I do NOT own the Vampire Diaries...

The Contract

Caroline had never thought that she would be in the stuffy boardroom on her week off, she expected to be curled up on her couch with Rex, her puppy, watching Ryan Gosling films with a batch of Ben&Jerry's and a box of tissues. Her plans were foiled by none other than the dragon lady Carol Lockwood, Caroline's boss and the villain in her life. Blah, blah, blah.. this day couldn't get any more dense, Caroline stared out the window on the other side of the room. "So we will need you all to go to Chicago, New Orleans and Miami for this arrangement. You will be paired up in groups of two so get ready to travel everyone. You will be leaving in about 2 days. This will be for about 3 months, every day you will be meeting with different mergers and consulting the contract with them. Anyone have any questions?" Mrs. Lockwood said, Caroline had only just now begun listening and so far she didn't like what she was hearing. Everyone shook their heads, no one dared to go head to head with Carol, she was a complete hard ass. Caroline especially knew this, she had dated her son for 2 years until it abruptly ended because Tyler had found someone younger and more interesting to empty his trust fund.

Caroline began to leave until she was pulled aside by Stefan, her best male friend. His green eyes held a friendly warmth to them as she turned towards him and smiled welcomingly. "Hey Stefan, what's up?" she asked, she couldn't help but smile at her friend, he had helped her immensely after the break up with Tyler. "We got partnered. That's what's up. We either get New Orleans or Chicago, which one do you want?" he asked her fondly, she sighed. She was glad to have Stefan as her partner but she was also hoping that they'd get Miami. She needed some beach time, but nope not for her, she quickly picked New Orleans. Stefan didn't want to admit it but he was hoping that she'd pick New Orleans, he couldn't wait for the endless parties and the mergers that would come along with that. "Ok, well I'll see you tomorrow. We'll discuss the trip over some coffee, okay?" he asked her, she quietly nodded and continued to her car. The drive home had been quiet, it was still only about 8 AM. She didn't understand why her boss had to pick such an early time to tell everyone about the trips. Now she would have to take Rex to her dad's seeing as her mom would barely have time for the west highland white terrier. Her mother was a sheriff for Caroline's hometown of Mystic Falls, the same place that Stefan had come from.

As soon as she got home she was greeted by Rex, he hopped up on her legs and granted her with many kisses. "Hi Rexie. I missed you too. Come on boy." she said as she guided the dog into the kitchen to get some food. After giving Rex his favorite dog food, she went to lounge on the couch and dozed off. When she woke up it was almost 3 PM, she stood up and walked into the kitchen grabbing a glass of water to heal her parched throat. She walked up the stairs and turned the shower on, she shed her blazer and dress pants leaving her in the white lingerie set that she had bought not so long ago. She remembered the feel of a man, she hadn't been with one in about 7 months. Tyler was the last man to add to the canvas of broken heartedness, but he was the one who left the biggest hole. She could literally count the number of serious relationships she had, there were only 2 of them including Tyler. First was Matt Donovan, her high school sweetheart and also the one who had dumped her for a different girl, at the time she was devastated. Now she was unphased by the break up, she had actually been happy when she went to Matt and April's wedding last year. Yes they were only about 23 years old but they were in love and no one could ruin that for them. At the time of course Tyler and her had been together so of course she was happy for Matt and April.

She stopped herself from thinking about the past and walked into the steam-filled bathroom. She finally shed her underwear and hopped into the shower, she moaned at the feel of the hot water falling over her body. She stood under the water and felt emotionless, she felt nothing, the shower was her escape from the constant agony of her life. Sure she had a few nights where she was happy, but rarely did she genuinely feel happy, not away from home and her friends. Stefan was her only true friend that she had while she lived in New York and she didn't want to burden him with her past. She finally got out of the shower and looked at the clock, it was almost 4 o'clock, she had been in the shower for almost an hour. She walked into her oversized closet, the only heaven she had while she was here, and looked for an outfit to go out in. She was due for a dinner with her father and his boyfriend, she couldn't wait to see him. She hadn't seen him in a while, maybe about 2 months. She was so piled up with work that she hadn't gotten to visit with him. She put on jeans and a top along with her boat shoes and skipped down the stairs. Rex followed her to the door as she left, she felt happy that at least someone was happy to see her everyday.

