Thank you for the reviews! I reached a hundred reviews this time beverlie405 that was you :) I messaged you about getting to ask a question or getting a sneak peek but I haven't heard from you yet so when you read this you know you can message me about that :)

For the rest of you! Thank you to those who read it, favorite, follow or review, I can't believe any of it but I'm really glad you guys are enjoying it. I know there's been a couple of incidents in the Klaroline fandom with plagiat and hate anons and I hope we can all ignore those that are insecure about their own ship to hate on others.

Thank you to Klaroline-fantasies for the beautiful new cover, and thank you to mscyanide for a great theory about how Katherine would persuade Caroline. I loved her idea a lot and I might have worked it in a bit in this chapter so just that you all know, Katherine's idea is thanks to her :)

Chapter 10

"Caroline is there any way I can get you to change your mind?" Elijah asked her once again. She had been talking to him for the past twenty minutes and he had tried to convince her to take Klaus' job offer.

She could hardly explain him why she said no so he had basically offered her anything to persuade her. First he thought the pay wasn't enough so he offered her an instant raise, then the hours, he even made it clear that her dress code was quite flexible and what she had been wearing before was fine. She was quite certain that last part was Katherine's influence though.

When she had explained to him that the job itself was fine but that she had no desire to work for Klaus... well that was when it became awkward. There had been a pregnant pause before Elijah started with a question, seemed to change his mind and offered to talk to his brother. To let him know that Caroline wasn't to be messed with.

She appreciated the gesture, she really did but she wasn't going to change her mind. She had had one interview, now she was just hoping on another one.

"Can you get me a different boss?" Caroline asked Elijah jokingly.

"I'm afraid he's technically mine as well..."

"Why do you want me to accept this job so bad Elijah?" Caroline finally asked, the matter had been bugging her the whole conversation.

"My brother had made it abundantly clear that he didn't want a new assistant. We set up the ads anyway and made him hold interviews because we knew he needed one. He won't admit to needing anyone so we had expected this to be a long process. But there you were, not only did he offered you the job, he seemed very persistent in you being his new assistant. I don't know if he will agree to anyone else," Elijah explained.

Caroline mused it over but the words didn't change her mind. She was quite sure why Klaus wanted her so bad, just another challenge, and she wasn't going to become one. Still Elijah needed her help and she hated to let her new acquaintance down. "If he won't agree, then don't give him a choice in the matter."

"What are you suggesting Miss Forbes?" Elijah asked her and a smile grew on her face.

"You can always trick him you know... Hire someone from your company for the job and tell Klaus that it's temporarily until he found someone of his liking," she scoffed, "You can even say that it's just until I change my mind."

"You want to trick my brother?" Elijah said bewildered.

"Well yes, you have a better idea?"

"I might have another card to play, talk to Katherine, she has some information that we discussed would be better to hear from her. But if you still refuse the offer... where am I going to find anyone in the company that will volunteer to be Klaus' assistant?" She could see his problem but was to focused on his earlier words. What did Katherine now that would be important enough that Elijah thought it to change her mind...

"I don't know, hire the receptionist for all I care, you know what qualities you're looking for. Just choose someone who possesses those and probably someone who can work under pressure. I doubt Klaus will let them relax often," she let out a sigh, "I'm awful. I can't believe I'm subjecting someone to this horrible faith."

Elijah let out a chuckle, "I'm sure she will survive, believe it or not, there are plenty women that actually want this job."

Caroline snorted at that, "Well they clearly haven't met your brother," she looked over her shoulder and saw Katherine walk back in the bar.

When her friend had requested Caroline to help her with the inventory this morning she hadn't expected Elijah to be there as well. She surely hadn't expected him to talk to her about his brother but it didn't change anything for her. Still she couldn't believe Katherine had just left them to talk about it, why did everyone wanted her to take this job so damn much?

Elijah noticed how Caroline's eyes feel on Katherine and smiled, "Well I should get back to the office and you two have some things to discuss. But I'll think about your idea Caroline. Just know that if you change your mind, all you have to do is ask."

Caroline resisted the urge to roll her eyes, "Yeah your brother said such a thing as well. It doesn't matter, I won't."

Katherine returned to their table, scribbling some numbers on her piece of paper and looked over at the two. "You're leaving?" she asked Elijah.

"Yes, I need to go back to the office," Elijah explained and Caroline wasn't sure if she imagined it but for a moment Katherine looked sad, then she composed herself and nodded.

"Well let me walk you out." Before Elijah could protest she had grabbed his hand and led the way, Caroline could see the two speak a bit longer before Elijah left and Katherine joined her again.

"So did you really need to do inventory today?" Caroline asked when Katherine returned.

"Nope," Katherine said with a big grin, "But it seemed like a plausible excuse and it seemed like it worked."

She sighed, "I already told Elijah that I won't change my mind."

"I know, you never would. We just thought you should know something before you make that final decision."

"What should I know?" Caroline pressed, the grin had disappeared from Katherine's face and she found herself worrying about what her friend had to say.

"You should know why there is such little response on your applications," Katherine told her and Caroline looked at her conflicted.

