*peeks around corner nervously*
Hey guys! Welcome to my first, AU multi-chapter Klaroline story! I'm super nervous about posting, just because I haven't really written a lot of multi-chapter stories for this fandom, let alone AU ones, so i really hope you guys like it :) I actually based this story off a script I wrote in college for a screenwriting class.
I have a few chapters written in advance so I'm hoping to update this hopefully once a week, maybe every two weeks if I'm on vacation or something :)
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, but the concept and storyline is completely my own.
Credit to Erika for the GORGEOUS cover! And the lovely Gail for beta-ing this for me :)
Caroline Forbes peered down at her spiral-bound journal as she jotted down notes from her latest interview with the head of the Peaceful Protestors of Chicago organization. As head opinion writer for the Chicago Herald, it was her duty to interview them at least every other month to get the exclusive scoop on their latest protest.
This month's protest? Better toilet paper for shopping mall bathrooms.
She could hardly wait.
Sighing at her notes, Caroline threw her pen down and rubbed her face in exhaustion. She had spent all evening yesterday stuck downtown Chicago waiting for her boyfriend, Tyler Lockwood, to come get her from her office. He had ended up texting her that the deposition with his current client took longer than he expected and would you mind taking a cab home?
He was lucky he was pretty.
She'd been with Tyler for about five years now, and she was happy.
Most of the time.
To be honest, she was kind of tired of waiting for him to ask her to marry him. He kept dangling that in front of her every few months, but there was always some excuse. Too busy for a wedding, his job was too shaky to depend on (his dad freaking owned his firm), and that they had all the time in the world to get married.
But, Caroline loved him and he loved her, and that was good enough.
For now.
"Yo, Care, ready for lunch?"
In walked Katherine Pierce, the Herald's star photographer and general reporter, and Caroline's best friend. Her chestnut curls bounced with every step as she walked into Caroline's office. Katherine's bold personality was a great fusion with Caroline's bright optimism. Katherine was laid back in her work, whereas Caroline was meticulously controlling in every detail. While Caroline dressed in cute dress and suit combinations, Katherine dressed in tight pants and five-inch stilettos on a daily basis. Caroline was sweet and light; Katherine was bold and sassy.
In the end, they were best friends for life.
"How do you wear those every single day?" Caroline nodded towards Katherine's black heels, and she shrugged in response.
"They make my ass look amazing."
"You know one day your feet will fall off," Caroline remarked, shutting her journal and reaching for her purse.
Katherine rolled her eyes and reached for Caroline's journal. "Nobody ever comments on my feet like they do my ass."
"Modest as always," Caroline said wryly, digging through her purse for her phone.
"So what's going on in the world of protests this month?" Katherine asked, flipping casually through Caroline's journal. "Stuffed animal crisis? Not enough swimming pools in the park?"
Caroline rolled her eyes and checked her phone for messages.
"Shit!"
Caroline's head snapped up to look at Katherine.
"What's wrong?"
Katherine was grimacing at her journal, a look of disgust on her face.
"You are literally writing about shit and wiping people's asses."
Caroline sighed and put her phone back into her purse.
"Can we go before my dignity about my job is completely ruined?"
She motioned towards the door and Katherine shut her journal with a groan.
"You seriously need to get better things to write about," Katherine remarked, strutting out of Caroline's office.
"Tell me about it," Caroline muttered following after her.
Caroline and Katherine were giggling as they walked back into the newspaper's office after lunch before they were stopped by Anna, their boss' assistant. Jenna Sommers was the editor of the Chicago Herald, and quite possibly the most neurotic, yet powerful woman that Caroline had ever met, and that was including herself.
"Jenna needs to see you in her office," Anna announced, giving Caroline a tight smile. Anna was nice most of the time, but Jenna had a tendency to get cranky with her when she had a bad day.
It sounded like today was one of those days.
Caroline's eyes widened and she met Katherine's disinterested look. Caroline side-stepped Anna, pulling Katherine by the arm as they made their way to Jenna's office. Wringing her hands nervously, she stopped outside Jenna's office door finding herself unable to walk in.
"You aren't seriously scared of Jenna are you?" Katherine laughed. "She's harmless."
Caroline glared at her. "Says the woman who isn't scared of anything."
"It pays to be fearless," Katherine shrugged and Caroline pressed her lips together, raising a nervous hand to knock. She hesitated before Katherine grabbed her fist and banged it clumsily against the door for her. Caroline shot Katherine a glare and she smiled back innocently. They heard shuffling of papers before hearing Jenna's muffled greeting to come inside.
Katherine motioned for Caroline to open the door and rolled her eyes as the blonde once again hesitated. Katherine thrust open the door and strode into the office haughtily, Caroline following at a much reluctant, and less confident pace.
