I am fully in bliss. Nothing right now can ruin my mood as I lie in bed and watch Stefan lying still on his side next to me. It's still early in the morning and I don't have to be in work for another two hours which, considering I can be up and dressed and at work in 30 minutes, is a long time to be awake for. So deciding that I can probably do with another hours sleep, I lie myself down further into the bed and move myself closer to Stefan, snaking my leg around his and burying my head into his chest.
"Are you comfortable there?" I hear Stefan mumble.
I sigh "Very much so."
I hear him laugh gently. "That's a shame"
"Why's that?" I ask thinking I know where he is about to go with this
"Because then I can't do this" With that, I am immediately rolled onto my back and I find Stefan has straddled me. I scream in shock and I start to laugh as he starts to tickle my sides making me squirm.
"Come on!" I shout trying to free myself "I only have an hour to lie in bed with you before I have to get up."
The tickling suddenly stops. Stefan looks intrigued "An hour eh?"
I nod "A lot can be done in an hour you know?" He implies
"Oh really? Like what?" I ask
"Like this" Stefan says leaning down to kiss me…
…."ELENA!" I hear from my side. "Wake up!"
"What! I'm awake!" I am suddenly pulled out of my thoughts as I realise I am currently sitting at my desk in work, instead of in bed with Stefan this morning. I look around to see who was shouting my name.
"Urgh finally. You were daydreaming for over 20 minutes. Must have been good! You've missed three phones calls that I had to take for you!" Caroline told me as I turn an harsh shade of scarlet.
"I am so sorry Car." I start to apologise as I read the notes of the numbers that must have rung while I was daydreaming.
"It's okay. As long as you tell me what was keeping you occupied so much." Caroline teases.
If possible my face turns even more scarlet. "I was day dreaming about Stefan and I this morning…"
"Say no more! I don't want to know the details! He must be excellent to have you day dream this long! Any longer and Bonnie might have caught you."
I freeze. Shit. Bonnie. I didn't really think of that. We haven't really spoken much since the whole magazine debacle but we are back on speaking terms purely for work purposes. In hind sight I knew what I was getting myself into when I started going out with Stefan and I knew that as an editor of a magazine Bonnie was doing right by the company, but I was more hurt because she didn't say anything to me. She just went out and tried to take pictures of my private life regardless. She has tried to apologise for her behaviour and the way that she acted but I just don't want to listen yet. She was one of my best friends and she used that against me and made me look the idiot for being mad at such a big thing. She said that she had to keep up appearances for Hayley's sake but it was still not the way to go around it. I'm a big believer in trust and now that she has broken it, she REALLY has to earn it back for me to start speaking to her again on a friendship basis. Caroline has been talking to me often about trying to make amends with Bonnie but I am just not there yet. I can't just forgive and forget this one. She basically started off Stefan and I being followed everywhere by photographers.
I immediately pull a 'woops' face and start to catch up on my work. By lunchtime, I had arranged four interviews, written two drafts of stories and I was now trying to gather as much information as possible for the business awards that Stefan and I are going to in a few weeks. Wow these awards ARE big. Almost all of the big companies are going to be there. After lunch I keep myself busy writing down all of the names of the businesses attending and the people there before I realise that the phone next to me is ringing. It's from reception.
"Hello?" I answer
"Hi Miss Gilbert it's Amanda from Reception. We have two women downstairs asking to see you."
"Who are they Amanda?" I ask thinking it's probably going to be another interview.
"It's a Miss Katherine Pierce and a Miss Rebekah Mikelson. Shall I send them up?" My face is frozen. I look over to Caroline who catches my shocked expression to send me back a 'who are they' expression. Immediately I am writing down on a piece of paper in large capitals 'KATHERINE AND REBEKAH ARE HERE!' I had already informed Caroline of the whole situation with Rebekah so she looks just as shocked as me. Making sure that I don't leave too long of a pause, I answer back.
"Yes sure. Send them up to my office." I say putting down the phone and I immediately start to panic. What the hell do they want!
"What are you doing?" Caroline asks me.
"I need to know what they want." I point out. "I need to talk to Bonnie."
Before Caroline can say anymore I walk over to Bonnie's office and knock on the door.
"Bonnie. Is the interview room free?" I ask keeping it light.
"Yes. Why?" She asks clearly feeling the tension.
"Long story short there are two women coming up now who are old friends of Stefan's and I need somewhere quiet." I quickly explain. Bonnie clearly sees the look of panic in my eyes.
