The South Chapter 2
"The manor is very old," Bill tells Caroline when they get closer to the manor. "100 years old," he continues. "It belonged to the first generation of Forbes."
Caroline smiles excitedly nothing could bring her down at this moment, not after hearing that she still had a chance of attending the school of her dreams.
"Everything will be outdated," Elizabeth whines.
"It is not so bad," Bill says. "A family used to live here but they moved out a few years ago," he adds. "Everything should be fine, and close to your standards," he says smiling at Elizabeth.
"Have you ever been here father?" Caroline asks intrigued.
"Yes, when I was a young boy," Bill answers smiling. "My grandfather lived here and I would spend my summers in this town. It used to be very quiet but now there's all this ruckus with the factories and-"
"Is that it?!" Caroline interrupts excited.
"No," Bill chuckles. "We're very close though, we've reached Mystic Falls," he says. "A lot has changed since I've been here."
Bill remembered Mystic Falls to be a small quiet town with a lot of free land but it seems as though there has been a lot of construction. Instead of empty lands they're now filled with townhouses and stores and people walking on paved streets. And then there were the factories. Three large buildings next to the house Caroline pointed out. Still a very small town but now filled with a lot more people.
"I wonder who lives there," Caroline says pointing at the large white manor.
"I don't know," Bill says but then sees the large estate that will be their new home and points at it. "That's the one," he tells Caroline.
Caroline gasps excitedly, "oh it's beautiful father," she says.
"It really is beautiful Bill," Elizabeth says looking at it.
"It's not as big as the one we had in New York and there's not as many people around but this should do," he says kissing both women's hands.
"As long as we're together," Elizabeth says. "It's all that matters."
"We must get settled in and hire new help-" Elizabeth started but Bill interrupts her.
"We can not afford any help," Bill says seriously. "We first must get settled in and see how my new job goes."
With so many contacts Bill was able to get a job as an administrator in one of the factories. A friend of a friend knew the owner and asked for a favor easily getting Bill the job.
"Will you be going into town?" Caroline asks excitedly.
"Tomorrow," Bill says kissing Caroline's forehead.
"Well at least it's furnished," Elizabeth says looking around.
They were standing in the large foyer which connects to the sitting room on one side and then to ballroom on the other. The stairs to their bedrooms were in front of them and Caroline rushes upstairs as fast as her gown allows her looking for her new room.
"I think she'll be happy here," Liz says wrapping her arms around Bill's waist.
"I hope she is," he says kissing Liz's forehead.
Early the next morning Caroline walks down the grand staircase when she hears voices in the sitting room.
"And do you have any experience maintaining a home? Cooking, cleaning," Elizabeth asks the middle-aged woman.
"Not really," the woman replies and Elizabeth frowns.
"Oh, none at all?" Liz asks confused.
"I cook for my children, and that's when I don't work at the factory," she replies. "But I don't really have time to maintain a home," she replies.
"Well I'm sure you can learn," Liz says smiling. "You're hired. Now if you could help me-"
"Good morning mother," Caroline chirps happily interrupting her mothers conversation.
"Oh honey, this is Connie she's our new maid," Elizabeth says excitedly.
Caroline smiles and greets Connie but asks to speak to her mother privately.
"I thought father said no to hiring new help," Caroline whispers angrily.
"I told him I needed help getting settled in and he agreed to hire one," Elizabeth replies.
"But is she really the best choice?" Caroline says looking at Connie who's sitting on the couch looking around the manor.
"She's the only choice," Elizabeth sighs. "No one wants to work as a housemaid, they all rather work in one of those factories."
"Why isn't she?" Caroline asks nodding towards Connie.
"Something about not having strong lungs anymore, I don't know," Liz says. "Will you be going into town with your father?" She asks changing the subject.
"Yes," Caroline replies excitedly. She's wearing a beautiful pastel yellow gown with white lace on the top by her breasts and around the short sleeves. She let her long hair half down in loose curls and is wearing a little bit of makeup. Caroline is an incredibly beautiful girl with her blonde hair shinning as bright as the sun. She has sparkling blue eyes, pale skin and red lips the color of a rose. She's the kind of woman that could drive any man crazy with just one look. She was actually one of the most eligible heiresses back in New York, until the day her family lost everything of course.
"Where's father?" Caroline asks her mother.
"I'm right here honey," Bill says coming out of the ballroom. "I see you're ready," Bill acknowledges.
"Yes I am," Caroline replies excitedly. "I'm excited to go out," she adds smiling.
"You look lovely, as always," Bill tells his daughter giving her a kiss on her forehead.
