Hello. Hello. My lovely readers!

I am back with another chapter. I know I kept you waiting. Sorry for that. I will do my best with updates but you know me and it sometimes takes time for me to do it.

Thank you for being so patient :)

Special Thank Yous with warm hugs go to Kassy for being my constant support with this fic and my many others. She's the one who kicks my ass for slacking, inspires and encourages me to write more Kalijah.
You can kick my ass some more, so my inspiration would come sooner and who knows maybe one day I will write a brilliant Kalijah fanfiction with your help!

Chapter 2.

Elijah was sitting in his office working afterhours like every day for a past year. It was 7 PM when his father came in. Elijah was a little surprised, because he thought he was the last one here. Besides it was Mikael who usually summoned people to his office, not the other way around.

"Is there anything wrong father?" Elijah asked confused.

"I just wanted to talk to you about our Lockwood business." He stated while sitting on one of the chairs.

"Anything in particular?" Elijah asked and stopped the work he was doing to focus on the conversation.

"It is still hard to tell at this point. Yet it looks like the odds are in our favor. And we are definitely in the better position that we were a week ago."

"That is not good Elijah and you know it." Mikael wasn't satisfies with the results. "We have to be sure."

"Well apparently Niklaus has been helping with securing the deal for us. He and Tyler Lockwood use to be friends and this development can work to our advantage."

"I hope you are right Elijah but this is Niklaus you are talking about. He has never been trustworthy and never showed any interest in our family business. Counting on him to deliver is a big risk, Elijah. He is not..." Mikael was trying to tell Elijah that letting Klaus near that deal is a mistake but Elijah cut him off.

"He has contacts I do not have. And surprisingly, this time he seems to be interested and concerned about the firm. Or at least in this case in particular. So I think we should allow him to prove himself, father." Elijah knew that Klaus being interested in company's matters was unexpected but without him, there was a good chance they would have lost that deal. Of course he didn't told his father the whole truth.

When Niklaus first offered his help Elijah thought his brother was telling the truth about his friendship with Tyler Lockwood. But he soon found out that Klaus in fact knew Tyler from time when they when to college together but that was as far as it went. The rest was a lie. The real reason Tyler Lockwood decided to help Klaus and their company was because Niklaus was apparently was using blackmail as a way of convincing. Niklaus apparently learn a shameful secret Tyler was hiding and decided to use it against him.

Elijah didn't approve of the way Niklaus handled things but when he learned the truth, the crime was already committed. They were in fact taking huge risk, if it ever came out. But Elijah was desperate for any help, so he used his brother for that. It was awful thing to do and went against everything he stood for. Yet it was about their family and Mikeal insisted this deal was essential for their company to stay afloat.

Something told Elijah that this wasn't that serious. They numbers weren't bad this year comparing to their competitors. He suspected his father's motives might have something to do with Petrova deal in Europe. The one Katerina managed to secure, before he did.

She was a stubborn that one. She was hell bent on making their company fall and in the process make herself climb up the ladder in her own firm. She once swore to him, they will pay for underestimating her. No one believed her then. His family thought she will make a joke out of herself. Yet here he was. Breaking his rules to prevent her from taking them down.

###

He and Niklaus were eating lunch, like they did every week, when they both saw Katerina Petrova with another blond woman entering the restaurant. Though he and his brother noticed her arrival, she remained unaware of their presence.

"What is SHE doing here?" Niklaus said when he saw them find there table. He was definitely not happy to see her.

"We live in the same city Niklaus. Be civil." He was trying to calm his brother.

"I hate her and her whole fucking family."

"Language Niklaus." Elijah hissed at him. "Can't we just have a normal, peaceful lunch? Two brothers..." he spoke but was cut off by a ring that was coming from his phone. He looked at the screen. "I am sorry. I have to take it. I will be right back." He apologized, got up from his chair and went to the hallway, where he could talk.

When he came back moments later, he saw that Niklaus wasn't sitting at their table. He was petrified when he realized his brother was sitting at Katherine's table. There was no sign of her friend though. Niklaus' voice was raised and he was definitely making his opinion of her known to her.

As he came closer, he heard Katherine say: "How is it my fault your brother ended up in a rehab?"

"You were the one who took him to all these parties." Niklaus was accusing her.

