Note: I've been updating this fic primarily on AO3, so this is me just mass updating on here on the past 5 chapters I've posted so far.
This chapter is not proofread. I am currently looking for beta readers for my fics so if you're interested, please DM me on Twitter (mikawritesss) or Tumblr (connectedfeelings).
"You really didn't have to haul your ass here, you know?"
Karin rolled her eyes, waving a hand to dismiss what I just said. "I told you, girly, it's fine. I can be a little late after my lunch break. It's not like my uncle would fire me."
I know she's right, but I do still feel guilty. "Just because I'm wallowing in my unemployment doesn't mean you guys have to accompany me. I'm a big girl."
"We're not accompanying you in your sadness, bitch. We're being your hypewomen! I know it sucks right now, but you're definitely gonna get a new job soon. Hell, I'm sure you'll get a better one."
Having been in the same place for about a decade, the nerves in having to actually search for a job is making the doubts in my head a little too loud. A lot of it sounds irrational, but being so used to working at SNO, the thought of a new work environment both excites and terrifies me.
Sensing my friend's intense staring, I look up to see her sighing, head shaking at whatever she saw. "You know, I did say I could put in a good word for you to a family friend's publishing company. I just know you'd do great there."
I force a smile. "I appreciate that, I really do. But, I don't know, I guess I don't think I'd feel right if you did that. I'd rather just go through the motions and get there myself, you know?"
"It's just networking. You know me, and I just so happen to know a few people that could help. It's really not that big of a deal. It's how this business works."
It does sound tempting, but the nagging voice in the back of my head refrains me from ever taking her up on that whenever she'd bring it up. Despite the close circle of friends I'd somehow gained, the life I live is a little different from theirs, with the exception of TenTen. We all met in college and have been close since, and it was then when I noticed the differences in our upbringings. With the exception of TenTen and I, they all come from well off families, so some things that seemed simple to them was a different story for me.
Seeing the people I became associated with, my parents thought it imperative to rehash something that's already been ingrained in me from them since I was a child.
One, hard work pays off. People who work hard get rewarded for it in the end, so slacking off is a big no-no, especially to my mother. My dad's personality is a lot lighter than my mom's, but while he wasn't as anal about things when I was a kid, there would be moments where I could sense his expectations on me were just as heavy as my mom's. And though I don't live with them now, I know it still rings true to this day. The calls I get from them every now and then proves it.
Two, complaining gets you nowhere. Being working class, my parents learned the same from their parents. No asking for too much, be practical with your goals. To quote my mother, "No one wants to hear bitching when there are people who have it worse." She only started saying it like that once I was in high school.
And three, never take favors from anyone. There's no knowing what they'd want in return. Out of the three, they both stressed this one the most. I came to the conclusion that something definitely had happened for them to be so adamant I don't do the same. They've never spoken about it though, but if my father emphasized this rule the most out of the three, it must have been bad.
I've been living on my own for years now, but it's hard to change a mindset like the one I've been raised on, but I've been working on it. I mean, I did say something to HR when Jiji was treating me like shit after my promotion a few months back. I may not be one to complain too much, but I refuse to be treated like shit.
Karin stays for a few more minutes with me while I peruse job listings online, bookmarking a few sites to come back to later, then she leaves to get back to work. In the midst of the people coming and going from the coffee shop and numerous job listings I've been scrolling through, my phone starts vibrating. I look at the notification and feel my heart stop at what I see. An email from Uchiha Enterprises' CEO.
I thought our back and forth was finished, especially after his last email. What could he possibly need to email me for?
I take a deep breath and prepare myself for whatever I'm about to see.
From: Sasuke Uchiha { sasuke_uchiha }
To: Sakura Haruno { sakuraharuno }
Subject: Re: regarding My toermination
Ms. Haruno,
It has come to my attention that the circumstances surrounding your termination were not in the most proper manner, as it should have been. We will continue to look into it, and your termination, as of right now, is being reconsidered. Sharingan's Human Resources department is making a few changes in its roster, and the decision will be made once changes are in effect. You will be notified when deliberation is finished concerning whether or not you will be permitted to return to your position as senior reporter.
Unrelated, it would seem our paths are crossing more often than we both could have thought. Though, I did not appreciate finding a photo of a strange woman flipping me off once I unlocked the phone I had just retrieved yesterday. Perhaps my tone during our first call was impolite. Let us leave it at that.
Sincerely,
Sasuke Uchiha
CEO of Uchiha Enterprises
I blink at the words on my screen, checking if I misread it. Once. Twice. The words remain unchanged as I breathe in a cacophany of emotions.
