CHAPTER 3

I just couldn't believe him. I just couldn't believe myself. I couldn't believe that I would have let him kiss me if he had decided to do it. But instead he acted even worse. He asked me point blank what does it matter that he was married. As I was going to the bus stop, I was thinking that mom had been right. He probably was a player who thought that he could get any woman he wanted. I felt sorry for the wife who got this kind of a treatment.

Then I checked my phone and he had both called and texted me. The text said, "I was a bastard, I'm sorry. Because of my behaviour, you can have the rest of the day off, but tomorrow I expect you to be back to work at regular hours."

'Stupid-sweet-klaus-mikaelson' I muttered to myself and I actually smiled, knowing I was in so deep shit.

First things first, I had a smaller shoe box with me and as I was in the office half an hour earlier, I went to Kelly's desk and opened the top drawer and threw the contents of the shoebox into the drawer, then I closed it and walked away, like nothing happened.

I decided to use the time that I had, to further learn the archive and other applications I needed to use. Klaus came to work 5 minutes before 9 and seeing me at my desk, he seemed both relieved and ashamed.

"Caroline, could you-"

"Yeah, Klaus." No point dragging it on. He wanted to apologize and explain himself. I just knew whatever he was about to say, wouldn't change my mind about not going to start anything with him.

When we had sat down in our respective chairs, he started his story from the beginning.

"Remember I said I came from nothing?"

I nodded.

"Well, I was 19 back then, just finished high school and at the mall I met a sophisticated and a pretty woman and when I say a woman, then I mean she was almost 30 at the time."

"She wasn't just pretty, she was also very rich, her father was like me now, CEO of his multibillion-dollar company. I learned a great deal from him. But not only that, he also put me through Harvard, paid for everything, he's only request was that I got married to his daughter. Caroline, I was just a kid back then, what did I know about the right reasons for marrying someone or what love really was. I just didn't want to be poor anymore. I had no future, besides maybe getting a job as a janitor."

I nodded. I thought I knew where this was going. A loveless marriage and couldn't divorce because he owed her. But that was only half of the story.

"About 3 years into the marriage, we had this huge fight, I got to my car, I wanted to drive away, but she decided she wasn't letting me go just like that and climbed in. I was drunk and we kept fighting in the car too and I didn't see fast enough that I had left my lane and I was about to crash with a truck. When I finally did, I made abrupt turn and I crashed into the border and the car went over roof three times."

I was so shocked. He was sitting here and his wife had called, meaning they had survived, then why was he telling me this?

"Because, yes, we survived, but she is wheelchaired for life."

I was shocked, not only because I had said those insensitive words out, but because I couldn't imagine it. Her being in a wheelchair the rest of her life and his guilt.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry, Klaus. The guilt you must feel every day…"

He nodded and continued, "The only reason I only got minor injuries was that I was wearing a seat belt. She was always entitled and thought herself above the law because her father was so rich and paid for every little mess she had created in life. Now no money in the world can heal her backbone."

I just shook my head as tears stung to my eyes. "I'm sorry it's just that I feel so sorry for the both of you."

"Sweetheart, don't apologize for being compassionate."

"How did you—I mean drunk driving with an accident like that, did you go to jail?"

He shook his head, "She lied to the police, said she was driving."

"Klaus….we can't…you can't do that to her, I mean you and I, we just can't."

And then we were interrupted by a shrill screaming and we were both so startled. He quickly got up and ran out of the office to check what happened. I followed him walking, trying to be calm. I had totally forgotten about that rat.

When I got there he was already dealing with it. The rat was killed and he told everyone not to touch it. He was in the middle of calling the ambulance because her hand, her whole freaking hand was so bloody I couldn't see where the bite was or how deep it was.

"Stacey, bring the first aid kit."

"Caroline, get her some water from the cooler."

I ran to the cooler and I took the plastic cup and opened the tap for the cold water. Then I took it to him.

Ambulance came pretty quickly. Less than 10 minutes later the elevator doors opened, and they came and took her away. Said she needed the injection as soon as possible.

"Caroline, come on, there's nothing we can do now." He held out his hand to led me back to his office.

On the way he was so sad and worried somehow as he said,

"Get me Kelly's husband on the phone."

I thought that he had something with Kelly too, why else did he sound like that. Why else had she made a joke on me like that. But later in the day, I understood that sometimes things were much simpler than you think them in your head.

KLAUS MIKAELSON

The Rat thing made even me a little squeamish. But I thought I knew who the culprit was. I was pretty sure of it.

"James, please check today's video recordings, before nine."

"Sure, what I am looking for?"

"My front desk secretary, Kelly. Check who put…who was there behind her desk before nine."

"Oh, that I should have you in less than 10 minutes."

(beep)

"Klaus, I have Kelly's husband Liam on the phone."

After that very unpleasant conversation they just kept coming in.

"James, did you find it?"

"Klaus, the only person who was there behind her desk all morning was your new secretary Caroline Forbes."

I sighed and threw the pencil I was holding on the desk.

"What do you want me to with this?"

"You do nothing, just don't let anyone see it, no matter who's asking, got it?"

