"Close your eyes, give me your hand, darling
Do you feel my heart beating?
Do you understand?
Do you feel the same?
Am I only dreaming?
Is this burning…"

There was a clicking sound and Caroline's voice wasn't accompanied by music anymore, she slid down her big earphones and leaned her head to the side, the man on the other side of the mirror pushed a button down and made his voice echo inside the booth.

"That was wonderful gorgeous but I'd like to redo the last verses before we do the chorus."

Caroline raised her thumbs up and adjusted the earphones over her ears, she was very focused when the music started again and like she did all morning, Caroline started singing perfectly on cue and with a sweetness that oozed from her naturally.

On the other side of the mirror, the man turned on his chair and spread his arms. "She is remarkable Klaus."

Klaus displayed a set of dashing dimples surrendered to the veracity. "Marcel... I believe those were my very words when I called you earlier."

Marcel smiled turning to the recording table in front of him, he adjusted a few buttons and closed his eyes for a few moments, his accurate ears didn't betray him, Caroline sang perfectly on key and just as she hit the chorus for a second time he turned to Klaus again. "See those?" he pointed at the amount of hair in his arms rising as her voice filled the Studio. "Those only come up when I know there is a hit coming and that girl can deliver it."

Klaus swiftly put his phone away and addressed Marcel with a squint. "Does that mean that you will produce her first record?"

He tapped his chin with a slow move. "You know that I have all the big names barking at my door, don't you?"

"That's entirely because you are the producer of the moment and your talent is finally being recognized." Klaus cunningly complimented him.

Marcel rolled his eyes. "Now you are just pampering me so that I produce your girl."

"I discovered Caroline singing on a small moldy dusty Pub and now she's singing for the great Marcel Gerard, The King. I know what I'm doing and so should you when I'm offering you a chance to be part of the success of the next singer of the Super Bowl."

Marcel laughed. "You never do anything for the smallest goal."

"May I remind you of the last singer I managed?"

The other big man grunted. "I'm surprised she allowed you to step down from guiding her career, so… out of the blue." he joked.

"She was already Rolling in the deep." Klaus launched with cheesy attire.

Marcel laughed loudly but he knew if Klaus traded one of the biggest singers in the planet for an unknown singer with no record under her belt yet, it was only because he believed in the raw talent of this girl, as he turned to look at her once again, he noticed how striking she was but there was something else about her that was capturing, there was an unexplained energy that he could feel prickling at him even across the glass, as if she was a natural container of light and life just waiting to explode.

Caroline had something that came to her naturally, he couldn't take his eyes away from her and Marcel couldn't remember the last time that happened with an artist, with time everyone just sounded the same to him.

"Should I sing the entire song again or just specific part of it?" Caroline asked with an excitement that was as well seen as unusual to Marcel.

"I've heard enough Goldilocks, come out and join us." Marcel asked her.

Caroline stepped out of the recording booth with a big smile, he could tell how nervous she was by the way she kept pressing her palms together and glancing over to Klaus, hoping to catch a glimpse of what happened on this side while she sang.
As usual Klaus was unreadable and she huffed a little facing away from him, it wouldn't hurt if he contradicted her belief that he wasn't human just for once, she had no choice but to focus on the other man, the one with bulky arms was eyeing her in a funny way and Caroline fought the grumble in her stomach by pressing it with a hand over the long blouse that fell down her shoulder.

"Feel free to stretch out my torment…" she mumbled anxiously.

Marcel exchanged one single look with Klaus and swayed on his chair a few times before he parted his lips with a big smile. "Are you ready to be famous?"

Caroline widened her eyes and opened her mouth at the same time. "Are you saying that you will produce me?"

"You are a raw diamond that needs to be polished but with the right songs and with the right beat… you are the next best thing." he searched for Klaus, as expected the smirk was the only outlet he was having from his old friend.

Caroline jumped a few times excited, she clapped all giggly and with that she made both men break into a laughter, her happiness was that contagious. "Seriously?" she asked again over excited.

"Start thinking of a good title for the record of the year and come back next week ready for a relentless recording session, be prepared for brutal working hours, no sleep and a lot of yelling, I get cranky when things don't turn out well after the first 10 times." Marcel warned her.

