My butt really hurts. So does my back. I've been sitting like this for hours now, but I won't go to sleep until I post this chapter up! SUCH IS MY DEDICATION TO MY STORIES AND TO ALL YOU READERS OUT THERE!

But don't let my frantic proclamations stop you - go forth and READ! A FLUFF-FILLED LOVEY-DOVEY chapter awaits you!

Disclaimer: I don't own the awesomeness that is Naruto.

I was being carried bridal style. I knew that whoever was carrying me was a man, because a girl having such large, rough hands would be...pretty darn sad.

I tried to open my eyes, but it was a struggle that I couldn't win. I heard all sorts of sounds, footsteps, locks clicking and door slamming shut, before I fainted again.

The second time I awoke, I managed to open my eyes. I was on a gigantic couch in a fancy room, both a dead giveaway that I was most certainly NOT in my own apartment.

"Hello?" I croaked and winced at the sound. "Who's there?"

Instead of a verbal reply, I was answered by Uchiha Sasuke entering the dark room, holding something big. My heart literally skipped a beat. I was really scared of what he was going to say.

"Eat," was all he said, handing me a tray. Not all that menacing. Maybe he'd poisened the food?

"Err...no thanks, I'll just go home-"

"EAT," he repeated, louder this time, and I meekly obeyed.

"Umm, sir?" I spoke between bites. "What about Tayuya-san? Wouldn't she mind if you left her at the ball?"

"Who?" he looked genuinely confused. "Tayuya...oh! Why would she care? She's just a client, albeit a tough one."

He gave me a 'weirdo' look and rolled his eyes, looking away. I nodded as if I understood but didn't really care, and hid my triumphant smile in the soup.

She's just a client! YAHOO! So all those times they were seen together, they must have been negotiating...but her lovey-dovey looks seemed pretty real. Maybe she wants him...?

After a few uncomfortable minutes of me eating and him staring in complete silence, he finally spoke.

"The doctor at the hotel said you're over-worked, exhausted and don't seem to have eaten well for days. Oh, and consumed alchohol."

"Doctor?" I asked, confused.

"You passed out just when the elevator door opened and a man who saw you drop said he was a doctor and did an on-the-spot checkup."

"Oh. That was nice of him." I offered, earning a glare for my efforts.

"Why didn't you tell me you were tired? And if you were tired, why didn't you eat something to get some energy? And-" His voice had begun to rise.

"I'm sorry," I said, setting down the now-empty plates. "I didn't know I would faint."

"Over-working means over-exhaustion which means you're too damn tired to hold up your own weight!" he shouted. "Do you know how worried I was?"

"I'm sorry, I assure you I'll be fine by Monday and return to-" My pathetic attempt at figuring out my current employment-status was cut off by him.

He took a deep breath and said, "You won't be coming back on Monday-"

"I'm telling you I'll work better from now on, and I'll give my 100% to everything, just please don't sack me!" I wailed, latching onto his arm.

"Sack you...?" his confused expression hardened. "THAT'S all you care about? Your job?"

I didn't reply. I couldn't. I didn't know what to say!

"Haruno...do you really hate me that much?" he asked quietly just when I was about to scream to break the heavy silence.

I looked at him sharply. Was that a trick question? And just WHAT all had I blabbed while I was delirious?

"Er...not really," I was still a bit suspicious, but the lie gnawed at my concience the moment I uttered it.

"Not really?" he smirked and continued. "But you don't like me either."

"I..um.." I really did not want to confess my feelings for my BOSS when I was at a very delicate stage of being almost unemployed.

He stood up, taking the tray I'd set aside with him. As he reached the doorway, he paused and said: "Haruno, you'll be transferred to a more suitable job for you, by Monday."

"Wait, wha-?" I began but he'd shut the door and walked away. I was too stunned to move.

As I sat there like a limp dummy, a dozen scenarios rushed through my head, all very disturbing and none very pleasant. I would far away from him, and I'd got very used to being with him till late hours of the day. Even if I was just there, doing nothing, his mere company kept me contented. Amid all the papers, coffee and mean chatter, I fell in love with him and now I couldn't be near him? I was happy even if I couldn't have him, because if I was just near him and could see him, it was enough for me. Being jealous was a regular part of loving someone, and my case was no different.

i sat unmoving for what seemed like hours, but all my contemplating took up barely two minutes. And in those few moments, I realized that I wanted to stay beside him! I wouldn't complain about my petty love-problems if I could just be with him always!

With this sudden moment of clarity, I hopped out of bed...and fell. My legs lad fallen asleep while I was in my cool, still pose.

"Ow, ow, ow!" I yelped as I hopped around, switching feet each time. They both had pins and needles so I couldn't realy stand. Since I couldn't stand straight, I tried getting back onto the bed, but succeeded only in falling again.

The dress really wasn't helping my situation, but it was just SO pretty! I couldn't rip it and run after my man like those beautiful women did in movies! Firstly because the dress was EXPENSIVE, and secondly because those women were bloody brave. Even though most of them knew that they were definitely going to get the man they were chasing, the other half had no idea what was going to be the (scripted) outcome...but they still put themselves out there and won the guy. Well, no duh, because they were freakin' HOT and their "rivals" always seemed to be ugly or stupid. No offense to the not-so-pretty vamps.

As I crouched on the floor, massaging my sore butt and prickly feet, I felt the courage rise up again, but only halfway. Only enough to 'request permission to continue my post' as his PA. Not the crazy adrenaline that fueled all those love confessions that ALWAYS led to some kind of happily ever after. Anyway, that was all the courage I needed. Confessing to my cold, conceited and callous boss was an idea doomed to failure.

As long as I continued to believe that, I would be fine. Now to confront the Ice Prince...

I was pretty sure I'd written more than that, but this is all there is, so sorry! Yes, I know it's really short and becoming overly dramatic, but as I told you before - I have a thing for perfect numbers and so I will finish this story either by Chapter 20 OR 21 if I feel like it. That is, if I get enough inspiration for that ^_^

Read on and enjoy (if you can)! And review pwease?