Klaus felt her body tense as she backed away from him. She sighed before she spoke.
"What are you doing here Tyler?"
"I came to pick up the rest of my things, but it seems I caught you doing a little walk of shame," Tyler said coldly just shy of yelling. His eyes racked over her noticing how close she was to Klaus.
Klaus stepped forward clenching his fists, "don't talk to her like that mate or we're going to have a problem." His body tensed as soon as Tyler took a defensive step forward. Who is this guy kidding, he thought, as he felt Caroline's hand.
Caroline grabbed Klaus' shoulder and pulled him back, "it's ok Klaus. I can handle this." He stepped back as she ran a hand through her hair. "I'll see you later." She smiled at him.
"Are you sure sweetheart," he asked, ignoring Tyler's glaring eyes. She nodded. "Ok, give me your phone." Caroline looked at him puzzlingly but handed him her phone. Klaus saved his number and handed it back. "If you need anything call me." He smiled at her.
"Thanks," she slipped the phone back in her pocket turning to face Tyler. "Let's talk in the apartment Tyler."
Tyler scoffed as he walked toward the apartment unlocking the door. Caroline rolled her eyes and smiled at Klaus before walking to her apartment. Klaus watched as they stepped into her apartment before closing his door.
Tyler slammed the apartment door shut after she walked in. Caroline sighed and put her purse on her kitchen table. She hasn't been back in her apartment in two weeks and she already hated being there.
"What the hell was that Caroline, are you sleeping with him? Is that why you haven't been answering my calls?" He asked, stepping closer to her.
She rolled her eyes and scoffed, "Tyler that wouldn't be any of your business if I was. We're not together anymore, and I haven't been answering your calls because I don't want to talk to you." She stood with her arms crossed.
"So, what, is this a way to get back at me? You automatically sleep with the first guy that?" he said, raising his voice at the end.
"Excuse me," Caroline yelled. "Get back at you," she stammered. "When a guy gives me attention?" she couldn't believe he just said that to her.
"You CHEATED on me Tyler, not the other way around," she yelled, pointing a finger at him. "You didn't walk in on me FUCKING anyone on my desk. Don't you dare talk to me that way because you lost every right to anything that happens in my life the moment you got into bed with Amanda," Caroline growled, and stepped toward him. He pissed her off. "So get the rest of your shit and get the hell out of my apartment."
"This is our apartment Caroline, and I'm only leaving because it's what you wanted," Tyler raised his voice. "I want to fix this between us but you won't hear it, and now I know why." He motioned in the direction of Klaus' apartment. "You're screwing our neighbor."
"You don't know anything Tyler, and what I wanted," she laughed in frustration as she turned her back on him and walked away.
"Yes because all I wanted was to come home and find my boyfriend of FIVE YEARS FUCKING MY FRIEND!" She screamed as tears began to string her eyes but she wasn't going to cry in front of him. She took a few deep breaths before turning back toward Tyler to continue.
"You have no right to this apartment, it is mine. And as far as fixing this," she motioned between him and her. "We're broken, this is broken, and you broke us Tyler when you decided to stick your dick inside Amanda for the past three months." She said bitterly.
"I'm sorry I made a mistake people make mistakes Caroline," Tyler's voiced softened as he took a few steps toward her. "I want nothing more to take back what I did, you have to believe me."
"A mistake," Caroline scoffed, lightly shaking her head. "Tyler, a mistake is you forgetting my birthday, a MISTAKE is when you stood me up for our anniversary dinner because your mother called, and a MISTAKE is when you tried to keep me from accepting my job."
Caroline was angry, and her voice was harsh, "So no Tyler what you did is not a MISTAKE it was a betrayal. How can I believe anything that comes from your mouth after this?" She threw her hands in the air trying to contain her anger, she's held in this rage for two weeks and she was done crying.
This wasn't her fault, and she knew it. She didn't understand why he was making her doubt herself, and it was pissed her off. She stopped to gain control of her breathing. "I gave you my heart Tyler and you threw it away, and for what. A few quick roll in the sack with Amanda," she spat. "I hope it was worth it."
