The opportunity arises

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

I was seated at the waiting area as Hinata registered us as guests at the front desk. Sakura was seen emerging from the lift, waving when she spotted me.

"Good afternoon, President Uchiha." She greeted playfully, she must have found out when her colleague called my assistant.
"I am honoured. The world's renowned fashion designer has came to pick us up personally." I played along, standing up to shake her hand.

She slapped it jokingly, "Jeez, Sasuke. Don't need to be so formal with me."
"President Sasuke, we're good- to.. go.." My personal assistant's voice trailed off when she caught glimpse of Sakura teasing me.

"I'm Sakura Haruno. The leading fashion designer ARX Bank have hired for this project." The pink haired woman stuck out her hand to Hinata with a warm smile.

"I'm.. Hinata Hyuga, President Sasuke's personal assistant." She shook the confident woman's hand gently.
They both exchanged name cards before Sakura played host and guided us to the 9th floor where the meeting would be held.

I entered the meeting room to see a older blonde woman already seated at the table as if waiting for my arrival. She got on her feet calmly and gave me a firm handshake. "Pleasure to meet you, President Uchiha. I am Tsunade, the Founder of Studio 99."

"Pleasure's mine." I responded.

Another boring hour passed as Hinata went through the contract details with Tsunade. It was now nearing 1pm. I was twirling my fountain pen impatiently, wanting to get the signing done and over with.

Checking my phone once again to search for any notifications from Naruto.
But there wasn't.
It's evident now that he was still angry after all.

I sighed, looking over at Sakura who was sitting across from me on her laptop.
I leaned forward to her and this movement caught her attention. She peeked at her employer who was seated a few chairs down from us before getting closer to me.

"Did Naruto talk to you last night?" I asked, lowering my voice.

"Yeah, he was ranting about you purchasing all his store's stock and getting your personal assistant to carry it." She whispered before chuckling a little. "Can't believe you actually got someone that's so delicate to carry cartons for you!" She shook her head while trying to suppress her laughter.

I let out another light sigh, rolling my eyes. "That's not what I intended."

"What do you mean?"
"I got her to do it because I predicted Naruto would help deliver them to my office." I explained, feeling misunderstood.

Damn. With Sakura's view on the situation, it suddenly struck me how bad it looked.
I finally understood why Naruto was angry at me now.

I immediately excused myself from the meeting room, telling them I had to make an urgent call.
I quickly dialed Naruto's number and put the phone against my ears to hear it ring.
I paced the quiet hallway, looking out the tall windows.
The line cut and three beeps could be heard indicating he had rejected my call.

I clicked my tongue at how stubborn he was. Still determined, I rapidly typed out a text message to him.

1:03PM - Pick up the phone. Let me explain myself.

I gave it a minute before ringing him.
But it got cut again.

1:05PM- I won't do it again. Just pick up.

I called him again shortly after I hit send.
"President Sasuke, you may sign it now." Hinata called out to me, sticking her head out of the door to look for me in the hall way.

"A minute." I replied without turning to her, still listening closely at the dialtone.
It got through and I could hear background noise. I let out a sigh of relief, "Just give me a minute to talk. You can decide if you want to forgive me after."

I took the silence from him as an approval.

"I know how terrible the situation looks now. But I assure you, it was never my honest intention to get Hinata to deliver those boxes. I knew you would do it, because I know you."

I cleared my throat, self doubt creeping up my spine. What if this isn't convincing enough?
I frantically looked down to my watch, it hasn't been a minute yet. 

"I thought it was smart of me to get her do it, so that you would end up in my office. You have no idea how happy I was when I saw you. I know I was selfish, and for that, I apologise." It was a full minute now, my time was up. I hope I managed to say all the right words to show him the full picture.

The rest is up to him to decide if he wants to believe me or not.

I waited impatiently for a response or a reaction from him. But all I could hear was just background noise of cups and chatter. Did he just pick up my call and left me hanging?

My brows furrowed, feeling like a fool.

"I accept your apology. But-" His voice emerged through the phone, sounding preoccupied.
"Honestly, I rejected your calls because I'm really busy right now. Our store had just opened in the afternoon as we had to wait for stocks to be delivered in the morning." Naruto explained hastily.

I stopped in my tracks, heaving a deep sigh as I pinched the bridge of my nose with my eyes frowned shut. I'm a real fool this time round.
What was I so worried about all morning?
I'm driving myself crazy.

Not to mention, stupid too.
Crazy stupid over him.

"I shall not bother you then, I'll pick you up after work." I offered, grinning a little at the thought of seeing him tonight.

"Okay, I've to go now. Bye!" He hung up without a second to waste. I shook my head, feeling like an idiot. Made my way back to the meeting room where three of the girls were having a conversation, "Apologies for the wait, ladies."

I pulled out my pen swiftly from the inner pocket of my suit jacket and signed off the agreement.
"To a great and long term partnership." Tsunade shook my hand again, flashing me a sweet smile.

"Let me introduce my team." Sakura had slipped by me unnoticeably and gathered her team into the meeting room.
"This is my team's talented tailor..."
Her introduction went through my ears, I could not be bothered to remember these names. I was inattentive until a certain face caught my attention.

It was that blonde girl again.

She looked at me wide-eyed when she noticed my presence.
"..great at sourcing of fabrics. And this is my junior fashion design assistant, Ino Yamanaka." She pointed over to the blonde girl who appearance to be starstruck by me.

She waved nervously, "Hi.." was all that she could mutter.
"She just joined a couple months ago, so she's still adjusting to the environment." Sakura snickered, saving her junior from embarrassment.

"Let's all have a celebratory lunch together to commence this partnership, shall we?" Tsunade suggested, stepping into the conversation when the pink haired team leader  had finished up her introduction of the group.

I nodded, going along with her request since I have yet to time for my lunch.

The whole time we were making our way down to the parking lot at the basement of the office building, I noticed Ino staring at me from my peripheral vision.

Everyone was making small talk among themselves, including Hinata. My chauffeur was already waiting at the lift lobby when Hinata informed him that our meeting has ended.

"Wow, what a fancy car!" One of them exclaimed. "With a chauffeur even, expected nothing less from President Uchiha!" Another team member whose name I already forgot chimed in.

I flashed them a small smile before entering the vehicle after Hinata had opened the car door for me.

Hinata informed the driver of our next location at a lavish Italian restaurant recommended by Tsunade herself.

Ino was still looking at me through the highly tinted windows, before analysing my luxury car.

This woman is not as simple as I thought.
There's a chance she might have knew Sai was taken.

I cringed at that thought, disgusted and angry as we drove off to our destination.

Ino Yamanaka, huh?

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net