Warning: this story is rated M for potential language, violence, and sex.

Disclaimer can be found on my page.

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The Assistant

Chapter 1

"...please I need this job."

The woman, hair sleek and her edges sharp, pursed her bold red lip in uncertainty as she eyed Sakura Haruno. She leaned to the right to reach her computer mouse and started clicking around through her files. With her left hand, she tapped a pen against Sakura's application in thought.

The rhythmic tapping and clicking echoed through the room and did nothing to calm Sakura's sinking stomach. Distracting herself, she smoothed her curled pink hair behind her ears and crossed her legs the opposite way. She admired the shoes her best friend had given her, a black heeled boot that made her feel like she fit into this sophisticated world as she walked the long bright halls.

As time stretched on, she forced herself not to pick at her fingers. Ino would kill her after spending so long getting her cuticles back in shape, not that the countless people she'd interviewed with today had inspected her hands when meeting her.

In fact, most were more interested in her resume. She was not the usual candidate for a job like this, which should've gotten her kicked out the door at first glance.

"Look, I was where you were once, it's extremely hard, and I know it's only become harder since my time," the woman started, smiling good heartedly at the little jab on her age. Sakura smiled politely even though the woman only looked a few years older than Sakura. The woman slid back in line with her desk, one hand coming to rest atop the other. "And to be honest, I think that with some guidance you'd have no problem succeeding here. And if Ino has faith in you, then I have faith in you..."

But, Sakura thought, waiting, chest tightening.

"...but upon looking at the list of people in need of an assistant, I just don't have anyone available at this time who I'd feel comfortable putting you with. Without breaking confidentiality, let's just say I have a drug addict pop star, a handsy CEO of a major corporation, and a chef known to threaten her assistants with various dangerous kitchen utensils in line for a new assistant."

"I mean, as long as she doesn't come at me with a butcher's knife..." Sakura offered weakly, knowing the battle was already lost.

The woman offered her a smile and started gathering her papers up from the interview. "I'd rather not risk my insurance policy, no offense. And you have too much potential to lose an arm."

Sakura reached down for her bag, letting her hair cover her face so the woman wouldn't see the disappointed frown that marred it or her pathetic, transparent attempt at smiling after such a hard hit.

"If anything comes up, I promise you'll be the first person I call," the woman said as she paper clipped the stack in her hand and then placed it on a large pile of other paper clipped and stapled items.

Brushing back her hair out of her face, Sakura nodded and held out her hand with as much dignity as she could muster.

"Thank you, I really appreciate you giving me a chance," she said as she and the woman shook hands. Then she was closing the office door behind her, walking down the hall and into the empty elevator, and pressing the button for the ground floor in a blur. The doors closed behind her and for a split second she felt the weight of her situation in the back of her throat. But as the tears welled up, she swallowed hard, the rock sinking to her stomach, and just like that they were gone.

It was a trick she'd lived by in the past year and one that hadn't necessarily made things easier for her, but more bearable for those around her. Taking a deep breath, she let the remains of her disappointment evaporate. The green color of her eyes lost some of its dullness and she exited the elevator and blended into the crowd heading for the street without looking back.

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"What do you mean you fired Jack?" Orochimaru growled into the phone. His fingers wrapped around his desk's edge, knuckles going white. He fought the urge to bang his fist against the wall, but couldn't find a blank space with all the framed headlines and pictures he had with various celebrities. Most were his current clients. The ones who weren't were either retired or dead. "You do realize you have a press conference today?"

A male voice on the other end sighed in annoyance and said, "I think he was selling information to the press."

"You think or you know?" Orochimaru challenged, rolling his eyes. His fingers unclenched slightly. This he could deal with considering Sasuke was known for firing assistants for lesser reasons.

"I wasn't sure, but there are only so many people who know the information that was leaked. Naturally, it had to be him," Sasuke explained. "And he was annoying. He wasn't going to last long anyways."

"Sasuke...just because you don't like your assistant doesn't mean you should fire them. They're not there to be your friend—"

"I know that, but they're always around and if I can't stand them then it just causes more stress on me," Sasuke countered. In the background, a ball started to bounce.

"Do you think maybe your stress has to do with the fact that you're injured?" Orochimaru questioned and stood. He moved towards the window and looked down at all the buildings around him. His office resided in one of the tallest buildings in Konoha City. He felt like he was a God as he towered over everyone and he preferred it that way.

There was silence on the other end and he presumed Sasuke was thinking. The ball continued to bounce and the longer this went on, the bigger the pounding grew in Orochimaru's temples. Jesus, how he hated soccer and really, any sport. It took a real lack of brain cells to think chasing around a small object was fun.