Tyler looked down in shame; she was right he did this, all of this but instead of feeling bad, his shame suddenly turned to rage. "You gave me an idea of your heart Caroline, you never stopped being that independent women, and I wouldn't have been sleeping with Amanda if my girlfriend didn't care about her job more than me," he said bitterly.
"What the hell is an idea of my heart Tyler?" Caroline raised her hands. "I only have one, and I'm sorry I actually worked my ass off to get where I am today. I didn't have high profile parents to lay out bread crumbs for me," she retorted, if he wanted to play ugly, she could play ugly. "Don't say my job is the reason either, we were both busy Tyler but we managed. And instead of you talking to me about it you screw the first girl willing to jump your bones."
Tyler scoffed, "Oh I have had more than one girl willing to keep me company Caroline. I just didn't give in until Amanda. She's willing to be there for me in ways you never could."
Caroline marched over to Tyler and slapped him, "Get out." She was barely holding back tears he was blaming his mistake on her, and she started to believe him. Did he say she's willing, is he still with her? Caroline felt her chest tighten. She was always there for Tyler, supported him when he was working a big case or when his mother doubted him as a lawyer. She never stopped believing in him.
Tyler stared at her ignoring the sting on his right cheek. He knew he crossed the line when her eyes were red and hurt. He looked down and sighed, "I'm sorry Caroline I shouldn't have said that. I didn't mean—"
"Get out, and leave your keys. I'll have Matt bring you the rest of your things." she said firmly pointing to the door.
Tyler put his keys on the table. He stopped in front of her one more time and tried to grab her hand. She backed away and wrapped her arms around herself. Tyler sighed, "I love you Caroline that hasn't changed." He whispered before walking out of the apartment.
As soon as Caroline heard the door click she started crying and her hands curled into fists. Her breathing came in fast and she felt as if her heart was being crushed. She thought this pain was over but after this it felt worst.
She tried to calm down, taking deep breaths and pacing around her living room and kitchen, but before she knew it she started destroying anything she could get her hands on. She threw the flower vase from the kitchen table and it shattered next to the door.
She grabbed pictures of her and Tyler and threw them against the wall and floor. Tears still streaming down her face, her throat started to hurt and her breathing became shallow causing her knees to buckle next to her couch. Her hand hit the glass on the floor causing cuts on her palms.
A shattered picture of her and Tyler lied in front of her. She picked it up ignoring the pieces of glass that broke her skin. It was a picture from their first night in the apartment. She was kissing his cheek as he took the picture smiling. A few tears slid down her cheeks as she let the picture fall from her hands.
She sat there until she heard knocking on her door. She didn't move she just stared at the floor, than the front door open. "Caroline…" She looked through her curtain of hair, her eyes red and puffy from crying. Her hands were slightly bleeding from the glass of her picture, and she watched Klaus walk through the door.
When Klaus was back in his apartment he went straight to his shower, he needed to calm down after his encounter with Tyler. Wanker, Klaus mumbled to himself as he put his necklaces back on before sliding into a pair of black jeans and a white long sleeve V-neck.
He ran his hand through his wet hair before pulling out his black converse shoes and socks then headed to the living room. He retrieved his phone from the kitchen counter and plopped on the couch to put on his shoes. He leaned back and went through his messages.
Niklaus I sent the package expect it by 1 p.m. Confirm when you get it.
He smirked the perk of his "night job" was the fact that he got to disappear for a weekend or so because as soon as his job was done he could enjoy the town. He hit reply.
Of course, brother.
He opened up a new message window and typed in Damon's number.
Boss man is sending a messenger. It will be here at one. Meet me at my apartment by 1:30 to review the contents.
Klaus looked at his phone and it was noon. He sighed and leaned back on his couch. He heard a door close outside, and assumed it was Tyler leaving. He rolled his eyes and stood up. He walked back to his bedroom to retrieve his jacket.
With about an hour to kill he thought it would be good to stock up on his art supplies. Today was his day off, minus Elijah's messenger, so it was nice to be in comfortable clothes.
He had plans this evening, and slipped those plans into his back pocket. He put on his jacket and walked back down the hallway. As he reached for his front door he heard a series of crashes coming from across the hall. Caroline, he thought and rushed out of his apartment.
