Hi guys. I know I said in the previous chapter I was going AWOL for sometime, but luckily I have a short vac and I was able to write something. this was actually supposed to be part of the previous chapter but that would have been too long...and my fingers were tired from typing. after the awesome reviews from you guys, I don't how I would have been able to sit down watching movies instead of updating. you guys are so awesome I just don't know what to say. Thanks so so much for reading and supporting this story. you guys are what keep the story moving. so if you don't hear from me for a while after this, then either I am working on my other stories or back to school. This chapter is not as emotionally involved as the previous ones, so it might seem kinda bland for those looking for that factor. I hope you still like it, and if anything is on your mind, please let me know through your review. A big Thank you to my terrific reviewers: DAngel7, Milkshakecat200(sorry for the insomnia, lol), FallenHime(I love long reviews no need to apologize. Don't believe me, ask Divinity-fan.), sngsngsnyrslp, misao97(you made me go back to the story to laugh at that part, hehe.), Rachael886, Luvhinata(so glad you liked the long chappie. This one ain't long though), Orisweatshirt, Divinity-fan( thanks so much for the corrections, they are so true. And thanks for the long and lovely review. I always look forward to it.), kandita, Try To Hard Ninja and jprefe(I couldn't stop blushing when I read you actually google Yoshino to find out if she was a character from another anime. Fortunately or unfortunately she is not. Yoshino is an OC and I am one proud mama.) Thank you followers, favourite-ers and all readers! Ciao!
Previously…..
Before him was about the most impressive ass Sasuke had ever seen. And Sasuke had seen a great number of fine ass. But this one tops them all. Even Yoshino would be jealous.
This was more accentuated with her bent over a bit to bring out its fullness and beauty.
And to match such a masterpiece was an equally impressive curvaceous figure from what he could see from behind, clad in a v neck form fitting black office dress with a brown belt secured around her tiny waist. She had long luscious beautiful long hair in an interesting shade of indigo spilling over her shoulders and her back to her tiny waist, which flare into broad round womanly hips and not forgetting her delectable behind held tightly in her dress which ended a few inches above her knee to reveal long creamy legs.
Sasuke had to exert great effort not to salivate like a dog there and then before the board.
He was definitely taking this girl's number. He didn't know the Hyuga had a bombshell working here. He would have already helped his father to speed up the take over long ago. He just couldn't wait for her to turn so he could ascertain she was truly a ten.
As if to answer his prayers, the angel did him the favour of turning and Sasuke found himself jumping in elation, in his head of course, when his hungry eyes finally met her more than generous chest.
She was a twelve out of ten.
Sasuke was definitely going to have this girl.
To finally seal the deal, he tore his eyes from her chest to her face and just at that moment Sasuke could feel his face fall off and all that hot air in his head deflate with the speed of light.
…..
Hinata's heart begun to pound rapidly when she heard the door open indicating…
Itachi was back.
She couldn't turn to look at him that instant as the sudden fear gripped her as she felt his presence behind her. She was at that moment lost and didn't know what to do at the moment.
But then the hopeful looks of the employees and their loyalty and confidence in her set her straight to steel herself to face him. With determination and resolve, she spun around to face him only to be knocked out in shock at the unexpected sight before her.
It wasn't Itachi that came here. It wasn't Itachi before her. He could pass as his slightly younger self but definitely not him.
It was instead his younger brother, Sasuke.
Sasuke Uchiha.
And if looks couldn't do the trick to tell it wasn't Itachi, the fact that this guy was blatantly staring at her chest with no intention of subtleness of this manner of perversion gave away the truth.
This was definitely not Itachi. Itachi has way more class than this.
And in that instant Hinata was more repulsed than disappointed.
…..
He couldn't believe this. He couldn't believe the ridiculousness of the situation. Someone was playing a cruel joke on him.
Upon all the many women in the world, how could this happen. How could all these heavenly assets be wasted on….
How could she be…
A HYUGA!
Chapter 6: The Devil wears Armani
A Hyuga.
The masterpiece of an ass he was entranced by belonged to…
A Hyuga.
The woman…..the first woman he gave a twelve out of ten without even seeing her face was…
A Hyuga.
The woman who gave him this painful blue balls infront of all these board members was no one other than…..
Sasuke wanted to put his head in a toilet and flush it.
Upon everything he was thankful he had his hands in his pockets to hide it, but those eyes, those absolutely awful, mood killing, cock blocking Hyuga white eyes of hers had made hiding his little (big) problem now, unnecessary.
Her face looked familiar. Well it could be so because in Sasuke's mind all the Hyugas had faces made of rocks, with the same freakish empty white eyes, which made one Hyuga look like the next.
But her body didn't look familiar. And to think such a divine thing could belong to a Hyuga.
It was such a waste that it pissed him.
So bad.
But what pissed him off the most was the fact that a few seconds ago, he had already played out how he was going to take her number, go on a date or two with her which all ended with her in his bed.
Without clothes.
Yes. Sasuke Uchiha, one of the two heirs to the Uchiha dynasty, had fantasized about bedding a Hyuga.
Sasuke couldn't help but think of Itachi's eyes gleaming with mockery as he had a ball from his misery.
And all it took was a look into those despicable white eyes, for Sasuke's fantasy world to come crushing at his feet. Loudly.
He was beyond pissed and the scowl on his hardened face was there to prove that fact.
"Who are you?" the suddenness and sharpness of his voice made Hinata almost jump.
But she took in a breath to compose herself to hold his burning gaze.
"Hyuga Hinata, vice president and heiress of The Hyuga Conglomerate." She announced with her head lifted high, making Sasuke deepen his scowl at her.
So he, Sasuke Uchiha one of the two heirs of the Uchiha dynasty had fantasized about bedding the heiress of the Hyuga Conglomerate.
It would have made one classic plot for a romantic melodrama that Itachi would do spend a fortune to have front row seats to watch it, with popcorn and soda. Sasuke couldn't help but think.