Caroline quietly laughed, she could handle grumpy like an expert, it was the only mood she knew from Klaus. "I'm ready, I'm more than ready for this. I'll do whatever it takes." she said with determination.

"Keep that enthusiasm then because we will need it." Marcel grabbed his phone. "I'm sending you my schedule Klaus, I have a single that I'm working with Bono now so we'll have to reserve Caroline's studio hours after that…"

Caroline silently mouthed U2 awestruck and she was still a bit dazed when she left with Klaus.

"He produced Justin Timberlake and Beyonce!" she exclaimed excited once they were alone.

Klaus was used to the celebrity life so obviously he ignored the fangirl unravel that came from Caroline, he was trying to fit her busy schedule with Marcel's while she gushed on and on about all the stars that recorded in this studio, like he didn't know them all, quite honestly he managed most of them at some point and he was aware of how much the huge sample stars paid to be produced by Marcel while today he agreed to get his cut only after Caroline's CD hit the market.

For Klaus that was the big accomplishment of the day, the confidence from Marcel was just what Klaus needed to start the right buzz around Caroline, of course that she was clueless to all that and continued to list all the famous who achieved that one hit due to Marcel's magic behind a set of buttons that improved a bunch of screeching voices that inevitably flopped once they reached the live tours.

Klaus was aiming very high concerning Caroline and he almost felt tempt to end her random rambles to tell her just that, however Caroline was far from listening to anything right now.
She was busy trying out different scenarios with the new achievement.

"And now we will play the new hit single from Caroline Forbes, the artist produced by The King." she said spreading her hands apart at the same time the elevator doors opened for them.

She was jittery, bouncing all the way to his car like she was listening to a famous radio station playing her song and she completely missed the car coming her way inside of the parking lot.

Klaus pulled her arm to make her stop and kept her close to him. "Let us try not to make it a post-mortem album."

Caroline laughed turning her head to face his deep blue eyes. "That would be epic as well."

He restrained from rolling his eyes but still sighed distraught. "Can you try to focus for ten minutes Caroline? We need to go over your schedule for today."

Her shoulders fell a little and she grimaced with his words. "What do you mean? I thought the audition was the entire plan for today."

As always Klaus didn't linger too closely to her and walked to his car unlocking it and opening the passenger door for her. "Of course sweetheart, shall we go back to the hotel and sleep for the rest of the day? Because that's what artists do, you know… they just slack all day and the money pours down from the ceiling." he leaned his head to the side with a forced smile.

Caroline dragged her flat ballerina shoes. "You don't have to be so cheerful all the time." she complained getting inside of his luxurious car.

"I don't get paid to be nice." he reminded her as he closed the door on her side.

"What if I don't sell enough copies to pay you?" she asked him as soon as he settled on the driver's seat.

"The idea is to make you rich enough so that I can take my millionaire fee later on." he started the car with a sly hint to a smile. "And if you can't pay me, I'm sure we will find a way to please me." he started their short ride.

"You are so gross!" Caroline pushed her tongue out disgusted and crossed her arms. "And inappropriate… crude and crass." she added with a grouse. "And ugly."

"It's with glee that I accept how well you perceive me." he laughed only to spike her.

"Is there still time to add how much you are not funny?"

"Always love." he parked the car in front of a building.

Caroline's entire body ached in anticipation. "Do I have to?"

"There's nothing like a good Yoga class to tame that wild spirit of yours."

"I don't like Yoga, it feels like I'm stretching for some really kinky sex positions and the instructor has this really weird vibe, she's always ordering me around with a polite low voice. The Eagle comes from within Caroline." she flawlessly mimicked her instructor.

"I will pick you up in one hour for vocal couching." Klaus simply stated.

"Fine, I'm going to stick my butt in the air and pretend to be all sexy while I'm doing it." she still protested but before exiting the car Caroline looked at him doubtful. "Wait, when do I eat?"

"Don't worry love, food will be provided as the nutritionist planned."

"She better not come near me again with a lot of stuff that tastes like haystack and a bunch of pills because I will shove those damn pills up her ass." Caroline warned him with a menacing finger pointed at him.

