She cursed herself when the lights went out above her leaving her in an abyss of darkness holding the canvas she had been left in charge of.
Her eyes went skywards searching out the bulb as she moved around trying to get it to turn back on.
After a few seconds she gave up placing the canvas against the wall before she inhaled and did a jig, "Yes," she mumbled as the lights came back on.
Reaching the canvas she grabbed for it when she heard clapping from behind her.
Turning her head she saw him, "Careful with that, Love," he murmured as he leaned against the wall near the light switch.
She frowns, her shoulders slumping Caroline had been working in the back room for most of her internship.
She didn't need a stranger telling her how to do her job making a face she turned back to her duties making her way back to her inventory log.
She pursed her lips together hearing him behind her placing the painting back into its slot she turned crossing her arms.
"Can I help you with something," she asked dryly as he approached her grinning like he owned the room she gritted her teeth to keep from adding a few choice words.
The curly haired man strutted towards her clearly enjoying himself.
"You can actually," he said casually crossing his own arms his eyes dancing with amusement as he blew her a crooked smile.
"That specific canvas doesn't go with that series," he explained with an air of arrogance she figured he spoke with regularly.
"It's on my list so I'm going to catalog it okay," she answered smartly she smiled to herself at the way his face fell while she was turning to grab her binder to show him.
Caroline swiveled back on her foot looking back to him.
"Rebekah made this," he asked quietly as she gaped up at him close enough to catch his breath against her cheek as he spoke.
She nodded numbly her faculties not in check quite yet until he smiled gazing at her smugly making her growl under her breath.
"Yeah after my boss decided to run away," she confirmed with a frown letting him have the binder as she stepped to his side then away getting back to work.
She fixed her ponytail as she walked back down the now lit walkway her mind set on the next canvas to grab.
"I didn't run away," he called after her bothered by her low opinion of him as he looked up shutting her binder for her and tossing it back on the desk.
He spotted her frozen in her place her hair looking slightly less disheveled than when he first met her.
"It's not my business," she responded shortly her voice echoing as she turned back around embarrassed she had once again put her foot in her mouth.
When she got this job all she wanted was to learn and she had but at what cost.
She stood silently waiting for what he might say as she stewed in her mellow drama begging herself not to break his stare.
It looked as if they were stuck in the middle of a stand-off. "You're Caroline," he said the puzzle coming together in his mind and through his eyes for her to see.
"I am," she answered with an affirmative nod, "So you're Klaus," he nodded confirming her observation heat rising inside of her at the sight of his own blush.
"I should get back to work," she said hoping this would soon be forgotten as she half turned.
"Just a moment," he called behind her stilling her once again mid-step.
"Would you like to see the private ones," he asked intriguing her with the idea.
Caroline's eyes must have lit up at the thought of seeing his unfinished work because he was smiling again. "You'd let me," she started unable to hide the glee in her voice as he grew closer
"It's the least I could do after a summer of being my sister's flunky," he replied liking the way she smiled more with each passing second.
"I'd appreciate that if you could forget about my big mouth back there," she said pointing with her head behind them.
Klaus grinned nodding, "How about we start over," he asked extending his hand to her, "I'm Klaus," he began with a tilt of his head.
Caroline matched his stance taking his hand warming under his stare, "Caroline," she replied as she quickly letting go of him.
"Lovely name for a beautiful woman," he complimented as he wrapped his hands behind his back, "I think you know the way."
Caroline nodded leading him to the room he meant so she could finally see the inspired work she had been waiting to see all summer along with the man she couldn't wait to work with.