She pulled into Mia Bello, a famous Italian restaurant that her and her father always meet at. As soon as she walked into the door she saw her father, he was alone, she walked up to him and hugged him. "Daddy. I missed you." she said into his shoulder as he hugged her with just as much force as she used on him. "I've missed you too. Come here let me get a good look at you." he said as he pulled back and held her at her shoulders examining his daughter. "You look beautiful as usual." he said to his daughter, Caroline blushed and smiled up at her father. "Come. Let's eat." he said as he took her hand and led her to their reserved table. They always got the table in the back by the window to watch the hustle and bustle of New York City. They had been sitting for a while making small conversation, when Caroline remembered something. "Dad where's Stephen?" she asked, she had always liked her father's boyfriend he was so full of life and very animated. "Um we aren't together anymore honey." he said in a quiet tone, she looked up from her plated fettuccine and to her father, "What? Why?" she asked. He just looked away and shrugged, "You know just drama. Anyway how's work?" he said quickly, she wanted to press more but she knew that it wouldn't end well. "Works good. Stefan and I are actually going on a corporate trip to New Orleans for about 3 months to meet with some businesses and mergers that we want to join with." she said. The rest of the meal was old memories and small talk and the topic of Stephen and her father had not come up the rest of the night.

They finally departed and her father said that he would pick Rex up tomorrow to take home with him while she was gone, he joked about needing the company and Caroline smiled sadly at her father. She got her car from valet and was on her way home, she just wanted to go home and go to sleep. She had a long week ahead of her, more like a long 3 months she thought to herself. As soon as she got home she walked up the stairs as Rex followed and into her closet to change into a t-shirt and boyshorts. She sat got into her king-sized bed, that only made her feel lonelier, and turned on her plasma television set. She watched her reality TV shows for only about 15 minutes before she fell asleep with Rex laying next to her feet.

**The Contract*

Caroline was up the next morning bright and early, she had gone for her routine morning run and she had already taken a shower and gotten dressed ready to meet with Stefan for coffee. She drove to the Starbucks that was near Stefan's place and waited for him as she ordered a Caramel Macchiato for herself and a Vanilla Cappuccino for Stefan. Right after she had ordered Stefan walked through the doors, he saw her and smiled as he walked over to her grasping her into a friendly hug. "Thanks for ordering for me." he said to her, he looked disheveled, "No problem. What in the hell happened to you?" she asked him giggling a little bit. They walked away from the counter with their coffees in hand, she stared at Stefan interested as he told her what happened to him. She couldn't understand why she couldn't like Stefan, was it because he wasn't her type? No, he was her type of guy. Why had she not gone for Stefan? She suspected that she had gotten too close to him, too friendly. She also didn't have any sexual feelings for her green eyed friend but she wished, secretly, that she had. She knew Stefan well enough that if she had went after him that he would never dream of breaking her heart, he was too sweet and caring. "So you excited for the trip?" he asked her, she shrugged. "I mean yeah I guess so. I do wanna get out of this city for awhile and I could use the partying, I haven't been out in a while." she admitted more to herself than him, he nodded along with her. Stefan had not been out in a very long time either, he would love to just go out clubbing and drink but he hadn't had the chance to before, but now here was the opportunity right in front of him.

They bid each other goodbyes and Caroline had told Stefan that she'd pick him up to go to the airport tomorrow. After they departed Caroline went shopping at the nearest store she could find, she needed some good party dresses and she knew she'd barely get the time to go shopping while I New Orleans. She had found three dresses, matching pumps and she had found four outfits to wear while meeting with the different mergers. She knew that she didn't want to be dressed uptight since they were dealing with mergers and businesses in New Orleans. She drove home and it was about 5 PM when she got home, she opened the door and there was no Rex. Her dad must have picked him up while she was out, she went upstairs and drew a bath for herself. She knew that this was going to be awake very early tomorrow, their flight was at 7 AM and she was not I the mood for any of that but it was her job she had to do it. After her much needed, relaxing bath she went to bed and dreamed of a faceless man with an English accent.

AN: Hope you like it... Klaus shall be coming up soon.