Hinata didn't like the way he looked at her chest.
She didn't like the way he looking at her face right now.
She didn't like the way he was blatantly scowl at her. And for some reason it unsettled her how he asked her who she was like she was a no body.
Hinata didn't like to write people off before she got to know them, but eventhough he looked like Itachi an awful lot, she didn't like this guy's attitude and she didn't want anything to do with him. But she couldn't help but want to have a little revenge of her own when she opened her mouth to also ask:
"And who are you supposed to be?" eventhough she knew perfectly well who he was. Itachi had mentioned him a couple of times.
She didn't know why but she enjoyed seeing how her question made his jaw tighten and the heat in his glare increase.
Hinata wasn't sure there was an instance she enjoyed purposefully provoking anyone since it was her nature to always compromise for the sake of peace in most situations, even when she was right.
But then Hinata was taking aback with a sadistic smirk that stretched his lips slightly, his eyes going a few shades darker.
"I am the one going to take all those titles from you, Hyuga."
Hinata could just stand there wide eyed and speechless.
She didn't expect him to be this blunt. She didn't expect him to be so bold to say out loud his not so warm but malicious intentions towards her infront of all the board members present.
She knew they were both from enemy clans and they had every right to hate each other, but this was the first time they had actually met and talked and she didn't expect him to be so rude, so ruthless and shamelessly unsubtle about it.
Just then, there was a knock followed by Hiashi's former PA, Saruhi Akamine entering and carrying a number of files with her. She was a middle aged woman, with short curly dark locks, dark brown eyes behind glasses and dressed impeccably in sharply ironed wine ladies officesuit with matching skirt, finishing the look off with a pair of black kitten heels.
She came to a halt when her eyes fell on the Hyuga heiress, her eyes filled with relief and happiness at seeing her here, well and ready to fight for her company. Saruhi gave Hinata a small bow to greet her.
"Welcome Hinata san. It's good to see you again"
Hinata also returned the gesture.
"It's good to see you, too Akamine san." Hinata straightened herself to give the woman a warm smile. Sasuke couldn't help but be surprised a Hyuga was able to pull off a smile and a warm smile more or less.
She is one strange Hyuga. Sasuke decided.
He turned to the woman who seemed to have forgotten his presence with an annoyed look.
"You sure took your time, Akamine."
Saruhi stiffened at his voice. She schooled her face into a neutral look as she turned to address him without eye contact.
"My printer broke and so I had to find another one." She explained herself without apology.
"Hn." Sasuke could care less. "Distribute them."
Saruhi's face cringed at his order and her body refused to move it.
Sasuke turned to see the woman still standing there unmoving. His eye begun to twitch.
"Did you not hear me? Distribute. The. Files." Sasuke ordered, this time his voice impatient and in a deadly tone.
Saruhi bit her lip in dread but did not move from where she stood.
Hinata was upset at how Sasuke was talking to Saruhi.
It made her realise he wasn't just rude to her, but he seemed to be rude to everyone.
Saruhi Akamine had been by her father's side for many years as his PA and Hinata took her as her somewhat aunt. She knew everything about the Hyugas and Hinata and her father also knew about how almost all her salary went into paying hospital bills for her ill son. But she was loyal, painfully so to her father, and that was why she stood in distress not heeding to Sasuke's order.
Hinata was still trying to get into the bottom of this mess and didn't want to entangle anyone especially someone who had nothing to do with this family feud.
Saruhi was crumbling under Sasuke impatient and heated glare but still remained unmoving, she lifted her eyes to Hinata's and Hinata could see she wanted to know if it was alright to take the order.
Saruhi didn't deserve this. She didn't deserve to be treated this way by Sasuke.
But Saruhi couldn't afford to lose this job. Her son's life depended on it.
Hinata gave her a slight nod to heed the order, so as to make the little interaction go undetected by Sasuke. Saruhi stood a moment longer as if to ask Hinata if she was sure of her decision but went ahead to distribute the files to the board members.
But Sasuke's sharp eyes had caught the exchange, and it angered him.
Is she trying to prove she had more authority here than me?
He was going to show her who was in charge here.
"Ladies and gentlemen, if you open your files, you would see a document requiring your signatures to show that you have witness the takeover and that you are now part of this extension of the Uchiha dynasty. You can take your time to go through for anything you might not agree with, but I am taking your signatures, today." Sasuke announced to the board before turning to smirk at Hinata's startled face.
Hinata now understood Saruhi's hesitation earlier. She had seen already seen it.
Hinata turned to the board members and felt her heart drop at seeing some of them signing the papers already.
"What are you doing?" Hinata almost gasped, unable to believe what is going on before her.
One member sighed before turning to speak to her.
"My dear, you must understand from the number that stayed behind how it's important for our shares to be in a good place. There is no place for emotions in the world of business."
Hinata couldn't believe what she was hearing. The only thing she could made sense of from all the man said was the realisation of the members being absent not being in favour of the take over. Eventhough a good number was absent, those who stayed behind outnumbered them.
She cast her eyes down in disappointment, remembering how her own family threw her away because of money.
"So what you are saying is your loyalty can easily be bought." Hinata said in a quiet voice, as if talking to herself, and the board members found themselves unable to look into her eyes from shame.
Hinata stood there still, with her eyes strained at one spot on the table, seemingly in deep thought before she seemed to wake up from it suddenly, to regard the board members with a blank look on her face but with some iciness to her eyes.
"I would see you when I take back my company." With words served on ice, she turned away and without even sparing Sasuke a glance, she walked past him to exit the room.
Sasuke blinked for moment not able to believe what had just happened.
Did she just…..ignore me?
He grounded his teeth in rage.
How dare she….
He remembered how she walked past him as if he didn't exist.
Sasuke clenched his fist.
He remembered her words before she left.
"I would see you when I come back for my company."
How dare she act so arrogant towards me? How dare she ignore me? How dare she act like I do not exist?
