Synopsis: Hayley tries to settle down in her new role as Klaus's secretary while struggle to find balance a personal problem. Klaus finds out something about Hayley's past.
Later that night Klaus was lying in his big bed, his eyes closed when out of blue an image of Hayley Marshall came to his mind and he felt strange. He wondered if he should get a dedicated legal secretary or just keep on working with her. She seems too green but then a voice told him "your father was happy with her work. On top of that she knows his style and his cases and considering you are wrapping up his cases she can be great asset and your day was not that bad and you don't have to work with her for too long. At most two weeks. Surely you can handle two weeks".
He reflected on his day and realized that it was not too bad and she seems very efficient and thought 'may be he should read her file and then decide what to do'.
He chided himself for thinking of her and wondered what was it that was bothering him about her and why he cannot forget those hazel brown eyes full of apprehension when he felt a hand on his chest. He looked towards her and smiled and image of Hayley Marshall disappeared from his mind and pulled her towards him and said "I like this".
She said with a seductive smile "well Caroline Forbes soon to be Caroline Mikaelsons is wearing it why wouldn't you like it!"
Klaus laughed and kissed her hard and said "of course".
Before he knew it she was taking off his shirt and he her flimsy nightie that he knew she spend hundreds of dollar but only managed to stay on her for not more then ten minutes and they were making passionate love with each other.
Afterwards she laid next to him fingering his chest and asked "how are you doing?"
Klaus said "I still cannot believe that he is gone".
Caroline said sympathetically "I am just glad Kol and Rebekah are fine. It was a terrible accident".
Klaus pulled her closer to him and said "yes".
Caroline said "how was the office and your new secretary?"
Klaus groaned inwards and said "she is okay. I still cannot believe that father fell for her. You should see her Caroline. She is closer to my age, younger probably if I am not wrong".
Caroline said kissing his chest "well you know the heart wants what the heart wants".
When he didn't say anything she continued wrapping her arm around his torso "I am so glad that you are back. I know the circumstances are not exactly desirable but at least you are back. Long distance relationship is not easy. I cannot wait to be with you permanently".
Klaus pulled her closer, kissed her on her bare arm and said "only six more months if you are waiting for the wedding but you know my house is your house".
Caroline said "I know but I have to do wedding preparation and these dance classes I am taking".
Klaus said "well that is your choice then" and closed his eyes and went to sleep only to be haunted by the nightmare he had been unable to forget. He looked towards her and seeing her deep in sleep he detangled himself from her, picked up his discarded pajama and walked to the window. He stood there looking out of the window of his penthouse into the skyline and thought in frustration 'it has been almost five years. When will I be able to forget about her. I was young, foolish and drunk'.
He lit a smoke and sighed at the realization that whenever he thought about her he smoked. He sat on the settee near the window and stared out in the skyline trying to block the scream that had erupted from her lips when she realized what was going to happen with her, the tears streaming down her eyes smudging her makeup. The details of the incidence had started to haunt his mind gradually once his drunken condition started to wear off. Ever since he had been unable to shake off those beautiful eyes full of tears, the red lipstick smudged on her face during the struggle she put on, the defeated way she had stopped struggling. He looked at his hand and saw the fading bite marks that reminded him everyday of what he had done to that girl. He wondered if it was better that he didn't remember her face - It was so blurry that he couldn't make out her features except for those eyes and bite marks on her shoulder that he had given her when he was done with her.
Klaus was lost in his past and looking at those bite marks meanwhile Hayley was tossing and turning in her bed thinking of the long day she will have to spend in his company and the kind of work she will have to do for him. She told herself "With Mikael it was different. He was a decent man but Klaus… " she couldn't finish her thought and jumped to next thought 'coffee for him!…. but what else option does she have?' and then her mind went to the impending appointment that she had been trying not to think of. She touched her breast and wondered 'how did that happen? She is only 22 year old. Don't old people get this problem?' Then she said to herself "don't jump the gun. Lets wait for the appointment to see what will happen".
She wished she could leave this job but she knew she couldn't. She needed this job. She needed this job for herself and for Hope. They were paying her good and the benefits were relatively good - better then many she had come across. She said to herself "I have to a daughter to think of. She needs security in her life".
