Hello, hello again. Here I am with another Kalijah fic (even though I haven't completed my previous ones!). This one will be AH/AU fic, so something I have never done before. The premise is pretty simple and pretty familiar but I hope you still like it.
I know I am the worst updater in FF history but I promise I haven't forgotten about my other stories. I just needed this idea out of my head in order to continue with my old ones.
"To catch up with lost time" will be updated next week. I have written half of the new chapter already so please be patient.
As always remember English is not my native language so there might be mistakes along the way. Sorry for them.
So, to not prolong any further I give you Mistakes of Past Days.
Disclaimer: I don't own TVD or any of its characters.
Update: Huge, huge thanks to my lovely wife ( 50ShadesOfNeens) for the amazing Cover she made for this fic. I love it!
Chapter 1
She finally did it.
Katherine got out of an elevator on the 17th floor ready for her first day as CFO. Dressed in a black high-heeled pumps and two-piece black and white Chanel's dress suit she headed to her office.
She was ready. Now at the age of 29 she showed her father she is not weak, party-oriented, silly woman he always assumed she was. Oh no, she's not. For last 6 years she worked very hard to show him how competent and devoted she is. She wanted her father to acknowledge her as an experienced employee that she was and not the black-ship daughter in the family. Now she got her promotion at last. Her father CEO of Petrova's International Finances was finally ready to recognize her abilities and all the sacrifices she made along the way.
Last month she helped finalized a contract which guarantees them presence on Eastern European financial markets. It was a huge deal for her father's company and she was working on in for more than a year now. Katherine was proud of herself. Hell! Her father was proud of her - and that wasn't something that happened very often. Actually that never happened before. In their family, she always was the bad child, while her sister Nadia was the perfect child. Yet somehow Katherine never hated Nadia for that and they got along most of the time.
But the most important thing about this deal she made, was not her promotion or not even showing her father he was wrong about her. The best part was that they managed to anticipate their competitor's plan and successfully precede their movements. Now Mikaelson Global Trade was far behind and she was the main reason of that. For Katherine that was like icing on the cake.
She hated Mikaelsons. Well her whole family hated Mikaelsons. But she hated them the most. At least that was how she felt.
The Mikaelsons were obnoxious, conceited family who thought of themselves as royalty and the rest as a common folk. They treated everyone else like if they were beneath them. Maybe it was because they came from England and allegedly hadsome royal connections - Yeah 'royal connections' my ass Katherine thought. Or it was just because they were snobs. The whole family acted like every Petrova family member was not good enough for them.
It wasn't always like that though.
Katherine remembers that before she turned 18 their families seem to get along. It wasn't the best relationship two families could have - because the Mikaelson parents were always cold and reserved - but they as a children always had fun together. They went to the same private schools, invited each other to birthday parties - which Katherine really loved, especially Elijah's birthdays. They were always very fancy and extraordinary. - They even spent some vacation time together because their summer houses were right next to each other. It was nice.
The Mikaelsons had five children but the oldest one - Finn - died before Katherine was born. There was also Elijah who was four years older than her - yet he seemed even more mature, to Katherine he seemed like he wasn't interested in all the silly activities other teenagers were involve in - and Klaus two years older than she was. Klaus was always the loner so he kept to himself but Elijah treated her nicely considering the age difference. There was also Kol who was the same age Katherine was. They went to school together and they were best friends. Always making jokes or getting themselves into trouble. After they both turned 16 they attended every party that mattered and that they were able to get themselves into. The youngest one - Rebekah - was one year younger than her and was the same age as Katherine's sister - Nadia. Kath never liked Rebekah, yet her and Nadia seemed to get along just fine.
That all belonged to the past now. It all happened so long ago that the old times seem like a distant dream. Present times Mikaelsons were acting like they didn't know Katherine, like she was a stranger to them. Elijah was the only one acknowledging her but it was because they met from time to time on business occasions. Yet he was no longer nice to her, he was stone cold with every conversation they had. Fortunately there weren't that many of them. Klaus on the other hand was simply rude and her best friend Kol acted like they have never met. Avoidance became the tactic practiced by both sides.
