Here comes a quick chapter as I am still working on the next events going forward with the little cliffhanger from the previous chapter, I hope you all enjoy it. I love reading the comments and hope to improve on my writing so it's not too difficult to understand.
The plot is simple with many little twists and turns to make it interesting enough to continue. Hence the many details here and there.
Let me know what you think!
ITACHI
I remember the first time we met. Her big bright eyes stared from across the garden, unyielding determination set on those childlike orbs.
She took the direct approach, always making sure to our eyes met before taking the first steps. Her parents had taken their sweet time to arrive, later than everyone else with an excuse father didn't mind ripping apart in front of them.
After all, how dare they disrespect the main Uchiha family with their tardiness.
Mostly, I never compared her with them. They liked to flaunt their wealth more than others – she kept her looks simple and followed her parents around like a 'Good Daughter'. Others would keep their distance, but they always found their way back into the family social gatherings.
It felt like having a shadow.
Her appearance wasn't anything to gauge about, slightly tanned skin, huge almond eyes and straight hair. You could lose her in a crowd easily – something she liked to do in order to approach me.
I didn't mind it at first, she always made sure to pay the toll for my attention – sweets. Mother would keep me away from them, but I had my ways.
People will do anything these days for attention, even children.
However, it was always innocent. We were just children back then… not much to do when your families dragged you around for every function just to show you off. Being the first born made things complicated, most people approach because they want something.
They always want something.
that's what made her different.
All the other children didn't like my silence, lack of social skills. There was nothing wrong with listening to others, my social skills are just fine.
Remarkable I would say.
I made sure to advocate for comfortable spaces, investing in areas that bring calmness and serenity rather than stress and coldness like before.
Listening to my employees gush about the gardens always made it worth it. They don't need to know my opinion and I don't need to ask them to respect the changes I've made. My word is absolute.
Most of the time.
Izumi always approached with clear intentions. To listen to her. She would talk and talk, while I leisurely enjoyed the treats she'd sneak out of the desert tables.
A perfect transaction if you asked me.
Every time she would bring something, never with her hands empty.
Considering this, she'd taken good care of herself. Presenting herself as a woman rather than the girl I used to know. With time, the changes in our life made themselves apparent. My time narrowed into the spacious office I now found myself in. her time was set on work, her lifestyle and whatnot.
I couldn't just distract myself like she could, there was no space for wondering thoughts and daydreaming. Hence, I must continue.
With a heavy sigh, I rubbed the bridge of my nose to ease the tension building in my eyes. The day had been filled with meeting and no time to sit down and catch up on anything. Maybe firing my assistant wasn't the smartest choice, but I couldn't keep listening to her yapping every time she answered her obnoxious cell phone.
Instead of filtering emails, mails and messages, she moved around like a middle-aged woman in the market trying to haggle with the vendors.
Just annoying.
She's fine, I'm not a monster. With paid leave and a recommendation letter to retire at the ripe age of 65.
She should have retired years ago, but she insisted on keeping her post like some loyal soldier. Being the assistant of my parents and even grandparents will tell you as much. The woman was in dire need to change careers. Technology wasn't her thing anyway.
Now I'm stuck here. It's been… months since I had an assistant. Apparently, the market doesn't have anyone willing to take the part.
I wonder why.
Shaking my thoughts, I turned back to my screen. The vast majority of those emails staring back at me could all just be deleted… by accident… that should be a great excuse to avoid the plethora of invites to those pesky events.
I don't care if we went to high school together and you're getting married.
I could just ask Shisui who these people think they are. Maybe just take a trip and disappear for the weekends.
No, I can't do that.
It's Friday, Sasuke left work at… I glanced at my watch, just a about an hour ago. Leaving early and skipping to this club he swears will be the one. 'I'm telling you, it's a hot spot for girls. You'll thank me when I bring her home in my arms'.
Cocky idiot.
His smug smile was fragile every weekend that passed, the need to find her had dig its way to our bones and it all bottled up to him.
He found her.
And.
He lost her.
Just like that, the guilt was eating him up. Out families had their own traditions, building a pack was already pushing the limits to our traditions. Finding a scent match had been a long-lost fantasy for us. We knew they were rare, if you consider the last scent match in our family was our dear mother Mikoto and father Fugaku.