"Yeah, it was definitely my idea." She laughed at his brother.

"You're toxic. I bet your friend left here running because she realized that too."

Elijah approached them but neither of them noticed him. He stood next to his brother looking straight at him avoiding Katherine's sight. "Brother we should leave." He said encouraging his brother to stop.

"I am not finished with that bitch, Elijah." He was not shy about calling her names.

"Come Niklaus!" He ordered.

This time his brother listened. He got up from the table yet he didn't return to theirs but went straight outside instead. Elijah decided not to follow him. It was best to leave him alone, so he could calm down. He decided to stayed and finish his meal without any drama.

When he paid his bill and went to get his car he saw Katherine standing alone in the parking lot. She was looking for something in her bag - probably a car key.

She looked different than he remembered her. Her party girl look was all gone. Now she was wearing simple black dress and a cardigan. Her hair was pulled in a classic bun in the back of her head. She looked beautiful. Without thinking, he approached her with intention to apologize for what happened in the restaurant. Half way through she saw him walking towards her. She was not happy about it.

"What do you want?"

"I wanted to..." He started to speak but she cut him off.

"Kick a woman while she's down." Katherine said sarcastically.

"I wanted to apologize Ka.." He stopped himself realizing he almost called her 'Katerina'. Like he use to do. No one called her that anymore. Elijah knew she demanded from everyone to call her Katherine. "I wanted to apologize for what my brother said to you, Katherine."

"Of course you do. Because noble Elijah never has to apologize for what HE did. Yet he has to keep his family's appearances intact. Forget it. I don't want, nor do I need your apologies." She spatted.

"Stop acting childish, Katerina." Oh hell! He wasn't suppose to say it. And she noticed that. There was a second that he saw something in her eyes but she quickly covered it up.

"Grow up Elijah. You act all noble with your rules and priorities, judging everyone else. Yet you idly stand by, watching your family cheat, betray and bring others down. You, Mikaelsons are not better than the rest of us, you know!" She was now screaming at him.

"Calm down, Katherine." He asked her to lower her voice. He didn't want to bring any attention to their conversation.

She crossed the line. What Niklaus said to her was wrong but she had no right to attack his family. It was him who was now angry at her. "Grow up! Stop being so immature and irresponsible. Look at you. You are what? 23? You are spoiled and have no real purpose in your life. Instead of looking at others why don't you look at yourself first. You are still in school and the only reason you're studying finances is so that your father would continue to give you money. Get a real job. Do something useful with your life."

There was a silence between them for a while.

He saw her look and he knew he went too far. He wasn't like that. Why would he said all those things to her? He didn't want to hurt her but she was making him act out of character. She was stirring up all this emotions inside him.

"Fuck you, Elijah! Fuck! YOU! I am NOT spoiled and immature. You know nothing about me. And how would you? You haven't seen me in five years! I am not weak and I will achieve my goals one day. And when I do, you will be sorry. I will walk all over you and your conceited family while I climb to reach my place on the top! And destroying you, while I get there, will bring me nothing but pleasure." She took a pause to breath. "I hope to never see you again." With that she turned around and walked away not allowing him a chance to respond.

"I promise you, you won't" He said to her back while she was walking away knowing she will hear him. Why was he acting like that. It was so not like him to yell at people on the street. It was so not like him to yell at people at all.

He went to his car and drove to his apartment.

###

"Elijah?" His father's voice brought him back to earth. He got lost in his memories for a second there. What were they talking about? Oh, yes. He remembered. Lockwood deal and Klaus' involvement.

"I will keep an eye on everything father." He said trying to ease his father's concerns.

Mikael got up from his chair. "Do everything you can, to make that deal happen, Elijah. I don't need to tell you how important it is to me, to us and to company." Then he left leaving Elijah alone with his worries.

Elijah looked at his watch. It was late. He will have to go home now. Tatia is probably waiting for him. Considering all the long hours he spent in his office this month she should be furious at him. Yet she hasn't said a word to him, she hasn't complain once. She was a perfect fiancée.

Elijah wanted to surprise Tatia. Last week - last month - he was focusing on work so much that he sometimes was forgetting that he had a fiancé. That there was a woman waiting for him in their apartment. He was feeling guilty. He wasn't that kind of a man, the kind of work obsessed that neglects his wife kind of man. His father was like that and he didn't want to be like him.