At last she managed to get a shut eye near dawn. When her alarm rang at 7, she turned if off and went back to sleep. Next time when her eyes opened it was from the soft touch on her face. She smiled and said "morning my love".
Hope said "me up mommy late".
Hayley jumped at those words and said hastily "yes mommy is very late" after looking at the clock.
She dashed to the bathroom leaving Hope smiling standing near her bed. She took a shower and changed into a fresh pair of fawn pants and red shirt and came out. She quickly dried her hair and brushed them while touching Hope's forehead and said "yayy your temperature is down" kissed her and put on her shoes and said "I have to go honey. Love you".
She then ran to Amy's room and knocked at it and put on the pearl earrings and the shoes. She said to her as the door opened "I am running late. Can you…" and stopped talking as she saw over her shoulder.
She stepped back and looked at Amy who was averting her eyes.
Amy said hastily "Hayley we just…"
Hayley said with a smile "it is okay Amy. You don't have to explain anything. I just came back from the hospital. Can you please make sure she takes her milk and egg?"
Amy said "sure" and then asked "is it today?"
Hayley said "yes, at 7. He especially accommodated me. I hope I will be able to leave the office" and then headed towards the door ignoring Tyler saying "Hayley I…"
By the time she reached the office she was ten minutes late. She cursed her car which had refused to start in the morning. She practically ran in and groaned as she saw him already sitting behind his desk lost in his work.
She darted to the kitchen and put his coffee on and then took a deep breath and went to his office.
Klaus heard the door open and said "you are late Ms Marshall".
Hayley put the coffee on his table and said "this will not happen again Mr. Mikealsons" and stood there.
Klaus stared at his file and then picked up his coffee and said "I need you to take down some notes for me. I will need them later".
Hayley nodded and left.
When she came back he was still reading the file.
He looked up as he heard the sound of her heel and said "Ms Marshall I have this meeti… ngs" and stopped talking as his gaze went to her red shirt, fawn pants with a soft lipstick on her soft mouth that he was sure smiled rarely and her hair tumbling down over her shoulder and looking down at the notepad.
Hayley felt the silence and looked up and saw him staring at her and suddenly felt her a drop in her stomach and her hands started to sweat and she cleared her throat and said "Mr. Mikealsons, you have meeting…?"
Klaus recovered and said "umm yes I have a meeting at Benjamin's office to meet his clients to discuss Dean Vs Stan case at 11: 00 am. You are to accompany me".
Hayley said "right" controlling her heartbeat but stayed there. He gestured her to sit and said "I want you to take down the notes and I need them for the meeting".
For the next half an hour Klaus dictated her the details about the case and she continued to write in silence looking down at her pad while he tried to look anyway other then her face. For some reason it looked disturbed and it was bothering him. The urge to ask her what was bothering her was getting stronger by the minute and was annoying him to no extend so he stood up and went to the window and started looking out but continued to dictate her. After he was done he said "that will be all. You have half an hour to type this Ms Marshall".
he nodded and got up to leave when he said "don't be late again Ms Marshall".
Hayley nodded and turned to leave but stopped. He was lost in his work so she cleared her throat and said after some hesitation "Mr. Mikaelsons?!"
Klaus looked up and saw her standing there biting her lips. He looked at her questioningly.
She said "I need to leave early today".
Klaus groaned inwards and said "what time?"
Hayley said "6:30".
Klaus relaxed and said "okay".
She nodded and went back to her chair. She took out her cell and called Amy and said "how is she? has she had her breakfast?"
Amy said "yes but with difficulty. I think you should think of getting her checked".
Hayley said with a bit of frustration that she was feeling towards Klaus "O Amy you know it is just flu. She will get better in a day or so" and then added "thank you Amy. I will be late today" and put the cell down after she heard her say "best of luck and dont worry about Hope".
She held her head and took the first deep sigh of breath to calm her down.
She switched on her computer and started typing the notes he had just given her.
Klaus got up, collected his briefcase and walked out and said "lets go Ms Marshall".
Hayley got up and followed him. She hesitated just for a moment before entering the elevator which didn't go unnoticed by Klaus.
