Chapter Text
Naruto slugged his way up his apartment stairs, his eyes were already closing and he was three floors away. His damned elevator was under repair. He lived on the top floor of his complex in one of the smaller penthouses. It sounds luxurious but his apartment wasn't anything flashy.
He practically broke the key pad to his hall as he frantically pressed his numbers. He was wishing he had slept in the lobby at this point. When he finally got home, he didn’t even take off his shoes, just flopped in bed with a groan. Life recently had been nothing but work, which was not his way of living even a little bit. But as of next week his boss and the CEO of his company, Obsidian Fashion and Modeling, would be leaving. Naruto didn’t mind change, especially if it is for the better. But he hadn’t anticipated how much work would go into the shift. The past three months had been nothing but preparation. And Naruto was convinced it included two months of overkill. He can’t imagine the new CEO caring that the rug in the office is replaced or that the coffee machine isn't the latest model. But that is just how his boss was.
Naruto had been Mr. Lee’s assistant for three years, and he was told in the interview room that that was all he would get before Lee took over his mentor's company in Kyoto. At the time he was completely fine with it. But after getting to know Lee he couldn’t bear the thought of him leaving. Naruto sighed into his pillow before reaching for his phone. The most recent message was from Mr. Rock Lee. It read, “I am holding a private dinner at La Cime, 9pm. I would love to see you there.” Naruto just about cried looking at the message but he quickly responded. “See you there!”
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Naruto ran down the street as fast as he could. It was 10pm when he finally got to the door of the restaurant. He caught his reflection and quickly fixed his hair and tie before calmly walking in. He was led onto an elevator and dropped off on the roof where a small seating area was set up. Lee was sitting at a table looking at the view. He was glad Lee was still here but seemingly no one else was. He took a seat across from his boss, trying not to look too frazzled. “You’re late.” Lee gave Naruto a glance before they both started to chuckle. “Geez Naruto, did you have the top down?”
“Is it really that bad? I tried to fix it.” Naruto patted the top of his head to assess the damage. “Parking was a nightmare, I had to go to a garage three blocks down.”
“This place has valet.” Lee spoke over a chuckle. Naruto only looked at him blankly.
“Okay, okay. So why is no one else here, just us tonight?”
“Yep, I will have my official dinner on Tuesday.”
“Oh…”
They sat and talked about work for a while. Lee ordered up wine and small plates of food. It felt intimate but melancholy. And Naruto couldn’t shake the feeling like Lee was going to dump something important on him. Lee looked up from his wine. “Have you been told about the new CEO?” Naruto’s skin prickled, this was what he was dreading and always new was coming. For some reason or another Naruto had been kept completely in the dark about the new CEO. His whole department was itching for the finer details and it was embarrassing to have to tell them all that he was just as blind as they were. Naruto tried not to show his anxiousness. “Well, I know what I need to. I know that he is qualified…” Lee chuckled, “More than qualified Naruto, I am surprised that they let me sit in my position for the past five years.” Naruto had heard Lee talk like this before but it didn’t feel like he was being modest. “What do you mean, they had this lined up for a while?”
“I am not sure how long he has been after my position.” Lee looked back out to the cityscape. “But I am definitely feeling the pressure now that we have to collaborate. He fits the roll so perfectly, with minimal direction he was able to practically take over everything right there and then. It scared me, I was in so much disbelief I didn’t even mention your interview to him. That is why you haven't met him yet. Ideally that would have been decided months ago, but here we are.”
“That’s why?" Lee was obviously hiding something but Naruto let it go. "Does he even know the position comes with an assistant?”
Lee chuckled “Yes, but it worries me that he hasn’t even asked about who you are or what you are like.”
“Then you think he has something else set up.” Naruto slightly died inside.
He loved working for this company, and even turned down moving to Kyoto with Lee. He had interned there when he was just twenty years old and was offered a job straight out of college. He moved up the ranks steadily. Eventually becoming the managing editor of their magazine, when Lee noticed his capabilities and brought him onboard. He has never even thought of working somewhere else. Lee must have seen the disappointment in Naruto's face. “He agreed to make time on Monday, I want you to go alone, there will be less pressure… Maybe his disinterest is a test to see if I am willing to give you up and move on. Or a test to make sure I am telling him everything. Or- ”
“Lee, I doubt he is testing you.”