He actually gave me another shot. I could cry at the thought of not having to go job hunting, of not having to work my ass off to get to where I wanted again. But what made him change his mind? What exactly happened in SNO these past few days? Sasuke Uchiha is not exactly known for being understanding. Hell, he's not really known for much other than rich, intimidating, and hard to get close to.
And I just happened to flip off the same rich, intimidating, and hard to get close to man in a picture I took in his own phone.
I resist the urge to groan, having the want to crawl into a hole and possibly just live the rest of my days in it. That could have been an option if I hadn't just gotten my job back. If that first email did anything, it showed me I could never be as embarrassed as I was after that. I mean, he did give me my job back even after I flipped him off, so I should be safe, right?
Still, I can feel my own pride nibbling at me after the lack of apologizing on his part for being an asshole on the phone when I was doing a stranger a solid. No, "thank you" either? Maybe with how busy he is, he just doesn't say it anymore. Or did he ever, considering he's always been rich, and rich people do tend to get away with anything anyway.
Look at me. I just got my job back, and I'm already complaining about my boss. Or boss's boss. Or who the hell knows how many levels above my boss Sasuke Uchiha is. I can almost hear my mother's nagging if she only knew what I was thinking.
I click to reply to the email and fire off a quick response. Most of my apprehension and embarrassment fading as the fact that I'm no longer jobless sinks in and finally settles.
From: Sakura Haruno { sakuraharuno }
To: Sasuke Uchiha { sasuke_uchiha }
Subject: Re: regarding My toermination
Mr. Uchiha,
Thank you so much for the reconsideration. Considering the unconventional way I had initially contacted you, which I sincerely apologize for, I had resigned myself to looking for employment elsewhere. I am grateful that doesn't appear to be the case any longer.
Unrelated, yes. It would seem that we are "crossing paths" quite a lot in a day or two. Though I've apologized for my indiscretions, you seem uninterested in apologizing for yours. I guess, I'll accept "leaving it at that" since you are my superior in the workplace. But may I ask one question? Why was your lockscreen a photo of a hawk?
Sincerely,
Sakura Haruno
Besties
Sooo
I'm getting my job back! 🎉
Me
OMG
Porky
Really?
Ten
That's great news!
Hinata
well looks like mr hotshot wasnt
too phased by the drunk email
Porky
SHUT UP
I'm trying to bury that from my memory
It's just me embarrassing myself
again and again with that man
Me
Again?
What else happened?
Temari
Just me reacting without thinking
Bc I was going through it
Me
did u send another email, girly?
Karin
*stares*
Ten
Cut her some slack
It's been a rough few days
Temari
well, at least you can have a good
time at the wedding this week
Ten
our lil hinatas getting married T.T
Porky
To my loudass cousin of all ppl
Karin
p sure being a loudass runs in the family
Good luck to whoever youll marry
Porky
jdfhgsdfhjgsd
Me
Pffttttt u know I dont do commitment
Karin
Civil partner then?
Porky
Idk maybe
️Karin
Who do you think could be next then
Ten
I'm guessing Sakura
Hinata
Lol with who
I haven't been on a date in ages 😭
Me
Idkkkk
Hina never dated anyone until naruto so
anything's possible
Ten
Maybe shoot your shot w the CEO guy
You have an in now and if you could get
your job back after that email, might as well
Temari
I thought we agreed to stop talking
about that T.T
And no
Absolutely not
Me
I mean
hell
send him my number then
Porky
Maybe get some payback for
his shitty response then if your not
shooting your shot lol
Karin
Right when she got her job back?
Temari
No shes onto smth
Porky
lmao what would I even do?
Leave a whoopie cushion on his desk chair?
Come on, girls.
Me
Hey just a suggestion ️
Karin
From: Sasuke Uchiha { sasuke_uchiha }
To: Sakura Haruno { sakuraharuno }
Subject: Re: regarding My toermination
Dear Ms. Haruno,
Your termination granted me a chance to review Sharingan News's leadership and several cases of misconduct through that initial email, so although it would have been preferred that you had done so in a more proper manner than originally done, it did provide an opportunity to direct my attention to that branch of Uchiha Enterprises.
Unrelated, you appear unhappy with my previous reply, and though you have concluded I "seem uninterested in apologizing", I would like to argue that is not the case. As for your question, that's private.
Sincerely,
Sasuke Uchiha
"Like to argue that is not the case", huh? And yet, I still don't see an apology.
I shrug. Whatever. Maybe he's just used to treating people like that because of his position. Still doesn't make it right, though, but who am I to say that? I just got my job back, I can't go digging another grave for myself because I'm annoyed.
