I don't own the vampire diaries or any of the fandoms in this story.
Xxx
"You look so handsome, thank you for coming tonight."
"Of course, I'm looking forward to see businesswoman Caroline."
The blonde avoids his look as her hands slide down the lapels of his black suit. He smiles down at her and can see that there is a smile on her face too.
Caroline returns to the mirror in the foyer and runs her fidgeting fingers across her black strapless mini diamond embellished dress that she has matched with silver heels. She has a black jacket and a diamond ball clutch. "I need to change."
Conrad reaches out for her wrist before she can leave the little ingrove that has the mirror and two benches and a vase. His thumb runs over her wrist he looks into her eyes and can see she is stressed. "You look Beautiful. You've already changed three times. Talk to me."
She glances down at his thumb, it's soothing her, she looks up at him and those green eyes she takes a breath and nods. "It's the first public event we've been to since my forced engagement announcement. Giuseppe is going to be pissed that your my date, the board is going to be pissed because of my outfit. I don't know if Satan's mistress is going to be there. I'm not only going because I'm CEO I'm going to support my guys. I'm so proud of Brad and his commercial, Zero and his billboard that is going up worldwide and Brett's magazine cover."
"You should be proud but Giuseppe is overshadowing your happiness." He has both her hands in his and both his thumbs are brushing over her wrists. She nods and he brings both hands up to his lips. He smiles into the kiss he leaves and she can't help but smile too the worry leaving her.
"Untangle love birds."Damon finally comes down the stairs usually they are waiting for Caroline to finish. He is buttoning his suit jacket.
"We were just talking."
"Damon glances over his shoulder as he goes to open the door. "It's never just taking with you two." As opens the door there are two people dressed in black, the guy puts his hand down, he is just about to knock. "Can I help you?"
The woman who is shorter then the guy it's dark so they can't make out any of their features. "We are looking for Caroline Salvatore is she here?"
Caroline looks up at Conrad and since they are still holding hands they brush by Damon. "I'm Caroline Salvatore. Can I help you?"
"Beau sent us we are here to protect you."
Caroline and Conrad share a look Caroline called Beau a week ago she thought he was sending one person but two is much better. This makes her feel so much more safe. She has Conrad by her side and two people guarding each of them. Conrad has never been in a situation where he needed protection so he didn't know what to think when Caroline suggested it. He is happy that if something were to happen they have someone to protect them and he knows Caroline will feel safer with them.
"You're just in time, we were on our way out and you're dressed perfectly. They are both in black where he has black jeans and a black long sleeve hooded shirt she has camo leggings and a black cropped long sleeve shirt.
Before they get in the car Damon stops everyone. "You're sent here to protect my sister and we don't even know your names."
"That's Riven and I'm Musa."
Xxx
As they are walking the red carpet outside the event. Caroline notices Conrad is fidgeting with his cuff links. She whispers to him. "You're doing great and look amazing."
He smiles and leans down telling her. "You look beautiful."
She smiles up at him. The camera's are snapping their photos. One of the reporters calls them over. "Caroline you've been a lot of things and you've done a lot of things what is next?"
The blonde chuckles. "It's true, and this new phase in my life, I have never been more happy. Right now I'm happy to introduce my boyfriend Conrad. So what is next? Who knows but just know we'll be together."
Camera's snap photos of them and the reporter turns to Conrad. "Caroline is a part of one of the richest families in the world so how does one go about dating her?"
Conrad looks down at Caroline, he has an arm around her waist and she slides her arm around his waist. "We are just like every other couple."
When they enter the event there are giant billboards of Zero, tv screens getting ready to show Brad's commercial and on every table is Brett's magazine cover. "You did this, I'm proud of you." Conrad brings their hands up and he kisses the back of her hand. She smiles up at him.
They eventually find her guys, people surrounding them taking photos, getting photos with them, talking with them. After everyone leaves Caroline hugs each of them. "I am so proud of all of you. Everyone, I want you to meet my Conrad."
Brad, Zero, Jude and Brett look at Conrad. Brett has already met him. "So you're the guy who has made her so happy."
Conrad was expecting them to say you're the guy who has made her change, less of a bitch like everyone else, not made her so happy. "She told me she changed your lives too."
Brad motions to him and Zero. "Yeah our lives were changed because of her, Brett's not so much. Once Caroline is in your life it's going to change for the better."
Caroline blushes and smiles looking away, she notices a tall slender man with styled brunette hair in a white dress shirt unbuttoned a little and a pair of black pants. The sleeves are rolled up. "Jude who is that man?"
"That would be Viscount Tewkesbury, he goes by Vis. We signed him two years ago, he's big in London but just hasn't cracked the American mark yet."
Caroline gets a smile on her face and Katherine leans across the table. "I know that look, what are you planning?"
"How would you like your trio of hot guys to become a foursome?"
Zero, Brad and Brett look at the blonde then at the guy she has set her eyes on. "He does seem like your type."
"I do love a challenge." Since this whole thing with her father she hasnt wanted to go into the office but she does sometimes and since the announcement that she is engaged to Klaus she really hasn't wanted to go into the office and has only gone in two days the other days she is working from her home office. But with a challenge it would give her the motivation to go into the office more.
Caroline leaves a kiss on Conrad's cheek. "Be right back, work calls."
As they watch Caroline walk over to the young man Zero jokes. "There she goes to change another man's life."
"She never stops working does she?"
Katherine laughs as she comes around the small round table to stand next to Conrad like Caroline Katherine is also dressed nicely in a short long sleeve dress. "No. She is the queen of multiple tasking."
He glances over at the curly haired brunette. " I want to surprise her for Christmas but if she is going to be working it will be wasted."
"A good surprise?"
"Of course."
Katherine smiles at him. Most of the time when someone wants to surprise Caroline it ends bad and is not a good surprise.