One thing Sasuke hated was being ignored.
No one ignored him. No one ignored Sasuke Uchiha. And he was going to make that point clear to her.
…
"Hinata-sama." Ko called up to the heiress as soon she walked out of the conference. He had been outside waiting for her when he came with Saruhi but close enough to hear what happened inside. He knew it was Sasuke who came instead of Itachi and he wanted to go inside to face him settle things from their confrontation the day before, but he remained outside smiling proudly at how Hinata handled Sasuke.
Now she met him with a serious face.
"You heard?" She asked and he nodded.
"I need to talk to the rest of the employees. I need to make them understand something." She declared.
"They are already gathered in one of the meeting rooms downstairs, awaiting news of the board meeting." Ko announced to her. Hinata's ears perked up at this.
"That's good. Then lets not make them wait any longer."
…
"How was your little vacation, Itachi?" Fugaku asked the young man sitting across him in his office with his eyes fixated outside the huge window.
"I was under the impression I was here for an important meeting." Itachi pointed out in a bored tone without tearing his eyes from the window.
"We still don't have everyone here for this important meeting to commence." Fugaku said with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Itachi sighed inaudibly.
"It didn't seem like Sasuke was done when you were with him on the phone earlier." Itachi said allowing impatience to seep through his voice.
Fugaku let the mischief grow livelier in his dark orbs.
"We don't need Sasuke for this meeting. We are actually waiting for, one Hyuga Hinata. Did I get her name right, Itachi?"
Itachi immediately detached his eyes from the window to his father's mocking face, but his eyes telling him he was being serious about Hinata coming over.
"And what is the purpose of her coming?" he asked holding his father's eyes with his piercing ones.
"You seemed to have forgotten all we discussed the day you came over to the mansion. She is just coming over to finalize things."
Itachi continued to stare at his father's face as if to be absolutely sure his father was speaking the truth before he turned to face the window again.
"I see."
"We are yet to call her to come and we need your services for-"
"I am not calling her." Itachi cut in sharply not sparing his father a glance.
"I don't need you to call her. I just need her number." Fugaku said in feigned innocence.
Itachi turned to cock an eye brow at his father.
"I could have gotten it behind you, but just decided to take it directly from you…..let say for the little….very, very little respect I had for what you both had." Fugaku added.
Itachi couldn't help but allow a deep chuckle escape his lips at his father's incredulousness.
"Don't disappoint me, dad. I thought you were a better liar than this. You can tell Koga to call her already. I know you already have her number by now."
A sly smirk appeared on Fugaku's lips.
"Ah you know me too well son. Should I be worried?"
"Unless you have a reason to." Itachi threw back giving his father a challenging look.
Fugaku held his son's gaze steadily as he pressed a button on his receiver.
"Koga, you can call her now."
…..
Hinata stood before the employees, watching their faces fall at the news she just gave them, with a heavy heart.
"So this means we are going to lose our jobs." One young lady said with a look of distress on her face.
"No, this is just a change of management, I don't think it would require you losing your jobs, that is if you don't provoke it." Hinata explained.
"But we were employed by and worked for the Hyugas. We can't just switch over to work for the enemy, Hyuga san." One man said with nods of agreement from the rest of the employees.
Hinata smiled gratefully at them.
"I really appreciate your great loyalty to us, but please don't lose your jobs over a feud between two families. I won't be able to live with myself knowing you lost your livelihood because of something that is not your fault. Please bear with the new management and have patience with this temporary situation because I would surely come back to claim back this comp-"
Before she could finish what she was saying, she was pulled roughly from behind by the arm to meet Sasuke's burning coals bore into her eyes. She could only stare at him with her eyes as wide as saucers from the shock of seeing how furious he was. She could practically feel the heat of his anger emanate from every fibre of his being and burn her skin. It scared her.
"Who the hell do you think you are going round my company and demeaning my authority like I don't exist, huh Hyuga?" He seethed through gritted teeth as he painfully increased his hold on Hinata's hand making her flinch.
Out of nowhere Sasuke was also grabbed roughly by the arm to meet the furious eyes of Ko.
"Let go of her, whelp."
Sasuke could feel his anger shoot to the roof at the sight of Ko.
"You owe me a punch from yesterday. Don't make me add a second one. You wouldn't be able handle it. Let go of me this instant." Sasuke warned in a tightly controlled voice.
"You owe me a beating from yesterday. Let go off my mistress first."
"I don't negotiate with peasants." Sasuke bit back.
"Nor do I negotiate with brats." Ko countered.
Sasuke increased the grip on Hinata's hand surely bruising her soft skin and pulled her hard towards him, making Hinata gasp. Some of the employees stood up at this, seeing things were getting heated up.
Ko ground his teeth at Sasuke manhandling Hinata.
"Don't make me break your face in front of all these people."
Sasuke smirked darkly at this.
"I dare you to."
It became a war of testosterone as the two men glared at each other to see who would crack first before their audience.
Hinata had to stop this. She saw how Ko was trying to contain himself and not attack Sasuke because of her eventhough he was provoking him to. She knew it wasn't going to be long before his patience run out. She had to stop this before it came to that.
As her last resort to stop an ensuing fight, she brought her index and middle fingers of her free hand and swiftly jabbed a pressure point around Sasuke's wrist instantly making Sasuke let go of her hand without his control. Sasuke jolted from the sharp contact to his arm and whipped his head to see Hinata free from his hold without him ordering his hand to.
He soon realised he couldn't control hand properly from the jab.
He narrowed his eyes dangerously at the heiress.
"What did you?" Sasuke growled at her.
"It's the Hyuga body arts. For a member of an inferior clan as yourself, there would be no need to explain such distinguished arts of the Hyugas to you. You don't have the capacity to comprehend it. All that you need to know is your hand might not work properly for maximum 30 minutes and that's only because Hinata sama was merciful."
Ko explained as he dropped Sasuke's arm unceremoniously before standing before Hinata protectively.
