Kol caught the tail end of a report about the Esther Magazine party on a fashion channel. Grabbing the remote control, he aimed it at the large flat screen TV and turned up the volume.

"Son of Wall Street tycoon, Mikael Mikaelson is officially launching Esther magazine next week Tuesday. The magazine is named after Esther Mikaelson, Mikael's wife and the family matriarch before her untimely passing to cancer six years ago. No word if the illustrious Mikael Mikaelson will be in attendance" the reporter announced.

Kol grunted, taking another sip of coffee from his mug. He was the new editor in chief of the magazine and there was no mention of his name in the report. He was merely the son of Wall Street tycoon Mikael Mikaelson. Sure, maybe he deserved being overlooked after spending the better part of a decade living off daddy's money in different parts of the world but it's not like Mikael had been complaining. In fact Kol believed that his father had liked having him depend on him for everything. That's how the son of a bitch got off. Then why did he even come back to New York to be assaulted by the memories of his mother, to be reminded of what he was and who he was not. Manhattan never cared who you really were, it was all about your last name and what you did. Perhaps coming back had been a mistake but then again he wouldn't have met Bonnie.

Slowly running a hand through his hair, Kol smiled. He replayed the kiss in the elevator, the feel of her lips, her skin and the way she had smelled as he'd buried his face in her hair. He tightened his grip around the mug as the memory swept over him.

Bonnie Bennett had been trying to get in his heart.

The ping of the elevator made his stomach sink, his assistant was early and he'd barely had time for a shower. He was dressed in a pair of gray sweatpants and nothing else. When Anna came bustling into the room, her six inch heels clanking on the hardwood floor, he muted the volume, stuck a hand in his pocket and turned around to face her as she advanced toward him.

"Mr Mikaelson" she greeted brightly, her eyes darting around the stark interior with buttery sunlight spangled over the floor and the panoramic views of the Hudson from the wall of windows before settling on him.

"You're early" Kol said, gruffly.

"I'm sorry but I was trying to beat the morning traffic." She explained then pulled out a yellow pad from her bag, dumping the tote on the black leather couch with chrome legs. Sitting down on the couch, she set her laptop down on the glass top table in front of her and flipped it open. While they waited for her laptop to boot up, he offered her a cup of coffee which she declined.

"I've been going over the projections for the launch like you asked and I found a few event planners with some pretty great credentials. I have a few quotes and proposal that I'd like you to look over and then-"

"I'm sure it's nothing you can't handle, Anna. I trust you" He said, breaking her stream of chatter.

"Yes Mr Mikaelson but this is your launch."

"Is it?"

"What?"

"Never mind." He said dismissively.

Anna chewed her lower lip and cleared her throat before swinging her eyes back up at him, "You're the Editor in chief of Esther magazine and this is your vision, isn't it?"

"Fine then I want a pajama party-"he gave her a crooked smile and fully expected her to rebuff him but when she shot him a big smile he was surprised.

"Very du jour" she clapped, "I'm thinking champagne cocktails with edible flowers and a bit of dim sum" she continued but the ringing of his mobile phone interrupted them.

"Yeah, sounds good." He fished his phone out of his trouser pocket and held up one finger indicating that she should give him a minute.

"Oh but then again, we've already sent the invitations and they said to dress for a cocktail evening."

"Then change them. I'll meet you back at the office, "he told her and signalled her to pack up her laptop as he greeted his eldest brother, Elijah.

..

It was Thursday morning and Bonnie's head was throbbing when she heard Hayley's grating voice in the hallway. The last thing she wanted to do was to deal with Hayley so early in the morning. She quickly dropped down to the floor, knees scraping on the carpet and hid under her desk right next to a box of sex toys that various companies sent her to review. Finding it difficult to crouch in her pantsuit, she kicked off her stilettos and worried that the grimy rug wouldn't do the winter white color of her pants any favors.

Someone knocked twice on the wall of her cubicle and Bonnie placed a hand over her mouth, trying not to breath. After some time had passed, she peered over the edge of the desk to make sure that the coast was clear and her gaze collided with Katherine's.

"Looking for your lost bag of skittles?" Kat leaned over the desk, her long necklace making a clanking sound as it hit the wood of the littered desk.

"More like hiding from the big bad wolf." Bonnie motioned for her to come around the desk.

