CAROLINE'S POV:
After settling into the room and arguing over who was going to have the bed and who was going to have the couch, Stefan had taken his suit and things to get ready with his parents in the room they'd booked out so I could have some privacy.
Stepping out of the shower, I wrapped the complimentary dressing gown around me after drying off and slid my feet into the slippers, making my way out of the bathroom when a knock at the door sounded. Making my way down the hallway, I opened the door, finding a member of the hotel's staff stood out in the corridor with a trolley…
"Can I help you?" I questioned
"Caroline Forbes?" he inquired
"That's me." I informed him "What is this?"
"For you." he replied and as I stood aside, he pushed the trolley into the room "Enjoy the rest of your evening."
I thanked him and closed the door behind him as he left and lifted a card that sat on the trolley, seeing that it had my name in Stefan's writing on it…
"Caroline, enjoy a drink before I come and collect you at 7pm. Stefan x"
Picking up the bottle of wine that was on ice, I poured some into the glass that stood by it's side with half a strawberry attached. Taking a sip of the wine, I proceeded to get ready, smiling to myself as I finished my hair and minimal make-up…
STEFAN'S POV:
I let myself into the room using the key-card I'd been given, having being down to reception to have one made for Caroline too. Walking into the room, I gasped as I saw her stood in a royal blue floor length gown, her hair up in a low bun with curls framing her face, her head whipping to look at me as she turned in shock…
"I didn't hear you come in." she admitted
"You look beautiful." I informed her "And you're wearing the earrings…"
CAROLINE'S POV:
I swallowed a lump in my throat as I looked into Stefan's eyes, seeing an almost lustful gaze in them…
"Thank you." I replied "They go perfectly with the dress."
I took in his appearance – he was wearing a sharp black suit, his white shirt crisp and clean, a black tie settled on it neatly. Watching him as he stepped forwards, he held his arm out to me…
"Shall we?" he asked "And I really do mean what I said; you look beautiful…"
I swallowed and looked down at the floor, watching my feet as they walked closer towards him…
"You really can't take a compliment, can you?" he questioned
"It's not every day a girl gets so many compliments from the same man." I admitted
"Well I'm stating the facts as I see them." he informed me "And I must warn you, my mother may ambush you tonight; she's very excited to meet you properly at last."
"She wants to meet me?" I inquired "Why?"
"I may have spoken about you a little bit," he admitted "my Dad's looking forward to meeting you too."
"No pressure then." I replied, smiling at him weakly
"They'll love you," he assured me "just like I do."
"We're going to be late…" I admitted
STEFAN'S POV:
Caroline and I had made our way down into the ballroom where the charity ball was being held and were currently waiting on the arrival of my parents. Somehow, over the past half-an-hour since we'd arrived, her hand had found it's way into mine as we mingled with the guests…
"Stefan, honey!" Mom's voice proclaimed from behind me
"Be prepared." I informed Caroline as I turned "Mom, hi…"
"Hi, darling," she greeted me "and you must be Caroline? It's lovely to meet you, at last."
"And you too, Mrs. Salvatore." Caroline replied
"Please, call me Lily." Mom informed her
"Caroline, as you've already been introduced to my mother, please meet my father, Giuseppe Salvatore." I admitted
"Lovely to meet you at long last, Miss. Forbes." he greeted Caroline
"And you, Mr. Salvatore." Caroline replied
"We would've met sooner, only my son hasn't gotten around to organising anything." Mom admitted
"Stefan doesn't organise anything." Caroline informed her "That's my forte."
"You're meant to be on my side!" I proclaimed
"Well, Caroline, how about you and I go find our table while the men go and get drinks?" Mom suggested
"I'd really like that, thank you." she admitted
"Are you sure?" I questioned "You don't have to…"
"No, I want to." she assured me, squeezing my hand as she pulled away from me
CAROLINE'S POV:
"You and Stefan are so wonderful together…" Lily proclaimed as we sat down
"Thank you," I replied "but we're just friends."
"Are you sure about that?" she questioned "I'm sure most of the room thinks you're together from the way you've been acting. If I hadn't known who you were when I walked in here, I would've said you were a couple."
"There's nothing going on." I informed her
"You shouldn't lie to yourself, Caroline," she replied "you make my son very happy, and I haven't seen him smile like this in a long time."
"The company's doing really well and it's thanks to him. He has good reason to have a smile on his face." I admitted
"Sweetheart, the company may be doing well but it's not that that's making him happy. It's you. He hasn't been able to take his eyes off you. From the moment his father and I stepped through the doors I haven't seen him glance at anyone else. You don't believe me, do you?" she asked
"Why would Stefan want anyone like me?" I questioned
"I think the question here is why wouldn't he?" she inquired "Your earrings are beautiful…"
"Stefan bought them for me." I informed her
"And you think he doesn't like you?" she asked "Sweetheart, open your eyes. He's besotted!"
"I hope you're not quizzing Caroline, Mom…" Stefan's voice spoke from behind me as I was about to reply
"We're getting on like a house on fire if I do say so myself." she replied "Where's your father?"
"Waiting for the drinks," he informed her "he said I should come and whisk Caroline onto the dancefloor…"
"What?" I questioned
"Would you like to dance?" he asked, holding his hand out to me
I smiled warmly and took his hand, letting him help to my feet…
"Make sure you come back with your toes in tact, Caroline," Lily proclaimed as he began to lead me onto the dancefloor "he never asks anyone to dance…"
Hello to Lily and Giuseppe Salvatore, who can definitely see the spark between Stefan and Caroline!