Yes. Katherine hated them. She despised them because they made her feel meaningless. And she had enough of that in her own family, she didn't need anyone else trying to bring her down.
On her way to the office Katherine passed her assistant - Anna. She said hello and opened the door making her way straight to the desk.
"Good morning, Miss Petrova" the girl followed her bringing Katherine her tea.
Anna was nice, honest girl. At first Katherine didn't like her. She seemed too sweet and too weak for that job. Yet Katherine's opinion couldn't be further from the truth. The girl was well mannered, hardworking and resourceful but could be mean and tough when situation demanded it. She was exactly who Katherine needed.
"Good morning, Anna. And how many times did I tell you to call me Katherine." Kath gave her a serious look but they both knew she was joking.
"I'm sorry... Katherine" the girl responded with a smile. "Here are your messages" she gave Katherine a list. "Here are the documents you have to sign" she put the files on the desk in front of her "all meeting for this week has been updated on your calendar. And..." she paused for a second waiting for Katherine to seat in her chair.
"Yes Anna?" Katherine encouraged her to continue.
"Your father has been in his office from 6 AM and he wants you to see him right away." Now Katherine knew why Anna was afraid. That girl wasn't afraid of anyone accept her father. Actually she didn't know a single person that wasn't afraid of him. Beside the Mikaelsons of course.
"Shit." Katherine cursed under her nose. "Please call and tell him I am on my way."
"Right away." Anna said and left Katherine's office closing the door behind her.
Her first official day in new position and there were already problems.
She went through the messages really quickly. Most of them usual but few of them caught her eye. One from her best friend Caroline, who was also her lawyer, one from her business contact in Europe and one form her old boyfriend Mason.
What does he want? Why does he need me to call him? She haven't talked to him for like a year and a half now. What was his reason for contacting her personally insisting on a face-to-face meeting. All the business deals with Lockwoods were her father's area. Besides as far as she knew Mason wasn't in charge of the company. His brother was.
She put the messages back on her desk deciding to deal with them when she returns. She grabbed her phone from her Celine bag and went to see her father in his office.
"You wanted to see me father?" Katherine went inside her father's office.
It was nothing like hers. It seemed ten times bigger, had great lightening because of all the windows. It had comfortable leather sofa set, a mini bar, direct passage to conference room and don't forget private bathroom next to the office with fancy shower and a bathtub!
Katherine hoped that this office would be hers one day.
"Yes Katerina." Again with the Katerina. She hated when he called her that. "I've been waiting for you whole morning." He stated while looking at her from the paper work he was currently handling.
He was sitting in his chair in all his glory. Wearing his expensive suit. He still looked young even though he was 55. His hair were still dark as Katherine's, his eyes deep brown. Katherine inherited those from him as well. He was intimidating and if he wasn't her father Katherine would be scared of him like everyone else.
When he spoke to her his voice didn't betray anything about his state of mind. Neither did his face. But Katherine got use to that a long time ago. Her father had a perfect poker face.
"It's 7.30 AM, father." She said sarcastically but as soon as words left her mouth she regretted it. He didn't care for things like sarcasm. And while with personal matters she would gladly use it against him, this was business. She couldn't let herself look bad.
"You are now CFO Katerina, your work is never done. You should now it by now!" He was patronizing her. And she hated it.
Her father never took her seriously and maybe part of it was her fault because she partied all the time as she was a teenager. But most of his judgment arose from Katherine being a girl. Her father wanted a son to take his company but the first child that was born to him was a girl. The biggest disappointment and regret of his life.
"I know." She stated. It was best not to argue with him. She accepted the fact he will never fully trust her in professional cases. "What did you wanted to talk to me about? Anna said it was important." Changing the subject was always the best strategy.
