a/n: i should probably say that i have no idea how many chapters this will be and if i'm not done by the time i get back to school, it'll be a slow update because i had a crappy semester and i'm determined to do better this upcoming one. i have no beta reader so bear with my mistakes. thanks for the follows and reviews :) p.s. the cover for the story isn't mine. credit to whoever made it.
Chapter 2 – Nice To Meet You?
There are a few things I know about Kol Mikaelson, like I know he is Rebekah's brother. I know he is twenty-five, making him one of the youngest business moguls in the States. I know that he didn't go to university after he graduated high school; he just went straight into building his father's business. I have seen a few pictures of him but I would never be able to point him out in a line up. I know that he didn't become close with his mother and other siblings until recently. That pretty much sums up what I know about Kol Mikaelson.
I stand beside Rebekah, eagerly awaiting her mother to enter the Den with her son and his girlfriend. I'm a little nervous, what if he doesn't think his company made the right hire? What if he doesn't think I'm good enough to be Rebekah's friend? I don't know much about his character but what if he is a pretentious snob? My phone buzzes and I look down to read the text.
"Brother!" Rebekah squeals rushing to embrace her brother, "I miss you so much! The loser over there on her phone is Bonnie Bennett," she points in my direction.
I put my phone away and extend my hand, meeting the gaze of her brother. There was something extremely familiar about him but I couldn't recall what.
"It's great to finally meet you," I smile, "I couldn't pay Rebekah enough to shut up about you." He raises his eye brow and stares at me a little too long then a knowing smile forms on his lips.
"The pleasure is mine."
My eyes widen in surprise, that voice! I recognize that voice and the face! Oh my gosh! Remember the incident on graduation night I mentioned earlier? The dude who turned me down? Yeah, standing right in front of me. I don't know which is worse that he's my boss or Rebekah's brother. I may have conveniently forgotten to mention it to Rebekah when she came back to the apartment that night. Why didn't I recognize him from all the photos? This is so embarrassing, whatever Bonnie, just play it cool.
"This is my girlfriend, April Young," he gestures to the petite brunette beside him. If I had to guess I'd say she's about my age or younger.
"It's great having you here April, usually I'll complain about unexpected guests but we do have an extra plate setting because someone canceled," Esther stares pointedly at Rebekah, who rolls her eyes.
Esther is pretty big on the fancy living. There are seating cards with our names. I'm seated across from Kol and beside Rebekah. Esther is at the head of the table. The only time we are allowed to engage in chit chat is between courses. Our first course is appetizers; we are having clam chowder soup. I don't drink clam chowder so I decline the waiter's offer.
"Oh, I forget you don't like clam chowder," Esther exclaims, although coming from her it's more a scowl.
"It's okay, I don't mind," I wouldn't want clam chowder to be the first taste in my mouth since I was still suffering slightly from the hangover.
"I feel terrible, because this dinner is for you."
"Mother, you've known Bonnie for years, she doesn't mind," Rebekah interjects.
Esther sighs softly and turns her attention to Kol, "So what's new? Besides your girlfriend that is."
"Oh, not much, I closed a deal with Tokyo and we just hired a new MIS manager," he says pointedly to me, "Welcome to the team Ms. Bennett." His gaze makes me uncomfortable, I have no idea why but it does, I feel a blush creeping up my cheeks, and I nod softly. "My girlfriend isn't new, mom, we've been dating for a while now on and off."
"Ah I see," Esther turns her attention to April, "Can't get him to commit huh?"
Rebekah chokes on her class of water. April's face gets red. I can't help but smile at her embarrassment. Kol coughs and stares at his mother, she shrugs. There is no more small talk during the meals.
We are now seated in the living room. Rebekah and I are deep in conversation and I can feel Kol's gaze on me. I keep wondering when the other shoe will drop, when he will tell the others about our encounter. Esther left to pay the caterers and send them home. It's still pretty early, only eight o'clock. Tomorrow is Monday and my first official day of work. Rebekah is currently discussing how to get back at Alexander and what is the most impolite way to say fuck off to him. Kol and April move from their side of the room and come sit beside us.
"So baby sis, what's new?" Kol asks.
"I broke up with Alexander," Rebekah answers.
"Good, he was an ass," I chuckle, that's what I told her only a few moments ago. "Why did you guys break up?"
"Well," she looks down nervously, "I was really shitty last night and almost went home with a stranger, luckily my guardian angel," she places her arm over my shoulder, "was there, watching over me as always."
