Hellooooo! Another update ahead of you! This one's longer, like I promised. I actually worked VERY hard on it, so I hope you'll leave some reviews whether you liked it or not! ENJOY!


CHAPTER SEVEN


She stared at both men who were glancing at each other back and forth. Caroline focused her attention on the newcomer. He was slightly younger than Klaus, but there was no doubt they were related. That's probably why she found him so familiar.

'Won't you introduce me, brother?' he asked her boss, who rolled his eyes at his request. The man took a step towards her desk and casually leaned on it, waiting for someone to speak up.

'I think she has a tongue, Kol. I'll be in my office.' he only replied and didn't even bother to look at her. He just did what he said and disappeared inside.

The two were left alone and Caroline felt slightly uncomfortable as the younger Mikaelson didn't stop gazing at her with a hint of intrigue in his eyes. She wanted to break the awkward silence, but just as she opened her mouth to say something, he did the same.

It made her laugh a little bit and he followed her.

'Well, that's awkward, love. I'm Kol. Kol Mikaelson.' he introduced himself, smirking. He had the same devilish smile as his brother, unfortunately.

'Couldn't have guessed.' her reply made his smile grow even larger. She had to admit that he was quite charming. And his eyes, she found them the most attractive. Not to mention it felt like they were drilling a hole into her body. Yes, his stare was that intense.

'How about you'll guess some more things about me over a dinner?' his sudden question surprised her. But after a longer thought, he did seem like someone who spoke his mind freely and was used to getting everything he wanted. Wonder, who he got that from, she said to herself in her mind glancing at Klaus' manly posture sitting by his desk.

She looked back at her new acquaintance, who was waiting for her answer.

'You don't even know my name. Didn't your mom teach you not to talk to strangers?'

He laughed at her remark and she could swear she saw a spark in his eyes.

'Of course I know your name, Caroline. My whole family knows you, actually. Seems like Rebekah made sure everybody knew about you.'

'Rebekah?'

'My little sister. But perhaps you'll find out more tonight at 8pm? I'll pick you up.' she saw that he wouldn't let it go. At that moment, she was considering her options and pros and cons of going for a dinner with her boss' brother.

It wouldn't affect her job, right? Klaus didn't have any power over her personal life, even if it involved his family. Besides, she actually liked Kol. For once, she decided to do something purely out of fun.

'Sure. Here's my number.' she wrote it down on a piece of paper and handed it to him. He put it in his pocket and went to Klaus' office. But before he closed the door behind him, the turned around.

'See you later, Caroline.'

'I guess I will.'


Klaus watched as his brother was working his charm on his new secretary. Apparently it was working, because they were smiling quite a lot.

He observed them, but was forced to look away when Caroline suddenly glanced at him. Why was she looking at him whilst talking to Kol? Were they talking about him? Why would they?

Million questions were running through his head, when his brother finally moved towards his office. He didn't hear a thing they said, but four words that didn't even surprise him that much. See you later, Caroline, his brother definitely did a good job fooling with her.

When he came in, he looked him up and down and motioned the chair. Kol sat down, unbuttoning his jacket paired with light blue shirt. For once he looked quite professional, so it couldn't be a family visitation.

'I see you worked your charm on Caroline.' he said not looking away from his computer screen and typing in some documents. Kol smirked and chuckled a bit before answering.

'Oh, brother. We both know that I'm not the charming one, but I can definitely see why you hired her.' they both glanced at the blonde who got up at that exact moment and walked past his office revealing her long, lean legs. 'I mean, look at her, she's something else, Niklaus.'

'Yes, I am very aware of that, but instead seducing my secretary, could you disclose the reason of your visit?' he cut his brother off, going straight into the point. He didn't want to be distracted. He needed to focus on work, because he felt like he was really slacking of lately.

'You're no fun.' Kol snarled, but raised his hands in defeat when Klaus glared at him warningly. 'Okay, okay. I'm here in business.'

'Figured it out. Your jacket says more than a thousand words.' he replied pointing at his brother's piece of wardrobe that usually probably was at the very back of his closet, covered in dust and spider-web.

Kol was the second youngest child of Esther and Mikael. He was born four years after Klaus. They were always inseparable. He was the one to stand up to his father in order to protect him, even though Mikael was always a scary man.

