The day from there was a whirlwind. Fugaku's only mood was irritated, and his only tones were stern or furious. He had no issue with scolding his employees in the most cutting yet subtle way. The one that hurt the most so far was. "Why do you think that this was worthy of putting in front of me?" To a proposal that had taken six months to put together.
The next meeting was less hostile but far tenser. The two directors were very… competitive if she had it right. They seemed to be on the ground of mutual respect, but it didn't make the tension go away.
Hinata wrote notes on everything she could on her work phone, just like the interviewer beside her was. She had written a good portion of her essays on a phone, as she had no laptop. She at least had her screen typing skills down.
Hinata learned that Itachi was his eldest son, and she was not to be present during their meeting but to be on call in the next room. She had brought her lunch and received a funny look from her predecessor for it as he ordered from a local high-end restaurant. She didn't even see the director's son.
After lunch, they were occasionally called in to write orders for other departments. Some included threats to their projects. Hinata was instructed on how to word emails in a way that would please him or rather wouldn't gain his wrath.
Her predecessor explained other things, like events and the binder's contents.
It was a lot to expect from one person. It seemed like a job for a few people.
"Delegate as you can, but if they don't follow through, it is your ass on the line." He warned her.
The finance meeting was like the one before, but after, she also gathered a few observations. The director liked three things: prompt responses, short answers, and suggestions only if they couldn't be presumed. He hated delays, long explanations, and stupid questions.
With those rules, she hoped that she might survive the week.
After the meeting, Hinata was informed that she shouldn't leave the office until he did. She knew a dedicated businessman would sleep in his office if he could.
Her predecessor wished her good luck and left at 6. At this point, she realized it had been 12 hours since she got here. Hinata sighed and used her old phone to find apartments as she waited. Could she find something she could afford near here? The center of the city was expensive. She didn't even know how long she would have the job.
"Hinata." The intercom called her sternly.
Hinata jumped, pushing the button. "Yes, sir."
"Come here," Fugaku ordered.
Hinata got up without even setting her phone down. She tucked it behind her as she entered the next office.
Fugaku held out a folder. "I need this read and notes on it by eight tomorrow morning." Hinata took it, holding it to her chest. "This needs the same by Friday at 6." He held it out, and she realized her hand was full. She panicked and held out her hand with the folder for him to place it on top.
Fugaku frowned at her. His eyes flickered to her other hand tucked behind her.
Hinata blushed, pulling her hand out, placing the phone on his desk, and taking the second folder before picking her phone back up.
"What is that?" Fugaku asked in disgust.
"It's my phone, sir," Hinata admitted, looking down.
"Why do you have it?" Fugaku asked.
Honestly. What would she do as a lie anyway? "I was looking for apartments in the area, sir. I live over an hour away and was informed that I must be available in the area at all times."
"Why are you using that?" Fugaku asked.
Hinata faltered. "I didn't want to use company property for personal purposes, sir."
"Don't use that garbage," Fugaku instructed. "Use your laptop. Keep it with you at all times."
"Yes, sir." Hinata bowed.
"Can you afford an apartment in this area?" Fugaku didn't look up. He knew she couldn't, didn't he?
Hinata blushed. Was he looking at her profile? He would know that she was working temp jobs and that she was currently living with her father.
"I don't think so…" Fugaku's eyes flicker at her in annoyance with her indecisive answer. "No, sir."
"Find a place by the end of the day tomorrow and send the bill to finance. They will take it out of your first paycheck, and after that, you will be responsible for it. I want it close to the Uchiha district. Do you know where that is?" Hinata nodded. "You don't have a car."
That sounded like a statement, not a question, but she answered like it was. "No, sir." Hinata didn't even have a license.
"Have your current address sent to the transportation staff," Fugaku demanded. "I expect this to not be a problem by the end of the week."
"Yes, sir." Hinata agreed.
"Tomorrow at two, I will be having a meeting with the family council. It is casual. You will not be present. You will go to have a fitting, and you will receive suitable clothes. You were an embarrassment in front of Uzumaki today." Hinata blushed, feeling self-continuous. She glanced down. Surely her clothes weren't that bad? "I expect you to represent this company properly."
"Yes, sir," Hinata answered.
"Give me an evening report, and you will be dismissed." Hinata quickly stepped out of the office, emptying her hands and grabbing the correct phone. She read out his next day's schedule, including where she would be at two. Hinata then gave him an overview of emails he had marked to be replied to and what she would put in them.
"Anything else, sir?" Hinata tucked her hands behind her, keeping her head high. It was all she could do.
"Schedule a trip to the salon as well," Fugaku ordered. "I'll email them what I want. Charge it to the company."
Hinata nodded. "What time, sir?"
Fugaku glanced at her right hand. "What is before two."
"You have a meeting at one with marketing, sir." Hinata reminded me.
"Push it back to three. You'll head to the salon at lunch. I don't want to see you again until you look the part." Fugaku ordered.
"Yes, sir." Hinata bowed.
"Dismissed."