Blonde Ambition 37
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It wasn't long before the first guests arrived. They weren't the ones arriving from the city, but the ones who were already on Long Island. The staff ran out to valet their cars.
They greeted Davina and Caroline with kisses on the cheeks. The men were mostly in pale suits with their upper crust accents having spent a year on the Continent or an appropriate finishing school in New England. The ladies were all gorgeous in their elegant finery with their "dahlings" and cigarettes dangling from their fingers.
Caroline had met many before and Davina directed them to the drinks and cucumber sandwiches. Davina promised that the party would have quite the turnout and they expected it from their eccentric friend.
They wandered into the back yard, sipping drinks in lawn chairs as more of the Hamptons society turned out. They all begrudgingly asked about Davina's acting and for her to give their love to her parents. Caroline had to stifle many grins since she was sure Mrs. Claire was not a fan of many of them, but they were invited due to duty. They also asked Caroline politely about her writing, although they privately thought New York Magazine was for the unwashed masses.
"The people are why we don't live here," Davina whispered to Caroline who laughed. The guests weren't bad people, but they were insulated and liked to keep it that way.
It wasn't exactly a relief, but a sincere pleasure when the first train of guests arriving from New York made it to the house, among them Stefan, Damon, Rebekah, and Marcel. Car after car pulled in the long driveway, full of guests ready to stretch their legs after the long journey.
Davina greeted them all with genuine smile, hugs, and kisses, directing them inside to use the facilities or straight on to the back yard. Their bags would be brought inside. She advised them about the activities they could take part in. She flirted with everyone, excited that things were picking up.
"Davina," Stefan said, giving her a sweet smile when he walked towards her, kissing her on the cheek.
"Hey handsome," she said with a grin. She liked Stefan, but she liked a lot of people. At the first sign of him getting possessive or in too deep she'd have to let him go, but for now it seemed like their arrangement was working. The same went for Thierry who was also coming. Variety was the spice of life after all. She liked variety in her drinks, her clothes, and especially her company.
"Trouble," Damon greeted her and she pinched his butt when he leaned in for a peck. His yelp made her laugh and he pinched her back. If her and Damon's egos weren't both super-sized they would make an interesting couple, but they were better off friends and Davina was very happy for Bonnie and Damon. Davina noticed that off stage Bonnie was quietly very funny and sweet. On stage she commanded attention. Davina admired her a great deal. She wanted to command attention on a stage, but hadn't gotten a break yet. If Caroline taught her anything though, it was to never give up.
"Boys. Head on back. I'll be there soon." She sent them off with a smile.
"Marcel," Davina greeted him when his car was unloaded.
"Davina," he returned with a kiss on the cheek. He liked this friend of Bonnie's. He'd gotten to know her a little during her rehearsals with Bonnie. She was bubbly and fun. "This is Rebekah. My girlfriend and Klaus' sister." Marcel kept an arm around Rebekah's waist, happy to make her goal of attending the party come true.
The brunette witch knew of the Original sister, but hadn't been formally introduced. "Hi. I'm Davina Claire."
Rebekah smiled, making an effort in ways she usually didn't. "Thank you for inviting us. I saw your dance with Bonnie. You were good. You're Caroline's friend?"
"Thank you. Caroline's my best friend and roommate," Davina answered, turning and pointing, cocktail in hand. "She's in the back. Where's Bonnie?" She looked around and didn't spot in her the crowd of people dispersing from the vehicles. It was finally turning into a party.
"She's on her way with Klaus," Marcel promised.
"Hello darling," an accented voice announced. Once again, no one noticed him and he was going to make himself known.
Sliding forward, Kol Mikaelson took Davina's hand and pressed a kiss to it. Marcel and Rebekah made their quick escape to the back, distancing themselves from Kol.
Davina met a lot of guys like this one, handsome and assured. "And you are?"
Kol looked into her eyes and fumbled only for a second. This one was extraordinarily beautiful. Petite and curvy with eyes that could knock a man out. "Kol Mikaelson at your service and I do mean service."