"Hum… we might need to squeeze in a few classes on good manners as well."

Caroline slammed the door of the car as one loud reply but he was smiling as he drove away, probably the thing he enjoyed the most about Caroline was the way she was so genuine.
Granted that she really wanted this but she wasn't willing to change her entire personality just to make him happy and that was so refreshing that it only pushed Klaus further.

"Ok, let's try this one bar above." The professor told Caroline before he pressed a piano key down.

She nodded and did as he asked of her, he was very pleased with the way their session ended and clapped at her once they were done with their lesson.

"Very good Caroline, you have a good ear and you learn fast." he closed the piano waiting for Klaus to join them.

Klaus was outside emerged in a phone call for an hour now and Caroline rested her arms over the piano watching him, she slowly gazed along his strong features, the rough stubble and the curly dirty-blonde hair, she was unconsciously biting her pinky as she outlined his lustful lips with her eyes.
As a rule Klaus was wearing a tight Henley under a cool leather jacket, he was a man of necklaces and Caroline counted at least three of them under the purple V-collar, she also identified a very firm chest and by addition a fit body that she rather not notice.

Klaus was very professional and he kept their relationship exactly on those terms, there was never too much proximity between them and whenever they were alone, he was always doing something, either fondling over his phone or his iPad, personal contact was kept to the minimal and Caroline was thankful for that, he was her manager and her entire career was resting on his big hands, it was a mistake to place anything else from hers at the reach of those long fingers of his.

"He is rather handsome, isn't he?"

Her young teacher asked just next to her, when Caroline looked at him, she saw nothing but lust in him and that sparkled a tiny laughter from her. "Well… he is attractive in this annoying sort of way." she admitted.

"He is too good-looking and that accent of his…" he groaned.

Caroline laughed again but she closed her songbook thoughtful, she wasn't going down that path, he was hot but his temper and mood swings were a turn off. "I will see you tomorrow?" she asked her professor.

Josh beamed at her. "Make sure you bring him with you."

She gave him a side look before leaving the room, just as she was closing the glass door behind her Klaus ended his call and she suspected something was headed her way by the look he gave her.

"We need to go back to the hotel because you have to get ready for an appearance tonight."

"An appearance where?" she asked before complaining with a loud sound as he pulled her hand, visibly she wasn't walking fast enough for him.

Klaus was already reaching his car. "A local renowned artist is opening a gallery tonight and anyone who isn't on Cannes this year is attending this so I arranged for someone to take you under their wing."

Caroline slumped against his car. "You mean that some celebrity from a reality show accepted to pity escort me to the door and take a few pictures with me."

"You have two hours to get ready." Klaus warned her serious.

"I can't wait." she mockingly grinned at him. "Some artist on crack opens another useless gallery for his abstract work and I get to make an appearance that no one will care about."

Klaus didn't bother answering her, he had too many things to deal with at the moment, he couldn't afford to be upset over another tantrum from Caroline.

"Do I even get to choose what I'm wearing?" she looked at him slightly hopeful.

"It's all been arranged for already, Forbes."

She clasped her lips and narrowed her eyes at him, if hatred could kill, he would be easily choking by now.

The hairstylist shook his hand. "Girl, you need to sink those two gorgeous feet down on the ground and tell him, hell to the no. Do you know what I mean?"

Caroline exhaled loudly. "I know but he doesn't listen, I've tried telling him that I only want to sing but he keeps filling my days with all this stuff that I don't want to do."

The young man with orange long hair closed his eyes for a second. "I bet he thinks those dimples of his will excuse him every time…"

Caroline cringed a little when Lamar pulled her long blond locks a bit carelessly and lost in the conversation. "I don't know about that, I became immune to them during the first month we worked together."

Lamar lowered his head and pierced her through the mirror. "You can be honest with me Care, has anything ever happened between the two of you? Working late all those nights and sharing the same hotel and all?"

Caroline eyed him with a crazy display of expressive eyes. "Never, I don't think he even finds me pretty."

"I don't play on your team sweety but the man had to be dead not to salute you every time you walk into a room."

"If he has, I haven't noticed." Caroline cocked an eyebrow. "And I think I would notice because no one is that cocky without validation."

