Wow sorry that took me much longer that I expected. I've had midterms/tests the past weeks and I haven't had much free time to write. I'm currently getting a bit stuck with this story. I know where I want to go but I'm thinking of changing some things so I'm sorry if I delay in updating, I don't mean to! I will continue working on this story though! We're finally getting some progress!

Oh before I forget! Thank you everyone for reading and still being here. If you're not I can't blame you either ;) I actually reached 300 reviews after the last chapter and that means a lot! You guys are amazing and I hope you're still reading this story despite my unforgivable late update.

Chapter 24

Caroline was looking over her final assignments, she had to make sure that every appointment would be confirmed before she would leave. Sure she would have a large part of tomorrow available for that as well but she knew that some of Stefan and Damon's distributors were harder to reach on Fridays. It had been the first thing they had warned her about and now that they had moved their office there were a lot of loose ends to tie.

She needed to verify their new address with them, investors and interested parties wanted a meeting to know the rules about the new contract and the position of the Salvatores within Mikaelson Global and at the same time the office was still a mess.

Stefan was of being a genius behind his computer and exploring and evolving his software while Damon was of doing whatever it was that he did when he wasn't around. No that wasn't true, she knew he was busy, he was committed to their company because if there was one thing Damon hated it was failure. She just had no idea what he was up to, he wouldn't let her set his appointments, instructing her to set them up with Stefan instead but then again, when he was here he was hard at work and from what she had caught him and Stefan talking about he was looking at marketing approaches beside the one Mikaelson Global gave them. He didn't want to be dependent on Klaus' company alone and Caroline could respect that. He might make a lot of jokes and tried to get under her skin and in any women's pants but he did care for his business.

"Am I interrupting?" Caroline knew who was at her door, his voice was hard to ignore and she could feel his eyes on her back while she set a few binders back in the cabinet. She wasn't sure if he would talk to her today, not after opening up, not after sneaking out.

She turned around and faced him, crossing her arms while she took him in. He looked stressed, tired, which she could understand. She was still slightly hung-over after the amounts of alcohol they had consumed herself and he had slept far less than he had. "I didn't know you cared," she replied and when he looked confused she continued, "If you were interrupting. You always seem to show up and leave whenever you want." The double meaning was hard to miss but Klaus didn't flinch under her hard stare.

"Well you're an employee in my building, I wouldn't want to keep you from your work," he explained and she had to resist a smile. Sure he wouldn't, he had never cared before, always barging in like he owned the place. Which if she was being fair, he kinda did. "And about the leaving… the situation lies a bit different than you might suspect."

"So you didn't sneak out of my house in the middle of the night like some cheap one night stand?" she glared at him. She wasn't even angry about him leaving but to sneak out… he could have left a note, given an explanation or stay… Okay she was angry, they were finally getting somewhere, he had let her in and then he was ruining all their progress.

Klaus eyed the hallway for listening employee's but discovered that it was empty, good, he didn't need someone misinterpret the situation between him and Caroline. Not with Kirstin on the loose, Audrey might believe he never listened but he wouldn't throw fuel on the fire either. Whatever was going on between him and Caroline was between them alone. He walked into her office, closing the door behind him and she squint her eyes when he did.

He laughed, "No need for alarm, I just don't want to have anyone over listening," she nodded for him to continue, "I didn't plan to sneak out and if it was an one night stand you wanted I would have happily obliged but I think you know by know that that's now what I want for you," she looked at him disbelievingly so he continued, "I haven't been able to get you out of my head Caroline, not since we met and a night full of passion, how enjoyable it would be, is not what I want from you. I want more than one night," it's why he had separated himself from her when they had landed in her bed in the first place.

"You don't believe in love," she reminded him to the words he had thrown at her the day before. She wasn't going to get drawn in just because he said he wanted to sleep with her more than once. She already knew he wanted her, he had made that clear but she needed more than sex even if the guy that offered was insanely hot. Yes she could admit to that, he was hot, he wasn't all bad, he was hurt and he hadn't healed himself yet and he wasn't ready for what he wanted. Neither was she. Ugh he was confusing her.

"I have no reason to," but you could show me. "But that's not what you wanted to know. I left because your roommate came home," he explained. The memory of Katherine and Elijah crashing in the house was luckily dimmed by the alcohol but he knew enough to be glad he got out of there before they got into the actual act.

"So what? You didn't want Kat to find you passed out on the sofa?" she inquired and raised her eyebrow. She was skeptical, that couldn't have been the reason, Klaus wouldn't have been embarrassed being found in her apartment and she doubted he cared about what Katherine thought of him.

