"So you have prepped my team with everything they need to know for tonight." Tatia rounded up.
The three girls nodded from where they sat on the couch. Across the coffee table on the opposite couch, the Salvatore brothers mirrored their actions.
"We're all keyed in." Jenna reported.
"Excellent."
"We will see you tonight then, gentlemen." Elena wrapped up professionally. "Thank you for the inside information."
"No problem." Damon answered with a wry smile towards Bonnie. "We figured it would be the easiest way to keep you in the loop."
Bonnie pointedly ignored his gaze. Now was not the time to get caught up in his intensely handsome…Bonnie Bennett, behave!
"A shame your colleague couldn't join us today." Caroline mentioned, noticing how Jenna smiled at the mention of Mr Saltzman.
"Alaric is currently overseas for our company business, but he'll be back soon." Stefan explained. "He'll probably be back before anything serious has happened."
"I'll keep him up to date till then." Jenna said. "He's already called a few – " She bit her lip and looked slightly guilty.
Bonnie came to her rescue. "We'll make sure to keep in touch with him."
"Well, so long as you keep in touch with us." Damon smirked. She finally caught his eye, staring him down to tell him just how much she didn't appreciate the fact that he had somehow got her number.
"Good day ladies…Bonnie Bennett." Damon casually singled her out before turning to reach the door. Stefan seemed to linger back behind his brother.
Elena took the opportunity to retrieve a leatherbound book from her bag.
"I believe this is yours, Stefa – Mr Salvatore."
He turned around instantly, seemingly grateful for the excuse to talk to the gorgeous brunette.
"Oh, wow. Quick reader."
"I couldn't put it down." Elena smiled. "Plus it's the original edition…I didn't want to keep it for too long and risk damaging it."
"I would have easily forgiven you for it in the unlikely event of it happening." Stefan replied.
Damon pointedly sighed and opened the door with slightly too grand a gesture. Bonnie and Caroline shot him daggers with their gaze.
"Are you sure I can't persuade you to keep it for longer?" Stefan asked, too blindly caught up in talking to Elena to acknowledge his brothers impatience to leave.
"I'd feel safer with it in your protecting again." Elena replied, carefully pressing the book into Stefan's hands.
"Very well." Stefan nodded. "Perhaps we could catch up to talk about the book sometime." He seemed not to notice the subtle elbow that Caroline dug into Bonnie's side. Damon, however, noticed Bonnie's quietly exclaimed 'ow!', and smirked.
"I'd like that." Elena said, her warm smile lighting up her eyes. Stefan seemed to be unable to look away for a moment, before nodding once more and turning to join his brother in the hall.
A quiet "About time." that sounded like Damon's voice drifted back into the office before the door closed.
"Elena Gilbert, you sly minx." Caroline exclaimed.
Elena, who seemed to be lost in her own happy world, blinked. "What?"
"That was entire professional, Caroline." Jenna said, but winked at Bonnie.
"Then I'm glad I've never worked more than a day in a real professional workforce." Bonnie grinned. "It seems like a proper love battlefield."
"You don't know the half of it." Jenna sighed.
"Can I do it, Tatia? Can I?" Caroline pleaded towards the com box.
"Match making, Caroline?" Tatia sounded amused. On another continent, in particular, on a warm, sunny island, a figure stood looking out on fierce waves, surfboard firmly planted in the sand. "Well, even I could tell from listening in that there seems to be a sea of emotion over there."
"So that's a yes?" Caroline asked excitedly.
"So long as it doesn't compromise the mission…yes."
"Seriously?" Elena gasped. "Isn't there some sort of law against that?"
Tatia laughed. "We're not exactly a government run organisation now, are we?"
…
The Sixties Red Cross Dance was held in New York every year to raise funds for their services towards natural disaster victims and military families, but mostly for their blood donation drive. They would be collecting pledges of blood, like starving vampires in the night. But for the fun side, it was themed by decade. This year was the year of the Sixties, allowing wealthy businessmen to dress in sharp suits, playboys to dress in ironically flashy shirts, wives to dress like Jackie Kennedy, and femme fatales to dress as fantasy femmes of the sixties cinema.
And Elena was dressed up as one of the wait staff. True, she was dressed in a thoroughly cute retro waitress costume, she didn't look hideous, but she had drawn the short straw for the Angel's plans at the dance that night and that meant she was on staff duty.