His younger brother was always a free spirit. He was the careless one out of all the Mikaelson's. Klaus liked that quality about him, he was somewhat different than stern Elijah or scathing Rebekah. Not to even mention the oldest son, Finn, whom he hadn't spoken to in few years.

Their family history was more than complicated and he hated talking about it. He did once, with Tatia, and it turned against him. He decided that it's better to keep some things to himself.

'Snap, I thought my fashion choices were better. Anyway, I'm here, because Elijah sent me. You know our brother, he likes to get everything done as soon as possible. This time, it's the board. They met him to discuss your position.' his younger brother said those last words carefully and slowly, so Klaus has some time to think and process them.

'And what exactly is there to discuss?'

'Well, it appears some investors have back down after the last incident and it's not the first time it happened.' he stared at his brother. Klaus brought his finger to his lips, it was a manner he had since his childhood. It helped him focus and think.

Kol saw that his brother wasn't fully aware of what he was talking about.

'Marshall Industries backed down, along with some smaller companies.'

He didn't have to say another word, because Klaus knew exactly what was that about. He should've predicted that Hayley would do such thing. He coughed in disbelief.

'And what should I do about that? It was their decision and I don't see any connection.' his answer was simple. Klaus didn't think he did anything wrong. His brother sighed.

'You know exactly what I'm talking about, brother. It's not the first time it happened, but now, the board has had enough, Niklaus. There's nothing I can say or do, not this time. It needs to stop. We all know that you've been through a lot, but Tatia's gone. You need to get over her, because your actions are damaging to both you and the company.'

Klaus couldn't belive it. Now Kol was against him too. First they turned Rebekah, then Elijah and now him. Bloody hell, he thought to himself.

Yes, he knew what his brother was talking about. But his actions were not even related to company's matters, there was simply no connection and no logic in accusations made by the board, which was in fact, just the whole Mikaelson clan.

'Stop it, Kol.' he said warningly. His voice cracked a little bit. He hated when they mentioned her. They always used her as bargaining card when they wanted to force him to do something. This time it wouldn't work. 'I'm really tired of you all trying to tell me how to live my life. How I do it has nothing to do with the way I run the company.'

'Yes, of course it doesn't, but the women you use and leave have. They all happened to be the daughters of big investors and your employees. Coincidence?' it was definitely Elijah speaking through Kol. It's like he learned those words by heart.

How long were they planning to have this talk with him? Maybe they wanted him gone, out of the company? It would he hard, considering the fact that they would be nothing without his guidance and leadership.

'Pathetic. Tell me, who told you to say that? Mother? Or Mikael perhaps?' he was getting angrier. It was very reckless to be around him when he was mad.

Klaus had always had anger problems, but it never had taken the best of him, unless someone angered him so much by mentioning something that triggered that anger. In this case it was Tatia and Mikael.

'Calm down, Niklaus. I'm not attacking you, nobody is. We just want what's the best for you. Trust me, looking at Caroline, I'm not surprised you grabbed the opportunity if some of them looked like her, but this needs to die down. That's all I'm asking. Some less sex and more working. Can't believe I'm actually saying this.'

Klaus stared at his brother and let himself calm down. He was right at some point, but it angered him so much that the Mikaelson's were trying to control him, tell him what to do.

Yes, he might have played some women. Yes, they were his employees. Yes, they stopped the investment once he stopped seeing them, but it was their decision.

It only showed how shallow and unprofessional they were. That's why they couldn't keep their jobs at his company. He valued people who could keep their professional and private lives separate.

That's why he never did anything with anyone at his work place or during working hours. Okay, maybe once or twice when he was ready and impatient. And that's also why he wasn't so sure about Caroline Forbes.

So far, she's been very average at what she was doing, but she wasn't given any important tasks. Suddenly, he thought of a solution.

She's the daughter. If he would make her his partner, maybe she would approach her father to co-operate with their company. It would solve all the problems. He would get the boards' trust back and his family would finally get off his back.

The only thing he had to do was to change his old habits. If only he knew, it would be almost impossible.


She couldn't believe that she was going for a dinner with Kol Mikaelson. It's not like she was nervous, but it was her first outing with a male since Tyler. And it was that what was making her anxious.