He walked down the hall and stood outside her door listening. The crashing stopped, but he didn't want to just leave her. He knocked on the door a few times, and when no one answered he turned the knob.
As the door creaked open it dragged over broken glass. Klaus peeked in and saw her sitting on her knees by the coach surround by bits of glass.
"Caroline," he said softly, and closed the door behind him. Her head rose and he saw her face covered in tears. Her nose and eyes were red, his chest tightened because she looked broken. Her eyes didn't have the same glow it did from last night, they seemed empty.
He walked over the broken glass and kneeled down in front of her. He saw her hands resting on her knees both of them had cuts and were covered in blood.
Caroline just stared at Klaus, she wanted to say something but nothing came out of her mouth. Before she knew it he picked her up and carried her down the hall.
"Which one is your room love," he asked lightly as her hands stayed latched around his neck. She motioned to the room at the very end of the hall. Klaus walked toward it and pushed open the door with his foot and laid her down.
"Don't move," he said, and walked toward her bathroom. He went straight to her medicine cabinet and started looking for anything to bandage up her cuts. He found a little thing of A&D ointment and some small Band-Aids.
This will have to do, he told himself. He grabbed the small pair of scissors from a cup on her sink along with a wet towel. When he walked back into her bedroom she was curled up in a little ball lying on her side. He sat next to her and gently rubbed her back to have her face him. "I need to patch up those cuts sweetheart."
She looked down at her hands and saw a cut on her left palm and a cut across the inside of her right fingers. She sat up leaning against her headboard holding her hands out for Klaus. He grabbed her left hand, softly, because this cut was a little deep. He looks at it to make sure there weren't any pieces of glass lodged inside and started to wipe the blood away with the towel. Caroline winced at his touch.
"Sorry love this won't take long," he said, applying a little ointment. He then cut the Band-Aid in to little strips, "this may hurt but I need to do this, ok?" He looked, and she nodded. Klaus squeezed the cut together to close the gap and Caroline sucked in a breath through her teeth.
He put the strips of the Band-Aid in place before taking another one to cover the whole thing. He did the same with the cuts crossing her fingers. Caroline looked at her bandaged hands and looked back up at Klaus. "Thank you."
"No problem," he smiled, getting up from the bed to throw away the trash.
Caroline sat in her bed and watched him move. "I didn't want you to see me like this," she whispered. "You shouldn't have to see me like this…broken." She looked down to hide her face. Tyler got to and she hated to admit it but she was only human.
Klaus walked back toward her and sat down, "You're not broken Caroline. You're hurt, yes, but not broken." He wiped a tear from her cheek.
"He said it was my fault," she sniffed, letting out a fake laugh. "He told me I only gave him an idea of my heart, and if I didn't love my job so much this wouldn't have happened," she started twiddling her thumbs. "I drove him into her arms."
Klaus clenched his fists, shaking his head. He had the nerve to blame Caroline when he went off with some trollop. Klaus took a deep breath.
"Caroline look at me," he said gently. She lifted her head trying to hold back tears. "This is not your fault, believe me when I say he made the decision to sleep with that girl and he doesn't deserve you. And you shouldn't be with him if he doesn't allow you to see just how amazing you are. I saw you Caroline," he put his fingers under her chin to keep her from looking away. "…last night, and this morning. I saw the real you and she is fantastic." He smiled.
She looked at Klaus and leaned forward to hug him. He hugged her back, running his hand up and down her back. She didn't let go right away. She stayed in the comfort of his embrace until the vibrating of Klaus's phone made her pull back. Klaus released her and smiled.
"You should get that," she said, and pulled her knees up to her chest.
He pulled his phone from his back pocket and answered it.
"Hello."
"Yes is this Mr. Mikaelson."
"Yes."
"This is Kevin I am the messenger and I have a package for you at your apartment. I can't leave until you sign for it."
"Of course I will be right there."
Klaus hung up his phone checking the time and it was already one. He looked at Caroline, "I will be right back." She nodded.
He got off her bed and walked back toward his apartment. He looked around and saw all the damage, a few broken pictures, vases, a mirror and a potted plant. He stepped out the door and saw a kid leaning against the wall by his apartment wearing shorts, a tank top and holding a helmet.