Bonnie mingled through the crowd, dressed as a hippy with flowers woven through her dark hair. She was the easily approachable Angel for the night.
Caroline went for the other end of sixties fashion, dressing herself as a Marianne Faithful-type in over the knee black boots and a mini dress, flaunting her long legs. She would be the seductive blonde for the night.
The Angels circulated through the party, mingling to gather information. Elijah clearly circulated the business world regularly, and was well known by everyone. They would find relevant information easily, it was only a matter of digging.
…
"Hey," A grinning man in a dark suit came up to Caroline as she scanned the room once more. She sighed and smiled coldly at him, already suspecting that he didn't know anything about Elijah. And she'd maybe had enough of the same kinds of men chatting her up for the time being.
"Thanks, I don't really want to talk." She said shortly.
The man wasn't moved. "Well, I was wondering if you wanted to dance – "
"I'm good, thanks." She said again.
"Then maybe – "
"No." Caroline said bluntly before smiling politely and taking a flute of champagne from a nearby waiter, walking away from the persistent man. She slowly walked through the crowd of guests, deciding that she needed a little breather. No amount of flirting would bring them closer to finding Elijah at this point.
She watched Bonnie charm her way through the crowd and smirked when she saw her watching Damon across the room both warily and curiously. Of course. Caroline wouldn't be too harsh; her friend did need to meet someone who was honest about who they were. Damon was an ass, he knew he was an ass, and he made no qualms about it. But Caroline did need to remind them that they were working, and the men that her co-workers were interested in also happened to be their clients.
She took a sip from her glass and fought the urge to drain the whole thing. At least her friends could find guys to be interested in. Caroline was tired of being the only charmer in her conversations with the opposite gender. Men were just a little too full of themselves for her taste, and that would be fine if they could only deliver. The difference between confidence and arrogance was that a confident man could pull through on everything he promised. An arrogant man would promise the moon and stars and give back only air.
Or maybe she was just a little bitter tonight.
Caroline noticed a man watching her as she leaned against a pillar, and she sighed.
"Are you looking for someone?"
"I'm just looking." Came the arrogant reply, and she would have sassed back, but the English accent made her falter as her knees weakened. Snap out of it! Caroline told herself.
"Then look somewhere else."
"Now why would I do that, when a charming young woman is here by herself?"
"Maybe she wants to be alone."
"Maybe I can change her mind." The man smirked, strolling closer in a casual manner. It still put Caroline's danger senses into overdrive.
"Stay where you are." She said in a slightly commanding voice. She took a breath and relaxed her heightened senses. "Don't waste your time." Caroline added in a more laid-back manner.
The dark blonde man halted, but he lifted his hands unthreateningly. "I can assure you that my intentions are entirely honorable."
Caroline scoffed wordlessly. He held her gaze, and the heat from his blue eyes made her shiver slightly. She rolled her eyes just to break contact, and nodded in acceptance for him to come closer. It had been a while since she'd talked to someone so arrogant, she could use the exercise.
The man walked forward slightly closer, and Caroline was surprised at the distance he kept from her. His wolfish smile told her that his intentions were perhaps something else, but she was curious enough to talk.
"Sean Connery look, I'm guessing from the accent and suit." She noted his dark grey suit and sleek style. He looked at her askance, and she raised her eyebrows. "Its obviously an English cut suit, but you can't tell me the accent is real."
"Then I won't tell you, because it is." He said with a smirk.
"But you technically just told me." Caroline said with a laugh.
The man tilted his head, regarding her as she let down her guard slightly to laugh. She glanced at him before taking another sip of her champagne.
"The Marianne Faithful style suits you well, but it's a shame you didn't go for the costume from Girl on a Motorcycle," He commented, smirking as Caroline's eyes widened. "A leather jumpsuit would have served you well while you circulated the room."
"I don't know what you – "
"But you do, sweetheart."
Caroline bristled at the pet name. "Sweetheart?!"
He raised his eyebrows with a playful smile before continuing. "I'm supposing you're here tonight to find a charming businessman to date."
"Well I wouldn't pick you." She snapped.
"And I wouldn't let it phase me." He retorted. Something about the way he said it, the way he looked at her out of the corner of his eye, made her think that it wouldn't phase him because he would be a persistent pursuer. And it was kind of charming, coming from him.
"I'm Caroline." She introduced herself with a sigh. He'd broken through her calm composure and fired her up; he had earned her name at least.
