Hello again! Welcome to the third chapter of In Too Deep. I hope you have been enjoy reading this fic as much as I have been enjoying the deed of writing it.
Enough chit chat! Let's get on with it.
Eight weeks
Sakura walked through hall toward the photo lab where she was going to set up for the meeting with Syaoran Li to discuss his decisions on what photos to use for the cover and picture in the next issue of Jap Par. She set down the files on the large table as she turned to turn on the projector with a small remote when her boss, Meiko Nakuawa, popped her head into the room.
"Sakura," She said in a honeyed voice. "Do you have a second?"
Sakura looked around the room and nodded following her. "Yeah, what's up?"
"Sakura I had just gotten word that Jap Par is having a fundraiser for the families of the loss ones of the quake last week and I hoping that you would take some pictures to sale. All proceeds will go to the families." Meiko explained.
"Sure," Sakura nodded. "I would love to help. Any particular subjects you want to get?"
"I'll leave that up to you," Her boss smiled. "You know I love anything you will take. Also, I have been concerned about you lately. Are you okay?"
"I am fine," Sakura answered. "Why?"
"I couldn't help but notice that you have been feeling sick the last couple of weeks. Have you been to the doctors about it?" She asked in a motherly voice her eyes clear with concern.
"I have and it is nothing to worry about," Sakura assured her before biting her lip.
"What is it?" Meiko pressed laying a hand on the younger girl's shoulder.
"I've been meaning to talk to you about it," Sakura said nervously. "The reason I have been sick is because I am pregnant."
"Pregnant?"
"Yes ma'am," She nodded as the older woman smiled kindly at her.
"Oh what wonderful news," She gushed. "I say congratulations are in order. What does your husband think?"
Sakura blushed as she looked down to the ground. "I'm not married, but the father doesn't want anything to do with it so it will be just me."
"What a right bastard," Meiko sneered shaking her head causing Sakura to be shocked because she had never heard such a crude word fall from the woman's lips before. "I am sorry dear. Let me know if you need anything at all."
"Thanks," Sakura smiled feeling as a giant weight had been lifted off of her shoulders. She had been worried on how her job would be effected and now it was one less things she had to worry about. Her eyes widen as he glanced at the time. "I have to go to that meeting as I am late and they will not be happy."
"They can come talk to me if there is a problem," said Meiko strongly as Sakura snickered as she turned to walk back the way she came stopping before the door to take a deep breath before she had to face the storm that named Syaoran Li.
"Good afternoon everyone," She said walking in closing the door behind her turning to smile at Syaoran who sure enough sat with a scowl on his face.
"Are you late to everything?" He asked crossing his arms. "What did I say to you about being late last week?"
"Sorry," Sakura piped as she took a seat across from him. "My boss needed a moment of my time to discuss something with me and she said she would be happy to talk to you if the need arises."
"Fine," He nodded. "I'll let this one slide."
"Thanks," Sakura smiled at him thankfully. "Can I get you anything to drink?" She looked over to Meiling who was doing something on her phone.
"Coffee?" Syaoran asked.
"No," said Meiling looking up. "You already have had 5 cups today, if you drink anymore you are going to be popping out caffeine pills out of your ass."
Sakura couldn't help as a chuckle rang through her lips at the death glare Syaoran shot over to the woman beside him who was matching his glare. "Let's get started shall we?" Sakura typed on the keyboard for a moment before clicking several buttons before turning to the wall behind her.
"First we have this pose," She said catching their attention as she scrolled to another picture and so on until Syaoran came to a decision on two stills.
"So," Sakura began. "I heard that you are having a benefit concert in about two weeks." She kept her eyes on the computer screen.
"Yes, I am," Syaoran nodded. "I always say it is important to give back to your community when they are down."
"Just when there down?" Sakura turned to him raising an eyebrow at him. "Why just when they are down? Why not when they are equally thriving?"
"That is important too," He confirmed with a smile. "Are you going to be going to the concert?"
"I don't know," She answered with a shrugged on her shoulder. "I'm not one for big crowds."
"I will be fun," said Syaoran smiling as Meiling unknowingly watched the bit of exchange over her phone and smiled.
"I will try too come if I can get tickets." She smiled. "Is that better?"
"How about I give you a free ticket that way you won't have an excuse not to come?"
Sakura turned to him pursing her lip as if she was trying not to smile. "I thought it was a benefit concert?"