Caroline wasn't sure if she was ready. She was contemplating the whole drive back home, but as 8 p.m was nearing, she had no other choice than to get ready.

It was too late to cancel. Instead of worrying anymore, she told herself to man up and take the opportunity to have some innocent fun. It wouldn't harm anyone, right? Especially not her.

She dressed herself in her red dress which was hugging her body perfectly. Another step out of her comfort zone. Caroline almost never wore that bold colors. She used to stick to fair and delicate tones. But it was a dress that Elena and Bonnie bought her for her previous birthday.

It didn't leave her closet until that day and she could actually look in the mirror and say, you look hot.

Just as she was admiring herself, she heard a knock on her bedroom door and her friends' head popped up. She stared at her for a second before saying anything.

'And what's up with you?' Elena chimed staring her up and down. 'I have never seen you wear this dress. Not even once.'

'Well, it was getting lonely in my closet. It's time to give it some love.' she answered looking at Gilbert in the reflection. She hadn't spoken properly to her since their kind of big fight.

Yes, she considered it as big, because they had never fought. It changed since Elena fell in love with Damon and he became her main priority. It used to be her friends, but well, people change.

'Are you going on a date or something?'

'I wouldn't call it a date. I'm just meeting up a new friend.'

'Is the friend a man?' when she nodded, Elena smiled and fully walked into her room. She sat down on her bed, just like old times. 'That's what we call a date, Care.'

'But it's really not.' she cut her off. She didn't consider it a date, truly. And Kol probably didn't too. They were just new friends, acquaintances who met at work, maybe they would discuss work? Yes, it was definitely about work. He mentioned Rebekah earlier, right?

'Then if it's not a date, I wouldn't wear something like that or that friend might get the wrong idea.' Caroline chuckled at the way the girl sitting in her room emphasized the word friend. 'I mean, you look gorgeous, but if it's causal than be casual.'

She looked at herself in the mirror again. He hand run over the dress to get rid of any wrinkles.

'You're right.' she said, before taking if off completely and throwing it on the floor. She vanished inside her closet for few minutes and came back wearing jeans and her favorite shirt. 'Is that casual enough?'

Elena nodded.

'Care?'

'Hmm?'

'If you're not wearing it, could you borrow it for me?' her friends' tone changed from nice to puppy-like. She always did that when she wanted something from her. And it always used to work.

But now, she looked at the dress laying on the floor. She didn't want to borrow it, obviously. She had never worn it before, but she barely started talking to Elena again and she didn't want to ruin it.

If she refused, Gilbert would probably be offended and not speak to her again. It was really hard to communicate with her already and it would only make it worse.

'Sure.' she said just before her phone went off. She read the message and grabbed her purse to walk out to front of her building to meet her friend-not-date there.


The beginning of the date was quite awkward, but Kol made sure she felt comfortable as soon as possible. He always had some hidden things to talk about when she wasn't speaking much and she was very thankful to him for that.

Kol said it would be a dinner, but they somehow ended up in a bar. Fortunately. After few drinks Caroline was finally having a great night. They were talking non-stop and as they changed they topics they kept refilling their drinks.

They actually got along very well. He liked a lot of the same stuff as her so they had a lot to talk about. She found out some interesting things and laughed as he was telling her stories from his childhood.

From what she heard, he was a naughty child. He was everywhere and did everything that he wasn't supposed to. And suddenly, the conversation shifted to her boss, Klaus, as he was the one whom Kol did most of these stuff with.

She couldn't imagine Klaus in a scenery where he was cutting holes in their driver's suit or climbing trees with shoelaces tied. Caroline was amazed and very curious about him.

He didn't seem like that type, so when Kol decided to tell her some stories from his teenage years, she laughed everytime and tried to link the eighteen year old Niklaus Mikaelson to the stern and cold Klaus, who was rude and impolite at last.

They probably spent around three hours just talking and getting to know each other, before her friend-not-date popped a question that kind of foxed her.

'You're asking quite a lot of questions about my brother for someone who's on a date with me.'

She almost choked on her drink, so she put it down and opened her mouth a little bit, because she didn't know what to say. He had a point. For the past half an hours she kept asking about her boss and his brother. She didn't even realize that. She felt embarrassed, but his words made her confused even more.

