I was awaken from deep sleep by my alarm clock and i sat up with a yawn. whacking the offending machine with my pillow i wondered vaigly why i was awake. then i remembered that today was my first day of work and excitement ran up my spine. I jumped out of bed and took a shower. getting out i dressed in black slacks, a light blue dress shirt that brought out the blue in my hazel eyes and a black vest over it. tucking my jacket over my arm i grabbed my old brief case and headed out the door.
Naruko was coming out just as i was, calling back at Naruto to be sure not to forget his homework. he yelled something i couldn't hear as i put my jacket on and Itachi came out as Naruko shut the door. She was dressed much like i was, minus the vest and was wearing a skirt. Itachi raised an eyebrow at my attire and i shrugged, "Can't ride a motorcycle in a skirt. Do you want a ride Naruko?"
Before she could answer Itachi said, "She can ride with me."
she looked a bit relieved and i guessed she wasn't too comfortable riding in my side car in a suit. i grinned and said, "Sounds good, meet you two there."
i walked ahead of them and kicked my bike to life as Itachi and Naruko got into his car. i stuck my tongue out playfully at them as i shot by and flew down the street.
Itachi shook his head at her and Naruko chuckled, "Full of energy as usual."
he nodded and they drove in silence to the office, but it wasn't an uncomfortable silence. Ariana was waiting for them at the door when they pulled up.
I smiled as Naruko and Itachi walked up, "Shall we?"
They both nodded and i let Itachi lead as we walked in. He went straight for the elevator and we entered with him. he pushed the second floor button and said, "I'll introduce you two to Diedra and Sasori first. they are the president and vice president of the designer department."
the door opened and we entered a huge room full of cloth and sewing things. a blond haired man with his bangs covering one eye and in a ponytail spotted us first and then a red haired shorter man did and they came up. Diedra said, "So this is the new girl hn?"
Naruko held out her hand, "I'm Naruko Uzamaki, it'll be a pleasure working for you."
they shook hands and i introduced myself, shaking their hands and Itachi motioned to a desk, "That'll be yours. Good luck and call me if their are any problems."
She nodded and Sasori asked to see her designer book and we were forgotten as they poured over it. I chuckled after the elevator door closed and we headed up to the top floor, "I think they'll get along fine."
Itachi nodded, "Diedra and Sasori argue, a lot. But i think she'll be fine too."
The elevator dinged and we walked out onto the top floor and the guy from before, Karin spotted us and her smile turned into a snarl. She said softly, fury etched in her voice, "Don't tell me she works here now."
Itachi ignored what she said and stopped in front of her, me next to him, "Karin Kumito, this is my new secretary Ariana McKing. Ariana this is Karin Kumito, my Treasurer."
I held out my hand, soft smile on my lips, "It'll be a pleasure working with you. i hope there are no hard feelings about earlier?"
Karin slowly shook my hand and said, "Not at all. it'll be nice to work with you."
Her eyes clearly said that there would be trouble for me later. i only grinned wider, "Let the games begin."
I let her hand go and Itachi turned to show me to my office and i winked at Karin with a smirk. her face began to turn purple. i turned my back on her and entered my office in front of Itachi's. it had a desk and computer, with two chairs in front of the desk. it was rather plain. i asked curiously, "Can i spiff this place up a bit?"
Itachi shrugged, face looking bored already, "Do what you want. now i want these contracts written up by lunch time."
He held out some papers and i took them eagerly, looking them over as i went around and sat at my desk, starting the computer, "Will do Captain."
Itachi watched me engross myself in my work, forgetting he was there, and then went to do some work of his own.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
Karin ground her teeth after Ariana disappeared into her new office, "How dare she just show up and act like she own the place! Well, we shall see."
She stormed back into her own office and sat down angrily, thinking up ways to get back at Ariana for embarrassing her in front of Itachi.
0o0o0o0o0o
I got the contracts written up a half hour before lunch and took them to Itachi, who took them in surprise and gratefulness, "Not bad." I saluted with a grin and he held out a file, "Now do these after lunch. Would you like to eat with me?"
i grinned and said, "Sure, and if i don't I'll bet you'll get caught up in your work and forget to eat anyway."
at his glare i knew i was right and grinned wider. with a wave i turned and headed back to my office. i hummed under my breath and sat down at my desk, feeling a sense of pride swell up in my chest, "My desk. man that sounds so sweet."
grinning happily i opened the folder and got started.