"Amen to that girl." Lamar snapped his fingers. "Our Lord was not sleeping when Klaus Mikaelson was conceived."

Caroline laughed, it wasn't something hard for her to do but this last month was turning out stressful and honestly she felt as if Klaus was demanding more from her than she could deliver.
Lamar used a few hair clips and strapped the locks on the side of her head, he left the back bounce free and with a bunch of wild loose curls, he smiled at her heading for the door when there was a knock.

Caroline wasn't sure if she should dread the moment, her dress was here and she didn't know what to expect, when Lamar unzipped the protective cover around it she almost smeared her cheek with lipstick, the dress was beautiful and she quickly left the last touches of makeup for later.

She jumped from her chair and rushed to Lamar. "I saw one of these in the Dior store downstairs."

"And you say that nothing ever happened between you and Klaus?" Lamar asked with a low dragged tone.

Caroline quizzically looked at him, she couldn't understand the suspicion at all. "We fight and pick on each other the entire time." she clarified while opening her robe and greedily getting into the exquisite dress.

"Honey, do you know how much a suite in this hotel costs?" Lamar asked with a hand tucking at his waist.

"More than you make?" she ventured innocently.

"I have to curl a lot of celeb hair to afford a night in here and you are currently occupying a master suite next to his not to mention that he is shopping for you in the most expensive shop inside the Five Star hotel…" Lamar lowered his chin with a gentle scowl. "And he knows your measures really well."

Caroline closed the zipper on the side of her tight white dress with a slow glance at Lamar. "Klaus has a big management agency or something…"

"I know that you come from some small town that God forsaken into oblivion but homeboy is paying for all of this and I'm sure he is expecting something in return, if you catch my drift." Lamar went back to his things so he could start packing up.

Caroline took in his words with a wary expression.

Klaus checked his watch unpleased, he dove into his suit pocket for the car keys as soon as he heard her heels approaching with a small race. "You are five minutes late." he lifted his eyes to scold her but he wasn't quite expecting the angelic figure.

"I'm sorry, I took too long deciding on the shoes." she quickly opened the door before he could react and got inside the car.

Klaus' brain took a little longer to restart but he went around the car as soon as it did, he found Caroline waiting for him with a puzzled face, she was holding his iPad and he kick-started everything again inside of his head. "You should read and memorize the pages I left open, it always looks good to say you admire the artist and actually know his name when the reporters ask you."

"I have to lie?" she squealed unhappy.

"Try to smile while you are at it." he joked.

Caroline pushed her flawless golden hair behind her shoulder and started cross reading what he left for her, Klaus stopped before a red light and momentarily looked at her, Caroline was invested in her reading, her thick black eyelashes weren't even blinking, he caught a glimpse of all the discrete makeup she was wearing and how it all clashed perfectly against the really bright red lipstick, the white dress with a simple pattern worked magically against her ivory skin and only her neck was free along with her shoulders which gave her a truly sophisticated appearance.

Caroline raised her head when the car behind them made its presence noticed. "It's green Klaus."

He shook his head and resumed to keep his eyes on the road, why was he was so surprised the dress fitted her so well?
He was the one who chose it so of course that it looked magnificent on her.

"… the Petite, is her most notorious work and it's a metaphor to the world because Jackie decided to make a bronze sculpture of her size in the shape of a decaying figure." Caroline delivered an impressive summary of what she just learned during their ride.

Klaus parked his car with a nod. "Don't deviate from that and if you don't understand a question just pretend you didn't listen because of the screaming crowd and move on to the next reporter."

Caroline held back a big chuckle, he actually seemed convinced there would be people wanting to talk to her or even a screaming… wait.

As soon as she stepped outside she could hear the big commotion on the other side of the street and she jolted at him stunned. "What is that?"

"They seem to be gathering quite in a number." Klaus said excited and reaching for his phone. "We just need to wait for your godmother to arrive." he said almost with too much glee over his own plan.

Suddenly everything became very real and present for Caroline, he was forging a big entrance for her and she became aware this was really happening for her. "I'm not sleeping with you." she gushed out bravely.

Klaus left the screen of his Smartphone to look at her. "All right…. I will try to battle my impending depression over the news."