"Sure, Klaus."

I was so confused and disappointed. I understood her anger towards me, towards the situation, but why let it out on Kelly, who wasn't blamed for any of this. Then I called the head of my lawyers, Claire Stewart.

"So what you are saying is if she decided to sue me or Caroline, then she'd have a very good case."

"Yes. Very good case even with a mediocre lawyer."

"Thanks."

"Hunter, yes, let's not exchange pleasantries. I need to meet you, I have a job for you."

"The ally we usually meet. In 15."

"I'll be there."

I knew Hunter thanks to my dealings with Aurelia's father. They were friends, but Hunter could be trusted not to let my wife know anything.

"I already heard, Klaus, word travels fast in my area of business. You want to clear both you and your secretary, Caroline Forbes, right? I mean you don't want to wash your hands of this and make her the scapegoat?"

"The most important thing is clearing her name and then mine, Hunter." I impatiently told him.

Hunter leaned closer to me and said, "Take my advice, please, and end it with her before it really gets hot and heavy, because if I know, soon your wife does too. So that the history doesn't repeat itself."

"Hunter, don't change the subject. Will you cover this up or not?"

"The server room for the videos, same floor or different."
"Same,"

"Okay, that will take care of Forbes and the police, but If you want to keep it away from your wife and the press and not lose millions, then I can threaten her or her husband or her kid but it might not work."

"I know Kelly, she's not Aurelia, it will work. Just get it done, okay."

When I got back, Caroline was probably at lunch.

And then Claire called,
"Her husband already called their lawyer; they want to sue. The lawyer asks if you want to settle or go to court. My advice, settle."
"I will, just try to draw this out as long as you can."

"Klaus…settle, just don't do anything you might regret later."

"Thanks, Claire, got to go now."

CAROLINE FORBES

When the lunch hour was done, I wasn't sure what I was suppose to do, so I continued to just try to learn more, when Klaus came to the door and he seemed really angry when he said, "Caroline, my office, now!"

He waited as I walked in and then he closed the door.

"Kelly is suing me." He said as he was sitting again on the edge of his desk and I was standing few yards away. "And Caroline, I don't care about bad publicity or giving away millions of dollars but I do care about you. And this could seriously come to bite you in the behind."

"What are you talking about?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. Did you really think I wouldn't find out?"

"Kelly talked to you already?" I asked startled.

"Caroline, we have cameras everywhere in this building! Not this room where we are right now, but most rooms have cameras in different angles." He raised his voice at me.

I sat down on one of the sofas as I let that sink in.

He sat on the sofa opposite me. "Is it finally sinking in how much trouble we both are right now? She wants to sue, Caroline."

I raised my head in shock.

"You are not in some shabby high school where you can play your games and nothing serious happens and I am definitely not the principal here. I understand the temptation to hurt me with this, but couldn't you buy something from the pet store and at least keep yourself out of trouble?"

"I wasn't-"

"You weren't thinking, I get it."

"No, I mean, yes, I wasn't." And then the realisation hit me how serious it all was, that it would all fall on Klaus now and I stood up and he didn't let me leave by standing in front of me. And then I was hyperventilating, "I'm sorry, okay, I'll take the blame, I'll resign. I'll go home right away. I'm sorry."

When I finished, he had somehow gotten to the door to lock it as I later found out and he was now hugging me and trying to calm me down.

"I'm sorry I scared you. Shhhhh…It's okay, sweetheart."

"I wasn't trying to hurt you, I was trying to get back at Kelly." I cried.

"For what?"

"For that stupid archive joke. She was the one who told me to search by the year the contract was signed. And then I thought that maybe she did it because she liked you or whatever." I sobbed.

It was so good to be in his arms like that, I would have wanted to stay like this forever or at least the end of the day.

"Shh…I think she did it because I didn't promote her and took someone who she didn't think was qualified for the job."

"What?" I asked.

"Yes, don't worry about it. I'll take care of it. I'll take care of everything."

"What do you mean? If she's suing than you are in pretty deep shit. And if there's video recordings than I have also dug myself quite the grave."

And then I started crying again.

He pulled away from me then and I reluctantly let him, then he whispered as he was setting my hair right, "Nobody's coming after you, I promise. It's done already."

"I stepped away from him then, "What do you mean by, "It's done." What did you do? Klaus, I'm talking to you."

And then a huge blast was heard, it seemed to be just on top of us. My ears were ringing but Klaus seemed so calm, like something like this happened here every day.

He then took my hand and pulled me to come with him. Then I noticed that the door was locked. After opening the door it was a mess. Everyone were screaming and running and there was smoke and he let go of my hand but told me to follow him.

He followed others out the closest fire escape and then after a lot of running down the stairs with other people we finally landed in the street behind the building. There were a lot of people, no one had warm clothes and it was the end of November and everyone was feeling the cold. I thought that we as the witnesses had to stay but Klaus led me to a car and told me to get in. He turned on the heater right away and we drove off. I asked him where he was going but he just said "Home". When he got out of Manhattan, I got it, he was going to take me home, my home.

As he stopped in front of my apartment building, I whispered, "This was you, wasn't it?"

