A Year To Prove You Wrong

Chapter 1

Caroline stood outside the tall ten story glass building that held her new employment at The Salvatore Agency. It was a family run public relations company for the last fifty years, one of the top firms in the country, their base was in Los Angeles, and she had landed a job at their New Orleans office. They had opened it after hurricane Katrina to help bring business back to the wrecked city. Ten years later and it was booming, one of the most successful branches next to their New York office.

This would be her first job out of college. Every year they would take on one college graduate to one of their executive assistant positions and luckily enough she was picked this year. You had a year in the job to prove yourself, and you would either be taken on permanently or your employment would be terminated effective immediately. She was working for the boss' son, Stefan Salvatore. She hadn't met him yet but she was looking forward to working with him and learning all she could from him. One day she hoped she would have her own PR company.

Caroline took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, plastered a friendly smile on her face, and walked through the doors to her future full of confidence.

The lobby was full of people and it was only 9 am, a mix of workers and clients she guessed. She walked over to the receptionist, a brunette woman in her thirties, her hair was pulled back in a severe bun, her face held a serious expression, her makeup so simple she knew it had probably taken her an hour at least to look so effortless.

"How may I help you?"

"Hello, I'm Caroline Forbes," She smiled at the receptionist in a friendly manner, "I start working here today. As the executive assistant to Stefan Salvatore."

"One moment." She gave her the once over with a not exactly nice look on her face, a look full of judgment. She raised her eyebrow before turning to her computer and checking Caroline's name against the system.

Caroline kept the smile on her face even after the look she received. She knew why the receptionist looked at her like that. She was young; maybe ten years younger than her, she was blonde; even though it was now 2018 people still assumed your intelligence had something to do with your hair color, and she had a slim curvaceous body. All a recipe for other women to hate her, no matter how friendly and polite she was. It just meant that she had to work extra hard to prove herself, which she did because she excelled at exceeding others expectations of her (or lack there of).

The receptionist turned back to Caroline, the sour look still on her face, "Take a seat on the chairs and someone will be down to show you around."

"Thank you." Caroline walked over to the leather sofa, smoothed her skirt beneath her before sitting down to wait. She would read a magazine but she wanted to be alert and look professional.

Less than fifteen minutes later, a woman who looked to be in her forties, slightly plump around the middle but still in shape, another brunette with her hair in the same severe bun as the receptionist called out her name, "Caroline Forbes?"

"Hello." Caroline stood up and held out her hand shaking the woman's firmly.

"I am Mary Jane, you may call me Mrs Jane." Mary held her hands in front of her as she assessed Caroline with her eyes before nodding to herself, "I have worked for The Salvatore Agency for almost twenty years. I started out as a receptionist." She smiled kindly, looking younger and more approachable, "And with hard work and a determination to prove myself I am now head of my own department."

"I will work as hard as I can, and to more than the best of my abilities." Caroline was determined that she would take this amazing opportunity and earn the job at the end of it, "I will prove that I deserve the job in a years time."

Mary was impressed with Caroline's attitude, "I hope that you can." She felt that she should give her a warning, "Mr Salvatore has never given anyone from the graduate program a job yet."

Caroline swallowed at the information, "How many has he been through?"

"Three." Mary continued talking as they made their way to the elevator, "The first one he fired after only a month, the second one lasted six months before he got rid of her," she pushed the button to call for the elevator, "and the third one lasted the full year but didn't get the job."

Caroline walked into the elevator her mind racing. Two people had been fired before the year was up, after only one and six months working with Stefan Salvatore. Did that mean they were in the wrong job to begin with? We're they not cut out for it, or was he a demanding boss that expected more than they were capable of? She would find out soon, she had a year working alongside him, and there was no way that she would quit or give him any reason to fire her. She would not waste the amazing opportunity she had been given.

The elevator pinged and Mary led Caroline to the polished oak desk that would be her work space, "This is you."

Caroline smiled as she looked at what would be hers for the next year, and however long she wanted it afterwards, as she was determined that she would be the first one to receive the job from her new boss.

"We throw you in the deep end to see how you'll cope. This is a slow week for us but by no means does that mean quiet." Mary pointed out the important things to Caroline, and showed her where a handbook of things she now needed to learn to do was.

Caroline took in every thing Mary said, filing it all away in her mind. She would look through that book as soon as she could, even on her breaks if she had to.

"Time to meet the boss." Mary knocked on the door, and waiting for his voice before opening it fully, "Stefan, I have your new executive assistant, Caroline Forbes."

"Thank you, Mary. You can leave us now."

Mary squeezed Caroline's arm as she left, whispering in her ear, "Good luck."

Caroline felt her stomach fill with butterflies as Mary left the room and she was finally alone with her new boss. She looked over at the desk, and her breath caught. He looked to be the same age as her, his eyes were green and pierced her, his defined cheekbones and strong jaw only enhanced his features. He was unbelievably handsome. She shook off the thoughts in her head, he was her boss so therefore he was off limits to her.

