YOU'RE MINE

A/N: Warnings and disclaimer on the first chapter.

AUTHOR'S RANT: If you're only reviewing to criticize everything in this story then PLEASE STOP READING IT. I didn't point a gun in your head and told you to read, so if things aren't to your liking just stop, it's as simple as that. I write what I want and not what you demand.

CHAPTER 6: A CONFLICT OF HEART AND MIND

Naruto pursed his lips and momentarily dropped the pen he's holding. He's been stuck on the task of figuring out how to transform the ceremonial space into some kind of ballroom area after guests and newlyweds had their dinner at the reception. In any other day he'll be excited to face the challenge, not only because he'll be accomplishing the task but mainly to bring satisfaction to their customers. They have to live up with the high expectation of their clients and sometimes it's a must to exceed those. But since his return to the office after Neji unceremoniously cut off their wonderful honeymoon, he's been in bad mood and often loses his concentration thus making him waste precious time that should have turned out to be productive period. He's not blaming his husband per se but he can't avoid apportioning the fault to Neji and his adamant drive to prove himself. He thought they were past that stage when the brunette almost wholly invested himself in planning their wedding. Guess he has been wrong, again.

Neji loves him, that's unquestionable. But does Neji love him more than his dedication to his position, to his job? That Naruto wasn't confident at all. Since Neji can easily shove him in the sideline for whatever his job demanded. It has been three weeks since then. They were back to how they used to be. Late night arrivals, minimal interactions and somehow, Naruto can feel a cold war brewing beneath their sheets. Yes, he made it clear that they are not to make love for the remaining time that should have been their honeymoon stage but that ended two weeks ago and Neji hasn't made any attempt of touching him! Sure, there are the kisses and hugs but even those lacks warmth and passion. Naruto gripped his head and lay back on the leather chair. Things are starting to get ugly. They needed to fix it soon or else it'll come to a point when everything will be beyond mending and he will not let it result to that.

...

"Naruto, I need you to sign this procurement. We have to make additional purchase of these mercury balls and other wares. Our current supplies and materials won't be enough since we're catering our largest number of guests yet."

Naruto looked up from his laptop and glanced at Ino who appears to be a bit stressed out just like most of the staff. The upcoming wedding is that between of a politician's daughter and a business mogul. The budget is infinite and that equalizes to the saying that it should be perfect. The clients were recommended to their office by none other than the matriarch of the Uchihas, Lady Mikoto herself. When Naruto received a phone call from the woman a few weeks ago as they were busy working on his own wedding, he was startled yet pleasantly surprised. He was not expecting it or the reference of the regal woman of their small company to handle such big event. Naruto's nerves worked double time as soon as he heard of the proposal. Of course the woman gave him the choice to decline but it was an opportunity that they mostly needed as a gate pass for more projects like that. And so, swept off by his overwhelming desire to accomplish the task and not to disappoint Mikoto, Naruto accepted it wholeheartedly. It only occurred to him later on that making decision like that was supposed to be team stuff. Thankfully, he and everybody else share the same feelings over this new venture: excitement and apprehension.

"Do we have enough budget for additional acquisitions? We still have a lot of things to manage and we can't go on buying things." Naruto asked Ino as he read through the proposal of the woman. He knows well that Ino isn't the type to make decisions just because she likes it.

The blonde took a seat and crossed her legs. "We have another option. We can ditch the mercury balls set-up and try for something else that doesn't require any additional cost. We have our stocks of supplies in the storage room."

Naruto shook his head. "Not possible. If we alter this particular effect everything else should be changed. Alright, this looks okay. Just give a copy of this to the accountant. You can do the shopping; get Kiba to come with you."

The woman dramatically sighed. "Can't I drag Shika?"

Naruto scrunched his nose. "That's not a good idea. We're rushing and I don't think Shikamaru's going to accompany you. He hates shopping."

Ino scoffed. "Whatever. I'll bring the dog along. Have you finalized the venue yet? How many areas are we using?"

"I dropped in the building yesterday and made estimations. We'll cover up the entire first floor."

Ino rolled her eyes. "Disgusting. Anyway, how are you and Neji? You haven't indulged us yet with the honeymoon details."

From stressed to eager, Ino sure can transform emotions quite fast. She was leaning towards the boss with a leer.

The tan guy glared at her. "We're not totally okay but I'll save the story for some other time, Ino. We need to focus on this one first. We don't want disappointing the Senator or Mrs. Uchiha."