Jenna was sitting in the middle of her huge office, her desk scattered with papers and her strawberry blonde hair mussed from running her fingers through it. She looked up to call a hello to Caroline before narrowing her eyes at Katherine's appearance.
"I don't recall asking you to come in here," Jenna mused, raising an eyebrow towards her. Katherine shrugged before unceremoniously dropping into a chair in front of her desk.
"I'm bored. My article is done and my photos have all been developed," she smirked, winking at Jenna. Caroline sighed before sitting down next to Katherine.
"You wanted to see me Jenna?" Caroline asked, twisting her fingers nervously. Jenna moved her gaze to Caroline, her face settling into a more professional expression.
"Ah, yes. Caroline," she began, picking up a paper, handing it to her.
Caroline took the paper from her, narrowing her eyes in confusion. "The Chicago Tribune? Why do you have one of these?"
"Look at the headline."
Caroline studied the paper, he heart dropping when she saw the headline.
"Shit," she muttered, staring at the byline. Her eyes returned to Jenna, who was staring at her with a menacing scowl. Her lips were pursed in annoyance, her eyebrows were raised to the middle of her forehead, and her eyes looked furious.
If Caroline didn't know better, she would have thought there was actual fire blazing in them.
"You want to tell me how Klaus fucking Mikaelson yet again attended the same press conference as you did and yet again, scored the top interview with the Mayor of Chicago? And how I got a phone call from the PR people saying that you were a no show?"
She grimaced in response. Caroline was the opinion writer, but she did other pieces to work her way up the chain. The press conference was two days ago and somehow her press pass for the event mysteriously disappeared from her purse that afternoon after a run in with Klaus at the coffee shop across the street. She straightened her back and glared at Jenna with as much confidence as she could muster.
"Klaus totally stole my ticket to the conference!"
Well, that sounded super immature.
Ah, Klaus Mikaelson.
The biggest jerk she'd ever met and the bane of her existence.
They met a couple years ago at a previous press conference for the Mayor of Chicago. She made it a habit to get to know all the reporters from the various Chicago papers just in case they ever needed to borrow notes or something. Caroline went up to him, introduced herself, and Klaus had scoffed, rolled his eyes and then asked if her boss knew that his secretary was missing. Then, he proceeded to ask her out. She promptly "accidentally" spilled his hot tea down the front of his pants and a relationship of full hate (mostly on her end since he was a shameless flirt) was born.
He was the most annoying, egotistical, smirky, complete dickwad that she had ever met. Yet, he never left her alone when they ran across each other at press events, consistently dropping coquettish lines and annoyingly trying to sweet talk her. Clearly, she wasn't interested but that didn't seem to affect him.
"I was going to get that interview, Jenna., I swear," Caroline tried to explained. "That smarmy jackass swooped in and took it away from me."
"How could he if you never showed up?" Jenna asked pointedly. Katherine leaned back in her chair, watching the conversation fly between the two women with interest.
Caroline opened her mouth to explain, but Jenna raised her hand in front of her to cut her off.
"It doesn't matter anymore. As far as I'm concerned, you shouldn't have missed it and let him get to you again."
"But I-"
"Forget it," Jenna cut in, shutting her up with a cold look. "Here, there's a press conference going on downtown about the new transit system. I would send Katherine but she can't seem to stop hitting on the new commissioner-"
"Hey!" Katherine cut in, gesturing at her body. "It's not my fault he wants a piece of this."
Caroline clenched her lips together to keep from giggling at her incredulous look.
"So, I need you to go cover it," Jenna continued, not sparing Katherine a second glance.
Caroline nodded her head determinedly, taking the piece of paper with the address from Jenna's outstretched hand.
"I want the article on my desk by 5:00pm tonight," Jenna ordered, turning around to focus on her computer. Caroline sucked in a low breath at the quick deadline before shoving the address in her purse.
"I won't let you down this time," Caroline promised. Jenna waved her hand distractedly at her, dismissing her and Katherine from the room.
Katherine moved out of the chair giving Jenna a dirty look and made a rude gesture with her hand towards Jenna's back. Caroline's eyes nearly popped out of her head and she yanked Katherine out of the office.
"Geez, Care, retract the talons," Katherine remarked, tugging her arm out of her tight grip.
Caroline sighed before stalking into her office across the hall, dropping into her chair with a groan.
"I hate Klaus," she growled, narrowing her eyes at the byline in the paper she was still holding.
"He's a dick," Katherine agreed. "From afar, he has the charisma of George Clooney. But when you get to see who he really is, it's like talking to Charlie Sheen."
"That's scarily accurate," Caroline sighed, before moving to get up.
"He so wants in your pants," Katherine smirked, winking at her. She scrunched her face up in disgust.
