The Office Affair
Chapter Nine
A/N: Rewriting these poorly written chapters is so much fun. I get to laugh at how ridiculously crappy my grammar had been and the cheesy lines I'm notorious for dropping. I seriously cannot believe I had so many readers o.O
Since of late drama became a part of Tenten's daily life. She'd wake up, get ready for work and drama would find a way of disrupting her journey to that snare of a workplace downtown. Whether it be the flirty, toothless guys stopping to clean her windscreen or the feisty old hags slugging across the pedestrian crossing while traffic was moving, drama just always found a way to seep into her routine. Then once she arrived at work—moping of course—but briskly making her way to her office, drama would look her in the face with its obsidian orbs, brand her with a scathing once-over and set her to work, like the slave she was.
That kind of drama was the worst kind. The one that approved of her pay cheque, the one that owned her, that dictated her every move. That drama took the form of Sasuke Uchiha—her employer sent from the pit of hell. He loathed her and she him. She didn't facilitate drama in her world and he viewed simplicity as a felony. And yet while she couldn't a stand a bone in the man, she found it most easy to be herself around him, because only then did he show his true colours and she did hers. He was nothing short of your average asshole and she, the realist whose opinions could easily be mistaken as bitchy remarks.
Her co-workers thought her to be a whore because they saw a couple misleading photographs of Mr Uchiha and herself. And though Sasuke had threatened to file a lawsuit against the Leaf and the scandalous article had been retracted, the females at work didn't stop the glaring or hissing of insults behind her back. Tenten, who at first had been too concerned with what they thought of her became nonchalant and later began to greet the scornful glances with a look that said more than she intended for it to.
So what if they thought she was fucking the boss? That's one step closer to his bed than any of those thirsty hoes would ever get. She stopped herself at that thought, since when was being labelled a slut such an honourable accomplishment? Apparently since it commanded respect and struck fear amongst her lesser counterparts. Have you not seen the way those insignificant bitches quiver in Ino's wake?
Tenten sighed with a grimace, Ino was a whole other pile of shit by itself. That blonde wouldn't pass up an opportunity to gloat about her relationship with Sasuke for anything. She kept making mention the restaurants he had taken her, the new pieces of jewellery he bought her, always conveniently forgetting to mention the bullshit he keeps feeding her. You would have think she'd put herself on a Sasuke diet. But he was like calories that she hadn't a problem gaining.
Tenten concluded it was excessive bragging was as a result of as a need to reaffirm that she was the raven-haired man's one and only to those who thought his interest had wavered. It was almost laughable and the brunette found it hard not to stifle a giggle every once in a while during those endless lunch hours of Sasuke-talk. Sakura would grimace and shift awkwardly in the seat beside her during Ino's tales of fib, as it was clear that someone was not entirely over a certain boss of theirs.
But Sakura had way too much on her plate to deal with jealously. Her affair with the billionaire heir to the Hyuuga dynasty was blowing up the tabloids and had become the talk of the office. Still she remained quite vague with details about the relationship she shared with Neji. Tenten respected that Sakura was sworn to secrecy but damn it she was itching to know if there was really something for Sasuke to panic about.
She thought it would be funny to watch his stoic face morphed through shock, horror and utter resentment. Though, she couldn't help but feel stirred by the fact that Sasuke would interfere so much with Sakura's and Neji's relationship. There had to be more to the story than Sakura being a past lover and his accountant.
Mixing business with pleasure never tends to end well. But wasn't she indulging in same type of immorality she was convicting Sakura and Neji of. She stopped at that thought. Was that what she was doing with Sasuke?
Just thinking about him made her shudder, like the Virgin Mary that she was. The memory of his hands against her bare flesh was enough to send shivers up her spine. The taste of his mouth still lingered on her lips, though the last time they brushed against hers had been almost a week ago. With just one look he could set even her most cogent thoughts into a state of mayhem. Even more so was the fact that one touch from him could force her body into submissiveness and left her completely defenceless against the passion that was entirely theirs and theirs alone.
His striking masculinity scared her and yet at the same time it intrigued her. She would have to be even more careful around him; she couldn't let her guard down. She couldn't allow herself to fall for someone who made it clear that his only intension was to get her in his bed.
"I'm coming to visit next week, I was wondering if I could stay with you for a few days?" came the voice on the other end of the telephone line.
