He walked into the conference room, holding a bind folder and his laptop in his hand.

His father stood at the furthest end of the long wooden table, there were several representatives from other departments sitting on the two sides. Asuma was there, nodding as he walked inside.

"Good morning everyone," Shikamaru cleared his throat as he put his stuff down at the table next to the projection screen. "I am Nara Shikamaru, and I am going to present today, the progress of the new diet supplement."

He clicked on the mouse, as the lights dimmed. "It is a new product developed by the R&D. The clinical tests are successful, and we are planning to target men and women who might have imbalance diet, or may not have enough time to cook healthily."

As his presentation carried on, the departmental representatives nodded, while his father looked at him, his hand on his chin.

"As for promotion, our marketing team is planning on having celebrity endorsement as well other promotions on public transport, that's about it."

His father nodded. "Very well, Asuma, what do you think?"

"I think it is perfectly fine, Shikaku-san." The bearded man smiled as he nodded in affirmation.

Shikaku nodded and stood up, smiling at his son. "Very well, carry on."

As the people left the conference room, Asuma walked up to him and patted Shikamaru on the shoulder.

"Great job, your father is quite pleased I can tell," he smiled at the younger man. "After all, it's the first project you handled on your own."

"It's alright I guess," Shikamaru smiled. "All that's left is marketing stuff."

"Speaking of which, have you decided who to contact for celebrity endorsement?"

"I haven't, I will ask them to figure it out." Shikamaru took out his phone and smiled briefly at it.

Asuma arched an eyebrow as Shikamaru turned around and left.

"Diet supplement huh?" Temari arched an eyebrow. "You want me to help endorse your product?"

"You don't have to, the marketing people asked me if I could ask you, they said you'd be the perfect choice." He shrugged as he poured her a glass of wine. "They figured that since we know each other, it'd be easier for me to ask."

Temari nodded, as she took a sip from the glass. "You know this is not playing according to the rule book, right?" She smirked, glancing at Shikamaru as he shuffled in his chair uncomfortably. "For stuff like this, you should have them contact my manager."

"I know, we sent her an email," said Shikamaru. "Just want to give you a heads up."

Temari scooted from her spot on the sofa closer to him, she snaked her arms around his neck, leaning close to him. "Now, now," she blinked, grinning mischievously. "It's not like I can't take that job, just that…" She glanced around, as Shikamaru turned around and looked at her in the eye. "I am so busy, it will be very difficult for me to fit it into my schedule, unless," she licked her lips and smirked, her finger drawing on his chest. "Unless you have some attractive proposal to offer, Mr. Nara."

Shikamaru sighed softly, throwing his hands up into the air in defeat. "I can never win in this troublesome game of yours."

Temari pointed to her lips, smiling proudly. Shikamaru leaned forward, as his lips almost touched hers, the ringtone of her phone rang.

He sucked his teeth as Temari slid away, picking her phone from the side table.

She arched an eyebrow as she pressed onto the screen.

"Hello?"

Temari looked slightly uncomfortable as she spoke, her smile was painfully fake as she listened.

He sat quietly as he stared at her, attempting to get off the line.

She sighed exasperatedly as she finally got off the phone.

"You would've never guess who just called," she said, putting the phone down.

"More like I wouldn't like who it is," he shrugged, as Temari made herself comfortable lying on his shoulder.

"I have no idea how he got my number," Temari rolled her eyes. "And it'd be rude for me not to answer."

Shikamaru shrugged. "Well, what does he want?"

"Same as what you want," Temari smiled smugly. "He wanted me to endorse another product for Hyuga corp., I already do their jewelery line, you would know."

"The photoshoot that you dragged me in?" He arched an eyebrow as Temari nodded. He pressed his hand against his face. "He might not want to use that for the adverts then."

"Why?" Temari asked, Shikamaru shook his head. "Let's just say, we aren't on the best terms, me and Neji."

"Really?" She found this revelation amusing. "I knew something did triggered you that night, I just didn't know it is Neji."

He rubbed gently against her arm while she leaned onto his shoulder. "We were in the same high school - Konoha High, he was supposed to be a year higher than me, but I've heard that he took a gap year in between and we ended in the same year."

"So that's why," she said, sipping from her wine. "What happened?"

"He is just strangely competitive, and then one time, I beat him in shogi."

"He hated you just because of that?"

"No," he shrugged. "It's more like the manner I did it, I beat him half asleep, and he was the best player in the shogi club at that time."

"Oh," she arched an eyebrow. "He thinks you're a loser but you beat him flat out. That's gonna hurt."

Shikamaru shrugged again. "It's not like I can help it. He's just not that good."

Temari laughed heartily. "Y'know, you're quite savage." She said as she gasped for breath after intense laughter. "But I like that about you."

He smiled, as Temari stretched her arms and snuggled close to him. Shikamaru tightened his embrace around her.

"You know what?" Shikamaru arched an eyebrow as she spoke, there was gentleness in her eyes as she looked at him, smiling. "I will see to the two proposals, but I will make sure that when Tenten discusses them with me."

"That's all that I ask," he said, smiling. "I will make sure they do a good enough job then."

"Wouldn't it be troublesome?" She smirked.

He ruffled her blonde hair and smiled. "Just to match how troublesome you are."

Temari chuckled. "Oh, by the way, I am going to Kumo next month for filming."

"Really? Sounds fun," he said with a smile.
"See if you can join me," she grinned. "Fewer paparazzi on our trail."

Shikamaru grinned back at her. "I'll if I can get a few days off, it'd be easier if I get that promotion from my dad."

"Don't think that you can seduce me into agreeing to endorse your product," she stuck out her tongue.

"Troublesome," he pressed a kiss on her forehead. Temari held his hand in hers, sighing softly as she did.

"If only we'd just hang around all day without worrying about so much." She said mindlessly, in which Shikamaru rubbed her back gently.

"We can," he said. "All it takes is a little step."

Temari arched an eyebrow with a smirk. "Won't you regret it? I thought you hated the limelight."

"Guess it's just collateral damage for being with the most troublesome woman in the world." He sighed as he squeezed her hand a little. "Especially since she's a movie star."

She shook her head, sighing exasperatedly. "Mixing business and pleasure together, you're making it tough to take Neji's proposal instead of yours."

"Mostly pleasure, really," he smiled smugly. "Speaking of which…"

He stood up, pulling her up in the process, he pressed his forehead against hers, smiling as he licked his lips.

"I just thought of some pleasure to add to our deal, besides, I'll help you think of a way to reject him if you want to. " he pulled onto her hand as she chuckled, heading to the bedroom.

Looks like he had got himself an irresistible deal.

Author's note:

Another chapter! I hope you enjoy this rather short chapter :)

Thanks for the love xoxo Feel free to review or PM me to tell me how you feel about the story!

V.S.V