That was decades ago, and before that we didn't have much luck in our family. With most thinking we are cursed.
I know how much Sasuke loved the idea of finding what our parents have. The only reason the elders allowed them to be together was just for that reason.
You can't fight fate.
Our ways had changed and no longer hold the same weight… unless you consider the possibility of being shunned and estranged from the families and consequently losing all your connections with our wealth.
If we found the scent match, we can appeal our case and become an official pack in the eyes of our family. All we had to do once we found her was-
A knock on the door cut off my train of thought. I glanced at the clock… the building must be almost empty by now. There was only one person who would stay a little longer to drop by. "Come in" knowing she'd just walk in and sit down with her mind ready to spill out about her day, I didn't bother to glance from by screen.
Multitasking isn't that hard.
The rush of footsteps along with the dragging of someone's feet caught me off guard. The sharp gasp and creaking of the chair halted every cell on my being.
Pink hair.
Big bright green eyes staring right at me with… fear?
Why? Why was she afraid? What did I do? Does she not like the chair? My office?
Short and long layers of pink wispy hair hugged pale and soft features. Fitting the butterfly haircut with a heart-shaped face. Slightly opened mouth pouty with pearly teeth poking from behind.
Adorable.
The word materialised in my mind, and I had to bite my tongue to keep it to myself. "You got another one, Itachi" Izumi slammed her hand on my desk, unnecessarily. I turned to her, ready to scold her actions as the pinkette flinched visibly. Looking for the reason of her outburst, a white folded paper stared back at me.
Glancing at the women, I noticed Izumi had an air to her that reminded me of a bird trying to show off their front feathers. Her smile tilted and nose high in the sky like those animal planet documentaries I've watched.
The pinkette on the other hand, seemed to try and make herself smaller with her hunched shoulders and arms covering her middle. Much like Madara's cat trying to run away from Obito and his insistent belly rubs.
Taking the paper, I unfolded it with wonder. A clinics name I didn't care about, and different tests done to someone called 'Haruno Sakura'.
I've got her name.
Keeping that filed in the back of my mind, the reason for this encounter piqued my interest… if only I could get a whiff of her scent. Curiosity turned me toward the big bold letters with the word 'Positive' written on the middle of the paper. The test in question shocked me.
She's pregnant.
"How do you plan to deal with this one?" Izumi continued, ignoring the brief moment my hands tightened. Sitting across from me, her chocolate eyes shined with the unmistakable gleam of a child setting the tone of superiority.
Since when was she this… cruel?
Izumi knew full well how we deal with situations like these. Many a times we've had women trying to pull the pregnancy card – or worse – just to get their 15 minutes of fame or make themselves a handsome paycheck for their bedroom talents.
If they can prove it.
After all, we have our standards. No Omegas – at all. Unless we find a match, there is no need to involve ourselves with any when we already have our necks deep into the suspicions of our elders and company shareholders.
Old men and their idiotic traditions they try to push onto others.
Fooling around is not allowed unless we have a clear understanding over the situation. We have our ways to keep our second gender a secret. There is 0% possibility for a surprise pregnancy.
Even Omegas have their own hormonal cycle – we do not participate in heats. Trusting a stranger to respect your packs wishes and avoid using their scent to push the boundaries. The elders will have a field day if any Omega is involved with any of the founding families and extended members.
Sliding the paper back on the desk, noticing her agitation. Did she not want me to read it? What kind of scam was she trying to pull? I've seen them all.
Disappointment washed away the previous need to comfort her. The comfort of my office hugging the emotions into nothing more than indifference. I don't know this woman. She doesn't know me. Even if I run a background check on her – just because of her hair and eyes – there is no telling what kind of person she was.
Or how she could have taken any of our pack mates to bed… Maybe with one look at those doe eyes blinking back at you.
Maybe.
Her shaking hands snatched them back, like a child caught in the act. Apprehension shining back at me. I've seen that look before – when my younger brother would try and get away with his blonde best friend on another nighttime escapade before they were old enough to drink.
Anger coloured her pale features. Was she always this pale?