He sighed; he knew he would have to tell her, "No, I didn't want my brother and his girlfriend finding me awake in the living room while they were defiling your kitchen. I figured I would save all of us the awkward situation."

Caroline looked stunned at the revelation and then burst out in giggles, "But Katherine caught you sneaking out?" she asked wanting to know how that fit in.

"She followed me in the hall a bit later," he confessed relieved that she seemed to believe his story and actually found amusement in it. He had to admit that it was amusing, if it wasn't your brother that was.

"Well I'm sure Kat had little trouble with it but that would explain why Elijah was so uncomfortable when I asked him if he saw you leave last night…"

He looked at her in amazement, she had asked and even cared that he had left. For all that hostility that she showed, she did somehow found it in her to care. "Yes Katherine seemed unbothered when she found me. My brother and she were more interested in the reason I had to be there in the first place…"

Caroline paled, "So what did you tell them?" Katherine wouldn't let her hear the end of this. Great.

"Nothing, just that I had slept on the couch and then I left," she let out a sigh of relief and Klaus wondered what she had assumed he would have told her. She had been a great help that night, he wouldn't have betrayed that by making it harder for her.

"Good, Kat can be quite intrusive at times. I love the girl, but she doesn't like it when she doesn't know something but I assume you were here with a reason?"

"We never really got to talk about Kirstin yesterday," Klaus started and Caroline scoffed at him.

She shook her head, was he for real? "Seriously? Yesterday you refused to talk more about it and now you come here to continue the conversation? You know that just because you helped getting me this job and your last name is on the building it doesn't mean I don't have to actually do my job."

"I'm sure the Salvatores wouldn't mind if you took a little break sweetheart," Klaus offered smirking at her response. He loved that fire that she had within her; it let a light shine within her far brighter than he had ever seen.

"Well with the amount of work that I left resting when I helped you on Monday and the amount of work I won't be able to do next week… I really do have to do my job some periods of the day," Caroline insisted. She shouldn't even have indulged him by starting the conversation in the first place but she had been too interested in his reason to leave her home and their talks grew so easily. Too much was left unsaid and questions grew for the both of them, even when answers were provided.

"Why won't you be able to do the work next week?" Klaus asked, ignoring her request to continue with her work. If the Salvatores complained they could take it up with him.

She sighed, and another conversation that she dreaded to start; explaining why she was leaving for Mystic Falls. "I'm taking some leave to visit my home town, there's something that I need to resolve there."

"You're ex-boyfriend?" he asked, he could read from her face that she wasn't looking forward to whatever issue was at hand but he felt relieved when she shook her head.

"His mother," his eyebrow raised and she shook her head exasperated at the thought he no doubt had in his head, "Not like that, she was my old employer. Finding out that you're the one that gave me a good reference… means that she still hasn't and I need to know why she's sabotaging me."

"I could help," Klaus offered and she looked at him doubtfully, "No really I could make a few calls and-"

"This is something I need to get answers to on my own. If she has some vendetta with me, I want to hear it from her but there is one thing you could do…"

"And what is that love?" he could understand why he would reject his help. Caroline hated to be dependent and he liked that about her but she also knew when to ask for tools that could guide her.

"Elijah, he got the bad reference about me. I was hoping he would have a copy or a record from that reference. He seems like the type of person that would save those."

"I will ask. So you'll be gone next week?" he asked and she nodded at him, "The whole week?"

"For as long as it's needed, why?"

"Nothing, maybe it's for the best. I mean it seems like Kirstin is trying to pin a lot on the two of us so if you're not here-"

"I can't hurt your case?" Caroline bit out and he winced at the way it came out. Surely she couldn't believe that. The only reason he was relieved was that it would mean she was out of the crosshairs, she would be left alone. At least he hoped she would.

"You know I didn't mean it like that," he heard her sigh and he knew it wouldn't matter what he said, she was stubborn and when she made her mind it was hard to change it, "I was actually seeking your council about Kirstin, she wants to have a meeting and we have reason to believe she will try to use you against me. I wanted to know your advice."

"Don't you have people for that?"

"None that I trust, especially when it concerns your life," he told her and she couldn't ignore the sincerity in his voice. How was it, that it had taken her this long to see this side of Klaus? Maybe this was how it had gone wrong with Tatia, Klaus had walls to keep people out, but when you were in, you were in.

"Okay well if she asks about us, just tell her the truth. We didn't sleep with each other and we don't have anything going on either," she could see his jaw clench at her words but they both knew they were a lie. There was something going on just not what Kirstin would accuse them of. "And if anything happens, I have my phone with me, you have procured my number. You can call if you want to."

