Author's note: Hi everyone, sorry for the delay. There was a problem up loading the document. Thanks to all who reviewed. Anyway, here's chapter 2. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Then there was you

Summary: Neji and Tenten are the Romeo and Juliet of the Business world.
Childhood friends with rival fathers, they meet years later, to find themselves in the middle of a corporate face-off with one another.

Rated: PG

Chapter 2

"And Mr Hyuga, in what direction are you going to steer Hyuga Cooperation to?" a reporter from Forbes magazine inquired. The reporter was battling her eyelashes at Neji so profusely that Neji felt so amused. 'Yet another one trying to bait me' he thought.

Neji cleared his throat to answer the question, "For now, we are planning to break into the shipping market and try to get at least 90 stakes in the market." He answered confidently and was no doubt serious in his answer.

"Neji.., ermm.. Mr Hyuga, thank you for this interview and may your venture be successful," with that she stood up and shook his hand not wanting to let go. "Anyway, may I call you Neji?" she asked saucily. She came nearer to him and was only a few centimeters away from his face. Neji leaned in closer, so close that she thought he was going to kiss her. She closed her eyes and breathed sensually, licking her lips in preparation. However, just as soon as she closed her eyes, she heard the door opening with gorgeous Neji standing next to it smirking at her. His hand wave signaled her dismissal. She was so embarrassed that she walked out with her head down. The young CEO shook his head in disgust and went back to his desk to work on something. It wasn't that Neji wasn't interested; it was just that he couldn't stand girls that acted so shamelessly, he actually felt bad for them...

On the other hand…

Tenten was holding a big stack of books concerning marketing. To be specific, law books, business also required the knowledge of some laws. This was the favorite part of the studying for Tenten, law was her forte and she enjoyed it even though she was learning it to the minimum. She struggled balancing them, as some of them were about to drop. True enough, she lost balancing the books and they dropped onto the floor. She muttered under her breath at her misfortune and scurried to pick them up. At that moment, just as she was bending over, a shadow fell over her and she looked up only to see a blond-haired girl also helping to pick up her books. Tenten was very grateful to the stranger and thanked her profusely.

"It was nothing, just doing my part to help." she replied. "My name is Yamanaka Ino and I am in the same faculty as you. And this is Sakura. She's a medical student!" she said, pointing to another girl beside her. She had green eyes and beautiful pink hair.

"I guess since we are all new here, we might need each other's company," with this Ino and Sakura stuck out their hands and waited for a handshake. Tenten took it without hesitating and smiled warmly at them.

"So are you guys studying what you actually like or was it a parent's order?" Tenten asked with curiosity. She hoped to find a kindred spirit in Ino and Sakura and as if God has answered her prayers, Ino retorted, "the latter. I have been wanting to be a fashion designer for so long, and it just so happened that my irresponsible older sister had to elope just before she was going to take over the management of the family business. I wanted to hunt her now and strangle her for doing this to me. She knows all along that the plan was that she inherits the business and I become a fashion designer, we had it planned since I was twelve! Then suddenly, some guy comes along and sweeps her off her feet and brings her to Paris where she so irrationally decides to become a full time house wife where all she wants to do is to care for her husband and kids. Sometimes, I think about her and just feel my parents' hurt, she just left without saying a thing and it has been a year since her elopement and we've only heard from her once". Ino finished bitterly.

"Well, I'm a little luckier I guess... I lost my parents since I was 15 and I'm raised by my aunt. She's really a good woman, doesn't force me to do anything against my wishes. So no pressure from my parents, no family business and here I am, doing what I love the most – Medicine." Replied Sakura.

"I'm really sorry about your parents Sakura. And Ino too. If it helps, I am also another victim. My father just dropped the bombshell on me even though he knew, I wanted to do law. He played out the " you're the only child and therefore the family business is in your hands' speech and so here I am juggling these bloody heavy books."

Ino burst out laughing. "You're very amusing you know, I think I'm gonna be enjoying your company."

"Me too." Smiled Sakura. Tenten grinned.

Soon, it was Christmas and Harvard University was holding a countdown party at the campus. Every single student was invited and everyone was thrilled at the idea. Tenten, Ino and Sakura were very pleased too, as it was their first Christmas spent together as best friends. They all looked forward to the party.

At the Hyuga Mansion...

"Neji, an invitation from Harvard has been sent today, why don't you take a look at it?", asked Hyuga Hiashi. Neji walked down the spiral staircase and towards the coffee table. He picked up the invitation and read it. It was to be held at the Campus at 10pm for a countdown and it is a mask and costume party.

"Oh, I don't think I'll be going, after all if I go who is going to keep you company on lonely Christmas night?" Neji taunted.

" Excuse me, the most eligible bachelor, Hyuga Hiashi has a date on Christmas night, for your information. And I would need some privacy. So, I plan to send my nephew away so that I can have the house to myself. Got it?" Neji's uncle retorted to his teasing and playful nephew. Neji got the hint and whacked his uncle playfully on his arm before retiring upstairs.

Upstairs in his room, Neji thought of the party and hoped that it would be fun. He planned on wearing a tuxedo and a black mask which only covered his upper face leaving his eyes to charm more girls. At that silly thought he grinned and with that he laid on his bed and slumber took over.

On the campus….

"So, Tenten what are you going to wear to the party?" asked Ino.

"Oh… I don't know, it is only one day away and I have not decided.' Tenten groaned.

"Why don't we go shopping today for costumes? Besides, I haven't gotten mine too!" Sakura suggested.

The girls then happily left for the mall. They were pretty excited about the whole idea of a masked party. Secrecy was in the air and just their idea for Christmas. They arrived at the clothes section and Ino took liking to a light blue dress and a blue tiara. It matched well and soon Ino decided to go as a Princess. Sakura put on a pink ballet sort of outfit with a short frilly skirt and held a wand saying: "I'm going as a fairy!"

Tenten was still clueless about what she should wear and sought Ino's advice. "Ino, what should I wear? Nothing here is to my liking and I don't think that I will look nice at all! I'm just a ugly little pixie!" Tenten whined. At the corner of Ino's eye, she caught sight of a long flowing white dress that was placed quite out of sight. She quickly rushed there and grabbed hold of it. In the meanwhile, Tenten was still very upset about not knowing what to wear. Ino waved the dress in front of Tenten and soon Tenten 's eyes were on the beautiful silky white dress. It was truly captivating and she exclaimed what an angel Ino was.

"That's right, you are going as an angel!" Ino and Sakura exclaimed at the same time with excitement. In the next moment, Tenten was wearing the dress in the fitting room and it fit like a glove. It was as if the dress was made especially for her. Tenten was so pleased and immediately paid for it.

The girls exited the mall and were walking down the street as they passed down the news vendor. On a gossip magazine cover, pictures of the eligible Hyuga Neji were splashed all over the page. It read that Neji was going to attend the Christmas Countdown party at Harvard University. Tenten 's heart skipped a beat and she was excited at the thought of meeting Neji again. She was in a daze until Ino had to shout to get her attention. They left for the campus soon afterwards, each with different dreamy thoughts on the coming party.

Thanks for reading! Please review! Next chapter will be out hopefully by this weekend…In the meantime, you can check out my other story More than friends.