He smiled, and it seemed genuine this time, a smile of actual happiness rather than a smirk.
"Nik," He replied, reaching out to shake her hand. The mere gesture itself impressed Caroline; a handshake to her was one of a list of things that implied that she was his equal, and she damned well was, if not his better. And a handshake could speak volumes about a man. From that alone this Nik seemed to be impressive. His grasp was firm but not overbearing, confident but warm. His fingers brushed across hers slowly as he pulled his hand away, sending electricity up her arm.
"So, Caroline," Nik said her name like he was savoring its taste on his tongue…
Focus, she told herself.
"What are you doing here at the Red Cross event, if you're not seeking a future rich husband?" Nik's eyes just sparked with mischief, and Caroline couldn't help her sass mouth. She was provoked, all right?
"You caught me out. I can't pretend anymore." Caroline leaned in close, using every move she knew so well just to fool him. "I'm just a gold digger looking for money. I'm also stealing all your secrets as we speak."
"Somehow I can't seem to believe you." Nik murmured back in similar dulcet tones, but his eyes flickered to her mouth for just a moment, and she knew she had him where she wanted him.
"And why is that?" She asked sweetly, enjoying his attention as his eyes grew darker, taking pleasure in toying with him. God knew she needed more men like this who actually kept her on her toes.
Nik looked at her lips for a moment, and she almost thought he was about to kiss her. But then his dark blue eyes caught hers and didn't let go.
"Because this is all a front. I've seen you tonight, seen how you alternate between coyly charming and fiercely flirting, and I know that every move is calculated." Nik smirked. "Ah, but there's more. You're bored. You're bored, sweetheart, and its because you haven't really seen anything in the world to intrigue you."
"I've seen plenty." Caroline retorted hotly, and it was true.
"But it doesn't enchant you as it once did. The events and the people, its losing its enchantment, and it bores you." His eyes were mesmerizing her, and she found herself cornered rather than her cornering him as she had planned.
"But I'll let you in on a little secret," Nik murmured, leaning in. "There's a whole world out there waiting for you. Great cities, and art, and music. Genuine beauty, not just this glamour. And you can have all of it. All you have to do is ask."
Caroline was entranced by his every word until the last sentence, which kicked her femininity back in.
"What, and some billionare playboy like yourself will give it to me?"
"If that's what you want." Nik smirked.
"Why?" She challenged.
He shrugged. "You are a fascinating creature."
"Thanks, but I've heard that line before." Caroline smiled coldly. She made to move past him, but he blocked her, stepping just so till she found herself against the pillar with barely an inch of air between them.
Caroline wasn't worried. She knew how to break his arm sixty ways to Sunday, but she didn't want to cause a scene.
"So much for the honorable intentions." Caroline huffed. "Whats your deal anyway? Scamming innocent women?"
"I highly doubt you are that innocent, sweetheart." Nik said, enjoying her confusion when he didn't attempt to touch her like she thought he would, just staying an inch away. She cocked an eyebrow when he didn't answer her question, and he sighed. "I'm a businessman. I own a number of buildings in this town. Among other things."
"Other things?"
"Yes."
"Those being?"
Nik had the audacity to laugh. "By all means, have at it, sweetheart, but contrary to your plans, I'm not about to spill my deepest, darkest secrets to you." His eyes had gone from desirous to challenging, and Caroline was never one to back down from a challenge. She stared him down, and he stubbornly did the same.
"Hi folks! Can I get y'all anything?"
Caroline looked to the left to find Elena smiling a thousand watt smile, tray of snacks in hand.
"No, thank you." Nik said shortly, his eyes not leaving Caroline.
"Actually, I'd love one of these." Caroline shifted out and away from Nik, her skin regretting the absence in body heat almost immediately. She took a napkin and sushi roll from Elena's tray. "And do you know where the rest room is?" She added.
"I'll direct you, miss." Elena said.
Caroline accidentally knocked the napkin tower to the floor in front of Nik. She smiled apologetically to Elena, whose smile shrank a few teeth.
"Just let me pick these up." Elena bent to retrieve the napkins, keeping an eye on her tray as she did so. A sensor on the edge of the tray she was carrying flashed subtly once as it passed Nik's right calf, then again by his chest.
When she straightened up again with a smile, Nik was eyeing her curiously. He turned swiftly to Caroline with a smile tight across his lips.
"Till we meet again, Caroline."