"I wasn't aware there was a reason for that other than unexperienced and new in town," Caroline told her, her mind reeling trying to come up with an explanation.

Katherine nodded at her, "Yeah so did I, until Elijah told me that you were a last entry. He hadn't put you on the list first but wanted to give you a chance after all. He was impressed by your experience and you were one of the most promising candidates they had heard of so soon..."

"But? Come on Katherine I can hear that but coming from a mile away," she glared at Katherine, hoping she would get to the point quickly because she had no idea why Katherine was even trying to persuade her to get a job while she knew what had happened.

Katherine avoided her glare and continued, "Well it seems like you got quite a bad reference from your previous employer."

Caroline took in a short breath, "I've got a what now?" she asked in shock. How could that have happened, there was only one person that would give her a reference and that was. "Mrs. Lockwood!" she spoke out loud in realization.

"Yep it seems like that bitch has been busy ruining all your job opportunities. Apparently you are lazy, unreliable and make hasty decisions. Now that last one can be true at times but we both now that non of these describe you at all, especially not work you."

"But why would she do that? Caroline questioned, "Carol and I have never had any problems together, I have worked for her for five years, doing every little thing she requested and then I get fired because her son dumped her and now she's even smearing my non existing reputation in New York!" She was growing angry, not understanding why this had happened but she wanted answers, she needed this to stop. How else was she going to get a job here? At the same time she didn't want to have to contact the woman, not after what she did, not after what her son had done. Still, this was more important that Tyler.

"You're thinking of demanding answers aren't you?" Katherine asked, recognizing the look on her face.

Caroline nodded, "Of course I am. I can't believe this happened. I'm just glad that Elijah told you, at least now I can change things."

"Well you don't have to you know..." Katherine said carefully.

She raised her eyebrow, "Why not?" she asked slowly.

"Well what if you left the reference out," Katherine opted and Caroline looked at her incredulous.

"What than?" That way I would lose my only reference and I have nothing to prove my competence!"

"Well that reference is nothing worth now anyway so I doubt it would do you much harm..." Katherine said and Caroline couldn't deny that there was truth in her words. Still she knew a reference was needed for a good job, Katherine wasn't done though. "What if you get a reference from someone else."

"From who?" she asked confused, she had just one long lasting job experience, who was she going to ask about a reference. Of course Katherine's next words should have surprised her, it was why she was here of course. Still they had caught her of guard.

"Klaus."

Caroline coughed, not sure if Katherine was serious or not but she had to laugh at the idea. "You want me to put up Klaus as a reference? Firstly, why would I? Secondly, that's not how it works, I don't work for him so he's not a reference. Thirdly, why would he? And finally... Have you lost your mind!?" the last words she screamed out, unable to belief how Katherine even came up with these things. She had heard some weird stuff come out of her friend's mouth but this didn't make any sense whatsoever.

"Just listen alright?" Katherine offered and begrudgingly Caroline nodded, she could at least give Kat the chance to explain. "Yes I want you to put Klaus up as your reference because he has a great working company and a good word from him could really help you out." When Katherine noticed how she was ready to interject she held up her hand, "No interrupting until I'm finished. Secondly, I know that's not how it works, that's why you'll have to work there."

Caroline's eyes widened at that and she shook her head in distress, "Nope... no, no and no. That's not going to happen."

Katherine shot her a glare, "What did I say about no interruptions?" she asked before she continued, "I never said a longtime job, just stay there for a couple of weeks, a few months at most, long enough for it to have some weight on your resume. Which brings me to why Klaus will agree... Because if he doesn't, you can make it publicly known how he basically harassed you at your interview. He has no choice in the matter. And if I lost my mind? No I think I'm a freaking genius."

Katherine finished her talk and Caroline looked at her in wonder, "Katherine Pierce... I don't know if you're evil or just plain brilliant but both probably work to describe you," Katherine's smile grew at that, "But I have to think about it. When I said that I don't want to work for Klaus I mean it. Even a few weeks would be too long."

Katherine nodded in understanding but she knew her friend would have to make a choice, at least now she knew her options.

Klaus walked into the office of Stefan Salvatore, seeing the man working behind his desk. He knocked on the door to inform Stefan of his entrance but the man seemed stuck in his work. "What's so interesting in those papers?" Klaus asked and chuckled when Stefan's head shot up.

"Klaus, sorry I was distracted," Stefan apologized while he stood up and extended his hand to him. He took it and they shook before they both took place.

"It's alright mate, we've all have it sometimes," he looked around and noticed how Damon was noticeably absent. "Wasn't your brother going to be here as well?" Klaus questioned, remembering Damon's frustration when he himself had been late earlier that week.

Stefan looked uncomfortable at the question, "Yeah Damon had decided that he had more pressing matters since he was already there when the contract got changed. He doesn't find these matters interesting for him."

Klaus rolled his eyes at the older Salvatore's behavior but he couldn't say he was surprised about them. "Well I guess it's just us then," he grabbed the contract from his briefcase and put it on the table over the stack of papers that already lay there. "So your brother tried to change the price we agreed on, obviously he failed on that department but we did agree that I would pay for a new offices for you to continue as long as it is close by my company. It needs to be easy to reach, until then you can use the fourth floor of my building, I understand your lease runs out next week."

