Hinata sat in the lounge, freshly bandaged, twisting the wrapping paper that came in between her fingers. It wasn't doing much for her nerves, but it kept her from picking up her phone and looking exactly what street the director was on his way home.
She heard the door open and resisted the urge to jump to greet him. He only took the moment it took him to take off his coat and shoes to look in the archway.
Fugaku sighed as he set down his bag nearby and sat down in the chair beside her. "How long have you been waiting."
Hinata pressed her lips together, closing the destroy paper in her fist.
"Hinata, you are not in trouble. You are not being punished." He told her. "I just want you to rest a few days before you come back to work."
"I can work from here, sir," Hinata told him.
Fugaku sucked in a breath and nodded. He reached down into his back and pulled out her laptop, handing it to her. "We are both going to be putting less hours in the office."
Hinata took the laptop and held it tightly in her lap.
"You're going to stay in the guest room until we can have the wing ready for you," Fugaku told her. "I assume you have no problem with Itachi designing it."
"I'll move closer, but I won't move in, sir." Hinata held her breath for the fightback.
"Now, look at me." Fugaku glared into her eyes. "I decide what is necessary."
"Sir, I don't think it's appropriate. I understand that you want to treat me like your daughter, but I have a father." Hinata explained.
Fugaku set his jaw and sat back, listening to her.
Hinata sighed. "I have to draw the line somewhere. I can stay a few days until I'm feeling better, but I don't feel comfortable staying any longer than that. I am not family. I am a family friend."
The director nodded, slowly accepting her ultimatum. "I'll have Lee pick you out a closer apartment and have it furnished." Fugaku put a hand up to stop her before she could protest. "Don't even. I know how you live now."
Hinata crossed her arms.
Hinata was glad to be back in the office. It felt so refreshing to hear the ding of the elevator and see the view of the city from her office window. It felt like an eternity since she last sat at her desk, but it had only been a week.
She did her usual morning tasks and waited for the director to come up. As he tossed his coat off and sat at his desk, she stepped into his office, and he looked up at her. "Status."
Hinata smiled. It was good to be back.
Hinata winced as she used the wrong hand again. She had convinced the director to let her keep the splint off in the office, it made it hard to type anyway, but despite being careful with it for the last week, she kept finding herself instinctually trying to pick up everything with her dominant hand.
"Let me get that for you!" Lee cropped up, grabbing the load.
"Thank you, Lee-san," Hinata said gratefully.
"Were to?" He asked with a pep in his step like he was ready to run to his destination.
"I'm meeting the director for a meeting if you would follow me." She pointed toward the elevator.
"Sure!" He followed her down.
"How was your week without me?" Hinata wondered.
"The director got louder the usual," Lee said with a shrug.
Hinata nodded, pressing her lips together while hiding a smile. That bad?
"We are glad to see you back!" Lee told her with a smile as he hopped out of the elevator behind her.
"I am glad to be back," Hinata told him.
Sasuke heard a knock and looked up from his desk to see a familiar face waiting to be let in from his door.
He waved Hinata in, and she stepped in with a bow of he head and held out a folder. "There are some corrections that need to be made before this can be approved. I marked them."
Sasuke took the folder and thumbed through it. "You do that for everyone?"
"Just those who the director has his eyes on." Hinata relayed.
Sasuke looked up. Hinata looked down and away. They both felt the stilted air between them when Itachi wasn't there to fill the gap.
"He'll like it. It just needs polishing." Hinata added, but she immediately looked like she regretted filling the silence.
"Thank you." He nodded.
"Uhm." Hinata licked her lips. "Do you need a new assistant assigned?" She was turning red up to her ears.
Oh, now he understood why she was so uncomfortable. She must have seen the sexual harassment claim he had put in. "No, I am used to this. If she doesn't get the message, I will fire her or transfer her. I am sure I will have the same reputation for going though assistant father used to have."
Hinata nodded. "If you have any other problems with female staff, don't hesitate to reach out. I will have it dealt with." Hinata bowed her head and hurried out of his office.
A smile broke across his face.
Speaking of Itachi, he came down the hall just as she was going back up it. He stopped her, but she waved him off-putting her head down as she kept walking.
His smile grew bigger as Itachi turned to him with confusion. He stepped into his office, pointing behind him with his thumb. "What was that about?"
"She's very easily embarrassed," Sasuke commented, resting back in his chair.
"What did you say to her?" Itachi pried.
"Nothing." Sasuke shrugged.
Itachi's face twisted up in confusion.
"You're right. She is cute."
Hinata looked at the clock. The director needed his dinner and his pills. She got up and knocked, letting herself in. "Do you want me to order dinner?" The director looked up and at the time.
Fugaku looked at the time as well and sighed. "Lee isn't as direct about dinner as you were."
"You should eat." Hinata pestered.
"Have you?" Fugaku asked.
Hinata pressed her lips together. She had not. She was not used to not being able to prepare her meals yet.
"Well, let go then." Fugaku got up.
"Where are we going?" Hinata wondered.
Fugaku put on his coat and offered her his arm. Hinata hesitantly took it, placing her hand in the crook of his elbow. "I won't ruin the surprise." He waved off Lee as they left.
Sasuke headed toward his father's office but paused as the elevator opened down the hall.
His father was smiling for once, and as he turned for the door, he could see Hinata was holding on to his arm, her head bent down like she was questioning him, but she too held a small smile on her face.
His eyebrows knitted together, and he frowned as he watched them leave together.
Sasuke was starting to wonder if she was honey in a trap. For someone who made a lot of fuss about being taken care of, she didn't seem to mind it now.