Hey all! I'm back with another chapter. Don't have much to say right now, I'm leaving my comments and news at the end. So let's get on with it!

Chapter 29: Teamwork

"You know, you've gotten quite muscular." Yumi commented as she squeezed Ulrich's bicep.

Ulrich smirked. "I've been working out more." They were cuddling on the sofa watching a movie. It became like a little tradition for them. Every Friday was movie night.

"That's obvious. It also explains why you've been busier lately. So what's with the muscle-bound routine?

Ulrich shrugged. "Just wanting to keep in shape."

Yumi laughed. "You were already in shape. But I don't know why I'm pestering you about it. It works in my benefit anyways." Yumi placed her head on his chiseled chest as if to prove her point.

"As long as you get something out of it, it doesn't really matter to you, huh?"

"You catch on quickly." Yumi said and kissed him on the cheek. They both got comfortable as they started watching the movie.

When the movie finally finished, Ulrich walked Yumi to the door. "I knew we should've picked Lord of the Rings. Spider-Man's just too short." Yumi said.

"Hey, it's alright. We got the entire Saturday to make out."

"As if that's all I wanna do."

"That's all I wanna do. And maybe even more." Ulrich whispered in her ear.

Yumi playfully hit on his shoulder. "Stop talking like that Ulrich."

"Why? Does it send chills up and down your spine?" Ulrich said as he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her in for a kiss.

"Maybe." Yumi said when they broke apart. "You talk a good game, but your kisses don't live up to the hype."

"Oh, so I'm a bad kisser?" Yumi nodded. "Hmm, looks like Sam owes me for those kissing lessons, then."

"What?" Yumi exclaimed. Ulrich laughed at the Yumi's dumbfounded look on her face.

"I'm kidding!"

"You better be."

"Besides, Sissi's a way better kisser than Sam is."

"Ulrich!"

That next day, Yumi entered the office, and to her surprise, Ulrich wasn't there yet. Yumi didn't think much of it at first. After all, as hard as he normally works, he could afford to come in later, and it wasn't like he was late or anything. When nine o'clock came and went, and he was officially late, that's when Yumi started ponder. She called him to see if everything was okay.

"Hello," Ulrich said with a yawn.

"Did you just wake up?" Yumi asked.

"Yeah, why?"

"Oh no reason. It's just that considering you're the owner of a multi-billion dollar corporation, it's standard procedure to come to work on time. It's not biggie though.

"Wait. What!? Oh crap! I overslept!" Ulrich perked up. Yumi could hear him stumbling around in the background. She rolled her eyes.

"No kidding! Get here quick! You got a meeting in an hour, you know! We've got deals to close!"

"I know. I'm so sorry, Yumi. I guess I just lost track of time."

"Hey, look. I know how hard you work. If it were up to me, you'd sleep more and work less. 'S not like it's a normal thing anyways. You really need to hurry up though. Do you think you'll get here in time?"

"Just barely. Stall them if you have to."

"Sure thing." Yumi hung up, and sat back in your chair. Ulrich oversleeping. That almost sounds like a paradox, Yumi thought to herself.

Fortunately, Ulrich got to the meeting right before he started. They were about to close a deal with several video game publishers on a new wave of video games they were hoping to release. It was a very important deal to say the least. When Ulrich arrived, Yumi smiled at him and shook her head. He gave her a wink and turned to greet the other men and women that were there to hear his proposal.

Once the meeting was over and everyone had left, save Yumi and Ulrich, Yumi turned to him and kissed him on the cheek. "You okay? It's not like you to oversleep."

"I'm fine. I guess I've just been pushing myself too hard." He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into his embrace.

"Yeah, well, at the rate you're going, you're going to work yourself to death. Take it easy every once in a while. You know we've got meetings all this week. You've got to be on your A game."

"I know, I know. Today was just an off day. That's all."

If only those words were true. Two days later, Yumi had to nudge him awake during one meeting, but it was Friday, where the real damage was done. Ulrich was once again late, and Yumi went to call him again, but he didn't even pick up. Yumi was starting to get angry and a bit worried. Why does he insist on making her job harder?

She kept calling and texting him as the time for the meeting approached but to no avail. The meeting was starting, and Ulrich was nowhere to be found. Yumi did the only thing she could. She took a deep breath, and ran the meeting herself. She made a couple of stumbles, and it was obvious that everyone was disappointed that Ulrich wasn't there, but somehow Yumi managed to close the deal herself.