Ino backed away. "Indeed. Well, I better get going. Just hold on okay. I'm sure you can sort out whatever it is. But I'll still wait for some chat."

She winked at Naruto and marched out of the office. The blond guy sighed. He hopes they can fix their situation as soon as possible before things get out of hand.

...

"Neji, how are things with Mr. Kishimoto?"

Sasuke Uchiha didn't spare a glance at the executive who took a seat in front of him. He continued to read some documents in his laptop as he taps the keyboard.

"Everything's going smoothly. Mr. Kishimoto signed another five-year contract with us but he insisted that we need to lower the cost on the additional acquisition for another project he's building up." The brunette reported.

Sasuke took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. That old man is such a sly. "What do you think of it? Should we give in to his demand?"

Neji nodded. "He's a valuable client and I'm positive that he favours us most than all competitors in the market. We can lay down some conditions in regards with the quantity and the discount. I'm sure he'll take it."

The raven nodded. "I trust you doing business with him. Just give me the full reports and I'll look over it. Did you meet up with him yesterday? Your secretary told me you weren't in your office."

"Yes. He invited me for lunch in his house. I met his family."

The Uchiha seems intrigued. "How nice of him. I wasn't aware he was the cordial type."

The Vice President smirked. "He's taken a liking to me. All the time I was there he was constantly hinting that he wanted me to take over his company. What a funny guy."

"Real funny. I thought he has a daughter?"

Neji looked at Sasuke. "He does and that's where the funniest part is. He told me I should marry his daughter so I can be the legal successor."

The Uchiha's entire attention was now directed towards the other man. "You told him you're married right?"

"I did. But he doesn't seem to be bothered by it nor the fact that I have a husband and not a wife. It's almost as if nothing matters but his company's future. He's an old man so it's understandable that he fears for the empire he raised."

Sasuke's mind was suddenly invaded by the blond guy, with his bright smile and even brighter eyes. "Hn. As long as he doesn't cause us any trouble I could care less for his company. I'll leave him to you. Keep me posted."

The brunette got the hint that he's being dismissed. Bowing slightly he left the majestic office and the powerful man sitting behind the polished desk. The words of Kishimoto were ringing in his ears as he treads the carpeted floor back in his own workplace.

Neji, if you decide to divorce and take my daughter, I'll entrust you with the entire company and everything I have. You're a brilliant man made to lead and not to be ordered around. I'm sure you'll be a great ruler of an empire. I have never been wrong with my instincts yet. If you changed your mind, my proposal still stands.

Neji knows he's an ambitious man. A proof is his current position. He doesn't want to admit that the old guy's words have made a big impact on him. He'll just have to marry a woman and he'll be an instant company heir. It sounds ridiculous but strangely plausible. He sat on his chair and took the single photo on his desk. It was his and Naruto on their fourth anniversary. They looked so happy, so in love but Neji knows it was not enough to complete his life, not enough to say that he's fulfilled. He wanted so much more power and influence and he can have them easily. But that will mean leaving the blond, his husband whom he married just a few weeks ago. He wouldn't have been thinking of such things if his old client didn't propose such suggestion. But even permitting the idea to form in his head is as almost as betraying Naruto, the man who loves him unconditionally. His heart suddenly squeezed in pain. He put the photograph down and turned his swivel to face the windows. It's always been his dream to lead people, to have the power to manage a huge company but it was also his dream to live his life with the person he love and will support him all the way and Naruto has been the perfect lover. But a once in a lifetime opportunity is knocking on him at the most unexpected time. He's in a predicament that can change his life. Damn, he all the thinking's making his head ache. But what should he do?

A/N: Short. The reason for this and for the late update was probably the bashing review, which I have deleted after a few times of reading it. It just really killed my interest to update since I was thinking that I'm doing my best to write and someone has to condemn my work. I rarely complain because I can tolerate it if it's constructive criticism but there's always a limit. I want to clear it to everyone who's reading this, that this is fiction and set in alternate universe so it's just expected that the characters can be really OOC. Plus if you think they are faulty and full of flaws, it's because that's the way I wanted to portray them in this story. If you can't bear it, the most sensible thing to do is to stop reading this or you can write your own, according to your liking, according to your standards. If you don't have anything nice or at least helpful to say don't leave this story a review. I'll appreciate that more. To everyone who has been supporting this story, you always have my unending gratitude and apologies if things look too hard to understand yet you still stick with it. With that said and done, I rest my case.