A/N Holy cow this took a long time to update! But I told myself...you must persevere! Continue this story because it's going to be a blast to write!

So I did...and now I'm posting it and I hope you enjoy it!

Thanks to my beautiful betas! You girls are the best!

Enjoy!

The elevator dings, the doors slide open and Caroline and Bonnie step out and into the entryway of the 51st floor. The white marble clicks beneath their heels as they make their way toward the large mahogany desk standing guard outside the entrance. Caroline glances up at her last name, big and bold, and in its trademark lettering, as their receptionist steps out and around to greet them.

"Good morning, Ms. Forbes...Ms. Bennett," she beams, her big blue eyes full of hopeful wonderment.

"Good morning, April," Caroline says and smiles warmly at the girl. "Oh, your hair and makeup are on point today," she says kindly, causing the girl to blush.

"Thank you, so much!" she beams and opens the door for the ladies.

"You just made her day," Bonnie comments as they pass through the threshold and onto the bustling office floor.

"I try," Caroline shrugs and continues to walk briskly.

The floor is a menagerie of color as the new fall line is quickly on its way. Purples, greens and browns all in various colors are being rolled this way and handed off that way. Phones are ringing, faxes are printing and the scent of coffee is wafting seductively throughout the room. All the while Bonnie is being handed forms to check off, colors to select, and Caroline makes sure to recognize each employee that passes them by.

"I love that shirt, Katie."

"Oh my god, Becky, your shoes are to die for."

"Alex, you have to give me the number of your stylist."

"Great work on that hemline debacle, Miranda."

"Leah, you still seeing that male model from the Spring photoshoot?"

She winks and waves, while Bonnie signs and nods. It's a daily routine that Caroline feels is necessary to keep her employees happy as well as working harder and faster.

"Hey, bitches," Caroline's office manager and head stylist says, scurrying up next to Caroline and Bonnie.

"Katherine, your curls are so fantas-."

"Stop it," Katherine interrupts and puts her hand up. "I don't need your accolades. I know I'm the shit, Caroline."

"I can't help it," she laughs. "I just get in the zone, ya know?"

"Yes, and I'm sure your peons all appreciate the extra effort." She hands Caroline a Starbucks and a black folder to Bonnie before starting in on the outline of their day. "You have a conference call with Milan at 11, a fitting at 2, and the Salvatore brothers keep calling to ask when they can take you to lunch."

Caroline rolls her eyes. "Persistent, aren't they?" she says. "Fine, find a time for us sometime next week."

"You got it," she make a note and starts to walk away but remembers something else. "Oh yeah, and there's the most delicious piece of man candy waiting for you in your office."

"What?" Caroline laughs. "Who in the world…"

"It's Klaus Mikaelson. With the Tribune," Kat tells them, all but giddy. "He's honestly even more beautiful up close. I'm not sure if I want to fuck him or if I should run far far away from him."

"Run!" Caroline and Bonnie say in unison.

"If not for your sake, then definitely for his."

Katherine tilts her head to the side and squints her eyes at Bonnie. Caroline's positive that if she had the power to, she'd be burning a hole through Bonnie's face right about now.

"I completely forgot about the Tribune article."

"You and me both," Bonnie tells her. "It's okay, we can reschedule. Kat, can you please tell Mr. Mikaelson that it's going to have to be another day?"

Katherine goes to do just that when Caroline blurts out, "No!"

The other two girls, along with a handful of passerbyers are startled and stare at the blonde.

"I mean...no, that won't be necessary. I mean, he came all this way." Caroline tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and looks down at the ground, a highly unusual act for such a high powered woman like herself.

Bonnie tilts her head and lifts an eyebrow at her while Kat just laughs, "There's the Caroline I know and love. He really is dreamy," she says and bites her lip. "And rich!"

"I'm rich," Caroline reminds her.

"Thanks Kat," Bonnie tells her. "You can go now."

"Oh can I?" Kat asks and burns a hole through Bonnie once more, before her brown curls are flitting through the air as she twirls on her heels and leaves.

