-XXX-

SASUKE

"Get married?!"

She yelped in surprise, which was perfectly understandable.

"I don't know how long it will take to convince Namikaze to hire me." I had no idea if this show would last a month, two months, or two years. But I was determined to reach my goal, however long it might take. But the issue of being patient was not me, but my 'soon-to-be'. The word fiancée was still strange and foreign to me. I couldn't imagine myself in a relationship, let alone as a good husband. This vision was always so unfamiliar and unattainable to me that in the last couple of years I have accepted that my life path will be career, not family.

"It's pretty certain..." I spoke in a considerate tone, "that when I leave ROOT Inc. and go over to the Namikaze Group, Danzo will fire you within the hour, one way or another. He'll think you knew about it all along, even though you didn't." Danzo was a scumbag, but he wasn't stupid. I knew how he thought and I also knew how he handled problematic situations for him. Ruthlessly.

"Why don't you find someone else?" She said doubtfully. I didn't know if it was because she didn't trust me, or if she didn't trust herself to play this role and endure it. She was trying to talk herself into any other option, though there were very few escape routes for her to come out of this in the best way.

"I don't know anyone else." I admitted unwillingly and with irritation. "And the women I know... aren't suited for this."

"And I am?"

"You want me to be honest?"

"Yes."

I took a deep breath and pulled away from her slightly. I was still processing the fact that I was having this conversation with Miss Haruno. I never thought this would ever come up, and I wasn't even sure how to talk to her. We had never been close in the office and now I was sitting less than a meter away from her, sensing her irregular breathing and looking into her confused eyes that were screaming a thousand questions.

"You're practical, intelligent... ordinary." Miss Haruno quirked an eyebrow and made an offended expression, though it wasn't meant in a bad way at all. "Moreover, the people around you see a certain charm in you that makes them like you..." I continued. "I don't see it myself, but it's obviously there." I didn't know why, but it felt good to tease her now and then.

"Excuse me?" She asked offended, but I continued before she could object. "The fact that you're my secretary gives us a great explanation as to why I'm leaving. Danzo wouldn't have let me continue working here if we had an intimate relationship." I remembered the thing with Shikamaru Nara and his blonde secretary. That was a shining example of what I had in mind.

"I just don't see how it could work if you hate me so much." She questioned me rather curiously. That word was starting to trigger feelings of anger in me. I never said I hated her. Even if I didn't exactly fall at her feet. I rested my hands on my thighs, cupping my palms together and resting my lips against them thoughtfully. It was a habit I did when I was brooding and wanted to take a moment to think.

"You think I like people I work with?" I don't. She looked affronted. "You wanted me to be honest." I don't like most of them and the other majority I find too outgoing and I don't seek out those types. The only one I can tolerate for a while is Naruto. Some of the employees and clients I dislike and don't even try to pretend to care about them. Why would I? We're not family or friends, and one dobe is enough for me.

"What I want is to make a deal with you. It's no problem for me to separate work and private life." I paused and lifted my chin. "And for you?" She didn't answer, so I continued.

"But it all depends on you." I paused and watched her carefully. "Feel free to run to Danzo or Naruto's father tomorrow morning and tell them everything." Even though I was 99% almost certain she wouldn't, I didn't really know this woman at all. "Personally, I hope you don't, but I can't make that decision for you." It might have been that, in reality, she wouldn't have had a problem ratting me out so she could come out of this with a clean slate and get rid of me.

"I guess you could use some money. I'll pay more for a few months of your time than you'll make in a year." I offered her good compensation, hell, excellent compensation. "Six months to start." I guaranteed her $60,000 for 6 months of her pretending to be my fiancée. "And if we break up early, the original price stays." I'm sure in her head she was thinking what a jerk I was, waving money around in front of her like I didn't care.

"And all you have to do is pretend to love me." Yes, I know. It sounded ridiculous and lame. I don't think I've ever thought of a more stupid thing to do in my life. She gave me a look that in itself said she didn't trust me and didn't want to do it.

"Can I get it in writing?" She asked, and for some reason I was amused. "Hn." I nodded. "We'll both sign a mutual contract. I'll pay you twenty grand up front and open an account for your expenses." She arched an uncomprehending eyebrow at the word 'expenses'.

"Dresses, accessories, and anything else you need."

She stared at me in silence for a moment. "I have to think about it." She replied doubtfully, which made us both nervous. I don't have time to wait for her to think it over. "But don't let it take too long. If you agree, we need to get ready for Saturday." I said pointedly, letting her know there was no time to waste.

"And if I don't agree?" She wanted to know what would happen in the worst case scenario. I let out a sigh and glanced at her. "Then I'll tell Namikaze that my fiancée got sick and was not able to come." She lowered her head and seemed to feel slightly guilty, though she hadn't given me any answer yet. "I'll have to hope he gives me that job anyway." I added and she looked up at me in wonder. "And what if he doesn't hire you?"

"Then I'll move out. Maybe to Konoha..." I didn't even want to think about that possibility. "I don't want to do that, so it's up to you." It wasn't my intention to make it sound like I wanted her to feel guilty and responsible for my future, but it just happened. I wasn't always able to say the right thing at the right time to be considerate of others' feelings.

"I should be going, Mr. Uchiha." She got up with her things in her arms and I got up too. I looked down at her. She barely reached my shoulders, she was a petite woman. "I need to know your answer as soon as possible."

"I know..." She nodded in understanding.

"Where do you park?"