Xxx
"Viscount Tewkesbury We haven't met yet I'm Caroline Salvatore, I was told you've been off in London and have made quite the name for yourself there. I would like to help you create a name for yourself here too."
"Caroline Salvatore you're the CEO and you want me?"
Caroline's eyes widened. She is always recognized but this was a different recognition. One that gave her pause. "You know that I own Royalty, not Jude." Almost every model thinks Jude runs, created and is in charge.
He nods. "Not just a pretty face, and you can just call me Vis or just Tewkesbury."
Caroline chuckles. "Definitely not, why don't you come join me and my friends."
Xxx
When they get back to the table Caroline is between Conrad and Katherine, Katherine leans over and whispers to her and Caroline laughs and whispers back. "Caro, are you thinking the same thing I am?"
Caroline and Katherine share a look and a smile as they look at the four guys across from them. "I am and it's going to be amazing."
As soon as she finished that sentence she was dragged by the arm away from the table, and to a quiet corner of the room. Once she gets herself situated. She puts a hand up so the bodyguards don't swarm her. "Normal people say excuse me, can I have a word not just drag someone across a room."
Giuseppe glares at her and she rolls her eyes. "Yes Father, what do you want?"
He continues to glare at her, "If you're not going to say anything I'm going to go I was in the middle of something."
She goes to walk away and he grabs her pushing her back to where she was. The bodyguards immediately are on each side of her. "Let go of her."
"Do not touch her."
Giuseppe's intense glare tears itself away from his daughter to the two bodyguards flanking his daughter. "Who are you and this is a private conversation." He bitterly spats at them.
"Oh, did I not mention that I hired bodyguards? This is Musa and this is Riven. I don't feel safe anymore, and with them around I am starting to feel better."
Giuseppe gets in his daughter's face and angrily tells her. "They are not necessary. You are the safest and most privileged person in the world. Is there a reason why the press is talking about Caroline Salvatore and her new boyfriend and I come to find out that boyfriend is that bum you picked up off the side of the road! You have an image to maintain for these events bring your fiancé Klaus." The vein in his neck is bulging, his fists are clenched. Caroline can tell he wants to yell but can't since they are in public.
"I can't bring something I don't have, and why the hell would I go anywhere with Klaus. Yes Conrad is my boyfriend no I am not going to break up with him he is not a bum. Just accept it. You lost. I am not safe with that wretched hag of a woman you still even after all she has done, claim as a fourth child snooping around my life."
She goes to walk away again and he grabs her arm again. "You will listen to me!" His voice is low and menacing.
"I have to go present the unveiling that's why everyone is here. How about you try listening to me? I will not and never will marry Klaus. I don't know what part of we hate each other that is not sinking in."
She aggressively pulls her arm out of her fathers tight grip. As she is making her way back to her friends she grabs a glass of champagne off a tray and drinks it in almost one sip putting it back on another tray before she gets to the table. She looks down at her arm and there is a big red mark where he was squeezing her arm.
Conrad leans down when she rejoins everyone. "Are you ok?"
"No, but that doesn't really matter, it never did so I have to just pretend I'm fine." She plasters on a fake smile as she waves at people.
He kisses her temple and she leans into his touch, her eyes closed a moment of peace in the madness.
As Caroline is leaving the table she passes by Katherine who notices the red mark on her arm. Katherine stops her from going up. Whispering to her. "You can't go up with that mark, people would make accusations."
"I can't go up in Conrad's suit jacket either."
Katherine looks around the room filled with press and everyone who works at Royalty then says. "Follow me."
She takes her to the bathroom, after really looking at the red mark she can make out finger lines in there and little crescent moon fingernail marks. She turns around so Caroline can unzip her dress. Sharing clothes is nothing new for them, their bedrooms were connected in the penthouse, they shared a bathroom, they have similar tastes in clothes that it was nothing if Caroline wore a pair of Katherine's jeans or Katherine wore one of Caroline's corsets. They are the same size shoe too, so they were always wearing each other's heels. The day Caroline's closet was robbed she had to wear Katherine's clothes and they are pretty sure some of Katherine's clothes were stolen too since they were in Caroline's closet. Nothing is kept from these best friends.
Caroline looks at herself in the mirror as Katherine is zipping up the long capped sleeves thigh high light green dress. With matching light green heels. Katherine is now wearing Caroline's black strapless mini diamond embellished dress with silver heels. The only thing they didn't change were their purses, Caroline still has the diamond ball clutch and Katherine has a green clutch.
"Do you remember when Royalty went public and it was featured in the society pages. We squealed about it in the kitchen Cece was just watching us squeal and be happy."
Caroline laughs as she leans her head against the brunettes. "Yeah I do. Royalty was so easy back then. Before board members and fathers started swarming. I wish we could go back to when Royalty was fun."
Katherine kisses her on the forehead. "It will be fun again. If there's anyone who can make something fun again it's us." It's true Katherine tries to bring fun to every occasion.
They are silent for a moment before Katherine says. "I really do like Conrad, he's grown on me. He's the perfect person for you."
Caroline dabs her eyes and looks at her through the mirror, her father has never put his hands on his children before, and now at an event celebrating her company and her models he decides to put his hands on his daughter and leave a mark. If the verbal abuse wasn't enough she now has this."Thanks Kat."
Katherine looks over at her one more time and it kills her that Caroline is going through this. "I know it won't matter but don't you think you should tell someone about this." She points to Caroline's arm.
"I should but it won't matter. Who would believe me? Nobody believed or did anything when I said what happened with the hell demon. Giuseppe would just pay off anyone who would try to help. To everyone outside our friends, my four models, and Conrad I am just a spoiled entitled woman who doesn't deserve enough respect to be taken seriously."
