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From: Sakura Haruno { sakuraharuno }
To: Sasuke Uchiha { sasuke_uchiha }
Subject: Re: regarding My toermination
Dear Mr. Uchiha,
May I ask that we completely forget the embarrassing email? And thank you for believing me. You've no idea how hard it is to be heard in the office, particularly as a woman. Thankfully things in the near future will proceed in a "much preferred" manner.
Respectfully,
Sakura Haruno
It's remarkable to gather so much about a person despite having never met them before. Naturally, the number of emails that have gone on between us has given me a better insight on her personality than others, especially given her circumstances and the unusual beginning of our exchanges. But although I've never seen her in person, I can picture a satisfied grin on her face. Our interactions could have ended well enough on my last response, but I'm certain Sakura Haruno liked to get the last word.
And fine. She can have it.
While I'm glad this helped shine a light on important things that should not have gone unnoticed, I'm still frustrated that it had gone unnoticed for this long. Naturally, I had to have another meeting with Shisui and HR to figure just how fucked that department was.
I didn't say much during the meeting. For two hours, I listened in on everything they found from SNO's HR department, and a few other employees that have been suspended and fired over the course of the past few days.
It was worse than I thought. Slacking, hiring unqualified employees, and questionable payroll decisions all kept from Shisui who looked appalled at the information being shared.
I skim through the files containing their work information, from their resumés to their last days. A lot of their main similarities are their closeness with another terminated employee, Jiji. Whether it was close ties in the workplace or his word in their hiring or their promotions, they're all connected in some way or form. Now, a few important positions are left, and they need to be filled. I make sure to emphasize to my cousin and the newly instated HR department in SNO need to be certain those positions are going to be filled by the best person available.
But there's something bothering me. I can't comprehend how little Shisui knew. It is unlike him to be negligent. Despite his kindness, he isn't someone who'd let himself be walked on. I kept an eye on him during this meeting, and while some things appeared to have surprised him, something tells me there's more to this than he's letting on. He's hiding something. But what? And most importantly, why?
It's not like he wants my position. He was vehemently against it when grandfather mentioned it during our family meeting before my position had been finalized. "Too much work. Too much pressure, " he said. I doubt that something has come up that made him change his mind.
Then my head pounds as realization hits me. There's only one person that has more power than I do in this company, despite my position. Only one person that can get someone like Shisui to hide things and fuck over his own department because it's what he thinks, suggests would be best to do.
My grandfather, Madara Uchiha. The same man who 'personally approved' the hiring of Ms. Sakura Haruno.
Obnoxious
DAILY REMINDER !
WEDDING REHEARSAL ON FRIDAY !
WEDDING ON SATURDAY !
Uzumaki Naruto
Maybe I should block your phone number.
Me
Yr all talk no action
Also about the wedding
Hinata's sister wants to be paired w konohamaru
walking down the aisle so its not gonna be the usual
moh and best man walk down
Uzumaki Naruto
I'd prefer to walk alone.
Me
X !
No fuckin way dude
Yr walking w a friend of mine :D
Uzumaki Naruto
"Sir," Juugo's voice fills the room as I answer his call. "Mr. Hatake is here requesting to speak with you."
"Let him in," I reply. He's early, a rarity.
A few minutes pass, and the man walks in, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a thick folder. Moving my attention from my emails to him as he sits down, I lean back, arms folded. "What have you found?"
"No, 'hello'?" The older man says. "You gotta work on your manners, Sasuke."
I sigh. He does this every time he shows up. "I'm an adult, Kakashi."
"An adult with no manners."
I quell the urge to roll my eyes, seeing as that would only egg him on. "What have you found."
The mischief in his eyes disappear immediately, darkening into seriousness as he places the folder onto the desk. "This is everything we found in Jiji's computer as well as his emails within the company server."
I move the folder closer to me, opening it and skimming through the information within it. I stop when I spot the name that has been showing up regularly now. Kakashi notices where my eyes have landed.
"He had an entire folder filled with information on her."
I can see that. Pages upon pages on what seems like every minute detail on everything she's done in SNO. That in itself wouldn't be too odd, but there are photos of her too, many of which are from outside of work. Screenshots of social media posts and photos, a list of people she's associated with, a list of possible lovers.
