001 / jealousy looks good on you
"Wait… Are you jealous?"
"Of course. I'm pretty petty when it comes to you."
Okay so what if it is totally random? There's nothing wrong with visiting your boyfriend for a quick surprise lunch right? Especially if the said boyfriend is dating her for over a year now. They can act all lovey dovey– like anyone would care.
And that is how Sakura found herself standing right in front of the looming glass building with the huge 'UCHIHA INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS' written on top of the huge revolving glass door. She clutched the bag of packed lunch tighter in her left arm, she didn't cook all of Sasuke's favorites for nothing. She asked Giana, Sasuke's housekeeper and nanny ever since he was a kid, to teach her how to make her famous pasta Arrabiata– Sasuke's favorite meal. A spicy tomato sauce over penne rigate. And of course his onigiri. Sakura inwardly giggled as how his lunch was going to be carbs over carbs, it's a wonder how Sasuke maintains his excellent physique. It's no question how his body is perfectly lean and muscular, like it was a sculpted greek god's.
"Come now, Maya. We're going to see daddy." She bent down to scratch Maya's head lovingly. Sasuke adopted Maya, a two year old golden retriever, from the shelter a couple months ago when she once told him it was her dream to have a big and cuddly dog follow her around their apartment. And it was funny how Sasuke told her he got Maya for her but it turned out it was him who couldn't resist Maya and spoils her rotten. That's why Maya is such a daddy's little girl, and now she's waggling her long tail excitedly when she hears the word, 'daddy.'
Sakura already called his secretary an hour ago, informing her that she'll be bringing his lunch over. Sakura tugged on the leash she's holding with her other hand as she started towards the building's entrance.
The receptionist immediately rose to her seat as soon as Sakura entered the spacious lobby, "Good morning, Ms. Haruno."
"Hello, Hana. I'm here to see Sasuke." Sakura smiled and reached for a small pack in her food bag. "Here, I made these onigiris myself. Tell me if it's good so I'll try to compete with your company cafeteria one of these days." Sakura chuckled lightly as she placed the brown bag on Hana's table.
"Oh. Thank you very much, Ms. Haruno." Hana bowed lightly, "Mr. Uchiha is on his floor. Shall I show you to his office?"
"That won't be necessary, Hana. Maya and I can find our way easily. Enjoy your lunch instead. Oh and don't tell him we're here." Sakura smiled as she turned towards the exclusive elevators that service the executive floors.
When Sakura reached Sasuke's floor, right on the 34th, the floor's receptionist and Sasuke's secretary both stood up to greet her. "Ms. Haruno." They said simultaneously.
"Come on, Mei, Yui. No need to be so formal. Goodness, please just stay seated." Sakura said lightly as she approached their table. She placed her big food bag on the table's surface as she brought out another brown bag for the two ladies. "I made these. Please help yourselves. I hope it tastes as good as it smells!" Sakura laughed lightly as she gently pushed the bag towards Mei and Yui on the other side of the table.
"You didn't have to, Ms. Haruno." Yui, Sasuke's secretary, said as she blushed shyly.
"Hey, I thought I told you to just call me Sakura right."
"Oh, my apologies, Ms. Sakura. But thank you so much for these." Yui said as she opened the bag and brought out a small container with a couple of onigiris inside.
"Ms. Sakura, thank you. I'm sure these are scrumptious." Mei, the bubbly receptionist for the 34th floor said. "Ah, Mr. Uchiha is right in his office. His lunch break is right about now, but he still got company inside."
"Thank you, Mei." Sakura picked up her bag again, "I'm sure he's done with the meeting, Sasuke is meticulous in keeping his lunch break as work-free as possible."
"Yes, Ms. Sakura. They finished their meeting in the conference room an hour ago before they retreated back to his office. Shall I announce your arrival?" Yui said as she was starting to walk around her desk.
"Oh, no need to do that, Yui. I told you, Maya and I will surprise him right? So, please just enjoy your lunch and eat." Sakura smiled warmly as she started to walk towards the big oak doors at the end of the hallway. The hallway offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the city, and Sakura knows that the view just gets better from Sasuke's office. He loves seeing the city bustling with life, the endless blue of the skies, the blood orange hues of the sunset.