He was more of a treadmill guy himself. That was why he had one in his office. Get his exercise in while he dealt with spoiled brats like Sasuke Uchiha who believed that just because they could kick around a ball meant they could do whatever they wanted.

Walking to the mini bar, he poured himself a drink even though it was just hitting noon. He took a long sip of straight whiskey and felt the burning relief sliding down his throat.

Sasuke still hadn't responded, but he could still hear the ball in the background. He knew Sasuke was no longer thinking, but was waiting for him to give him what he wanted, which was a new assistant.

"I will get you a new assistant and if you even think about firing them, you better call me or you will regret it—"

There was a scoff on the other end, but otherwise no response.

"—and if I find out you're kicking around a soccer ball right now when you were instructed not to...I will become your new assistant and make damn sure you stay off your feet," he threatened.

The soccer ball hit the ground and could be heard rolling away.

He smirked in triumph and started to pull the phone away from his ear.

"Fine. Make sure it's a male assistant," Sasuke demanded and hung up.

Orochimaru rolled his eyes. "If they have any left you haven't already fired."

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Sakura smoothed down her forest green dress, straightened the black blazer and picked off a piece of fuzz before ringing the doorbell. Quickly, she patted the blazer over her armpits to make sure she hadn't sweat through on her race over here. It was truly amazing the turn of today's events. Thankfully, they were still dry.

First, hope as she progressed through the interviews. Then disappointment as she was told there was no one available to pair her with. Afterwards, determination to start looking for another job. From there, worry as there was nothing that would be able to help pay for rent and allow her to save up for med school. And finally, surprise and relief and sheer happiness when she was called and told that a client needed a new assistant ASAP.

"And don't be late. He hates when his assistants are late," was what she was left with from the secretary at the agency. No 'good luck' or 'here's the key to being the perfect assistant'. Not that she expected as much in a cutthroat world like this.

The windows next to the massive front door were covered with drapes so she had no idea if anyone was actually going to answer. Checking her watch, she rang the doorbell again after a moment. She could hear it on the other side and wondered if he was even home or if she was supposed to meet him somewhere else.

Pulling out her phone, she checked the email packet sent to her and confirmed she was indeed supposed to be exactly where she was standing. Although at this point she'd hoped someone would've answered by now.

Sakura fidgeted from foot to foot. What if I've already fucked up? Maybe there was a key I was supposed to find under some potted plant? But no, I've already made it through the front gate with its fancy keypad and the email didn't mention any keys.

She scanned the email again quickly. No mention of a key.

What if he's looking through the peephole, watching me sweat and worry, deciding he doesn't like me? And he's already called his publicist demanding another assistant...

"Then let him tell me to my face," she declared, eyebrows scrunched in determination and rang the doorbell for the third time.

It was at that exact moment the door opened.

"Jesus Christ, give me a chance to get to the door will you?"

Sakura looked up with wide eyes. His picture really did him no justice. She'd expected this, really, because most successful people like him either had good genes all around or had enough money for plastic surgery. Once she'd taken in his face, all sharp jaw and dark eyes and perfectly disheveled hair that made her mouth slightly water, her eyes slid down his body to the brace on his ankle and the crutches under his arms.

Immediately, she felt like an idiot.

"I'm really, really sorry, I didn't realize!" She met his eyes again and was nearly knocked backwards at the disgust clear as day on his face.

"How did you get in here?" he asked and his eyes swept past her to the front gate. "Did you climb the fence? How pathetic..."

"Hey! I did not climb the fence. I used the keypad like a sane person, thank you very much," Sakura said with a slight glare.

"Well, however you got in here, you're trespassing and if you don't get off my property now I'm going to call the police," he said in annoyance as he started to close the door in her face.

Huffing, her arm shot out and she stopped the door with more strength than he probably gave her slight frame credit for.

"I'm not trespassing, Mr. Uchiha," her face suddenly transformed as she reminded herself this was her boss now and she wanted didn't want them to completely start off on the wrong foot. "...and I'm your new assistant."

His eyes widened and then narrowed. "But you're female."

Sakura paused, unsure of what to say, and then shrugged and continued to smile, head cocked a little. "O...kay, I'm your new female assistant."

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an: I know, I know, what am I doing posting a new story? Well, I am really digging this idea and I hope you all are too! And that doesn't mean I'm not working on other stuff as well. So either send the love my way or move on, please and thank youuu. I'm not sure if I'm going to update this weekly or biweekly. The chapters are going to be short so I feel biweekly would be better but I'm still pondering it. Either way, check back on Sundays and, if biweekly, also Wednesdays.

That's all for now. Stay tuned!