Author's note: This was written for Klaroline AU Week - Day One: All Human. It's also the much-requested sequel to Chapter 103 (The candles caught what on fire?). In the aftermath of Caroline being accused of corporate espionage, she's not just living; she's thriving. How will she react when Klaus comes crawling back?

Warning: Angst.


"In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity"
― Sun-Tzu, The Art of War


They came for her career. Her reputation. Stripped it all away until Caroline didn't know who she was anymore. But she had no intention of letting the Mikaelsons win. The trouble with knowing that Rebekah had conspired with Stefan to commit corporate espionage (not to mention frameher) is that Caroline had no idea how to prove it. Which is why her first call (after she spent the day drowning in merlot and ice cream and setting fire to the things Klaus had left at her place) was to Bonnie. Besides being her best friend, Bonnie was one of the most infamous hackers in the world under her online persona, Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Bon.

"Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for you to ask me this," Bonnie commented, making a show of cracking her knuckles over her laptop. "Well, not this, exactly, but I never trusted that bastard from the moment you started dating."

Caroline shrewdly observed her friend. "You've been compiling data on Klaus this whole time, haven't you?"

"Not just Klaus. I've got dirt on his whole goddamn family."

She didn't bother hiding her self-satisfied smile. "Good." However, that bloodthirsty gleam in her friend's eye gave her pause. As did the next few sentences that tumbled out of Bonnie's mouth — speculation about infidelity and the possibility that not all of the Mikaelson siblings were actually full-blooded Mikaelsons, shady business deals using intimidation and bribery — a seemingly endless list of long-buried Mikaelson family secrets.

"And don't get me started on Rebekah's sloppy frame job. You wouldn't believe how easy it was to hack that nitwit's email. She stupidly sent tacky nude pictures and videos to Stefan using the company server. When will you people learn that 'delete' never really means delete?"

"No," Caroline swore, "We won't do that. We'll go after Rebekah and Stefan for the corruption and corporate espionage, but make sure none of their private stuff gets exposed. No one deserves that."

Bonnie gave a dramatic sigh, taking a long sip of her beer. "Fine. God knows Kol and the rest of those idiot Mikaelsons have more than enough incompetence that's bordering on illegal to take them all down three times over."

"Just use what's relevant to my case. We don't get our hands dirty. We're not like them," she sternly told her friend.

"Which is why you need me." An intimidating brunette suddenly sat down at their booth, reaching across the table to confidently shake Caroline's hand. "Katherine Pierce, attorney. I practice plaintiff corporate law and primarily represent individuals as well as class action cases."

At Caroline and Bonnie's nonplussed expressions, she continued. "I've been following your story in the news and already have set up the framework strategy for commercial and business litigation, working the obvious angles of breach of contract, trade secret protection, copyright and trademark infringement, and other complex business litigation." She flashed a wicked grin, reassuring Caroline, "We've got those bastards on all of the charges, or we can take our pick. What's your pleasure, Caroline?"

Despite the woman's brash interruption, Caroline couldn't help but be intrigued. Boldness should be rewarded. She'd have Bonnie run an extensive background check, but Katherine had a powerful charisma that Caroline couldn't ignore. "And what's your angle, Katherine? You obviously have your own agenda with the Mikaelsons."

Katherine flagged down the waitress and ordered another round for the table, winking at Bonnie as though she already knew the super hacker had started researching her. "I used to be married to one. Elijah." She toasted the women when their drinks arrived, adding, "Until he started fucking his intern." She drank deeply, slamming down the nearly empty glass. "Bitch needed to pick an accent. And stop clothes shopping in the kid's section."

Katherine focused her intense gaze on Caroline, not bothering to wait for her revelation to sink in. "So, are you in?"


Three months later

Every instinct Caroline had told her to slam the door. Katherine was going to be livid when she found out she was talking to a Mikaelson without counsel present — especially Klaus. It had been three months since that awful day in Klaus' office, when she'd been put on administrative leave and then ultimately fired. Not a single word had been spoken between them; their lawyers did all the talking these days.

"Leave," she snarled at him, hating the way her heart still pounded every time she saw him.

The familiar steel in his gray eyes softened, and his voice was little more than a harsh whisper as he said, "You don't mean that, love."

"You're right — I meant get the fuck out."

He impatiently stepped forward, only for her to throw her arm out, blocking his way inside her house. He sighed in defeat as he said, "I was wrong. I know I can't take back the reprehensible things I said that day, but I came here to apologize."

She crossed her arms in front of her chest, hissing, "Seriously?! Do you think I'm stupid? Your revolting, shameless family obviously sent you here to convince me to take the settlement." Her piercing blue eyes studied every microexpression, daring Klaus to try to lie to her. "Katherine and I may not agree on much, but she's right about one thing — the only way people like you and your family get punished is to hit you where it hurts — your bank account. It's all you care about."

"No! I'm not like them," Klaus argued, "I don't care about the bloody settlement. That's not what this is about." He distractedly ran his hands through his wild curls, the desperation apparent in his voice as he confessed, "I was blindly loyal to my family and they cost me everything that mattered to me."

Caroline didn't bother to hide her judgmental tone. "Your reputation."

"You."

She absolutely would not react to the sorrow in his voice. She tried to be matter-of-fact as she shook her head. "We don't need to do this. The court case is almost over and we'll be able to move on."

"Damn it, sweetheart, I don't want to move on!" He suddenly dug into his jacket, pulling out a black velvet box that instantly made her heart sink.

Eyes widening in disbelief, she unwittingly had been repeating the same mantra in her head as she watched him. Don't do it. Don't you fucking dare.