It simply wasn't normal for one guy to be so crude yet appealing at the same time. She hated arrogance in a man, and this one reeked purely of only masculine surety. She hated the fact that she allowed herself to be bullied by him, she hated that he made her decisions for her when he was around. But that was all about to change because whether in the office or not she was going to be the one who had the last say. Well maybe not in the office, after all it's his company. But she was not going to allow him to persuade her to do anything…that she didn't want to.
"Tenten... are you there?"
She blinked, trying to think of an excuse as to why she was not paying attention. For a minute or two she forgot that she was had been having a discussion over the phone.
"Tenten!" the voice became a bit impatient.
She silently cursed Sasuke for interrupting her conversation by entering her thoughts. "I'm here Hinata..."
"You weren't listening to a word I said," she accused.
"Yes I was..." she lied, "It was just not sinking in, what did you say?"
"You mean what I had asked," the girl corrected her.
"Yeah whatever," she rolled her eyes thanking Kami that Hinata couldn't see the look of utter annoyance on her face. Not annoyed with Hinata but annoyed with herself for thinking about her uptight ass of a boss. This daydreaming of─ this reflecting on─this drooling over Sasuke or whatever the fuck it was, had to stop! "What were you asking?"
"I have business to take care of for Nii-san in town and I was wondering if I could stay at your place for a while. It'd cut back on expenses…" Frugal as ever, that's Hinata for you. "…I won't be there for more than a week," it came off as a plea.
Tenten stepped out of the elevator unto that cursed floor and smirked at the image of Hinata kneeling on her knees with her hands clasp together as though she was praying. It wasn't so much a pretty scene it was just that her tone had forced the image into Tenten's mind.
"You don't have to beg Hinata you're welcome to stay any time. Listen," she said hastily, "I've got to go now, I'm at work and you know how uptight your highness gets about the use of cell phones during work hours."
With a final promise to give Hinata a call later, Tenten hung up. She made for the boardroom as quick as possible knowing that today's meeting was very important but also knowing that Sasuke would have her head on a silver platter if she was even five seconds late. It was such a pity that she had forgotten to grab a cup of coffee, one needed the caffeine to keep awake during these long and boring meetings. Half the time she didn't understand what the fuck they were talking about.
After Tenten was clear from the hall way two figures appeared, one looking slightly stirred and the other wore a mischievous grin.
"Well well," the one wearing the smile said to his companion. "Looks like you just got a head start."
"I'm not so sure about this..." the other whined.
"Not sure about what?" Sasuke growled. "Your task is simply. Court the Hyuuga Heiress."
"I'm amazed at the extent to which you'll go to have your own way."
"It's killing two birds with one stone," he told him flatly, patting Naruto's back.
"How so?" the fox asked curiously.
"I think it's safe to say that you're in dire need of some action," Sasuke chuckled. "And I want information, little Miss Hinata will provide us with both of those."
"How do you know that she's even my type?"
Naruto has a type?
"Well if she isn't, make her be!" he barked tugging the blonde towards the boardroom. He can't believe he allowed that witch to get there before him; he'll never hear the end of it. That cursed PA of his…
OoOoOoOo
Tenten glanced at her watch and frowned, Hinata said she would be here three fucking hours ago! Shit, now she was missing the marathon of her favourite TV show. Hadn't Neji taught her anything about punctuality?
Sighing, she shifted her weight to one foot and rubbed her temples, Sasuke's impatience must be rubbing off on her. But three hours was a long time to wait for someone. She admit that it was probably her fault, she hadn't given Hinata her home address and so she was stuck in the lobby at work on a Friday night waiting for friend who was just about as familiar with Konoha as a snowman was with the desert.
Finally tired of worrying she flopped down on one of the leather sofas. The building was close to empty safe for a few janitors and Sasuke who was still in his office sitting on his high horse with that stick stuck up his ass. And by that she meant having a teleconference with some overseas marketers… and by teleconference she meant having a bullying session. He was bitching a bit more than usual these days and she figured it must have something to do with a failed business venture deal he had to call a meeting about. It was confidential so what she knew of it she had learned from probing.
"I'm leaving in half an hour," Tenten said to herself.
In the midst of her frustration as if on cue a certain boss of hers showed up adding to her rage. He smirked, running his eyes over her, from head to toe.