"And holding your hair while you puked over her shoes!" I nudge her with my shoulders and give her a wink.
"Oh?" Kol raises his eyebrows in question.
"What? Bonnie didn't take enough shots so I had to take them for her," she sticks her tongue out and April rolls her eyes.
My phone starts to buzz and I excuse myself. I walk to the patio and take it out, glimpsing at the time, eight-thirty, right on schedule. I answer the phone.
"Hey sweetie!"
"Hello darling," Aiden's sweet Scottish accent fills my ear. I may be a bit of an accent whore.
"Just go out of the office? It's pretty late over there."
I met Aiden at the company where I did my internship. He tried to woo the little American girl, he won. He's so polite and sweet, a real Scot gentleman. We speak on the phone for a while. He tells me about what's new with the company and stuff.
"I love you," Aiden says adoringly.
"Me too," I reply. I've never actually said I love you to him but he doesn't notice. I hang up the phone and lean against the rail staring out at the night.
"When someone says I love you, you typically say, I love you too," Kol's voice startles me from my gazing.
"It's impolite to eavesdrop on someone's conversation," I frown, how long has he been standing there?
"My sister sent me to see if you fell over the balcony," he replies nonchalantly. His accent is more prominent and divine than Rebekah's.
"As you can see, I'm clearly okay, you can leave now."
"Wow, you're so snappy, is it the hangover?"
I stare at him, how did he know I'm hungover? I usually hide it pretty well.
"So it's not the hangover," he pauses, "is it because of that night?" He stares at me intently, awaiting my reaction. "I doubt you told Rebekah and don't worry I won't tell either."
I remain silent, focusing on the sounds in the distance. He moves closer to me and I can feel the heat radiating from him. He is steadily invading my personal bubble. The last time he was this close to me, I was three seconds away from having my way with him right there in the middle of the dance floor.
"It'll be our little secret, we can list this as our first official meeting," he says softly, his breathe kissing my ear. He steps back, winks at me and walks into the living area.
I enter the living room shortly after Kol and Rebekah grabs my hand, leading me to the front of the room.
"I declare this toast to my best friend, in the whole world," she raises her champagne class and everyone follows suit. "Congratulations on finishing your masters and I wish you the absolute best at your new job. I'll use my familiar ties to make sure my brother doesn't work you too hard."
We all take a sip of the champagne. Esther moves over to me and gives me a hug, stating how proud she is of me. April pretty much ignores me the entire time she's here. She looks disengaged from the activities going on. It's as if she would rather be anywhere but here. Kol makes his way over to give his congrats and instead of taking my hand like I offer, he embraces me. It feels wonderful.
"Kol sweetheart, I'm ready to leave. I have a flight to catch early tomorrow morning," April announces.
"Oh, Kol can you bring your sister and Bonnie in the car as well? They took the ferry here," Esther asks.
"Of course, it'll be my pleasure."
Rebekah and I walk to the car. Kol opens the door for us and we hop in. The drive to the ferry is silent, the only people speaking were Rebekah and Kol. We are on the Ferry discussing plans for the fourth of July and Kol turns to ask me a question.
"Would you like me to pick you up for work tomorrow?"
"No, a cab is faster," I reply crassly.
"Oh don't be such an independent woman and accept the ride, Bonnie!" Rebekah remarks.
"I don't want to."
"Why not?" Rebekah inquires.
"I can't be fraternizing with the Boss on the first day."
"Oh, pish posh Bonnie!" she turns to her brother, "You can pick up Bonnie at seven thirty.
The protest dies on my lips. I guess I have to learn to be tolerable of Kol especially if we were going to pretend this is the first time we met.
The alarm goes off, shrieking in my ear. I snap out of bed and groan. It's seven and Kol will be here to pick me up in half an hour. I carelessly move towards the bathroom, I contemplated taking a shower but settled on brushing my teeth and my hair instead. I had taken a late bathe last night. I've never been one to wear a lot of make-up, a simple concealer and mascara will do. Rebekah likes to pick out my outfits and I let her because I'm too lazy to do it myself. She lays out a simple black pencil skirt with a matching blazer. She suggests I wear the lime green dress shirt with ruffles as my inside shirt because it does wonders for my complexion. She also decides that my make-up is too 'safe' and proceeds to do that along with my hair. After enduring the torture she moves away from the mirror, and I have to admit, I love amazing. I smile fondly at her and she gives me a smug smirk.
"My brother will be here soon," Rebekah says while doing the finishing touches on my side bun, "You still drink your mocha cappuccino with a shot of coconut right?"