"Hmm, I heard she was skulking around here." Kat shook her head and lowered herself to kneel on the floor beside her.

"So, about the Esther party-"Kat began, shooting Bonnie a generous smile.

Pinching Kat's upper arm, Bonnie sulked "Why didn't you tell me about that?"

"It's been in every e-mail and memo in the office"

"You know I don't read those unless they're from Hayley." She shrugged it off thinking she just had too much on her plate to be concerned about every single memo that landed on her tray or her mailbox.

"Hmm…anyway about the party, you know I'm part of the press so I have an invitation and I know you probably uhmm...don't...uh"

"I wasn't invited." Bonnie cleared it up for her.

"Yeah exactly so being the very good friend that I am, "Kat paused to fish something out of her pocket and handed it to Bonnie, "I got you an invitation"

"You didn't"." Bonnie stared at the black envelope for a long moment then slid her finger under the flap. She pulled out the thick black card inside and read the gold calligraphy. She lifted the card up to her nose and inhaled, catching a waft of chocolate and flowers.

"I did." Katherine stated with a self-satisfied smile on her face before quickly adding, "Of course the invitation is for Julianna Sanchez but I think you can pull it off."

"She's an actress, Kat and a very famous one at that. How am I going to pull of playing Julianna Sanchez, a Latino actress all night?"

"Then lie and say you're her assistant or something" Kat furrowed her trimmed eyebrows, the box in the corner already catching her eye.

"Her assistant?"

"Yeah, you'll tell them that she couldn't make it and she sent you in her place."

"I don't know." Bonnie ran the pad of her forefinger along the edge of the card.

"Well while you figure that out, can I take these?" Kat asked, glossy hair bouncing as she reached into the box to pluck out a pair of handcuffs.

..

On Friday night, the gang went to a party Enzo was having or rather as he called it, a drinks thing. The door opened and there stood Enzo with a tousled shock of dark hair and a lazy grin on his tanned face. Bonnie's eyes skimmed him over, lingering on the sarong loosely tied around his waist.

"Hi"

"Hi, please come in." he smiled, opening the door for the three of them.

"This is Matt and Katherine" Bonnie made the introductions.

'Kat" Katherine corrected her, offering Enzo her hand.

"Make yourselves at home. This is what you would call a party before the party." He drawled, directing them over to the lounge which was dotted with people drinking cocktails and wine.

"Why don't we kick things off with some shooters?" Enzo offered and without waiting for anyone to confirm his offer, he disappeared into the kitchen.

"Yum" someone said but Bonnie was already glancing around the interior and she could tell that the party had reached its plateau. It wasn't going to get any crazier than trivial conversations discussing fashion and the state of life in New York.

"Are you sure you can manage a shooter, you can barely move in that thing." Bonnie motioned to Kat's black latex mini dress.

"You let me worry about my liver and intestines." Katherine smiled, smoothing back her sleek dark hair.

"Is that electro music?" Matt asked with a grimace on his face.

"Yes, indeed it is." Bonnie replied, scanning the room again. It was filled with an eclectic mix of people who no doubt worked for Esther Magazine. She adjusted the square neckline of her metallic bandage mini-dress and ran a hand through her tousled bob.

"I feel like I just walked through a vortex of what the fuck." Matt scoffed, throwing an arm around Binnie's shoulder. A man with blonde dreadlocks hanging over his shoulders walked past them and Matt being Matt followed him with his eyes.

"Hey, "Mr Dreadlocks nodded, lifting his glass to salute Matt.

Whispering in Bonnie's ear, Matt said "Okay, just two of drinks and I'm going in."

"Your taste in men has always been a little suspect." Bonnie snorted, playfully elbowing his ribs.

"Is there an option to unfriend you right now?' Matt chuckled, pulling out his phone from his man bag and waving it in front of Bonnie's face.

"He could be the yin to my yang." He shrugged and glanced up at Enzo who had come back with their shooters.

"I detest your optimism right now. I think I like you better when you're riddled with sarcasm and doubt." Bonnie shot back at Matt and took the shooter on offer, tossing it down her throat. After handing them each a glass of chardonnay, Enzo disappeared again and Matt wandered off to find Mr. Dreadlocks. She watched as Matt and the dreadlocked guy shook hands and took a hefty sip of her wine.

