Men of the Sea
Chapter 6
Sakura tiredly stared out the massive window that was adjacent to her desk. UE was in the center of metropolitan Tokyo. Being at the core of the grand city, Sakura could comfortably scope the bustling aspects of it from her private office. A setting sun, an urban backdrop of lights and neon signs, vehicles, and people.
It was entrancing.
The workday was ending. People were scurrying about. To home, to families, to bars and friends, to dates…
She had no one to truly come home to.
Except for her comatose father with his failing heart.
All her free time went to work. Work in the office, working out at the gym, working to avoid her problems and her misery.
At 25 years old, Sakura felt exhausted.
Work was equally sustaining and draining her.
She glanced at her phone's dark screen. In a fit of displaced courage, Sakura messaged Itachi.
"Would you like to talk over coffee?" Her text inquired.
She wanted to understand his reasoning for requesting her hand in marriage.
"Itachi, though, seems to like you."
And what was this business of him "liking" her?
Her frown intensified.
In reality, liking someone could mean anything. Though, she had to admit, saving her from Sasuke and asking his father to marry her made the term muddled. He clearly liked her more than a casual friend. But why? How? She hardly talked to him. She hardly even knew him.
"If you continue to frown like that, you'll get wrinkles."
Sakura looked up. Ino was standing in her office's doorway. "Don't be a jerk." Sakura huffed, a faint grin on her lips.
Ino laughed as she closed Sakura's door behind her and sat on her large desk. Ino was always a vision to behold. She was stylish and beautiful. And she was smart. If Itachi had wanted to be engaged to Ino, she would get it.
To herself?
What's the catch?
"You were pretty out of it. I knocked on your door a few times and you didn't answer." Sakura sagged within her seat. "I have a lot on my mind." "I'd say. Regretting not taking the rest of the day off?"
Emerald eyes glanced at the clock on the wall. It was past 7 o'clock. "Mm, a little," Sakura confessed. A look of acknowledgment passed between the two businesswomen. Neither of them got much sleep since they landed in Tokyo. But it had been a productive day.
There was something to revel in that.
"I'm going to head out. You should too." Ino suggested as she hoisted the strap of her messenger bag further up her shoulder. "I will. In a bit."
"I better not hear from Security that you stayed past 8 o'clock."
Ino winked at her.
The blonde was an aggressive beauty. But she held Sakura accountable. Not for the first time, Sakura felt grateful that they worked together.
She wouldn't go as far as to call the bombshell her friend. They never discussed their personal lives together, Sakura knew little about Ino outside of work. But, Ino was a hell of a teammate when it came to UE.
Honestly, Sakura wasn't sure how'd she fare at UE without her.
"Fine, fine. I'll see you tomorrow."
Ino paused.
"Sakura… How long has it been since you've had a day off?"
Sakura thought for a moment and she couldn't recall.
"Exactly. Take a personal day."
Sakura shrugged.
Maybe it was too late in the day and the blonde was going off too little sleep. Either way, she didn't press the matter. Sighing she shrugged too. "See you." Was all she said as she left Sakura.
Sakura in that office, with her large window and clock. With her worries and confusion. With a dying father.
Sakura stared at her phone once more.
Still no response.
"I should head out too, I guess."
She was sure no one else was at UE at this point except for security or the cleaning crew.
Sakura began to pack her bag.
Kana, her assistant, had left a folder full of details for Sakura's next project. Ino apparently took the lead and met with Sasuke about their resource shortage. She wasn't surprised that Cobalt was top concern for his department.
Though…
Could they perhaps bypass Cobalt? Cobalt was becoming less available despite its growth in demand. UE was known for being innovative. Perhaps they could figure out an alternative to Cobalt for their products?
Sakura glanced at the clock on the wall once more. It was late, but maybe Sakura could just mention her idea to Sasuke if he was still here? His office was on the way to the elevator. Might as well check in if he's in, right?
Right.
Grabbing the rest of her things she turned off the light within her office and locked her door.
Black heels thrummed against the carpeted hall.
Sasuke's office was only a little further ways from her own.
And yet, she hardly frequented it.
Only during meetings had she ever sought him out at work…
For obvious reasons.
Sakura arched a brow. The small window over the door indicated his light was still on. So he must be inside.
Sakura reached for the doorknob. It must have been the lack of sleep that muted her normally considerate nature. Typically she knocked before she entered someone's personal quarters.
At that moment, she bypassed this habit.
Silly her.
The pink-haired woman stood frozen at Sasuke's entryway.
The youngest Uchiha son sat within his impressive office chair with a clearly pleased expression on his pretty features. The raven-haired male's head was thrown back and his shirt was fully open.
His pants were at his ankles.
And there, with zero modesty on their knees and with feminine hands on his thighs, was Sasuke's receptionist Karin and her assistant Kana having the time of their lives licking his male member. Sakura felt her lunch flip within her stomach.
She opened her mouth as if to say something. But nothing came out.
'What are… What are they doing!?' Was all she could think. She couldn't understand the scene before her. Sure, she knew what they were doing. But even so, she didn't, no couldn't understand why they would do it at the office.
Together.
Did Karin, Kana, and Sasuke have any self decency?
And, too, didn't they know what kind of person Sasuke was?
Didn't they know Sasuke just used women?
Kana and Karin were just his playthings.
Why would they bother interacting with him in such a manner?