When the meeting was finally over, Yumi slumped into her chair and sighed. She checked her phone and saw that Ulrich had texted her. "I overslept again, and this time, I had my phone on silent. Sorry! I'll be there soon."

When Ulrich finally showed up, Yumi let him have it. "Ulrich, what the heck is going on? And don't even think of saying that nothing's wrong, because that's obviously not true! This whole week you've been showing up late, falling asleep on the job, and you even canceled on me last night! Which really makes me wonder, what could you have possibly been doing last night to make you sleep so late this morning?" Yumi's voice cracked just a little bit on that last question, and for just a split second Ulrich could see a hint of anguish on her face.

Ulrich felt so horrible in that moment. He just came right out with it. "I was training!"

"Training? Training for what?"

"For soccer! I've been doing soccer practices! That's all. I canceled last night because tryouts were running late. That's all it is, Yumi. Just practice. There's nothing else going on!"

Yumi stared at him for a while. "Look, I know you'd never cheat. You're too smart not to do that, but when you start canceling dates, and you're always so tired, I can't help but worry. That's exactly why you tell me the truth the first time instead of hiding things from me!"

"I know! I wasn't purposely lying to. I just didn't want anyone to know."

"But why not?"

Ulrich frowned. "It's just that I didn't want to bother anyone with it just in case I actually failed. Plus, I mean, it's kind of absurd, you know. A multi-billion dollar businessman trying out for pro soccer? Sounds like it belongs in some silly story."

"That's because it does. I don't mean you should try out, but to think that you can successfully manage an international business, do pro soccer, AND maintain a social life is just preposterous."

"And that's exactly why I didn't say anything. I get that I was wrong for not telling you, but you don't have to pounce on me like that. A little support would be nice." Ulrich glared at her. He was obviously hurt by what Yumi said.

Yumi smiled at him and rubbed his cheek. "You misunderstand me, Ulrich. I'm not saying you should try for soccer. I'm saying that you need to realize that you don't have to handle all of this on your own. You can't do all of this without something suffering, and I'd hate for that something to be us. So let me help you."

"Help me how?"

"If you need me to carry more weight on the business front of things, then let me. I'll make sure you're still on top of everything that's going on, but you can focus more of your time on soccer."

"I'd hate to sound like I don't trust you or anything, but are you sure you can handle that?"

"In case you forgot, but today was our meeting on creating a new movie production studios with Disney."

"Oh God! I completely forgot! Ah man! That was a huge lucrative deal too!" Ulrich slapped his palm onto his forehead and closed his eyes.

"Relax! I sealed the deal myself." Yumi said as she folded her arms and with a smug look on her face.

Ulrich opened his eyes in surprised and stared at her. Did his ears deceive him? Her first time closing a billion dollar deal, and she succeeds? What a woman!

"You're kidding!" he said. Yumi shook her head. "You are awesome! I'm so happy, I could kiss you! In fact, I think I will." Ulrich grabbed her by the shoulders and kissed her on the lips.

Yumi laughed. "So trust me, when I say I can handle things. Leave Stern Productions to me."

"Alright! I'm so sorry for keeping this from you. I should have known I could trust you."

"Exactly. So don't forget again! Now you just make sure you focus on soccer! Now get that cute butt of yours to the gym! Pronto, Stern!"

Ulrich saluted her, and shouted, "Ma'am, yes ma'am!" They both laughed as they shared another kiss.

Okay, that's the end of the chapter! Now I've got some serious explaining to do.

Now look guys, I am so sorry for taking so freaking long to update. I'm not making an excuses, and to be perfectly honest, I'm not making any promises on when I update next. I am focusing on this story solely, for the moment. Maybe in the future, I get back to my other stories, but I need to try and just handle one before I start going back to the others.

So just a quick update on me. I got good news and bad news. The good news: I graduated college! The bad news: I'm starting graduate school!

That's obviously going to make things harder for me, but my intent is to make sure I take time out for this. That's my intention anyways.

For this story particular, I've had the worst case of writer's block, but it has been cleared up, and I finally have an idea where to take this. With that news, comes the news of I can safely say, that this story is indeed close to being finished. Of course with my rate of updating, that could take seven more years. Hopefully it won't, but you have been warned.

Once again, I'm sorry for just leaving you guys out in the cold like that. I intend for this take more priority in my life though. Shoot, I've even let my own original novel fall to the wayside. I hope to give you guys more news on that as well in the near future!

Thank you guys so much for sticking it out as long as you have! You guys are the best!