"He's obsessed."
Kakashi nods. "Obsessed with her or obsessed with getting rid of her. Or both. The oldest file in the folder was dated to a little over a year ago, so we can assume that's when this obsession started."
A year ago. I look back to emails and scroll through them, looking for a particular file sent to me by Juugo.
"And she was promoted only a few months ago."
Kakashi looks curious. "Doing your own investigating?" I ignore him. "Yes, but there was a situation two years ago where she filed a complaint to HR regarding a wage gap issue. There's multiple accounts of a heated argument between her and Jiji in the office after that."
A year after that argument but less than a year before her promotion. The timing of the creation of this folder is a little odd. What exactly urged him to make it?
"Shisui. Jiji. Haruno. What do they all have in common?" I ask.
"Aside from working in the same department, I'm sure you already know."
I do.
"It's time to pay my grandfather a visit."
Madara Uchiha may have retired, but it's clear that he hasn't given me full reign at all. Then again, I doubted that he ever truly retired. If there was anything I knew for certain, it's that my grandfather always wanted things to go his way, and only his way.
Before Kakashi leaves, I ask him one more thing. "And the other case?"
He stops before he could reach the door, not even turning around to answer. "Still no sign of your brother."
I didn't think so, yet that doesn't make the disappointment weigh any less.
"Clear my schedule this afternoon."
Juugo stills and stands from his desk. "Yes, sir, but may I ask why?"
"I'm seeing my grandfather."
His confusion is obvious. "Sir, your grandfather is not in the country."
Of course, he isn't. I rub the temples of my forehead. "When did he leave?"
"Monday, sir. He's in Ame attending a few charity events."
I scoff.
Bullshit.
As always, lunch hour for me consists of having a meal in my office while I finish up a conference call with a board member. Today happened to be with a longtime friend of the family, an old woman that makes it her job to make these calls more personal than they should be.
"Enough with the business shit, Sasuke-boy. Why do you look like you haven't slept in a year?"
Kayo Nakajima, known to the family as Nekobaa due to her intense love of felines, nags at me through the screen. She regards me with a critical eye, her forehead creasing as a deep frown settles on her lips.
"I don't think this is relevant to our meeting."
"Bah! Meeting, schmeeting. If there were any problems, I'd've known by now. These meetings are a waste of time and you know it."
That I do, but it's protocol.
"Then, perhaps, we can end this call?"
The woman rolls her eyes at me. "Always so serious, boy. You're too young to act like that. No wonder you have no one."
I raise a brow. "And that means what, exactly?"
"Still no partner? Woman? Man? You can't really be picky with your attitude."
And here she goes.
"You know, your father was already married to your mother at your age. You aren't getting any younger, and there are a few high society women with their biological clocks ticking if older women are your thing. Hell, if you're gay, I know a few people."
Too young to act the way I do, but too old to be single, huh? I would have hung up by now, but if I do, she'd call my mother, then my mother would show up in my office to tell me how that was rude and reiterate the exact same thing Nekobaa is spewing right now.
"You know my granddaughter, Tamaki, right? I'm pretty sure she just broke up with that Inuzuka boy recently."
So this is why she's bringing this up.
"No."
"She's become quite the beauty, y'know?"
"Again, Nekobaa, no."
She shrugs. "Suit yourself, boy. I know your mother is also eager to send some eligible men and women your way."
I don't doubt that. But I don't have the time, nor do I care about something like that. "My mother can do as she pleases, but she knows it won't work."
"You know, boy, the longer that stick's up your ass, the more likely you'll be alone."
"That doesn't sound as unappealing as you want it to be."
"You youngins and your fear of commitment, I swear." She shakes her head. "Well, that's all for today. I have lunch with the Wags and Whiskers Fund ladies. Investments, mergers, acquisitions, dividends, blah blah blah, all settled? Good. Bye, boy!"
And the call ends. Earlier than scheduled, but in all honesty, it's a good thing. Being subjected to this topic of conversation from my mother is grating enough, but from others? I can feel another headache approaching.