He looked at her wondering what was wrong with her. When he opened the back door of his car for her she looked at him with surprise but after a moment of hesitation got in and scooted to the farthest end of the seat.
Klaus sat down in the back seat too and couldn't help notice the distance between them. He looked at her but she was looking out and her hand was clutched in a fist in her lap.
During the meeting too he noticed her distracted but otherwise normal. She didn't feel awkward or anything when Benjamin shook her hand and didn't do the hand wiping thing that he had noticed her doing in his presence.
After the meeting they headed back to the office without saying a single word to each other. She brought him his coffee and went back to type the notes that she had taken during the meeting.
She looked at that time and realized that that she had missed her lunch time so she decided to take a break but the thought had just crossed her mind when he buzzed her in.
She groaned and went in. Klaus said "are you done with the Benjamin meeting notes?"
She said "not yet".
Klaus said "I need them now. I need to discuss their counter offer with Mr. Dean in the afternoon. Can you finish them up before taking your lunch break?"
Hayley prevented the sigh that was about to escape her lips and said "sure" and turned to leave when the door opened and a young blond woman entered.
She said with a tinge of annoyance in her voice "Nik, I have been waiting for your call. We are late for the lunch".
Klaus said getting up and planting a kiss on her lips "Caroline, I lost track of time. We have to wrap up some cases".
Caroline said "oh come on Nik. You need to eat and we got reservations in Menray. Come on".
Klaus looked at her for a second, then nodded and said "okay. Any way I am starving".
Hayley thought with relief that now she can have her lunch too.
She said "excuse me" and was about to leave when Klaus said "Ms Marshall meet Caroline Forbes my finance and Caroline this is my secretary Hayley Marshall".
It took all her will power to control her reaction. She presented her hand to Caroline and said with a smile "it is nice to meet you Ms Forbes".
Caroline shook her hand and said "Ms Marshall. It seems I have seen you somewhere".
Klaus took off his coat from the back of his chair and looked at them and couldn't help but notice the blush on her cheek.
Hayley said with a smile "I don't think so Ms Forbes. We move in different circles".
and tried to take her hand away but Caroline held her a bit tight and said after thinking for a second "Tyler. I met you at Tyler's house" making Hayley stomach drop many levels and she instinctively looked at Klaus from the corner of her eye and saw him looking at her in surprise.
She said "yes I know Mr. Lockwood" and then pulled her hand from her with a bit force and said "excuse me" and left.
She sat on the table looking at the monitor screen and watched them go with her arm around him and feeling a strong hatred for him. As soon as his back disappeared into the elevator she put her head on the table and closed her eyes.
Klaus put the napkin on his lap and lifted his fork when she said "your secretary is very pretty and you gave me an impression that she was okay. If you were any other guy I would have gotten insecure. But now I understand what Mikael saw in her".
Klaus grunted making her realize that he does not want to discuss it.
She then added "but I don't get why is she working for you. Her parents are really rich. She doesn't need this job".
Klaus said putting the fork down and leaning back "what do you mean?".
Caroline said "I remember who she is now. She is daughter of Henry Marshall Klaus. Her mother Emily Marshall is friends with your aunt and uncle. I heard that she ran away a couple of years ago but why stay in the same city".
Klaus said "so they are still in touch with Aunt Carol".
Caroline said "of course they are. They are invited to our wedding".
Klaus said "hmm".
Caroline looked around and then held his hand across the table and said "have you thought what you are going to do?"
Klaus said taking a sip of his wine "Caroline you know I love my job and we have already discussed this. I cannot do this. I am just here to wrap up his unfinished cases then Elijah will take over".
Caroline said "I know but now you father is gone, someone need to take over his position and you are well equipped to do so".
Klaus said with frustration "Caroline Elijah is moving back to Mystic Falls. I need to go back after I wind things up here and I thought you were okay with my job".
Caroline squeezed his hand and said "I am"
Klaus said "then what is the problem?"
He leaned forward and said with a teasing smile even though he felt a drop in his stomach "are you having second thoughts?"
She answered at once "of course not" making his heart feel light at once.
Klaus raised the hand for the waiter to bring the bill and after giving him the card he got up and kissed Caroline and said "I have to go love. I have a meeting with someone".