"Kevin I presume," Klaus closed Caroline's door and walked toward him.
"Yeah are you Mr. Mikaelson?"
"I am. What do I need to sign?"
Kevin kneeled down and pulled the folder out of his bag and a pink slip. "Here is the package, and just sign here." He handed him the pink slip with a pen.
Klaus put the folder under his arm and signed the paper handing it back to Kevin. He reached in his wallet and handed the kid a 20 dollar tip.
"Thanks." Kevin put his helmet back on and took the stairs rather than the elevator.
Klaus walked back into his apartment and placed the folder on his kitchen counter. He grabbed his phone and texted Damon.
Something's come up. I will text you with another time to review the folder.
His phone quickly beeped with a response.
What could have possibly happen within the last hour that requires us to post pone our meeting again? You're losing your touch killer.
Klaus rolled his eyes at Damon's response.
Easy Damon I won't always be occupied.
Klaus opened the envelope to quickly glance over the contents of the folder and set in one of his kitchen drawers. He opened a text message for Elijah.
Got the info, will review it and start preparations as soon as possible.
His phone beeped.
Great Niklaus, you have one week. Let me know if you need any assistance.
Klaus smiled and put his phone in his pocket.
He walked out of his apartment locking his door before heading back to Caroline's. He looked around her apartment and decided it was best if he let her rest. He walked into her living room picking up the photos, frames, plant and big pieces of glass throwing everything away except the pictures. He wasn't sure what to do with those so he put them on the table and grabbed the broom.
Caroline got off her bed and walked into her bathroom. She felt calm, and she has Klaus to thank for that. If he didn't show up, she would've still been on the floor in her living room. She shook her head because she let her emotions destroy her apartment, but a weight has been lifted. She felt less broken.
After looking herself over in the mirror she thought it was best to get ready for her reporting gig tonight. She wasn't about to post pone her job just because her personal life was a wreck, she was better than that.
She washed her face, and brushed her teeth. Her eyes were still puffy and red, and her hair was a mess. She brushed out her hair and tied it in a ponytail before walking to her closet. She took a deep breath because Tyler's side of the closet still has some of his things in it.
She grabbed a black tank top, black sleeveless cardigan, and a pair of dark blue skinny jeans and shut the closet door. She didn't feel like wearing any heels, so she settled on a pair of converse.
Caroline changed, slipping her cellphone in her back pocket before sitting at the edge of her bed to put her shoes on. She walked over to her dresser and applied lotion to her arms and face before she left her room. She walked down the hallway and found Klaus sweeping.
"You don't have to do that Klaus," she walked up to him, smiling at how he was dressed. She's never seen him in jeans before. He looked good especially in that shirt. "This is my mess I'll clean it up."
He chuckled, "Don't worry about it. I'm pretty much done. I didn't have any plans until this evening anyway." He looked up from the pile of glass on the floor and smiled at her.
She looked beautiful and her attire was simple yet breathtaking. He liked the way her jeans hugged her hips and the cardigan hung loosely around her figure. As his eyes trailed down he noticed her kicks and smiled, she was stunning even though her eyes were red. "You look gorgeous sweetheart."
Caroline smiled and was about to say something when her ringtone started blaring from her back pocket. She held her hand up to Klaus and fished it out.
"Hey Jessica"
"Caroline I'm glad I got a hold of you. I was just calling to confirm that you were going to be able to cover The Strokes show tonight at the Warfield theatre? The press guy called today to confirm your interview with the band after their performance this evening. "
Caroline looked at her clock it was almost two in the afternoon. "Yes I will be there tonight I plan on heading over after the doors open and the crowd clears from outside, so around eight."
The Warfield Theatre was downtown about five miles from where she lived and just around the block from the Chronicle. It wasn't that long of a commute so she wasn't worried about time.
"Great, you are on the guest list already and the press guy said he will call you after the show for the interview so keep your cellphone handy."
Caroline smiled. Jessica always double confirmed her interviews with big bands even though she makes the arrangements in advance. "Will do Jessica thanks for calling. I'll see you in the office on Monday, and I will turn in the story by deadline tomorrow for Mondays print."