"If you want to keep at least one arm working within that period of time, don't try anything funny, Uchiha." Ko warned.
Sasuke couldn't believe the ridiculousness of the situation. His eyes kept on burning into Hinata's with pure rage. His eyes told her of the many excruciatingly painful ways he was going to make her pay for what she had done to him infront of all these people, each one more painful than the next, and he wasn't being subtle about it at all.
Hinata was now genuinely scared. The raw killer intent oozing his glare elicited goosebumps all over her body to prove that. No one had ever looked at her in that way before. It was too much for her.
She quickly turned to the employees to wish them good bye.
"Take care of yourselves."
She turned to Ko and tugged at his arm, whispering to him.
"Lets go please." Ko could feel her uneasiness under Sasuke glare.
Throwing one last nasty look at the Uchiha who still had his vengeful eyes trained on his mistress, he led her by the small of her back to exit the room.
Sasuke never took his eyes off Hinata or the spot he saw her leave through.
He hated Hyugas. But what he felt for Hinata went beyond that.
She made him hate himself for ever being entranced by her body.
He hated Hyugas.
But he hated Hinata Hyuga with a passion.
It burnt through ever fibre and core of his body and took completely hold of his mind and body. And all he think of was his dying thirst for revenge.
….
Hinata let a breath she was holding escape her lips as soon as she was guided safely into the car. Ko joined her and quickly turned to her in concern.
"Hinata sama is everything ok?"
Hinata shut her eyes tightly as Sasuke hate filled eyes flashed through her mind.
It terrified her.
"Did you see how he stared at me?" There was a shakiness to her voice as she asked her question.
Ko sighed at this.
"Are you feeling guilty, Hinata sama?"
"I think I might have hurt him." Hinata said with guilt.
"Don't feel guilty, Hinata sama. I was actually very proud of you to today." Ko confessed and Hinata snapped her eyes open at this.
"Really? I just practically conceded defeat in there."
Ko shook his head with a smile on his face.
"No you didn't, Hinata sama. You were awesome in there. The way you handled yourself in a dignified way and declared that you would be back for your company and most of all how you handled the Uchiha was just impressive. You actually saved him from a beating from me, you know."
Hinata giggled and blushed furiously at Ko's words.
She grabbed Ko's hand and gave him a look of gratitude.
"It's all thanks to you, Ko. I wouldn't have come this far without you giving me a good shaking."
Ko winced at the memory of his bitter words at Hinata the day before, the burn of embarrassment still fresh.
She squeezed his hand reassuringly.
"I'm glad you that, Ko. I needed it." She said in a soft soothing voice which made a smile stretch Ko's lips again.
At that moment, Hinata's phone begun to ring.
She picked up the phone to look at the unknown number displayed on her screen with confusion before she answered.
"Hello."
"Is this Hinata Hyuga I am speaking to?" the caller, an unfamiliar male voice asked.
"Yes, and who am I speaking to please?"
"This is Koga, Uchiha Fugaku Sama's right hand man. I am to inform you that you are needed at the Uchiha building for an important meeting."
Hinata froze at that moment making Ko give her a questioning look.
Uchiha Fugaku wants to see me? But why?
"…..And what is this meeting supposed to be about?" Hinata inquired with uncertainness in her voice.
"I am sorry Hyuga san, but the only information I am to divulge to you is that it would be in your utmost best interest to come. Good day, Miss." The phone then went dead.
Hinata furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.
What kind of game was Fugaku Uchiha trying to play here? He sends his son to finalize the take over and now wants me to come over to him. What is he planning?
"Hinata sama, whats the matter?" Ko asked in response to the strange look on Hinata's face.
"Fugaku Uchiha…..he wants to see me."
Ko also furrowed his eyebrows.
"But why?"
"I don't know… The only way to find out is to go." Hinata answered.
Ko gave her a look.
"Are you sure?" he asked uncertainty in his voice.
She nodded.
"Yes. I can't keep running away from my problems." She answered clearing Ko doubts, delighted at this new side of his mistress.
"Ok let's go find out what he wants then." Ko turned to start the car, to put his words to action.
…..
"Come in, Koga." Fugaku invited the said man after he knocked.
Koga entered and walked to Fugaku's side of the table with files in his hand.
"Here is what you asked for Fugaku sama." Koga said handing the files to Fugaku.
"Aa thank you Koga." Fugaku said accepting the files and tossing one infront of Itachi.
Itachi just rose an eyebrow at this.
"Well, open it." Fugaku motioned for him to do so for emphasis.
Itachi just picked it up and opened it, and at that moment, he felt like rubbing his temples.
The file contained pictures and profiles of ladies from prominent families. To be exact candidates for the position of Mrs. Itachi Uchiha.
"I didn't know you were into organizing beauty pageants." Itachi said monotonously still looking through the file contents disinterestedly. "New hobby?" Itachi made no effort to hide the sarcasm in his voice.
Fugaku just looked at him in silence.
"Koga, please leave us." Fugaku ordered not moving his hard stare from a nonchalant Itachi.
Koga hesitated, not please by how he was being left out of whatever they were to talk about again, but just nodded and made his departure in silence.
"I'm glad you find your dates beautiful. All that's left is for you to meet them and choose one of them to be your bride."
Itachi unceremoniously dropped the file on the table and gave his father a hard cold stare.
"I'm doing no such thing."
Fugaku gave a dry chuckle at this.
"You talk like you have a choice in this matter, son."
"You talk like you didn't hear me when I said I decide who I am going to marry and the conditions under which I'm going to do so."
And then it was Fugaku's turn to fix Itachi with a hard stare of his own.
"With your deplorable taste in women? No. not when you have proven to be capable of dragging anything on the streets into your bed." Fugaku shot at his son, making Itachi's face harden into a frightening look.
"I would have to ask you to watch your words for your own good, father. I cannot promise you I would remain calm the next time you repeat them." Itachi's aura was lethal and his voice the sound of death.
