If it was hard to be in Sasuke's presence at the office throughout the week, it's borderline impossible tonight. He looks unbelievably perfect in a tuxedo. Sakura's bruised heart aches as she steals yet another glance at the Uchiha man.

The venue for the annual company banquet looks like an opera house on the outside, but inside, it looks like a ballroom from a fairytale story. The floors are shiny, bright, and white, though a hint of gold meets the eye when the lights hit it just right. Elegant fabric is draped from the ceiling in waves, with gold and diamond chandeliers peeking through. An actual, live orchestra is playing a nonstop stream of music, and extremely professional waiters and waitresses are flitting around the room to ensure not a single attendee is without a drink. If Sakura didn't know better, she'd think she'd traveled back to the times of princesses, princes, balls, and carriages.

Karin stands at her side while they loosely follow their boss around. Even though this party is supposed to be for employees' enjoyment, they're still on high alert because multiple reporters and paparazzi are in attendance. Itachi told the women to relax, but they wordlessly agreed that's impossible. So, they're doing their best not to draw Sasuke Uchiha's attention while remaining closeby enough to assist should that be necessary in any situation.

"God, how is he single?" the redhead whispered breathlessly.

Sakura nods, entranced by their boss's gorgeous profile as he speaks with a few of Uchiha Corp's business partners' higher-ups. Without realizing it, she answers honestly, albeit with extreme sarcasm. She scoffs and sips champagne, "Emotional inavailability. Probably bipolar, too."

He's a selfish jerk. First, he invites himself over to her place and makes it clear he's interested in having a physical relationship. Then, after she agrees and the deed is done, he disappears like a ghost in the night only to act like she forced him into it all. Since she's had a week to let her feelings simmer and brew, she's become bitter and exhausted by the emotional toll.

"Damn, Saku. Lighten up, will you?"

The pinkette snaps out of her irritated daze and realizes her mistake, "Sorry…."

Karin snickers, blissfully unaware of what's transpired between her friend and boss, "Should we find a rebound for your awful rebound?"

Sakura shakes her head, tossing back the rest of her champagne, "I think I'm gonna go back to swearing off men. It's just easier." She nods toward a waiter nearby to signal that she's going to get a refill before silently excusing herself without hearing Karin's response.

While walking through the crowded room of extravagantly dressed people, she berates herself for being so transparent. If she doesn't get her act together, Karin will find out what happened. Honestly, Sakura just wants to quit her job so she doesn't have to deal with any of it anymore. She can't do that because she's supporting herself financially now, so she takes a deep breath, rolls her shoulders back, and lifts a hand to wave down the waiter.

Just before his eyes turn on her, someone crashes into her. Swiftly, she turns in time to catch a falling glass, but it's contents spill over whoever had dropped it. Her eyes lift to see a beautiful middle-aged woman.

Her eyes are dark as coals but ones that've been lit aflame and providing warmth. Long black hair falls gracefully over her shoulders and down her back in romantic curls. Her skin is pale and clear, and her lips are full as she smiles sheepishly, the image of down-to-Earth, "Oh, dear. You're not injured, are you?"

Sakura straightens her spine, not failing to notice the sudden silence and stairs of those surrounding them, "I'm alright, Ma'am, but your dress…."

The waiter she'd been approaching takes the two empty glasses with a look of sheer panic, "Mrs. U-!" "There's no need to fret," the woman gently lays a hand on Sakura's arm, "It's my fault for bumping into you. If anything, I should thank you for preventing the glass from shattering." She smiles like a mother comforting a child, lowering her voice so only the pinkette can hear, "That'd be embarrassing for us both, wouldn't it?"

Somehow, Sakura feels less tense and nods with a tiny grin, "It would." She awkwardly looks around to see they're still being stared at by dozens of surprised party-goers and gestures toward the hall that leads to the restrooms, "Let's go?"

"My, aren't you kind. What's your name?" The woman seems subtly astounded but glides alongside her with the grace of a jungle cat.

While holding the door to the ladies' room open, she answers quietly, "My name is Sakura. What is yours?"

"You can call me Mikoto," the woman's smile refuses to fall as the pinkette grabs some of the soft towels on the counter, kneels before Mikoto, and begins gently dabbing at the damp cloth of her dress's skirt. "What a fitting name, Sakura. I'm sure you get that all the time, though."