A half an hour later i paused in my work and stood to go fetch Itachi. But before i left i made sure to save everything on my computer and memory card. Past experience told me to not trust my computer work out in the open. I text Naruko to see if she wanted to come, and she told me she brought her own. Whistling a tune i put the memory card safely in my pocket and knocked on Itachi's door before i opened the door, "Lunch time Itachi."
He glanced up from a paper he was reading, "Just a minute. I'm nearly done."
I nodded and plopped in one of the chairs in front of his desk. I leaned back and stared at the ceiling with great concentration, "I wonder what if i can go to that cafe after work, those cakes were awesome!"
I was broken from my train of thought when Itachi stood and i looked at him, "Ready?"
He nodded and i stood, walking with him to the door, "Where do you want to eat?"
He shrugged and i cocked my head to the side in thought as we came to the elevator, "How about the restaurant across the street? They make excellent sandwiches and cakes."
He nodded, "Sure."
I raised an eyebrow at his bland tone and waited till the elevator door closed before asking, "Something wrong?"
"Nothing."
I snorted and he looked at me in confusion. i said softly, "Come on Itachi, tell me what's up."
He studied my determined face and finally sighed, "The company is a mess. Everything is behind and we are 5 million dollars in debt."
i stared at him in shock and the elevator doors opened. we walked out and i waved at the receptionist before we went out. i let out a low whistle and said, "That's bad."
Itachi nodded, his face showed nothing but i saw his eyes flash red in anger. We came to the restaurant and ordered some lunch before sitting in a corner. We were quiet, Itachi worrying over his company and me thinking up a plan. i finished my sandwich and said calmly, "I can ask my Uncle for help."
Itachi looked at me in confusion, his mind slowly coming back into reality and he finally scowled, "I doubt your uncle has five million dollars lying around."
I shook my head as i leaned back and sipped my soda, "No, but his company does."
He blinked and i grinned, "Did i ever mention that my Uncle Jiraiya is the owner of Sannin Industries."
His eyes widened and his jaw dropped. i couldn't help but chuckle at his expression before continuing, "We can either sell a piece of the company or we can make a deal."
He stared at me with something akin of respect and shock. i grinned and said, "Now eat and then we can go up to the office and make a call."
He quickly finished his sandwich and i paid the bill before we went back to the office. We entered Itachi's office and i plopped into a chair as he sat at his desk and called up Uncle Jiraiya.
He answered, "Hey kiddo, how's it going?"
I said happily, "Great! i now work for Itachi, have a secretary job and i have something i want to ask you."
I heard him chuckle, "Ok, lets hear it."
I explained the problem, then handed off the phone for Jiraiya and Itachi to discuss things while i went back to work. And like i had worried about, all the data on my computer was deleted. rolling my eyes and giving an annoyed sigh i reloaded everything from my memory card and got to work. Two hours later, I had just got done when Itachi walked in with my phone and a huge grin, "We both have to make a business trip to America to meet with him, but we may have done it."
I took my phone back and said, "Good. When do we leave?"
This time he looked a bit sheepish, "Day after tomorrow." His expression told me he wasn't sure I'd be ok with leaving so soon.
I held out my done work and said, "Sounds good. We should ask Naruko to keep an eye on the boys, how long should we be gone?"
"About a week."
i nodded and said, "Can you have all the data of the company sent to my computer? i want to start fixing things now."
His look of surprise was nearly insulting, before it disappeared and he grinned, "Well, you may want a laptop. that way you can work at home as well.
I frowned, thinking. i didn't have the money. Itachi headed to the door and said, "If this works out, think of it as a bonus." He reached out side and brought back a bag, one newer then mine and didn't have stains on it. My eyes widened and i took it gingerly from him, not seeing Karin watching from the door way as i opened it and found a brand new laptop. i jumped to my feet and hugged him, "Oh thank you!"
He chuckled and hugged me back, that was when i spotted Karin. i let him go and said happily, "Now i can get everything done in no time! Can you download everything now?"
he nodded, taking the computer back and when he turned and saw Karin his face turned to stone, "Did you need something?"
She blushed and said, "I was about to head to lunch and was wondering if you would join me?"
he said coldly, "I have already eaten."
he passed her without a second glance and her glare at me told me she would be trouble. as she left i sighed softly, and sat back. trying to think of way to get on her good side or get rid of her. Shaking my head at myself i looked up when Itachi returned and i took the computer from him and got to work on our schedule.
I finished when Itachi came in and i looked at him in confusion, he had on his jacket and looked ready to go home. i looked at the clock and saw that it was 5pm. i gave a low whistle as i handed over the schedule, saved my data and got ready to leave, "I completely lost track of time."
i put my things into my briefcase, and then my laptop into it's bag. slipping on my jacket, i turned everything off as Itachi said, having read the schedule over, "Not bad. You certainly know what your doing."