That is why Elijah decided to left work earlier than usual. He even bought her favorite flowers. It was a good step to make it up for the lost time. A chance to spend a nice evening together.

He came to the apartment but there was no sign of Tatia anywhere. He looked in the kitchen, in the living room. He even checked his study, even though Tatia rarely came there. After checking lower floor, Elijah made his way upstairs.

When Elijah went into the last room - that also happened to be their bedroom - he saw something that boiled the blood inside his veins.

Tatia was having intercourse with another man! In their bed!

She saw him as soon as he came inside. Pushing still unaware guy away from herself and jumping out from bed to grab her clothes. "Elijah?" She was shocked to see him; definitely not expecting him to be back so soon. "You…"

He stopped her before she was able to continue.

"I think your friend should leave, right now."Elijah said to Tatia calmly. Not wanting to make a scene in front of naked stranger.

"Elijah please let me explain!" Tatia begged Elijah as she was trying to cover her body. Putting her clothes on as quickly as she could. "It's not what it looks like."

The man dressed himself faster than Tatia not wanting to be the part of what he thought would be impending argument. He mumbled some apologies that were barely hearable and left the room. Leaving Elijah alone with her.

"So my eyes deceived me and you were not having sex in this bed – our bed, with another man!?" Elijah's voice was still.

"I did it for us!" She was trying to convince him. She grabbed his arm trying to hold his sight but he backed away from her. He despised her. She could see it in his eyes.

"Don't embarrass yourself Tatiana." He was mocking her now; His voice was cold and sarcastic.

"It's true! I only slept with Mason to get information out of him! To help the company! Your father…" Tears were running down her cheeks. She was begging Elijah to forgive her.

"What has my father to do with it?!" The mention of Mikeal made him angry. But he didn't want to hear anything more from Tatia. He wasn't even hurt she cheated on him. He was just angry at himself that he didn't see it. That he didn't see who Tatia truly was. "You know what? Don't bother yourself with unnecessary explanations. I am sure you made up some great excuses." Tatia tried to answer to him but he stopped her before she could add another word. "I can't do this right now."

Elijah went to his walk in closet, took out a suitcase and started packing some of his clothes. Tatia followed him, trying to stopped him. Pleading, begging, asking for him to understand her motives. But he no longer cared for any of it. Her betrayal opened his eyes.

"I will move to the hotel. I need a time to think." He said while he walked into the bedroom again.

"Elijah…" She threw herself to his feet dramatically. "You can't do this!"

"Yes, I can." He turned towards her to say his final goodbye. "I will get rest of my necessities and leave. Don't try to contact me for now. Tatia. I won't answer anyway. I will call you when I am ready to talk about this." He exited the room, leaving her pleading on the floor.

Next morning Katherine came into her office with a plan. She hasn't slept almost all night because her brain was coming up with different ideas. And she knew that in business deals like that one plan was not enough. No she needed plan B, and plan C and so long.

First thing she realized was she couldn't go to the meeting with Mason clueless. She had to found out everything she knew about him. And fast.

When she sat down and finished the tea she brought with herself, she called Anna into her office.

"Yes Katherine? What can I do for you?" She said when she came in.

"I have somehing urgent for you." Katherine started. "Call our PI, tell him to find everything on Mason Lockwood as fast as he can." April was nodding and taking notes. "Tell him - and its important - he can only dig into his personal life, not company's business. We can't be involved in corporate espionage. He should also check into Tyler Lockwood and Richard Lockwood. I need as much as he can find for tomorrow - 5 PM. The most important are their recent activities, new contacts, all she can dig up." She paused. "We need him to work on it from now on. And tell him it's a priority - money is not an obstacle."

"I will do it right now."

"There is also other thing I need to ask you. Could you do some research about Mikaelsons? You know from the social point of view. Where they go? Who they met? Friends. Enemies. Everything you can find on the internet. Klaus and Elijah would be mine main focus. And if you could find out how Klaus Mikaelson met Tyler Lockwood that would be helpful."

"Not a problem. Is there anything else?" She asked once again.

"No. It's all for now." Katherine said and Anna left her office.

She did some research herself yesterday, while she couldn't sleep but she didn't find anything that she didn't already know.