"It is."
"Then how are those people benefiting from my free ticket?" She asked him.
Meiling bit her lip as she got up from her chair as her cell phone began to ring. "Excuse me, a second." She muttered as she made her way out to the hall to take her call.
"Just say you'll come," Syaoran smirked leaning toward placing his arms on to the surface. "I will show you around back stage if you do."
"Hmm," Sakura hummed keeping her lips in a thin line before turning back to her screen. "Now I don't know if I want to come."
"What?" He gaped. "Most girls would kill to have the one and only Syaoran Li show them around back stage."
"I am not most girls," She chuckled casting her emerald green eyes in his direction almost knocking the wind out of his chest.
"I am getting that," He uttered causing her to raise a neat eyebrow at him.
"Are you okay?" She asked worriedly.
"Not really," Syaoran answered. "You wounded my ego." He placed a hand over his heart sighing dramatically.
Sakura burst out laughing shaking her head. "You'll survive and you make it sound as if you want me to come."
"The more the merrier for a great cause," He stated with that annoying smirk gracing his face...again.
"We'll see," She said taking her eyes off the screen to look at him again, but this time she was not expecting their eyes to meet of the sizzle that sparked in her body. She cleared her throat forcing her eyes back to her task. "I will get the demos in a few days and all you will need to do is sign off on them. I will give you a call when I have them."
Syaoran blinked at the sudden change of subject and nodded. "That sounds good and thank you for taking this pictures. You do good work."
"Thank you," She smiled softly as she stood up.
"So how are you feeling?" He asked coming up beside her as they began to walk to the door. "You were really sick last week."
"It comes and goes," She answered as she opened the door and stepped aside to let him out first.
"Ladies first," Syaoran said lifting his arm toward the door.
"What a gentleman," Sakura noted as they spotted Meiling spouting off with someone on the phone and Sakura turned to the man walking beside her with a bewildered look on her face.
"It must be another one of her clients," He said amused. "She can be a hot head at times which is why I am where I am today."
"I'm sure that's not true," Sakura murmured as they entered the lobby. "Here I must leave you as I have several things due before I go home this evening."
"It's been a pleasure, Sakura," Syaoran smiled and she bowed before turning around to go back from the way they just came.
"It's been a pleasure?" said Meiling from his side with a smile on her face causing Syaoran to scowl at her.
"Shut up," He blushed and shook his head. "And don't go and get ideas about setting us up. It won't work."
"I wasn't think anything," said Meiling shaking her head. "Now let's go because I have a spa appointment to get ready for tomorrow for your record release party and I have some personal errand I need to run.
He walked down the stairs into the parking garage where his driver was waiting for them, but didn't get very far because someone yelled "Syaoran Li!" and soon her was surrounded by screaming girls wanting his autographs and pictures and who was he to deny his fans.
The next day for Sakura went very fast from the moment she walked in to the office until it was time to go home. She turned off her computer before grabbing her purse. Her stomach growled as she was starving for something eat, but was not sure what. Since last night, she had this impossible hunger that she hadn't been able to cure. She bid goodnight to those she passed as she made her way out of the building to the metro station she would take to her apartment. She could walk to her apartment from here, but her aching feet which were in two inch heels were begging her not to.
Moments later, she was exiting the rail car and up out of the station. She smiled as her apartment building came into sight, but stopped in her tracks when something smelling so delicious hitting her nose making her mouth water. The smell was coming from her favorite restaurant Yukito's and she knew exactly what she was having for dinner. It was a small little haunt that she had come to love and knew the owner of the place very well. The restaurant served a little bit of everything from all over the world.
A quick walk later, Sakura pulled open the door and the sound of people laughing and talking hit her ears. The warm and comfy place welcomed her like a loving hug as she made her way to the bar to take her favorite seat. She glanced around noticing that it was a little busy as they were entering the dinner time rush as she sat down in her stool.
"Sakura. Sakura. Sakura."
She smiled as her eyes landed on a young tall man with light gray hair with light brown eyes and large glasses walked over to her with a bottle of wine in his hand. "The usual?"
"I can't remember," Sakura reminded him with a smiled.
"Ohhh, right," He nodded. "A Dr. Pepper then?"