"It's about Lockwood deal." He said and Katherine began to think that Mason's call wasn't a coincidence. "They are starting to back up from our merger. It was almost done deal. Their board seemed to approve of it but now their making new demands. Ridiculous, I may add." Her father remained his cool exterior but she knew he was furious on the inside.
This merger was crucial thing for their company. It was suppose to help them execute their European deal. Joining this two companies' assets guaranteed stronger starting position at the financial markets. And now? Why would they want to back out. This deal was as important and as potentially-profitable for Lockwoods as it was for Petrova's International Finances.
Are you kidding me? She thought.
Something was telling her that Mikaelsons had everything to do with this. Especially after the message she from them on the same day, she closed her deal with Europe. They had to be angry that this insignificant, badly-mannered girl - as they thought of her - stole the contract right from their noses.
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When she finally came back from work it was late at night. She was very tired, exhausted even, but she was extremely happy. The months of hard work and late nights paid off. After her conference call, during which they finally closed the deal, the last thing to do, was to get the paper work ready. So she spent the rest of her day with Caroline and her associates preparing the documents to be sign. But the signature was just the formality and her father's area. She did everything she was suppose to. And she succeeded.
She took her mail and headed up to her apartment. She was trying to take out her keys form her bag but it was difficult since she had one hand occupied by chinese take out, she bought earlier. When she opened her door and came inside, she notice an envelope lying on the floor. She put everything on the kitchen table and went back to pick it up.
She was curious why wasn't this delivered with her traditional mail. It was a little unsettling.
She opened it and took a card out of the envelope.
Katherine noticed that this wasn't usual note. It was a personalized stationery and she recognized it. It was Mikaelson Family stationary. There was a message. "Miss Petrova, We want to congratulate you on your first successful deal. This project can weigh on your entire future. Good luck." There was no signature.
It looked like innocent note. But to anyone who knew Mikaelsons like Katherine did, it was a threat. She was sure of that.
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"Do you think someone is working against us?" Katherine asked carefully.
"It looks like it." There was an awkward pause before he continued. "Could you find out what is it about? We can't have this merger sabotaged now. You yourself know perfectly well how important it is for us. At this point if it fails we could be ruined."
Katherine knew her father wasn't asking her that because she was a CFO. He was asking her because she had a past with Lockwoods. With one Lockwood in particular. She wasn't sure how much she could accomplish by engaging with Mason. They haven't actually been friends lately. But there were other resources she could use. Caroline was engaged to Tyler Lockwood, Mason's nephew. He could be her back up plan or her go-to plan depending on how the situation progresses.
"Of course father." She answered. "I will get right on it."
She got up from her chair and left the office right away.
"Anna could you come in?" she asked her assistant while she was looking through her company mail.
"Sure, Miss... Katherine. I'll be right there." She answered. Few seconds later the door opened and Anna came in holding her iPad in her hand.
"What I can do for you?" the girl asked.
"Please call Caroline and check if she's free for lunch." Katherine said. "If you could delicately mention that it's important that would be great." She added. "And call mister Mason Lockwood back. Tell him if he wants to have a meeting I am free for dinner tomorrow. And that he can choose the place." She hesitated. She couldn't sound too desperate to Mason or he will know something is up.
"Scratch that." She said while she took a sip of her already cold tea. "Call him and tell him that I am open to a meeting with him and schedule it yourself. But don't take the first time he will offer you. You know the drill." Katherine smiled.
"Yes." Anna smiled back. "I am on it." With that she left.
Few minutes later she told Katherine Caroline will meet her for lunch in their usual place.
Katherine responded to her emails, went through quarterly statement and sing some documents. When she finished she realized it was already lunch time and she had no time to think of a strategy to her Lockwood problem. She will have to improvise with Caroline. After all they were friends. She didn't have to watch herself as much when it came to her.
When Katherine got to the restaurant Caroline was already there.
She looked gorgeous as always. Her hair sunny blond with curls that cascaded down her shoulders. Blue eyes that were more beautiful than the ocean. She was always in perfect shape due to yoga classes she attended few times a week. Today she was wearing cobalt pencil dress that fitted her perfectly. Showing her curves in all the right places. If it was any other woman Katherine would be jealous. But not with Caroline. They were in a good place.