"Like I said, I took care of it."

"You shouldn't have done it."

"Don't lecture me, Caroline, I protected both of our asses right now."

"What if some evidence is found, there's always something later found?" I asked worriedly.

"My guy will not leave any evidences. You can be sure of that. Now, please do me a favour and go home. I really need this day to end already."

I started to go out and then he said,

"Caroline?"

I turned to face him,

"I call you or text you when they let us get back to work. You just try to stay calm, do me this little favour?"

I nodded and left.

"Caroline, you are in tv!" Mom told me as soon as I got home.

"What!" I was startled.

"There's news that there was an explosion at the Mikealson Enterprises."

"Yeah, there was."

"Are you alright, what happened."

"I don't know exactly, there was an explosion, we all ran out and Klaus took me home."

"Your boss came all this way for you?"

"Of course, why wouldn't he?"

"Well, that was sweet of him I guess."

Later, I got the text that from Klaus not to come in before Monday.

KLAUS MIKAELSON

"Hi, honey." I greeted her already from the door.

"Hey, what's it I heard that there was an explosion at the office?"

"I don't know the details, but I heard it was the server room on 14th."

"Really, that's odd."

"Not really, sometimes computers overheat and things happen."

"So you think it's not connected to the secretary being bitten by a rat this morning?"

"You know."

"I may be in a wheelchair, Klaus, but I have my phone and I have contacts. Even in your place."

"I know," I muttered. "But I don't think those two things are connected in any way."

"Okay but you have cameras right and isn't 14th the recordings' department? I think they are connected."

"What do you want from me, yes, I organized one to cover up the other."

"Good idea, but there were witnesses to the rat thing, ER documents and etc, how is that going to help with the lawsuit?"

"It's not, but I'll settle and it will be fine."

"You plan to give that bitch millions of dollars of my dad's money?"

"It's my money, Aurelia."

"You know you wouldn't have that company if it wasn't for my father."

I closed my eyes for a minute to calm myself down.

"Hunter could deal with that Kelly person."

"And he is, the best way he knows how. I'm too tired too eat, I'll go to sleep now."

"Who are you protecting, Klaus, besides yourself?"

"No one."

God, how irritating Aurelia could be.

**
For some reason the four day break dragged on forever, I got to use my lap top at home to get a lot of stuff done on Thursday and Friday, but I didn't have Caroline with me. Instead Aurelia asked me everyday If I knew who put that rat in there for Kelly.

CAROLINE FORBES

I was so happy to go back to work. I knew it was because I could see Klaus but I couldn't help it. I had convinced myself that seeing and working with him wasn't such a big deal and not something to feel guilty about. I didn't realise how fine of a line I was walking by not resigning effective immediately.

While I had been to work a bit too early every day, on Monday my bus was late and I was late to work by 15 minutes. I knew Klaus wouldn't mind but I still hated being late.

I got to work and used the intercom to apologize for coming in late.

"Don't worry about it, Caroline; but I have a task for you, would you come in, please?"

I took my notepad and the pen.

I closed the door and sat down in my usual chair, his chair was turned so it's back was turned to me.

"We will get to the work task soon. I just wanted to continue our conversation about my marriage."

Not again…

"Do you think it's wise…I got the picture, wife in wheelchair, you guilty cause you owe her and you are unhappy and you want someone to screw so you wouldn't be so miserable."

Abruptly he turned around and his face mirrored a lot of hurt.

"You can say 'no' to me, it's you decision, but please don't belittle my feelings for you."

"Okay, I won't."

"So where were we before Kelly started screaming. Oh right, "You were telling me how we couldn't start an affair, because that wouldn't be fair to Aurelia."

"Something like that."

"Caroline, do you think that I should be feeling guilty in a loveless marriage with no intimate relationship for the rest of my life?"

"No, I didn't mean it like that," I started to explain, but then the part about intimate relationship sank in. "Wait, what? I mean you are not intimate?"

"Caroline, she's in a wheelchair," I chuckled.

"Yes, I heard, but that only means her legs don't work right, the rest of her is still you know."

"Caroline, believe me we tried after the accident, even if the doctors told me she wouldn't feel a thing beforehand, we still tried. Having sex with her right now would be like doing with a sex doll. This not what I want, far from it."

"Klaus I get it, you like, okay maybe even are in love with me, and I feel for you, I do, I understand your plight."

"But?" He started to come over but I stood up and took a step back. He was so hurt.

"But this is not how mom raised me. I'm sorry, I am."

I turned to leave and while I took those couple of steps towards the door, he said,

"Caroline, I love you," I stopped at the door and he took a step toward me, "and I promise I will do whatever needs to be done to protect you. Just say 'yes'."

I contemplated for the longest time, then slowly I reached for the lock and continued to very slowly turn it to lock the door. I wanted to give myself the chance to escape, but the truth was, I had already made up my mind when I came to work and didn't turn in my resignation right away.

'I'm sorry, mom.' It was the last coherent thought before I turned around and I walked quickly, almost ran to his protective hands and after a short hug we pulled away and I smiled at him making him smile and then we kissed. And I was never going to let go of him now.