The brunette lays her head against the blondes. She knows how that feels. It's awful, They can't help who they are or the family they were born into, they always get written off, Underestimated.
Before they leave Katherine asks. "Do you have a backup plan if Giuseppe wins?"
"Spend time wallowing in my failure, then figuring out what to do next."
"So in other words you're going to hot uncle Sawyer then figuring out what to do."
The blonde shakes her head and there's a smile on her face. Katherine knows how to make a bad situation good. She always has been able to do that. During that cursed day Katherine tried to make her feel better by offering a foursome, at the fashion show she was right next to Caroline so proud of her that's when she knew she wanted to be a part of this.
"Can we not call my uncle Sawyer hot." They've had this conversation before and it's always been a joke. Caroline knows Katherine likes the older men and while her uncle is handsome he is too old for her. Katherine does it to get a smile out of Caroline and it worked, she is smiling.
"Pity party of two, you pick the continent."
Both girls hug tightly. Caroline and Katherine are platonic soulmates. You can't have Katherine without Caroline, you can't have Caroline without Katherine. "Sisters till the end I love you."
"Sisters till the end I love you."
They get right outside the bathroom and Caroline stops them. "We can't tell Damon. He would go off on Giuseppe and I don't know what Giuseppe would do. I didn't think he was capable of this." She holds her arm up.
Katherine nods.
As she goes up the stage she grabs a glass of champagne."Ladies and gentlemen, members of the board, investors, models, heads of departments. Everyone who works at Royalty, and significant others I stand up here so proud of everything that this company has become. Now we are here to celebrate three gentlemen that embody Royalty. Zero, Brad and Brett. I am overjoyed to present the commercial, the billboards and magazine covers." She holds her champagne glass up. "To Royalty."
Everyone holds up a glass. The tv's turn on and Brad's commercial for cologne starts playing and he jumps off a cliff into the water. A sheet is pulled off a billboard and Zero is laying there in a pair of jeans. Brett is on the cover promoting lacrosse gear.
When she gets off the stage and back to their table Conrad leans down and whispers to her. "You're amazing."
She pecks him on the cheek.
As everyone is leaving Caroline turns towards the bodyguards. "Do you have a place to stay tonight?"
"Yes we have a suite at the Forbes New York. Your cousin set it up."
Damon overheard them and is leaving with someone he just met. "How is Cousin Lexi?"
Both Riven and Musa look at each other, they don't really know her, they work for her husband, he keeps work and home separate. "She's good."
As Damon is getting in the car with the woman he just met he turns back to his sister and Katherine. "Did you switch outfits?"
Both women look at each other. "Yes I was cold and Katherine was getting hot, I couldn't go on stage with Conrad's jacket on me, so we traded dresses.
Xxx
Later that night as Caroline is getting ready for bed she has her red silk pajama shorts on a matching silk tank top as she is pulling on the silk black robe she stops it at her elbows and looks at the mark on her arm. You can see the outline of fingers and it's not small either. She closes her eyes and a couple tears fall down her face.
She gets in bed and Conrad kisses her shoulder as she leans into his embrace as they lay in bed, his arms are around her. "We announce we are together and then Giuseppe does this to you. I just…"
Caroline lays up in bed and turns towards him, brushing a piece of hair off his face. "No, don't even think that. This has nothing to do with you or us. Giuseppe is an asshole. He has always wanted power over us, he's always wanted us to hang on his every word, ask how high when he says jump, say yes daddy, miss him when he's not here. Instead he has three independent children who hate him and have independent lives. He always picked me out of the three of us. I was in charge of everything. I was given the safe combination not Damon. I started a business and I didn't have his help. The nail in the coffin was at that time he was pursuing a client who was big on family values and Giuseppe had him convinced that we were a close loving family. That client came into Giuseppe's office one day and asked him why Giuseppe's teenage daughter was on the cover of a magazine with two shirtless men. He had to lie and tell the man that he gave me this company and it was nothing but a shell company. When he came to the city for my debutante ball he was pissed. First we moved into the mansion and didn't tell him also he didn't know that his wife bought the mansion. Second, I started a business and didn't tell him. Third, my mother asked for a divorce so she could marry my stepfather. To add insult to injury, the client's daughter became an investor of Royalty two years ago. She works closely with her father and he invested too, pulling his money and ties with Giuseppe."
Their fingers entwine as they lay back down in bed he kisses her forehead as she leaves a kiss on his neck and snuggles into him.
Xxx
The next morning Caroline is sitting at her desk reading reactions to the commercial, Riven and Musa are sitting on the couch. Musa puts her hands up and Riven smirks and starts hitting them lightly sparring. Nora informs her that Viscount Tewkesbury has shown up. "Sit, I have ideas now. I'm sorry if you have already answered them but I haven't been here the last two years, so it's almost as if you're a new model to me. Do you have a girlfriend and would you be willing to take your shirt off?"
He was not expecting that, he was surprised and taken back when Caroline offered to help him. He loves modeling. The only thing that is making him a little hesitant about being in America is he does have a girlfriend back in London and he is going to have to split his time. He has always had those model looks: sharp cheekbones, great facial structure, stunning looks. Before he became a model when he would walks down the streets of London people would look at him because of how stunning he is. He also has an English accent although in London it's not as charming as it is in America.
"I do and yeah that's no problem."
She only asked because she needed to know how risky she could go with the photos, she didn't want to intrude on their relationship. She wouldn't want someone half naked being all over Conrad.
"When I came back I said Royalty is not a favoritism thing. In a way that is true but everyone has their favorites, when my mother has a fashion show she picks her favorites, the press and public picks their favorites. I have known some models longer than others. I want to make you a star and have you up with the likes of Zero, Brad and Brett. Have you adored all around the world."