"Wow" Katherine exclaimed, signalling to the oversized portrait of a naked Enzo mounted on the wall.

"I know, it's huge" Enzo appeared next to Bonnie with a refreshed glass of wine. The girls exchanged a glance before flicking their gaze back to him.

"I'm talking about the picture." He let out a short laugh, looking from Bonnie to Kat and back to Bonnie again.

"Naturally." Kat nodded, stealing Bonnie a side glance, "You plan to go back to L.A anytime soon?" she smiled mischievously. Bonnie knew exactly what her friend was doing. She was trying to gage how serious Enzo was about trying to form a relationship with her and if it was worth it for Bonnie to stick around.

"I'm a freelance photographer. I go where my work takes me."

"So you're renting this place?" Katherine pressed.

"A friend of mine lets me sublet it when I'm in town while he's in London for work."

"Nice friend." Kat noted.

"Ahem, would you mind?" Bonnie interjected, holding up her glass to indicate the need for a refill.

"Not at all, gorgeous." Enzo said, brushing her hair from her face before taking her empty glass.

"You wanna check out RIP?" Bonnie turned to Katherine as soon as Enzo walked off.

"Nah, it's Friday and they'll probably have a bridge and tunnel crowd tonight." Kat shook her head, scoping the room for talent. Bonnie's phone buzzed in her purse and she pulled it out, swiping the screen to read a text from Caroline.

"Care-bear is here." She informed Katherine and a moment later, Enzo was at the door welcoming Caroline and Tyler.

"Late as usual." Bonnie greeted her friend, kissing both her cheeks. As the party swelled, Caroline pulled Bonnie aside to show her something. She opened her hand to reveal a shiny silver key lying on her palm.

"He did it; he gave you a key to his apartment." Bonnie exclaimed, clearly surprised. She didn't think that Tyler had the balls to do it.

"Yes."

"It looks…shiny. Did it come with fireworks, dinner and a key chain?"

"At first I thought getting his key would be romantic then I thought it would be practical. Now here I am with this thing in my hand and my boyfriend drinking champagne on the other side of the room and I feel like I'm stuck in the middle."

"Well…you got it now, sista." Bonnie shook her head and downed the last of her drink.

"How about a refill?" Enzo asked, taking their glasses before they could protest. The guy had a neck for creeping up on her, she thought as she smiled at him.

"He's cute." Caroline smiled and gestured to Enzo once he was out of earshot.

..

"Clearly you never read the single woman's guide to finding, choosing and keeping a fuck buddy." Katherine panted, releasing the handles on the treadmill as she broke into a full sprint. An endless loop of eighties music streamed from the inside the gym.

"Oh teach me oh great one." Bonnie rolled her eyes. She was breathing hard and fast, trying to sweat out the drinks from last night. It was Saturday and the gym was practically empty.

Struggling to regain her breath, Kat wiped a hand across her brow and grinned, "Too late, clearly you're fucked."

"How was your date with the yoga teacher?" Bonnie questioned, she'd almost forgotten about that particular guy in Kat's endless stream of men.

"It wasn't a date. I threw the dice, moved the pieces around the board but he didn't make a move." She admitted, slowing the treadmill to a walk.

Bonnie blinked owlishly eliciting a deep sigh from Katherine who finally rolled her eyes and admitted," He's celibate, he didn't want to fuck."

"Subtlety has never been one of your strong points."

"You're right, I should've just asked him if he wanted to fuck after the class rather than wait two days for a date over a pot of green tea."

"Again not what I meant. I thought this guy would finally restore your faith in mankind." Bonnie struggled, her legs shaking from the incline.

"Faith is for people who believe in something. I'm Katherine Piece and I don't believe in a husband, 2.5 kids or a dog"

"Oh yeah" Bonnie shook her head and reached for her towel.

"Nope, it's back to Wall Street types for me. We speak the same language; no strings attached sex, fun, money and lots of sex. New York is the best city to live when you're young, single and horny."

..

That evening Bonnie had invited Matt over her apartment to watch the Hills and to oversee her outfits for the much anticipated party.

"Is that what you're wearing?" Matt arched an eyebrow, looking her slowly up and down.

"What's wrong with it?" she looked down at the paisley nightie then back up at Matt who was lying on the fold out couch, a bowl of buttered popcorn in one hand and a glass of mojito in the other.