"You two have fun," Liz says giving Bill and Caroline a kiss. "I'll be here, cleaning this place," she adds looking around.
"We'll be home for lunch," Bill says and pulls Caroline with him.
They walk into town because it really isn't that much of a walk. About 5 minutes to get to the factory Bill will be working at.
"I have to meet with the owner Caroline, will you wait for me here or will you look around?" Bill asks.
"I'll go look around," Caroline replies. "I won't be long, I'll meet you here in 30 minutes," she adds.
"Mister Forbes, pleasure to meet you," Kol Mikaelson says extending his hand. "Alaric had great things to say about you," he says gesturing for him to sit down. "He was a close friend of my father, and when he asked for a favor I couldn't refuse," he adds smiling.
"I'm truly grateful for the opportunity you're giving me mister Mikaelson," Bill says humbly.
"Well I only hope you don't disappoint," Kol says smiling. "I'm sure Nik will want to meet with you, but I can give you all the details and job description." Kol says.
"That would be highly appreciated," Bill says.
Caroline walks around the small industrial town and starts to cough when she passes by black smoke. There's people running around and yelling. She sees chickens inside cages and men unloading textile and food from wagons. You definitely don't see this in New York Caroline thinks looking at herself. She's completely over dressed compared to all the other people. A loud whistle sounds and Caroline sees an abundant amount of men walk out of the factories yelling and laughing. They start to get closer to Caroline and she fears she'll get trampled. She quickens her pace and runs inside a store looking at the packs of men.
"Can I help you?" A gentle voice asks behind the counter.
Caroline turns to look at the young girl around her age and smiles.
"I feared I would be trampled by all those men if I didn't move out of the way," Caroline answers blushing.
The brunette smiles and giggles, "you should be careful when the whistle blows," she says. "It's either time for the factory workers break or time to go home," she adds.
"Oh, good to know," Caroline says smiling walking closer to the young cashier.
"You're new here aren't you?" The brunette asks looking at her up and down.
"Is it that obvious," Caroline asks looking at herself.
"Just a tad," the brunette replies giggling and Caroline joins her.
"I'm Caroline," The blonde says extending her gloved hand politely.
"Bonnie," the brunette says grabbing Caroline's hand.
"Where are you staying?" Bonnie asks kindly.
"My families home," Caroline answers. "It's a light brown manor about 10 minutes from here," she adds.
"Oh the Forbes manor?" Bonnie's asks knowing too well who owned the manor.
"Yes," Caroline answers smiling. "Have you ever been?" She asks and Bonnie laughs.
"No, there's no way I would ever be allowed in there," Bonnie replies cleaning the counted with a towel.
"Well you're more than welcome to come visit me," Caroline says smiling.
"Thank you," Bonnie says looking at her.
"Do you by any chance know who lives in the white manor next to mine?" Caroline asks curiously.
"The Mikaelsons," Bonnie replies quickly. "Everyone knows the Mikaelsons," she adds.
"Who are they?" Caroline asks intrigued. "They own all the factories in Mystic Falls," Bonnie says seriously. "It's a family business but the real owner is Klaus," she adds.
"Klaus?" Caroline asks.
"Yes, he was able to bring his family out of ruin 4 years ago and now they own almost all of mystic falls." Bonnie says. "Very wealthy family," she adds.
"Have you ever met them?" Caroline asks leaning on the counter.
"No, I've only seen them around," Bonnie answers. "They keep to themselves mostly. I hear they can be cruel though," she adds. "Especially Klaus."
"Cruel how?" Caroline asks.
"I don't know much," Bonnie says looking at Caroline.
"Well what do you know?" Caroline asks and Bonnie laughs.
"Honestly I don't know anything about things that happen inside those factories," Bonnie replies. "I'm usually inside the shop or with my grandmother."
Caroline nods understanding, and smiles "I'll take a look around and see what I can buy," she tells Bonnie and walks towards the back of the small groceries shop.
Caroline walks back to the factory where she left her father earlier. She's standing outside the building when curiosity hits her. She looks around and it seems as if no is paying attention to her, everyone minding their own business. She quickly walks inside the factory and sees white cotton everywhere. Machines working full blast with men and women working behind those machines. She then sees him, a beautiful blonde man with the most piercing blue eyes. Caroline can't help but stare at him. He gave off this sort of vibe that could make anyone nervous. He's standing on a high deck and looks around the factory.
"Shane! Put that pipe out!" Klaus yells furiously when he sees him smoking and Shane quickly runs trying to hide from his boss.
