8:20 am
"I can't Ino, I'm going to work," Sakura plead over the phone.
"Right now?"
"Yes right now."
"I thought you didn't have to be in until 9?" the blonde asked.
"Yeah I have to catch the 8:30 bus to the 8:50 train then jog a quarter mile downtown."
"Aww, I'd give you a ride if, you know, if I had a car."
"Hehe, let's meet for lunch."
"Okie dokie, don't work too hard."
"You fucking bitch!"
"Um, Sakura? What—"
"That was my neighbor! Sorry. Walls are made of paper."
"Nice place. Guess that's why you never invite me over."
"Yeah yeah, I gotta go."
After saying their farewells Sakura ran out of her apartment. She was just a couple of steps out of her front door when she heard a bottle smash against her neighbor's wall. It was no secret the most affordable place she could live wasn't glamorous. "Wasn't glamorous" is of course a euphemism for "fucking ghetto as fuck."
9:06 am
Sakura walked across the lobby knowing exactly where to go. It was only her second day, but she felt good. Weirdly good. Sasuke was nothing like she expected, but she liked him. You know, in a professional way…or that's what she kept trying to convince herself.
Sakura got into the elevator and caught her breath on the long ride up.
Admittedly, she knew Sasuke had a lot of qualities to be a boyfriend: good looking, nice, funny, her age, yet, most prevailing and preventative, he was her boss. Sakura hardly had the time for a relationship, especially not with her BOSS. No way would she let her crush on Sasuke turn into anything else. Ino might be right that flirting with him would be good for her career; besides, Sasuke probably already had a girlfriend and she told him she had a boyfriend so it wouldn't develop much.
When she got off on the top floor she peered across to the secretary's desk and saw a tall business man talking to Temari.
Is that…? No, it couldn't be! Haha
When she got closer it was exactly who she thought it was.
"Sasuke, I could hardly recognize you in a suit," Sakura beamed happily.
"I just had it lying around," he said offhandedly.
"Not too uncomfortable I hope."
"It was until I threw away the tie," Sasuke commented.
Sakura giggled, "Well it looks good on you."
"Hn. See you in there." He turned towards the office and began walking away.
Sakura was about to follow him, but Temari spoke up, "Um, Sakura?"
"Yes?"
Temari looked at Sasuke until he disappeared behind the door, and then focused back on Sakura, "What are you doing?"
"Excuse me?" Sakura asked, shooting an eyebrow up.
"You're awfully nice to him."
"Shouldn't I?"
"You also work 15 feet from him," Temari continued.
"That's just where I was assigned."
"You've been here a day and you already seem all 'buddy-buddy'" Temari accused.
"So?"
"He isn't nice to anybody he hasn't known for at least 10 years!"
"What does that mean? I can't be friends with him?"
"Being friends with him is a bad idea."
"Jealous girlfriend?"
"He doesn't have a girlfriend."
"Boyfrie—?"
"No! He doesn't have a romantic bone in him. That's why I don't want you trying to be friends with him because you'll try to become more than friends. It'll never happen so don't try to get special privileges. It'll only annoy him."
"Um, I was just being friendly."
"You're not the first one to try being 'just friendly' and it doesn't end well."
"You care so much about me," Sakura sarcastically remarked.
"It doesn't end well for him either, or the company."
"Yeah, okay…" Sakura trailed off and scurried away.
Temari was definitely acting weird. At first it seemed like she was jealous, as if she had a crush on him, but it was more than that. She was concerned for everyone, even if she couldn't show it. Sakura pushed it to the back of her mind as she walked into Sasuke's office. He was already at his desk.
"Good morning Mr. Uchiha."
"Call me Sasuke," he declared.
"Good morning Sasuke."
"Hn."
"I'll be in Naruto's office reading over more proposals."
"He's not in yet."
"All right. Call me if you need me," Sakura assured. She turned her back and began walking to the connected office.
"Oh Sakura!" he beckoned.
She turned around, "Yes?"