And then without waiting for a reply he left.
He tried to not to think of what Caroline had just told him about Hayley and this nagging feeling he was starting to have relating to his job and the firm but couldn't to his annoyance. As he reached his office he saw her with her head on her desk and realized in a second that she was sleeping. He cleared his throat and said "Ms Marshall" but she didn't move.
He stood there for a moment and then called her again "Ms Marshall". But when she didn't show any sign of waking up so he said "bloody hell" and touched her shoulder making her jump out of her skin.
Hayley felt someone touch her and at once stood up and saw him standing near her. She instinctively looked around and stepped back making Klaus narrow his eyes. He said coldly "Ms Marshall this is a office not your bedroom" and went to his office.
Hayley cursed him and herself for sleeping there. She darted to the bathroom and stood there leaning agains the door and then threw water on her face and tried to calm down. She could still feel his touch on her shoulder and felt like burning these clothes. At last she got out and went to make his coffee.
Klaus was looking out of the window down the building when he sensed her enter the room. He turned just in time to see her put the coffee cup on the table and retreat and said "you know my cousin Tyler".
Hayley groaned inward and said "yes".
Klaus asked "why are you working in this firm?".
Hayley said reluctantly "I need the job".
Klaus said "from what I understand you don't need the job".
All the tension she had been feeling since last night and at her helplessness in not being able to do anything in this situation make her snap and she said aggressively "only I know my needs" and turned to leave when Klaus quickly recovering from the shock at her outburst said "Ms Marshall…" but she cut him angrily and said "Mr. Mikealsons I am your secretary. You dont have any right to pry into my personal life" and left the room.
Her hands were sweating and she was trembling with anger by the time she reached her desk. She tired to calm herself down after sitting down and once the calm started to settle in she started to regret her outburst and suddenly got scared that he might fire her. As if on cue her buzzer buzzed.
Klaus could see from the distance her body tensing up. He said as she picked up the phone "I need you to come in".
Hayley entered the room and said with dignity "Mr. Mikalesons I am sorry for my outburst. I…it wouldn't happen again".
She kept looking at him when he didnt say anything.
Klaus could feel the tension oozing out of her body. He picked up the file from this table and said "I need these typed again".
Hayley nodded and took the file from him and then swallowed her pride and said "I am sorry once again" and left the office leaving him confused.
He didn't call her again for anything for the rest of the day. She typed the file he had given her, gave him coffee two times, checked his calendar, informed him about his meetings for the next day. When she turned to leave after giving him the coffee the last time he said "you can leave Ms Marshall but don't make it a habit".
She nodded and walked out.
Klaus looked up just in time to see her hurrying towards the elevator. He shook his head and got lost in his work again.
She took out his cell and dialed his office and said "I am running late. Can you please inform Dr Ackles?"
By the time she reached there she was ten minutes late.
After the nurse left her in his office she said "Dr Ackles I am sorry I am late".
Jim Ackles stood up and said with a smile "I think we know each other long enough to call each other by our first names Hayley. Call me Jim" and scooted the chair out for her.
When she smiled he added "I got your message. In any case I wanted to discuss a few things with you".
Hayley sat opposite him and said with a smile "so what is the verdict?"
Her heart sank at the look he gave her. She asked "what are my chances?"
He said "you are young. You can fight it. It is still stage 1 but we need to take it out. We can either do lumpectomy, take the tumor out or mastectomy remove your breast and then we got towards Chemo. Now just so to make your decision making easier I should tell you advantages and disadvantages of mastectomy versus lumpectomy. First of all compared to mastectomy, with lumpectomy there is a slightly higher rate of the cancer returning to the breast which is called recurrence. Any recurrence must be treated. The risk of cancer spreading to other organs called metastasis and the main cause of breast cancer death is the same for both procedures".
He paused for a moment for the information to absorb in her and then continued "now there are risks and benefits to consider when choosing between mastectomy and lumpectomy plus radiation therapy. The main benefit of lumpectomy plus radiation therapy is obviously that the breast is preserved as much as possible. A potential benefit of mastectomy is that radiation therapy may be avoided. Although some women will need radiation therapy after mastectomy, many will not. You will not if you chose to have mastectomy. Radiation therapy has some side effects and requires daily trips to a treatment center. If you live in an area without access to radiation treatment centers, or if you cannot have radiation therapy, mastectomy is usually the better option".