Sakura reached the big double doors. Beside the oak wood, a metallic plate is plastered on the wall, 'SASUKE UCHIHA. Chief Operating Officer & Senior Vice President.' Sakura giggled inwardly, such a title exudes such opulence and power, when she knows Sasuke is nothing but a big baby outside the company. Who falls whipped over Maya's puppy dog eyes, who grudgingly eats ice cream whenever Sakura offers him some, who throws temper tantrums whenever Sakura is needed to pull a 48-hour shifts at the hospital but still brings her change of clothes and makes sure she eats, who always makes coffee for Sakura every morning, who opts to wear everyday the ridiculously pink socks Sakura buys for him as a joke (Sakura thinks he believes her saying that those pink socks will bring him good luck everyday and that no one will see it over his pants suit), who will always do everything in his power to make and catch Sakura's first smile for the day every morning, who makes sure Maya eats on time and takes her daily walk around the neighborhood, and so, so much more. Sasuke Uchiha, the monster and a force to be reckoned with that dominates the corporate world every single day, makes everyone in his vicinity cower in fear, is actually a big softie for his girlfriend and their baby girl Maya.
So, imagine the surprise in Sakura's face when she threw the door open and saw Sasuke sitting on the sofa– instead of his chair aka throne, beside a very stunning, very leggy, and very touchy brunette. There is an array of take out food placed on the coffee table in front of them, Sasuke sitting– rather comfortably close to the woman beside him, the said woman is sitting elegantly sideways so that her entire body was facing him while her hand was resting on his bicep snugly and talking animatedly to him. Sakura notes that his suit jacket is missing, he was clad in his white dress shirt, waistcoat and his tie. A sure sign that he's lounging and comfortable enough with the company of his visitor.
The sudden opening of the door caught the attention of the two occupants in the room and Sakura is left standing stupidly on the door while holding a bag and Maya's leash. Sasuke's eyes widened for a split second seeing the confusion and the building silent fury behind those green eyes that he loves so much. They were left staring at each other as tension cut through the air precisely. It ran for a second, perhaps half a minute or more, before it was broken by Maya excitedly jumping and running towards Sasuke. Maya jumped up to Sasuke to nuzzle her face to the crook of his neck, her tail wagging everywhere excitedly as it bumps continuously on the brunette beside Sasuke. The woman screeched and she pulled away from Sasuke as tendrils of Maya's fur were clinging to her tight black dress and dog drool was flying around as Maya kept on fussing over Sasuke eagerly.
Sakura blinked slowly before fully striding inside the room. To which Sasuke stood as he got Maya to calm down.
"Sasuke, I didn't know you had company. I guess that explains why you aren't responding to my texts." Sakura said tersely, a stark contrast to the wide smile plastered on her face.
"Ah, yeah. Sorry, we had a 9AM meeting and I got held up." Sasuke cleared his throat, "Sakura, this is Ayako. A business associate and she's a classmate from when I took my MBA in Wharton. Ayako, this Sakura, my girlfriend. And that's our dog, Maya."
Sasuke strode towards Sakura to get her bag, but Sakura walked past him to stand in the center of the room. Ayako, stood as well while trying to pull her black dress down.
"Doctor Sakura Haruno, apparently I'm the girlfriend. Sooo nice to meet you." Sakura held out her hand and smiled brilliantly, while prolonging the 'sooo.' Sasuke winced internally as he knew what it really meant. Sakura's word sounded warm and friendly but he knew it dripped of sarcasm, and her side eying him promised of wrath later.
"Pleasure. Ayako Sato. I'm the hotelier of the Grand Ayako Hotels. My business wouldn't be made possible if it weren't for Sasuke here. Thanks to his finance and investments, and of course his helpful advices too. Suffice to say, Sasuke and I go way back." Ayako shook her hand and smiled elegantly.
Sakura snorted, "Sure you both do." She stepped back and strode to Sasuke's expansive desk to put down her bag before turning back to address him. "I see you've had lunch already. Shame I brought you food. Arrabiata and onigiri."
Before Sasuke could respond, Ayako beat him to it, "Oh yeah, we've had an early lunch because the meeting concluded earlier than expected. I brought him food he absolutely loves from Philadelphia." Ayako said and glanced at Sasuke, " It reminds us of our precious time back in business school, right Sasuke?" She giggled softly.
Sakura's eyes narrowed into dangerous slits, she sat down on Sasuke's office chair with a plop. The cold fury emanates from her and Sasuke can feel it from his position by the sofa, Ayako sat down again completely oblivious of the dangerous water they're all treading. Sasuke couldn't help but groan inwardly.
"Right. Right, your precious time back together." Sakura sneered, her voice sharp as it cut through the room right towards Sasuke. Sakura kept her murderous glare at him, "That reminds me… I hate to interrupt your precious time together, I'm sure you'll have a lot of things to reminisce and catch up on and reacquaint with again, but I have to cut it short. I need to talk to my boyfriend. Privately." Sakura stressed the last three words fiercely. She leaned back and his chair reclined keeping her icy gaze on him, Sasuke couldn't help but feel anxious and absurd as to how Sakura makes him feel putty as if he committed a serious crime when in fact he damn well knew he didn't do anything wrong.