"You are absolutely terrific Caroline, and don't forget to have fun. It's one of the perks of the job," Jessica giggled. "I'll talk to you tomorrow and will go over this coming week's assignments."
"Sounds good, bye Jessica," Caroline chuckled and hung up. She loved her boss. She was good to her, but she was tough when actions called for it. That's why she loved her job so much, she wanted to be the best and Jessica was willing to help her get there. It was what she always dreamed of doing.
Jessica was in her early forties and she became the arts editor of the chronicle when she was 30, and that's what Caroline wants to achieve at her young age.
"Work…" Klaus asked as he leaned on the broom.
"Yes. It was my editor just confirming my coverage of tonight's Strokes concert," She smiled, putting her phone back in her pocket.
"Wait you're going to The Strokes concert tonight?"
"Yeah"
Klaus chuckled and reached into his back pocket and pulled out his ticket for tonight's show waving it front her, "Those were my only plans tonight, but now that I know you're going. Would you like some company?" He smirked.
Caroline chuckled, "I'd love some, but I will be working so I will have to disappear from time to time to take photos, and after the show I have to stick around for my interview with Julian Casablanca." She grabbed the broom from Klaus's hand and finished sweeping.
Klaus watched her and smiled because she had a little bounce in her walk, "It's a date."
Caroline stopped in her tracks as her stomach filled with butterflies before she turned toward him, arching her eyebrow. "A date…"
"As friend's sweetheart," Klaus smiled. "I'm sorry to say as friends that doesn't include dinner and late night cuddle sessions." He laughed when Caroline smacked his chest.
"Would you like to have dinner before the show?" She asked with a smile. "My treat."
"Sounds like a plan," Klaus said, stepping toward her.
"Great," Caroline smiled. "Why don't you go do whatever it was you were planning on doing before you walked in on this," She motioned around her apartment. "Head to dinner around 6?"
Klaus chuckled, "I can help you finish cleaning."
Caroline shook her head, "No you've done so much already, but I'll see you tonight." She smiled because it gives her a few hours to herself and she can get herself back in order.
"Alright," Klaus raised his hands in defeat. "See you in a few hours." He smiled at her and walked out of her apartment.
Caroline let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding and walked up to her stereo and popped in the CD that would sooth her mind.
"Live at the Roxy," by Social Distortion, no matter how she felt the voice of Mike Ness always did her good. She discovered Social Distortion when she was in middle school during a rebel phase because of her overworking mother. The first song she heard was "Story of My Life" and they've been her favorite band ever since.
A lot of people are often surprised by her selection of music. One because she use to be a captain of the cheerleading team and a beauty queen, but also because she can go from punk-rock to the dance beats of Tesito or the soothing notes of Beethoven. Being an entertainment writer she was open to all types of music, but punk rock always held a special place in her heart.
"This song is about being a day late and a dollar short, which is always been the story of my life," Mike Ness spoke through her speakers before the guitar riffs followed. She smiled and turned it up and started dancing around her apartment.
"Good times come and good times go, I only wish the good times would last a little longer," she sang as she grabbed her dustpan "thinking about the good times we had and why they had to end ooooohhhh, so I sit at the edge of my bed I strum my guitar and I sing an outlaw love song. I think about what you're doing now and when you're coming back. Life goes by so fast you only wanna do what you think is right, close your eyes and its past."
She twirled with the broom and swept up the remaining glass and potting soil as she pranced to the trash can. She danced around her apartment cleaning as the music played. Caroline's CD collection lined the space next to her stereo, her friends asked her why she bothered to still buy CDs, but she only brought the albums she felt were worth keeping. Sure she would download a song or two from the net but never a full album because she loved the feel of a fresh CD case.
As the music continued to blast through her apartment she felt her mind at ease the more she got into it. She was about to wipe off the kitchen table when she saw her and Tyler's photos in a pile. She picked them up and looked through them one more time before she tore them into little pieces and threw them in the garbage. She picked her rag back up and wiped off her table.
Klaus walked to the elevator after he left Caroline's and as he waited he heard muffled music come from her apartment. He smiled. Social Distortion, really, he told himself. Where has this girl been hiding all my life, he smirked before he stepped into the elevator, that's the Story of My Life he whispers as the doors closed.