"Don't you dare threaten, boy." Fugaku hissed back, clearly losing his patience with his son.
The two Uchiha men glared at each other with such intensity that could start a fire.
They remained like this for a while before Fugaku's office phone rang. Without breaking his stare Fugaku pressed a button to receive the call.
"Yes."
"Fugaku sama, Miss Hinata Hyuga is in." Koga's voice erupted from the phone.
There was a waver in Itachi's glare for a second.
Fugaku mocked him with a smirk.
"Escort her in, Koga." Fugaku replied before cutting the line, with his smirk still in place.
"Oh, should I have waited to ask you if it was okay for her to come?" Fugaku asked in mocked innocence which only earn him icy cold silence from Itachi.
There was a knock on the door and upon Fugaku's invitation, the door was opened and Koga emerged who made way for the Hyuga heiress to step in.
She stopped as soon as her eyes fell on the back of the familiar raven head with his hair almost always in a neat ponytail, with the protocol wild beating of her heart.
Itachi
He hadn't even turned to acknowledge her presence. It made her remember his cold demeanour and cruel words to her when he broke things off with her and when she went to his apartment to talk to him. She felt her heart constrict and her composure shake at the memory.
"Hyuga san." Hinata snapped from her thoughts at the sound of Koga calling her. She looked up the man who had a hand extended towards the seated men to beckon her closer.
She nodded and walked closer and that was when her eyes met Fugaku Uchiha's emotionless stony face, but his eyes were affixed to her with a strange look in them. It unsettled her but she didn't show it.
She gave him a small bow.
"Good morning, Uchiha san." She greeted in a crisp polite tone.
Fugaku cleared his throat and nodded in response.
"Have a seat." It almost sounded like an order.
The said seat was next to Itachi.
A lump formed in her throat at this realisation.
Koga moved the chair back for her, and Hinata slowly and stiffly took her seat, giving him a nod of gratitude.
Her posture was stiff and unrelaxed being next to Itachi like this. She didn't dare to turn her head at him.
If I pretend he is not here, I would be fine.
Fugaku didn't want her to be fine.
"It doesn't seem like you have formally met my son, Itachi here. You both went to the same college, but it seems you two have not made acquaintance, counting the funeral out." Fugaku motioned to her side as if to remind her there was a living breathing creature right beside her.
The lump in Hinata throat grew bigger and painful. She pretending Itachi was sitting right beside her wasn't going to work. It would make Fugaku suspect something between she and Itachi which she was trying her best to avoid that at all cost.
She tried swallowing the lump in her throat.
"We have met, but briefly." She said.
Bare faced liar. Fugaku spat in his head.
"Oh, then let me introduce you to him properly. This is my eldest son Uchiha Itachi, the Chief Operating Officer and senior vice president of the Uchiha group and first heir to the Uchiha dynasty." The pride in Fugaku's voice could hit you in the face and cause you to bleed.
At this point Hinata was expected to turn and acknowledge Itachi's presence, and if necessary (very much so to Fugaku), look impressed.
Hinata preferred to be forced to eat seafood instead.
Her whole body became heavy like lead, and her raging heart seemed to want to break her rib cage. She gingerly turned her head with a tight smile on her lips to finally face the man by her side. She avoided his eyes at all cost and let her eyes fall somewhere on his shoulder.
"Its nice meeting you again…Uchiha san." She managed to say in a quiet voice.
Fugaku was having a ball at Hinata's immense discomfort and uneasiness. She looked like she would crack from the tension and anxiety.
"Likewise Hyuga-san. How have you been?" Itachi asked in a polite and pleasant tone, surprising both Hinata and Fugaku. He could feel his father's heated gaze on him which made him smirk inwardly.
Hinata almost snapped her eyes to his face in shock but caught herself before doing so.
Was he trying to be funny? After the mess he left me in after he heartlessly broke up with me and his hurtful words at his apartment, he still asks me how I have been? And in that tone like nothing has happened?
Was he toying with me?
Hinata felt her blood heat up at this. She dared to lift her eyes to his for him to see the anger brewing inside them.
"I could be better." There was accusation in her eyes, all directed towards Itachi. Itachi remained silent and took it all in.
Hinata let her eyes linger for needed effect before she moved them to Fugaku's unamused face.
"Uchiha san, I was made to understand you had something to tell me." Hinata more of asked than stated.
"Yes, but I wasn't sure you were done introducing yourself to my son. It was only polite to wait." Fugaku cleverly wove the sarcasm through his harmlessly sounding words.
"O-Oh I see." Hinata replied awkwardly like she was caught stealing cookie from the jar.
Itachi narrowed his eyes at his father.
Fugaku satisfied, now took upon a business attitude.
"Hyuga Hinata, what are you willing to do to regain your father's assets?"
Fugaku's question took Hinata by a great surprise.
She blinked at him, not knowing what to make of his out of the blue question.
Was this some kind of a trick? What was he trying to achieve from asking me this question? Why sending one of his sons to finalize the takeover of Hyuga towers and then ask me this question?
With no response from Hinata, Fugaku was beginning to get impatient.
"Well?" He pressed.
I have to see where he is getting with this.
"Anything." Hinata answered determinedly.
Fugaku rose an eye brow at this.
"Anything?"
"Anything, Uchiha san." Hinata repeated herself firmly to clear any doubts. She held Fugaku's eyes to show her determination but for some reason, he broke the gaze to look somewhere else, confusing Hinata a bit.
He cleared his throat and sat back in his seat.
He turned to Koga to give him a meaningful nod, which he responded to it by handing over a file to Hinata.
"Inside the file is a contract, which states you would work for us here, no matter what work that is for 6 months, and in exchange you would be given half of your father's entire assets." Fugaku announced to Hinata, as she confirmed what he had just said from reading the contents of the file.
When Hinata was done reading the file, she was not impressed.
"When I said anything, I meant for everything, not half, Uchiha san." Hinata's voice was unrelenting.