Klaus was famous womanizer and recognized painter, his art was very valuable and appreciated in higher circles. Klaus was never involved with family company and he liked to stress that fact as often as he could. Elijah on the other hand was his father's right hand in business. He didn't attend social events, unless they were important for their company's image. He was engaged with daughter of Belarusian ambassador – Tatiana Pietrovskaya, who also happens to be working for Mikaelson Global Trade. Nothing useful came out of Katherine's late night research. Unless you count the fact, that they were planning to get married June of next year, useful intel.

Time was running out and Katherine wasn't closer to finding out why Lockwood's decided to back out.

When finally came Friday, Katherine got really nervous. She was sitting in her office but she wasn't able to concentrate on her current tasks at all. Her mind was speeding making it hard for her to compose one coherent thought. Things were not going her way.

If this merger falls through, everything she worked for would be for nothing and after all these years of hard work and proving herself, she will be in square one again.

Katherine was a little startled when she suddenly heard a buzz followed by Anna's voice.

"Yes, Anna?" She responded by hitting a button on her speaker set.

"You have a call from the P.I. guy" The girl informed her.

"Finally!" Katherine was waiting for this call all day. "Put him through."

She waited to her the signal.

"Hello, Miss Petrova." She heard him speak. "This is Alaric Satl-"

"Yes. I know mister Saltzman." She rudely cut him off. "Do you have anything for me?"

"I found out few things about Lockwood family." He said vaguely.

"What did you learn about them?" Katherine was impatient. Her voice urging him to elaborate on the discovery.

"About Mason Lockwood I didn't learn much. He is very careful man. I followed him to the meating yesterday but was not able to see whom he was meeting. He acts like he suspects he could be followed." He waited for Katherine's acknowledgment.

"Go on."

"Tyler on the other hand isn't that careful." He continued. "Your assistant told me he is engaged to one of your associates Caroline Forbes?"

"He is… What is this about?"She asked confused.

"Well… I caught mister Lockwood, with another woman, she definitely was not Miss Forbes." He stated uncomfortably.

"Bastard!" Katherine shouted.

She always hated Tyler. She knew he was shady. He never treated Caroline with respect her friend deserved, often putting her second to his other plans or interests. But this?! Having an affair with other woman. This was new low for him. Lying, cheating piss of shit! She thought.

"Are you absolutely sure?"She wanted to be absolutely certain. If she was to inform Caroline she needed to be sure. She needed a proof.

"Yes, mam. I followed him today and made some photos of him being cozy – very cozy if I may – with some tall brunette." This was perfect news. Pictures was proof enough for Katherine to present this indiscretions to her friend.

Her thoughts went to Caroline. She will be devastated. This asshole will break her best friend's heart.

"Sent me the pictures immediately." She ordered. "Anything else."

"Yes and no." Alaric continued. "I heard some buzz about Richard Lockwood but no one was able to specify what has been going on with him."

"This is useless to me unless you know what that thing is!" Katherine was greatly disappointed.

"It wasn't much time I had to work with, miss…" Katherine interrupted him again.

"I don't care about that. I only care about results. Dig deeper find out more about Tyler and this girl. Find out more about Richard. That is what I pay you for. And do it fast." She ordered.

"Of course miss Petrova. I will get right on it." He promised her. "Have a nice day miss Katherine." He said as he ended the call.

Katherine was angry. The information she got were useless. How was she going to face Mason now, not knowing what he wanted from her.

She was strong person. She thought of herself as such, but all these events were making her nervous. Doubts started to creep up upon her.

Katherine went into the restaurant they both agreed upon.

She was wearing dark purple, sheath dress with boat neckline, black pumps and simple pearls around her neck. She let her curls cascade freely on her shoulders. Katherine wanted to look sexy, yet effortless.

The waiter asked for her name and led her to the table in the back of the room. Mason was already waiting for her. He got up from the chair as she approached him.

"Hello Katherine." He spoke while pulling out a chair, offering her a seat.

Katherine took a good look at Mason. He was as handsome as she remembered. His light hair were still a messy but endearing feature. He was wearing dark pants with grey button up shirt that made his blue eyes pop out.

"Hello Mason." She smiled at him. "You look good." She added as he sat in front of her.

