After such an eventful evening, Sakura has trouble sleeping. She can't believe she attacked Sasuke like that, especially while at the office! What's more humiliating? She fainted! The fact is alarming, so she schedules an appointment with her family doctor for Friday, the day after tomorrow. She feels fine otherwise, so she doesn't see it as something too serious. When she was younger, she often had fainting spells due to a weak constitution. While she's worked hard to strengthen her mind and body, it's always a possibility that her immune system didn't fight off some kind of minor infection. To put things plainly, she isn't overly worried about it.

The pinkette all but drags her feet while approaching the Uchiha corp building the next morning, Wednesday. When Sakura arrives at the office door, she refuses to let herself hesitate and walks in, head high with faux confidence.

Sasuke looks right at her. Unlike lately, he doesn't avert his gaze. Instead, he waits for her to put her things away and sit at her desk before speaking. It's clear by his hesitant tone that he's unsure of how to approach the situation, "Are you…alright?"

Blush dares rise to Sakura's cheeks, but she somehow prevents it. She nods, searching the man's handsome face for emotions he may try to mask, "Thank you for taking me home yesterday. It must've been uncomfortable for you."

All of her attention is drawn to the Uchiha man's lips because they twitch as though he wants to smirk at her. He doesn't, though. Instead, he says in his usual, semi-emotionless voice, "After work today…. Dinner?"

Sakura's mouth opens as she tries to come up with a response. She's just so surprised by his sudden invitation. No words come out as her control slips, blush warming her face steadily.

Sasuke's lips do turn up into a smirk this time, nearly a smile, as he releases her gaze by looking at his computer screen, "It'd be inappropriate to talk here, don't you agree?"

Irritation meets Sakura's brow. It twitches as her blush fades. He made it sound like a date on purpose to tease her, didn't he? What a jerk.

Huffing angrily, Sakura texts Karin, 'Where the hell are you? It's been three days! You can't be that sick!'

As if she'd been outside waiting for that cue, Karin struts in with a satisfied grin and coffees in hand, "Good morning, you two! Did you miss me?"

Sasuke simply grunts a thank you out when he's handed his drink, but Sakura glares at her friend when she's given hers, "You look like you're feeling better."

Karin sighs dreamily, tossing her long hair over her shoulder while sitting at her own desk. A glint of mischief meets her eye as she waggles her brow at the pinkette, "Much better."

The day continues semi-uneventfully. After lunch, the other two leave to do their rounds, leaving Sakura to hold down the fort, just like old times. A nostalgic sensation warms her chest as she digitizes the files of new clients, her foot tapping happily. In the afternoon, around four o'clock, a knock comes at the door. Sakura stands to answer it, but tit opens before she can even take a step. She'd usually expect Sai or Itachi but both were out of the office this week. No, someone she very much does not want to see steps through the door.

"It's you," A familiar, gruff voice meets her ears.

Snapping out of her stupor, Sakura bows and steps out from behind her desk, "Good afternoon, Sir. Director Uchiha isn't-" "I'm aware of my son's whereabouts."

The woman's face pales at Fugaku's cold demeanor. She tries to remain composed while trying again, "I see… How may I be of service to you, then?"

The Uchiha patriarch and CEO looks down his straight nose at her as though staring at a sick and abandoned stray puppy on the side of the road. And he doesn't seem like an animal person, so the expression leans toward disgust.

"I have a task for you."

Sakura's spine straightens in surprise, "For me?"

"Yes," Fugaku spares her one last look-over before heading for the door, "Come to my office Friday evening once your duties here are complete." She's so stunned that she can't do anything but watch as the statuesque man opens the door to the office. Rather than immediately leave, he pauses and locks his glare onto her once more, "This stays between us. You're to tell no one."

Then, he's gone.

He leaves Sakura there, dumbstruck and confused as to what such a powerful man can possibly want from her.

…..

Sasuke's on cloud nine. Well, actually he's still a bit confused as to why Sakura's suddenly into him again and is worried she'll swiftly change her mind again, so maybe it's more like he's on cloud seven or eight.

While the pinkette is out of the office to deliver documents to some other departments in the building, he stares at the desk he's sitting at with images of last night's activities floating repeatedly across his vision. Karin, luckily, doesn't try to speak to him about anything personal. It's a ticking time bomb, though, because she keeps sending him knowing little smirks.

The Director of Operations is conflicted only because he's unsure if Sakura let what happened happen due to her being sick. On Tuesday afternoon, he only had an inkling she wasn't feeling well. Her fainting in his arms in the middle of the sexiest office meeting he's ever had pretty much confirmed it. Sasuke wants to tell her to go home and rest, but he knows her well enough by now to keep his mouth shut. If he wants to stay in her good graces, it's best not to give her orders that don't directly coincide with work.

The memories of their first night together are tarnished by the fog of liquor, but yesterday's encounter isn't. No, he can clearly picture her milky skin, dusted with sweat and flushed with lust. He can still see the fire and desperation in those gorgeous green eyes. His hands freeze on the keyboard, his gaze dropping to them. The arch of her slim waist as he held her to the desk….