Fugaku chuckled at this.
"You talk like you have any better options on your plate. It is half or nothing. Take it or leave it." Fugaku stated coldly.
Hinata stared at the man for some time before speaking.
"Is this how you got my father to sign those papers? Offer him something he couldn't refuse in exchange for his assets which at the end cost his life?"
Hinata's direct question hit a nerve and hit it real hard for Fugaku. Fugaku's face became hard and cold and his eyes blazed with anger.
"Your father only died because he had a weak heart." Fugaku jabbed cruelly which made something snap in Hinata.
"Uchiha san, I ask you to take back what you just said." Hinata's aura was that of cold fury.
"I never take back something I mean." Fugaku's obstinance was at its all-time high.
"So you claim he had a weak heart and that didn't stop you from cornering him and snatching everything from him. Is that no cowardice, Uchiha-san?" Hinata sniped back, barely able to calm her anger.
Fugaku had had enough. He wasn't going to put up with Hinata and her offensive remarks anymore. He was going to put her in her place once and for all. But before he could put that into action….
"Hyuga san." Both Hinata and Fugaku halted at Itachi's calling Hinata out of the blue..
They both turned to see him look at Hinata with what seemed like politeness but it was patronizing.
"Please calm down." He said calmly like he were talking to a child making Hinata's face flush with embarrassment.
"There is no need to get worked up like this when I made it clear to you before that your father had no option but sign those papers. Do you need me to go through the details with you again, Hyuga san?" his voice was gentle and patient, like one would do when trying to make sense to a child.
Hinata hated it.
He was patronizing her.
She grabbed unto the arm rest of her chair hard, trying to calm herself.
At least the cold and hurtful Itachi didn't treat her like a child.
She could tolerate him being harsh to her, but she couldn't stand this side of him.
"Saying a lie twice doesn't make it the truth, Uchiha san." Hinata replied in a tight voice.
"Oh, a lie? If so may I ask Hyuga san, after so many days after your father's death, what have you done to prove your claim that your father actually signing those papers of his own volition, was a lie?" Itachi quizzed allowing his eyes to pierce into Hinata's
She thought of the autopsy report and going to see the doctor this morning but that didn't prove anything. All she did after her father's death apart from mourning her father, was mourn and desperately try to fix the broken pieces of what was left of she and Itachi's relationship.
Itachi knew this very well. Too well.
And was punishing her with it.
And he made her know this fact with the triumphant gleam in his eyes telling her he had her where he wanted.
She was cornered and shamefully so.
Her face flared furiously with embarrassment and she couldn't keep eye contact with him as those eyes mocked every second she spent mulling over him instead of getting to the bottom of the circumstances surrounding her father's death.
To have him use this against her, made the irony of this situation painfully unbearable.
Hinata bit her lower lip hard.
He threw her under the bus and run her head over with it
"From your silence, we can safely assume you did nothing." Itachi concluded coolly
Hinata had to put great effort to stop herself from cringing visibly when he poured a whole bucket of salt on the injury with his words.
"So are we also safe to assume you are ready to sign the contract, Hyuga san?" Fugaku not wasting the window of opportunity Itachi had provided, also joined in their new found sport of cornering Hinata until she breaks.
So this is how it happened…..this is what they did to you, daddy?
Hinata's face stung with unshed tears at how helpless her father must have felt from being in his shoes at the moment.
She didn't know how things exactly played out, but from the away they had her against the wall, she was less surprised they managed to make her father sign those papers.
And to think that Itachi….
She shut her eyes to hold the tears.
She was now less surprised her father had a heart attack, as from the way her heart constricted painfully as it beat rapidly, she could only imagine what he went through with his ailing heart.
Daddy…..what do I do?
And out of nowhere she was hit by an epiphany.
This is where it happened. This is where it all happened.
Did daddy really sign those papers?
What made him sign those papers?
Did he really just die from a heart attack as the autopsy said?
Was Itachi actually involved in making her father sign those papers?
All the answers to those questions she had been asking herself over and over again…could be found here.
This means she could find a way to prove her father was somehow conned into signing those papers and recover everything back.
She would do anything to get everything and restore her father's honour.
That meant she would even agree to work for them for six months for half of her father's assets.
Working here would get her closer to the truth.
The truth would get her all of her father's possessions.
The fire of hope burst through Hinata again renewing her strength and determination.
She opened her eyes, took the contract to look through over and over again to make sure there were no bobby traps in it.
The three men in the room looked at Hinata like she had lost her mind. A second ago she looked like she was going to break down in tears before them. Now she….
She turned to Itachi with a confident smile in place and her eyes burning with determination and hope, holding his eyes challengingly.
She was going to find out, what was making him act strangely towards her, prove he had nothing to do with her father signing those papers like he wants her to believe and the reason why he wants her to do so.
"Where do I sign, Uchiha san?" Her voice was polite, and teasingly so.
She knew where to sign. She wanted him to amuse her. As payback.
The strange look that flashed in his eyes made her smile broaden.
He just blinked at her and pointed out where she had to sign.
"Do you have a pen I can borrow please?" she asked with her smile still in place.
Itachi wordlessly reached for a pen in his pocket and then he froze when he brought it out. Hinata's eyes widen in shock.
It was a beautiful handmade silver Alexander Kalifano fountain pen.
It came with a silver watch and card holder, Hinata gifted to him on one of his birthdays.
Hinata's smile was gradually turning into a grin.
So you claim to have no feelings for me and break up with me, but still carry my pen around with you in your pocket… is it safe to assume…
Hinata had to stop a grin from splitting her face into two at this and the priceless sight of Itachi, motionless with the pen in mid air, his eyes taking a stormy look.
How quickly the tables turned.
But she almost couldn't contain her happiness, because in her eyes this was enough prove for her that wasn't speaking the truth when he said he never had feelings for her.
She wanted to squeal.