Davina arched a brow and despite her being much shorter than him, he felt as if she was looking down at him. She drew back her hand. "I've heard about you."
"All good things I'm sure."
"No." Davina's eyes sparked. Kol Mikaelson was handsome after all with his dark hair and eyes. She liked his accent too, but there were also things she immediately disliked.
"You wound me," he said, hand up to his chest. "Who is spreading these nasty rumors?"
"Oh they aren't rumors," she said, putting her hand on her hip. "You've caused trouble between my best friend and her boyfriend. That's not ok."
Kol was confused. He'd barely been out of a coffin and in Virginia for most of that time. "One of the Russian ballerinas?" News certainly traveled fast in New York.
"Who?"
He hoped to shock her and casually mentioned, "I had four ballerinas in my bed last night." He waited for her to either slap him or perhaps faint. He thought he might catch her before she hit the ground if he was feeling generous. Perhaps he could get a drink from her neck. The snack he'd had on the train wasn't enough.
Davina rolled her eyes and then took a sip of her drink. Yeah, she knew guys like Kol Mikaelson. He was good looking, but also lots of trouble. She was trouble enough herself. "Is that supposed to impress or intimidate me? I wouldn't show my face if I couldn't keep up with 4 ballerinas in bed," she scoffed, shocking him and causing him to smile. "Except I don't compete with other women, Kol Mikaelson. It's tacky and I don't do tacky." She looked at him as if he was a bug she squished under her shoe. "I'm talking about my best friend Caroline. If you mess with her, you mess with me and you do not want to do that." With her parting words, Davina moved away to greet others coming in from New York, accepting a fresh cocktail from a waiter.
Kol watched her walk away, impressed. He rubbed his chin and mumbled, "Davina Claire."
He was also very confused. Who was Caroline?
At the back of the house, the very same Caroline was acting as the other hostess, greeting everyone with smiles, directing them towards the drinks and making sure that everyone had what they needed. The waiters and waitresses were moving and cleaning up as Caroline kept an eye on them. It was ingrained in her from all of those debutante and social events she attended as a child in Virginia. Her need to control things meshed perfectly with hosting duties and to her mother's relief she took over hosting duties when she turned thirteen.
She loved it. It was in her nature to extend a smile and make sure people were taken care of. Like she told Klaus, she always tried.
She greeted Damon and Stefan with genuine smiles.
"Caroline, I think this break with Klaus is the best thing," Stefan told her as he hugged her.
Caroline was confused, but didn't say anything. Clearly Stefan was not a fan of Klaus and didn't know they reconciled, but he still didn't understand that she could take care of her herself, especially in her own romantic relationships. She had no idea why he thought she couldn't handle her own life.
"Sorry, Caroline, that you lost your sugar daddy," Damon snarked and she smacked him on the arm. He laughed, getting beat up all over the place, and she grinned.
"Where's Bonnie?"
Damon shrugged. "Marcel told me she's coming." At the train station, Marcel, Rebekah, and Kol were late enough arriving that the one sentence Marcel passed on to Damon before they had to sit was that Bonnie was coming. Damon didn't even expect to see Rebekah there since she was so worried about it the night before. Kol was a big surprise too. Since Stefan was hesitant about the Mikaelsons, Damon let it go at that and they went to their seats, sitting with others they knew. If Bonnie didn't arrive in the next group arriving from the train station, he'd go back and try to find where she was.
"Hey Care," April called with a wave. Caroline greeted her with a big hug, plus Liv Parker and Anna Zhu, who was another member of Liv and Davina's coven. Not far behind was Luke Parker, Liv's twin brother, and his partner Aiden Little. Jeremy Gilbert, Jamie Wilson, and Thierry came around the house too. Alaric Saltzman and his fiancee Meredith Fell were holding hands as they joined them. Van Nguyen and Lucy Wilson, two other members of the coven, also came through with big smiles. Jamie Wilson, Lucy's brother, walked in with Liam Davis, making jokes. They all immediately took drinks and began to settle in. Caroline said hello to them all.