The waiter took an order for their meal and then poured a wine, that Mason previously ordered, into their glasses. He left the bottle with them as he excused himself.

"So..." He finally said breaking the awkward silence. "How have you been?"

"I've been good." Katherine said as she took a sip of the wine. "It's really good." She smiled as she diverted from the subject.

At first Katherine intent was to be polite, pretend she doesn't know why he invited her. Play nice. But when she sat there in front of him she remembered how well they knew each other and if she wanted to achieve anything with him, she would have to play another game. He would never buy nice Katherine act.

"It's really nice to see you, I will admit, but I have a feeling you didn't invite me here to reminisce and lead idle chit chat."

Mason laughed. "Oh, Katherine. You are as blunt as always. I like that about you." He took a glass of wine himself and played with it. "I was going to have nice evening first and then talk business but…"

Katherine interrupted him.

"You know we can always have nice evening later, nothing stays in a way of that, if I like what you came here to tell me, we can continue having fun." She smiled at him openly. Flirting was one of strategy used by her more often.

"Maybe we can." He agreed.

"So, what did you want to talk about? It has to be important if you decided to call me… of all people." Reminding him their past wasn't a good move, but Katherine wanted to know his reaction. She wanted to know where she stood with him. If he was over, what she did to him last year, then she could know how much she could rely on this new deal, he was about to present to her.

"Oh, well. Trust me I had my doubts." He took a sip a his wine. "I was angry at you. I really was, for some time, but I moved on."

He seemed honest in his answer. Katherine knew Mason was never a bad guy. From his family, he was actually the most genuine guy, even though most people thought otherwise. They were alike in a way. Both misjudged by their families. That was the main reason they understood each other so well back then.

"It's not how I meant the things to go between us." She hesitated. "It's just…"

"… wasn't meant to be." Mason finished for her. "Let's not go back to that."

"What is the business you wanted to discuss?"

"You know me and my brother were never on the greatest terms, neither were I and my nephew Tyler." Katherine nodded in agreement. "Until now, I was mostly on the backseat with our company, my brother taking charge. I want to change it."

"You want me to help you."

Mason's smirk confirmed her words. "See? I knew I can count on you."

"I didn't agree on anything yet." She responded smiling. "Especially since you haven't told me anything at all."

"Yes, well." Mason finished his glass of wine and pored himself another one. "I have it on good authority that your deal falling through was due to my nephew's involvement. He has been working with Mikealsons."

"Well. That much I have figured out myself." Katherine was not going to make it easy on him.

"True but there is no way you can change that. You can't stop Tyler and undo his meddling." Katherine had to agree. She was unable to do it by herself. At least not now.

"So what do you propose?"

"Help me find the way to undermine Tyler in the eyes of the Board and I will help you with your deal." He offered bluntly.

"No offense Mason." Katherine huffed at him. "But if I were to find a way to stop Tyler, this would make Mikaelkson's deal useless and my deal back on track. I wouldn't need you, to help me with this deal."

"Are you sure about it?" Mason seemed convinced that Katherine deal in his borther's reigns is dead and will stay that way. "Even if you find a way to stop Tyler's deal with them that wouldn't mean yours would be valid again. My brother is stubborn and the only person he would listen is Tyler. You have no way in into the company but if we work together I'm sure we can make that deal happen from both ends."

"But you said it yourself, your brother will listen only to him, not you."

"That's true but if we make Tyler go away. I am the next person in line. That is why I need your help."

"You are talking as if you want to kill Tyler."

"Don't joke that way." He said in all seriousness. "I love Tyler but he is immature unstable boy. He will drive this company to the ground if given a chance."

Katherine seemed confused. There was something Mason had to be keeping away from her. Making Tyler unfit to work in company – officially or not – wouldn't change anything. "But your brother is CEO, he is the one you should be worried about."

Mason poured Katherine and himself a little more wine and then he drank from his glass.

"Richard won't be CEO for long, he is announcing his resignation within a month." He smiled at her deviously.

Katherine was shocked. This had to be the thing Saltzman was talking about. Mikaelsons found the perfect opportunity to use Tyler to their advantage. The detail was: were they lucky and found the perfect timing for their attack or have they found that out before she was able to.

"But that would mean…" She didn't finish the sentence.