"That sounds wonderful," Sakura commented as he handed her a menu. She opened the small pocket as she looked over her choices. Salmon… no, chicken… that sounded down right nasty, steak… eww, meat just did not sound appeasing as her eyes continued down through the Japanese dishes until something cause her eyes: Spaghetti in a simple marinara sauce with the side of a green salad and some butter bread. She licked her lips as Yukito returned with her drink.
"Mmmm," She said taking a nice cold sip loving the crisp of the liquid on her tongue. "So good."
"Do you need a minute?" he asked as he wiped down the bar with a rag and straighten up the salt and pepper shakers.
"Nope," She said as she recited her order.
"Alright," Yukito nodded. "I will be back in a few." He turned around walking into the kitchen as Sakura took another satisfying gulp from her glass.
"I when I do
it is everything for you
for all the stars
is never too far"
Syaoran sighed as the room filled up with applause as he ended the song stepping away from the mike. He made his way across the stage setting down the heavy electric guitar from his grasp, pulling the ear buds out of ears before the screeched giving him a never ending headache for the night. He let the crew surrounded him as they pulled off all his sound equipment as Meiling who now was talking into the mircophone.
"I want to thank you all for coming tonight to celebrate Syaoran Li's album Wrecking Me release. It dropped only three weeks ago and since it's debut is has already sold nearly a half million records making it one of the most successful album debuts this year and could become the most of the decade. His latest single Never too Far debuted on the top music charts at a whopping number seven and has steadily risen to his location at number 3 this week. With any luck, you will have another number one hit on your hands. Syaoran Li," Meiling turned around toward Syaoran with a flute of champagne in the air. "Congratulations!"
The quieted room erupted again into a giant around of the applause as the news sank into Syaoran's mind. He was floored to say the least as he never took any of his success for granted because you never knew when it would all fall away.
Syaoran smiled as he took a glass for himself and held it high. "It is all because of you Meiling. I would have never made it this far without you and your guidance. You have been on my side since I told you what my dream was and it became your mission to make my dreams come true. I truly thank each and everyone one of my fans for getting me to this spot, but you, above all, have been my rock. Thank you Meiling for everything you have done for me. You are truly the best cousin and manager a guy could ask for."
He chuckled as Meiling's face became so red that it blended with her wine color cocktail dress as her eyes filled with tears and she nodded saying everything she could with one look as she was not one for big emotional blubbery conversations. "I would not dream of being anywhere, but here." With that last word, she turned to face the crowd and proceeded to end the night as she politely dismissed the people and they soon began to file out one by one until they were all gone.
Syaoran pulled on his jacket as he was ready to go home to a nice hot shower and bed turning to his cousin was talking to the clean up crew. "Are you ready to go?"
"I'm gonna stay here," She answered nodding her head towards the littered room. "And make sure everything gets done."
"Want me to stay then?"
"No," She shook her head. "You have had a long day and a longer one tomorrow, so go on home and have good nights rest and order in." She said turning to give an order to a guy who dropped a tray of wine glasses.
"Okay." Syaoran nodded. "See you tomorrow."
Syaoran walked to the back of the venue to his car getting in relishing in the quietness of the car as he slammed the door shut for a moment before starting the car and driving out of the parking lot. He suddenly slammed on the brakes, before turning the car around to go the other direction as he changed his mind. He was not going home just yet, because he wanted to celebrate his success just a little bit and the way he was going to do that was granting himself to a nice meal because he was starving.
"Mmmm," said Sakura as she twirled her fork in her plate a noddles as she placed in to her mouth. Loving every sweet acidic tomatoy drop. It was divine.
"Is everything good here?" ask Yukito as he grabbed her glass to refill her drink.
"So good," said Sakura smiling thankfully as she broke of a piece of butter bread and dipped in to the sauce before popping that in her mouth.
"Slow down," He laughed as he nodded at some customer behind her. "You are going to choke."
"So," Sakura shrugged as she took a piece of bread and piled on a forkful of noodles before folding the bread and took a big bit and after she swallowed as felt a figure dropped down beside her. "This is heaven-"
"And so wrong a way to eat spaghetti."
Sakura dropped fork at the sudden intrusion of a voice and turned to see Syaoran Li
sitting beside her looking at her... wearing that...annoying smirk.
Sorry for the delay for the next chapter. I sort of have a watch binge of the Originals...and well it occupied for a few days but not for long…
What will happen next?
Come back and find out.
Endlesswriter