"Sakura?"
Sakura turned.
It was Itachi.
He looked pleased to see her.
But the pleasure of unexpectedly crossing paths slowly morphed into confusion. Sakura knew her baffled expression and gaping mouth was the cause of the shifting expressions on Itachi's face.
She turned to look at Sasuke as if the scene she had just witnessed would disperse and he'd be fully clothed and alone. But no, he was still getting blown by two ridiculous and stupid girls. Though, at least he finally noticed her.
His eyes were wide, embarrassed, confused, and shocked.
"Are you alright?" Itachi asked, close enough now to where Sakura could touch him, but not so close that he could see in Sasuke's office. "Uh, yeah! Just, surprised to see you!" She took a cautious step towards him while grabbing the handle of Sasuke's office door. "Is Sasuke in there? I need to discuss something with him."
"NO!"
Itachi looked taken aback. "Okay," he said slowly, now regarding Sakura with concern once more. "He left his light on!" She forced a laugh as she turned it off while keeping an eye on Itachi. "Hey, um, did you get my text?" she asked forcefully changing the topic.
Recognition filtered in Itachi eyes. "Yes. I apologize for not responding sooner. I figured I'd catch you before you left and tell you in person. Coffee sounds great. However, I'd prefer a glass of wine. May I take you out to dinner instead, Haruno-San?"
Emotional whiplash is an understatement.
She catches one brother, who was her fiance just barely twenty-four hours ago, getting blown. While the other offers her dinner.
Soft pale flesh suddenly matches pink hair.
She closes the door fully behind her.
"Itachi, though, seems to like you."
"That sounds lovely."
Itachi smiled at her.
Wine, dinner, and a hint of excitement was always fun to engage in (As if she'd know. She hardly went out). And what harm could a dinner do? After all, Itachi was now her fiance. She should at least try to understand his reasoning for asking her hand in marriage and learn more about his character.
"I'll email you the details."
She licked her dry lips.
His gaze followed her tongue.
Sakura tried to not feel self-conscious.
Slowly he asked, "But I really must speak to Sasuke. He said he'd be working late. Do you know where he is?"
Sakura shrugged. Her gaze ventured towards the black carpet beneath their feet. "No idea." Though she did mentally scoff at the notion of Sasuke telling anyone he was working late.
Someone was working late.
It just wasn't Sasuke.
It wasn't called a blow job for nothing, she reasoned.
Kisame's POV
Two days.
He hadn't seen Sakura in two days.
It felt like months had passed.
The large male sat in the white sand, his board was next to him.
Gunnamatta beach was his go-to. The waves were always steller and the tourists were less frequent to the scene. Also, the bar off the pier was his favorite. Of course, he was partial to it since his close friend owned it and he often got free drinks.
This was also the bar where he met Sakura at.
He closes his eyes and leans back in the sand.
"Kisame."
He knows that voice anywhere.
Fuguki Suikazan.
It had been awhile.
"You haven't been answering your phone." "I don't have it on me." "Your presence has been requested by the board." "I keep telling you guys, I'm not interested in involving myself with the family business." "We need you," Fuguki insisted.
Kisame brought himself to his feet. "Not. Interested," he said with his board at hand. He meant to take a dip in the ocean. Clear his head. Or maybe fill it with thoughts and the few memories he had of Sakura.
Anything was better than being bothered by Fuguki.
"Eriko has been dismissed."
Kisame laughed as he continued walking away from the round large man. He could hear him awkwardly follow him. Dress shoes aren't meant for the sand. "So the pervert finally got a lawsuit going on him or something?" he asked jokingly. The entire family knew that Eriko had an issue with respecting women. Why he was appointed as CEO was beyond him. Eriko was hands down more lunatic than a businessman. Though, Kisame never bothered refuting his promotion. After all, if it wasn't Eriko it would have been him. Business never interested Kisame. He loved surfing, he loved the sea.
In his family's eyes, his attraction to the water was pointless. He should use his high IQ and creativity to aid the family business.
But who cared about Lithium?
He didn't.
No one seemed to understand that.
"It's a complicated situation. But, we're in need of your expertise. We just signed a deal with Uchiha Enterprise." Kisame's quirked a brow. "Uchiha Enterprise?" The look of interest did not go past Fuguki.
"Yes. It'll propel MR significantly within the International trade of Lithium. However, we can only trade with UE." "Terrible negotiating," Kisame said.
"It's beyond us. Eriko assaulted their representative. A high-level coordinator and manager within UE. If we were to avoid a crippling lawsuit, it was necessary." The surfer's hand sweat. He clenched his fist. 'What were the chances that the representative was...'
"Do you know the person's name? The representative, I mean."
Kisame's tone was cautious and curious.
"Sakura Haruno."
The 6' 6" muscled surfer's gaze darkened.
"Where's Eriko?"
Fuguki subconsciously took a tentative step back. "I don't know." Kisame straightened his back. "Fine. I'll go with you to discuss whatever matters you need with the board. However, in exchange, I request that you give me Eriko's exact location once our meeting is through. Understand?"
"Y-Yes, Sir."
"Good."
Kisame stepped away from the lick of waves that reached for him and walked beside Fuguki, his father's right-hand man.
He felt anger boil within him. Eriko DARED to touch Sakura?
He'd make his Uncle understand just how big of a mistake he made by doing so.