Sasuke awoke from what felt like a nightmare and began his wake up routine. Despite wanting nothing to do other than lay in bed for the next few hours. He was an executive at Uchiha & Uzumaki Ad Agency; he had to show them he was worthy of his newfound position.

He turned the coffee maker on while he hopped into the shower. Nearing 27 years old the rest of the world would say he was doing alright, better than alright really. Yet, he felt terrible. He was good at his job, provided guidance and new ideas for the firm. His main job description was managing financial expenses of the firm. Making a six figure salary at 27 was also nothing to scoff at. Although unmarried, drinking problem, and all around lonely existence seemed to add to his feeling terrible. For now though alcohol and work would drown the depression seeping through the cracks of his psyche.

Sasuke was dressed in his navy suit due to his big meeting with a major supplier for Konoha's different grocery chains. His first meeting with them since the incident. This particular client was particularly close to his brother more than him.

Sasuke glanced at the clock. Eight in the morning is too early for a scotch, right? He shook his head to rid the thought. He gathered his things and left for work. Glancing at his calendar he noted his 10 AM meeting with the supplier, then his lunch meeting with Naruto, and the meeting to hire a maid for the house at 3PM. Annoying.

After arriving in the parking garage that morning and making his way to the 34th floor, the executive floor, he went to his new space in the office. A small office, bigger than his old cubicle with a window to look at the other skyscrapers, and a door. The door was amazing, he could hide all he wanted, save for meetings, he could take naps, on his off days (hungover). He could also work in peace.

He had done his daily rounds of responding to emails, making a few phone calls, and looking over billings. 10AM had crept up on him. Bzzz. His pager went off. "Mr. Uchiha, your 10 o'clock is in the lobby." He put his suit jacket on, that he had thrown over his chair and began the walk to the conference room. Neji was sweet talking the client when they walked into the conference room. "…and I said the product speaks for itself!" Sasuke caught the tail end of a bad joke. The client gave an uproarious laugh.

The client made eye contact with Sasuke across the conference table and his expression dampened just slightly. He knew where this was going. Sasuke reached over and shook the client, Mr. Aburame's, hand. "Sasuke, please accept my condolences regarding your brother. He was a kind and brilliant businessman. Aburame and sons were devastated to hear the news."

"Thank you sir. It has been a trying time but we intend to keep business operating. Please have a seat." As he motioned for them to sit. How many more condolences will I need to accept? He thought to himself.

The meeting concluded business as usual. Sasuke reassured Aburame and Sons that their business would be handled with the same care his brother had devoted to it. This seemed to satiate them and the client even gave them a new share of their business to cover, the new all organic store that would be opening up later that year. That was a great vote of confidence for U & U Ad (as the employees called the agency.)

Sasuke sat down at his desk, for a moment and looked back at his computer and the clock in the bottom corner of his screen. Shit. He stood up a bit more abruptly than he meant to. He walked in longer strides to the elevator than usual. He hopped in a cab to the restaurant he was supposed to meet Naruto at a half hour ago.

S-Meeting ran late, on my way now.

N- Yea, yea just hurry up. I'll order your usual.

Sasuke finally made it to the little Asian fusion restaurant they frequented. Naruto, his oldest friend, and coworker at U & U Ad was waiting in a booth by a window.

"You look more tired than usual." Naruto commented as Sasuke slid into the other side of the booth. "Did you order yet? I have to be back in a half hour. Have to talk Inuzuka Corporation off a ledge." Sasuke told him. The waitress brought their food to them. "Shit, they still thinking of joining Orochimaru's agency?" Naruto asked as he pulled his plate closer to him. "Apparently." Sasuke noted.

They finished eating and talking work when Naruto asked, "Are you doing ok?" As he glanced at the two empty beer bottles in front of him. Sasuke put cash to cover their bill and enough for a tip on the receipt. "I'm fine." Sasuke retorted. "You sure? You've been a lot more…thirsty recently." Sasuke pinched the ridge of his nose, he did not need this right now. "I'm fine, let's go." Sasuke slid back out of the booth to venture out to hail a cab. They made it back to the office, and the two beers hit Sasuke as he slid onto the couch in his office and laid down for a bit.