He raises an eyebrow this is a lot to take in all at once. He just got back to America last night. He was thinking of moving back to London permanently but this happened." And you can make this happen?"
Caroline comes around the desk and leans against it in front of him, revealing a blue long sleeve blazer, a blue mini skirt and knee high blue crocodile effect stiletto boots. "Oh please I'm Caroline Salvatore of course I can. Before me Zero was a bartender and Brad was a carpenter and now they are seen all over the world and people want them."
He stands up and sticks his hand out."Ok you got yourself a deal."
She shakes his hand and gets a smile on her face. "This is going to be so fun lets get started. I'll give you the rundown since you just got back. Since we will be working together you have just become an enemy of my father I'm sorry about that. Now My father where to begin, Giuseppe Salvatore is a horrible person in this instance he is trying to take the company because I didn't tell him I started it and I didn't need his help. So he is mad and taking it out on all of us, by getting rid of me and any traces of me in this company. Which would now include you again I'm sorry. While we are all here let's take some photos and make you famous. Shove it in Giuseepe's face that he might fire you but people want to see your chiseled face and gorgeous brown eyes."
Xxx
"Welcome to my home, I'll give you a moment to gawk at the luxury."
He chuckles as he sees the staff moving around the house doing their jobs. "The home I grew up in was bigger."
She looks over her shoulder at him and smiles at him as Dorota comes up to her. "Mrs. LaRue called again."
Caroline nods. "You surprised me Tewkesbury, I knew there was a reason I liked you."
Xxx
Caroline is leaning against the bannister of the stairs checking her nails waiting for him to change when Dorota comes in with a photographer who is a friend of Caroline's mother. Caroline and this photographer have worked together before, He did both Zero and Brad's shoots, and her mother flies him to wherever her fashion shows are so he can shoot them.
Tewkesbury comes out in a charcoal gray double breasted suit with a burnt orange collar around the neck and a white dress shirt. "Perfect."
Both gentlemen follow her to the living room and Caroline points to a chair in front of the windows and next to a table that has a chess board they never use on it. "Sit down and think of London."
He chuckles as the photographer snaps photos. He runs a hand down one of the lapel's of the jacket, he rests his head on his fingers. All while smiling for the camera.
The Photographer looks back at Caroline. "We got the shot, we actually have multiple shots."
Caroline smiles wide as she looks at the man who looks like he was carved from marble sitting opposite her. Win or lose this battle with her father she just created something here today that will outlive this battle. She created Royalty not for publicity but to show the world that she is more than just the daughter of one of the richest families in the world. That she can create something that has nothing to do with her father or having to name drop her last name. She created this not because of her last name but because she knew what people wanted and had connections. She is more than just a rich girl, she has brains and talent.
Xxx
Near the end of the photoshoot, her phone rings. She excuses herself and goes downstairs to the screening room. "Hi uncle Sawyer."
"My material girl what is wrong you text me in the middle of the night I need to talk to you."
Caroline swallows and nods; she knows he can't see the nod. "Yes…it finally happened after years of verbal abuse Giuseppe finally laid a hand on us well me. I have a big hand outline on my upper arm and little finger nail imprints. After everything I've done and accomplished, what do I get in return? My father manhandled me in the middle of an event and then berated me because I announced Conrad is my boyfriend."
Sawyer is so angry he pulls over on the side of the road, so he doesn't cause an accident in his blind rage. He punches the passenger's seat. "That asshole I told Liz it was just a matter of time before this happens. What are you going to do?"
She sniffles and she knew uncle Sawyer would feel her fury. Since she was born she has always connected with him. They used to joke and say that he was their favorite uncle. While Caroline loves uncle Peter she does have a deeper connection with uncle Sawyer. Multiple times they've been mistaken for father and daughter and they never corrected anyone. Uncle Sawyer looks at Caroline like the daughter he doesn't have and she looks at him like the father she never had.
"What can I do? Nobody would believe me and if anyone did he would pay them off. We have pictures and witnesses. He would just say it didn't happen just like he claims that the demon whore is a perfect angel and never did anything to me except shower me with love."
"I would con him but he's not my type."
Caroline giggles. Uncle Sawyer smiles hearing the giggle. His blind rage simmered down hearing her giggle. "Always remember my Material girl, you have more people who love you then he will in his entire life."
"Thank you uncle Sawyer, you always know the right thing to say."
He shrugs his shoulders. "I'm amazing that way."
They both laugh." I love you."
"I love you too, my material girl."
Xxx
Later that night Conrad finds Caroline in a room he's never been in, the dining room. It's huge. There are terrace doors opposite the entrance and there is a long dining room table that is covered in photos from this afternoon. "What are you doing in here?" Outside the dining room there are two butler pantry's one even has a dumbwaiter from the kitchen to the dining room.
"I needed more space, and I didn't want to put them on the floor. We never use this room anyway, unless my mother has a dinner party or my mother is in town and wants a family dinner and whoever is also living here is always included."
He comes up behind her and looks at the photos. They are all amazing. "I like that one." He points to the one where Tewkesbury has his head resting against his index finger and middle finger, his thumb is by his mouth, and his ring and little finger are bent hovering in front of his cheek.
"I like that one too. Then there's this one." She points to one where his fingers are on his lapel. "Why does this man have to be so photogenic?"
He kisses her shoulder and she leans into him. "Have you had dinner yet?"
She shakes her head, "I wasn't hungry and I was busy, I want everything to be perfect. I need the right photo."
Xxx
A week later Tewkesbury is brought into Caroline's office and she puts a magazine on the desk. "Hot off the presses front page. They get sent out tomorrow."
He looks down at the cover and it's him leaning against his fingers. "This is amazing."