My curiosity still remains though. I asked him about the hawk lockscreen as a throw away question, but his answer is something I didn't expect, which to be honest, everything regarding this man hasn't really been what I expected, either.
Here I thought, I'd never hear from him again, yet in the end, he's actually looking into the issues SNO has been facing for a while. Hell, if all it took for HQ to do that was for someone to send a stupid email, I would've done it a while ago. Though, it's a wonder why no one has sent a complaint directly to HQ until now.
It makes me wonder.
I stare at the email I'm about to write. It's my personal email. Not my work email that was tied Uchiha Enterprises.
From: Sakura Haruno { sakuraharuno }
To: Sasuke Uchiha { sasuke_uchiha }
Subject: Re: regarding My toermination
Mr. Uchiha,
If the several cases of misconduct include cases involving one of the managing directors, Jiji, perhaps I may be of assistance in that regard. I, and several other staff members who've worked under him, can attest to a number of instances where he has violated company guidelines, all swept under the rug by current Sharingan employees in Human Resources.
In regards to this situation, I would also like to request an investigation on just how he had managed to obtain the "offending video" that warranted my now lifted termination and maybe to look into if HR or IT may be capable of viewing emails sent through work emails. The latter is due to a new suspicion that arose since I find it hard to believe that I would be the first one that managed to have an email be sent through to HQ complaining about SNO's inner workings. Perhaps it's because I'm using my personal email address rather than my professional one.
Unrelated, I guess I just keep on having to apologize. Well, then, let us, as you put it, leave it at that.
Respectfully,
Sakura Haruno
The more I think about the situation, the more shady it's sounding. Since a lot of my issues working in SNO was tied to Jiji, maybe I didn't notice the other small things. The journalist in me is angry with myself. The details are important! How could I have missed these things?
Granted, it's all just suspicions on my part, but when Mr. Uchiha mentioned an entire review on SNO, it's got my head filled with things I possibly could have missed. Was I just in my own head the entire time? Or was Jiji just that much of a pain in my ass that it was easy to miss the smaller things?
I stand and look outside my apartment window. The sun's setting now, Konoha City's nightlife ready to spring into action as the sky dims and the lights around the city begin drowning out the barely twinkling stars in the sky.
From: Sasuke Uchiha { sasuke_uchiha }
To: Sakura Haruno { sakuraharuno }
Subject: Re: regarding My toermination
Dear Ms. Haruno,
The case regarding Sharingan's HR department is being reviewed by Uchiha Ent.'s main HR department. I will contact them about the matter, so expect emails regarding your employment, as well as emails concerning the case. I will notify them as well about your request regarding the video due to its relevance to the issue as well as your newfound concern on emails as I do agree that it is suspicious that this is the first I've heard of such events happening in SNO.
Unrelated, there is a change in your responses. I assume yesterday you had acted on impulse. This is much preferred.
Respectfully,
Sasuke Uchiha
As much as I want to read into the first paragraph of his response, the second just pushed all the right buttons.
"Much preferred"?
My fingers start typing before I could even think.
From: Sakura Haruno { sakuraharuno }
To: Sasuke Uchiha { sasuke_uchiha }
Subject: Re: regarding My toermination
Dear Mr. Uchiha,
Thank you so much for your help.
Unrelated, are my responses "much preferred" because of the lack of grovelling or the lack of grammatical errors caused by distressed drinking? Your assumption is correct. I'm not so usually careless, but considering everything that had occurred over the past forty-eight hours, I was desperate. Something I assume you had not experienced to the degree many others have. Speaking of the "offending video", blame my curiosity, have you seen it? If you have, then you will understand my bafflement.
Respectfully,
Sakura Haruno
From: Sasuke Uchiha { sasuke_uchiha }
To: Sakura Haruno { sakuraharuno }
Subject: Re: regarding My toermination
Dear Ms. Haruno,
It's my job.
Unrelated, I suppose it is an appropriate and much more to your liking that said forty-eight hours have concluded as, I imagine, how you would prefer it to. Regarding the latter question, no I have not viewed said video, though I have decided to take your word regarding the issue, as well as, leave it to my staff to judge if it truly warranted your termination. And considering your said desperation and numerous emails regarding the matter, I currently have no reason to assume you are wrong. Unless, of course, there is more to the story, but, as I've already stated, I have no reason to assume so at this point.
However, I do take issue with one statement. Our versions of desperation may be different, and I will admit that perhaps what I'd consider as such wouldn't seem as distressing as many, I still do experience that feeling. Degrees may vary, but that much is true.
Respectfully,
Sasuke Uchiha