"You have no idea," the woman in question smiles amusedly, focused on her task, "Thank you for not getting angry about your dress. I was ready for hellfire."

Giggles fill the air as Sakura rises to her feet to step back and view Mikoto's dress to see if her actions helped at all. "It's been a long time since someone's been so genuine with me. It's refreshing," Mikoto grabs Sakura's hands in hers once the towel has been placed in the "used" basket. Her dark eyes search the pinkette's green ones excitedly, "Are you here with a date?"

Sighing, Sakura gives the woman a knowing look, "I wish. I'm here with some colleagues."

"Won't you join me for a drink? I'd love to talk to you more."

Though she's somewhat concerned Karin will be angry with her for disappearing, Sakura nods. Maybe meeting this woman will distract her from the drama in her life.

Mikoto's grin widens as she leads the way out of the room and back toward the party, "Tell me about yourself! Are you in school?"

Again, many people stare at the duo as they enter the large ballroom, but the dark-haired woman ignores it, so Sakura tries to follow suit, "I'm studying to become a surgeon."

"A surgeon! You must be intelligent and hard working to pursue such an admirable career!"

Inside the pinkette's clutch purse, her phone vibrates. "Excuse me for a moment," she mumbles while fetching it. On the screen is Karin's name. Mikoto gestures for her to go ahead, so she answers, "I didn't ditch you. I just-" "He lost his phone. Can you start looking near the bathrooms? I'll start on the opposite side of the building."

Sighing, Sakura agrees before hanging up and frowning at her new acquaintance, "Duty calls. I'm sorry."

"Oh, please. Don't apologize. I'm sure we'll find one another again at some point this evening." Mikoto smiles brightly, "It's wonderful to meet you, Sakura. Thank you, again."

So, the Haruno woman returns alone to the hallway leading to the bathrooms. Her eyes scan the decorative tables and chairs for Sasuke's phone. Her mood falls again at the thought of her boss. She wonders when her affection for him will fade or if it ever will. Did she misunderstand the meaning behind his glances the week Karin was away? Has she somehow made up this fantasy, sweet yet awkward version of Sasuke Uchiha in her mind that doesn't truly exist? When did she become such a romantic?

She desperately wants to talk to someone about this, but Ino is busy with Sai, and Karin will be hurt that she went behind her back. Hinata is busy with Naruto, and Tenten is busy with Neji. That leaves….

Sakura's fingers tighten around her phone as she lifts it to frown at the screen. She misses S. She misses being able to be completely herself, minus the name and gender, with someone. He'd become her confidante, but now he's ignoring her. The woman wonders why he doesn't just block her or at least decide not to be her match on AC anymore.

With a huff, she unlocks the device and sends him a long-winded message, 'I don't know what I did to make you upset, but you could at least tell me instead of avoiding me. I don't care if this sounds desperate because we're friends. If that's no longer the case, say so, so I'm not sitting around waiting to hear from you like a fool.'

A ding meets her ears the moment she sends the text. It's not from her phone. Green eyes widen and search the vicinity, only to land on a phone sitting on a table near the men's room. Her pulse quickens as she picks it up and sees the thumbnail for AC on the lock screen's notifications.

"S is here?!" Sakura hisses to herself, looking around and seeing no one. He did say he lives in Konoha, didn't he?

Realization hits her as her gaze slowly turns to the phone again. Why is there an abandoned phone sitting here? …Sasuke lost his phone. Ice flooded her veins as she quickly dialed her boss's number and hit send to call it, having to know the truth as soon as possible.

A tiny squeak leaves her mouth when the mysterious phone rings, her name on its screen. Tears rise in her eyes.

It's…Sasuke?

S is Sasuke?

But that…. That can't be! It's too big of a coincidence!

Sakura's mind reels as she thinks back to all the deeply personal conversations she had with S. Then, she began to put the dots together. Anytime Sasuke seemed to have a bad day, S would, too. Sasuke loves tomatoes and pasta, and so does S. Even the background dynamics fit with the two, being from a prestigious family who expects too much from him.

S said he has feelings for a co-worker. The woman's tears almost overflow, but she blinks them back, feeling like she's been punched in the stomach. So, that's why he slept with her, to try and distract himself from his crush. Hell, as S, he even told her to try doing something like that to avoid her feelings for her own love interest. A presence suddenly appears behind the Haruno woman and she turns to see the object of her turmoil standing there with a look of dread.