Klaus was still smiling when he stepped off the elevator and crossed the apartment lobby. He retrieved his phone and texted Damon as he stood on the curbside looking for a cab.
I am free for a few hours so meet me at my apartment in an hour to go over the file.
Klaus noticed a parked cab across the street and walked over knocking on his window. "Are you running?" the cab driver nodded and Klaus climbed in the back seat.
He told the driver to go to his favorite downtown art supplies store called Saltzman. It was an older shop owned by a retired history teacher named Alaric and his wife. Klaus thought Alaric was a good man, and basically a walking textbook. Klaus enjoyed the conversations they shared.
He stumbled upon their shop when couldn't find an art store that carried his paints. He was about to give up when Alaric provided him a tube of the paint he wanted. Klaus liked using Old Holland oil paints and brushes, he's worked with that paint since he started and didn't like any other brand. He was running low in supplies because the technique Klaus favored was impasto, applying paint on thickly so his brush strokes are visible and it also creates a texture effect. Lost in his artistic thoughts he barely heard his phone beep.
Better not cancel on me 20 minutes before I get their again.
Klaus chuckled and put his phone away as the driver pulled up to the art store. He smiled and asked the driver to wait telling him that it would only take him 15 minutes and then handed him some money. Klaus walked into the store and smiled when he saw Jenna behind the register. "Hello Jenna, you're looking beautiful today."
Jenna giggled, "Oh Klaus you're such a charmer. Back so soon?"
"Yes I am in need of some fresh supply," Klaus smiled. "My last landscape painting nearly tapped me out," he laughed. "The usual, along with a few new paint brushes if you don't mind. I need one fan size six, flat size eight, angle bright size four, and a bright size six." Klaus' dimples were in full effect as he smiled at her and leaned on the counter.
"Of course, Rick sets aside a fresh supply of your paint every time we get a new shipment," she smiled, and walked to the back of the store.
She returned in a few minutes with everything he asked for. "Ok 10, 40ml of oil paint, all your colors," she smiled ringing them up. "Your new paint brushes, size six fan, size eight flat, size four angle bright, and a size six bright," she looked at Klaus and he nodded. "Ok well your total today is going to be 255.24. You are our best customer." She smiled as she started putting his supplies in a paper bag.
Klaus chuckled pulling out his wallet handing Jenna 300. "Where's Alaric?"
"Oh he went out to get stuff for dinner, we're having my niece over tonight," she smiled as she handed him his change.
"Thanks love, I'll see you—" Klaus was interrupted when he heard squealing "Aunt Jenna."
"Oh sweetie what a nice surprise I wasn't expect to see you for a few more hours," Jenna said with a smile. She walked out from behind the counter.
Klaus turned around and his jaw dropped when he saw Elena hugging Jenna. "Elena?"
"Klaus?" Elena released her aunt and laughed. "What are you doing here?"
"Picking up some supplies," he walked toward them. "Jenna and Alaric are your Aunt and Uncle?"
"Yeah, Jenna married Alaric when I was still in high school. This is so weird, what a small world." She smiled and hugged him. "How's Caroline? Thank you so much for taking her home last night by the way. I haven't checked in on her."
Klaus's had a tight lipped smile, "She was fine when I left, but you should call her."
Elena nodded, "Ok I'll give her call after dinner."
"Well ladies I have a meeting to get to," Klaus looked at his phone he was there longer then he thought. "Thank you Jenna for the supplies, and Elena it was lovely seeing you again." He walked out the door. He got in his cab and told the driver to take him back to his apartment, fast.
Klaus stepped off the elevator and saw Damon leaning against his door.
"What gives man, you said an hour." Damon puts his hands in the air.
"Oh shut it I'm 5 minutes late," Klaus opened his apartment door and shoved past Damon.
"You know your neighbor is quite loud," Damon smirked as he closed the door behind him.
"Yeah well I'm not complaining," Klaus smiled as he put his art supplies on his couch and walked to the kitchen to retrieve the folder. "Let's get started," he said, walking up to the table.
"The man of the hour is named Conner Jordon, and we've been hired to take care of him by his partner Galen Vaughn," Klaus said, spreading the papers out on the table.
