Fugaku looked at the notification on his phone. Sasuke's flight landed an hour ago. Of course, the brat hadn't called or messaged him.
Fugaku was in a foul mood. He already scolded his assistant as she allowed the marketing department to push back their deadline AGAIN. Hinata took it with a flat face but, as usual, flinching only when he smacked his hand down on his desk.
Fugaku barked at the person who dared come to his office door to come in, but the tall man seemed to be happy to come in and put a report on his desk. "These are the reports from Sales you asked for."
"I gave these to Hinata." Fugaku glared at the man. "Who are you?"
"Rock Lee, sir! Hinata Hyuga's assistant." Lee cheerfully saluted him.
Fugaku looked again. The loud shirt should have been a sign. But he was in an otherwise respectable suit today. His hair was still silly, but it had been styled differently. Hinata must have given him a makeover.
Smart girl. "Where is Hinata?"
"On her lunch, she took it with Hoshigaki." Lee relayed. "She'll be back before one."
"Dismissed." Fugaku snapped.
The tall man practically bounced out of the room.
Fugaku rubbed his temples, looking at his lunch. He was getting tired of this new diet. He was getting tired of his assistant. He was getting tired of his son's meddling.
He was just getting tired.
Hinata waved at Kisame as she left the elevator. He was a strange, huge man with a booming voice to match, but quite funny. Over lunch, he was able to help with her dilemma with the marketing department.
Hinata waved at Lee as she came in, and he bounced up. "I gave the director the report, ma'am. He asked about you."
"Oh?" Hinata looked back at her boss's office. "Maybe when he's in a foul mood, you should wait for me to give it to him, or at least wait until after his lunch, but thank you. You look nice today."
"Thank you for the styling!" Lee said, proudly striking a pose.
Hinata giggled and put her purse down in her office before, wondering if she should check in on the director. She was gone an hour, and it didn't look like he finished his lunch.
"Hinata." Fugaku snapped through her phone, deciding for her. Hinata headed to his office. "Sasuke's plane landed."
"Yes, sir, his driver reported that he and his friend got to his hotel safely." Hinata relayed.
"He brought a friend?" Fugaku asked.
Hinata nodded. "He requested the extra ticket in his email when I booked the flight and hotel, Naruto Uzumaki. He's the heir to Uzumaki."
Fugaku let out a frustrated sigh. "Oh yes, those two are always together. What have you got for the marketing fiasco."
"I think I have a solution to that." Hinata folded her hands in front of her. "There is another team that is at the end of a project that was meant to be held off until after this release. If we release that in place, there will be a product announcement at the end of the month, as promised. All we would have to do is ensure we have enough prototypes in time, and after speaking with Kisame, I think we can arrange enough to fill the gap."
Fugaku paused for a moment thoughtfully. He nodded. "Sasuke event?"
Hinata smiled. That was the best she could get from him. "All preparations are in place. The staff has been hired. Your gift is in my office. I have the guest list, so I can remind you of names." The last was an odd request, but she was sure it was far more embarrassing to forget someone's name when you were respected.
"Keep your shadow out of my office," Fugaku added.
Hinata nodded. "I apologize. I instructed him to wait for me in the future."
Fugaku huffed. "Dismissed."
Hinata bowed, but before she could disappear through the door, she noticed his uneaten lunch in the trash. "Should I choose another place for lunch tomorrow?"
Fugaku glared at his half-eaten lunch. "Get something that doesn't taste like cardboard."
Hinata ducked her head again before she left.
Hinata sighed, looking at the list of foods he was allowed to eat, the available restaurants in the area, and the list of things he wouldn't eat in her guide. There wasn't a lot to choose from. Takeout was already not healthy, but it was much harder to select on his restricted diet, and she already called some of these places to see if there were more of his diet options.
When she was at home, she cooked most of the meals, even for the holidays.
