Thanks for your kind reviews. This chapter is from Klaus's perspective and the chapters will follow that pattern throughout the story.
Chapter 2: Never the Bride
The day was dark and gloomy; Klaus could make out the rain clouds from his office window rolling towards him. It suited his mood perfectly.
He looked away from his computer screen unable to concentrate. From his office on the twenty-eighth floor he could just make out the yellow taxis, like little matchbox cars, creeping slowly up Fifth Avenue in peak hour traffic.
New York was definitely the place to be professionally. Klaus had arrived straight out of college and had secured an internship with one of the city's most influential stock broking businesses, unheard of for someone of his age and experience levels. No one could have guessed that six years later he would be instrumental in steering the company through the financial economic crisis and be rewarded with a new role as one of their top young executives.
The' City that Never Sleeps' had a lot to offer personally as well and he was a regular on the New York social scene. Klaus was rarely without female company; in fact he had lost count of the stream of brunettes and redheads who had shared his bed. However they would usually find their way out the front door just as quickly as they found his bed.
Although he loved his life in New York he would often find himself thinking back to his years growing up in Mystic Falls Virginia. Even though his family still lived there he rarely visited, he was scared that being back in that place would conjure up painful memories from his past. He was already haunted by memories of her in New York. Just the fact that he couldn't sleep with, let alone talk to another blonde, was proof that he wasn't over her.
"Mr Mikelson I have Miss Lawson here to see you?" His assistant's perky voice wafted from the intercom on his desk.
Rachel Lawson was his latest squeeze, red hair, voluptuous curves and a fantastic distraction. He had met the cosmetics executive at an AIDS benefit a few weeks earlier and they had been inseparable ever since.
She had lasted longer than any woman before her which was either a testament to her feminine charms or her staying power. Klaus would usually discard them once they reached their used by date or they would become so bored by his disinterest they would eventually leave of their own volition.
"Send her in June" he said clicking the button on the intercom.
"Darling, how are you?" Rachel purred placing a kiss on his stubbled cheek. "You know there is such a thing as a razor, you might want to use it." She said rubbing her hand along the graze on her cheek.
"So what's going on?" He asked slightly impatient, he hated when women tried to change him and inevitably they always did.
"Just reminding you about the black tie auction at the Lincoln Centre this evening, and this time remember your black tie." Rachel said looking at him accusingly. It was hard to ignore the annoyed tone in her voice. Klaus had worn his lounge suit once and she was acting like it was the end of the world. Lucky she was magic in bed otherwise she wouldn't last another day.
"Another event? " He asked in disbelief. "Surely we can skip this one and have a party of our own at my place?" He said wiggling his left eyebrow suggestively.
"It's for the Children's' Hospital Klaus." He hated when she whined like that it made her seem a lot younger than she was.
"Oh come on I'm sure the kids will live another day if we miss it." He said pulling her onto his lap in one swift move.
"Wow your lack of paternal instincts never ceases to amaze me! How about when you laughed at that poor little boy in Central Park the other day when the duck stole his slice of bread?" She said poking him in the chest.
"Well it was pretty funny and he didn't have to start wailing afterwards, the whole park could hear him screaming!" He replied thinking back to the embarrassing incident. She just looked at him with her mouth agape and he suddenly felt bad for being so cruel.
"How about we donate a lot of money, do you think they'll forgive us?" He asked squeezing her waist.
"Okay fine, we'll do it your way", she said placing a kiss on his lips. Everything was always his way and she knew it.
"Great, how about 9pm at mine, although I have to get up early tomorrow morning for my personal trainer so probably best you don't stay over." He said already thinking about his upcoming teleconference call.
Rachel lifted herself from his lap and adjusting her skirt accordingly. Klaus immediately swivelled around in his chair to face his computer screen.
"See you later darling" Rachel said knowing full well that he wasn't really listening. She had been dismissed.
Upon hearing the door click shut Klaus looked out the window again his thought elsewhere. People resembling small ants walked along the footpaths rushing to get to their chosen destinations.
His mind wandered to a certain blue-eyed, blonde haired girl and what she was doing at that exact moment.