He opened his drawer and took out a pamphlet and gave it to her and said "it has all the information you will need but you have to decide as soon as possible".
Hayley took the pamphlet, looked at it and then looked at him desperately "I cannot have this right now. Hope needs me. She needs a mother around her not a patient…"
He looked at her sympathetically and said "you should think about it Hayley. You needs surgery whichever you decide to have. Seeing that it is only half an inch and the location of it I would suggest localized lumpectomy and then we can do chemotherapy and radiation. You have a child who needs you".
Hayley looked at him for a few minutes and then said "I am thinking of her. I…". It suddenly occurred to her how is she going to pay for all of this. She is already in too much debt and she blurted in anger "but I am only 22. How can I have breast cancer?"
He said with a sigh "no one knows how someone can have cancer. It is a disease which can happen in anyone. It is true that normally it happens in older women but it can happen in younger too. Having an young and healthy girl like yourself cancer is not that unusual".
Hayley closed her eyes for a second and tried to calm herself down but the only thing that she could think of was Hope and her future.
Dr Ackles looked at her with sympathy and then said "Hayley would you like to have dinner with me. I want to discuss something with you".
Hayley looked at him and said with hesitation "cant we talk here?"
He said "no. Have dinner with me at Dolche's tonight and we will talk and you will get some time to unwind too".
He stood up forcing her to stand up too.
They walked out together and he opened the car door for her and said "you can pick your car on the way back from the dinner".
The drive to Dolche's was a quiet one with Hayley lost in her thoughts thinking about her future and Ackles thinking of her.
After the settled down Jim Ackles said "Hayley you have to think of yourself. You are young. You have a full life ahead of you and then you have a child to take care of. If it is money problem I can help you" and grabbed her hand electrifying her body.
She pulled her hand away from her making him narrow his eyes.
She saw confusion in his eyes and regretted her action and said "thank you but I cannot. I don't want to be under debt to anyone Jim".
Jim at once said "you are misunderstanding me Hayley. I am doing it for you and Hope. I want to help. Please take this. You can pay me back if that makes you feel comfortable".
Hayley stared at her hand and said "let me think about it".
Jim looked at her and sighed and said "yes think about it. But keep Hope in your mind. She needs her mother alive and healthy".
Hayley smiled and said "I will".
Dinner afterwards was relatively a quiet affair with them talking about general stuff.
He dropped her back at the office from where she picked up her car and went home.
When she got home Amy had put Hope to bed. She kissed her on her forehead and relaxed as she felt her cold forehead.
She went to her room and cried herself to sleep. She woke up in the middle of the night and after checking on Hope she snuggled close to her in her toddler bed and wondered 'How will she be able to get through this one now. She only had two thousand dollars in her bank for emergency cases'. She kissed Hope's forehead and wondered 'Should she ask the loan from the company?' She stayed awake rest of the night and at last decided to try her bank in the morning. Around seven she slipped out of her bed and stepped into the shower to take a long shower but screamed as the cold water came out. She cursed and then quickly ended the shower making a mental note of talking to the building manager. By the time she came out Amy had woken up too and was making coffee. As she entered the kitchen Amy asked with a yawn "listen about yesterday. I know you dont like him spending night here but…"
Hayley said "it is fine Amy. I just…I just still not get … Please …". She felt so helpless that she was not able to finish her sentence when Amy said "you know he regrets his actions every day. He is a changed man Hayley. He will hurt me or you or Hope".
Hayley's heart contracted at the last name and she said "I know that he is a changed man but… and I know he would never hurt Hope".
Amy said with a sigh "I am sorry I know we had this rule but you came so late and we had this date and we couldn't go out so…".
Hayley said "I am sorry Amy".
Amy said "that is okay. I will take care not to have him at night time again".
Hayley looked at her with guilt and said "I am sorry".
Amy said "Forget about it. We will work around things. Tell me how did it go?"
Hayley took a sip and muster up some courage and said "it is malignant".