"He stood you up didn't he?" Sasuke asked upon getting off the elevator and stumbling upon his not-so-favourite employee slouching over a sofa in the lobby.
"Take a picture, it lasts longer," she rolled her eyes and scoffed.
"I rather not," he waved her off dismissively then went back to mocking her. "He stood you up?"
She glowered.
"I don't blame him. I mean... if I saw you looking the way that you do now, I'd spin on my heels too."
"If you must know I'm not waiting on a date." Tenten scoffed, "And it's good to know that I don't attract insects."
He chuckled, "You're so feisty it's almost sexy."
"And you're so corny it's almost a nuisance," she countered.
Sasuke laughed again, "Just a word of advice if you continue to flirt with me sooner or later you'll regret it."
"I don't doubt that," she rolled her eyes. But upon seeing the flash of a car light outside through the glass door she got up.
"Going somewhere?" Sasuke caught her tiny wrist.
"Yes, I have to meet someone."
"Who?" his voice lost its teasing, it now held an edge.
"That's none of your business, Mr Uchiha!" she snapped, slapping his hand, but he didn't bulge.
"Sasuke," he reminded her tersely.
"I'm sure the name is appropriate, Mr Uchiha..." She said to purposely to anger him.
"That's what all my friends call me."
"We're not friends Mr. Uchiha. We..."
He frowned, "But we're not strangers are we?"
"I'd prefer if we were."
He gripped her wrist tighter, "Why are you so difficult to deal with?"
"It's because you're accustomed to women who spread their legs on command and I'm not that kind."
He stared at her in stunned silence, all signs of the recent facetiousness evaporating, as angry as she'd ever seen him. "You make it so hard for me to be polite to you. Why can't we just try to be friends?"
"I make it hard for you to be polite to me?" she asked incredulously then stopped. "Okay friends it is," she said tugging her wrist from his strong hold. "Now that you have all that out of your system, can you please step aside so that this cold bitch can pass?"
"Don't put words in my mouth, Tenten," he warned her, "That wasn't what I—"
She spun on him, "That's exactly what you called me. You may have couched it in more diplomatic terms, but it's what you meant."
"Females..." he murmured. "That's not what I meant and you know it. You only want to stir up some sort of problem so that I'll leave."
"You know me too well," she gave him a clearly noticeably plastic smile.
"Well, if you think I'll leave then I'm afraid you don't know me as well as I know you," he grinned wickedly.
"Don't you have somewhere to be?"
"You're meeting someone on my property in the dead of the night; it's only natural that I feel suspicious about your activities."
"Tenten!"
Hinata's arrival was timely, the brunette thought. "Where have you been?" Tenten inquired gathering up her belongings and heading to the opened front door where Hinata was currently sticking her head through.
"I'm s-sorry, b-but I got h-held up," the Hyuuga stuttered.
"Why didn't you try to reach me? I have places to be Hinata," No you don't you lying bitch.
"Give her a break Tenten, she said she was sorry," Sasuke stepped in, coming up behind her. She could almost feel the heat radiating from his body into hers as he drew near.
"This has nothing to do with you!" Tenten spun around to snarl at him. But he had already moved pass her to stand before Hinata.
"I'm Sasuke Uchiha," he offered his hand and the heiress took it. "And you my dear must be the lovely Princess Hinata Hyuuga."
And you my dear must be the lovely Princess Hinata Hyuuga? What the fuck? Tenten felt like gagging, especially when his lips came into contact with the pale flesh of Hinata's wrist. Both girls' cheek went up in flames.
"P-princess?" Hinata asked drawing circles with her toes and looking shyly on the ground.
"You must be, only princesses are blessed with such heavenly looks and charm."
Slick...not!
"Give me a break!" Tenten muttered.
"Don't be jealous," he winked.
"Was it that obvious?" she faked a gasp.
"You didn't tell me you were friends with royalty," He said rather curiously, Hinata flushed.
"Was that sarcasm? Everyone knows you hate anything that's Hyuuga related."
"Don't be silly, who could ever despise sweet, innocent Hinata-chan, a young dime like her is a rare find."
This time a bile definitely rose in Tenten's throat. Did this man not have any dignity? Grabbing Hinata's arm she tugged the blue-haired girl down the plight of stairs leading down into the parking lot. While Tenten wasn't fooled for a second the young Hyuuga was clearly caught up in Uchiha's dark charm.