Maybe she should just make a second bento. Well, she would have to make another two for lunch and dinner, but the likelihood that he would eat her cooking was low. She could, however, make something to ease the discomfort. She looked at the clock, so she could still make it to the store tonight.
Hinata was happy to see that he had eaten the breakfast she sat on his desk the next morning without complaint. The brown bag she put it in was crushed and empty in the trash. It wasn't his normal buttery breakfast pastry, but a light breakfast bread with jam in the center would satisfy the craving without putting him off his new diet.
Fugaku only got increasingly more irritated as the week went on, and Sasuke hadn't come to see him once. He stayed his normal late hours, so unless he went to see him in the evening, Sasuke hadn't come to see his father since he landed.
Maybe Sasuke was busy entertaining his friend. Why a hotel room? They both had parents who lived in the city. With as much as the director worked, Sasuke could have gone to bed early every day and slept in, and he would have missed his father entirely.
Hinata just hoped this event went smoothly. She wasn't sure what more stress her boss could take.
Itachi dropped by a few times. He, too, was yet to see his brother. Had shaved his head or something?
Hinata sat in the car quietly, watching the director check his phone again. He asked for his son's status at least twice a day.
Hinata held her tongue. It wasn't her place to tell him what to do.
"I need a sales report by tomorrow morning." It was nearly the end of the day, but Hinata sent the email anyway. He was crueler when he was in this kind of mood. "Order dinner, and make it something that I can actually taste."
"Yes, sir," Hinata replied. "Should I schedule a lunch with Sasuke for tomorrow before his tailor appointment?"
Fugaku paused. Was she a little too bold? She pressed her lips together as she typed through her phone, waiting for an answer.
Fugaku sighed loudly, rubbing his temple.
"It would fit in your schedule, sir." Hinata wasn't sure if she was digging her grave deeper or helping him make a decision.
"Make the food edible." Fugaku turned away from her and said nothing more.
Hinata let out a slow breath and set to work.
Hinata fidgeted her fingers along the edge of her phone. She hoped Sasuke wasn't late. The director was in a frightful mood. Itachi, upon hearing about the family meal, invited himself. She made sure Fugaku took his medication on time and checked on the car again. It should be right on time, but just barely.
When the food arrived, she set it out in front of the director and Itachi. "Sasuke-sama should be here in a few minutes. Lee-san will meet him in the lobby and bring him up."
"Are you going to hide in your office?" Itachi wondered.
"I'm actually stealing your assistant for lunch," Hinata explained. "I bought some furniture, he's going to help me with it on my lunch break, and I'm making lunch to repay him." She only had the time because of this long lunch. She bowed to the director respectfully. "I will be available by phone if you need anything, and Lee-san will be at his desk, sir."
Fugaku flicked his hand to tell her to go. He was stressed enough about this meal. Hinata bowed one more time before heading for the door.
"You finally got furniture? That's great. Your apartment is so bare." Itachi called back to her.
As the door closed, she could hear. "Why do you know what her apartment looks like?"
Hinata didn't want to know how that conversation ended.
Hinata headed down the elevator, double-checking her phone. Kisame requested a specific dish from his home she was going to attempt while he built her furniture. She wanted to make sure she bought everything right. She stepped out of the elevator as it chimed, right into someone. Her phone clattered to the floor.
"Watch where you are going!" The man snapped. He stood her height in her heels, so their faces were way too close.
Hinata stepped back, putting her hands up to her chest, and bowed her head. "Sorry."
"You should keep your eyes off your phone." He reached down, snapping up her phone.
"Ah, are you alright!?" Lee popped up. Hinata nearly forgot she sent him to wait in the lobby.
The man held out her phone. "Sorry." He looked guilty for snapping at her. She didn't recognize him. He looked nervous. Probably high tension made him snippy.
"I'm fine, thank you." Hinata ducked her head again and went on her way toward the entrance. She hoped Sasuke would arrive soon. She checked the car again. She must be just missing him.