I snorted and nudged him out the door, "Of course i do. Now shall we grab Naruko and see if she's alive?"
He nodded and we went down to the designer floor and had to drag Naruko from a design she was helping Deidra with. I listened to her talk excitedly about her first day and shared a grin with Itachi, both of us glad she was doing alright i explained to Naruko that Itachi and I had to go on a business trip and asked if she's take care of the boys.
She nodded eagerly, "Of course! Just leave them to me."
i caught the gleam in her eyes and said, "And no dressing them up unless they agree to it."
She looked at me innocently and i shook my head as i headed for my motorcycle and them Itachi's car. I beat them to the apartments by a good five minutes and headed up. Sighing tiredly, i dressed into some more comfortable clothes and heard a knock on my door. i opened it and Sasuke and Naruto stood there with wild looks on their faces, "What's wrong?"
Before i could ask i heard, "Sasuke-kun!"
i looked down the hall at a pink haired girl and a blond girl running towards us. Judging by Sasuke's annoyed look and Naruto's frantic look, these girls have been stalking them. i stepped out, highly amused and closed the door behind me, "Now what's this? Fan girls Sasuke?"
He shot me a desperate look as the girls stopped in front of us and the pink haired girl said quickly, "Sasuke-kun! I love you! i really really love you!"
The blond then said, "But i love you more! Sasuke-kun!"
Then they both said, "Choose who you like more!"
Naruto, trying to be reasonable, "Wait, you can't just chase him all this way and demand an answer!"
Their faces turned angry quickly and both yelled, "SHUT UP NARUTO!"
He flinched back and i stepped in front of the boys, "HEY! i do not take kindly to you yelling at him!"
Both girls looked at me in shock and i glared at them coldly, "Now if you don't mind, shut up and Sasuke will give you an answer. then you will take his answer to heart and leave."
i turned to Sasuke as the girls looked at him eagerly. he looked at them blandly and said, "Neither. Your both pathetically running after me because I'm handsome, not because you know me. your rude to my friends and have no manners. not to mention you stalking me is plain creepy."
their faces crumbled and i clapped my hands, "There you have it. Now, if Sasuke and Naruto don't mind. i need your help."
they nodded, and i saw the pained look on Naruto's face. We went into my apartment and i saw the girls turn to leave as i closed the door. i let out a tired sigh and turned to Naruto. i said gently, "Don't feel too bad Naruto. we may have acted cruel, but those girls were a bit obsessed."
He looked at me and i pulled him into a hug. Sasuke sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "I know those type, if their feelings aren't smashed they keep coming and can sometimes get dangerous."
Naruto looked at him in surprise and Sasuke looked at him, pleading for him to believe him and not be angry at him. Naruto smiled slightly and said, "I understand."
i smiled back and ruffled his hair, "Good. Now i have some news for you two."
i told them about the business trip and said, "And try not to let Naruko get too out of control, she will go nuts with having two cute boys to model for her."
Naruto nodded in agreement and there was a knock on the door. i opened it for Itachi and Naruko, both had boxes of take out. i grinned and gathered paper plates and silverware as we sat at the table and ate.
After everyone was done, i kicked them out so that i could start working on the company data. I changed into my pajamas, sat on the couch with a cup of cocoa and my new laptop on my lap. I worked on sorting through everything, and after an hour was ready to slaughter the last secretary. everything was a mess.
My door opened and i glanced over at Naruto, seeing him looked at me shyly. i straightened and set everything aside, "Everything ok Naruto?"
He came in, and sat down next to me, "Well, i was um."
i waited patiently and he stared at his hands nervously. i leaned back and said, "Naruto, is this about Sasuke?"
He nodded miserably and said, "I want to tell him how i feel, but I'm scared."
I smiled softly and said, "It's only natural for you to be scared of confessing your feelings. And you'll never know how he feels about you until you tell him."
he slowly looked up at me and i smiled at him confidently, "You'll be able to tell him, when the time is right."
He thought it over and slowly nodded, "Your right."
i winked at him, "Of course. Now get to bed, you have school tomorrow."
He nodded, giving me a quick hug before getting up and heading back to his apartment. i smiled happily and got back to work. I studied the numbers and dug deep to find something interesting in the data. Someone has been stealing money from the company, someone with access. I grinned evilly as I realized who it was, "Busted."
I got back to work on cleaning everything up and after a while i wanted to throw the thing across the room and decided it was time to quit. i saved everything, shut it off and headed for bed.