Stop caring. "Mis Haruno?" her name felt different, fighting the urge to call her Sakura… what a fitting name. "Congratulations on your pregnancy" I couldn't help the disappointment covering my words, the man who got her pregnant could burn in hell for all I care.
An unwanted wave of jealousy hit my core, burning from the inside. The coffee table could be replaced if I… accidentally broke… in half.
Or the chair.
And the desk.
Those curtains have been bugging me for some time…
This office could use a makeover, it's in the budget. Izumi's scoff caught my attention, since when did she made those noised? Annoying noises. "Oh please. Those can be forged easily. I spoke with the clinic" in her defence, it's happened before. Will the universe be kind enough to ensure that was the case? Would it be worse for her to be lying about such a thing? Why do I care? She hasn't even tried to deny anything. "The nurse said you paid in cash and left in a hurry"
Izumi's eyes filled with humour; we've had this situation before. We share certain connections that allow us to obtain information… all legally obtained as a company activity to ensure integrity, of course. "What kind of joke is this? Next time go to a more prestigious clinic rather than a small rundown place from a sketchy neighbourhood. Your are not the only idiot who has tried this before".
I wanted her to protest, to shout at Izumi and prove the accusation wrong. I'd listen to her speak, silently. Her breathing grew shallower, and I wondered if she was about to faint. My hands reached to hold her. Not good. Izumi appeared proud of herself. Why was she acting like this?
She knew something I didn't.
I need the pinkette out of this hostile environment, Izumi wasn't allowing her any comforts. There was no need for this treatment, everyone deserves a fair hearing. All I had to do was to keep them away from each other, Izumi had no need to mingle with my packs business.
Since when had she tried to involve herself in our personal matters…?
One word to our elders and she could have us suspended from our positions or even on the bad side of our investors.
She needs to leave.
Now.
The pinkette's shoulders dropped in defeat at Izumi's laughter echoing painfully on my office walls. "Mis Haruno" the laughter died down. But those green eyes avoided me. Guilty conscience? "How much do you want?" Revulsion twisted in my gut at Izumi's smirk. I'll play along with this little fraud of hers and get het out of my office.
I'll track her down later.
Once my mind settles down.
Confusion hit het features as she glanced between us, her shorter strands of pink brushing her features with the movement. "This is what you wanted, is it not?" by the familiarity in which Izumi spoke to her, I wondered how well they knew each other… did she work here this whole time?
I can't remember ever seeing her around, I reached for a drawer. A small stack of miscellaneous documents I have around for meetings and such, there was no need to make this one any longer. Taking the first contract – a disclosure agreement we usually give to contracted workers to ensure they don't mess around in our floors, basically stating we have cameras – and a pen, sliding them on the desk. If she reads it or not, that should tell me how interested she is in our wealth.
Taking my old and discontinued check book, I write the number I've written before. Part of the process. If she tried to check it out at a bank, we'll know.
Greed is very common, specially around our family.
Did that idiot tell her our family name? even if she was the woman he met, we can't just let anyone know what's going on… Izumi has a very keen eye for these things. Receiving the mystery woman with open arms in front of others was not an option.
Not yet.
A part of me wondered if the rumour mill ran about a pinkette taking a Uchiha to bed… then women out of nowhere would change their looks and even get plastic surgery and try to claim they had been that woman.
It's happened before.
My office seemed to have the worst air conditioning at the moment, the intense cinnamon cent mixed with my own in a horrid concoction for a headache… the pinkette's scent won't reach me if Izumi keeps pushing hers like a scared kicker spraying pepper spray at a bear.
Just take the papers and leave, or at least tear them up. "This is what we can offer to a woman who tries to claim one of us for a pregnancy scandal" the words flowed like a broken record by the many times I've had to clean up any mess before it escalated. "We will promise this amount if you agree to stay silent and never come back"
Take the hint and leave this place, please.
I'd rather have this matter settled away from the cameras… away from prying eyes. "Just sign, and you can leave with enough money to start somewhere else"
The shock on her eyes stabbed a dagger to my chest, she didn't even try and read the papers – or the check. Something on her neck caught my eye as she shook her head, a small pink sticker on her neck almost blending completely under the shade of her milky pink strands and pale skin.
My hands itched to remove it.