With the way I work, I don't have the luxury of time to even think about that. Not that I would even choose to. The topic of marriage is the furthest from my mind.
I close out the conference call tab and am met by my email inbox once again. Only now, I see a few new ones have appeared. My eyes linger on a name that has been appearing more and more as the days pass.
What does she have to say now?
From: Sakura Haruno { sakuraharuno }
To: Sasuke Uchiha { sasuke_uchiha }
Subject: Reinstated
Dear Mr. Uchiha,
I thank you again for allowing me the chance of returning to SNO, however; upon my return to the office today, I have noticed quite a few changes that have occurred within this short amount of time as well as a number of new faces. Call it an occupation hazard, but I cannot help but be curious about what has been found regarding the investigation into the department?
Respectfully,
Sakura Haruno
If there's anything about this woman, she's bold. I had thought my correspondence with her had come to an end, yet her name makes another appearance in my inbox not even twenty-four hours since the last one. Though, I had no doubt her name would appear again considering just how frequent it has come up within the SNO situation, I didn't think I'd have yet another direct email exchange with her.
I read through her email once more and type up a quick reply.
From: Sasuke Uchiha { sasuke_uchiha }
To: Sakura Haruno { sakuraharuno }
Subject: re: Reinstated
Ms. Haruno,
If this is your way of asking about what had occurred over the last few days before your reinstatement, I have divulged in my prior email that your termination had a part in uncovering many violations of company guidelines. I cannot divulge more information regarding the situation.
Sasuke Uchiha
CEO of Uchiha Enterprises
It doesn't take long for her to respond.
From: Sakura Haruno { sakuraharuno }
To: Sasuke Uchiha { sasuke_uchiha }
Subject: re: Reinstated
Dear Mr. Uchiha,
Very well. I will try not to pry any further, even if it does go against my innate inquisitiveness as a journalist. However, I do have one question I hope you may answer: Did you know they were going to give me Jiji's position upon his removal?
Respectfully,
Sakura Haruno
Did they? Last I recall from her file, it did appear that she's suitable for the job, constant badgering aside. I had left the rest to HR and Shisui, so unless they're all trying to purposefully get on my bad side by making the same mistake again, she truly is the person for the job.
From: Sasuke Uchiha { sasuke_uchiha }
To: Sakura Haruno { sakuraharuno }
Subject: re: Reinstated
Ms. Haruno,
To answer your question, no, I was not aware. I should hope you retain that inquisitiveness, especially with your new position. However, you should know when and where to use that hunger for answers. If the newly placed HR department employees saw you fit for the position, I will trust them considering they were transferred from the main company's HR department to SNO.
Sasuke Uchiha
CEO of Uchiha Enterprises
From: Sakura Haruno { sakuraharuno }
To: Sasuke Uchiha { sasuke_uchiha }
Subject: re: Reinstated
Dear Mr. Uchiha,
I can assure you my curiosity will remain firmly intact. But do you realize that despite saying you were not to divulge more information, you had done just that in your most recent reply. I won't say a word, of course, but I just found it odd. Perhaps that was just a small oversight on your part, or if our previous emails are to be believed, you're having a foul day, thus leading to said oversight. Nevertheless, that information won't be spreading everywhere.
Respectfully,
Sakura Haruno
Cheeky woman.
From: Sasuke Uchiha { sasuke_uchiha }
To: Sakura Haruno { sakuraharuno }
Subject: re: Reinstated
Ms. Haruno,
Yes, it was an oversight on my part, however; it is one made in the hopes this subject will come to a close. I expect that you will keep said promise and not a single word of this is leaked throughout the SNO offices.
Sasuke Uchiha
CEO of Uchiha Enterprises
From: Sakura Haruno { sakuraharuno }
To: Sasuke Uchiha { sasuke_uchiha }
Subject: re: Reinstated
Dear Mr. Uchiha,
Of course, I had said so in my previous response, hadn't I? I hope your day brightens up and your mood softens with it, seeing as the next two days are important for a mutual friend of ours. Nothing ruins a joyous occasion quite like a sour disposition.
With the utmost respect,
Sakura Haruno
And once again, Ms. Haruno gets the last word.