Temptation (NEW)

Chapter Thirty-One

"Naruto, you've been doing some great work."

My boss was an eccentric old man named Hiruzen. His office smells like tobacco and Old Spice and it overlooks the massive city. I've gotten pretty familiar with the place by now with how often I've been in here. He likes to pull me to the side just to chat sometimes. My grandfather used to know him pretty well when he was younger and his influence helped me get this great job. I believe my father even worked for the guy a little bit, too. In a way, he's kind of like family. The old man is pretty nice, but definitely feared by competitors. I've seen him make men shake in their suits during meetings before. I'd shit a brick if I ever ended up on his bad side.

"Thanks, old man," I chuckled, sinking into the leather chair that sat across from him. To avoid eye contact, I stared at the family photo on his desk with his son.

"I do think you've been a little off your game this week, though," he added, his lighthearted tone disappearing.

I sheepishly looked up at him. It would be unethical to explain that my ex-boyfriend broke my heart for a second time. I think that comment would just get me an ass-kicking. All I could do was shrug and act surprised by his comment.

"I'll make sure to do better," I assured him. "I'd hate to disappoint you. My grandfather would probably kill me if I did."

He gave a big belly laugh at the mention of my grandfather.

"I'm just worried that you're overworking yourself," Hiruzen explained. "I think you need to go out and have some fun. Your twenties don't last forever, you know."

I rolled my eyes. "You sound just like my grandfather."

"Where do you think he learned such fine wisdom?" he chuckled before taking a puff on his cigar.

"Do you tell all of your other employees this?" I smirked.

He shook his head. "My other employees weren't raised by Jiraiya. You're like a grandson, boy."

"More like great-grandson, old man," I laughed.

Hiruzen straightened up in his big office chair and leaned closer to me from across his desk. His kind smile faltered a bit and he took a deep breath.

"I'm serious," he spoke. "You should go out with some of the guys around the office tonight or something. You'll fry that young brain of yours if you keep working so hard. I'll need it when we get closer to crunched deadlines."

I frowned. The thought of going out on the town with some middle-aged guys sounded pitiful. I just wanted to sulk all weekend and binge-watch shitty reality television. Maybe I'd pop open my own bottle of wine to numb the ache in my chest. But when I looked back up to Hiruzen, I could see his determination to get my head back on. I really didn't think this was going to work, but I'd try just to keep my job. If he assumes I'm just overworked, then I'll let him keep assuming that.

...

I felt weird walking down the gritty street with my coworkers. Not only that, but these guys were leaps above me in pay and position. Normally I'd avoid interacting with these guys in the office, but I think Hiruzen had a talk with a few of them. During my break, they had invited me out tonight. If I play my cards right, maybe I could at least become acquainted with them. When I want a promotion or something, I'd have some of the top guys in my corner. That's the only thing keeping this fake-ass smile on my face. Despite my pitiful love life, I am motivated to move up in the corporate world.

I kind of stayed towards the back of the group. There were about five other guys here talking amongst themselves. They were discussing which bars to hop around to and what drinks to get. Sometimes they would turn around and ask for my input, but I refrained from saying where I actually wanted to go. The entire night, we somehow avoided going near where Sasuke worked. It was a good and bad thing for me. I didn't need to be there, but I still yearned to see him. I hoped to just run into him or something—kind of like divine intervention. However, I'm starting to think we were never meant to be.