She looked up into my face and calmly replied. "I don't have a car, sir. I walked here." She said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "It's late, I'll get Kabuto to call you a cab." I walked to the door where I had a small screen on the wall connected to an outdoor camera, an electric lock and through which I also contacted my doorman. "Wait!" She ran after me, her face darkening in embarrassment as I turned to look at her, puzzled. "I can't afford a cab. But I'm happy to go for a walk anyway." Her smile was wide and bright, but she didn't hide the sense of shame in it.

"I'll pay for it." I apologized and kept walking. "Do you have a driver's license?" I looked over my shoulder and continued on. "Yes I do, I just can't afford my own car." She answered modestly and walked slowly behind me. "If you agree to our deal, I'll buy you one and then feel free to keep it." I said while dialing Kabuto's number. "Think of it as a recruitment fee or a deal with the devil." I scoffed, sensing her panicked discomfort behind my back just by the faint sound of surprise that escaped her lips.

"I don't know what to think about this..." She bit her lip, shaking her head. "Think of it as an opportunity." I added before Kabuto's voice came on, asking what I needed. I ordered him to call Miss Haruno a cab and after his confirmation, I ended the call.

"Good night, Mr. Uchiha." She wished me a gentle goodnight and I opened and held the door for her so she could walk outside to see Kabuto.

"Sasuke."

"What?" She froze in the middle of the doorway and jerked her gaze toward me.

"If I'm going to call you by your name, so should you. You'll have to get used to it, if you agree." She lifted an eyebrow and nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe I'll start calling you a completely different name if I agree..."

I couldn't tell if she meant it in humor or in annoyance, but some reaction was better than none. I could vividly imagine how she was addressing me in her mind. I could even name a few nicknames I would type her with.

"We'll talk in the morning." She gave me a small nod and that ended our conversation before I closed the door behind her and returned to the living room. I poured myself a scotch and sat down on the sofa in exhaustion.

When we were talking earlier, I suddenly improvised and decided to claim Miss Haruno as my fiancée rather than my girlfriend. It made my decision to leave ROOT Inc. look more convincing. It showed that I was serious and ready to make a real commitment. Something I hope Namikaze will appreciate. Personally, I didn't really care if Miss Haruno played my girlfriend or fiancée, as long as Namikaze liked it.

The girlfriend was temporary and replaceable. The fiancée, however, gave the impression of permanence and trust. I was sure Namikaze would respond favorably. Filled with apprehension, I ruffled my hair and swallowed the scotch in one gulp. I had hoped to get a positive response from her immediately, but as it turned out, that was impossible with her. So, at this point, my future was in the hands of a woman I hardly knew at all and with whom I didn't get along very well.

It was a strange feeling. I didn't like it.

I leaned back against the frame of my sofa, tilted my head back, and let my thoughts wander freely. When the beep of a text message startled me after a while, I realized I had fallen asleep for hours. Although I wasn't feeling any significant stress, my body needed some peace and rest.

I picked up my phone and looked at the single word on the screen.

'I agree.'

I smirked in triumph and dropped my phone on the table.

My plan was coming together just fine.

…

The next morning at work, we both acted like nothing had happened. Miss Haruno brought my morning coffee to my office and carefully placed it on my desk in front of me. She checked my schedule for the day and confirmed the two appointments I had planned outside the office.

"I won't be back this afternoon."

She gave me a confused look and glanced down at her little notepad. "But you have no appointment scheduled."

"I made this appointment on my own. It's a personal appointment." I explained briefly and she nodded in agreement. She didn't wait for further explanation, knowing full well that I probably wouldn't give it to her anyway. "I'll go straight to the meeting at two in the afternoon and I won't be returning so take the day off."

"Pardon me?" She asked as if she'd misheard and I had to sighed. "I believe your hearing is fine, Miss Haruno. Take the rest of the afternoon off."

"But I can't just..." She stepped closer to my desk and began to protest. I looked at her sharply and she froze in place. "Go home this afternoon." I softened my voice so I didn't sound so bossy. "I'll meet you at my house at 7 PM, is that okay?" I didn't even need to mention that it was about our contract, she acted like she was aware of it. "Yes." She confirmed on the understanding.

"If there's anything you need, work related, just text me. Everything else has to wait." I paused, making it clear that I didn't want to be disturbed during the afternoon by anything that could wait. "Roger that." She said firmly with a slight smile on her lips. I thought to myself that it was quite a relief to have a secretary who knew you well enough from a work standpoint that there was no need for lengthy explanations.

It was common knowledge that at ROOT Inc. he had Danzo check emails and calls. I wasn't one to take chances, so I had my own private cell phone that only a few selected people had the number for. Since money obviously played a role, I figured it probably wasn't worth asking Miss Haruno if she had a private cell phone besides her office phone. I intended to fix that today in between other errands as well. I didn't want to risk giving Danzo the opportunity to monitor texts and calls from the office phone.

"You can go." I dismissed her. She hesitated and took out a white envelope from her thick notepad. She took it and placed it on the edge of my desk. Then she left without a word and closed the door behind her.

I took a sip of my coffee, reached for the envelope and opened it. I took out the folded pieces of papers that were obviously aimed for me. It was a lists of things she thought I should know about her. Important details, favorite colors, music, food she likes and dislikes, and similar information. Good idea, Miss Haruno.

I'll be waiting somewhere at any moment this afternoon, so at least I'll be entertained.

-XXX-

End of Chapter 10