Caroline beams, she is so happy. "You can send that one to your girlfriend and tomorrow they are going out worldwide. Although for your next photoshoot I have an idea it's going to be a little tricky though. It can't take place in my living room, so we are going to need the photoshoot floor. Here's the problem: if Giuseppe gets wind of this idea he will nip it in the butt. So we need to carry it out while he is not here or any of his minions." Giuseppe is always here and sends Sybil to slink around all the time. She is happy that her former classmate Colin said no to Giuseppe and went back to Atlanta.
"The board has called a meeting."
Caroline groans. "Thank you Nora."
Xxx
"Miss Salvatore over the last couple of weeks you have made a spectacle in the press."
Caroline raises an eyebrow, she is clearly confused on how, all she's done is get a model on a cover, and announce Conrad is her boyfriend.
"Your love declaration overshadowed the event, then without putting it past us you hired another model, and got him a cover."
"Wow, first announcing my relationship is a personal issue not a company or even a board issue. I'm not telling any of you to not invite your significant others to events. Please do, I would love to meet them. Second he is not a new model and yes he is the cover. If you have a problem with that, well too bad it's already printed and shipped out."
Xxx
For the last couple of weeks they have been trying to find the right time to do this photoshoot but Giuseppe is always getting in the way. Tonight is the night, Caroline was having dinner with Conrad when she got a text from Damon, Caroline smiles at Conrad. "It's time. Do you want to come?"
He nods and smiles. The last couple of weeks she has been so busy that they haven't had much time to be together. He wants to see her in her element.
The studio doors open and a group of people pile in. " Coats over there, shirts over there and one last thing let's have fun tonight."
As Zero is taking his shirt off he says. "Reminds me of the early days of Royalty, the only thing missing is your mansion."
Caroline laughs as she throws her jacket on the pile but she is keeping her corset on. The mark is gone and even though she remembers it clearly and sometimes when she looks down at her arm she still sees it, she can't let it stop her from wearing what she wants to wear. "Exactly, Just now we have upgraded a little. I even got the same photographer."
Katherine plugs her phone into a speaker and starts playing Taylor swift. She goes back over to the blonde in the middle of the room and they feast their eyes on all the bare muscles and v's in the room. "How do we keep finding ourselves in this situation?"
Both best friends laugh. "I don't know, we are just lucky."
"Tewkesbury and Brett in the middle Zero and Brad on the sides."
The doors open and it's the photographer friend of her mothers that had also become a friend of hers comes in. "Thank you so much for coming out this late."
He nods. "I wouldn't be here this late just for anyone." He's only here because Caroline's mother is one of his close friends,They've been friends for over twenty years.
He is about to take the photo and Caroline is standing with Katherine and Conrad. "Wait. Something's not right."
She hurries over to Tewkesbury and takes a piece of his beautiful brunette hair that he has styled. She takes a couple strands and drapes it across his forehead curling it a little.
All four guys are in jeans and shirtless. Tewkesbury has his hands in his pockets bringing the waistband of his jeans down so you can see the top of his boxers. All the jeans are hanging low on their hips so you can see that defined V. All four guys are slim athletic build. With Zero, Brad and Brett having defined abs, Tewkesbury abs are not defined and he is slender. Some of the muscles are more defined than the others. All have the model gaze.
As the photographer is taking photos Conrad wraps his arms around Caroline from the back and leaves a kiss on her neck. "Are all your photo shoots like this?"
She chuckles as she looks away from the new photo being taken of Tewkesbury in a suit. He is laughing at something Brett said. His brunette hair is messy. He was born for this.
Caroline leans back into Conrad's arms and runs a nail across his chin. "Not all but if we are throwing back tonight the most famous Royalty picture is of Zero and Brad shirtless biting my neck."
His voice tickles her ear as he softly says. "Like this." She feels his lips on her neck then a little nip. A soft guttural moan escapes her and her hand snakes around his neck into his hair. He leaves a kiss right where he nipped.
"So how exactly did you pull this off?"
Caroline glances over at Katherine for a moment she forgot where they were."I'm amazing."
Katherine smiles at her and Caroline elaborates. "Damon is keeping an eye out for Giuseppe, and Klaus while Enzo is on hellraiser watch."
Katherine glances over at Conrad Caroline is still in his embrace. She wanted to put her arm around her best friend but can't. "This photoshoot might be hotter than the first."
After multiple photos, of solo's, group shots, brad and Zero together, Brett and Tewkesbury, all in various outfits and states of undress. The last photo of the night and Kathrine has an idea. "I want everyone to form a line, don't worry what you have on." She goes over to Caroline and grabs her arm dragging her away from Conrad. "Kat I'm not dressed for a photo."
The blonde is in a short black skirt, a pink and black lace around her breasts and the bottom corset that pushes her breasts up, and she had on a cropped black fur coat. That she has matched with black knee high boots and a black Gucci purse.
Katherine glances over her shoulder and raises an eyebrow. "Oh please I know that's not true." She drags the blonde over to the other four guys who have shirts on, Zero has a white tee shirt on, Brad has a grey tee shirt, Brett has a plum Henley on and Tewkesbury has a navy blue pull over.
After looking at them in what they have on she changes her mind. "Change, take your shirts off." She places Caroline in front of them. "You grab her head and you grab her feet."
Conrad and the bodyguards who have been bored with this entire photo shoot, go to step forward and Caroline puts her arms out. "Nobody is grabbing anything. I see where your going with this." She turns around to assess the situation.
"Zero picks me up, while Brad holds onto my feet, Brett and Tewkesbury carefully guide my head and body into your hands."
As she feels Zero's hands on her waist she swallows and closes her eyes she is literally putting her life in these guys hands, she is also putting her trust in them. She feels Brett's hands on her bare shoulders guiding her down.
When she opens her eyes she has to flip to her side with her hand holding her head up for the photo. She is nervous she is going to fall, but knows if something were to happen not only would these four guys catch her but anyone in this room would jump into action.
