Author's note: Special thanks to TigerArrowgirl for sending me so many lovely reviews — thank you for all of your support! Also, I recently started a new Klaroline multi-chap, The Traitor and the Coward. I hope you'll consider giving it a try!

This was written for Klaroline AU Season 2021 - Week Four: April 7-13 – Crime (Sex Workers/Mafia/Hitmen). This story was inspired by a scene in The West Wing. Caroline and Klaus' relationship is unconventional, but she thought they had mutual respect and maybe even love. She never anticipated that ambition would outrank affection.

Warning: Angst.

"Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you."
― Pericles

Her lopsided birthday pancakes were the most beautiful damn things to ever grace Caroline's countertop — and she once unloaded an entire suitcase of gold bars on there. They were all burnt edges and mushy centers, but Klaus had taken the time to decorate them with some leftover pink glitter sprinkles she must've had tucked away in a cabinet and Caroline found herself tearing up as she took another bite.

"Apologies, sweetheart, I didn't realize these were that terrible," he said in embarrassment, refilling her orange juice.

She quickly shook her head, a faint blush on her cheeks that never failed to amuse them both, given her profession. But there was something about Klaus that always made her feel special. Normal. And while she was planning to have an extraordinary life one day, her fondest wish was that it also could be normal. "They're perfect. Just like you," she teased, placing quick kisses on his dimples.

"Trust me, I'm far from perfect," he grumbled.

She snorted, swirling her fork in the syrup. "Yale Law School graduate, clerked for Ginsburg, legislative liaison for the World Health Organization, and now you're President Bennett's top policy advisor — yeah, you sound terrible on paper."

"Tell that to Elijah. He's got his knickers in a twist over this healthcare bill. We're so close to pushing it through Congress, but this is usually the time when legislation is the most vulnerable, so he's been especially surly this week."

Caroline squeezed his hand sympathetically. Klaus and his brother were under enormous pressure at the moment, trying to carry out President Bennett's impressive agenda. Caroline and Klaus had an unconventional relationship, slowly built on mutual trust and respect. They met because of an awkward miscommunication at Grayson's, an exclusive restaurant downtown. Klaus was there for a blind date while Caroline was there for a...date. Both had been provided with scant descriptions of their dates; Klaus was expecting an attractive blonde with a sharp gaze while Caroline had been told she'd be approached by a British expat with a devilish smirk.

Once they started talking, they realized the misunderstanding and laughed and teased as though they were old friends. Hours had passed before they realized their real dates never showed, and instead they took their accidental date back to Klaus' place to get better acquainted. It was a delicate dance Caroline performed when she took a genuine interest in someone; it was a rare individual that could accept she was an escort. What should've just been a fun night turned into several, and eventually evolved into something neither could define. They only knew that it was real and it felt right.

Caroline once told Klaus that he could share as much or as little of himself as he liked — in her line of work, she kept deeper and darker secrets than he could imagine. He was guarded, but eventually opened up to her about the stresses of his job, his complicated family drama, and even some of his fears. A cautious creature, experience had been an unforgiving teacher for Caroline, but somehow she shared more of herself than she ever expected.

It was no secret that she was putting herself through law school, but she'd never confessed to anyone that she was pursuing the degree so that one day she could work as a human rights lawyer to protect the rights of sex workers. At first, she worried that he'd see it as a cliché — a broken whore keeping others bound to that lifestyle. But then, something unexpected happened. He understood. Klaus saw that Caroline was trying to learn about a merciless system to make things better for others who couldn't help themselves. He didn't judge, and that was just one of the reasons why she loved him.

Fuck. Blue eyes widened at that thought. She was in love with Klaus. Tucking back a silly grin, she swooped in to kiss him, giggling at the sticky-sweet syrup on his lips. It was too soon to tell him. Probably. This was all scary and new and she was going to need to agonize over it and make far too many lists before deciding what to do.

He returned the kiss with a bit of heat, making her heart flutter as she wondered if he could be a bit late to work. When Klaus pulled back, there was a hint of uncertainty on his handsome face, brows furrowed as he failed to ask casually, "Do you...do you have a full day planned?"

This was his way of asking without asking. Caroline made it a rule not to discuss her job; too much information would lead to questions she shouldn't answer. Klaus was careful to respect her need for distance, and only asked enough details to check on her safety. "It's going to be a study day for me; the upcoming mock trial is a huge part of my final," she explained, feeling a twinge when she noted his relieved expression when he realized she wasn't working. He hated her job.

