said. thirty years ago, you were just a little whelp in a bundle and now you're the richest man on earth. I'm sure you would have done just fine without me."

Sasuke chuckled. Mai had always insisted that he need to settled down with a nice girl and have a big family. He'd always avoided the topic when necessary. He respected her and her decision. After three grandsons, Mai seemed to know more about men than women itself.

"Of course, you would have done more than fine if you have a woman to share your burden with." Mai went on airily.

Sasuke hide his grin. Here comes the topic. "If you say so."

"Hah! Boy, you're lucky you're born into this century. If you were born back in the 30's, the chances of you surviving all those diseases or shipped off to war are slim to none. That's why men get married at the age of seventeen or less."

"I know." Sasuke agreed easily enough. He didn't mind listening to her rambling on and on. It did wonder for his stress mind.

"You're not even listening to me, are you?" Mai accused with her eyes narrowed.

Sasuke laughed and put his hands up in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. I'm listening."

"I hope you get married before I die."

Sasuke's face fell into a grim smile. "You're alive and healthy. Don't talk about death."

"Hah! You never know what the future would bring. I'm not afraid of death. I've lived my life to the fullest."

"I'm glad."

"You listen to me, boy. You go out and find yourself a great girl and have lots of babies with her. You hear?"

Sasuke finally grin. "I'll see what I can do. No promises."

"I guess that's good for now." Mai finally agree.

"Have you eaten yet?" Sasuke asked as he glanced at the clock on the wall.

"Not yet. Take me out for a hot date." Mai asked with a smile.

"You bet." Sasuke said with a chuckle.


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"So tell me, how's your dating life these days?" Li asked as he looked over the menu. They were seated in one of the small but exclusive restaurant three blocks from the building.

Sakura rolled her eyes at her brother's bland question and took a sip of the long island ice tea. " I'm very busy with the whole business. I don't need a man to complicate my life."

"Really, Sis. if you don't start dating soon, everyone will assume that you're turning into a lesbian."

Sakura choked on her ice tea at her brother's remark. "Excuse me?"

"I said---" Li began.

Sakura shot him a glare. "I heard what you said. I just didn't think that you would said that."

"Oh, come on. I mean, you're very beautiful. If you want, I can set you up with one of my friend."

Sakura shuddered. "No thanks."

"All right. I will leave you alone." he agreed amicably enough. "You know---would you look at that." Li murmured as his eyes trained on a particular couple.

"What?" Sakura asked as she turned around to followed her brother's gaze. An elderly old woman and a young man was seated two tables away from them. The woman looked happy as she patted the young man on the cheek lovingly.

"I guess older women are attracted to younger men these days." Li commented casually.

"Maybe they're related." Sakura murmured as she looked back at her menu.

"I doubt it. The woman's expression on her face explained that she's content to be near his presence."

"You need to focus less on Psychology and more on something else." Sakura mumbled.

"So you say. Too bad, though."

"What is?"

"The guy is handsome." Li said. "In fact, I think I saw him somewhere before."

"Yeah?" Sakura said uninterested.

"Let me think." Li said as he furrowed his brows. "I got it. He's the heir to the Uchiha empire."

Sakura's eyes widened as she swung around to look at the couple. There it was, Sasuke was working his charm on the older woman, and it worked liked a charm. The older women was blushing slightly or was it the flush on her cheeks was caused by the warmth in the restaurant.

Sakura's face burst into hot flames as she memory of the kiss flashed in her mind. Moaning lowly, she sink even deeper into the chair and brought up the menu to cover her face completely.

"Maybe we should say hello to him." Li suggested as he made a move to get up. Sakura's eyes widened and she grabbed her brother's hand to hold him in place.

"I don't think he'll welcome the intrusion. Let's just leave this place" Sakura said hurriedly as her gaze swung back to Sasuke. "I'm more in the mood for some Thai food."

Li narrowed his gaze on his sister and saw the slight flush on her cheeks. His face split into a wide grin before chuckling lightly.

"Oh. He's the guy you kneed in the balls, right?"

"Yeah." Sakura muttered.

"Well, in that case," Li said as he pried Sakura's hand away. "I must meet him and see for myself just how arrogant he really is."

Sakura let out a frustrating sound as her brother walked toward Sasuke's table. Grabbing her Chanel purse, she dropped a twenty dollar bill on the table and followed her brother.

"Ah, the ever elusive Sakura Haruno." Sasuke began when she neared his table. "Fancy meeting you here."

Sakura covered up her glare with a fake smile, but Sasuke wasn't dull enough to miss it. Neither did Li and Mai "Same goes to you."

"What can I say. Just want to take my date somewhere nice." Sasuke replied as he nodded to the older woman sitting across from him.

Sakura covered her surprised with a tight smile. How dare the jerk kissed her and then had the gall to date someone else like nothing happened?

Sakura's brows furrowed. It's not like she care or anything who he decide to date or sleep with.

"Pish posh. Don't listen to the boy. I'm just his old lonely secretary whom he left tons of work for." the older woman said as she stuck out her hand. "My name is Mai Yazuki."

Sakura took her hand and forced a smile. "I'm Sakura Haruno. Nice to meet you. This is my younger brother, Li." Sakura nodded toward her brother whom smile graciously and picked up Mai's hand before placing a kiss on the it. Mai laughed heartily.

"A charmer, I see." Mai commented easily when Li gave her a grin.

"Can't say the same about his sister, though." Sasuke mumbled. Sakura caught it and gave him a dirty glare.

"I didn't know you're in Japan?" Sasuke remarked when he signaled to the waiter to bring another two extra chair. Li took the seat easily enough while Sakura sat on the edge. She looked ready to bolt toward the exit any minute.

"Just came back from the state to visit my sister." Li said.

"I see. How's your father?" Sasuke asked Li, his eyes accessing the younger boy and then slid to Sakura who didn't point her glare anywhere else. He hid his smile. She looked like she's ready to chew him out any second now. He caught Mai's gaze and she winked at him.

"Same as always. Doing better though." Li replied.

"I'm glad to hear that."

"I hate to cut this...lovely conversation, but we have to be on our way."Sakura said with a smile. Li nodded and he got up along with his sister.

"Of course. I apologized for keeping you here." Sasuke replied. "I'll be moving to the new office soon, so we can have more...lovely conversation often."

Sakura smiled as her eyes narrowed more. "I'll bet. It was nice meeting you, Yazuki-san."

"Nonsense. Call me Mai." Mai said with a wave of her hand.

"Alright." Sakura said.

Sasuke and Li shook hand along with some more words. Sasuke reached out and captured Sakura's hand and placed a tender kiss on the soft skin. Shock waves rolled off her and she snatched her hand back just as fast.

"I'll be seeing you soon." Sasuke whispered softly so that she was the only one who could hear him.

Sakura walked out muttering under her breath something suspiciously close to 'Arrogant, self-centered jerk.'

Sasuke laughed and Sakura doubled her pace with her brother trailing behind her.

Mai watched the whole exchanged with calculating eyes. She hide her smile when she saw the content expression on her employer's face.

'Maybe, there's something there after all.'


A/N::Hope you like this chapter. As I said, this story will move very slowly because I want to have time developing each character into a real life person along with the plot line. Hopefully, this fic wil lturn out great in the end.

80 reviews for one chapter. I loooove you guys so much.