#honorableotp

When hiseyes fell on her, he found himself stuttering over a contradiction between herposture and her expressions. She had her back turned towards him when he wascalled into her office, facing the glass wall that overlooked the city. Shespoke through a mouthpiece, demanding from one editor or another that they getthe job done.

“You know Ihave no patience for incompetence, Andrew.” She said, calm, collected,demanding. “Fix this or you will be let go.”

In thatparticular moment, Caroline turned her head slightly to peak at the newcomer.Klaus felt like a deer caught in a headlight. For some undiscernible reason, heheld his breath as her eyes scanned him. Not in the flattering way many peoplehave directed at him before, rather in a scrutinizing way that let him know shewas sizing him up. Her sharp gaze only lasted for a moment, matching the cooltone she was bestowing Andrew with.

“Thank you.”She said. “I’m certain it will be done satisfactorily.”

She hung up,wrenching the earpiece out, then turned fully to face him. This time, the coldway in which she scrutinized him was gone. Her deadly tone had vanished, andthe way in which her blonde curls seemed capable of cutting through his skinwas replaced by a honey like flow. But her posture, her posture did not shift,her shoulders squared, her head held high, an air of pride with a dash ofintimidation radiating off of her.

“Hello,” shesaid sweetly, smiling at him. “I assume you’re Klaus Mikealson?”

Klaus’breath stuttered. “Y-es.” He cleared his throat, looked to the ground, thenback up again, stare hardening and shoulders straightening. Perhaps he couldn’tmuster the air of power about her. But he would not be reduced to a stutteringschool boy. “Yes, I am. It’s a pleasure to meet you Ms. Forbes.”

He strodetowards her desk, extending his arm towards her for a handshake. She took hishand willingly, grip firm. Something shivered within him at the feel of hersoft hand in his calloused one. But he maintained a steady heartbeat, and heldher gaze. For a fraction of a second, the cool scrutiny was back in her eyes,only to once again disappear, replaced by a generic mask of friendliness.

“Thepleasure is all mine.” She said cordially. “Please have a seat.”

Thefollowing thirty minutes blurred by. She fired one question after anotherconcerning his resume, his university career, his dreams and aspirations, whyhe wanted to work for her. Klaus, prepared for all those questions, felt anease fall over him. She was not an unkind woman, but her outer friendliness hida determination that could cut through him if he dared to undermine it.

“Alright,Klaus,” she said, having already allowed herself to call him by his first name.She crossed her arms over her desk, her scrutinizing eyes returning. “Lastquestion: what is your impression of me?”

He blinked,felt himself flinch. His palms stuck to the leather arm-rests he had placedthem on, his fingers digging into them. “I beg your pardon?”

“This is nota trick question, Klaus. Tell me what your impression of me is. This interviewis as much of a way for you to get to know me as it is for me to get to knowyou.” She shrugged. “I’m not in the business of fooling myself about that. I’mnot under the impression that it’s a popularity contest, either. I’m notlooking for compliments, I’m looking for what you think I’d be like as yourboss. So, no bullshit. Tell me what you think I’m like.”

He clearedhis throat, shifted in his seat. Glanced over her right shoulder, back at hernow-sharp eyes, over her left shoulder. Then,

“I thinkyou’re fascinating.” He said, channeling a composure he did not think hepossessed. Her eyebrows shot up. “This is not flattery, Ms. Forbes, not in theleast bit. Flattery, I believe, is the easiest way to lose your respect. You’rehonest and expect people to be, especially in their work. You’re determined,and stubborn. I feel sorry for anyone who dares to underestimate you. Andyou’re a good judge of character. It’s why you asked me this question to beginwith. You know I’m perfect for this job. You knew I would not attempt to winyour favor through empty compliments. And you now know that no one can do thisjob better than I could.”

For amoment, she went silent. Then she broke into a grin. “I like you, KlausMikaelson. And I do think that you’re perfect for this job. You just proved meright. But before I offer it to you, let me warn you about something. Unlikewhat people think, I know everything that goes on in this office. I know whatis said about me. The world isn’t all that kind to successful women. And I knowwhat will be thrown your way. My last assistant was also a man. And he couldn’thandle remarks about being my bitch. You need to grow a thick skin. Or better,have better standards of yourself, a more mature self-confidence. I don’t careif you engage in your co-workers’ childish games. But, working as my assistantmeans you’ll know some intimate details about my life. And if I catch wind thatyou somehow squandered any of those details, I will ruin you. This job’svirtual age is three years. Do it right, do it well, show me that I can trustyou, and I will guarantee you any job you want. Even in this very magazine. AndI’ll be there for any help you might need in the future. I’m the best and mostloyal ally you can ever get. Disappoint me, and you will have only yourself toblame.”