"I'm serious Klaus, if you are doing all of this expecting to have sex with me as a thank you, it's not going to happen. I may have a very naive background but I was brought up with morals that I strongly believe in and selling myself in exchange for my dream is not a choice for me." she roughly recognized pride in his smile but she wasn't ready to bet on it.

He closed his black suit before speaking, perhaps he was gathering all the things he wanted to tell her, she couldn't really know.

"I've made a name for myself by building successful careers for others and I have never involved myself either physically or romantically with any of my clients."

Caroline nodded understand him. "I won't be an exception." she still felt the need to affirm.

"You will not be one." he also cleared that for her. "I saw something when I found you doing covers on that shady Pub and I had no clue of who you were at the time yet I felt compelled to know more about you and I wouldn't be wasting my expensive time if I didn't believe others will have the same desire I did."

She smiled enchanted, it was hard staying indifferent to him when he spoke like that, when he reminded her so much of the night they first met.
The small speech about wanting to know her dreams and aspirations in life, the easy way he conducted their conversation that revolved entirely around her had left her suspicious at the time that he was only after a one night stand and she had laughed in his face shamelessly mocking him because of the I'm a famous manager line, at the time she felt compelled to slap him across the face but then she did her research and found out he was indeed who he claimed to be.

Sometimes Caroline still couldn't believe she had the courage to call the number he gave her and it was with the same guts that she decided to believe him now as well. "Good." she said with a single swing of her curled hair, she trapped her tiny clutch securely in her hand and waited for his next orders.

They were held back by the car stopping in the sidewalk, at first Caroline wasn't able to form a single decent voiced word, then she proclaimed a really high-pitched Oh my God!
It was her, the woman leaving the car and walking to them was his former client and she was smiling affectionately at Klaus.

"Sweetheart, you look beautiful." he said as soon as she was within his reach and kissed her cheek.

"You haven't lost your charm Nik." she sweetly answered and like she couldn't hold back, she hugged him as tightly as she could, considering how big her pregnant belly was.

"I heard it's a boy…"

"I will not be naming him after you." The famous woman warned him strictly.

He was waiting for that and laughed warmly, then he turned to Caroline who froze in anticipation, her frenzy eyes took attention to everything, she had never been this close to anyone remotely as famous as the singer now calling her near them.

"It's hard for me to move." the woman explained.

When she reached them Caroline awkwardly bowed her head uncertain how to behave, she was standing next to frigging Adele.

"Oh, you are such a sweetheart." Adele pinched her cheeks.

Caroline nervously made this odd sound that came off as sort of a chuckle. "I admire you So much."

"I have a feeling that I will be repeating those words myself soon." Adele nudged Klaus with her elbow. "If you are being led by this one, you are set for nothing less but greatness."

Caroline flicked her stare between them but decided on the woman lastly. "I should trust you…"

"No darling, you need to trust Nik, he knows what he is doing. I reckon that he remains insufferable most of the time but he has his good days." she winked at Caroline. "You need to tell him to sod off when he gets on your nerves too much, it's what I did when he tried to stop me from wearing my beloved fake eyelashes."

Klaus' throat produced a loud growl that only made the girls laugh, Caroline felt more at ease now and thoroughly enjoyed the blunt teasing happening between Adele and Klaus.

"Don't be crossed with me, you know I'm forever grateful that you introduced me to the bloke who gave me this." Adele lovingly placed her hands on her belly.

"Aren't you running late love?" Klaus shifted attentions off him at once.

Caroline smiled watching them silently, he forgot to add that earlier, Klaus also never got emotionally involved with any of his clients, even now with Adele who had been with him for so long, there was this invisible line that separated Klaus from being truly attached to anyone and Caroline's smile became sadder, it was so clear to her that he was a lonely creature by choice and she found that infinitely heartrending.

With another kiss Adele bid farewell to Klaus and took Caroline's arm as support, although the young blonde was shaking she still followed the star ready for her debut.
Klaus stayed behind as the women crossed the street towards the small venue and the crowd really went wild when they recognized Adele.

