The following day, the director was in a sour mood. Fugaku hadn't said much the night before. He demanded his last report and just dismissed her.
After a long day of his usual snap orders and a bad meeting, he called her in for an update. "Where are you with Sasuke's event?"
"It will be a public event five days after his plane is scheduled to land. It is going to be at the Uchiha ballroom. Caters and entertainment have already been contracted."
Fugaku's eyes narrowed on her. "How did you decide all this?"
Hinata swallowed. "I didn't. When Itachi-sama came by last night, he asked if he could plan his brother's party. He gave me the details, asked me to book the caterer and music he picked out."
"You're passing the work I assigned to you off?" Fugaku asked her pointedly.
"No, sir. He wanted to plan it. That's what he told me." Hinata felt like she was making excuses.
Fugaku set his jaw. "Anything else he asked of you?"
"He asked me to forward some projects that were under his department," Had she been wrong in thinking she wouldn't want to be bothered with this information?
"That's all." Fugaku snapped
"Yes, sir." Hinata bowed her head and let herself into her office. Maybe it was her she was mad at.
Itachi sat back in his chair, smiling at his email.
This girl was interesting, but what was more interesting was his father's reaction to her. He had chosen the least qualified, the youngest girl of the bunch. But his father wasn't so spiteful of his son that he would gamble his work to make a point. Fugaku had something against this girl, and Itachi was going to find out what.
According to her file, Hinata was from a nondescript family, the daughter of a man that owned a small business outside the city, an A/B student in university from a lesser school. She was largely uninteresting at first glance. Itachi remembered seeing her before her interview in passing. She didn't look like that before. She stuck out with her modest makeup and common haircut among all the other girls that walked through the door. It was the reason she had caught his attention that day.
His father had gone through the trouble to dress her up. It didn't take long for Kisame to find out that his father had demanded she get a full makeover to 'look the part.' He had gone a lot further than 'look the part.'
His father was dedicated to this, and he didn't want him to know, which, of course, made the reason all the more interesting.
His father was playing games with this girl.
And Itachi was on her side.
Hinata was getting used to her days. She was up at five, in the office by six. She gave the morning report, receiving orders. She ate her breakfast at her desk while reviewing emails.
Hinata was responsible for ensuring that what needed to happen was told to the right people at all times of the day. She never got a break from her phone or laptop. She most of her time in meetings, multitasking between note-taking and clearing her email. She simply couldn't get to it all if she didn't.
When lunch was her first time to breathe, sometimes it was just ordering food for the director, and sometimes he would leave for a lunch meeting. Either way, it was usually the portion of the day that was calm, with no one sending her new emails or handing her paperwork.
Hinata started packing every meal. Fugaku would usually order dinner or be gone for only an hour or two. She became a regular at the coffee bar to ensure that she didn't run out of energy until he did. The best part of the day was after five, when the emails stopped pouring in, and people left for the day. She didn't, though. They went home around eight most nights.
After she was dropped off, she would pick up groceries and make herself meals for the next day while on the phone with her sister, then it would start all over again tomorrow.
Hinata was getting used to the director, but she wasn't sure he would ever get used to her. She couldn't understand what it was, but she had the feeling that he was constantly testing her. Of course, she should expect that being a new employee, but it was like he was trying to make it harder than it had to be.
Maybe he was just cruel.
Itachi knocked on Hinata's office door.
Upon seeing him, Hinata straightened, looking confused down at her phone, probably looking for a missed appointment. He let himself in.
"Don't worry. I'm not here for my father." Itachi waved his hand.
"Oh…" Hinata tried to hide her relief.
"Is he giving you a hard time?" Itachi mused, sitting down across from her desk.
Hinata looked over at the door to his father's office and back. "No." She lied.
Cute.
Itachi leaned on the arm of the chair.
"What can I help you with, Uchiha-sama?" Hinata asked.
"I was just curious if my father ever gave you a day off, and what would you be doing?" Itachi asked.
Hinata instinctively opened her schedule. Her thumb hovered over her phone as she realized what he was asking. "Uh… well, I do have the weekend off, assuming I am not called in. I worked on reports last weekend."
Did she do anything but work? Maybe she was made for his father. "Could you spare your Saturday to help me pick out a gift for my brother?"
"I…" Hinata flickered around, unsure. "I've never met your brother. I'm not sure what help I would be."
Very cute.
"You two are about the same age. I just need a second pair of eyes." Itachi pressed, knowing that she wasn't going to say no.