Stefan nodded at him, "Yeah we need to find a new place as soon as possible, but we would like to use your floor now we can. Damon was just very amendment on having our own space."

Klaus shrugged, "It's fine, I have to confess, I haven't had the chance to look for places yet, is there anything you've had your eye on already?"

Stefan chuckled, "Nope, haven't had the time. I was hoping that when we hire our assistant she can do the searching."

Klaus laughed at that, "Yeah I was hoping the same thing! You're looking for a new assistant?" he asked Stefan, wheels in his head starting to turn.

"Yeah we really need some extra help now and then so we placed an ad a few days ago," Stefan pointed at the stack of papers in front of him, "I'm just trying to pick someone qualified but I have no idea what I'm searching for."

Klaus looked at the stack, there was a small chance but he knew that she had been desperate in her search, was there a chance... "Can I see?" Klaus asked and when Stefan looked at him confused he explained, "I've had some interviews myself yesterday, maybe I can pick out those that you should definitely not hire."

"Sure take a look," Stefan handed him the folders and he quickly skimmed through them. Kirstin Shears, nope. Megan van Walen, no. Hannah Armstrong, not her. Caroline Forbes, got it. He quickly grabbed her file and laid it out on top, he opened it and looked at the information to verify that this was truly the Caroline he was searching for. "I want to add another term," Klaus told him and Stefan looked up in confusion.

"What can you possibly want now?" Stefan asked him and looked at his smirk with doubt.

Klaus revealed the folder in his hand, opening it and laying the papers out over Stefan's desk. "Caroline Forbes, hire her," he instructed Stefan.

"Why would I do that?" Stefan asked sceptically.

"I interviewed her yesterday, she's good. Has experience and can probably hold her own against your brother, which you'll need in an assistant."
"Then why won't you hire her?" Stefan asked, "If she's that good..."
"I tried," Klaus confessed, "She turned me down."

Stefan laughed at that, "You offered her the job but she said no? Why's that?"

"Because she says she doesn't like me and she doesn't want to work for me. But she needs a job and I think you guys can use someone like her." If Caroline would say no to him, he was certain she would say yes to Stefan. And when she did, she would have to work in his building until they found new office space, which if he had his way, would take a looooong time.

Stefan nodded, "Okay we'll set up an interview with her, but you better are not making me regret this."

Klaus smirked, well that brought him a bit closer to Caroline already.

Elijah arrived back in the building and walked past the reception, he noticed the two women that worked there and thought back to Caroline's words, "I don't know, hire the receptionist for all I care, you know what qualities you're looking for." She might haven't meant it seriously but Caroline wasn't wrong. The receptionist would have enough experience with taking the phone and he only needed someone to hold the position for long enough until Caroline would change her mind.

He hoped that if she heard that the position was taken that she would change her mind about rejecting it. Sometimes it takes losing something before you realize how much it means to you. Hopefully that was a technique that would work with Caroline as well.

He looked at the two women, one he knew had worked here for over five years now, Audrey if he wasn't mistaken. He called her over and she walked to him confused, a bit worried as well as if she thought that she was getting a warning. But that wasn't why he was calling her. Caroline had been right, this wouldn't work without tricks, but maybe Klaus wasn't the only one he needed to trick.

"Audrey how long have you been working here?" he asked the women.

"Seven years Mr. Mikaelson," she answered quickly.

"And have you always wanted to be a receptionist?"

"I like the job, yes."

"Is there a way I could persuade you to change jobs for a little while?" Elijah asked her, he hoped his plan would work.

"How do you mean?" Audrey asked, afraid that this would mean she would lose her job.

"You see, Klaus is in need of an assistant but the girl he wishes to hire has refused him. Now I am hoping that she will reconsider but until that time my brother is in need of an assistant. I would like you to take over that position temporarily, you'll get a higher pay and when Caroline accepts you can have your old job back, you'll even get a raise for your hard work. Now what do you say Audrey?"

Audrey was stunned, not sure what she could say, she hadn't expected this to happen and even though she was still confused about the matter she knew this was a good opportunity. So she nodded. She nodded and the deal was struck.

Audrey would be Klaus' assistant until they girl they wanted accepted or they found a better replacement, she would get paid more and all she had to do was make sure that Klaus wasn't aware of what Elijah had planned. He had to think she was there permanently.

She liked Elijah, had seen him around for quite a few years and she hoped his plan would work. Whatever his plan was.

And to add another thanks, Readinglove13's love for Audrey is what gave me the idea to incorporate her as a full character :) She'll be back.

A bit of a late update but I'm currently babysitting and I still had to write this whole chapter. I had a birthday yesterday so I couldn't write then and had to help my mother torture the Christmas tree the first hald of today. So this has been written in a rush and it's just thirty minutes before midnight but I made my Sunday deadline :)

Next chapter should be up on Thuesday and will have:
-A job offer for Caroline,
-Klaus' first interaction with Audrey,
-Katherine and Elijah scheming together.

Please tell me how you think these things will work out, I love to see your theories!