Katherine and Caroline met while Kath was studying at the University. They hadn't have any classes together because they had different majors. But they were introduced by their mutual friend Stefan. Katherine use to date Stefan and in the beginning assumed Caroline did too - which would be awkward. - But then they met closer and she realized this blond creature is like sister to Stefan. When Caroline needed a roommate the second year she immediately offered Katherine a room. At first Kath thought they wouldn't get along because they were both so different. - Katherine was sarcastic, mean to most people and very independent. Caroline on the other hand was positive, very active and very social. - But somehow they did got along perfectly. And now they were best friends.
"I am so happy you called." Carline stood up to greet her friend. "I already ordered for myself. Hope you don't mind but I was famished." She said with a smile.
"Not at all." Katherine sat down across the table. "Glad you could make it."
The waiter came and took Katherine's order a moment later. After he left she continued their conversation.
"I must admit that I had hidden motive to meet with you today." She stated.
"What is it Kat?" Caroline was the only one who Katherine allowed to call that. If it was every other person he or she would probably be dead by now. Even though her birth name was Katerina she expected everyone to call her Katherine. Kat, Kitty, Katerina were forbidden for others to use. Except few people. Caroline was one of them.
"I need your help." She didn't want to dive in straight to the conversation.
"Kat. Tell me." Caroline sounded worried.
"I... well we have a problem with Lockwood deal." Caroline looked at her with suspicion. "You know how the merger was a done deal. Everything was settled and all." She took a sip of a water. "Well they are backing up now. And with no good reason. That is why I need to know why?"
Now it was Caroline who drank her water. She was a little uneasy about what Katherine was trying to suggest. She was the one always strictly by the book. Following every rule.
"What do you expect from me Katherine?" She wasn't angry but Katherine could feel they are entering dangerous territory.
"I know I ask a lot. But is there any way you could find something out from Tyler?"
"Katherine. You know I can't do that." There it was. "He's my fiancée. I can't use him like that. And I told you once, that I don't talk to him about work because I sort of work for you. And you are the competition."
She knew Caroline wouldn't go for that but she had to try.
"Ok. I understand. But please if you hear anything - not from Tyler, just around - could you let me know."
"Of course sweetie." Caroline smiled. The waiter came in bringing Katherine her order.
"Thank you." She responded and the waiter went away.
"So tell me." Caroline continued their conversation. "What is it with that deal?"
"Oh I think we are being sabotaged." Caroline looked at her with curious expression so she continued her theory. "I think Mikaelsons are mad that I exceeded them with my deal in Europe and now they want to screw us over on the other end. We need Lockwoods to make Europe deal work in our favor and they know it." Katherine also added the story with mysterious note.
"You really thinks so?" Caroline wasn't so sure. She didn't know Mikaelsons personally but she's seen them few times and heard of them few things. Not all of them nice. Well, most of them not nice. They weren't playing around neither in business nor in private life.
"That's what I need to find out." Katherine answered.
They stayed silent for a while to enjoy their meal when Caroline spoke again.
"I met one of them few days ago."
"Who?" Katherine seemed disoriented for a second until she remembered what they were talking about. "Mikaelson? Which one?" She was curious now.
"Klaus." She answered.
"Oh. Him." Katherine pitied her friend. "He is the worst. No scratch that. His parents are the worst. But he is almost as bad. Where did you meet him?"
"Remember that art exhibit I told you about?" Caroline reminded her.
"The one Tyler was suppose to take you?" Katherine vaguely remembered Caroline mentioning something about it.
"That one." She confirmed. "He was there. Apparently he and Ty are old buddies or something. That's how I met him."
Katherine almost chocked on her food. Tyler Lockwood and Klaus Mikaelson knew each other? That was definitely suspicious. "They are friends?" She couldn't believe it. How was it she heard it for a first time now? She dated Mason and he talk about his nephew a lot. Yet this was first for her.