"Who says we will?" She retorted.
"I say we will." He returned smartly, winking and leaving her infuriated and more than a little turned on.
Elena kept her fake smile in place, taking Caroline to the women's powder room. Once there, she glanced around before smacking Caroline's arm. And none too lightly.
"OW! What was that for?" Caroline glared at the brunette.
"Why were you flirting with him?" Elena hissed.
Caroline rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, you and Stefan – "
"But that's different. You were flirting with our mark."
Caroline's face went blank. "What?"
"Klaus. Niklaus Mikaelson."
"Nik-Klaus? Oh, Caroline, you idiot." She frowned at Elena's judging look. "He said his name was Nik! That's a perfectly normal, honest mistake."
"Forget about that – Klaus was meant to be Bonnie's target tonight."
"Well he still is, right?"
Elena tilted her head. "Maybe not after that…he clearly is interested in you…"
Caroline groaned. "Seriously? No. Nu-uh. Not Blonde Distraction. Not after last time."
"C'mon, Care…" Elena pleaded.
Caroline folded her arms and stared her friend down. "The last time we did that plan was back when you were dating Matt and wasn't sure and wanted to see how things panned out, so I distracted his friend Tyler."
Elena bit her lip. "Ahh. Yeah."
"Yeah." Caroline nodded. "And I'm still stuck in the casual shame spiral of drunken Tyler hook ups."
"But this would be different. For the mission!" Elena concluded persuasively. "All you need to do is go back out there and charm the pants off of him. Maybe not literally." She added with a wince.
Caroline sighed, and ran her hands through her hair a few times to spruce it up. "Fine. Okay. Fine."
"I'm not asking you to sacrifice yourself for some ritual, Care." Elena teased, picking up her tray and checking her appearance in the mirror.
"Yeah, well, hopefully it won't come down to that." Caroline said. "Is he armed?"
"Yes. One in his jacket and one by the right leg." Elena listed off.
"Well I'm wearing the Kevlar anyway." Caroline sighed. "I'll get to work."
"And I'll find Bonnie and tell her about the new plan."
…
"Bonnie," Jeremy spotted her in the crowd. She bit her tongue. Shit. She kept her cursing inside her head so it wouldn't get her into trouble.
"Hey, Jer." She smiled politely.
"Great to see you here." He said, and she nodded awkwardly.
A beat passed.
"Want to dance?"
She would have said no, but it gave her a good chance to subtly scan the crowd. Bonnie took Jeremy's offered hand and swayed to the music.
"So how have you been?"
Bonnie shrugged. "You know, the usual. Work, work, work. And you?"
"Good." Jeremy forced a smile. "The art business is really taking off. I've got offers coming in from all sides. I'm meant to be talking to a possible buyer here tonight."
"That's great." Bonnie smiled. She was genuinely happy for Jeremy's success – she just didn't want to get sucked into the sweet guy act anymore. "Don't you want to go talk to them now?"
Jeremy sighed. "I'd rather talk to you. Listen, Bonnie…I'm really sorry about what happened, I – "
"May I?" A deep voice interrupted, and Bonnie turned her head to see Damon Salvatore. She never thought she'd be happy, even grateful to see him, but she was.
Jeremy watched for Bonnie's approval, and she nodded, smiling kindly at him as he walked away toward the bar.
Damon held up both of his hands and she frowned in confusion until she remembered what decade they were dressed as. She linked her fingers through his and told herself to forget about how well their hands interlocked, like they were made for each other.
"I cannot believe that I'm saying this, but thank you." Bonnie gritted through her teeth. Damon tilted his head questioningly, and she elaborated. "For interrupting my dance."
"I just wanted to cause you more trouble, what can I say?" He grinned, and she narrowed her eyes. He spun her out and then in so her back rested against his chest. Their bodies swayed together.
Bonnie ignored the shiver that ran through her as Damon murmured in her ear. "I've got to say, its impressive watching the team work."
"We do well together. Take care of each other." Bonnie replied with a hint of fondness.
"So you'd lay it all on the line for each other, no matter what." He said darkly.
"No matter what." She said fiercely. "But don't ever repeat that."
"Secret's safe with me." Damon scoffed. "Not that it would matter with all that power between the three of you."
Bonnie smirked. "A little intimidated, Mr Salvatore?"
"Do I look like the kind of guy to get intimidated?" He shot back. He spun her and drew her in towards him again, catching her around the waist so they were face to face.