"You look provincial like an extra from Amish" Matt yawned, shaking his head in disapproval.

With her chin jutted out she considered Matt's displeasure and simply said "Perhaps that's the look I'm going for"

"If Kol Mikaelson was farmer Brown" he rolled his blue eyes, launching a pile of popcorn into his mouth.

"E-I-E-I-O…and on his farm he had a cow with a moo-moo here and a moo-moo there" Bonnie said in a sing song voice, feigning nonchalance. She hated to admit that she didn't have a better choice of outfit because nothing was better than a brand new outfit and she couldn't even afford that because her credit card was maxed out. She recalled getting her credit card bill earlier in the month and the statement reflected a bunch of purchases from Saks which included not only a pair of Giuseppe Zanotti skeletal fish sandals but also a wine decanter she had no use for and there were the wine purchases from Dean and Deluca.

"Slut" Matt laughed, throwing popcorn at her.

"Cunt" she smiled and ducked the ambush. After considering the outfit and his statement, she swung her eyes back at him and asked, "Who said this outfit was for Kol? Did you forget that I'm going to the ball with Enzo?"

"Did you forget that you're only dragging that sinfully hot photographer to that party so you can make the prince jealous?"

"That's a lie"

"You love drama, you thrive on it and this is you being a total drama queen"

"I don't like drama. I love a challenge and I don't want Kol anymore" she countered then paused to explain, "I mean it's not like I'm gonna wake up one day in his bed just so we can eat pancakes and drink champagne while overlooking the Hudson River."

"Oh honey, is that what you dream about, eating pancakes and looking at a piss filled Hudson?" Matt gave her a mock pout.

"It's my Sunday in New York fantasy."

"Does this mean we would have cancelled our Sundays drinking Bellini's and reading the vows section in the New York Times?"

"Yes judgy, heterosexual love would have done us part" Bonnie stuck out her tongue, "besides what happened to moving to DC with your dance partner for life?"

"You hoping I fall off the face of the earth?" his eyes widened, a smile threatening to tug at his lips. Bonnie smiled, one eyebrow arched and waited for him to say what he needed to say.

With a sigh, he took another sip of his drink and said "Let's just say that Mr D.C isn't quite ready to leave his wife."

"What can I say, they never do." She gave him a reassuring smile then looked back at the pile of clothes on the floor.

Plucking out a kimono from the pile, she held it up for him to see and asked "What about this one?"

"Beeyoooootiful!" Matt exclaimed, "I can't believe you're actually going to this party. What did Enzo say when you called him?"

"He was excited or as excited as any man who had a few options sounds when one of those options decides to go out with him."

"Can I come?" he asked bashfully and when she didn't reply immediately, he did that mock pout thing with his mouth again.

"Oh come on, you can slip me in your clutch. I wanna drink free champagne and look at all the beautiful people."

"You mean you wanna get drunk and criticize all the underfed models."

"I do have an extra invitation card. Kat gave it to me but I don't need it." She said thoughtfully.

"And you're only telling me this now?" Matt nearly sprang off his seat, plunking the bowl of popcorn on the table in front of him.

"I was going to ask Caroline. She seems like she needs something to get her spirits up."

"Seriously?" he raised his voice, throwing his hands in the air.

Looking flushed and perplexed, she stepped back and tightened her grip around her kimono "What?"

"You're unbelievable" with a huff, his stuffed his feet back into his Gucci loafers and grabbed his red scarf.

"Matt, where're you going?" she called, "It's just a stupid party"

"A stupid party you would've given your right arm to go to. It's a good thing you found a guy you can use for a ticket."

"Matt" Bonnie's voice croaked but she didn't move from her spot.

"Who's the hypocrite now?" he asked and stormed out of the apartment, slamming the door behind him.

..

When Enzo pulled up in front of her brownstone apartment in a cab on Tuesday night, she had half expected to see him dressed in something eclectic but when he climbed out of the taxi in a pair of black leather pants, a snake print t-shirt and a fringed scarf she was taken aback. She took tentative steps toward him, smiling cautiously as her eyes swept over him. He pushed off the cab he had been leaning against and advanced toward her.

"What happened to your PJ's?" she pointed with her Koi fish clutch, her eyes taking in the details of his getup.