"Never in a thousand years."
"I think you should at least give him one drunken roll in the hay," Katherine said flippantly, causing Caroline to roll her eyes.
Here they go again.
Katherine was convinced that all of the constant back and forth between Caroline and Klaus would result in some mind-blowing sexual affair someday down the road. After denying it every single time, she had gotten used to all the hints Katherine kept dropping so she stopped taking her comments seriously after the first fifty.
"I have a boyfriend, in case you forgot," Caroline tiredly reminded her, shooting her a look. "Of five years."
Katherine raised her eyebrow and shrugged innocently. "You aren't married. Plus, you and Klaus are like a ball of sexual tension just waiting to combust. Never say never."
Caroline scoffed before gathering up her journal to leave. "Can I go now, Justin Bieber?"
"Don't forget your press pass this time," Katherine called after her, pointing at the lanyard hanging on the wall. She rolled her eyes and grabbed it.
"Notice that I had it before leaving the other day for the press conference and it's been missing since then," Caroline gestured, showing Katherine the badge. "What a coincidence that Klaus' article came out today and my press pass is mysteriously back in my office."
Katherine smirked slyly. "Maybe he's been snooping in here, trying to get closer to you."
"What a creep," Caroline muttered.
"A sexy creep," Katherine responded, throwing her hair over her shoulder. "You leaving?"
"Yeah. I'm just going to go straight there. Can't take any chances of running into Mr. Smarmy and my pass going missing again," she said, wrinkling her nose in annoyance.
Katherine shrugged before standing up to walk out of the office, calling over her shoulder. "Make sure it's just your press pass he steals. Not your panties!"
Caroline threw her pen at her in response, Katherine chuckling all the way.
Caroline strode into the building where the press conference was being held. The room was filled with several noisy journalists and cameras, waiting for the event to begin. She headed over to an empty table to unload her purse, taking out multiple pens, her notebook, and a recorder. While she was checking to make sure that her recorder was fully charged, she noticed a familiar person in the corner of her eye.
Shit.
Klaus Mikaelson was standing, talking quietly to another journalist. He had his usual smug smirk plastered across his face. Dressed in fitted black pants, he was wearing a white button down with the collar open, the usual plethora of necklaces around his neck. His sandy blonde hair was perfectly mussed, and his chin was covered in his signature stubble.
If he wasn't such an ass, Caroline would probably be slightly attracted to him.
His eyes caught hers and the smirk on his face widened. She immediately tore her gaze away and peeked back to see Klaus heading towards her. Her eyes bugged out and she immediately started to repack her stuff as fast as she could to get away. Grabbing her bag, Caroline whirled around and immediately smacked into a hard chest.
The same hard chest belonging to one Klaus Mikaelson.
"Oh, hello Klaus," she smiled lamely, as if just now noticing him.
"Very nice, love," Klaus said, his smooth British lilt washing over her. "I know you were checking me out across the room."
Caroline rolled her eyes "Oh you are so right. I could smell the scent of arrogance from across the room. I can't say I've missed you."
Klaus smirked before leaning in closer, Caroline stepping backwards.
"Your disgust is thrilling and quite arousing, love."
Scoffing, she flipped her hair. "My name is Caroline, not 'love' or that 'sweetheart' crap you are always trying to pull."
As if she hadn't spoken, Klaus crossed his arms and pursed his lips amusedly at her.
"I assume you read my latest article in the-"
"Tribune," Caroline interrupts, and the smirk on Klaus' face widens.
"The Mayor sends his regards, sweetheart."
Caroline glares at him before turning to stalk away. Klaus slips around in front of her to stand in the way, that stupid smirk still on his face.
"Jealous?" he asked, tilting his head to the side as he fixated his blazing blue eyed gaze on her. Caroline refused to meet his look and scoffed.
"Seriously? The fact that you think I would be remotely jealous over anything you did is deplorable."
"Admit it, Caroline. You're just bitter that more than half of my freelance articles have been published in the Tribune, while also being successful at the Chicago Star. And you, Little Miss Sunshine, have yet to sell a real article," Klaus ticked off his fingers, "How's that little newspaper you're working for going? I heard the Herald is going under."
Caroline glared at him.
Jackass.
"You don't know anything about me, Klaus," she shot back. "Admit it, if you hadn't stolen my press pass for the press conference the other day, it would have been my article that the Tribune would have bought."
"How's your family's company by the way?" Caroline continued, her eyes narrowing. It was no secret that Klaus belonged to the Mikaelson Corporation family. Every child was born with a silver spoon in their mouths, the tabloids filled with rumors about the ruthless Mikael Mikaelson. "Did Daddy make a big donation to the Star to keep it running?