"Call me Damon." He said, and she was about to correct him, but his eyes latched onto hers and she didn't get a chance to speak. All she could do was nod.
"How is the hunting going anyway?"
"Perfectly fine, thank you." Bonnie snipped, trying to not get sucked in by his charm.
"I can tell. Watching your progress across the floor, its easy to guess that you and Blondie are going home with half of the room's phone numbers."
Bonnie tried to hide the smirk that came to her lips upon hearing the possessive edge in Damon's voice. "Careful, Damon. I might start to think you actually care."
He chuckled, and she bit her lip at the dark sound. "Well, we wouldn't want that."
Bonnie gave in and looked up, meeting his gaze. Damon's eyes were as bright and seemingly innocent as hers were dark and guarded, and they were drawn to each other intoxicatingly.
"We've got a problem."
Bonnie broke contact with Damon to find that Elena had been the one to murmur to her from where she handed out refreshments to guests.
"Caroline's been flirting with the mark."
"You've got to be kidding me." Bonnie sighed.
"We're doing the Blonde Distraction."
"Great, but this guy is the big bad." Damon interjected, and Elena broke out of character to shoot him a frown for a second before her sweet smile came back and she swung her tray around to hand out more refreshments.
"Thank you for your input, Mr Salvatore, but I think its time you leave us to do our job." Bonnie reminded him coolly, stepping out of his hold. She smiled at him without her teeth before nodding to Elena in agreeance with the new plan, and moving away through the crowd. Damon watched her go before realizing that Elena was studying him. He brushed it off easily, becoming his cocky self once more as he drew two other women close to dance with.
Elena rolled her eyes and walked away with her empty tray. What an ass he was. But also, what an ass he had. He was good looking, but he didn't need to know it so well. She had to admit that Bonnie would certainly cut him down to size and they would be well suited in that aspect, but she didn't want to see Bonnie get hurt again. She was attached to her co-workers, hell, they were her friends, and if anyone tried to hurt them, she would bring that bastard some pain.
…
Caroline searched through the crowd to find the elusive Niklaus Mikaelson. She began to panic once she realized that he was nowhere to be found. The one thing they had to do tonight and she'd screwed it up by flirting with the mark. She couldn't believe it. She should have checked the photos in the file but she figured that since she wasn't on mark duty, she'd only need to worry about Elijah, the kidnapped victim.
She was just passing by the elevators for the fourth time when she spotted Klaus shrugging on his coat as he strode towards the doors. She ran after him, not caring about how ridiculous she looked.
"Kl-Nik?" Caroline called, almost giving herself away but catching her tongue just in time.
He didn't turn around.
"Nik!" She called loudly. She ran a few more steps until she literally bumped into his back. Her brain panicked for a moment before she realized the best role to play in this circumstance was cutesy.
Klaus turned with a frown until he realized who had knocked into him.
"Hello? Did you not hear me?" Caroline asked with wide eyes, bringing a smile to his face.
"Was that you caterwauling? I think the whole of New York City heard you."
She scowled – they had only been talking for five seconds and he was already pushing her buttons. "You're leaving." She noted.
"I'm in no mood for company." He admitted darkly.
"Not even in the mood to get me another drink?" Caroline fished.
Klaus fought a smile. "No, sweetheart, I got what I came for. Besides, I'm sure you have plenty of men fighting for the chance to do so. I don't need to compete." He pressed the button for the lifts and Caroline swore that it was the first time in history that the lift arrived earlier than expected. She had the worst timing ever.
"What if I told you there was no competition?" She rushed out as he strolled towards the open lift.
Klaus paused before turning back to look at her, a smirk on his lips. It should have put her at ill ease, but she was too concerned about letting the mark slip away without any form of contact to pay attention to her gut feelings.
"Doesn't change the fact that I'm leaving."
"Then maybe you can buy me a drink another time."
He raised an eyebrow at her bold statement before walking into the lift.
Caroline turned to head back to the party and began to curse herself. Stupid, no good, why can't you do anyth-
"Caroline," Klaus' voice sounded, and she turned to see he was close behind her. She couldn't help but inhale a silent gasp, though his smirk told her that he had heard it all the same. He held out his hand expectantly, and she frowned in confusion.
"If I'm going to take you out for that drink, I'll need some form of contact." Klaus explained with amusement, and Caroline jumped.