"I usually sleep in the nude so I don't know what's expected of me." He shrugged then took her hand in his, lifting it to his lips. "I don't like clothes."

"I think I've gathered that about you." She said casually, climbing into the back of the cab and sliding across the bench as he sidled in next to her. They spent the entire ride discussing Enzo's work in Paris and London to which he kept telling her that she just had to travel. She was listening intently to his tales about Paris when he reached out and held her hand.

She didn't pull away.

The yellow cab pulled up in front of a converted warehouse on a string littered with clubs and upscale restaurants. Stepping out of the cab, Bonnie's Zanotti sandals touched cobblestone as a slight breeze rifled through her hair, making her bare arms shiver. She was dressed in a black chemise and cheeky little lace trimmed shorts with a sleeveless cherry blossom kimono thrown over the outfit. They were in the Meatpacking District and walking along the cobblestone streets was an art form. Bonnie noticed that the party was already buzzing as party-goers walked through the red carpet amidst flashing cameras. She spotted a dozen celebrities with a model or two on their arm as they smiled and posed for the cameras.

Taking a deep breath, she glanced at Enzo who gave her a reassuring smile before they both stepped in front of the cameras. As she had predicted, the paparazzi didn't take that many pictures of her because she was a nobody except for that time when kissing socialite Sophie Devereaux had landed her on page six. When they reached the door, Enzo presented their invitation to a woman in a black nightdress and a draping of pearls around her neck.

"Welcome to the party" she smiled, ushering them in with a dramatic sweep of her hand.

Music poured over them as soon as they crossed the threshold. Bonnie recognised the beat; it was something vintage by Madonna. A suspended ceiling of pink roses and sparkling lights hung over the dance floor where a brave few were already out showcasing their moves.

"Bonbon!" Katherine came charging toward them, her paisley print fringed night dress flapping behind her. She almost stumbled in her lace up sandals with towering heels but caught her footing just as her martini sloshed over her hand. Caroline, with her eye mask pulled over her head like a headband was following shortly behind.

"This party is amazing; anybody who is anybody in New York fashion is here" Kat cried cheerfully, her eyes big and wide as they took everything in.

"And it's a gold mine for my blog." Caroline chimed in, quaffing down her third glass of champagne.

"Guys, you remember Enzo?"

"Of course" Kat nodded, raising her glass at him.

"Hey" Caroline acknowledged him with a generous smile. After an awkward silence, he wrapped an arm around Bonnie's waist and pulled her closer to him.

"Later?" he asked, kissing the top of her head.

"Later." She agreed and the three girls watched him walk away and worm his way through the beautiful crowd. As soon as he left, Bonnie started peering over the heads of the crowd as if she was searching for someone.

"Who're you looking for?" Kat asked, following her eyes.

"Nobody."

"Mr M.?" Caroline raised an eyebrow.

"Mr M?" Bonnie acted lost. She knew exactly who her friends were talking about.

"Mr Moneybags." Katherine reiterated.

"Kol is hardly what you'd call a fat cat. He's more like an adventurous drifter with a neck for spending he's family's money" Bonnie pointed out, chasing the spite in her voice with a gulp of champagne she snatched from a passing server.

"So he's a blueblood asshole" the blonde remarked with a shrug.

"Exactly." Bonnie nodded vehemently, her eyes still seeking him in the crowd. When she finally found him, she took in a sharp breath and observed as a petite brunette said something to him before they walked out of her field of view. From the brief glimpse she'd seen of him, she could tell that he was looking deliciously sexy tonight.

"Well his name is still synonymous with money and status so to me he's still Mr. Moneybags." Her friend was saying and Bonnie's gaze slid back to Katherine.

"Bonnie!"

"Hi, Hayley" she said, nearly spilling her champagne.

"I didn't know you'd be here." Hayley stated, looking at her suspiciously while she eyed her outfit. Hayley's black Chantilly lace nightdress traced her curves, the elegant hem sweeping the floor. It looked like something from an Elie Saab collection rather than a nightdress and around her slender wrist was a pearl and diamond cuff that kept winking everytime she lifted her flute to take a sip.

"Don't forget to have that report first thing on my desk tomorrow." She reminded her and Bonnie saw Kat and Caroline slip away quietly to give her time with the dragon.