"Are you okay? You don't exactly look happy about it?" She asks
"Let's just say that they are not my favourite people in the world." I don't have time to go for the nitty-gritty of it all so I keep it short and sweet.
"Do you want me to escort you so nothing happens?" She asks carefully. I pause. If I trusted her I would have said yes but right now I don't want to go there. "No I'll be okay. Amanda is sending them up now"
"Yes of course go. Just make sure that you keep the door unlocked just incase." Bonnie warns me. "Don't worry I'll make sure no one disturbs you all."
I give her a smile and walk off to meet them just outside the door leading to my section of the office. "Thank you Amanda. I've got it from here."I say to Amanda and she walks away. "I have the interview room free." I say leading them into a white room with a large table lined with six chairs. We sit down quietly. Rebekah and Katherine on one side, myself on the other.
"So what can I do for you?" I ask trying to work out why there are here.
"I was enlightened that you and Stefan have moved in together. For that I wanted to congratulate you" Katherine says
I am shocked "Thank you." I say a little surprised.
"I know that Stefan is not one for commitments but when he wants something he moves fast, so this came as no shock to me." Katherine continues.
"Again… thank you." I say a little unnerved. Why are they really here?
As if they could hear my thoughts Rebekah speaks up. "We want you to stay away from Stefan."
I laugh. "Stay away from Stefan?" I ask sincerely. They must be joking.
"This is no laughing matter Elena. You need to stay as far away from Stefan as possible. You need to move out or believe me…." Katherine says leaning forward onto the table. "There will be consequences."
"I've already moved in with him Katherine. There is no way that I am leaving Stefan. End of." I say a little shakily. They can NOT be serious. "What do you seriously think is going to happen if I don't"
"It will be unpleasant. Believe me we know. Stefan does get bored, and he gets bored very quickly. If I were you I would move out as soon as you can. The only reason he is still interested is because there is something going on. If his business takes off even more then he will have to leave for weeks on end for meetings and will have no time for you, who knows who he will meet while he is away." They say trying to catch me on an emotional level. Sadly some of this does worry me but I am not going to let them know that.
"There is no way for me to believe that Stefan gets bored that quickly. Anyway how do I know that this is not for your benefit. How do I know that if I left one of you two would not step in."
"Oh I won't. I'm still trying to sort things out with Damon. Rebekah on the other hand…." Katherine starts before looking at Rebekah who has a large smirk on her face.
"I however will be your worst nightmare." Rebekah threatens. Before I decide to kick them out myself by their hair, I try and snoop for more information.
"Why do you want him now? Why not before when you broke up with him before his business went off?"
"Hmm.. you've had the ex talk haven't you?" Rebekah sneers.
"I got enough." I say trying to keep myself together.
"In answer to your question, I've always want him back. It was a mistake to break up with him. I have tried ever since but he never seems ready yet. Why do you think all of his relationships after never worked?" Holy fuck! That is why? I did not see that coming!
"But what about Katherine. You knew about her surely." I ask intrigued.
"I did. I was the one who introduced Katherine to Damon, the thing with Stefan merely happened by fluke. As soon as I found out, I started to do the same, but then I realised that she was on the same mind as mine so we stayed in touch and I tried to help her out until she unfortunately got caught." Rebekah explained throwing a dirty look in Katherine's direction.
I don't know where it comes from but I manage to suck up a lot of courage and grab whatever back bone I seem to have, "You do realise that this room has cameras with microphones that can hear every word that you are saying?" It's a lie about the microphones but I think the message gets through to them. I see a slight fluster in Katherine's hard expression but Rebekah doesn't seem dazed.
"We're not scared of a little microphone Elena. We know people who could turn off those microphones in the snap of a finger and wipe all of your footage." Rebekah says calling my bluff. Shit.
"Either way. I think this conversation is over don't you think?" I hint. I don't want them anywhere near me let alone at my work.
As I make my way to stand, so does Katherine and Rebekah. "You have two weeks before the awards show to get out. If I find out that you have attended that awards show with Stefan then there will be consequences." I don't say a word and hold my head up high as I follow them out of the door and to the lift at the end of the corridor. I am full of rage and as soon as their faces are no longer visible from the lift doors, my back is against the wall, my breathing relaxing and I let tears flow that I have been holding back this entire time. How dare they threaten me to leave Stefan! That is ridiculous! It's not going to happen! I take a deep breathe and walk back to my desk.