CAROLINE'S POV:
As I stood in front of my closet, staring at the dress Bonnie had persuaded me to buy, and also threatened to buy for me if I didn't buy it myself, I was completely and utterly regretting my decision to go to the ball with Stefan. The dress was beautiful and something I wouldn't usually go for, but Bonnie had insisted it was stunning on me and that I bought it. Glancing at the clock on my bedside table, I saw that I had twenty minutes until Stefan arrived to pick me up. He'd told me all the details (like I didn't know), and had told me he was picking me up and to pack an overnight bag as he had booked us into a hotel to stay overnight. The thought of staying in a hotel with Stefan made my heart skip and my stomach flip – I was nervous. I'd been on dates before, but this was so different – he was my boss, but our relationship wasn't one of boss/assistant – he was so hard to say no to, and his smile made me melt.
Zipping up my suitcase, I placed it on my bed and packed my dress into the dress bag and laid it on top of my suitcase as the buzzer to my apartment sounded…
"Hello?" I questioned as I picked up the phone
"Hey, it's me," Stefan's voice spoke "I know I'm early…"
"It's fine," I replied "don't worry. Come on up."
I buzzed him into the building and unlocked my door, moving into the bedroom to collect my things, Stefan knocking on it a minute later…
"It's open!" I called as I walked back into the hallway
"Hi." he greeted me "This is for you…"
"Me?" I asked "You didn't need to get me anything, Stefan."
"Well I thought seeing as though I haven't properly thanked you for your help with the Vision magazine contract, a gift was needed." he informed me "I realise how hard you work for me even though I don't show it, and well, I hope you like them."
Smiling at him warmly, I lowered my eyes and pulled out the familiar turquoise Tiffany and Co box, my heart skipping a beat as I did so. Lifting my eyes to look at him momentarily, he smiled at me and I opened the box, a pair of stunning pearl earrings… "Stefan…"
"If you don't like them I can always take them back." he admitted "And you can come with me and pick something you like."
"They're beautiful and I love them," I informed him "but it's too much. I can't take them; they must have cost you a fortune."
"You can take them and you will," he replied "please, I'll be offended if you don't and they weren't really that expensive, but you're worth every dollar, Caroline."
I held my breath as his hand came up to cup my cheek, his thumb caressing the skin and then his hand moved some hair from my face, my eyes closing of their own accord. Coming to my senses, I moved his hand away and pursed my lips together… "I'll wear them to the ball. We should go."
"Let me take those." he proclaimed as I picked up my suitcase and dress bag
"I can manage." I assured him
"I know you can, but please. This weekend you're not my assistant, okay? This is a date and I want you to let me treat you like the lady you are. Can you do that for me?" he questioned
Before I had the chance to respond, he'd taken my luggage from my hands and opened the front door…
"Okay…" I whispered
STEFAN'S POV:
After an hour-and-a-half drive, Caroline and I finally arrived at the hotel the ball was being held at. Pulling onto the gravel driveway, I turned my engine off and looked at Caroline, her face a picture as she stared at the hotel exterior…
"So this is how the other half live, is it?" she asked
"You could say that." I replied "It's pretty nice, isn't it?"
"It's more than nice." she admitted as I moved from the car and round to her door, opening it for her "It's like something from a movie."
I smiled at her warmly as she spoke and grabbed our luggage from the car, both of us heading inside. Handing my car keys to the valet as we walked through the double doors, I told him my registration number and our names and moved over to the seating area, setting the luggage down, turning to see Caroline staring around at her surroundings in amazement…
"Caroline?" I called
"What?" she questioned
"You were daydreaming." I informed her "C'mon, we need to check in…"
She moved over to where I was stood and I squeezed her arm softly before moving over to the reception desk…
"Good afternoon and welcome to the Hilton Hotel, how can I help you?" the receptionist asked
"Hi," I greeted her "I have a reservation under the name Stefan Salvatore."
She typed something into the computer and then reached under the desk and handed me a key-card… "Room 186, Sir. I'll have someone bring your luggage up shortly."
"There must be some sort of mistake," I admitted "I booked two rooms, one for me, and one for my guest."
"Let me check…" she replied
Nodding my head, I turned and looked at Caroline who was texting away on her phone, a huge smile on her face as she did so…
"I'm sorry, Sir, it seems there's been a confusion in our booking system and you're booked in for just the one room." she informed me
"Could I book another room?" I questioned
"I'm sorry, we're fully booked." she replied "We've got a huge party in tonight."
"That'd be my company's annual ball." I informed her "Is there nothing you can do?"
"I'm afraid not, Sir, sorry." she admitted
"Stefan, is everything okay?" Caroline asked
"Everything's fine." I assured her
Taking the key-card from where it was set on the desk, I thanked the receptionist and moved over to Caroline…
"Why do you have that look on your face like when you're about to tell me you ruined the filing system?" she inquired as I reached her
"Well I can assure you the filing system is safe," I informed her, smiling at her weakly as I spoke "but there's been a slight issue with booking. It turns out the hotel could use some of your skills. We have to room share…"
"Right." she replied
"I did book two rooms, but apparently the system has somehow booked us into one room," I explained "and they're fully booked what with tonight being the ball. I'm sorry, Caroline."
"It's fine," she assured me "one room is better than no room at all, right?"
"You always find a way to make a negative a positive, don't you?" I questioned
"There's nothing we can do about it, so let's just get on with our night and have fun, yes?" she asked
"That sounds like a good plan to me." I informed her
STEFAN'S GIFT FOR CAROLINE:
. /jewelry/earrings/tiffany-signature-pearl-earrings-33475853?fromGrid=1&search_params=p+1-n+10000-c+287464-s+5-r+-t+-ni+1-x+-lr+-hr+-ri+-mi+-pp+1876+6&search=0&origin=browse&searchkeyword=&trackpdp=bg&fromcid=287464
CAROLINE'S DRESS:
evening-dresses/royal-blue-fitted-jersey-dress-25666-3966
Stefan and Caroline are room-sharing, how do you think that'll go? And how will the ball go too?