"Right, of course." She plucked a card with her number from her purse and placed it in his upturned palm.
Klaus smirked down at her. "Its been a pleasure, Caroline." He murmured in his devilish accented voice, before retreating into the lift.
Caroline watched him go with warmth flowing through her body like fire. Yup. She'd need that drink. Right now. Maybe ten of them.
…
"Hey! There you are!" Caroline bounded up to Stefan, as bubbly as the glasses of champagne she had continued to consume all night after Klaus' departure. She latched onto his shoulder to keep from tipping over, and giggled.
"Have you seen the view yet?" She asked. "Because it looks amazing at night. And I can show you if you want." She needed to get him alone to set her plan in motion. If her friends were going to fall for their clients, then damnit, she was going to help them out! Or perhaps that was the champagne talking. Either way, Caroline was convinced that Stefan and Elena would be epic. And they could be called Stelena, which just sounded awesome in her head anyway.
She grinned conspiratorially up at Stefan, who studied her carefully in his typical brooding manner.
"I think you've had a bit too much to drink." He said carefully, which only made her grin broader.
"Well of course I have!" Caroline brushed some lint off of Stefan's shoulder, prepping him up. "So…"
"Caroline, you and me...its not going to happen." Stefan said slowly. "I'm sorry."
Caroline frowned. That wasn't part of the plan. Stefan made to walk away, but she latched onto him.
"Thanks for the blow off, but I actually wanted to talk to you about something." She said.
He stopped and turned to face her again, an embarrassed blush lighting the tips of his ears. "Oh."
…
Elena set down the tray by the bar and checked her watch. Still at least an hour left, and the party was still going strong. She studied the crowd and her eyes were drawn to Stefan Salvatore, as she had been all night. She couldn't help it. There was just something about him. And she couldn't help but notice that he was doing the same with her. Their eyes met more often than not. But she had a job to do. And he was a client.
Although, they had technically met before he was the Angels client…
No, Elena told herself. Behave.
She looked back up to spy him again, and saw that he was making his way across the room with her deliberately in his sights. Being the adorable klutz she was, Elena subtly checked behind herself to see if Stefan was really walking over to see someone else, but no, it was her he wanted to see. The mere thought put a tingle through to her toes, and she hid her smile well as Stefan drew nearer.
"Hi there, sir, what can I get you?" Elena asked coyly.
Stefan smiled, glancing down almost shyly to his shoes before peeking up at her through his long lashes. "Caroline asked me to bring you this." He held a black bag out for her to take. Elena carefully took it from his grasp, frowning in confusion.
"I don't understand."
"She also told me to tell you to check it and go get changed." Stefan continued, his playful smile never leaving his lips. "And I do get the feeling that you don't need reminding of this, but I thought it was fair to tell you that the ladies room is over that side," He pointed to the right. "While the mens room is over there." He pointed to the left.
Elena was very thankful for the fact that she had learned to control her blush long ago. However, it didn't stop her from being embarrassed. "Damn. I should have known that you'd remember me from before all this."
"How could I forget?" Stefan chuckled, before realizing the connotation of what he said and adding "With an entrance like that?"
Elena still smiled at his words regardless. "Promise that you'll not let it cloud your judgment of me?"
Stefan nodded, and she looked at him expectantly, needing words.
"I promise." He said solemnly, save for his cheeky green eyes.
"Good." She nodded with a smile, before slipping past him to find out what Caroline had planned for her.
…
Bonnie wandered through the crowd, trying to find Caroline. She had seen the blonde earlier and had a feeling that someone needed to keep an eye out for her after she had tried to still her nerves with champagne.
The Angel scanned the room again, faltering when she locked eyes with Damon. She would never admit to it, but her heart fluttered slightly. Something about the way his eyes cut through her, that intense gaze of his…
And something about the way he was with another woman, yeah, that cut through her too.
Bonnie watched as the woman he had been dancing with latched onto his hand, pulling him towards the door. He held her gaze for another long moment before turning and leaving with the giggling red-head.
"Careful, Damon, I might start to think you actually care."
"Well, we wouldn't want that."
Of course. He had been warning her off before. Idiot. She clenched her eyes shut for a second, berating herself for even developing feelings – no, nothing, she had no emotions about this whatsoever, of course not. Bonnie exhaled slowly before opening her eyes again and searching for Caroline.