"Ms Forbes." Stefan didn't offer her a smile, he just eyed her with disinterest, "I do not tolerate tardiness, laziness, or ineptness." He pushed himself up from his desk and walked around to stand in front of her, "If you don't live up to my expectations than I have no problem ending your employment sooner than the year you have."

"I will prove that I am the right person for the job." Caroline stared confidently, though she wasn't feeling as confident as she was outside the building.

"We shall see." Stefan leaned against his desk, "I expect you to be here at eight on the dot. Coffee should be hot and on my desk. You should have the files of the people I'll be meeting on my desk by no later than half past. You will take notes in my meetings, and then type up the reports. Answer the phones, arrange my appointments, liaise with other departments, manage my calendar, and you will come with me on business trips."

"I understand, Mr Salvatore." Caroline nodded, starting to understand that he was a hard boss. She wouldn't let him or herself down.

"Familiarize yourself with my calendar." Stefan added before sitting back at his desk, "That will be all, Ms Forbes."

Caroline knew that she was being dismissed, "Thank you, Mr Salvatore." She left his office quietly, sat down at her new desk, and started to arrange her work space to her own liking.

Ten minutes later the phone rang, and it didn't stop ringing all morning. If this was a slow day than she she hated to think what a busy one would be like.

X

By one o clock Caroline was starving, and had barely stopped talking on the phone. There had been new clients wanting an appointment, old clients wanting to rearrange meetings, and some wanting to confirm the time of their appointments. It had been busy and stressful for her first day, especially when she was still trying to find her own equilibrium, but it had also been exciting. In high school she had been on every committee, and almost single handedly organized events, and she was used to the pressure they put her under. She was struggling, but she still had her head above water.

She frowned as she glanced at the intercom, she didn't know whether she was supposed to get lunch for Stefan. He wouldn't fire her for asking, at least she hoped he wouldn't. She pressed the button, and waited for him to speak before she asked, "It is lunch, Mr Salvatore, and I was wondering if you wanted me to get you anything?"

"It is a bit late to be asking when it is already time for lunch don't you think, Ms Forbes?" Stefan replied, his voice a sneer.

"I... suppose." Caroline wasn't sure what she should say to that, "I apologize, in future I will ask you at twelve what you want so that I can have it on your desk by one." She thought that was a fair suggestion.

"Unless I'm in a meeting than I will email you what I desire that day." Stefan agreed with her suggestion, though his tone was still indifferent, "Lucky for you I have a business lunch." Before he ended the conversation he warned, "Be here by two, not a second after, or that counts as lateness."

"Of course, Mr Salvatore." Caroline's voice was sweet as she released the button, her eyes fixed on a glare at the intercom. She had one hour for lunch, and she didn't think there was any place near that she come and go from, and actually eat, within that time frame. She would have to pack a lunch from now on. She had seen some vending machines in the lobby so she would get some junk from them to tide her over until she left.

X

Caroline ate from a bag of chips as she took a stroll around the area she would be for the next year. There was a well maintained flower bed surrounded by trees, a couple of benches on either side. That would be a perfect spot for her lunch from now on. Though if Stefan ever asked her to go and get his lunch herself instead of ordering it than she could pick herself something up, but if she was packing a lunch that didn't make sense to waste perfectly good food. Unless she chose something that would not perish, or she could take her own suggestion and order herself food at the same time she was ordering his.

Caroline sighed as she thought about her new boss. He was ridiculously gorgeous to look at, but he was a complete and utter ass. He barked orders at her without so much as a please and thank you. Never even acknowledged her with more than a nod as she dropped off files and relayed messages. She hadn't seen him smile or laugh except whenever a client came, then he was all teeth with an obviously fake smile and his voice was light and pleasant. The moment they left he was back to furrowed forehead, and permanently down turned mouth.

She definitely didn't like him, but she didn't hate him. He was her boss, he paid her wages - or technically his dad did - she didn't have to like him, and he didn't have to like her. All he needed to do was give her a fair chance to prove herself and give her the job she knew she would have earned in a years time.

Caroline Forbes was a fighter, and she would fight until the last moments of this job to make sure that one day Stefan Salvatore would realize how good she was at her job and would hire her permanently. Then it would be time to excel again and prove that she deserved a promotion. That would be a few years in the future though so she didn't dwell too much on her ambitions.

Caroline chucked her trash, and made her way back to the office.

X

Caroline arrived back ten minutes early so took the time to study Stefan's calendar and took the initiative to create a spreadsheet with the days and times that he had nothing scheduled so that when people called for an appointment she could easily tell them what was available.

Footsteps approached and she looked up to see a dark haired man with the bluest eyes she had ever seen standing before her. She smiled politely, "How may I help you?"