"What do you say to dinner?" he suddenly asked.
Tenten stopped in her tracks, a blush blatantly obvious on her cheeks. "For the last time Uchiha. Over. My. Dead. Body!"
"I wasn't asking you," he came back as-a-matter-of-factly.
The blood drained from her face but the tips of her ears went red out of embarrassment.
"I-I d-don't k-know if that would be such a good idea, If Neji found out he'd kill me I—" Hinata's face had gone so red it was a wonder how she was still conscious.
"You can't seriously be considering this Hinata!" Tenten shrieked.
"He'll never have to know...," Sasuke said, then he saw Hinata's look of utter mistrust and added, "Let's just call this dinner a truce between Hyuugas and Uchihas. My treat, what do you say?"
"W-What do you think Tenten?" Hinata asked.
"I think Sasuke needs to spontaneously combust!"
"Don't let your envy get the best of you Ten," he laughed.
"I'm not!" there he goes again with that nickname like they were pals! She hated it!
"Are you admitting that you're actually jealous?"
"If you want to go Hinata, that's fine by me," she glared at Sasuke as she said it. "Now let's go, and if Neji asks I knew nothing about this."
"So tomorrow at seven?" he asked and Hinata nodded. "I'll pick you up. I know where to find Tenten's hut."
"Ha ha ha very funny…" Tenten drawled. "I don't know what you've got up your sleeve but I'm watching you, beware..."
"I'll be seeing you tomorrow," he waved at Hinata, choosing to ignore the pair of brown eyes glaring daggers in his skull.
"I'm on to you," she pointed accusingly at him.
He grinned, an evil glint lightening his eyes. I'm not the one you should be keeping your eyes on. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind."
As soon as Hinata and Tenten were clear of the scene Sasuke took out his cell phone and dialled his dear old friend's digits. "Dust off your tux, you've got a date tomorrow night."
"What?"
"And this time Naruto, please don't fuck things up."
OoOoOoOo
Tenten propped her elbows against the bath tub resting her head on her soapy arms. She didn't know why she was getting so worked up over the prospect of Hinata on a date with Sasuke. It most certainly wasn't jealousy, please she was beyond that! But if she could hardly dictate her own behaviour around the damn man, what was to become of Neji's sweet little cousin? After all it was no secret that she wasn't immune to Sasuke's advances, Hinata herself made that be known an hour ago before she left.
"You'll have to be careful around Sasuke, he can be quite a pig sometimes," Tenten warned her.
"Actually he's sort of funny... and c-cute," Hinata stuttered on the last part.
Tenten's brows went up, "Cute? There is nothing cute about that womanizer, that ass of man, that self-centred jerk."
"I-I know h-how you feel, b-but do you have too b-be so ha-harsh, I mean he's still your boss..."
"All I'm saying Hinata is that Sasuke is very experienced and he will use every trick in the book to get to you."
Speaking from experience much?
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"Just be careful," she heaved an exasperated sigh.
"H-how harmful c-could he be?"
"Let's hope that you don't have to find out," she ushered her out of the bathroom. "Now go get dress he'll be here any minute now."
An hour and a half had passed since Sasuke had picked up Hinata with that stupid smirk on his face. Tenten had been worried but now as she relaxed in her bubble bath, she thought what the heck…Hinata can handle herself. And even if she couldn't, Neji surely would. Sasuke wouldn't dare try anything inappropriate with her. Still, she couldn't help but wonder what Sasuke was up to.
Her cell phone rang, stirring up the stillness of the room.
"Hello," Tenten managed to answer calmly though it was a struggle to hold the phone with her slippery palms.
"Are you going to spend all night in there?" The voice was too familiar.
Not completely following, Tenten asked, "In where? What are you talking about?"
"In the bathroom," he said, she could hear the smirk in his tone, "Your pizza is getting cold and I'm getting bored."
"How do you know these things?" her voice bounced off the tiles. "Don't tell me you're in my house!"
"If I knew you were going to take this long in the bathroom, I would have joined you."
Fuck! If he touched her pizza he was a dead man.
