CHAPTER 8: BRING IT
Shikamaru pulled up his pants as he stared at the girl lying down on the bed, tightly holding the blanket over her chest. "Don't you want to stay for dinner?" the girl asks knowing well that the man he just gave herself again would decline. "Maybe next time, Shiho. I got some place to be." he sighed.
This thing between Shiho and Shikamaru has been going on for a year. Shiho is Uchiha Fugaku's secretary for a decade, she knows everything that is to know about Fugaku. It was during that one gala that Sasuke noticed Shiho, who he has known for 10 years, was acting weird when Shikamaru was around. He suggested that Shikamaru should sleep with his father's assistant in exchange for a little information, Shikamaru thought it was a drag and insisted that Sasuke should sleep with her on his own, but a little persuasion did it for Shikamaru as he know Sasuke would not stop nagging until he agrees. Shiho is 6 years older than Shikamaru and Sasuke knew Shikamaru prefers women way older than him.
The first few times they did it, Shikamaru regretted ever agreeing to Sasuke's stupid idea, the 4-eyed girl wouldn't stop talking, she does all the action while Shikamaru lies there praying that his agony would end shortly, he soon got used to it, though. But then again,one bad sex for one trivial information is not the worst thing that could happen.
"I hope you won't tell Sasuke-sama about what I said."she shyly requested as she sat up from the bed. "Don't worry, I'll forget about it the moment I step out of this room." Shikamaru dryly answers and texted Sasuke to meet him in their usual rendezvous, closing the door behind him loudly.
—-
"I'm starting to think you really just like fucking her, Nara." Sasuke teased as he took another sip off his wine. "Aight, you might have to fuck her and get the information yourself." Shikamaru clapped back, taking a shot of his tequila.
"Spill." Sasuke commanded.
"Your father must really hate you, huh?" Shikamaru chuckled while Sasuke just looked at him puzzled. "You see…" he continued. "Apparently, your grandfather has left a great fortune under your name, did your father ever tell you that?" Sasuke shook his head. "Well, this fortune can only be given to you, the moment you get an heir of your own." Shikamaru watches Sasuke's face turn into a scowl. "But, what does he get from it if supposedly this fortune is under my name?" Sasuke hissed. "According to Shiho, it was only your father who witnessed your grandfather's last will and testament, and based on my suppositions, your father is marrying you off, so he could have the inheritance to himself." This time Sasuke's face turned into a full rage.
"And the girl he's trying to marry you off is the same girl who spilled coffee on you that one morning, she's pretty, so I guess it's still a win-win situtation for you." he added
"What's her motive?" Sasuke asks uninterestedly as he barely even remembers what she looks like.
"Not really sure, but I heard she needed money for her father's surgery." He shrugs but he noticed Sasuke wasn't listening to him anymore as he watched him grip on his wine glass tightly until it broke and blood oozed out from his hand. 'What a drag' he thought.
"Hn. Two can play this game, father." He smirked.
—-
It was a sunny Sunday morning, Hinata would've wanted to keep rolling on her bed, but she remembered today was the day she meets her 'husband-to-be'. She got up from her bed and took a shower. She stayed under it longer than she usually does, the warmth of the water soothing her from her overthinking mind.
"What if he's a pervert?" she asks herself, carefully scrubbing her arms with a loofah.
"Hinata, you can still decline the offer, I'm sure there are other ways to get that amount of money. If you marry someone you don't love, you're going to be miserable all your life, you're just 21.." she answers herself back. Hinata always thought that marriage is sacred and that no matter the situation, the husband and wife should always find a way to fix their relationship, at least that's what she learned from her mother and from reading novels. She has always wanted to get married and she had hoped it would be a one time- thing for her, she hasn't even been in a relationship, as boys find her eyes creepy and bullied her for it, which made her want to avoid everyone he meets at Yuki no kuni with the XY chromosomes.
—
Hinata is wearing a white long smocked dress and a pink sweater over it, paired with her usual white flats and a brown canteen bag. Hinata admits she isn't very good in her choice of clothing as all her life she grew up without a mother to guide her, and her father always wanted them to wear formal and discreet clothes.
"Hinata-sama, you don't seem to be well. Do you need me to accompany you in this meeting?" Ko asks as he watches Hinata breathe deeply.
"I am perfectly fine, Ko-san." She lied. She wanted to tell Ko to drive her back to their house, she was running late anyways, should she just cancel the meeting? But they were already close to their destination, she guessed there was no turning back.
—-
"Is she even coming?" Sasuke sighs glaring at his father and his stupid face.
"Calm down, Sasuke. You seem to be very eager to get married." Fugaku laughed lowly and downed the water on his glass, when in reality, he was nervous that the girl would not show up and stand them up since he has already given access for the hospital to put all their expenses under his name.
"Hn." Sasuke smirked as he remembered what Shikamaru told him and reminded him to pretend he doesn't know.
The sound of the door opening cut the tension that was forming, Sasuke looked in that direction and watched a long, midnight blue haired-woman enter the room. Sasuke wasn't able to see her face yet as she quickly bowed her head to apologize. Fugaku instructed her to sit across Sasuke, while his son subtly watched the lady's every move. With the way she dressed, he guessed she was average, maybe even below average. He disapproves of his father's choices much more now.
Sasuke finally got a glance of her face when she was finally able to settle on her chair. When Sasuke saw her face, he was at a loss for words. Across him sat a woman with a fair-complexion and an eye color he had never seen before, Sasuke could see she wasn't wearing any makeup but he thinks she would still stood out from the crowd as she has naturally thick lashes and soft plump lips… an angel, that would sum it all up. But Sasuke was not getting any of it, he's not a blockhead after all.
'You can't fool me with your looks, I know what you're up to." Sasuke thought to himself.
"What is your name, dear?" Mikoto softly asks, breaking the silence.
"Hyuga Hinata." Hinata smiles. Mikoto stares at her curiously for a long time which made Hinata a little bit uncomfortable. Is there something on her face? Since she was away from Konoha for a long time, should she know something about the woman?
"By any chance, are you related to Hyuga Hitomi?" Hinata looked at her sadly and quietly answered that she was her mother. Mikoto's eyes widen at the information and looks at his husband who nods and smiles at her warmly. She looked back at Hinata intently and smiled at her, Hinata however did not notice Mikoto and Fugaku's exchanges as she was looking at the glass of water in front of her. Sasuke, on the other hand, saw everything, which only made him curious, what was there to know more about this girl and why did his father choose her.
"Well, Hinata,I haven't introduced my son, this is Uchiha Sasuke." Fugaku cleared his throat and introduced his son, Sasuke to Hinata.
Hinata forgot she was there to meet his 'future husband' as her anxiety started to kick in the moment she got inside the room, that she didn't notice the man sitting across from her. She looked up and was met with dark eyes that screamed danger, but wait, why does he look familiar to her? She watches him as he lifts the cup of coffee to his lips… coffee… right! Coffee! She spilled coffee on him. She gasped when he smirked at him,then she realized, he's trying to make her remember!
'This is going to be fun' she felt the heat creep up to her cheeks, 'well at least he is not an old bald man.' She tried to alleviate her situation.