Bzzzz. Bzzzzz. Ring. Ring. "Nnn…shit." Sasuke said gripping his head listening to the annoying notifications rolling in. He stumbled over to his desk, trying to get the sleep to leave his body. "What." He said into his pager. "Ms. Haruno is here for your 3 o'clock." His secretary said nervously through the pager. He straightened up his tie and ran a hand through his hair. He pushed the intercom button again. "Send her in."

A woman in a tight forest green pencil skirt, white button up blouse, and light pink hair came walking into his office. "Hello Mr. Uchiha. My name is Sakura Haruno. I am here to interview for the live-in personal assistant job." She stated. Live-in personal assistant? I thought I called for a maid. "I thought I called about a maid?" He responded back and he motioned for her to take a seat in the chair in front of his desk.

"No, the agency said you asked for a live-in assistant. I do it all, clean, cook, schedule, get groceries, and medical assistnace. The agency said," she looked down at a schedule book. "And I quote, 'I need someone who does it all. I'm a mess and need help around this fucking house'." She said sweetly to him. She gave him a look that she knew his life was a mess, as his clearly drunken phone call had already outed him.

Sasuke put his head in hands. "I apologize, Miss Haruno. I was… under the weather when I called the agency. Please forgive me. I do really only need a maid though." He looked into her jade eyes. The woman eyed him and his surroundings up and down before she spoke. "Mr. Uchiha. If I may, if you are 'under the weather' as often as it may seem." She took a brief glance at the small bar for clients behind his desk. "I may be of more assistance than a maid. Forgive me for being blunt, but I know your brother just passed and it seems you are grieving. I did work for Itachi when he was in his last months of life. I believe I could be a great service to you." She said standing her ground. Sasuke was irate now. Who was this woman to assume he had a problem, the glances she provided gave him the information he needed.

"I assure you Miss Haruno, I am fine. I find it rather bold of you to assume things of people you don't know. I don't need a maid or a personal assistant. I will have to ask you to leave." He said opening and closing his fist. The woman made no show of being nervous; she seemed more bold now. "If you change your mind I will leave my card." She slid a card onto the edge of his desk. "I apologize if I overstepped. Good day Mr. Uchiha." She said as she turned to leave for the door. He watched her backside stride out of his office.

Sasuke cooled down and finished out his day after the pink haired woman riled him up. He poured himself a glass of scotch from his office bar since it was now after five in the evening. As he read over work files. One glass of scotch turned to three. He glanced at the clock and it was somehow now 8 in the evening. The city out of his window had lit up since he last looked out. He saw his reflection in the window. Disheveled with a slight glean of sweat on his forehead. He looked like his brother the last few months of his life. Sickly, what a sorry state. Itachi would be pissed if he saw me like this. Sasuke looked at his door to leave and back at the bottle of scotch with less than a few sips left in it. He reached for it and drank the rest of the bottle.

He awoke what he assumed was a few hours later. 1:24AM the clock on his phone read. Jesus. He glanced on his desk for water or anything. He felt a familiar twinge in his stomach. His brain did not move fast enough to process where the bathroom and how long it would take if he ran. He had seconds before the bile left his throat.

He made it to the trash can under his desk and violently vomited all his stomach contents into the trash bin. He laid down on the floor next to his desk. He stood up and scoured his desk. There. He saw her card. He punched the number into his phone. He didn't care about the time, how he sounded any of it.

Ring…

He hung up the phone. What was he doing? He was fine. He didn't need anyone. Once he had hung up the phone he laid down on the floor of his office.

He awoke the next morning on his office floor. The smell permeating from his trash bin singed his nostrils. He needed to get rid of the contents of his bin before the rest of the office filed in. Luckily he had an extra button up shirt in his desk if there was ever a need for one. It was Friday today anyway. If he could make it through today, he could have the weekend to recuperate.

He went to the bathroom to throw away his biohazard trash contents, once he was finished cleaning himself up and changing his shirt he glanced in the mirror. Sickly, alone, depressed. His face was the poster child for someone who needed help. Itachi would be pissed.

He walked back to his office and moved out all the bottles from the small bar set up. He put them on his secretary's desk with a note to move them to the conference room bar. He looked at his desk and began tidying it up for the morning. He saw her card again. Fuck it.

Ring…Ring…Ring.

"Hello, Miss Haruno?"