"Yes, Hayley." She nodded even though she really just wanted to stick her tongue out at her. As soon as her boss left, Bonnie snatched a hors d'oeuvre from a waiter and took a bite, her eyes seeking Kol again. It was a Soft boiled eggs filled with caviar that melted on her tongue.

"Bon"

She would've recognised that voice anywhere. Whipping her head around, she was face to face with Kol Mikaelson. Slowly he started toward her and she felt her pulse jump. It took all her willpower not to run like a frightened schoolgirl with a stupid crush.

With her hand placed over her mouth, Bonnie mumbled around a mouthful "Hi, Kol"

"You came." He noted as if he'd invited her. The anxiety building in the pit of her stomach made her feel dizzy and she had to take another sip of champagne to steady herself.

"Here's to the man of the hour" she levelled him with a glare.

"You look gorgeous." He drawled in his delicious twang and disarming smile.

"And you look naked." She spat, trying to seem unaffected, "What do you want?" Her eyes took a tour of his body from the broad shoulders clad in a hooded dressing gown to the white boxer briefs that failed to contain him.

He was beautiful and he knew it.

"You" he said in the kind of voice that dishevelled mornings in bed must sound like and the knot in her stomach tightened.

"I'm here with someone and you're interrupting my date."

"Bo, "he made a grab for her arm and she allowed him to stop her.

Kol snagged two glasses of champagne from a passing server and handed one to her. Hesitating, she looked out onto the dance floor where Enzo was talking to a reedy redhead and when she focused her gaze back on Kol, she took the glass.

"I didn't invite you to this thing because this is not who I am. Sure its who my family wants me to be and sometimes I think its who I need to be but.."

She stared down at her champagne glass, her heart racing as she waited for him to continue.

He cleared his throat and said "I just wanted to keep you in my little box, my little private island where I didn't need to share you with the world and the idea of what they want me to be."

"Don't you see, I'm only truly myself when I'm with you." He murmured, reaching out to touch her cheek but she ignored the shiver that rolled through her and shook her head, stepping back from him.

"Bo, Bonnie-" he whispered, drawing his eyebrows.

"I need to get out here" she shook her head, not wanting to look at him.

"Bo"

"Don't follow me."

While everyone was flocking to the roof to experience the show of fireworks, she was running outside to hail a cab.

"Bonnie!" Enzo called after her and got there just in time as a cab pulled up in front of her.

"Are you okay?" he asked, studying her face.

She fingered the delicate gold necklace around her neck and took another sip of her drink before gesturing to the glass in her hand with a weak smile, "Yeah, I'm sorry but the champagne was going right through me."

"I need to go home." She swallowed back the lump in her throat.

"Then home it is" he slung his arm around her shoulder and ushered her into the back of the taxi.

When the cab deposited her in front of her apartment building, she was dumbfounded to find that Enzo had climbed out of the car with her and as it pulled away, tires screeching, she blinked owlishly at him.

"What are you doing?" she asked and her voice seemed to echo ion the night beyond the noise of distant traffic and nightlife. A warm breeze shuffled her hair, tossing the tails of her kimono and she pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I just want to spend more time with you."

"Enzo-"

"I'll sleep on the couch."

"What if I don't have a couch?"

"Then I'll take the floor."

"Fine but I swear if you try anything-"her words ran together as she stumbled back in her skyscraper heels. She manage to catch her footing and a suppressed a hiccup simultaneously.

"I won't." he pleaded, holdings his palms up. She took a breath and beckoned him to follow her to the brownstone building's entrance which was already gated and locked.

"No doorman here" Bonnie said over her shoulder while rifling through her clutch for a key.

"It's a walk up" she explained after they crossed the threshold. Her heels clacked on the tiled lobby while his sneakers slapped the glossy surface.

"I'm on the fourth floor" she told him, pointing to a flight of stairs on her left.

..

Her phone bleated, rousing her from her sleep and Bonnie patted the nightstand, searching for it in the dark.

"Hello" her voice cracked.

"Bonnie, I wanna come up!" he slurred his words and she shifted in the bed before sitting up, rubbing her eyes with the heel of her hands.

"Who is this?"

"Your boyfriend, darling"

Her heart started pounding and slamming into her ribs when she heard the response.

"Kol, you're drunk."

"And I'm outside."

..