"Just sign the documents and leave" Izumi snapped, irritation pulling in my gut. The urge to snarl at her surprised me. "Do you not remember her, Itachi? She thinks you are the father of her baby." Vile burned my throat at her sultry attempt, why is she speaking to me like this?
Ever since I've known her, she made sure to appear as disinterested in any way possible, knowing how much I repel having women try to throw themselves at me.
Desperation is unattractive.
They only want my last name, nothing else.
That's what made Izumi different, what changed? Anger began to simmer into my headache, mixed with the uncomfortable situation and the sickening perfume in the air.
Since when did she wear perfume? Her hair always smelled of hairspray and clothes reeked of drycleaners iron pressed. Lather bags and shoes. Mostly, the comfort of my office covered any unwanted scent, hence the need to keep our meeting and talks – her talking mostly – in the privacy between these walls.
"Poor little girl, why don't you just tell her you don't want to see her every again?" she purred. Maybe because I'd never seen her before. Was this woman thinking she slept with the current C.E.O. of the company she worked in? all along using my younger brother and believing he was me? If she was that woman…
My stomach turned with all those possibilities, all those questions. The constant ups and downs of this meeting making me dizzy and sick. "We have never spoken before" this conversation must end. Now. "Whoever you believe fathers the child will never claim you"
I know for sure how heartbroken Sasuke would be if this was all true. I don't want that. With just one phone call, everything can be checked. Nagato will have his team on top of this mess – under the assumption of another scam artist trying to damage the Uchiha's reputation, the company's reputation and dignity.
For that, they must leave.
Both of them.
Now.
Carefully, she stood on slightly shaking legs, fixing up her clothes and squaring her shoulders. Her hands gripping her purse and papers with barely contained anger. "Go fuck yourself." She hissed.
Shock flushed my system.
From all the things I wanted her to say, to do… this was unexpected. The fire in her eyes grounded me with the desire to touch her – and more. She quickly turned on her heel and waltzed off like a show of dominance over her own emotions.
She wouldn't confirm or deny the outrageous accusations, instead leaving and keeping her dignity like a majestic lioness understanding when to leave when there's better prey to catch.
The thought of being unworthy in her eyes burned. Branding me with the need to chase her. Mesmerised by the sway of her hips and the shape of her round-
"Hey! You're fired!" my ears rang with the screech, headache pulsing it's way from my head to my eyes. The door slamming shook me back to the problem left in my office – Izumi. Her anger morphed into a gleam I did not like.
Standing, I threw the papers the pinkette ignored into the shredder. There was no need for these anymore. A blotchy coloured hand snatched the papers before they met their end. What was wrong with her hand?
She began to read the content, her hands gripping the sides with strange tones on them. Tanned streaks met the blatant pale tones of her hand. Self-tanner? Izumi needs to fire whoever tried to give her skin a bath of fake sunshine.
It can ruin your clothes and sheets. Obito had gained a slight tan after burning under the sun from a nap in the beach, causing Shisui to wonder if he needed one to 'Blind the fans with sunshine emanating from his skin'. The result was a horrible mistake staining his apartment in a chemical scent of pineapple, everything his skin touched had to be replaced and thrown away.
Nothing was safe.
Not even his hugs were welcomed.
The scent of pineapple always reminded him about that awful experience.
"What is this? At least she wasn't stupid enough to read these. Can you believe she's been trying to find your brother? We've had to deal with her constant nausea and bathroom trips, all she does is look sick and mope around with her pale face. I told her to see a doctor! Ugh! So gross." Silently, I let her finish. As much as I'd like to send her off and stop her from speaking, I needed to know more.
However, by the way she spat her complains about the pinkette, the need to rush to her and find her became suffocating. Worry and anger mixed in my gut.
Her scent.
I need to know her scent.
Her scent should confirm it. Stepping away from my desk, I offered a professional and sharp "Excuse me" ending our meeting with no room for argument.
Slipping my hand to reach my phone, I began to organize my thoughts. Call Nagato, find her. The need to breath anything but the cinnamon spice burned my nose. "Hey!" Izumi shouted once she noticed I wasn't stopping for her. I don't care, the memory of those emeralds gleaming with unshed tears pushed me to the door.