There were actors and actresses Davina made friends with. Some were famous, like Marilyn Miller. Others were working and that was enough. There were sports figures who attended, including football players enjoying their off season when they had to work to stay financially afloat, and boxers. There were intellectuals and those who were not. Davina invited anyone she came across during the prior week or so and called the others, telling her guests they should invite guests who would make her party interesting. Like the successful clubs in town, a mix of guests always created the best results. Blue bloods and white collars were mixing.
No one was ready to jump in the water yet, but they enjoyed the light sandwiches and cocktails. A few gentlemen picked up the badminton racquets, getting some eager ladies to watch. There was flirting all over the property, coy looks and daring ones too.
Multiple languages were overheard. Intellectual conversations and vulgar ones too were held. The guys talked about boxing, baseball, and horse racing. The ladies spoke about the latest Broadway hit and the places Kohl was writing about. "Flat tires," "bearcats," and "bluenoses," the language of the young was bandied about.
There were large groups and smaller pairs walking towards the water. The daring ladies took off their stockings and shoes, going in bare feet, sand squished in their toes. The men slipped off their shoes and socks, rolling the cuffs of their pants. The ocean drew everyone towards it.
Caroline noticed that Marcel and Rebekah arrived. Klaus was nowhere to be seen though and she was worried. She walked their way when Marcel caught her eye, seeing how her brows were furrowed. He whispered, "He's coming." The message came on the breeze and she was thankful for it. Rebekah turned and smiled at Caroline, nodding in agreement. She mouthed "Thank you," to them and with a little more ease, she made sure everyone was taken care of.
Klaus was coming.
After flitting her way through the throngs of guests, sipping her cocktail, Caroline let Stefan drone on about the mess she was making of her love life. She let his words go in one ear and out the other, hoping he got the message. He meant well, but he wasn't showing it in a way she could appreciate fully. She was going to let him go on another 30 seconds before she let him know how wrong he was.
It was in those 30 seconds that everything changed.
Klaus and Bonnie walked into the backyard and her heart lifted.
Klaus was there.
He was there and he was ok.
"Stefan, you're right. I'm going to tell him exactly what I think," Caroline stated firmly, handing him her empty glass, noting Davina was walking behind Klaus and Bonnie with additional guests.
As Caroline marched over to him, fierce look in her eye, Stefan held his breath, ready to pounce if Klaus didn't take the news well that Caroline was better off without him.
"Klaus," Caroline said as she stalked towards him, "I have something to say to you."
"Yes?" he answered, lifting a brow, unsure.
Caroline's feet picked up the last little bit and she threw her arms around his neck and gave him the most passionate kiss she could. All of her passion and, frankly, love went into it.
When she opened her eyes, she was looking up at him. His beautiful blue eyes were dazed and full of affection, maybe even love, for her too. "I'm crazy about you."
Klaus's mouth met hers again and they could dimly hear a smatter of applause for their performance. He didn't care. Klaus cared that Caroline was back in his arms and he felt more steady than he had. This woman cared about him. She was crazy about him, she said. He wasn't sure he deserved her, but he craved her, the sexy and smart vampire in his arms.
When the kiss was over Caroline gave a little bow to their crowd and Klaus had his satisfied smirk on. He might have been the possessive one, but Caroline certainly put her mark on him. No one would be approaching her that day. She was his and she proved that by showing that he was hers.
Then Caroline's hands were on his face, cleaning up her lipstick, and he got lost once again in her.
"Caroline, you…look divine."
The combination of her blonde hair, blue eyes, and red lips were doing him in. All he wanted to do was throw her over his shoulder and disappear.
Her fingers straightened his tie and she leaned up to whisper in his ear. "You should see me in my bathing suit." Then she tugged on his earlobe and he had to adjust his pants discreetly.
"Minx."