Brett can tell she is nervous and tries to make her smile, "We've come so far, I know so many women who would be jealous of you, right now."
She glances over at him and a small smile appears on her face. "They would die if they saw this or mostly them." She winks at him and he smiles at her.
Xxx
"Damon I can't stay long, I'm busy in talks with billboards and campaigns possibly another commercial or partnership."
Damon looks up at his sister. "Lunch will be quick, by the way you need to call Mrs. LaRue I'm tired of telling her your in California or busy. I had to go climb a mountain to escape her calls."
"So that's why you were mountain climbing I knew it wasn't because you liked mountain climbing."
"Funny." A waiter comes up to them and Damon says. "We are just waiting for one more."
The blonde looks up from her phone at that. She raises an eyebrow."One more who?"
Before Damon can answer they hear a British voice say. "Hello, love you're a hard woman to pin down."
Caroline scoffs and stands up grabbing her phone. "How dare you Damon?" She goes to leave and Damon speaks up. This is the exact reason he bought this restaurant for lunch. So nobody would be privy if a fight happened.
"You two are supposed to be married next month and you can't even stand to be in the same room. Even though nobody wants this marriage this infighting between you two has been going on long enough, Caroline you choose to go to college in California to get away from him and dude you've been carrying a torch for her for almost five years I took you mountain climbing to forget about her. And yet now that we are all back in the city it's like old times. You hate and love her and you hate him. Can we please find a common level."
Caroline glares at her brother; she feels so betrayed, when Damon asked her today if they can have lunch she agreed it's been a while since they had some sibling time. "Ten minutes."
Damon nods. "Let's go back to how this all started. Why did you break up with him?"
Caroline rolls her eyes and puts a hand on her hip still not sitting down. Her phone rings and she looks down at the text it's from Patrick she had sent him a photo from the photoshoot night, she smiles at the text it says 'the dream job.' When she looks back up Klaus is glaring at her and Damon is waiting for her to answer his question. "Because I wanted to sleep with other guys, I wasn't fulfilled in our relationship."
Damon turns to Klaus who is glaring at Caroline. "Klaus why did you stand Caroline up at the debutante ball and slut shame her multiple times."
Klaus sighs this is ridiculous but at least it might get them somewhere, not only are they in the same room they are at the same table she's standing behind her chair but still. "She hurt me and I wanted to hurt her and feel the pain that I was going through."
Caroline puts her phone on the table as she turns towards Klaus and he notices her Lock Screen, it's Brad, Zero, Brett and Tewkesbury holding her up. All of them are smiling and having fun. He scoffs that she can have fun with anyone but him. "We had a truce going into that ball and you broke it. It doesn't matter how many times I've apologized for breaking your heart you'll never accept it anyway. This is pointless. He'll never accept my apology and I'll never trust him again."
Damon looks between the two and how they both are glaring at each other. "Look whether you two like it or not both of you are a part of each other's lives there has to be something you guys can agree on. Klaus, why did you break the truce?"
"She broke my heart and got off scotch free. Nobody judged her or shunned her or anything. It was just like every other day. I try to embarrass her and I get dumped and told you shouldn't have done that."
"Both times it was in front of large groups of people while Caroline went to your room and broke up with you alone." Damon rubs his temples helping is a lot of work.
Caroline smirks at him and he glares at her. "Why didn't you feel anything when we were together or when I tried to embarrass you."
"My whole heart was not in it. I never saw you as a boyfriend you were always a friend. I tried. I really did but couldn't. You trying to embarrass me was just another person trying to take me down and I have enough people trying to do that."
Her phone rings and when she slides her phone opens her background is of her and Conrad smiling and being happy he's holding her from behind and she is snuggled into his embrace. Klaus scoffs. Caroline picks up her phone reading the message from Katherine. "Oh my god I have to go."
"Caroline we are not done."
"We're not? I think we made progress. We've agreed that we both hate each other. I have to go there because there is an emergency at Royalty."
She is halfway across the restaurant when she turns around. "Klaus I truly mean this. I hope one day you find someone who makes you as happy as Conrad makes me." With him she has found a soulmate, someone who will be with her through thick and thin who doesn't judge her.
Klaus growls and crosses his arms as she hurries out of the restaurant. "That was better than I thought you two would do."
He glares at Damon. "What, no damage was done to the restaurant or yourselves, and there was no big scene."
Xxx
Caroline stops in her tracks just inside the doors of the photoshoot floor, Seeing Katherine arguing with the demon from hell. She takes a breath and swallows, she knew at some point this was Inevitable she just hoped it never came.
Tewkesbury notices her out of the corner of his eye and goes over to her. He notices she is holding herself very stiff and is barely in the room. "Are you ok?"
"Ask me again when I'm done doing what I'm about to do." After a moment she asks. "I haven't moved have I?" Her voice quivers.
He shakes his head. "Do you have any tequila or vodka? Anything on you right now?"
He shakes his head again. She takes another deep breath. "Ok you're going to have to push me."
Tewkesbury looks down at her and she looks up at him, her face is a mixture of fear and bravery. "Please, it's the only way."
A hand is placed on her back and then she is pushed in the direction of the two arguing females. "Katherine if I may."
Katherine looks over at Caroline and can tell just from her body language of how she is holding her body very stiff and her breathing is shallow but she is putting a brave face on. That this is killing her. "Caro."
The blonde puts a hand on her best friend's arm. " I know."
"You do not have the right to yell at my employees or make decisions here. You are not welcomed or wanted here. Not just on this floor but in this company, this city, this country. Go back to England. I've had to accept the vicious attacks you've thrown at me but when you go after my company, my models no that is where I draw the line. What you did to me and what you took from me was horrible but I will not stand by and let you terrorize this company like you did me."