And then the bastard did.

He opened the box, revealing a sparkly, heartbreakingly beautiful diamond engagement ring. It was everything she wanted. Used to want. From the man she thought she'd always love. You still love him, you coward. A strangled noise escaped without her permission, and she hadn't felt this close to breaking since he kicked her out of his office. She hated how hysterical she sounded as she asked, "What the hell, Klaus?!"

He grimaced, lowering the ring as he halfheartedly admitted, "I know I'm too late. Every moment we had together was a gift and I threw it away. I just needed you to see that I want to commit to you. Nothing's changed for me. I love you, Caroline."

Fuck. Why did everything in this world have to be so hard? Her throat ached with unshed tears. "You're right — it's too late. You aren't who I thought you were and I can't be with someone I don't trust."

He took a shaky breath, nodding to himself. "I understand." As he started to walk away, he paused briefly, telling her quietly, "Rebekah wanted me to say 'thank you.'"

Her brows knit together in confusion. Why would Klaus' sister thank her? She was out on bond pending sentencing, but rumor had it that the judge wouldn't consider a plea deal and already had doubled the Salvatores' sentence after their failed attempt at bribing court officials.

"You kept the sordid messages and images she and Stefan exchanged out of the courtroom documents. She said it was a mercy she didn't deserve and she thanks you for your kindness." Klaus' smile was wistful as he told her, "That tender heart of yours is just further proof I didn't deserve you."

Caroline found she couldn't speak. There was too much between them and it hurt to breathe. She gave him a brief nod, blue eyes glistening as she quickly shut her door. She couldn't watch him walk away. Coward.


One year later

It would've been easier to take the money and run. But when had Caroline ever picked easy? Every time she started to question her decision, she'd glance at the impressive quarterly projections or wander the manufacturing floor and chat with her employees, and was reminded that she'd done the right thing. She'd made her parents proud. The undisclosed settlement that she'd won from Mikaelson Inc. had been even more astronomical than what had been speculated in the news, and Caroline invested nearly every penny into reopening the manufacturing plant in her hometown of Mystic Falls. Something good needed to come from her heartbreak.

The previous plant had shutdown decades ago, and as the prime source of income for so many, a lot of families had little choice but to abandon the small town. But then Caroline brought in modern business practices along with technology manufacturing jobs, and now her town was thriving. It somehow made her feel less broken to help the people she grew up with.

She leaned back in her chair with a sigh, noting she still had a stack of resumes to review before the latest round of job interviews. She contemplated the one on top, feeling guilty she hadn't spent more time on it. While he was applying for an entry-level job at her manufacturing plant, the resume boasted an impressive amount of experience. It wasn't the first time this had happened to her — word had spread about the impressive benefits package she offered her workers, and many new hires applied for lower-level positions just to gain access to them.

She flashed a smile at the resume. Provided that his interview went well, she intended to offer Nick a coveted day shift rather than the night shift. Her assistant's knock on her door alerted her to Nick's presence, and she glanced up with a welcoming smile.

And then almost fell out of her chair.

Klaus walked into her office, looking uncharacteristically nervous.

Caroline was proud of how her smile didn't falter when she thanked her assistant and asked her to close the door. Heart pounding, she gestured toward a chair in front of her desk. "Have a seat, Nick." She glanced back at his resume, scoffing lightly. "Nick Smith? Seriously?!"

"I suspected I wouldn't get very far in the interview process under my real name." He eyed her carefully, tone serious as he added, "I've made some changes in my life and I would very much like this job. I need this job."

"You're the executive vice president of Mikaelson Inc., but you want to assemble microchips on my factory floor. Guess that ambitious little intern really did take everything when she left Elijah, huh? Or, maybe you lost a bet with Kol?"

Klaus chuckled, "I see Katherine is keeping you well-informed, sweetheart."

She shrugged, "We kind of bonded on the battlefield. And she gets surprisingly chatty when she drinks."

"But she didn't tell you about me."

Caroline raised an eyebrow, keeping her tone light. "I asked her not to." She tilted her head, studying him carefully. He was different. More peaceful, somehow. He was still achingly beautiful, and she felt herself lean across her desk, subconsciously wanting to be closer to him. "So, what don't I know?"

"I quit Mikaelson Inc.," Klaus bluntly revealed. "I'm sure it won't come as a surprise to you, but my family and I aren't good for each other. Or, anyone else." He ducked his curly head, unable to look her in the eye any longer. "I hurt you. But if you'd allow me back into your life —in whatever role you'd be comfortable — I swear to never hurt you again."

A stunned silence stretched between them; the only sound in the room came from the gentle splashing of the water feature in the corner. Klaus quit his family's company?! He'd always lived by that 'family above all' motto he'd shared with his siblings. And it sounded like he'd left his whole world behind to start over. For her. She was reeling from unanswered questions (not to mention emotions) and she had no idea what to say.

"Perhaps this was a mistake. I didn't mean to pressure you, love."

The defeat in his voice and his world-weary demeanor hurt her more than she was ready to admit. Before he could leave her office, she raced to him, grabbing his hand as she blurted out, "Stay!"

Klaus momentarily looked down at their fingers entwined, as though memorizing every detail. When his gray eyes sought hers, there was a flicker of hope that hadn't been there before. "Are you sure," he asked softly.

"I...yes." Caroline gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, adding, "But you're starting on the night shift — you'll have to earn the day shift." Her tone contained a gentle promise, one that made her heart feel lighter than it had in ages. "And we'll figure out the rest as we go."