"Okay, well then I should…" he looked back at the door; he knew he had work to do and so did she besides, he could call her. This time she would pick up, not like those text messages that she had never returned and most likely deleted when they first met, "Go…"

"Okay, well keep me posted," she told him and turned back to her work. She shouldn't allow him to distract her. So she cared, he didn't need to know that.

"Elijah," Klaus looked up from his report and greeted his brother. He had requested a meeting with him after he had spoken to Caroline. If she wanted to know what the bad reference was, then Elijah needed to help them and luckily he always freed some time for his brother and boss.

"Klaus, you wanted to see me?" Elijah had recognized the sunglasses in the living room before he had left Katherine's apartment that morning and wondered if his brother finally wanted to discuss the matter. Why had he brought them out of the car in the first place? He didn't know what was going on but he did know it all tied back to Caroline. His brother had spent the night there. On the couch, that wasn't something Klaus normally did.

"Yes I was wondering if you could help Caroline out, she's trying to uncover the earth of her negative references and I was wondering if you had the phone call recorded or written down what was discussed."

So it was about Caroline, just not in the way he had expected. "I never got to speak with the mayor; her assistant emailed me the reference after I made the call but I can make a copy if Caroline needs it. Why is this important though? Is she not satisfied with the Salvatore brothers?" She was employed again, he knew the negative reference had struck a nerve with Caroline but with a new job on her belt the reference couldn't damage her career any further.

"It's a personal matter," Klaus stated not giving away more information. If Caroline wanted his brother to know she would have told him and it wasn't his story to tell.

Elijah looked at the protective way Klaus had shut him out; he hadn't seen that side in Klaus in a while now. He needed to ask Katherine about her friend and his brother, knowing his girlfriend she would have questioned the girl the first chance she got. Maybe Caroline was what his brother needed.

"I will redirect the email to her. About last night…"

"Don't mention it brother, it's not the first time one of us caught a sibling in a compromising situation. I didn't see a thing," he paused, "And for what I've heard about her, Katherine Pierce is a good person," he begrudgingly admitted. She was a good friend to Caroline and he trusted her judgment.

Elijah's eyes widen when Klaus spoke almost approvingly about Katherine. Sure it didn't come out easily but he tried and that wasn't something that Klaus often did, especially with his distrustful nature. He didn't know enough about Katherine to trust her, but he had heard enough… he hadn't spoken much about the girl to his brother, but someone else clearly had. He should give Caroline his thanks. Pursuing a relationship with someone was much easier without Klaus in the corner, waiting for it to fail.

"Excuse me, could you please tell me where I will find Caroline Forbes." Caroline looked up at the unfamiliar voice and the young receptionist that had been asked the question shook her head. Of course she didn't know her; she didn't even work for them, just in the building and even that had been very recent.

She walked towards the blonde, careful, aware that Kirstin was still trying to drag her down but this woman looked nothing like that girl. The accent however did sound familiar and she found herself hoping that she was wrong, because why would another Mikaelson look for her. Didn't enough of them try to worm themselves in her life in this short period?

Not that she minded, Kol had been amusing company for a night out and Elijah was a reliable friend, Klaus was complicated but she had to admit that she didn't mind the man either, but all of them were vastly different. She actually found herself interested to see how the youngest sister had turned out.

"She's right behind you," Caroline spoke and the blonde turned around looking her in the eyes before her eyes travelled her body, lingering on the blue dress she was wearing until she looked at her again. She felt like she was being graded and she had no idea if she passed or not but she let it go, she hadn't even gotten her name yet. She remembered Klaus mentioning her though, the siblings he had tried to protect; Rebekah the girl had been called.

"Well at least you dress better than the last one," Rebekah sneered and started walking, expecting Caroline to follow. "You have an office where we can talk?" she called over her shoulder while she walked towards the elevators. Rebekah had been interested to see who this Caroline her brother tried to protect was. All her brothers seem to know her and since she had a part in Klaus' potential lawsuit and a part in their lives she decided it was for the best to get to know the girl herself. To see what kind of girl this Caroline Forbes really was. For now, she wasn't impressed.

"Uhm yes, top floor but I don't see why we should go there Rebekah," Caroline said looking surprised at the forwardness of the girl. So it was a Mikaelson thing!

"The same floor as my brother? Well he wasn't kidding when he said he wanted to keep you close," Rebekah mocked while she took the lead. "So you know who I am. How?" She didn't expect her brothers to have shown pictures of her and it wasn't like she was well known in the building either so how did a girl, that supposedly just met her family, knew exactly who she was?

Caroline sighed but followed the blonde, "Your brother mentioned a younger sister Rebekah and well I heard you speak… You guys have a recognizable accent."