Hinata nodded slightly.
Itachi smiled. "Good, I'll pick you up at 10, and we'll spend the day." He left before she could protest.
Hinata stood on the sidewalk early, and tugged at her blouse. She didn't have anything nice to wear that wasn't office attire. She didn't want to offend him with her normal clothes, but when Itachi pulled up, she was even more embarrassed to see him dressed down. He noticed her discomfort as he got out of the car and leaned on it. "Why don't you change into something more comfortable? I wouldn't want you to be on your feet in heels walking around a mall."
Hinata ducked her head and ran back upstairs, changing into her nicest old clothes. A sweater Hanabi bought for her own birthday but bought in a size too big to purposely give it to her, and a pair of fitted jeans she had gotten at a discount store. With the hair, makeup, and lower-heeled designer shoes, she could call the outfit intentional, right?
Itachi seemed satisfied. He opened the door for her as she came out.
Hinata stayed silent on the drive to the mall. Would her boss be upset with her? She didn't tell him. It didn't come up. She didn't want to bring it up. She wasn't even sure why Itachi had asked.
Itachi saved her from the painful silence once they had made it into their first store. The mall he brought her to was massive. Endless stores. He talked about his brother while she trailed behind him.
Itachi hadn't seen him in over a year now, but he was sure that he was the same. He lovingly described his younger brother as a grumpy brat with a competitive complex, but kind and helpful if he knew no one would point it out. He poured out how he had wished he was around more because he was too busy for him when they were young.
Hinata listened to all of it, but she wondered why he was so open with this information. Certainly, he wasn't this open about everything to everyone. Was it meant to help with the gift?
What she did gather was that his brother was spoiled, but still not particularly materialistic. Jewelry or watches were not something he would bat an eye at, and Itachi said he wanted his coming home gift to be special.
They spent a few hours in stores before her eye caught something in the window. A winter coat, it would be getting cold soon, and Hanabi outgrew hers. "She doesn't have a warm coat." Maybe she could buy her a good winter coat that wouldn't go thread bear in a year or two with this job. Hanabi was her height now. It wasn't likely she would grow much taller, so she wouldn't grow out of it. She hadn't even realized she had stopped until Itachi came back to stand beside her.
"A nice coat would be a good gift." Itachi seemed to read her mind.
Hinata blinked at him. Surely a boy with so much money would be able to buy a coat.
Itachi smiled at her with that oddly knowing smile that she couldn't figure out. "Keeps him warm, right?"
Hinata was so confused by this man.
They left with two bags. Itachi insisted on getting the women's coat she had seen initially. He didn't even explain why he knew she wanted it, but she couldn't keep him from buying it, and he had no use for a women's coat. Hinata glanced at the back seat of his car. She was happy that her sister would have a warm coat. She would be going to university soon. The school she was hoping for was a train ride and a walk away.
Hinata wore many layers in college and could still remember the cold that would go through your bones, walking to classes early in the morning.
"I think I will need to get him a good scarf for Christmas to go with the coat. What do you think?" Itachi told her.
Hinata blushed. He had noticed she was spaced out. "That would be nice."
"Will you come with me then too?" Itachi asked.
Did he want to have another outing with her?
"Uh, if I am still with the company, I don't see why not." Hinata hummed.
"Are you planning on leaving?" Itachi tilted his head, but his eyes stayed on the road.
"I know that this position is likely temporary." There was no need for her to hide it. He knew that his father's secretaries didn't stay for long.
"I don't know about that. I think dad likes you." Itachi parked his car outside her building.
Hinata made a face but tried to drop it just as quickly, but she wasn't quick enough.
Itachi laughed. "I know it doesn't seem like it, but that's just how he is. He seems to take more interest in you than the assistants that he's had before. And you certainly have been keeping up with him."
Hinata didn't know what to think. She didn't need him to like her, as long as he didn't hate her. She just wanted to keep this job as long as she could, then maybe she too could be moved to another department. It wouldn't make her father happy that she was demoted, but at least he wouldn't have the shame of her getting fired. Not that he had any pride in her anymore.
"Hey, I didn't mean to upset you." Itachi tilted his head down to her.
Hinata must have let that last part show on her face. She waved her hand, smiling. "I'm fine. I had a lovely day."
"Well, that's good. I'll see you Monday." Itachi got up out of that car and opened her door, giving her the gift bag with his sister's coat in it. "Thank you for helping me."
Hinata watched him drive off with a wave. What a strange man.