Hinata waited in the lounge, freshly bandaged, twisting the wrapping paper in between her fingers. It wasn't doing much for her nerves, but it kept her from picking up her phone to check exactly what street the director was on his way home.
The door opened, and she resisted the urge to jump to greet him. He only took the moment to take off his coat and shoes and look in the archway.
Fugaku set down his bag and sat down in the chair beside her. "How long have you been waiting?"
Hinata pressed her lips together, closing the destroyed paper in her fist.
"Hinata, you are not in trouble. You are not being punished." Fugaku told her. "I just want you to rest a few days before you come back to work."
"I can work from here, sir," Hinata told him.
Fugaku sucked in a breath and nodded, reaching down into his bag to pull out her laptop and handing it to her. "We will both put fewer hours in the office."
Hinata took the laptop, holding it tightly in her lap.
"You're going to stay in the guest room until we can have the wing ready for you," Fugaku told her. "I assume you have no problem with Itachi designing it."
"I'll move closer but won't move in, sir." Hinata held her breath for the fightback.
"Now, look at me." Fugaku glared into her eyes. "I decide what is necessary."
"Sir, I don't think it's appropriate. I understand that you want to treat me like your daughter, but I have a father." Fugaku set his jaw and sat back. "I have to draw the line somewhere. I can stay a few days until I'm feeling better, but I don't feel comfortable staying any longer. I am not family. I am a staff."
Fugaku slowly accepted her ultimatum. "I'll have Lee find you a closer apartment and have it furnished." Fugaku put a hand up to stop her before she could protest. "Don't even. I know how you live now. Your mother would be heartbroken."
Hinata crossed her arms.
It felt so refreshing to hear the ding of the elevator and see the view of the city from her office window. It felt like an eternity since she last sat at her desk, but it had only been a week.
Hinata did her usual morning tasks and waited for the director to come up. She stepped into his office as he tossed his coat off and sat at his desk. "Status."
It was good to be back.
Hinata winced as she used the wrong hand again. She convinced the director to let her keep the splint off in the office. It made it hard to type anyway, despite being careful for the last week. She kept finding herself instinctually picking up everything with her dominant hand.
"Let me get that for you!" Lee cropped up, grabbing the load.
"Thank you, Lee-san," Hinata said gratefully.
"Where to?" Lee asked with a pep in his step like he was ready to run to his destination.
"I'm meeting the director for a meeting if you would follow me." Hinata pointed toward the elevator.
"Sure!" Lee followed her down.
"How was your week without me?" Hinata wondered.
"The director got louder than usual," Lee said with a shrug.
Hinata pressed her lips together to hide a smile. That bad?
"We're glad to see you back!" Lee told her with a smile as he hopped out of the elevator behind her.
"I am glad to be back," Hinata told him.
Sasuke heard a knock and saw a familiar face waiting to be let in from his door.
Hinata stepped in with a bow of her head, holding out a folder. "Some corrections need to be made before this can be approved. I marked them."
Sasuke took the folder, thumbing through it. "You do that for everyone?"
"Just those who the director has his eye on." Hinata relayed.
Sasuke looked up. Hinata looked away. They both felt the stilted air between them when Itachi wasn't there to fill the gap.
"He'll like it. It just needs polishing." Hinata immediately looked like she regretted filling the silence.
"Thank you." Sasuke nodded.
"Uhm." Hinata licked her lips. "Do you need a new assistant assigned?" She was turning red up to her ears.
Oh, now Sasuke understood why she was so uncomfortable. Hinata must have seen the sexual harassment claim. "No, I am used to this. I will fire or transfer her if she doesn't get the message. I am sure I will have the same reputation for going through the assistant as dad had."
Hinata nodded. "If you have any other problems with female staff, don't hesitate to reach out. I will have it dealt with." Hinata bowed her head, hurrying out of his office.
A smile broke across his face.
Speaking of Itachi, he came down the hall just as she went back up. He stopped her, but she waved him off-putting with her head down as she kept walking. Sasuke's smile grew bigger as Itachi turned to him with confusion. He stepped into his office, pointing behind him with his thumb. "What was that about?"
"She's very easily embarrassed," Sasuke rested back in his chair.
"What did you say to her?" Itachi pried.
"Nothing." Sasuke shrugged. Itachi's face twisted up in confusion. "You're right. She is cute."
Hinata looked at the clock. Fugaku needed his dinner and his pills. She got up, letting herself in. "Do you want me to order dinner?"
Fugaku looked at the time. "Lee isn't as direct about dinner as you were."
"You should eat." Hinata pestered.
"Have you?" Hinata pressed her lips together. She had not. She wasn't able to prepare her meals yet. "Well, let go, then." Fugaku got up.
"Where are we going?" Hinata wondered.
Fugaku put on his coat and offered her his arm. Hinata hesitantly took it, placing her hand in the crook of his elbow. "I won't ruin the surprise." He waved off Lee as they left.
Sasuke headed toward his father's office, pausing as the elevator opened down the hall.
His father was smiling for once, and as he turned for the door, Hinata was holding onto his arm, her head bent down like she was questioning him, but she too, held a small smile on her face.
Sasuke's eyebrows knitted together, and he frowned as he watched them leave together.
For someone who made a lot of fuss about being taken care of, she didn't seem to mind it now.