Sasuke paused like he had forgotten what he wanted to say before speaking up, "I'm just… glad to have you with us."
"Thank you. That means a lot—"
"And if Itachi tells you anything just ignore him."
"Huh? Um, okay."
"Hn. I have work to do."
And with that Sakura left with a sense of joy and confusion.
9:41 am
Sakura normally read over 3 or 4 page requests. Now she was reading a 23 page novella asking for assistance buying clarinets for a school for the deaf. Ludacris as the proposition was, Sakura didn't mind reading it. It took her mind off of things plaguing her mind: student loans, Sasuke, her apartment, Sasuke, her friends, Sasuke, Sasuke and Sasuke. They had only seen each other a couple of days, but Sakura believed in love at first sight. She also believed in not pursuing her boss. She also believed Sasuke had no interest in her…mostly. Besides, guys like him must use and then ignore girls left and right never getting serious.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Naruto burst in, his head cocked back looking in Sasuke's direction: "…well you look gay."
He closed the door and stalked into their office, "Hey. Did you get Sasuke into that monkey suit?"
"Well yeah, I mean, I recommended it."
Naruto scoffed, "He looks funny."
"I think he looks good."
Ok that came out wrong.
Naruto got to his desk and sank into it: "Say, do you like him?"
Sakura could feel herself blush before she stammered out, "N-no! Well, he's a good boss, so I like him like t-that."
"Heh, I was just wondering because he's been acting funny. He actually seemed happy yesterday after lunch and sad when we had dinner. Now he's dressing to impress! I've never seen him like this in a decade."
"Oh…why do you think that is?"
"Likes you. Probably."
Sakura could feel her blush deepen, "I mean, hasn't he liked anyone before and acted kinda like this?"
Again, Naruto scoffed, "Nope. He's a virgin."
What?! There's nothing wrong with that… but it's just seems so unlikely.
"So he's, he's never had a girlfriend or anything like that?"
"No. He's always been too focused on school or work since his parents died. Despite his usual looks, he's actually pretty smart."
"I don't know what to say…" Sakura admitted.
"Look, I don't want to get too involved in your personal life, but Sasuke's my friend and I don't want him getting let down."
"Thanks Naruto."
"Yup. If anything comes up you can talk to me."
And she believed him; friends of Sasuke were friends of hers.
12:33 pm
Sakura was waiting at a diner that was halfway between her and Ino's jobs. This is where thy agreed to meet for lunch. She ordered for both of them and was waiting for the food to come when Ino arrived.
"Hey fivehead!" Ino greeted with Sakura's nickname.
"Ugh, nice to see you too…uh, pig."
"I'm not chubby anymore."
"Nice to see you… sixhead?"
"That's kind of cheesy."
"Yeah whatever," Sakura grumbled out.
"Tough day?"
"Sort of…I don't think I'm going to lead Sasuke on."
"Why?!" Ino asked.
"Call me crazy, but I think he might like me."
"Hi Crazy, I'm Ino. Nice to meet you," she gibed while holding a hand out for a handshake.
"I'm serious. His best friend said he probably does…even though, he hasn't had," Sakura mumbled out some more gibberish.
"I'm sorry Serious, what was that last part?"
"He hasn't had a girlfriend before. I'm afraid if I lead him on it could hurt him."
"Oh gheeze whatever-your-name-is-now, no offense, but he could date models or actresses."
"Yeah that's what's crazy about this."
"Okay okay. He thinks you have a boyfriend so just keep a platonic, friendly relationship until you go back to college and have to leave this job."
"Yeah. Yeah that's a good plan."
"And I'm gonna have to see this guy to believe him."
"What, like come to work with me? Uh-uh, no way."
"I'll come by tonight and we'll walk home together! I'll just say a quick 'hello' to him."
"Ugh!"
1:01 pm
Sakura wasn't looking forward to having Ino drop by later, but until then she had to get back to business. She paced across the hallway just like this morning, passed Temari without having a conversation, and walked into the main office. Sasuke's chair was turned around, but she could see his mop of black hair.