"Why are we her friend again?" Bonnie asks Caroline.

"Because," Caroline says, looping her arm through Bonnie's. "What would our lives be like without the fearless, gorgeous and brilliant mind of Katherine Pierce?"

"Saner...for starters."

"Come on," Caroline laughs and bumps her hip into Bonnie's. "Let's go meet this dreamy and rich Mr. Mikaelson."

"He is pretty hot," Bonnie chimes in.

"Duh. Why do you think I agreed to the interview?"

Klaus takes a seat on a black leather sofa, the centerpiece of a cozy living room set up in Caroline's office. He's actually quite surprised at how modest the room is. Her desk is strategically placed so that she can look out at the Seattle landscape through her floor to ceiling windows. Along with the sofa there's a matching chair, a simple oak coffee table with a number of fashion magazines strewn across it, and one or two art pieces hanging on the walls.

The most extraordinary thing is the large glass Chihuly hanging near the window. It's quite breathtaking, the way the blown glass looks as though it were fabric, flowing down in a multitude of colors. It absorbs the light around it and reflects it throughout the room. With such an ornate piece, there's really no need for any further extravagances.

He notices a few family photos along the shelf and stands up to take a closer look. The first one is with, a woman he can only imagine is her mother, and smirks at the tiny pigtailed Caroline. Next is one of her late father, Bill Forbes. He met him once, at some event or another that Mikael dragged him to. They spoke briefly, but he remembers him being a pleasant man. He wasn't timid, by any means, and he's sure that in his day he had a head for business. But what Caroline has done with his company, is beyond anyone's expectations.

The next photo is with both her parents on her graduation day. She stands tall, smiling and beaming at the camera - mom on the right and dad on the left. There's a light in her that he believes is what's made this company so successful. She has reinvented a product, changed the atmosphere for her loyal employees, and has made millions in the process.

He places it back and moves to the next one, his head tilting slightly and his eyes growing a little larger as he picks it up to take a closer look. Caroline is standing in between two other girls, smiling and shaking pom poms at the camera. Klaus has never given much thought toward this particular male fantasy, but seeing Caroline in that tiny maroon outfit, with her high ponytail, long legs, and exposed midriff, he's starting to get it.

"Gooo Timberwolves!"

Klaus is startled at the sound of Caroline's voice, and nearly drops the photo, fumbling it in his hands before quickly setting it back in its place. He takes a moment to regain his composure before turning toward her and smiling.

The girl in the photo doesn't compare to the woman before him. The blonde hair and blue eyes are just the beginning, as he drinks in the rest of her ensemble. A cream colored blouse tucked into a royal blue pencil skirt, hugging her curves and sitting just above her knees. Her black stilettos are almost unfair, as they elongate her legs into an unbelievable length.

"My apologies," he says. "I was just admiring your…um," he begins to say but then decides he'd be better off not finishing that sentence. "Looks like you've had a very fulfilling life," he decides on, moving away from the photos and toward the blonde.

"Oh yes," she confirms, that same wide smile he was admiring in the photos now in living color. "Things are pretty great when the only thing you worry about is the color of your nail polish."

He chuckles, appreciating her carefree reaction to his unfortunate position. "I'm sure Caroline Forbes was ambitious even in college."

"That's high school," she says, pointing at the photo.

He feels the blood drain from his face, embarrassment seeping into his bones. "High school," he swallows, hoping he isn't coming across as a complete degenerate. "Of course it is."

She laughs, helping him feel more at ease. She sweeps her arm to the side toward the sofa, inviting him to sit.

"Things were much simpler back then," she tells him and takes a seat in the overstuffed chair.

"How so?"

"Is the interview starting already?" she laughs, crossing her legs and linking her fingers over her knee.

He tries to keep eye contact with her, he truly does, but those legs are making it hard to concentrate. "Yes..well," he clears his throat and looks down, the recorder in his hand suddenly becoming very important. "I know your time is valuable."

There's a slightly uncomfortable pause before she finally speaks. "If I didn't want to take the time, Mr. Mikaelson, then I never would've signed up for this."