"Oh yeah, our father had us at a boarding school in England for a few years. It's hard to get rid of," she waved it off, satisfied with the explanation for now and turned back to Caroline. "But enough about me, I'm here for you."

"Yes I got that when you were questioning your brother's employee's to find me… So what is it that I can help you with?" As far as Caroline knew Rebekah Mikaelson would have no reason to seek her out. Their paths hadn't crossed before so what would she want to do with her?

Rebekah ignored her and continued with her own questions realizing that she still didn't know exactly how Caroline had known her name. Her brother told her? Well she had three of those and none of them were ones to brag about her. "My brother mentioned me, which one? From what I've heard you're involved with all of them."

Caroline rolled her eyes at the accusation, "Klaus mentioned you and I'm involved with neither of your brothers. Elijah happens to be dating my best friend, Klaus is my bosses' boss and Kol I've only seen through your brothers." She knew she didn't need to explain herself but it couldn't hurt either. She was at work and this girl was only being protective about her brothers, with good reason, Caroline knew the story about their past now.

"Good, let's keep it that way. Klaus has enough going on and he doesn't need a little blonde distraction messing with his head," Rebekah bit out and Caroline scoffed. It wasn't like she was the one looking him up; he was coming to her, messing with her head instead.

Caroline put her hand on Rebekah's arm, stopping her from walking to her office. "Is that everything you had to say to me? Because if it is, I don't see why we should talk any further I get that you're protective about your siblings but I don't have any secret agenda with them." Rebekah shook her hand of and continued her walk to her office, "More it is then."

When they reached her office she turned towards Rebekah, letting her enter, "Look don't take this the wrong way but I do have a job to do and it's almost the end of my day…"

"I'll make it brief. I want you to testify for Klaus. From what I heard you never slept with Klaus which makes you the only woman with a brain that day, he will need someone like that in his corner if that opportunist sues him." Rebekah had thought about it last night. Klaus wanted to keep Caroline out of it for some reason but she was their best bet and she wasn't going to put her brother's newest obsession over his own wellbeing.

"Who says it will get to a lawsuit?" Caroline countered; she hoped it wouldn't get to that. If it would get so far it would get out and she would get called on no matter what she wanted. She would be involved and how could she refuse if she could help Klaus' case?

"Please, you think this is the first time someone has tried to take advantage of our wealth? If she makes demands they will be high and I don't know my brother as one to give in! No, chances are this will turn into a lawsuit that could tarnish his reputation and you may not be able to salvage that but you can't worsen the situation either," Rebekah told her and looked for a reaction of her. If she expected her to flinch at the revelation that people had tried to use them for their money before she was disappointed. Caroline knew so much already and it wasn't unexpected, not with Klaus' trust issues.

"Seriously? Ugh if your brother wants me to testify he can ask me himself but from what he told me he doesn't even know what he wants to do. I get that you're worried and trust me I want to see that bitch loose but I'm not sure what I want to do. This can get public and I'm not ready for that," Caroline explained. It was so close to the ten year limit and she loved the peace and quiet she had in a place without the memories. Yes she missed the reminders, the places that she had visited with her father, the house they grew up in, but at the same time it was finally peaceful in her head. She didn't need to worry here, NYC from all places and she felt safe.

Rebekah sighed, this girl wasn't half as bad as she had expected but she needed her to cooperate. Her brother made a mistake and she wanted to help him, Caroline was the solution, she knew that much. Even if her story wouldn't make Klaus seem innocent, at least it didn't make him sound like a predator either.

"Fine, I will leave you out of it but ask yourself this: will Kirstin give you the same choice," Rebekah turned around leaving without another word and Caroline sighed. Those Mikaelsons and their ability to keep her from her job. Those Mikaelsons and their ability to make her feel guilty about not helping… She knew she had to, but if it got public... she had gone through some trouble to keep her new address a secret, that would be blown if she was part of a corporate scandal.

She knew that Rebekah was right though. If Kirstin gets the chance she will drag her in the battle and she needed to be prepared for that. But first she had Mystic Falls to deal with; Klaus could fill her in when she got back. She glanced at the email that Elijah had sent her. The reference, it was sent by Hayley Marshall, assistant to Carol Lockwood; her replacement it seemed.

She couldn't place the name but it didn't matter, she had the proof in front of her. The words taunted her; unreliable, unorganized, late, impulsive. Well, she wanted to see it for herself, now she had it.

So I don't know what you guys thought about this chapter... but I would love to hear.

The next chapter will contain some Kirstin and Katherine demanding answers from Caroline!

Speculations and theories are always welcome and until the next chapter!

Oh if anyone happens to read Fatal Bite as well, I will try to post a sneak peek for that one on my tumblr tomorrow: dreamsarefleeting.