Just as my hand reached the door handle, quick hands held his with a sharp grip that tightened slightly. "You don't have to follow her. I have all you need" she purred, suddenly getting closer enough to smell her shampoo above her own scent.
This office had strict rules about this. Letting your scent flow and cover the floors was unwelcomed and against company policies. She knows this. Our Second gender – whatever it was – had to stay private. It's that simple to use your scent to confuse and suffocate Betas.
Even though Betas don't take in our scents as easily as other Alfas and Omegas, we can still use our scent glands to influence them. Make them fear you, love you, to obey.
That is dangerous.
A Beta cannot produce their own scent or control it like we do, but they can still be vulnerable against the intense scent perfuming in a room with limited ventilation. It takes more than normal spurs of our scent to cause this – making the level of intention obvious.
Manipulation is a powerful weapon we do not yield, lowering ourselves to animals in the wild with no conscious is not welcomed by anyone. Those who try, will respond to the higher ups. Not only for exposing themselves in an aggressive manner, it's also illegal.
A Beta can't tell what's going on like any other Alfa or Omega before the effects hit them out of nowhere. Albeit a little less intense than the second gender – it still affects them to a point.
Unfortunately, sometimes it cannot be proven. Most of the time, Alfas use their scents and pheromones to keep themselves hidden and ensure a Beta doesn't notice… certain attributes during certain activities… If there's an Alfa – or Omega – out there using Betas for their own personal needs without caring, it will get messy.
Very messy.
Unless it's self-defence.
"Why are you scenting my office?" I turned to her, her red lips shining from the lights above us. A pout forming before she smiled.
"Oh Itachi, I was just protecting myself. You don't know what people are capable of when you expose them like that." Her voice lowered, inching closer to me.
Exposing was just the thing; the aggressiveness of her actions had never been this bad. "We've had plenty of incidents before. There's a reason you feel threatened?" her brows furrowed, eyes searching for an appropriate answer.
Was there any excuse for this behaviour?
No.
"You don't know her… Miss Sano said-
"I don't care what she said, you know better. She can report you" I interrupted, the gravity of the situation didn't seem to bother her by the way she giggled.
She giggled?
"Oh, don't worry about that. She doesn't know anything about us. She's a Beta, every employee gets the screening done before hiring. Even if she was pregnant, that's not an Alfas child in her" she sneered at the door, something was on her mind.
"Explain" he knew that look on her eyes. Whenever the brunette had something in her mind that bothered her, it was clear as day. Was there any reason for her to feel threatened? Her attitude was a clear sign at how much the pinkette had got under her skin.
Surprised, she glanced at him, looking under her thickly coated eyelashes. That couldn't be comfortable, could it? Makeup was fine in his eyes; it brought attention to ones features… going overboard was another thing. There was this show Shisui preferred where women would join some sort of dating ritual with a group of men. Equal numbers on both sides. Equally as eager to eat each other up to gain a price at the end of the season.
The women did not look the same as their pictures… much less the men. It was fascinating to see how drastic their perspective of beauty had shifted in order to accommodate the many procedures and rituals needed to look the way they did.
Only seeing it a few times up close didn't prepare you to notice those changes. That's when it clicked. She was wearing a thick band around her lashes… where those called falsies? It did it's job, ignoring the fact at how uncomfortable they looked. "She was seen dragging your brother out of an event." She slowly drawled, fake concern shining on her eyes.
She really never cared about Sasuke before, only keeping it court and short around him. Considering how much he didn't like to be around her most of the time. Maybe I should ask him why. ""Dragging?" that didn't sound right. The pinkette was petite, even next to Izumi.
A small pang of worry hit my gut. Was she eating well?
"Oh yes, he was drinking. I worry she slipped something in his drink…" she let the silence fill in the missing details. She doesn't know we are looking for a woman with pink hair, does she? "It happened on that Charity Event you missed. Sasuke must have taken your place, and she took advantage of it… thinking it was you she was dragging…" she wined, snaking her hands up my shirt.
Reactively, my head snapped back to provide the much-needed space she was taking. With my hands reaching hers, I tried to pry her off. "I can talk to him. There is no need for you to get involved" her accusations were just speculation.
For now.
She wasn't there.