"Hi Sasuke," Sakura called out.
His chair swung around and to her surprise, it wasn't Sasuke, rather it was his brother Itachi.
"You don't call your boss 'Mr. Uchiha' like everyone else?"
Sakura was stunned for a second, "Oh, he asked me not to."
"Hm…"
Apples didn't fall far from their tree.
Itachi changed the subject: "I just dropped by to invite Sasuke to this banquet my company is throwing tonight."
"Ok, well I should get back—"
"Actually, would like to come too?"
"Me? Why?"
"Same reason you work in the room next to Sasuke: he works better near you, apparently."
She gulped and went on, "It's only been a day."
"Yet he's changed more in this day than he ever has. He came to my place yesterday asking for my old suit! Didn't even stay for dinner."
"Oh so—"
"Just think about it. I'll make sure he asks you," Itachi said then stood up, then mumbled, "like I would have to make sure."
After that he quickly exited the room.
5:16 pm
Sakura went through the rest of the day normally. Her suspicions grew after hearing Itachi briefly, but she decided to keep her mind occupied with reading. She swore she didn't have this much melodrama in her whole life. She was so enthralled in one charity that seemed promising that she didn't see the time. When she looked up at the clock, she decided it was time to check out.
She was a tad nervous to pass through Sasuke's office because she hadn't seen him much today. Sakura sucked it up and walked in to see Sasuke looking intensely at his laptop. When he heard her come in, he looked up and instantly seemed relieved.
"Hey Sakura. Going home?"
"Yeah are you?"
"Not yet. Did Itachi talk to you?"
"Oh yeah, a bit."
"What'd he say?"
"Just mentioned a banquet thing tonight."
"And that's all he said?" Sasuke asked, his intensity coming back.
"Yeah, why?"
"Just wonderi—" Sasuke began until being interrupted:
"Hey fivehead!"
Sakura's eyes widened and her stomach turned.
Oh no
Both of them turned their attention to Ino who just burst in. She just loved to embarrass her friend. Sasuke stood up.
Sakura quickly said, "HeyInoNiceToSeeYou! I'll be out in a few minutes!"
"Fivehead?" Sasuke muttered.
"Don't be rude. Introduce me to your friend," Ino demanded.
"Sasuke, this is Ino. Ino, this is Sasuke Uchiha, my boss."
Ino was downright giddy to respond, "Oh! So this is him!"
"Okay Ino I'll be right out!"
With that, Ino turned heel and, as quickly as she came in, she left.
"That your friend?" Sasuke asked.
"Yeah, I'm starting to wonder why."
"And that would make you 'fivehead'?"
"That's just an old nickname. I used to call her 'pig', which was never very creative, but it made sense when she was chubby."
"Have you tried calling her 'sixhead'?" he asked.
Sakura giggled and blushed, "I'll try that."
"Hn," Sasuke grunted, then sat back down and looked at his computer.
"Gonna get more work done?" Sakura asked tentatively, half turning away.
"Yeah a bit," Sasuke then shot his eyes back up at her, "Actually, maybe it'd be good if you came to the banquet with me. There might be press. You know, if you don't have plans."
Sakura faced him happily. She really wasn't sure why she said this, but she would never regret it, "Yeah, you know, my boyfriend and I just broke up so I'm all free."
"All right, 6:30 at Itachi's company," he informed nonchalantly.
Sakura just nodded and walked out.
Neither of them would know it, but they both smiled as soon as they were alone.
Next Time: Sasuke and Sakura go to the dinner, but neither wants to admit how much they enjoy it. More of Sasuke's past is shown about how he got his fortune.
Review this story. Check for razor blades in your candy. Favorite this story. Don't forget to wash behind your ears. Follow this story. Check both ways before crossing the street. Check out Sakura's Amnesia, the in-universe story I write in conjunction to this one. Throw away expired food.