"Oh you don't have to give it to me if you don't want to. It seems to be of sentimental value to you." Hinata couldn't help herself but take this opportunity to rub it in Itachi's face. It was too much fun.
Koga who was oblivious to what was happening and thought he was actually helping his boss get the Hyuga to sign those papers, fished out a less expensive and suitable pen to sign. And Hinata thanked him with a smile.
"It is indeed a beautiful pen. It must have come from a very thoughtful person with sophisticated taste" Koga provided innocently thinking it was from Fugaku. Itachi almost couldn't help himself from stabbing the man with a glare. He instead slowly dropped the pen into his pocket and fell into a deathly silence.
Hinata smiled at Koga, her pale cheeks dusted pink.
"The person must really cherish him a lot." Hinata said meaningfully, her smile turning wistful.
"The young master must also cherish this person a lot to carry it around with him." Koga added eagerly.
Hinata cheeks burnt with colour at this, with a bashful smile on her lips as she proceeded to sign the papers.
Itachi wanted to stab Koga's throat with the pen. Fugaku wanted throw him out from the window, with his heavy expensive desk tied around his neck.
Fugaku had caught on pretty fast to know the pen was from Hinata. He kept on shooting daggers at Itachi with his glare and he absolutely wanted to wipe the sheepish look he could see from his peripheral view on Hinata's face.
His tongue became bitter and heavy with accumulated venom begging to be unleashed.
How dare she show such a face infront of me?
Hinata finished and picked the file to hand it over to Fugaku. That is when she saw his eyes fixated sternly on Itachi, who completely ignored him. This confused Hinata. Koga took the file instead.
"Is there anything else Uchiha san?"
Fugaku moved his stern eyes to Hinata with a frightening blaze in them.
"You begin work tomorrow at 8. Be punctual. That would be all." He said curtly.
Hinata was surprised she was beginning work so soon and it was tomorrow.
"I look forward to working with you then, Uchiha san." She said masking her surprise.
Fugaku's eyes darkened.
"And one thing, Hyuga san. Make sure you don't get fired." He warned, his voice low and deadly.
Hinata blinked at him before standing to her feet.
"Good day, sir." She bid farewell, calling him sir this time to show him she was more than ready for the job and whatever they threw at her.
She turned her head slightly to the side towards Itachi to say good bye.
"Uchiha san."
"Hyuga san." He replied without looking at her.
Hinata smiled at this and turned leave.
"Koga, escort Hyuga san out." Fugaku ordered, his eyes back to Itachi.
"Yes, Fugaku sama." He gave a small bow and moved to lead the way out for Hinata.
Fugaku waited for them to be alone to speak.
"You still carry the pen she gave you around with you." Fugaku's tone was deadly.
"I don't owe you an explanation." Itachi bit back clearly not in the mood to talk.
"There is no need. Especially when you made it painfully obvious to the whole world you don't have feelings for the Hyuga. You almost fooled me there." The sarcasm screamed in every word Fugaku uttered.
"Is there another meeting we need to wait for someone else for?" Itachi asked completely ignoring Fugaku's statement earlier.
"You never fail to disappoint me when it comes to this girl. As if being Hyuga is not enough, she is bipolar too?" Fugaku also ignored Itachi's question, expressing his shock and disgust. He thought she was bipolar from how she turned from meek helpless damsel to kickass so fast.
Itachi gave an exasperated sigh and stood up.
"And that would be a no. I would be in my office." Itachi said dismissively turning away to leave.
Fugaku gritted his teeth in anger.
"If you don't want me to take drastic measures, Itachi, you would take one of these women I have presented to you and get married as soon as possible. Do not make me do something you would regret." Fugaku threatened and the venom in his voice showed he wasn't bluffing.
Itachi stood in his tracks, his back still facing his father.
"I would get married like you want, but I would choose who my bride would be." Itachi's voice was monotonous but uncompromising.
"I don't trust you." Fugaku stated bluntly.
Itachi turned his head to reveal a small amused smile that never reached his eyes.
"I don't trust you either. But I'm still getting married like you asked." And with that Itachi turned and left.
Fugaku glowered at the door Itachi had just left through.
Respect my wishes. That was what Itachi meant by his words.
Fugaku scoffed.
"I am not making that mistake again."
…
Ko got off the wall he was leaning on as soon as Hinata and Koga emerged from the room. Hinata turned to give Koga a smile that unnerved him.
"Thank you, Koga san."
He simply gave her a small bow and went to over to Fugaku's secretary to pick something from her desk before entering his office.
Ko let his eyes run up and down Hinata's form to check if she was in one piece before he spoke.
"What happened in there, Hinata sama?" He asked still on edge about her being alone in the room with those Uchihas.
She gave him an amused smile.
"I would explain everything to you when we get into the car." Hinata said eyeing Fugaku's secretary behind her desk.
"You are right. Let's go then." They turned and walked to the elevator. Ko pressed the down button of the left one when they were infront of the two elevators.
As they waited for the elevators to open, the door to Fugaku's office and then came out Itachi.
His eyes immediately found Hinata's. And Ko being the good body guard, came to stand infront of Hinata to block his view of her. Ko automatically went to fury mode the second the Uchiha appeared before him. The air in the surrounding atmosphere became charge as the two thunderclouds stood there glaring all types of weapons at each with no words shared between them.
Hinata had seen enough and the elevators seemed to agree with her, finally opening right on time.
She stepped from behind Ko and touched his hand so he would look at her.
"Let's go." She said and this time Ko simply nodded and turned. Before she turned to also leave, she turned her head around to meet Itachi's eyes on her, and she gave him a knowing smile.
The smile rubbed him wrong in many ways. And she knew it.
She joined Ko in the elevators her smile still in place before the doors closed.
A few seconds later, the other elevators opened to reveal no one other than Sasuke.
If he had been here a few seconds earlier….
Itachi didn't want to continue that thought especially with just looking at his face.