Taking a step forward towards the door, I heard a yelp "Oh!" she tripped, pushing herself against me. My back hitting the dark wooden door with a thud. "I'm sorry!" she quickly shrugged my hands off her shoulders. I wasn't about to let her fall, much less on me.
The intense spice hit my nose, almost causing me to sneeze. The warm body of hers pressed against mine, like a worm, pressing her curves to my sides. "Izumi" I warned, catching her wondering hands as a sharp pain hit my neck. Glancing at her, I noticed her lipstick had smeared and her sharp nails pointed at me with a threatening glimmer. "Did you just try to mark me?" I seethed.
Her gasp reached my ears like an unwanted fly. It wasn't genuine. "I'm sorry! No! I was just trying to avoid falling. These heels are now, you know how hard they can be to walk on sometimes." Her hands waved the scent of guilt emanating from her.
She was lying.
Now I understand why she needed to overpower my office with all those scents. She was covering the bitter tone of her scent from me. A clear sign of a second gender not being honest.
I may not know what her second gender was, that didn't make me stupid enough to ignore how well she tried to cover herself up with all those pesky smells.
Honestly, I could care less about her right now. There was no need to keep her entertained when I have better things to do. Keeping her pinned with my gaze, I fixed up my clothes… until I felt something wet on my collar.
Glancing, I noticed a smudged mixture of lipstick and a res liquid… "Oh my gosh! I scratch you! Itachi I'm-
Before she could keep on rambling, I tugged her arm and rushed her out of my office. Effectively closing the door when she stared at me with panicked eyes and slack jaw.
The click of my lock echoed in my office. A few moments later, I heard her huff and heels clicking away from the door.
Fucking finally.
Taking in a deep breath, I sneezed. This office smells horrible. Shaking my thoughts back to focus. Fishing out my phone, I dialled the number and waited. "What is it?" the grumbled voice whispered on the other side. "It's Friday night, can't this wait?"
"No." he sighed in defeat, too bad. "I need you to find anything you can on a woman called Haruno Sakura." The pen hitting paper told me he was taking notes now. "Make sure to call me as soon as you find her most recent medical records. Official and unofficial" I turned to my computer. Opening the registry for our employees and searching her name. "Send someone to this address and make sure to keep an eye out for her movements until I say so"
I turned the conditioning to filter out the air and paced in the room, waiting for updates. My hands gripping the printed documentation pertaining to her. She worked for us.
She's been working under Izumi for the last two years. Why wasn't I aware of her presence? She'd participated on more than one event he attended, even his pack had attended most of the events she had on her work schedule…
This whole time, they didn't even notice her?
And then I found it. The date and time my brother had his encounter with the mystery woman. The notes included her task of the night – attending the overpopulated bar. The even included more than a handful of celebrities invited to spend absurd amounts of money to drink and party in the name of Charity. A mayor success for the night causing Izumi to gain an award from the mayor himself. The event included professional photographers and videographers in the deal. It was a social media catch for all those wanting to show off their connections, and expensive lifestyle.
I now remember why I refused to go.
Sasuke wasn't too hesitant to take my place, just bored and free at the time.
The Bar tending company hired for the night was understaffed and the pinkette was tasked with guard duty on the bar. It's no wonder he didn't notice her until later in the night when bar tending was limited due to most of the party being under the buzzing influence of the alcohol and shaking themselves in the dance floor.
Honestly, the even only made the company seem more appealing to the younger generations… causing a small rift of inconformity with the older and more conservative groups. They stayed quiet after a nice plaque with our company name was placed on the wall of fame next to the many awards and recognition we've earned throughout the decades of operation.
The idea of that little pinkette rushing to serve entitled brats wasn't a pretty thought. The crash of my floor lamp hitting the ground shook that thought away. Kicking it didn't feel like enough.
My phone buzzed "Oi, you sure she lives here, hn?" the blonde on the other side complained "It's like a river over here! That stupid man broke a pipe trying to swing at me, no pinky in sight, hn!" he complained.
"What man?" I demanded. A strange felling growing in my gut. "She lives alone" the file said as much. Her landlord requested a work confirmation to prove she earns enough to pay rent and utilities along with a statement of professionality to confirm she was trustworthy – just a technicality most homeowners require these days avoid renting out to complete strangers.