"That's what Ty told me. But they didn't look like friends to me."
"Yeah Klaus doesn't have any friends. He is real son of a bitch." Katherine wasn't exaggerating
"Yes." Caroline continued. "I keep forgetting that you use to know them."
"Please, don't remind me."
They continued they lunch without any Mikaelson talk. Just two friends sharing a meal and exchanging stories from past few days. After lunch ended Katherine headed back to her office.
It was almost 6 PM and Katherine was still working in her office. She took a little break putting her current work on hold for a moment. Her intention was to came up with an idea how to save the merger, yet nothing useful came to mind. Her father will be working on that deal through official channels, negotiating, changing the conditions stalling them so Katherine can know what the real problem is.
She will have to use Mason for that. After all it was him who contacted her, not the other way around. And Katherine was almost sure it had everything to do with the Merger. Even if he still had feelings for Katherine the fact that he contacted her in this particular moment was too big of a coincidence. And she did not believed in coincidence.
A call interrupted her train of thoughts. And she was brought back to reality. "Yes?" She answered the internal line.
"Katherine as you asked I scheduled your meeting with Mason Lockwood the in three days – on Friday at 7. Mister Lockwood suggested Moseby's. Is that ok with you?" Anna asked about her confirmation.
"Yes that is fine. You can make a confirmation." Katherine responded. She was wondering what was Anna still doing here when she was suppose to go home and hour ago. Especially after she came an hour early this morning. And Anna?"
"Yes?" The girl responded curiously.
"Go home its late."
"I will. Thank you. And good night."
"Have a good night Anna" Katherine disconnected the call. She had two day to prepare herself for the meeting and for now she was in the dark. She needed more information to know what to expect from Mason. She hadn't seen him for a year now.
#####
15 months ago
"I'm sorry Mason but I can't..." Katherine couldn't believe what was happening. "It's too soon."
"Katherine. I love you." Mason was looking at her all confused. He was still holding the box with the ring in his hand. He had it all planned out. When Katherine came back from work there was a dinner waiting for her on the table. Candles, roses, romantic music - all the package. She was afraid something like this was going to happen.
Most woman her age dream to have a family or already have one. She was not one of them. At least not yet. Yes, she was almost 28 and yes, her time to potentially become mother was running out but she wasn't ready for a serious commitment. Not just yet. She has been with Mason for about a year now. - God it was exactly a year! This was their anniversary and she totally forgot! - But she was busy at work, trying to prove herself. She couldn't start a family, when her life was a mess. She wanted to sort things out on the business front first. Especially with this new deal she started to work on.
"I love you too Mason but you're moving too fast. You know I am so busy at work that we barely see each other. I just wanted to ground my position in company first. You know how important it is for me." She was asking him to reconsider his proposal.
"Am I not important to you?" His voice was now raised. "We're 28 Katherine. How long do you want to wait?" His anger was visible on his face. "For god's sake Katherine. Your younger sister already has a child and she is a lesbian!"
"Stop!" He crossed the line. He knew how she hated being compared to her sister. Even though she loved her dearly. "Don't you even dare to go there. I love you, but I told you what I wanted when we started dating. You seemed to have accepted it then." She raised her voice too, to match up with his. They were arguing now.
"Yeah. But that changed." He stopped for a second like he was trying to find the right words for what he has to say next. "I can't accept that now. It is either me or your job, Katherine. You have to choose!"
"Don't do this Mason." She begged him.
"Choose." His voice was now calm.
"I... can't." She couldn't give up on her job. If she did, she would have never been able to look at herself in the mirror. She made a promise to herself almost five years ago to do whatever it takes to show people she is not weak. That she can be whoever she wants to. That she is not a failure.
"We're over Katherine." He said, not waiting for her to react and left her apartment.
Katherine didn't cry that day. Or any following day for that matter.
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Ok. So that is the first chapter. Tell me what did you think. Do you want to read more?
Thanks for reading.
Much Love.