Lee hung his head “You haven’t met the guy.”
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Things were so busy on Monday, that Naruto couldn't even be anxious for his interview. He was being stretched way too thin and everyone around him had started to act like he was the CEO. Half of the things they were asking for, he didn’t even have clearance to green light. It was nearing the end of the day and he felt trapped in his corner office. “Sir, these files from Ty Title are the wrong format. Should I send them back or would you like to look at them first.” Naruto tried not to roll his eyes, “You can reformat them if you download the contents to your computer, we have to reorganize those files anyway so just go ahead and do them in office rather than sending them back.”
“Yes s-”
“Uzumaki, there is a corruption on one of the photos submitted by VFB. It is a key photo in the collection they sent us.”
“Sir Uzumaki, are you able to green light a-” Naruto finally looked up from his desk to see at least five people in his office. “Are you all ten years old! If you have a damn question, wait your damn turn! OR BETTER, DON’T BOTHER ME WITH IT! We are all stressed this month, but you guys are way better than this. I can’t oversee every tiny step so please just get back to work. If you make a mistake fix it later. That is where we are at.”
“Of course Sir-”
“Sorry sir.”
As everyone filed out of his office, Naruto got back to work on his own things. When he looked up again he was surprised to see a silhouette sitting on one of his couches. “What’s up? Did you need something else.” he asked, turning back to his work. “I believe I had an appointment.” Naruto looked up again to see an absolutely stunning man, now looking at him. Naruto tried to think over his awestruck but nothing really came out. “Naruto Uzumaki, Lee’s second in command. But I haven't heard much more than that. You either really suck at your job or Lee doesn't want to give you up.” The beautiful man stood and walked over to Naruto's desk where he stood to shake his hand. “Hey, Yes I am. Sorry things are so crazy down here right now.”
“You seem to manage.”
“I like to think so, but truly everyone on the floor is great, when they aren’t frazzled like today. You must be the CEO? I regret not knowing your name…”
The man looked at Naruto for far too long before answering “Meet me in my office in two hours, I think I will interview you then, you seem busy here.”
“Of course sir.” As if things would be any calmer in two hours.
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Two hours just about marked the end of his day, but he headed up to the CEO’s office. The guy never even said his name. Lee had told him his last name, Uchiha. Which was a big deal around these parts. His family were the founders of the whole damn company. Many people have taken over and shifted around, and the name and the brand has changed throughout the generations. His older brother also oversaw both Obsidian and her sister company. And therefore Naruto’s first impression of this guy is that he is a stuck up business man that believes he is god and nothing he says can be wrong. But it is just an impression.
The elevator opened to a familiar room with plenty of seating and work space. Somehow the room already smelt different and he noticed that the rug was different too. Naruto couldn't help but frown, he spent so long trying to find the other one for Lee. “Sir?” he called into the open room. A murmur came from the office doorway and he walked over to see the man sitting at his desk. He stood and guided Naruto to a smaller private sitting area in his office.
They sat across from each other and the beautiful man poured them both a cup of tea before speaking. “My name is Sasuke Uchiha. You can call me by my first name. It is unfortunate that I am your former boss’s replacement. I am sure it has been an adjustment.” In theory these words were kind and considerate but to Naruto they screamed snobby prick.“I was told before I took the job that the position would go to someone new.”
“Then let us begin.”
They went through Naruto’s resume and spoke back and forth for a while about his college life and working under Lee. Naruto was confident in his credentials, but he couldn’t see himself getting along with this guy at all and he was worried Sasuke felt the same. At the end, they just stared at each other for a while. Naruto almost hated how beautiful he was, he was sure that this type of beauty came with money. Never having to wrinkle your nose and only eating the freshest fish.
“Alright.” Sasuke leaned back and crossed his legs. “I think I will try you out, I will give you a trial month. Just do what I say and don’t bother me too much and you’ll do just fine. You won’t start until Lee has fully transitioned which gives a little over three weeks.” Naruto wasn’t listening to the last part. He was trying to get the twitch in his eye to go away. He knew that this wasn’t his work ethic, he liked to be in collaboration with Lee more than being bossed around a whole bunch. But this also meant that he wouldn’t have to leave the company or let his beloved magazine fall into the wrong hands. “Thank you, I will do my best.”