Her voice cracks, "S…."

Before she can sort out her frenzied thoughts, Sasuke grabs his phone from her hand and glares, "Don't act surprised."

"What?" She asks, completely lost. He doesn't say anything but shakes his head, turns, and begins walking away. That's when she realizes he thought she knew all along. "W-Wait, Sasuke! I didn't-!"

Her tears overflow as the man's patience snaps. He's suddenly in front of her again, hissing in poorly muted rage, "You, of all people, know me. You know me, Sakura." Her breath gets stuck in her throat as he swallows. His beautiful black eyes appear to get watery as he lowers his voice further, "You know I can't trust you anymore, even if you cry."

"But I didn't know!"

He scoffs, looking her up and down as though she's only trying to hurt him worse. His brow furrows as he shakes his head and steps back. Disgust drenches his words, "You're lying again."

If she were calm, Sakura would've realized he's only thinking this way because he thinks she lied about knowing his identity, too, but she isn't calm. No, she's distraught because her secret life and real life are colliding. They'll soon be crumbling, too, so she wipes at her eyes and tries to get closer, "You know me, Sasuke! I'm many things, but I'm not a liar," she tilts her head, "Please….You have to believe me."

A small group of women comes around the corner, interrupting their argument. Sasuke uses the distraction to spare Sakura one last glance before shaking his head and leaving to rejoin the banquet. The pinkette ignores the gossipping whispers from the women as they enter the ladies' room and stares at the spot where her best friend and man she loves had just been.

…..

Sasuke's angry. He's hurt and wants nothing more than to go home, but he can't because he's stuck at this stupid party. Behind his glazed-over eyes is the image of Sakura standing there with pretty tears running down her cheeks as she realizes he's discovered the truth.

And, fuck, she looks so beautiful tonight. All he wanted to do in that hallway was press her against a wall, wipe her tears, and kiss the living daylights out of her. He wants to run his fingers over the dress that's clinging to her petite curves so perfectly.

His blood pressure is high because he's so upset about the argument they just had, so he's not thinking clearly. As much as he wants to kiss Sakura, he wants to grab her shoulders and shake her until she admits she's lied to his face for months now.

"Honey, are you alright? You look pale," Mikoto's motherly tone snaps Sasuke of his stewing.

He shakes his head, shrugging off her hand when she lays it on his arm, "I'm fine."

Itachi and Fugaku give him a stern look that he ignores.

The Uchiha matron doesn't let it affect her and changes the subject, "I met the most wonderful girl earlier," her smile widens at her eldest, "You'd love her, I'm sure. I wonder what family she comes from."

"Wife."

The two Uchiha sons and their mother freeze at Fugaku's cold tone. She's the first to respond, sighing defeatedly while grabbing her husband's arm, "Let's dance, Sweetheart. I love this song."

Sasuke rolls his eyes as his parents excuse themselves, his father sparing him a short look of disappointment at his obvious disinterest in the party. Usually, he'd be affected by that because he wants his father's approval above anything else, but tonight is different. Tonight, he feels like his heart's been ripped from his chest by Sakura's ruthless dedication to play ignorant of her wrong-doings.

Itachi swirls his champagne around in his glass while watching the crowded room, "What happened?"

"Nothing," Sasuke grumbles, doing the same, but with much less whimsey.

"You're a poor liar, Little Brother."

At those words, his eyes narrow, "I'm going-" "Sakura…."

The younger Uchiha's eyes lift to see the pinkette's slim figure dipping and dodging through the crowd toward the exit with her head low and an arm hovering over her eyes to hide the obvious fact that she's crying. The brothers watch in silence for a moment before Itachi steps forward to chase after her. Sasuke's hand moves on its own, and he grabs his arm to stop him. The longer-haired one looks back in surprise.

After a second, understanding meets his eyes, and he looks at the crying woman, then back at Sasuke before coming to stand at his side again, "Something did happen."

It's silent between the two for a moment before a sound of confirmation leaves Sasuke, his eyes dropping to his champagne because Sakura's no longer in sight. He doesn't explain, and Itachi doesn't ask. They just stand there as brothers and drink in silence.