True to herself, the English star kept Caroline under her motherly wing and took all the pictures with her, she made sure to mention her name in every quick interview she gave and to mention how Caroline Forbes was the next name to lookout for.

Her feet were killing her, the straps were horribly tight around her puffy feet and she was taking them off about the same time she was pushing the card key that gave access to her room, she jumped with a startle before crossing the threshold.

The lights were on and Klaus was waiting for her seated on the arm of the couch. "Hello sweetheart."

"Klaus…" she squinted looking at her key.

"You are in the right room." he comforted her.

She closed the door slightly unsure how to react to his presence. "You disappeared… the exhibit was actually interesting and everyone was really nice but I expect you to be there." Caroline left her stilettos on the ground and the small clutch on the little table nearby.

"I work in the backstage love, that's my circus while the spotlight is left for you." Delectably he turned his phone to her. "That's a good picture of you by the way."

Caroline gasped and ran to him, she yanked the phone from his hand and stared at it in disbelief, her face was all over twitter, she was tagged in every picture of Adele's. "Klaus!" she yelped. "Someone mentions me, they called me Carol but that's so not important, someone mentioned me as the adorable friend of Adele's."

"Is that so? Are you perchance admitting in a very clumsy way that I actually know how to do my job?"

Caroline guided her blue lively eyes to him. "When you aren't being an authority tyrant, you are actually bearable."

"Adele was visibly impressed by you, she said that you captivated everyone in the room and that you were very polite and lovely, I almost called her a liar."

"For your information, I was Miss everything back in my town..."

"I know." he smugly interrupted her.

"Therefore I know how to act like a lady." Caroline rolled her eyes ignoring him and stared at her pictures for a little longer. "I'm very photogenic and now I'm famous on the internet…"

"Easy on the ego love, for now you are only a small little fish thrown into the ocean, we need to make you bigger so that the big sharks step aside for you." he rescued his phone back. "Also, you are only truly famous when someone actually gets your name right."

She sulked instantly but her stomach claimed all the attentions, she pressed her hands against it trying to stop the noises that were growing by the minute, she had been anxious all day and avoiding food, now she was hungry as hell.

"Adele mentioned something about your dislike for Sushi…" Klaus lowered his chin so he could engage her eyes.

Caroline spoke through her mopping. "They served raw fish…" she shivered just buy remembering it. "I'm a meat girl…"

"You know love…" he reached behind him to the couch and took a silver platter that was holding something covered by a domed lit. "All in all, you did really well today."

"Am I now a dog that gets cookies for good behavior?" she scoffed promptly.

"Very well, I'll indulge in it myself then." he exposed a luscious burger and fries.

Caroline screamed leaping at Klaus and having a bite while he was still holding the only hamburger she had seen in weeks, she made the most satisfied sounds and took a handful of French fries to go with it. "Oh my God…." she covered her mouth while Klaus only laughed entertained with her actions. "I think I'm having an orgasm…" she sighed with a few fries on the way to her mouth. "If I could still remember how that feels like." she brutally looked at him. "I can't even have a boyfriend with all this tight to-do list that you have going on for me."

"Soon there will be groupies sweetheart and I might not interfere with those."

"I'm allowed to have sex?" she asked with her mouth full.

"As long as I'm allowed to be inside the room to make sure there aren't any sex tapes being recorded."

Caroline stopped munching and loudly gulped down, they stared at each other for the longest time until she tightened her lips together and punched him hard on the arm. "You are not witty, at all!"

"I beg to differ." he stood up placing his hands inside of his suit pants. "After you are done with your little food porn try to get some rest Caroline." he advised her as he was about to reach the door.

"Thanks for this Klaus… it meant a lot to see that there are actual feelings living among those big muscles of yours." she giggled joyfully.

"It was a doggy treat because you need to be up at 4am to start working on your single, Bono is going to visit another Pope so we have an opening at the Studio."

"That's three hours from now." Caroline muttered with dismay.

"I would take the chance to sleep love, the sofa seems very comfortable." There was an effortless sneer from him.

"Sod off, Satan." she shouted before he closed the door.

Soundtrack:

Lay me down - Avicii

It's a beautiful day - U2

The new black - Moon Taxi

Morning sun - The Happy Mess