There she sat on his chair, behind his large desk, with a million-dollar view of the city behind her from the huge glass panels running around the office. She looks imposing despite her small frame. Her pink hair, green eyes, and those colorful clothes she loves wearing make a striking contrast to the neutral hues around him. As cliche as it sounds, she brings color to his monochromatic life, literally. And it's ridiculous how this woman, this lithe and petite woman has the power to bring him to knees and make him– Sasuke who makes people cry and terrified, be the one who's nervous as hell just standing in front of her. Why would he be nervous in the first place when he knows he's got nothing to be nervous of.
"I'm sure you are capable of seeing yourself out." Sakura gave a smile as Ayako turned to her, "It was nice meeting you, Ayako. You'll see more of me soon, certainly." Her words and tone were friendly, but Sasuke knew it was purely sarcasm underneath. He couldn't help but gulp down from nervousness? Agitation? Unease? The impending doom he's about to face? Heck, he's sure it's going to be everything thrown altogether.
Ayako stood and gathered her bag, and Sasuke was thankful the woman seemed unaware of Sakura's fury towards them. Ayako went to Sakura to shake her hand again and bid her goodbyes cordially before fluttering towards him. Maya taking up the lone armchair where she was curled up on. Sasuke is still stuck standing like an idiot by the sofa when Ayako stood in front of him.
"It was nice seeing you as always, Sasuke." Ayako turned and held his gaze as she stood on her tiptoes to place a quick soft kiss on his cheek. It happened so fast that Sasuke didn't have the time to step back before she added, "I'll see you again soon alright? Oh! And call me when my gift has been received already, 'kay?" And just like that, Ayako shut the door to his office with a soft thud.
Sasuke could swear he can feel fumes coming from his girlfriend a mere feet away from him. He steeled his resolve and strode towards her. If she was scary earlier, best believe she's even scarier now. Her eyes were so icy that Sasuke couldn't help but wince, her dainty hands were gripping the armrests of his chair tightly her knuckles turned white, and most of all, instead of the warm smile he loves seeing so much on her, her face was twisted into a frightening grimace. Sasuke didn't know how he ended up in this clusterfuck of a situation, he ought to strangle Itachi for this.
He walked around his desk to stand directly in front of her. Weighing his chances of being alive and him walking away from this with all of his limbs still intact, he leaned onto his desk comfortably before crossing his ankles.
"Sak–"
"Don't you 'Sakura' me, mister. I am thinking if I should make you grovel on your knees or just kill you instead." She swiveled back the chair so she wasn't straining her neck looking up at him. Why does Sasuke get to be so damn tall? Sakura couldn't help but watch the way his muscles ripple deliciously beneath his white button down as he leaned back on the desk and how his trousers perfectly fit his long and strong legs. A hint of flashy pink socks peeked at the bottom of his pants before it went inside his Tom Ford shoes. It shouldn't lessen her anger but seeing him religiously wear the pink socks tames her fury down a notch, also adding to the fact that Sasuke looks so goddamn good in his tailored suits. It was like he was built to wear suits. It was harder to stay angry at him when he looked like someone straight out of an Armani catalog or something.
He tried again, placing his hands on the table on either side of him. "It wasn't what you thought it was. Ayako is–"
"Pfft. Really?!" Sakura scoffed.
"Sakura, I'm telling yo–"
"Sure, Sasuke. Sure."
"I told you, it wasn't anything like that, Sakura. And you didn't have to be so curt towards–"
"Oh my god, are you even hearing yourself, Sasuke?!" She exploded, her hands flying up, "I didn't have to be so curt? When I found an unfamiliar woman and my boyfriend– who apparently does not hate physical contact as much as I thought I did, sitting so goddamn close to each other, like she was plastered on your side! First, I was texting you since this morning but I haven't received a single reply and now I finally saw why you were held up! Then, why was she touching you like that? It felt like you two were more than classmates from the way she speaks about you. 'Precious time together,' my ass! If she's one of your friends or something, why didn't I know of her existence? And the what the fuck is that gift she is talking about?! Who gives a gift randomly to their classmate from years ago? And don't get me started on that kiss, the audacity of that woman to kiss you in front of me?! You better have a good explanation for this, Sasuke or rest assured you will be walking out of this room castrated." Sakura was breathing heavily. She was firing questions after questions and she was pissed as heck.
"Wait… Are you jealous?" Sasuke asked cautiously. Sakura looked so distraught and angry that her green eyes were swimming with deadly ardor.