A brief silence followed by shuffling and the echo of water "Man, I got in the apartment, thought it was empty after knocking a few times – the lights were off, and some guy jumped at me with a hammer! He missed a few times until he hit a pipe on her wall that burst open, hn." More water now echoing in the distance "It's getting everywhere. What do I do now, hn?"
"What did he look like?" I turned to my computer; no files registered any family members of significant other. Usually that's not necessary unless we need an emergency contact… there wasn't even an emergency contact. Her file named 'Ino Yamanaka' as a close contact, her co-worker apparently.
A door closed. "I don't know man, he was wearing all black and rushed out the door before I could turn the lights on, hn" he grumbled, sighing loudly. "I'm ringing the neighbours door, they should know more. I'll text you the details, hn"
The call ended. Frustration pulling at my muscles.
The desk chair was the next object to hit the floor. Where was she?
Another call came through "Hey, Itachi. I got some interesting news for you." The voice sounded slightly bored and annoyed. Someone wasn't happy to work on a Friday night. "I'll send the details and don't call me anymore. I've got plans. Anything you want, just send it over and I might see it tomorrow… or not" she ended the call.
Konan may be the most unwilling and less cooperative member of the team, but she can get her work done quicker than anyone else. And I'm grateful for her keen eye on important details.
My phone rang with the notification, her report ready for my eyes to skim through.
I saw red.
With shallow breaths, I wiped the sweat off my forehead. Glancing around my now destroyed office, from the splintered wood covering the floor to the broken and torn chairs. Only that one little chair she sat one remained intact.
There was no scent left on it… whatever Izumi spilled all over it at some point when I turned to leave left no trace of her.
How could things end up this badly?
Deidara had no luck finding her, having to rush out of her apartment complexion before the landlord arrived to check the damages. With the limited knowledge over her being new to the place and lived alone, not much could be said from her neighbours.
The weather outside covered the tall floor to ceilings windows with droplets of rain. The lighting illuminating the now dark office, exposing my small burst of frustration. Doesn't matter, I needed a remodelling anyway.
After the previous CEO left, the office stayed the same… I just didn't have the time or energy to get to it.
I glanced at my watch, knowing it was time to pick up the inebriated younger brother of mine from the club and take him home. Only this time, I understand how he felt.
To have her so close to you and lose her that easily.
There were no updates on her whereabouts, sending a shadow to tail her would have worked if he didn't have an obstacle on the road, or more than one. I felt like an idiot losing their footing after trying to be a few steps ahead of someone. She didn't arrive home directly, that worried me. There was something keeping her from reaching her apartment – but I'm at least glad she didn't arrive to Deidara having a drawl with some strange man in her apartment.
Another fucking question rolling around my mind, taunting me.
Taking my leave from the office, I found my car and sat with the ignition on for a moment. The man staring back from the rearview mirror was a mess.
What's wrong with me?
Dose documents… only provided a few details to who she was. In the last month, she went to three different clinics for regular screening on her symptoms to all come back as a positive pregnancy test.
Why would anyone do that?
I wish I knew.
Two weeks ago, she had been translated urgently to the Emergency Room in the Senju Hospital, why? Who knows… that dam hospital is good at keeping their files hidden. Her designation as a Beta was updated recently, following some tests done at the same Senju Hospital. It now red 'Classified' and that did not sit well at all.
There was no reason to suspect the highly regarded hospital of malpractice or scheming with a patient, not at all. But I can't just call on my contacts directly without raising a few flags.
My palm hit the dashboard. Frustration pulling at me once again. My nails dig at my scalp, pulling my hair to ground me. The slight sting of pain helping just a little.
I need her fucking scent.
Going back to the moment she sat her pretty little ass on that chair… shaking her head in denial with watery eyes. There was something, a pink strip covering the place where her scent gland should be.
I need to find her.
Remove that blasted thing and scent her.
It's killing me not to know.
Before it's too late.
As I mentioned before being rudely interrupted by the knocking on my office door. All we had to do once we found her was to keep her hidden from them… that pesky group who thing they can decide who should marry who and what family wasn't worthy to join another.
Moronic matchmakers from the age of stone.
The engine roared to life once more, wheels screeching in protest. Dam it all if I don't fix this.