"Yes. And he will need to be replaced. The Board will decide between me and Tyler. I need a way to make my candidacy more appealing. So I will be chosen over Tyler."

''But why do you tell me this?"

"No one knows it yet. And I will tell you this as a sign I take our deal seriously."

Katherine nodded.

"Richard is going to announce his resignation soon. He will also announce his candidacy for a governor seat."

"So that is why Tyler is suddenly active in company's business deals." Katherine stated. "He will be fighting you over this, Mason. And he has his father's support."

"Richard himself cannon nominate Tyler. Only the Board has real say in this matter. I need to convince them before Richard influences them to vote for Tyler. That is where you come in."

In the beginning Katherine was wondering why Mason even needed her. He could very well dig some dirt on Tyler by himself. Or hire someone to do it, like she did.

And then it hit her.

Of course! It was brilliant. Mason needed someone else to do the dirty work for him. He needed his hands clean. So no one could accuse him of burying Tyler.

"You need me to find a dirt on Tyler because you can't do it yourself."

Masons smile confirmed it.

"You can't have anything tying you to this."

"I knew you would understand." He said with confident voice. But he wasn't mocking her.

Katherine still wasn't sure about Mason's offer. She had some dirt on Tyler she could use but there were things she still had to consider. First of all. Caroline. She was her best friend and she didn't want to lie to her or hurt her. It also could been not sufficient enough reason to get Tyler unfit in eyes of the Board. It could be enough to blackmail him into resigning. But this would be messy and could blow back into her face.

"I will consider it." She was honest. She needed to think about it. She wanted this merger back on track desperately but she knew the consequences could be substantial.

"You don't have much time Katherine."

She took a big sip of her wine. "I will let you know tomorrow."

"Tomorrow is good." He said as the waiter approached them with their food. "For now we can enjoy our dinner."

Katherine and Mason finished their dinner. Katherine had a really good time. Surprisingly. But she always thought that if Mason and her never dated, they could have been good friends.

Not many people in the world understood her without judging – Caroline, Mason and maybe Stefan. That's all.

They both went out of the restaurant.

Katherine wanted to grab a cab back home but Mason opposed. He offered her a ride home. She was going to refuse but she couldn't think of good reason to do it.

Mason seemed good enough with her presence and it seemed like he left the past behind. There was no reason they couldn't be decent business partners and colleges. So she agreed.

He arrived in front of her building. But none of them got out of the car.

"Do you want to come in for a drink?" The words escaped Katherine's mouth before she was able to stop them.

They went upstairs. Katherine poured each of them glass of scotch. The conversation kept flowing.

I that time Katherine found herself feeling comfortable again. Like she haven't for some time now.

It's hard to say who kissed who first. It just happened. They fell into old habits.

They moved to Katherine's bedroom losing clothes as they went. They were both naked when they reached the bed.

The kisses, the touches, the thrusts – everything came easy to them. They knew each other well. The familiarity of this act made both of them feel safe. Going back to past when it was all simple.

But as soon as Katherine finished, she realized that it was mistake.

Sex with Mason was always good. This time was no exception. But now it felt like something was missing. It was satisfying but it lacked passion. In the midst of her current problems it felt nice to go back to things that made her comfortable, that made her feel secure.

Yet she also realized that she wasn't that girl anymore. She couldn't let herself regress.

There was a reason they broke up in the first place. Their priorities were different.

Mason could make a good friend. A great ally. But not a boyfriend – not anymore.

"Mason…" She started insure of her words. "You know this was a onetime thing, right?"

"I'm not that naïve Katherine. I realize that." He said as he dressed himself up. "We had good fun. But that's it. It was nice to reminisce the good stuff but as I told you earlier – I moved on."

"But our deal still stands?" Katherine asked.

"Yes, Katherine." He assured her. "I want this company more than anything else." He approached the door. "I will be waiting for your call. Goodbye Katherine and goodnight."

"Goodnight Mason." She said as he left her apartment.

So what do you think about chapter 2? Hate it? Like it?

Thanks to: The Charmed Rose, Guest and LiasonAddekKalijahFan for reviewing. Love you much! - There will be Kalijah present time interaction soon (in one or two chapters) be patient. It will be good. I promise :)

As always thank you for reading.

Much Love.