"Damn right!" Sakura swiveled the chair again so she was farther from Sasuke, she looked up at his eyes and said softly now, "Of course… I'm pretty petty when it comes to you."
Sasuke couldn't help but chuckle. The sound was rich and deep and for a moment Sakura was distracted until Sasuke pushed himself off his desk. He knelt down on his knees in front of her and gripped the armrests of the chair before pulling it closer to him. Her legs parted until Sasuke's torso was between them, her knees resting on either side of his body. Sasuke placed a hand on her thigh and the other cupped her cheek gently.
"If you didn't keep on interrupting me earlier, then you wouldn't be fired up right now." Sasuke smirked as his thumb was gently running across her cheek, "Like I said, Ayako is a business associate. Nothing more, nothing less. My investment in her hotel group was made purely because of Itachi and it didn't hurt because that investment grew tenfold as her hotel business blossomed. Yes, we were classmates in a few subjects back in business school and that's how we met each other. Ease your mind, love, because I wasn't even her type or anything like that. She's got her sight set on Itachi for so long now."
Sasuke saw the realization slowly dawning on her so he continued, "Ever since she met Itachi when he came to visit me back then in Philadelphia, she was hung up on him. I guess you could say persistence is a key part because Itachi slowly warmed up to her through the years but not all the way to officially ask her out. They kept things casual, as far as I know, like an unofficial on-and-off thing. And now, they haven't been in contact for a few months until today when she led the meeting herself this morning. I don't know what's with those two idiots not admitting their feelings for each other and dancing around like they're high school kids. The gift she's been talking about is for Itachi, I don't know what it is but she told me I'll know when he'll receive it this week. She has always been so familiar… and err– touchy with me because that's just how she is, I will tell her off since it bothers you and I'm sure she'll understand. She was here talking to me because Itachi was acting cold and ignoring her ever since she arrived here due to god knows what, and she just needed someone to listen. I haven't been in contact with her ever since Philadelphia, she is based there so it didn't occur to me to introduce her to you when she lives halfway across the world. My apologies on that part, I'm at fault. I should've informed you about her. I'm sorry." His thumb, never ceasing in running softly on her cheeks. Sasuke had a strong urge to lean in and kiss those reddened cheeks of her, "I guess you could say that she's her talking to me because she knows I can be a way to win over Itachi's affections."
Sakura knew Sasuke rarely talks this much. She couldn't help but feel guilty and embarrassed with how she acted, and letting rotten jealousy cloud her judgment. She held her hands over her face to cover her eyes and tried to swivel the chair away from Sasuke. He kept his grip firm, he tried to pry away her hands so he could see her face.
"I'm sorry for the way I acted, Sasuke. I'm truly sorry." She said softly.
"It's alright." Sasuke leaned closer and kissed the tip of her nose, "Though, I must say jealousy looks good on you." He winked and it nearly made Sakura combust right in front of him.
"I didn't know what overcame me… I just– for a moment I was scared I'll lose you and that you'll leave me for someone else… for someone better." Sakura croaked, her green eyes shining.
"Hey. Look at me." Sasuke cupped both of her cheeks, "It's always going to be you, alright? You're going to be in it with me for life. You're my endgame, Sakura. And I'll never look at anyone else other than you. You don't need to worry about that because I will only have eyes for you and only you."
Sasuke pressed a searing kiss to her lips before pulling back. Sakura gripped his tie and tugged him back, she placed a gentle kiss on the corner of his mouth, then on his lips. She smiled against his lips and Sakura's sure Sasuke can feel her grinning. And just like that, she felt secured and loved beyond what she thought she deserved.
"Was that a proposal, Sasuke?! You only get to propose once and that was so unromantic! The setting, the place meh! And no ring?! I won't accept it, I want a romantic one."
"Of course not. If I'm going to do it, I will do it right. I will knock you off your feet in an absolutely romantic way, Sakura." Sasuke chuckled.
"You should!" Sakura wrapped her arms around his neck to press herself closer to him, his intoxicating scent flooding her mind.
"Come on, let's have lunch. You brought my favorites, right?" Sasuke stood up and pulled her along with him.
Sakura pulled away to reach for the almost forgotten bag on the desk, "Yeah. I made Arrabiata from Giana's recipe and onigiri, and if I made the Arrabiata as good as hers then you'll have no choice but to marry me now."
Sasuke's laugh reverberated through the room, the kind that warms Sakura's insides, the kind that makes her smile triumphantly, the kind that makes her feel fulfilled and content, the kind that knocks her off her feet. And she knows, Sasuke's in it for her too. For life.
fin.