…
Elena walked back out in a classic sixties gogo dancer outfit. Stefan, who had been keeping an eye out for her return, found that he couldn't look away. He crossed the room without a second thought just to talk to her.
She smiled up at him. "What do you think?"
"Caroline has very good taste." He managed. "You look beautiful."
Elena's smile turned into a full blown grin. "Thank you." She glanced out onto the floor and bit her lip. "A little controvertial, but would you like to dance?"
Stefan grimaced slightly. "I don't dance."
Elena's smile shrank, and she nodded. "That's okay. I'll just find someone else to – " Before she could even finish, Stefan had grabbed her hand and twirled her out onto the floor.
"You seem to be in a good mood tonight, Mr Salvatore." Elena commented as they spun around on the floor.
Stefan smiled. "Is that a bad thing? Would you prefer me to be brooding and tortured?"
She laughed. "Hey, I'm not complaining."
"So any word on how the hunt for our man is going?" He asked.
Right, the mission. They were on a mission. She reminded herself.
"Not quite. We're after his brother tonight. But I'll admit we were hoping that your 'pre-business partner' would make an appearance. He's probably not going to show." Elena frowned.
"You mean we did all this dancing for nothing?" Stefan asked with a sly smile.
"Oh, the horror!" She added with a laugh.
He grinned, before sighing. "I'm really sorry for all of this."
Elena rolled her eyes. "Please. You're giving us an interesting job to do. We decided to take it, it was our choice, and we signed up for it, so I don't want to hear you apologizing anymore, you hear?" She said mock-sternly.
Stefan smiled slightly. "Yes ma'am."
"Great. Now, you know your history. Show me how it was done in the sixties."
"Ah, no. There were better moves in the fifties anyway."
Elena pouted. "Come on then, one move?"
Stefan shook his head, and she sighed and pulled back, only for him to pull her in again and hoist her up by her waist. He dipped her down again so her legs went straight up in the air on his left, then swung her so she did the same for his right. Elena caught a glance of the surprised guests from her upside down position before Stefan's hands lifted her and set her back down on the ground.
"Now, you remember that, because I will never be doing that again." Stefan said, and she laughed. They smiled at each other, trapped in a perfect moment, and Elena realized she was getting too close to the client.
"Excuse me." She murmured, before weaving easily through the couples still on the dance floor.
…
Caroline hovered over her coffee, rubbing her temples. So maybe taking advantage of the champagne after Klaus had left was a bad idea. Or a really terrible idea.
Bonnie sighed over her latte. "Are you sober enough for a cab yet?"
Caroline glanced up at her, blinking as the room spun. "No." She answered miserably.
"Keep drinking," Bonnie encouraged. "I gotta get you home. And then I gotta get me home."
"You can stay at mine, its fine." Caroline said blearily.
"I've seen the hungover you, and its not pretty. No offence." Bonnie smiled.
Caroline sighed. "I screwed up tonight."
Bonnie patted her hand affectionately. "You did fine. But maybe getting a little wasted wasn't the best plan. Though you did do it after the mark left, so that's fine too."
Caroline groaned. "Aside from that. Stefan thought I was hitting on him when I was trying to get him alone to talk about Elena."
"That's an honest mistake." Bonnie soothed.
Caroline ran her hands through her blonde locks in a disarray. "And his reply was a bit rude anyway. Why didn't he go for me?"
Bonnie frowned. "Cause he's into Elena." She studied Caroline carefully. "But its not just that, is it. You're wondering why you can't seem to find the right guy."
"I'm inappropriate, I always say the wrong thing…" Caroline listed off. "And Elena always says the right thing. She doesn't even try and he just picks her, and she just finds a great guy. And I try so hard, and I'm never the one."
Bonnie latched onto her hand. "Hey. You'll find him. You just need to accept who you're attracted to. You can't find excuses to deny your feelings. Like Jenna said."
Caroline smiled a watery smile at her friend, squeezing her hand. "Sorry, Bon. I'm sorry I'm such a mess."
"And I'm not?" Bonnie retorted with a smile. "Everything's a mess. Life's a mess. We just have to get used to it."
Heyo!
Klaus has finally made an entrance. :P
Please read and review and tell me how its going, and what you'd like to see! I may or may not be planning to do an update of some kind by next weekend (whaaaat?! I'm actually vaguely organised?!) so definitely tell me what you're thinking, what you'd like to see, and any character cameos you'd like to see too!
xx