She paused.Klaus maintained a neutral expression.

“Do we havea deal?”

He grinned.“We do, indeed.”

For thefirst six months, Klaus’ assignments constituted mainly of keeping Caroline’sbusy schedule in-check, running errands for her, answering phone calls; hisjob, essentially, included nothing out of the ordinary for an assistant.Caroline, he understood, needed to know that she could trust him with morecomplicated tasks. And Klaus was nothing if not up for a challenge. He wouldlive up to, no he would exceed her expectations. So he noticed things abouther, little things. With her busy schedule, Klaus noticed that she sometimessimply forgot to go for lunch. The first time she came back from a meeting tofind a salad waiting for her and a note telling her to eat quickly because shewas meeting a writer in twenty minutes, she popped her head out of her officeand shot him a grateful smile. With time, Klaus made sure she always hadsomething to eat. On less busy days, he could breathe easy knowing she’d havethe time to step out for lunch. On busier days, he worked in a way to get foodin her. After a while, he felt comfortable enough to double-check with her thatshe ate. At first she was surprised, then she just rolled her eyes at hisantics, telling him to go out more since he seemed too involved in his job.

Her favoritecoffee, he learned, was a plain black one with a dash of cream from the cornercafé in the street where the office building is. He noticed that Carolinerarely managed to go through a day with only one cup of coffee. Her tell signsthat she needed more caffeine included her running her hands through her hairagitatedly, and a tad less bright smile in her interactions with people.Caroline soon found that she didn’t need to ask him to run for coffee in themiddle of the day, finding Klaus either wordlessly stepping into a meeting tohand her a cup, or walking into her office to place it on her desk and leave.Or simply handing her one as she ran out of the office to a meeting withanother client. Every time he did that, she shot him a small smile ofgratitude.

His abilityto read her did not limit itself to telling when she needed coffee. Slowly, hebecame in-tune with her body language. He could tell when she was frustratedwith someone and needed to be saved from the way her posture lost its relaxedcasualness. He could tell that she was stressed from the slightest crease inher brows. Her smile wavered the tiniest bit when someone dared to disregardher orders or managed to mess up her plans. And he felt sorry for the poorbastard who managed to put that last look on her face. He knew that the nextthing they know Caroline would shut off completely and show the cold side ofher.

PleasingCaroline was no easy feat. Her demands were precise, quick, and required utmostefficiency. She kept Klaus on his toes as he scrambled to get her chaotic lifein order while maintaining his own sanity. Which proved to be far moredifficult than he imagined. He worked long, exhausting hours, his social lifebeing reduced to nothing within mere weeks of working for Caroline. The moreshe relied on him, the more his job took center stage in her life. And Carolinedid rely on him often after the first few months elapsed. He got a spare key toher office door in case she needed him to run a late night errand on the fourthmonth of working for her. On the fifth, he was sent to her home several times,and told to pick out an outfit for events when she had no time to go home andchange.

“You say you’rean artist, Klaus.” She said the first time he was sent on such an assignment,smiling at him. “Prove it to me. Put something together for me.” From thetwinkle in her yes, he could have sworn she was enjoying this too much.

He took herword to heart, picking her outfit with utmost care to details, in spite of hisunusual nervousness at being in her bedroom. Something about it felt as if hewas violating her privacy. He tried not to linger on details that did notconcern him, averting his eyes from her bed, from the wall decorations, fromany photographs that might be around. The only thing he could not avoid was herscent. The place had a ghost of her presence that made the hair on his armsstand on end. As if she watched over him, judged his every move. Relief washed overhim when he finally left. When he returned to the office, giving her the outfithe picked out, she grinned at him.

“You have agreat eye for color.” She said, then looked up at him with a soft gaze in hereyes. “Thank you.”

Caroline’strust in him, he was pleased to find out, grew gradually. She began to delegatemore complex tasks to him, like reading pieces submitted by up-and-comingwriters for their rising star section and giving her the top twenty to siftthrough. She consulted with him on the magazine’s outline whenever she wasn’tcertain how the color palette was working. She relied on him to take care ofmishaps whenever they happened, not feeling it necessary to take over unless itgot too out of hand. Before long, Klaus found himself staying late nights atthe office, most of the time alongside Caroline, having been delegated anothertask that needed swift action. And he didn’t mind. Not one bit. He wasterrified to realize that he only seemed to feel alive when around her. True, pleasingCaroline was no easy feat, but watching her work was a pleasure. He couldn’tbelieve his luck that he got to watch her. She had a passion about her, an infectiousenergy surrounding her. She gave the work her all, minding the smallest ofdetails, putting the last touches. She was dedicated to the message of hermagazine, ran it with efficiency and delicacy. And she knew all of heremployees, rewarded them with smiles, raises and words of encouragement. Forthe most part, employees respected her. Those who didn’t Klaus quickly learnedto avoid. And they usually didn’t last long.