"Jordon and Vaughn built an empire in New York City. They are in control of whatever comes in and out of the city. Whatever you need these are the two to get it for you, that's why no one touches them. Their most popular product is called "The Hunter." It's a synthetic drug that causes powerful hallucinations if ingested wrong but if taken right gives you the high of your life," Klaus explained handing Damon the photos.
"So what did this Conner do to piss off his partner," Damon asked.
"He hired Kol to take out Vaughn," Klaus Chuckled. "Vaughn's power within their supply trade has grown, and many of their contacts are only willing to work with him. They feel he is the more reasonable hunter," Klaus smirked.
"Wait so then why were we hired if Kol was hired to take care of him originally?"
"Conner is not aware that Kol knows Vaughn," Klaus said, handing him a picture of his brother talking with Vaughn.
"Kol and Vaughn have run into each other before because Vaughn has one rule, no kids," he said. "He will not deal with people who push their product on kids. Kol is the one that helped him make that point clear, and that earned Vaughn some level of respect from our little family business."
Klaus looked through all the information, and he knew Vaughn was a scum bag to a point, but he was an honest one. He didn't want his product destroying the life of any troubled adolescents just looking for a good time.
"He did this without the knowledge of his partner Conner, and Conner wanted to start pushing their drug to the lower drug trade, you know street corner dealers, etc." Klaus handed some surveillance photos of Conner talking to small time dealers to Damon. "But everyone Conner approached with that proposition denied him, and told him it was because of Vaughn. Conner being the reasonable man that he is thought it was time he started running this empire the way he saw fit, hints why he hired Kol."
"So instead of Kol going through with the hit, we are going to take out Conner first?"
"Exactly," Klaus nodded. "Kol is supposedly going to carry out the job during one of their cliental parties in New York City a week from now."
Klaus took out the invitation, sliding it to Damon. "We will be attending the party as potential investors interested in setting up a new line of production with their product in Europe, and that is where will have a meeting with Conner himself," Klaus took out the two new identities him and Damon were expected to have.
"Kol made the arrangements with Vaughn and this is who we are," Klaus handed him his ID. "These will gain us access to Conner's pent house for the party."
Damon and Klaus talked out the details of the job for over two hours before finally calling it quits. Damon took his part of the information he needed and left. Klaus looked at his phone and it was already 15 till six.
He grabbed his art supplies and walked to his studio to place it on the shelf. His studio was set up simple. He had a black velvet chaise in one corner, he would pull it in the middle of his studio when needed, a small wooden desk in front of the big bay window, and he lined the walls with shelf's to place his art and supplies along.
His easels stood in the middle of the room as canvases of every size leaned against a wall. Some were already covered in paint and others were blank. Klaus preferred to stretch his own canvases so tucked in a corner were pieces of wood and a roll of canvas.
The room had the faint smell of paint thinner, but it never got strong enough to overpower the smell of wood. As much as he tried to keep his studio clean, a few splatted paint marks were evident across his floor, and ceiling. Not many people got to see his studio, except his family because they've barged in unannounced on more than one occasion.
Klaus walked out of his apartment locking his door and walked across the hall to retrieve Caroline. When he stepped in front of her door he heard the music playing, and smiled when he heard Patti Smith's "Because the Night." Before he could knock his phone rang. He fished it out of his pocket and stepped away from the door.
"How is my dear sister doing today?"
"Nik don't try to be sweet with me, I know you have a ticket to The Strokes sold out concert tonight, and did you even think about your sister when buying it," Rebekah huffed on the other side of the phone causing Klaus to chuckle.
"Bekah don't be angry, so have you had a chance to look inside that book I gave you last month," Klaus smirked because he knew his sister wouldn't when he placed her ticket inside. She was never much of a reader, she was more the visual type, and that's why she went into film when she got into university.
Rebekah scoffs, "Now is not the time to try and convince me to start reading Nik. I will read it when I have the time—"
"Bekah go get the bloody book and look inside," he cut her off or else he'd be standing here for hours.
"Fine" Klaus hears her shuffle around on the other end before a high pitch squeal comes through the phone that he took it away from his ear. She found it he mumbles to himself.