"Yep."
She deems me ready and I pick up my pocketbook and leave the apartment to meet Kol. It's a little difficult for me because I'm not sure if I'm supposed to call him Mr. Mikaelson or Kol. I check my watch and the time is seven thirty-five. He's late, I murmur. He's late which will make me late; I can't be late on my first day of work. I wait a few more minutes when his car pulls up in front of me. I scowl at him. He gets out of the car to come open my car door for me; I'm a little taken aback. He didn't have to.
"You're late," I say pointedly, he simply smiles and moves to the driver seat.
"You seem to have forgotten that I'm the boss," he smirks. I did forget, momentarily.
I expected Kol to be wearing a suit, being the appropriate apparel for his title. However, Kol was wearing dark jeans, a white dress shirt and sunglasses. Don't get me wrong, he still looked fly as hell and good enough to eat. "It doesn't matter if you're the boss; I'm still a newly hired employee." I fold my arms across my chest.
"If you must know Bonnie, I had to drop April off at the airport. Traffic back was brutal."
"Oh," I shift uncomfortably, "uh, do I call you Mr. Mikaelson or Kol?"
"Kol will suffice," he puts the car in drive and we speed away from the complex, "Mr. Mikaelson is my dad and Elijah."
We are driving for a couple of minutes when we hit rush hour traffic. Great!
"You know, we should talk about the elephant in the room while we're sitting here in the car," he suggests.
"And that would be?" I feign confusion.
"Two years ago, Apocalyptic Night Club," he says with a smug look.
"FYI I was drunk, I can't be held responsible for what I do in my drunken state."
"I see … well I'm just letting you know that I didn't turn you down because I didn't find you sexy as hell, I did, matter of fact I do right now," my face flushes, "I like to pride myself on being gentlemanly and it was extremely hard to turn you down."
"Good to know," I reply disinterestedly.
"Wow, you are simply frosty this morning, oh I forgot," he reaches for the coffee and hands it to me, "here you go, oh and don't throw out the mug, there's a number I need to add to my black book."
My mouth falls open and the bastard is laughing, literally laughing. "Aren't you in a relationship?" I inquire.
He shrugs, "You gotta have a backup plan Bonnie, that's the first rule of business."
I roll my eyes so far back in my head I was sure they would get stuck that way. "You're insufferable."
"Now, now, don't pass judgment, you've barely known me a day," He did have a point. "Tell you what, we'll work on this friendship because we can't be anything less, our lives are intertwined."
I suppose I do have to learn to work with him, I can't avoid him. I sigh and reach into my pocketbook for my cell. I hit my speed dial and wait as the phone rings.
"Hey sweetie," Rebekah answers, "What's up?"
"Remember when I left the club early on grad night?" she urges me on, "well it's because I was really drunk and made a pass at guy who shot me down."
"Why are you telling me this now?"
"Because yesterday I found out that said guy, was/is your brother."
"No fucking way!" Rebekah starts laughing, "this is priceless!" She pauses for a second, "Omg! You're the girl he droned on and on about when I met him for coffee the next day!"
"What?"
"He was all, 'she's so beautiful and my dick was so hard for her but she was so drunk' blah blah blah, I tuned him out after a while, this is hilarious though!"
"I beg to differ."
"Whatever, I'm glad you told me Bonnie."
"I wasn't going to but your brother insists that we be friends and therefore he wasn't going to have this hanging over my head," I glare at Kol who's pretending he's not eavesdropping.
"That would actually be a very Kol thing to do … well have fun at work and don't kill each other, let go of the past! I've got to go! Talk to you later?" I tell her yes and hang up the call.
We pull up in front of the office and I open my car door before Kol could escort me out. I slide out of the door and cautiously brush against Kol. He makes as if nothing happens and we walk towards the building. He holds open the door and I slip inside.
"I know you heard our conversation," I say over my shoulder.
"So, are we gonna let bygones be bygones?"
"Sure."
"Good!" he beams, "I'll see yah at the bar on forty-seventh at six."
He doesn't enter the building, "uh what?" I question.
"I'll meet you at the bar later tonight for drinks."
"I have a boyfriend."
"I have a girlfriend," he sighs and ruffles his hand through his hair, "Whoa, someone's full of themselves! Calm down, I'm not proposing marriage. It's customary for all new employees to go out for a drink with the staff." He turns away, "Oh and drinks are on you."
He leaves me standing there, momentarily stunned by the exchange. What exactly have I gotten myself into?