Klaroline AU Prompt: Celebrities Klaus is Washington DC's best fixer and Caroline is someone who needs his help to clear her image.
"Just wait in here, Senator," the young man told her with a small, awkward smile before shutting the door.
Caroline scowled as it closed, hating that this was where she had been ushered as soon as she had stepped foot into the building. There were other rooms that dotted the hallway that led to the conference room, all of them unfortunately occupied by the eclectic assortment of individuals that made up Klaus Mikaelson's business. Any of them would have been more than sufficient for the waiting game that she was currently enduring, but no, this was where she was to be left as the time ticked by until one of them could provide her with any worthwhile news.
It could take anywhere between a few minutes and hours for the miracle that Rebekah had sworn up and down that her brother would be able to maneuver for her after the damn sex tape had made the evening news.
"I doubt you remember Nik from the wedding, Caroline, but he really is the best at what he does," Rebekah had told her as they'd stood in her office, watching the events play out on Channel 9, the rest of her staff moving about in a frenzy to try and quiet the insanity that erupted as soon as a glimpse of her teenage self removing her shirt for her college boyfriend aired. "And what he does is shoot down assholes like Tyler Lockwood who are trying to run a smear campaign against us."
Her high school sweetheart turned college boyfriend for a year before they'd amicably decided to go their separate ways. She certainly hadn't remembered agreeing to be taped while having sex with him though, definitely hadn't expected such a video to surface ten years later while they were running against one another. It shouldn't have surprised her though. The Lockwoods had never played fairly in politics but like hell was she going to let that mutt ruin her reputation or knock her from the Senate running.
So if she had to face Klaus Mikaelson again in order to grind Tyler into dust then so be it.
Caroline simply wished she didn't have to do so in his conference room. The very one where he'd used that gifted tongue of his to bring her some of the best orgasms of her life. On the table that she was working hard not to look at.
It'd happened after Rebekah and Enzo's wedding, the happy couple having just headed off in their limo to the airport for their honeymoon. The reception had still been raging on but she'd ended up leaving the place with Klaus, wanting to forget that she was the last of her close circle of friends who was still single.
Klaus had been hot and clearly interested so when he'd suggested they leave the place to have their own party for two Caroline had gone against her better judgement and headed off with him. She vaguely knew of him, had heard enough stories from Rebekah about 'her favorite brother Nik', that Caroline had found herself throwing caution to the wind. They'd been put together throughout the week leading up to the wedding, her being Maid of Honor and him being the Best Man, exchanged emails a few times to be on the same page with their duties. Unlike Kol who was a downright menace or Elijah who was too boring for words, Klaus had been a charming breath of fresh air from what Caroline was used to in regards to Rebekah's siblings. Even if he was entirely too cocky, too sure of himself and his ability to land whoever he wanted as a date.
She'd rebuffed his advances several times in the lead up to the wedding but in that instant of watching Rebekah and Enzo head off together and being surrounded by all her happily paired off friends, Caroline had decided to finally give in.
It wasn't just sex-though that had been hands down some of the best rounds she'd ever had-but the two had hit it off, finding that they really did enjoy one another's company, finally feeling that damn spark that Rebekah was always talking about when she recounted falling for Enzo.
But Klaus lived in London and Caroline knew all too well how trying long distance relationships could be. She wasn't about to engage in that inevitable heartbreak-especially not with someone she'd only really just met-but keeping in touch was something she could do. Emails had continued to pass between them and then the odd flirty text message here and there before they were doing so almost nightly.
Then Klaus had moved Stateside. It should have been the perfect opportunity for them to try out moving forward but she'd become involved with Jesse by that point, and by the time she'd broken up with him Klaus was seeing someone else-or so she'd heard from Rebekah.
The timing had never quite matched up for them.
Except for now.
She was single and from what she'd glimpsed in Rebekah's conversations with Klaus and through her own emails with him that had become less frequent to practically nonexistent since he'd turned up in DC Caroline knew that Klaus was single as well.
Not that it would matter now.
Sex scandals put a huge damper on pursuing any kind of relationship. Especially with the guy who was trying to help clear it all up. Caroline could only imagine what else Klaus might dig up about her because of her ex's patent for filming the two of them having sex.
Tyler Lockwood was going to rue the day he'd decided to try and tarnish her reputation.
"Hello, Caroline."
She swore inwardly, annoyed that she hadn't heard the door open. That few seconds would have been useful for putting up the barriers she knew she'd need to face the British man that went along with that delicious accent.
Caroline turned toward him. "Klaus." Ugh. She really should have gone with Mr. Mikaelson, kept the familiarity out of the situation. Especially with why she was there.
Klaus Mikaelson had a way of looking at her that made Caroline's insides squeeze in anticipation. Maybe it was the ever present smirk that he seemed to wear whenever he walked into a room-but it couldn't be that right now because it wasn't there. Instead his lips curved downward, matching the quiet concern that mingled with the intensity he always had when he looked at her. Ever since that very first in person introduction at the rehearsal dinner for Rebekah's wedding.