The menacing brunette who still has the bad dye job of black hair smirks at the blonde and she goes to touch her, Riven and Musa jump in. Musa pulls her back and Riven tells the evil woman. "Do not touch her."
"I'm glad I still have an effect on you, Although maybe you need to be taught another lesson this time how to treat Giuseppe, he is our father and has done nothing but love and support us."
Caroline's breath shudders, her body is shaking and she does not know how she is still standing right now. It took almost a week for the red mark on her arm to go away. Musa and Riven are between the two girls, Katherine has wrapped her arms around her best friend. Zero, Brad, Brett and Tewkesbury have surrounded the best friends. It's not Caroline who responds but Katherine. "Once again he is not your father you two are not related in the slightest. You are just his charity case that he pities."
She turns her fury back to Katherine. "Oh I would hate for you to have to spend a night in jail again for something you didn't do."
Katherine scoffs."You need to leave."
"Giuseppe sent me down here to get to know the models, So we know which ones to keep. Let's face it you won't win, Giuseppe is bigger, stronger, better in every way. You have a couple of handsome guys, we have Business experience."
With that she flips her bad dyed hair and goes over to watch another shoot but Riven gets in front of her. "You need to leave, not only have you harassed everyone,you have made everyone uncomfortable and most importantly you are violating the restraining order, the police are on their way."
Xxx
Instead of going to her office Caroline goes outside and is hunched over breathing heavily a hand on the building her body is shaking. Katherine puts a hand on the blonde and she jumps. When she sees who is behind her she puts a hand on her heart. "Kat, don't do that!"
"I'm Sorry just wanted to know if you're ok. I'm proud of you and what you did in there."
The blonde smiles at her, "I'm proud of you too. You have to go protect the newbies now that we know the hag is in the building."
Kat chuckles and gives her a huge hug. "I love you."
"I love you too."
Katherine turns around to face the group of gorgeous men. "Come on, some of you have photoshoots."
Caroline thinks she is alone then she hears a south London accent. "What happened in there?"
The blonde turns around to look at Tewkesbury who has concern written all over his face. "You don't have a shoot today?"
He shakes his head. "I just came to support the others."
"You're a good person Tewkesbury. I don't want to be alone right now, and Conrad is busy in Brooklyn, do you want to walk with me."
He puts his arm out and she puts her arm though the crook of his elbow so proper and she really needs it because she doesn't trust herself to stand up straight right now. "So tell me about your girlfriend." Anything to take her mind off what just happened. Her breath is still shallow and her body is still shaking but she is trying to calm down.
He chuckles. "I met Enola a couple years ago. I ran away from home and she was running from her brothers we met on a train and after we parted we kept finding our way back to each other and a year later said I love you and we've been together for a year and a half. She's still in south London we're going to spend Christmas together."
Caroline smiles at him as they turn onto fifth avenue. "That's really cute, I hope one day I get to meet her."
Xxx
They enter one of the stores and immediately a manager comes up to them. "Welcome Miss Salvatore we have new releases, would you like something to drink while you shop? If either you or your guest need anything let me know."
"Thank you, champagne would be nice." She doubts they have vodka or tequila. This is nothing new for Caroline whenever she enters this store they always come up to her and welcome her, give her a drink and show her the new clothes.
After getting champagne they are just walking around the store. "What was that back there?"
"That woman was from my past, let's just leave it at that. We are trying to take my mind off her and not bring her up."
A little while later He walks past a pair of pink pants and she stops grabbing them off the shelf and she goes over to him holding them up. "You these pants, and a leather jacket."
Tewkesbury comes out of the dressing room and looks at himself in the mirror, as Caroline drapes a leather jacket across his shoulders. "I can see it now." She looks up at his hair. "How do you feel about your hair? I feel like this outfit would be best with black and spiked although maybe brunette would still work definitely spiked." She runs her fingers through his hair trying to get it spiky. It's not working.
He looks down at her and can tell that she is doing much better than when they came in, her mind is fully off that woman. She takes a sip of her champagne as she looks at her creation. She loves it.
After he changes back into his clothes which are just black jeans a white tee shirt and a black jacket with black boots. He has a chain necklace and a green ring on his middle finger. He goes back to the mirror and grabs his champagne with his other hand he takes a selfie of him and Caroline who has her champagne too. He captions the photo shopping buddies. They laugh as they take a couple more photos. Tewkesbury and Caroline are the same age that's why they have this instant friendship connection.
Xxx
"Dorota I need a drink."
"Well if it isn't my brave sister, I'm proud of you."
Caroline looks up at her brother coming down the stairs. "You shouldn't be, I was a mess, very unprofessional and she's still walking around. That devil of a woman gets to walk around like nothing happened while I am traumatized, the nightmares went away but the panic attacks are still around. I can't say her name, I don't feel safe, some days I can't even go into the office. I was shaking the entire time. Tewkesbury had to push me because I was not moving."
Damon wraps his arms around his sister and she drops the bags in her hands and wraps her arms around her older brother. "I'm proud of you because even after everything you confronted her. I know how tough that must have been. Katherine told me you were amazing. I always knew you could do anything and you prove that everyday."
"Thanks Damon." He leaves a kiss on her forehead as Dorota, who was told what happened, hands her a mojito."Thank you."
Xxx
After Conrad was done in Brooklyn he rushed to the upper east side. He finds Caroline on the rooftop sitting at the outdoor dining table, which is enclosed by white pillars and a white veranda fence. There is a white roof with three hanging lanterns, a window on the back of the fence and white flowers below, there are a couple potted bushes in here. It looks like an open greenhouse just with fewer plants and a table. She is sitting at the table drinking a mojito and on her laptop. He sits opposite her and she hasn't noticed him yet so focused on her work.