Klaus rolled his eyes, a look of mild annoyance on his face. Caroline tossed her hair behind her shoulder and gripped her bag closer, making sure to feel that her press pass was still in there.
"I noticed that my press pass was back in my office this morning," Caroline mused, cocking her head at him. "How did you get past Anna?"
"What are we? 12? I stole no such thing," Klaus drawled, placing his hands on his hips. "You really should stop making these petty accusations."
Caroline gaped at him, her face flushing with anger. "You are such a liar. All these people see you as some great writer, when I know that you're just a dick who resorts to stealing press passes to score interviews because you can't cope with the competition. Did your daddy pay the Mayor too?"
Klaus' jaw tightens, but he doesn't respond. Caroline sighs and checks her watch.
"I don't even know why I waste my time on you."
"So dinner is out of the question then?" he asked completely ignoring her latest rant, smirking slyly. He folded his arms across his chest, Caroline rolling her eyes, as she tried not to pay attention to how firm his arm muscles looked in his white dress shirt.
"Dinner is always out of the question," she snapped.
He made a tsk-ing noise and leaned in closer. "What a pity. I could show you incredible things."
"I'll pass," she smiled tightly. "I think we're done here."
She spun around to leave, Klaus watching her retreating figure and a small smirk flits across his face.
"Not even close, love," he called after her.
She tried to ignore how his words sent a shiver down her spine.
"Thank you all for being here and for your questions," the press conference director said in the microphone. "Mr. Gerard has to leave now, but if you need any additional information, please see my assistant for the press packet."
Caroline scrambled out of her chair after the press conference, hurrying to grab the commissioner, Marcel Gerard, for a personal one-on-one interview. Usually when press conferences ended, so did the interview process. However, getting a personal, different interview with the person holding the press conference helped newspapers set themselves apart from the others, thus Jenna's desire for Caroline to get the interview. Marcel strode past her, journalists clambering after him to be picked.
"I'll grant one interview. I have to get back to my office before my assistant sets the whole place on fire," Marcel called over his shoulder, Caroline rushing behind him. "How about you?"
She stopped in her tracks as Marcel nodded towards her. She motioned towards herself and he shrugged, stepping aside as she bounded towards him.
"Yes, of course," she shot him a brilliant smile and Marcel pulled her to the side. She smirked victoriously at the rest of the journalists that shot her dirty looks. Glancing at the crowd, Caroline was pleased to note that Klaus was nowhere to be seen.
Thank God.
"Ask away," he smiled kindly and she opened her notebook, readying her pen at the top of the page.
"Wha-"
"Marcel, my friend!"
Crap.
Klaus strode towards them, a rare genuine smile on his face. Caroline's heart sunk as he shook Marcel's hand, giving him a friendly pat on the back.
"How are you, mate?" Klaus asked, bumping slightly into Caroline to brush her aside. She elbowed him back, reveling in the sound of his soft groan.
"Can't complain. How's the family?" Marcel asked. "Elijah and Finn still workaholics?"
Klaus shrugged, sending a victorious smirk to Caroline who glowered at him. "You know Father, working them to the bone."
Caroline watched Marcel and Klaus converse casually for a few minutes. From what she could tell, they were old family friends as Marcel managed to ask about every single sibling Klaus had, and that was a lot. They spoke for nearly five minutes, neither of them paying attention to the fuming blonde journalist who was ready to tear the British man into tiny pieces. Finally, Marcel noticed Caroline standing, her pen still at the ready and cut Klaus off in the middle of his sentence.
"I'm sorry, Miss um-"
"Forbes," Caroline finished for him, smirking at Klaus' annoyance at being interrupted. " Caroline Forbes, with the Chicago Herald. Ready to continue the interview?"
She stared pointedly at Klaus who smirked at her amusedly.
"Oh, love, don't worry," Klaus replied, placing his hand on her arm. She glared at him, immediately ripping her arm away from him. "Marcel and I need to catch up anyways so I'll take care of it."
"But I-"
"I'll give you the notes," he continued, winking at her and her blood boiled in anger. "I promise."
She could almost hear the "not" that was sure to follow after that.
Marcel thanked her for waiting and clapped a hand on Klaus' shoulder as they made their way towards the door. Her face flushed in frustration and she clenched her hands in attempt to keep from running after and tackling Klaus to the ground. He turned around to smirk at her in victory and Caroline nearly threw her pen at him.
"You asshole," she muttered as she shoved her notebook back in her bag.
It's official.
Klaus Mikaelson is the devil incarnate.
So, what did you guys think? Are you interested in reading more? (I hope so cuz I got quite a bit written ;))
Reviews will help feed my muse and all the ammunition she needs to keep going ;) Also, you can come find me at she-walked-away on tumblr! I'm always up for talking and meeting new people :)
Until Next Time
Kaitlyn