She didn't like the concern, though at least it wasn't like some of the others she'd seen. Those were all coupled with whispers about her throwing in the towel and being pushed into obscurity while Tyler got to ride off with her Senate seat. "I'm guessing you're wanting to know about the recording."
Not that she really knew what to say about it considering it was clear as day what was about to happen from the snippets the news had shown. The version that was uploaded to youtube and subsequently deleted had been even more graphic. Who knew how many porn sites the damn thing was on now.
"No." Klaus shook his head as the door finally shut behind him. "You'll be happy to know that its already been released that you were under eighteen when the video was recorded, that it was taken without your consent as signed off by a number of people from your hometown who Tyler had bragged about the recording to when you were younger. A recorded conversation of his having taped it without your knowledge has also been released to the media. Latest polls are in with him taking a nosedive while you've risen dramatically." There was a malicious gleam in his eyes that she almost missed, his trademark smirk finally coming out, but there was nothing pleasant about it now.
Caroline stared at Klaus, slightly in shock with how much he'd managed to get done in the last hour. "The Lockwood family's stock has also gone downhill," Klaus continued with a wicked grin, his enjoyment over that family's downfall obvious. Caroline knew he took great pride in what he did, they'd discussed both of their jobs many times via texts, but the ruthlessness she was picking up on was new. Not that she could balk at it considering how much that mercilessness had helped her out.
And Tyler deserved every hit coming to him. "Mystic Falls-I believe that's the place-is rife with picketers against them at the moment and the Sheriff's department has opened an investigation into some allegations that have come to light about their handling of the town's money. Your mother is being hands off of that one to help quiet any issues of personal grudges. There are also charges being brought against Tyler filming child pornography and his entire campaign team for helping to distribute it."
"How did you manage to get that all done? I haven't even been here an hour?" Caroline stared at him, voice tinged with disbelief as she tried to figure out how he could work so quickly.. She knew his team was good but she hadn't realized that it was this good.
"I was on this long before you entered my office, Caroline," Klaus informed her as he took a step forward, gaze locking with hers and she saw that flash of anger again. There was tension in his jaw and shoulders, fists clenched tightly at his sides but her gaze shifted back to his face as he continued. "As soon as the news broke I had my team doing what it could to twist the story into your favor."
"I'll have to remember to thank Rebekah." She sighed, not at all surprised that his sister had got the ball spinning long before she'd headed into his office. Caroline relaxed a bit, giant weight lifted from her shoulders even if this wasn't going to be easy heading forward. "And thank you. And your staff. I need to thank them. too." It would still be rough going with everything. Sex scandals were never easy but she could persevere through this.
Klaus' lips curved upward, amusement in his gaze as he regarded her. "I was on this long before Rebekah called as well, sweetheart." The amusement gave way as he looked her over, the possessiveness of his glance causing her spine to straighten a bit, insides clenching with anticipation even as she wrinkled her nose in confusion.
She couldn't figure out what had spurred him into reacting so quickly to the scandal that involved her. They hadn't talked in weeks and Caroline had finally regulated Klaus to her 'what if' column while she'd focused on her campaign. "You'll be pleased to know that I've got Slater working to erase any trace of the video from the internet," Klaus continued as he clasped his hands behind his back. "Removing from people's personal computers will take some time but I'm told he'll have it obliterated as best he can by tomorrow morning."
"Seriously?" She'd thought the internet was forever. That was pretty much why she'd never done the whole sending nude photos or taking part in sex tapes with past boyfriends. Her mother had repeatedly instilled how badly that could go when she was younger.
"Of course." Klaus paused, his gaze moving toward the television screen and Caroline glanced over as well. "
Tyler Lockwood was on the screen, vying for forgiveness for the egregious actions taken earlier in the day. The screen clicked off before Caroline could properly fume. "The news has gotten wind that you're here," Klaus told her and Caroline nodded, still reeling from the last few moments. "I can have you escorted out the back entrance and into a car safely away from them in seconds. What do you say, Caroline?"
She needed to ask him how much she even owed him for doing all of this. Klaus' services didn't come cheap and she'd probably need to cash in some of her bonds to cover it but that would be worth it for the satisfaction of seeing Tyler Lockwood crash and burn.
"Coffee."
Caroline mentally slapped herself for uttering that word in response to his question, though it was nice to see that she'd thrown Klaus for a bit of a loop. "We never did get that cup we talked about having once you came back." Life had gotten in the way, their schedules never lining up. "We could do that now. If you're still interested?" She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear before silently berating herself for fidgeting in his presence. She was a Senator for god's sake, she shouldn't be reacting to him like this.
She should probably be heading back to the office, but taking the rest of the day off to refocus was needed. She was still processing everything that had happened in the last few hours. So why not go out for a cup of coffee?
"I could use a cup or two," Klaus replied as he stepped even closer to her, dimples on display. He reached out and wound one of her curls between his fingers, fixated on that for a second before he locked his gaze with her. She couldn't help but lick her lips with the promises for what was to come from the way he was regarding her. "And for the record, Caroline, I never stopped being interested."
She simply grinned at him as she pulled back and then nodded toward the door for them to head out. Maybe it was finally time for their paths to combine into one again.