Sasuke clears his throat and shoves the inappropriate memories away. Now is very much not the time for that.

In an attempt to distract himself, the Director buries himself in his work. When he leaves the building in the afternoon, Karin accompanies him instead of Sakura. It's likely for the best. The two of them might not be able to be alone while working for a while lest a repeat of yesterday occurs.

"You're welcome," Karin suddenly says while they're inspecting one of the older locations to ensure everything is up to code. "Hm?" He responds, uninterested. She flounces along, taking notes while babbling, "Obviously something good happened between you two while I was away. You can't keep your eyes off of each other! So, you're welcome."

He tries. Oh, how he tries not to lose his cool with the woman, but he fails. "You're out of bounds, Uzumaki."

"I'm right, though, aren't I? If you two weren't forced to be alone together the past two days, you'd still be moping around all confused on how to flirt. It's sad, really."

As much as his pride hates to take a hit, Sasuke knows she's right. He doesn't admit that aloud, but does her the courtesy of not arguing the topic further.

Finally, after hours of nervous anticipation, the end of the day arrives. Karin wordlessly looks between him and Sakura, realizes they're not following her out, smiles amusedly, and bids the duo goodbye.

At long last, the pair is alone. Sasuke waits silently for Sakura to pull on her coat and gather her purse before holding the door open and allowing her to pass. She seems flustered, but not overwhelmingly so. Neither has to speak to agree it best to remain silent until no one else can potentially overhear the words they share. He opens the car door for the woman, who seems confused by the gesture.

Once he's seated and they're pulling out of the parking garage, Sakura can't seem to contain herself anymore. She blurts out, albeit quietly, "You don't have to do this just because you feel bad about yesterday, really. I came onto you."

She thinks he's doing this out of obligation? The Uchiha man almost smirks because he's thought he's the naive one in this relationship the entire time. That said, he isn't sure what to say in response, so the car becomes awkward and silent.

He's been so focused on not thinking about Sakura all day that he never chose a destination for their dinner. On instinct, he drives to the sushi place where they'd had their welcoming dinner for her and Karin. She seemed to enjoy it back then.

When he opens the door for her upon arrival, she steps out with a red face, "Th-This is too much, Sir! We can go somewhere more affordable."

Her lack of using his name leaves a bad taste on his tongue, but he ignores it for now. Instead, he audaciously pulls her hand into his and leads the way inside, where they're promptly escorted to one of the private rooms once the staff recognize his Uchiha-esk features.

Their orders are taken, and then they're left alone in a small room. Sakura's skin shows the first signs of flush, and she seems unable to look at him for more than a few seconds at a time. Sasuke can't see her hands, but he knows she's likely fiddling nervously with them in her lap.

Now that the time has come to swallow his social awkwardness, Sasuke, too, hesitates. What should he say? How should he say it? Will she reject him again? They have only been getting along, if you can call it that, for a day and a half. Maybe it's too soon to jump the gun and have The Talk.

"Sir, listen-" "Sasuke." His lips move of their own accord.

Sakura's mouth clamps shut in surprise.

With no other choice, the Uchiha man continues, "I'm sorry for what I said at the banquet. I was way out of line, and I…." He pauses, nervously tugging at his shirt collar and averting his gaze from hers, "I want to go back to how we were before we knew the truth."

The pinkette, unsurprisingly, seems mildly perturbed, "We can't do that. The only reason we got along so well was because we didn't know we were speaking with one another." Sasuke opens his mouth to rebuttal, but she continues, "We barely got along in person, if you recall. We fought all the time, and I annoy the hell out of you."

Both become silent as the door opens so the waitresses can serve their food and drinks. Once they're gone, Sasuke narrows his eyes, "I don't care."

Obviously, that's not what Sakura expected to hear because she can't find the words to say.

He feels warmth begin to meet the tips of his ears. Being this open and communicating clearly is so very out of character, but if he wants to be on the same page with this passionate woman, he has no choice, "It's because you stayed when I was cold or annoyed that I'll put up with arguments and you treating me like a child." A familiar expression, one of irritation, meets Sakura's face. It's then that Sasuke knows he has a chance because it's the most genuine emotion she's shown since the truth was revealed.

"Well, if you'd take care of yourself, then I wouldn't have to treat you like a kid," Sakura grumbles with the straw to her water in her mouth. She looks away with a huff while taking a sip.

He can't help it. A tiny smirk tugs at his lips.

The woman frowns when she notices, bristling, "Stop looking at me like that."

"Go on a date with me." Sakura's usually pale face goes from white to bright red in a heartbeat.

She stumbles over her words, choking on the water and coughing behind her hands, "A-A date?! B-B-B-But-" She finally clears her throat and shakes her head, "Aren't we already on one?" Obviously, she's trying to get out of it with that logic.

Sasuke's smirk turns into a small grin, "Let me take you on a real date."

The Haruno woman is speechless. She searches his face in disbelief for a moment before bashfully looking away, poking at a piece of sushi with her chopsticks.

Sasuke's chest warms at her stubborn expression, "Is that a yes?"

Sakura nods, sparing him an annoyed glance before averting her gaze again.

"I'll pick you up Friday at eight, then."