"Get out of my house, or I'm calling the police, I'm going charge you for breaking and entering," she climbed out of the tub, wrapped her slender self in a white towel and stormed into the living room in search of the devil himself. And regardless of the fact that he was nowhere in sight she felt a growing sense of self-consciousness.
"I haven't broken or entered anywhere...yet," it was all too clear what he was alluding to. What a sick son-of-a-bitch.
"Where are you?'' she demanded harshly through the phone.
"Right behind you..." she heard his voice and spun around to meet his devious onyx eyes. Her boil ran hot.
"What are you doing here? Get out!" she barked.
"Relax, you don't want to wake the entire of the building."
"That's exactly what I plan to do!" she said loudly. "I still have nightmares about the last time you conveniently stopped by," she made air quotes when she said the word 'conveniently'.
Sasuke grinned wickedly, an eyebrow elevated, "So you've been fantasizing about me?"
"Where's Hinata?" Tenten suddenly realized the absence of her friend.
"She's out," was Sasuke's answer.
"What do you mean out? You're supposed to be there with her," she said through clenched teeth, drawing the towel closer around her.
"Yeah, but I found the perfect substitute."
"Really now?" she asked in amazement. "Scientists found a species of bacteria sickening enough to match up to you?"
"That bacteria goes by the name of Naruto," his voice was stern. "Just remember that you started the name calling."
"Hinata is out with Naruto?" She gaped. "You mean that boy from the club?"
"What's wrong with Naruto?" Sasuke frowned realizing that he wasn't really looking for an answer. It was easier to count the things that weren't wrong with Naruto than to count the things that were.
"Nothing's wrong with Naruto; actually I prefer Naruto to you," she informed him.
"It's a mutual feeling; I prefer Hinata to you."
Tenten laughed, that clearly wasn't the response she had expected.
"Though I much prefer the view I'm getting now, to that of Hinata's cute little purple dress." He ran his eyes over her the way he normally did. "Less is really more..."
Tenten squirmed, realizing her attire—or lack thereof. If it were ever possible for a man to make love to a woman without actually touching her then that was exactly what was happening. His eyes wandered as though they knew no boundaries. They ate up every inch of exposed skin. "Do you think about anything else other than bedtime activities?"
"You can use the word sex, I'm not a toddler," Sasuke half smiled.
"That you most certainly are not!" she drew her towel even closer around her, thoroughly appalled.
"And yes I do think about other things."
"Like...?"
"Like undressing and—"
"—I'm sorry I asked!" she shrieked covering her two ears.
Her action struck him as funny and he roared with laughter, flopping back on to a sofa, "You're such a child." His eyes went dark and she heard his breath quicken. "Are you a virgin?"
"At least I'm not a pervert!" she folded her arms and turned up her nose. "What kind of question is that?"
"A simple one, either you are or you aren't."
She closed her eyes and frowned, "That's for me to know and you to find out."
Sasuke laughed, "I do plan on finding out."
Her eyes flew open. "I was merely joking," she took a step back when he stood up. His body was tense, but the grip he caught her wrists in was relaxed.
His voice was level, when he spoke again. "But I'm not."
She took a deep breath and felt the tension in him. "I'm not playing Sasuke; I swear I will call the police."
He ran a thumb along the bow of her lip. "And I'm not playing Tenten, if you don't answer the question I swear I'll be forced to removed that towel and find out for myself," his tone was dry. It didn't reveal whether he was being serious or teasing.
She could feel her skin going red with heat. His dirty talk wasn't supposed to have this effect on her. She should be repulsed!
He leaned forward and brushed her lips with his, "Well?"
She bowed her head, "Yes."
"Yes what?" He leaned forward again and this time he lingered, and she parted her lips to him. The kiss seeped into her like water into the soil.
"Yes I'm a virgin." He tasted her lips and her tongue, and she sighed into his mouth and reached out to him, pulling herself close to his chest to feel his heart beating close beside hers.
"I knew it," he breathed into her ears and pulled away laughing. "Well this most certainly is inconvenient."
She scoffed, "Is that so?"
"I don't care what anybody says; virgins are overrated and they are no fun. I don't like the idea of having to give instructions while in bed. It takes the fun out of sex."
She didn't know why she took offence, "Then why do you pursue me?"
He laughed hard again, "Who says that I'm pursuing you?"
Stinging tears burned the back of Tenten's lowered eyes, "Then why do you keep provoking me?"