He slides his hands forward and closes her laptop gently. "Hey I was…. Hi."
"Hi. Bad day?"
"Katherine called you?"
He nods. "Why did you call me?"
She looks down at her diamond encrusted laptop. And is silent for a couple moments. "I didn't want to bother you, I knew you have been busy with Cleveland and helping him write this book."
His hands close around hers. "You wouldn't have bothered me, what you did today proves just how much you love Royalty."
"Proved how much that hell demon still affects me. The only good thing that happened was that Tewkesbury and I are better friends now we went shopping. He told me about his girlfriend."
He comes around the table and wraps his arms around her. He picks her up and carries her downstairs with her laptop in her lap and empty mojito glass in her hand. He lays her down on the bed and lays down too. "Katherine mentioned you were planning a date night?"
She scrunches up her nose, that was supposed to be a surprise. "Yes I felt bad I feel like I've been neglecting you lately working so much, so I was going to surprise you with dinner and a movie. Then today happened, first that intervention Damon setup then confronting the hell beast. Shopping did take my mind off it."
He wraps his arms around her tightly. He's touched that she planned a date for them but he is more than happy to just lay here holding her.
Xxx
"Damon, come on we are going to be late."
Caroline looks at herself in the mirror and adjusts her dress. She notices Conrad who is in a suit looking at her. "What?"
He chuckles. "Nothing you just are calmer for this unveiling then the first one and as beautiful as ever." She blushes her cheeks almost the color of her Barbie pink off the shoulder long sleeve short dress, that she has paired with a pair of pink heels and a pink Gucci purse. She is wearing the necklace Conrad gave her for her birthday and a diamond ring.
She smiles at him. "You look really handsome."
Damon comes down the stairs. Like before as Damon is opening the door Riven and Musa are outside and unlike before they are dressed up this time. Riven has a blue suit on with this orangey peach dress shirt. The colors of his suit match Musa's long sleeve floor length dress.
Before they leave Caroline tells them. "Over this past month you really have made me feel better. That day I never thanked you for jumping in, thank you. I know following us to photoshoots or to Brooklyn is not the most fun but knowing your here and watching out for us means everything to me."
They arrive at the unveiling and have to walk the carpet, people are taking photos of everyone, Conrad is less fidgety, he has a hand around her waist, as they walk the carpet. The same reported called them over. "You've been busy."
Caroline smiles and shrugs her shoulders. "You are an adorable couple. Tonight we are here to talk about them." The reporter points to the background of the carpet is that photo of Zero, Brad, Brett and Tewkesbury holding Caroline up. "The sexy foursome. How did you do it."
Conrad and Caroline smile at each other it's strange hearing someone say they are an adorable couple, the sexy foursome, Caroline likes the name. "A lady never reveals her secrets."
Once inside she finds the guys and they all hug and kiss each other. They are all in suits. This is the first time she is seeing Tewkesbury in a black and white suit. "Amazing. Seriously is there an item of clothing you can't pull off."
He chuckles as they hug again.
A little while later Caroline is tapped on the shoulder and it's Eva and her husband Vincent. "Can we talk?"
She nods as she leaves Conrad's side. "Is something wrong?"
"Possibly, I'm not even supposed to be telling you this. But you are Enzo's friend and I love Enzo he was the best part of being married to his father. There's rumors going around that the board had heard that you threatened an employee. Nothing is official but are the accusations true?"
"What? Seriously? Who? That bitch. No, I did not threaten anyone. I have multiple witnesses, I'm sure the majority of that room would back me up."
Eva nods. "I will tell them that the rumors are false. They are looking for anything to use against you."
"They or my father has manipulated/ bought the board to do his biding."
"Your father offered me money but I refused him some did take it."
Caroline scoffs, she just can't win. It's bad enough he is messing with her company and is forcing her to marry Klaus, plus he brought the demon dog of hell with him and he left a red mark on her arm at the beginning of the month. He has actually bought some of the board that is why they are always against her.
As she is returning to the table she gets a phone call. Caroline's mother is a fashion designer and is a friends with other designers, Caroline has been to almost all of her mothers shows and even been a model in some of them. When the name Calvin Klein popped up on her screen she is both excited and a little surprised they are calling her not going through her mom.
"Hello."
"Is this Caroline Salvatore?"
"Yes it is how can I help you?" Caroline has moved out of the event to hear him better. She can't believe this is happening.
"We are doing a photoshoot in Greece at the beginning of the year, I think your models would be perfect for it, and I would like to talk collaboration."
She is beaming with excitement she can't hide the excitement in her voice either. "Yes. I would love to talk collaborations, what models were you thinking?"
"Zero, Brad, Brett and the new model Tewkesbury he has it."
"He definitely does. I will tell them to clear their schedules and we can make the arrangements tomorrow."
She when returns to the table she has a waiter with her after champagne is passed out she tells them. "Cheers gentlemen the billboard and now Calvin Klein wants you personally for a photoshoot in Greece at the beginning of the year the press is calling you the sexy foursome."
All four guys are speechless. Caroline looks up at Conrad, "Would you like to come?"
He smiles down at her. "I'll have to check with Cleveland but I would love that."
She looks back at the guys who are still speechless. "Guys say something."
"You really have created a dynasty." "You're serious." "I love you." "Is this really happening?"
"Yes it is." She holds up her glass. "To Royalty." Everyone holds up their glasses. "To Royalty."
They unveil the billboard and the press goes nuts snapping photos of the billboard then of the guys, some even some of Caroline and Conrad. It definitely is the sexiest Billboard Royalty has put out. All four guys are shirtless their jeans low enough to see that V, Tewkesbury has his hands in his pockets which brings his down even further you can see the top of his boxers. Brad's bee tattoo on his hip is on display, all of Brett's tattoos are visible and Zero is looking off to the side.