"I saw you!" Klaus screams chasing after him.
Caroline jumps afraid when Shane pushes by her.
"Come here!" Klaus yells catching up to Shane and grabbing him by his clothes.
"Smoking again!" Klaus screams angrily shoving Shane onto a wall.
"I wasn't smoking sir, I swear," Shane begs.
Klaus grabs the pipe from inside Shane's jacket pocket. "It's still warm," he growls.
Klaus punches Shane on the jaw and pushes him on the floor then kicks him a few times.
"Please sir," Shane begs.
"Stop!" Caroline yells getting in front of Klaus. "Please stop," she begs and Klaus looks at her surprised.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Klaus asks even though he knows exactly who she is.
"Caroline Forbes," the blonde replies nervously. No man had ever intimidated her the way this man did.
"Get out of here," Klaus growls at her.
"Caroline!" Bill yells his daughters name when he sees the commotion.
"Get her out of here!" Klaus tells Bill aggressively.
"Caroline it's time we go," Bill tells his daughter grabbing onto her arm and Caroline hesitantly goes with her father.
"Get up and don't come back," Klaus growls at Shane.
"Please sir, I have children," Shane begs. "They'll starve."
"Better they starve than burn to death," Klaus snarls walking away.
"Father! Who was that?" Caroline asks completely shocked from what she just witnessed.
"That was Niklaus Mikaelson," Bill answers dragging his daughter by the arm roughly. "You should not have been in there," he scolds her.
"I'm not a child anymore," Caroline says angrily. "Father you're hurting me!" she adds pulling her arm away.
Bill sighs and gently grabs Caroline's arm and checks it, only to find it red and starting to bruise.
"Forgive me," Bill apologizes. "It's not safe for you to just go inside a factory like that," Bill explains. "Niklaus doesn't like people barging into his property like that."
"I'm sorry father," Caroline says sadly. "I just wanted to take a look inside."
Bill gently grabs his daughters face and caresses her cheek.
"He seems like a horrible man, why would you want to work for him?" Caroline asks confused.
"I need to work," Bill replies. "He's not a horrible man though. I spoke to him earlier and he was very decent," he adds.
Caroline scoffs and rolls her eyes, "I doubt that," she says walking away towards their manor.
"When will you start working?" Elizabeth asks Bill during dinner.
"Next week," Bill replies wiping his lips with his napkin. "I just hope they don't notice that I'm not an expert in financing," he adds.
"Why don't you try finding work as a professor father?" Caroline asks. "You didn't go to oxford to be a business man," she adds. "You said your dream was to be a professor."
"Have you seen this town Caroline?" Bill asks. "No one cares about getting an education, all they care about is money, and surviving," he says sadly.
Caroline sighs sadly and continues eating her dinner.
"You really should not let your anger take such a toll on you Nik," Kol tells Klaus during dinner with their family.
Klaus looks up from his dinner plate irritated and scowls at Kol only to see him smirking. "You just had to bring that up didn't you?" Klaus asks angrily.
"What happened?" Rebekah asks.
"Nothing," Klaus replies quickly.
"Kol, what is it you speak of?" Esther Mikaelson asks.
"Nik here threw a tantrum and beat Shane, a factory worker, in front of all the other employees this morning," Kol replies casually.
"Niklaus!" Esther gasps.
"That twit had it coming," Klaus growls angrily. "He was smoking a pipe, knowing very well how dangerous that is! You know what happened last year," he adds furiously and gets up from his seat. "Excuse me, but I seem to have lost my appetite," he says and walks up to his bedroom.
He couldn't stop thinking about the beautiful blonde he saw this morning. Of course he knows a little bit about her, she's Bill Forbes only daughter Caroline Forbes. Truth be told, it wasn't the first time he'd seen her. He'd seen her in the newspaper: Heiress Caroline Forbes advocate for woman's rights. The enchanting Caroline Forbes visits orphanage. Heart of gold: Caroline Forbes feeds the homeless. She was absolutely stunning, not just in pictures but in person. When he heard from his brother Kol that the Bill Forbes was moving to Mystic Falls and needed a job in his factory he didn't hesitate to accept. I have to get close to Caroline Klaus thinks. Did I ruin my chances with her after today's events? What chances Niklaus, his conscious laughs at him. She didn't even know you excited until today. No, no you have to many things to worry about right now, he tells himself. You can't have a woman distracting you; you've never needed a woman in your life, well with the exception of mother and Rebekah. You'll be fine, he thinks but deep down knows he won't be.
A/N: Let me know what you guys think!
Love,
MC