"THANK YOU NIK! I never doubted you. Now I need to figure out what to wear. Bollocks it's already six, Nik I have to go I only have an hour to get ready."
Klaus chuckled, "You're welcome sweetheart, and have a great time tonight. I hope I see you there." Klaus hung up the phone and turned around to knock on the door.
Caroline was finishing up her make up for the night, a little black eyeliner, mascara, and she topped it off with a light shade of red lip stain. She was still in the same clothes from earlier, only changing her shirt for a black V-neck. She slipped on two necklaces, a silver chain with black beads, and a short chain with a heart pendant her mother gave her.
She decided to straighten her hair tonight rather than have it curly allowing her to put it up in a high rise hairstyle. As she was placing the last bobby pin in her hair she heard knocking on her door, glancing at the clock on her nightstand it was six, so she walked to the hallway and yelled over the music "it's open. I'm in the room." She walked back into the bathroom looking in the mirror; she ran her fingers through the ends of her hair to smooth it out.
"Caroline," Klaus asked lightly as he knocked on her bedroom door before walking in, and he saw her step out from the bathroom. She looked stunning, the light makeup, a black V-neck, those necklaces, and her hair. His mouth dropped a little because he's never seen her hair straight before and he liked it, it made her look fearless and bold.
She stepped out of the bathroom and smiled, "Hey I just finished, let me get my purse and then will head out."
"You look breathtaking love, I like the new hairstyle," he smiled at her as she picked up her bag from the bed and walked toward him.
Caroline blushed, "thank you, I needed something different tonight. Shall we?" she motioned toward the door; he stepped aside and let her pass. "I just need to grab my camera and reporter notebook from my office; you can wait in the living room." Klaus nodded walking away.
Caroline hasn't been in the office since she found Tyler, granted it was mainly his office because she liked to just sit at the kitchen table and write. But all her supplies were still in one of the cabinets. She took a deep breath and opened the door.
The office was almost empty, the desk was gone and everything thing else that belonged to Tyler. She smiled and walked to the cabinet by the window and got out her camera and notebook. She looked around the office and just took it in. One wall was lined with shelves, Caroline always dreamed of having a bookshelf against her office wall lined with books. Her collection of books was always growing. She shook her head and walked out of the office.
Klaus was in her living room looking at few framed black and white photos hanging on her wall. Those were pretty much the only thing left on her walls in the living room. Caroline smiled because he looked like he was critiquing the work. "It's Edward Weston, a photographer from the 1920s. He's my favorite black and white photographer." She walked up beside him.
"These are gorgeous," he said breaking his gaze on the photos to look at her.
"Yes they are. I love his nude photos because he photographs certain parts of the human body and depicts them as if they are landscapes. Shining light on the beauty of curves on the female body, it's just memorizing," She smiled as she stared at Edward Weston's nude torso photo from 1925. It took her forever to find a clean copy of these photos and buy a print.
"Weston was considered to be one of the masters of 20th century photography, and I would have to agree." She took her eyes off the photo to see Klaus staring at her in awe with a soft smile on his face. She laughed, "His best quote, well for me anyway, is 'is love like art – something always ahead, never quite attained.'" She felt those words to be truer now more than ever.
"You have an eye for art love, hopefully one day you'll let me show you that you are an artist," he smiled as he put his hand on the small of her back. "Shall we head to dinner?"
She smiled, "Yes I am actually quite hungry, I haven't eaten since your place this morning." She giggled because so much had happened since then. "First I need to shut off Patti." She walked toward her stereo, hit the switch, and put her CD back in the rack.
"You are easily the most interesting girl I have ever met," Klaus stood by the door smiling.
She laughed shaking her head. She put her reporter notebook and camera in her purse, "I'm not that interesting."
Klaus opened her door, "Oh but you are. A fine taste in art, and music if I may add, who would have thought Caroline Forbes had a little rebel inside her." He smiled. "Now I'm curious to know what she reads." He lifted his eyebrows as they walked out of her apartment pausing so Caroline could lock her door.
Caroline shook her head chuckling, "Klaus you are flattering me stop it. I am just a simple girl trying to get from this day to the next." She turned around and smiled. "Let's go."
They both walked toward the elevator.