"Because men like the things they can't have."
"But you said it yourself that you don't want me," she smiled at the knowledge. "However your actions keep telling me otherwise."
"Don't flatter yourself."
"Why ask Hinata out on a date then get Naruto to replace you just so you could come over here and harass me if you weren't the least bit interested?"
"I can't help it if my buddy has a thing for the Hyuuga heiress. If torturing myself by spending some time with you is the price I have to pay to get him a date, then so be it."
She growled. So that was the plan from the beginning? To get Naruto a date? He was never truly interested in Hinata. Somehow knowing that made her feel a little less threatened but like a complete bitch. A cruel little thought came to mind, she grinned at him.
"It's highly unlikely that you'd do something so nice for anybody without gaining something in return," she took a reluctant step towards him. "Either Naruto's date with Hinata will provide you with something, or..." she toiled a strand of her wet hair. "...you thought getting Hinata out of my house would increase the likelihood of you getting lucky."
He smirked, clasping his palms on her hips. "Maybe a little bit of both."
"I thought so," she whispered, closing the gap between them. She kissed him, cautiously at first, then building to the intensity that he had given her thrusting her tongue into his mouth, trying to take him all into her. "Now let's talk about my intentions."
"Only if they are purely impure."
She pulled away to slide a hand between them, "I'm always willing to go to the extra mile to get you out of my hair."
"Only if that extra mile means going all the way..." His mouth covered hers in a kiss that drained every thought from his head. He'd intended to kiss her gently, seduce her slowly; savouring each touch but the instant she made the first move a flash-fire reaction sizzled through him, incinerating him where he stood.
"I think you'll regret this more than I will." She smirked against his lips, thoroughly terrified at what she was attempting as she guided them across the room towards that fated door.
"I can assure you that it'll be mutually benefiting," with a low growl, his arms tightened around her hips, pushing her until her shoulders hit the wall. He spread her legs, settling himself between her thighs while feasting on her lush mouth and his hands roamed restlessly along the curve of her bottom. Hooking beneath her knee and raising her leg to his waist, opening her to his touch.
Their tongues mated an erotic friction that quickly depleted him of the control she had already stolen. She shifted against him, dragging a growl from his throat. His hips involuntarily thrust into her. She shuddered against him, one clever hand reaching up beneath her towel.
She caught his hand just before he could completely strip away what little control she had over the events unfolding. "No!" she exclaimed kissing his fingers, while he stared at her though eyes that would have melted her if she weren't keen on kicking him out. "No, not here," she indicated to the door beside them with a nudge of her head.
His lips curled upwards. "Don't be hasty."
She stared at him in startled silence. All she could hear was the sound of her own breathing and the rapid beating of her heart, the sound of her sanity slipping away. Her legs felt weak, and her arms seemed to slide around his broad shoulders of their own volition as she felt her body meld itself to his. He placed one strong hand between her shoulder blades to support her.
Her hips were pressed against his, and her spine was arched back, pushing her breasts upwards. It was an undeniably erotic position, and a rush of sexual excitement stormed through her body, starting an insistent throbbing of desire deep within her. "Sasuke…"
Her hand managed to grasp the door knob and she turned it frantically, but it wouldn't bulge. Imposing as always Sasuke took it upon himself to open it for himself. But it wasn't the door to Tenten's bedroom and when he realized it, it was too late for she had already pushed him through it, shutting him out of her apartment.
"Real cute!" he pounded a fist on her door erupting in an ironic burst of laughter.
On the other side of the door Tenten slid down along the length of her door clutching herself and laughing, barely catching her breath. "I guess what they say is true, both heads can't work at the same time; it's just one of the many defects of being male."
Sasuke couldn't agree anymore. But what was it about this woman that reduced him to his most basic and primitive instincts? He should have figured that she was up to something the moment she became so yielding. He was a man who prided himself on his self-control, who used that control, along with his innate expertise with females and ability to see the big picture and get what he wanted. But this woman had completely flipped the script on him, subjected him to her control and humiliated him in the process.
"You've just started a war," he warned through clenched jaws.
She giggled.
A/N: This was way too long and uneventful. Plus very little could have been done to improve on this chapter, the idea behind it was already immature. Please pardon the quality of the next couple chapters I'm trying to rewrite them one at a time.