Later that morning, when she walked him to the door, Caroline couldn't help but be hopeful at the warm feeling of domesticity that washed over them. One day, they could have a future.

She was on her 20th rehearsal of her cross-examination material for the mock trial when the doorbell rang. Stretching until her lower back gave several ugly clicks, Caroline grumbled all the way to the peephole until she saw the afternoon rays glinting off of Klaus' dirty blonde curls. It was rare he made surprise visits, but when he did... Her cheeks turned rosy at the thoughts that suddenly flooded her mind. Be reckless. Tell him how you feel.

Smiling widely, Caroline threw open the door, Klaus' name dying on her lips as she realized Elijah was with him. Klaus had talked about his brother at great length, mostly expressing frustration as they took vastly different approaches to their work. Caroline had been careful not to wade too far into Klaus' life, so she hadn't officially met Elijah. Why was he here? A nervous energy took over, causing her hand to tremble as she gestured for them to come inside.

"What's going on," she asked slowly, noting the silent battle that seemed to be raging between the brothers. Both looked furious with each other, but it was the quiet resolve on Klaus' face that concerned her the most.

Klaus stepped forward, oddly angling his body as though blocking her from his brother's view. "Sweetheart, we're here because..." he suddenly faltered, dropping his gaze to his feet.

"We want names," Elijah demanded, ignoring Klaus' glare.

A cold, dark pit formed in her stomach as she stammered uncomfortably, "I — I, um names?" Please don't do this to me.

With a defeated sigh, Klaus said, "Mikael managed to rally enough congressmen to oppose the bill and it's never going to get out of committee unless we do something now. We need leverage."

This was not happening. "You guys are supposed to be better than this, Klaus!" Caroline hated how her voice cracked as she faced the two brothers. She didn't know what hurt more — the cold-hearted reason why they were there or the fact that just this morning Klaus had made her lopsided birthday pancakes.

From the guilty look on his face, it seemed he was thinking of that moment as well. But then his jaw tightened, and he shouted, "You don't understand what's at stake here, Caroline! If Mikael has his way, everything we've worked for — the stabilized premiums without undercutting patient coverage, the protections against annual limits — they'll be destroyed!"

"All we're asking is for you to —"

"I know what you're asking," Caroline shrilly interrupted Elijah, scowling at his pompous tone. "You want me to name clients. Do you have any idea how fucked up that is? How dangerous that is for me?!"

Klaus shook his head, trying to reassure her. "We have a plan in place; I'd never risk your safety. I swear, no one will know it was you who leaked the information, love." When he tried to reach for her, she scuttled away, repulsed by the idea that Klaus would want to touch her now. How could he think any of this was ok? "Don't call me that. Don't you dare," Caroline icily spat. Unreal. How could men who'd been steeped in politics this long not understand how things really worked?

Letting out a deranged giggle, she mocked, "No one will know? Seriously?! You may think you see a few connections here and there, but you have no fucking idea. You're little boys playing a man's game. Those connections run deeper than you can imagine. Everyone is connected here in DC and it's child's play to figure out which dumb bitch started running her mouth!"

Klaus looked stricken by her words, but Caroline no longer was in the business of sparing his feelings. She threw him her most disgusted glare, hating herself for ever trusting him. For loving him. Stupid, inconvenient love for a man who wanted to use her. At least her clients paid before they used her.

Caught up in the jagged turmoil, they forgot about Elijah until he suddenly spoke, startling them both. "Enough," he scoffed impatiently. "We're under a deadline, Miss Forbes, so please spare us the theatrics of your feigned indignation. How much will it take?"

The punch came swiftly and without mercy; Klaus' fist connected with Elijah's left eye before glancing off his cheek with a satisfying snap. His voice was low and dangerous as he commanded, "Apologize to the lady. Now."

Elijah gingerly held the side of his rapidly swelling face, shame marring his expression for the first time since their arrival. He quietly said, "I apologize, Miss Forbes. I've allowed my bitterness over our father's disgraceful lobbyist machinations to overcome reason. I didn't mean to imply anything untoward."

"Yes, you did," Caroline answered bitterly. Face flaming, she marched back to the door, tossing it open. "But a whore isn't always for sale."

Klaus followed after his brother, pausing at the threshold. His devastated face laid bare his regret as he brokenly confessed, "This was my fault, and I'm sorry for betraying your trust. You deserve better than to be treated as a pawn."

Caroline stubbornly blinked back tears as she watched Klaus walk away.

I thought I deserved you.