"Why did you sign up for this?" he genuinely asks.

"The publicity, for starters. You're aware that I'm starting a new handbag line," she tells him. "And...I don't know, it doesn't hurt that I get to spend time with one of Seattle's most eligible bachelors."

He smiles but keeps his gaze down. Instead, he places the recorder on the coffee table, and with as much Mikaelson smolder as he can muster, slowly peers up at her. Typically this look melts the panties right off of most girls, but he can immediately tell that Caroline Forbes isn't like most girls.

She meets his gaze straight on, unabashedly, but with a slight tinge of dark pink creeping up her cheeks. He wouldn't call her look a smolder, per se, but there's a coyness in it that's both breathtaking and sexy as hell.

Sleep with her for the Mikaelson name, Kol's friendly reminder comes to mind.

He reluctantly tears his gaze away from her and clears his throat again, "I suppose we should begin," he suggests.

"Yeah, that's probably a good idea," she responds, shifting in her seat and straightening her back. She gives him her brightest smile and says, "Ask away."

"Alright, tell me Ms. Forbes-"

"Care?" a petite brunette peeks her head in the office, whom Klaus recognizes from the cheer photo. "I'm so sorry to interrupt, but you told me to if there's ever an emergency..."

His phone starts to ring, pulling his attention away, and sees Kol's name on his caller ID. "I have to take this anyway," he tells them. "Please take your time."

She stands and makes her way across the room, and waits to make certain she's a fair distance away before answering his phone. "What the hell is it Kol?"

"They're calling for her."

"What?"

"The police are asking for Mystic."

The indignation of it all has Klaus starting to fume. "What do you mean they're asking for her? I'm the one who apprehended the man, and we most definitely have the most information on him. There must be some mistake."

"Nope," all the cop radios are giving it a signal boost. "Miss Mystic, you're needed...Miss Mystic you're needed...blah blah blah."

Klaus rolls his eyes back and takes a deep breath. He's a grown up for fuck's sake, and they're both doing the right thing for this city, he attempts to remind himself. It's no use, however, as the rivalry between them has gone on for too long for him to have such a nonchalant attitude about it.

"Well, I'm not sure what I can do about it now, it's not like I can just waltz in and pretend like they really wanted to talk to me?"

There's a pause on the other end and Klaus knows that Kol is pondering it. "I'm not going to do that, Kol. I'll look like a complete ninny."

"I didn't say you should…"

"Why the call then?"

"Well, for one, it's hilarious and I wouldn't be a decent brother if I didn't give you shit from time to time."

"Kol…" he warns.

"But also I got more info on Ben McKittrick and you should probably make sure either Mystic or the cops get it."

He releases a heavy sigh, and pinches the bridge of his nose. "Fine, I'll be right there."

He stands up and begins to pack his things, ready to make his apologies and practicing his excuse. She comes back to the office with her hands folded and a disgruntled look.

"I'm so sorry, but there's an emergency at one of the photoshoots. I...I have to go."

"Oh," he says, "That's actually fine. I've been called away myself." He slings his messenger bag around his neck and adjusts the strap. "Should I schedule another appointment with your assistant?"

"Yes, that would be just fine."

He nods and starts to walk away when her voice pulls him back. "Um, Mr. Mikaelson?"

"Yes?"

"Would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow evening?"

A smirk hitches at the corner of his mouth and he lists his head to the side. "Are you asking me out on a date, Ms. Forbes?"

"Maybe," she tells him, repeating that same devastatingly gorgeous smile from before. "But only if you call me Caroline."

"Alright...Caroline. I agree to your terms, as long as you do me the same courtesy and call me Klaus."

"Alright...Klaus. Tomorrow night, eight o'clock at the Purple Door."

"I'll be there."

A little shorter than I like my chapters to be, but I hope you still enjoyed it!

If you did and you can...I would loooove a review! They're what we writers yearn for and it totally makes my day!

Thanks for reading and find me on Tumblr at jomosfamilyjewels!