'So it's a date?' it was the only thing she could say right then. Caroline spent the whole evening telling herself it was not, but she was having so much fun that she even forgot about putting labels.

'Do you want it to be?'

Great, he was making her even more confused. She stared at him, not knowing how to reply to that. Yes, she knew that it wasn't anything serious, but million thoughts were going through her head.

Was she ready? Did she want it to be a date?

'I... I really don't know what to say.' she chuckled, trying to turn it into a joke, but he wasn't laughing. He was just watching her with this familiar smirk on his face and his eyes drilling into her. 'Stop staring at me like that, I really don't know.'

He put his hands up in defeat and laughed, this time for real.

'Easy, love. I'm not proposing. I just thought you women like to put labels on things, so I just asked to make sure. I don't want you to think that I think differently.'

'And what do you think?' she said intrigued about his word. It was true, women liked labels, they liked to have things clear and in the open. She used to be like that, but it didn't work out. Maybe that's why she was getting so worked up about this whole date thing.

'I think, we had fun and I would like to meet you again.'

'Well, I think exactly the same. I would like to meet you too.' she stressed the word meet, telling him that she didn't need or like labels. Maybe before, but not that night.

He didn't say anything, again. How many times would he do that? Just stare at hare without a word, wearing that stupid, attractive smirk of his?

'You're something else, Caroline Forbes.'

She smiled back at him. The rest of the evening went even better. She really felt like she gained a new friend and by the end of their meeting, she felt like she knew him forever.

They were in a heart of New York City. He walked her to her cab and sent her off. Now all she had to do was keep smiling on her way back home.


His evening didn't even go as he planned. He was going to full an all-nighter again, but Rebekah insisted on him going for a dinner with her and Stefan.

It's not like he didn't want to, but he... didn't. There was no hidden reason, he just wasn't in the mood for anyone's company or being in a crowded place late in the day. But he went anyway.

His sister had immense impact on his decision and she used that often. Too often. So much that she even did in situation like this, when she wanted him to do something when he clearly didn't want to.

Unfortunately, she insisted and he only went to stop her whining.

He spent almost two hours listening to the lovebirds talking about their days and when they asked him about his, he simply stated that it was a boring day in the office.

Klaus didn't even want to mention his conversation with Kol. He wasn't sure if she was aware of the boards meeting and the concerns their showed towards his judgment and leadership. Actually, he was thankful it was his younger brother who talked to him. He wouldn't want to face Elijah or his mother, not to mention Mikael. They would only try to give him life lessons and the last would probably tell him that he has no right to this company as a bastard son and his only there thanks to Esther.

When the dinner was nearing to the end, he got up and dressed himself into his coat, saying goodbye to his sister, thanking her for such a delightful evening.

He walked out of their favorite restaurant situated in the very heart of New York. The city was just beginning to wake up to life, but it was already almost midnight.

The cold air hit his face and made him cover himself with the coat even more. He truly hated winter. He should be used to bad weather as he was from England, but he wasn't. Even the smallest temperature fall could be felt all his body.

Klaus looked around for a cab and he saw one pulling onto the sidewalk. The was about to go towards it when a familiar man walked up to it first, opening the door.

He looked at his brother and opened his mouth. Kol and cabs? Well, that's an unexpected mix. Mikaelson budged towards him, but was stopped at the sight of his companion.

Kol turned his head to Caroline and laughed along with her, opening the cab door for her. She waited a second before stepping in. They talked for a brief moment, she said quick goodbye and left.

He couldn't be more than surprised. Yes, he saw his brother flirting with her earlier, but he didn't think he would actually make a move. That was rare of Kol to pay attention to anyone at work, let alone a secretary.

So it was a weird thing seeing him with one, especially Caroline. They just met today, didn't they? Klaus decided not to say anything to Kol, while turning around and going in different direction than his brother.

He didn't understand why he was so confused and... annoyed? It was obviously not because seeing them together.


That's the end of it! You were all right, she met Kol. Who else could it be? Charming, an original? Pleeeeease. Tell me, which character do you like the most and the least? Why? What do you think will happen next? Thank you so much for reading this shitty story. I am very aware that it's really boring now, but I have so many ideas for the rest of it! 3

LOVE YOU ALL 3