"Wouldn't you like to know." He winked, a smirk covering his face.

Caroline blinked, unsure what to do with the man obviously hitting on her, "Are you here to see Mr Salvatore?"

"Honey, I am Mr Salvatore." He chuckled at the confused look on her face, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned against her desk, "Stefan is my brother. We just had lunch together, and I thought I would introduce myself to his new secretary."

Caroline didn't react at the word secretary, she knew that he meant it in the derogatory sense but it didn't affect her. She was a secretary, executive assistant was just a fancy way of saying it. She knew what she was and she was proud of it.

"My name is Damon, the hotter Salvatore." Damon held out his hand to take Caroline's, locking his eyes with hers as he pressed a kiss to the back of her hand, "It will be my pleasure to get to know you."

I bet it would, Caroline thought as she pursed her lips at Damon's flirtatious manner. She would never ever go there with him, because one he was the boss' soon, and two he was obviously a womanizer. She noticed Stefan coming back so she smiled politely at Damon, "Nice to meet you, Mr Salvatore."

"Please..." Damon smirked, rubbing his fingers against her hand that he still held, "Call me Damon."

"Will that be all, Mr Salvatore?" Caroline replied, internally giggling at the put out look on his face. Then she heard a lovely joyous sound coming from Stefan, he was actually genuinely laughing.

Stefan chuckled as he slapped his hand on his brother's shoulders, "I believe you've been dismissed, Damon."

"Fine! I know when I'm not wanted." Damon held his hand up as he walked backwards away from them, "See you soon, Stefan." He wiggled his eyes at Caroline, "And I will be seeing you very soon." He winked then left in the elevator.

Caroline rolled her eyes. She knew Damon's type, she had dated Damon's before, and she would never go with anyone like that again. She wanted love not just to be another notch on someone's bedpost. She deserved better than that.

Stefan's smile was wide across his face, Caroline only noticed it when she turned to face him and saw the grin on his lips. It took her breath away, and her eyes caught with his. She licked her lips, feeling hot all of a sudden.

Stefan's smile slipped of his face as they looked at each other, he straightened himself up, and the serious look covered his features again, "What do I have this afternoon?"

Caroline cleared her throat, shaking off whatever had just happened as she turned to her computer. She checked his calendar, "You have a meeting in fifteen minutes, and one more at three thirty, and then you are free after that."

Stefan nodded, "After the last meeting is done, finish your reports, then you can go."

Caroline nodded, "Thank you, Mr Salvatore."

Stefan abruptly turned into his office, shutting the door behind him.

Caroline shook off his changing mood and got a head start on her work. She wanted to be able to finish as soon as possible.

X

By five, Caroline had finished her reports and had emailed them to Stefan and was now closing down her computer. She gathered her things, putting on her coat. She debated on whether to say anything to Stefan or not, but just because he was an ass didn't mean she had to act rude.

Caroline knocked on his door, waiting for his reply before pushing the door open. He had his suit jacket off, and his white dress shirt showed off the muscles of his chest perfectly. She swallowed before forcing her eyes to his. She smiled, "I finished my reports and have emailed them to you. I am now leaving, if you text me your coffee order I will have it waiting for you when I arrive in the morning."

"I'll text you it, your number will be on file." Stefan replied, he still didn't smile but his eyes were lighter than they were, "You did good on your first day, Ms Forbes, I hope tomorrow proves the same."

"It will." Caroline promised, her smile just that little bit brighter at Stefan acknowledging she did well for her first day, "Goodnight, Mr Salvatore."

"Goodnight, Ms Forbes." Stefan quirked his lip the tiniest amount before looking back at the file on his desk.

Caroline knew when she was being dismissed. She softly closed his door, and made her way to the elevator. Her first day was done and didn't go too bad at all. Hopefully that would be the same for the rest of the year.

X

It was eight o clock, Caroline had a glass of wine in her hand, her legs stretched out on her sofa, a throw covering her as she relaxed. Today had been stressful but she had enjoyed it.

Her phone beeped. She picked it up off the table, took a sip of wine as she read it and almost choked. It was from Stefan Salvatore.

Ms Forbes, my coffee order is simple as I do not buy into the thousands of frothy concoctions out there unless I am in France or Italy. I take my coffee with milk and two sugars. Stefan Salvatore.

Caroline almost laughed, that was probably the nicest Stefan had talked to her and it was in a text. She didn't know whether she was supposed to reply, but she didn't want to seem rude so she quickly typed and sent:

As you wish, Mr Salvatore.

Then Caroline's eyes widened. That sounded a little flirtatious to her. No, he had barely spoken to her so she doubt he read to much into it. She drank some more wine and relaxed back into the cushions moaning as her whole body released it's tension.

Day one done, only another 364 to go.

TBC

AN - What do you think? I hoped you all enjoyed it.