One would have thought he and the guy smirking on the screens giving his great speech on how he was going take the Hyugas to hell, were completely different people.
Sasuke was practically breathing fire from his nostrils and his fiery eyes looked like they were out for blood.
Itachi didn't know who but he couldn't help but feel sorry for whoever the fellow was.
It had been long since he had seen Sasuke this mad and wondered what and who could have provoked him this much. Especially when he was back from doing about one of the things he had dreamed of: burying the Hyugas with his bare hands.
Sasuke's anger crazed eyes seemed to gain focus to finally recognize Itachi was before him, which seemed to make him angrier.
"Upon all the people I could meet at this point in my life." Sasuke seethed walking forward.
Itachi rose an eye brow at this.
"Weren't you the one who practically threatened me to be here today?"
"It wasn't meant to be this soon." Sasuke snapped back.
"I wished you had been clear on that." Itachi bit back.
Sasuke's attitude was worsening his foul mood from before.
"Yeah, me too." Sasuke stopped infront of his brother just to glare at him.
Itachi not being in the mood to deal with his little brother's issues, just walked around him and walked away.
And this pissed Sasuke beyond measure.
Who the hell does he think away to walk away from a fight before it starts?
Yes Sasuke wanted to take out his anger on his brother and was mad Itachi didn't give him the opportunity to.
He walked to his father's office with a trail of fire behind him.
…
There was a knock on Fugaku's door and before he could have the opportunity to invite the person in, Sasuke came barging through the door with a nasty scowl on his face.
One was creeping on Fugaku face at Sasuke's lack of manners, but his need to know how things went at the Hyugas, made him straighten his face to receive him.
Sasuke pulled a seat for himself and dropped the file infront of his father.
"These are the signatures of about 60% of the board. The rest are with the Hyugas." Sasuke stated crisply, the frown still on his face.
Fugaku looked at his son silently for a while.
"What happened? Your face looks like it would break off any second from now with that frown." Fugaku pointed out, his eyes demanding for answers.
Sasuke needed to vent or he was going to implode and explode at the same time. He couldn't waste the opportunity Fugaku had opened. Especially the fact that his father sitting down to listen to him was a rare event in itself, Sasuke had been wishing.
"That witch…that little Hyuga witch… I want break every bone in her body with my bare hands."
Fugaku halted, looking at his son in surprise. He never concerned himself with his son and his relationships with women, but one thing he knew was that he liked to sleep with them, not want to break their bones.
Even if she was a Hyuga, she was a woman. Sasuke was impatient and had a temper but he was way more lenient with women.
In fact, a woman had never got Sasuke this physically mad before. It made him more curious as to how Hinata was able to achieve this feat.
"What did she do?"
Sasuke took in a much needed breath to calm himself down enough to be able to speak long enough without spitting fire.
He took an extra breath to remove the first thing that came into his head.
Her ass. Her perfect rou-
"She came late, interrupted the meeting I had organised, ignored my existence entirely and went round telling the employees what to do,like she was the one in charge and that little witch poked me in the wrist and shut down MY. . ARM!"
Again Fugaku found himself taken aback.
She used their arts on Sasuke.
Fugaku chuckled under his breath.
He couldn't believe that delicate looking woman that was in his office a few moments ago, who would eventhough offend you but make sure she is polite about it, actually got physical with a healthy full grown man like Sasuke.
And he was surprised he was beginning to get impressed with the enemy.
"What was funny about what I said?" Sasuke growled dangerously at his father.
"What she did to you wasn't witchcraft. She blocked signals from the brain to your arm, successfully stopping its movement." Fugaku explained still not removing the impressed look in his eyes. "Can you move the affected arm?"
Sasuke simply threw his arm out to prove it was working, his anger increasing by the second. Now he wished she was a witch.
She didn't use witchcraft. She practically manhandled me.
Bitch.
"She was soft on you, son. If she was serious, your arm might have been out for almost the whole day. That's the Hyuga body arts for you"
I hate this bitch.
And he hated the look on his father's face.
"Aren't you enjoying this too much, dad?" If it were anyone one else Sasuke was talking to, that would have been a death threat. "She said she would be back for her company." Sasuke added to wipe of the annoying smile off his father's face. He didn't look amused anymore.
"She would be back for company, huh?" Fugaku mulled over the words for some time, before breaking into a dark chuckle.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow in confusion.
Fugaku continued.
"Your good friend was here a few moments ago." Sasuke's eyes widened at this. "She is going to start working for us tomorrow."
"Excuse me?" Sasuke blurted out in shock.
"She signed a contract to work for us for 6 months after which we would return half of her father's assets to her."
Sasuke dropped his hands loudly and heavily unto his father's desk, standing up to his feet as his seat couldn't contain the heat of his anger anymore.
"Half? Half of everything? The bitch deserves nothing!" Sasuke thundered, the murderous intent thick in his voice.
A wicked grin grew on Fugaku's face.
"Indeed. I have no intention of giving her not even dime of her father's fortune, because I need to make sure she doesn't finish the 6 months. I need her running out of her penniless, disgraced and in pieces such that whenever she hears the Uchiha name, she shudders and crumbles in horror." Fugaku said, his voice dark and sinister.
It was now Sasuke's turn to allow a wicked smirk on his face
He didn't want to break her bones anymore.
No.
He wanted to break everything of hers.
Her mind.
Her soul.
Her spirit.
"I want her. I want Hyuga Hinata." Sasuke demanded and he wasn't taking no for an answer.
Fugaku's grin broaden liking how things where playing out.
"She is all yours."
Sasuke stood up right, his smirk turning into a grin identical to his father's sinister one, even more so.
When he is done with her, she wouldn't have the luxury of running out of her. She would have to crawl on all fours to escape the hell he would bring upon her.
I have so many plans for you and I. Hyuga Hinata, you are mine.
Next update: Hinata begins work with the Uchihas.
...And I am thinking of changing the title of the story. No change in pairings though.
Reviews please!