But the mostdifficult part of his job had nothing at all to do with the job and everythingto do with Caroline. Day after day, as he watched her, learned from her, grewaccustomed to her presence and bright smile, Klaus felt himself soften more andmore towards her. He began to notice details about her that had nothing at allto do with his job. Like the twinkle in her eyes when another issue fell intoher lap and it looked perfect. Or the way she bit her lower lip inconcentration. Or the bird-shaped tattoo on her wrist that made him curiouswhether she had other ones. Or the way she tilted her head to the side andsuppressed a smile when she was amused by him. As she, too, grew comfortablearound him, she showed more and more of herself around him. With every piece ofher that she showed, he felt something in him ache, an exquisite kind of achresembling a vague feel of longing, and a suffocating feel of despair. Almostevery night, Klaus would go back to his apartment and sketch her face over andover again. He found himself filling page after page with details of her. He’ddraw her with utmost care, and utmost secrecy, catching a gentle smile on hisface whenever he thought of her.

But Klausconvinced himself that it was nothing. Nothing but a simple infatuation.Caroline was an impressive, admirable woman. And he was learning from her,being infected by her charms, by her energy, her allure, her passion. It wasnot a big deal. At all.

-

“Wake up, sleepyhead.”A soft voice trickled into his ear. He felt a nudge on his shoulder. “I’mpretty sure this position isn’t healthy for your neck.”

“What?” hemurmured. Blinking, he began to make out the shape of blonde curls surroundinga sweet face.

“You fellasleep.” She said.

He shook hishead, trying to clear his head. Caroline stood next to his chair, head tiltedto the side and slightly smiling. When the initial confusion wore off, Klaus’eyes widened in shock. He had fallen asleep in the office. The night before themagazine’s issue was sent for printing was always a long one. And he had stayedbehind with Caroline, knowing that if she saw a mishap, she would need hishelp. Tired to the bone, his eyes burning from staring at the computer for toolong, Klaus only wanted to rest his eyes for a minute. Somehow he ended upasleep.

“I’mterribly sorry, Ms. Forbes.” He said, feeling a slight blush make its way tohis cheeks. “That was unprofessional of me.”

She chuckled.“It’s no big deal, Klaus. And I’m not a monster. I’ve overworked you this week.Go home. Get some rest.”

“But themagazine…”

“It looksgreat! If I run into trouble, I’ll iron it out myself.” She offered.

He looked athis watch. It read 10:30. He frowned. “Sweetheart, how much longer do you planon staying?”

“Sweetheart?”her eyebrows shot up. “That’s new.”

Klaus’ eyesgrew twice their size. “I apologize.” He stuttered, “I didn’t mean to. It’s aBritish thing. A slip of the tongue…”

She laughed,actually laughed, at his nervous state, shaking her head slightly. He had neverseen her laugh before, not like this, relaxed and at ease. As if the wholeworld did not exist except for the two of them. In any other instance, he wouldhave found her laugh infectious, but he did not know what to make of it in thatmoment.

“You know,it’s kinda nice to know that I still intimidate you.” She said, when herlaughter quieted a little, placing a hand on her hip.

“What do youmean?” he frowned, still at a complete loss. This woman ought to drive himcrazy at some point.

“You gottaadmit, you’re getting used to me.” She teased. “You can read me pretty well.And your confidence has grown quite a bit. You’re not walking on eggshellsaround me anymore.”

He looked upat her, tongue-tied, “I’m…”

She waved ahand in dismissal. “It’s not a bad thing, sweetheart.” She teased. “Youfeel secured in your job. And I got used to having you around. I gotta say Ihave no idea how I managed all this time without you.”

He couldn’thelp the grin that split his face. “I, too, have grown very used to yourdemands, Ms. Forbes.”

She shookher head in disapproval. “I think you’ve earned first name basis. Andsweetheart is fine, occasionally. Just not in public.”

“Noted.”

“Now, youwere going home and I was going back to work.” She demanded, moving backtowards her office.

He shook hishead, “I’m not leaving you to work alone.”

She tiltedher head to the side, crossing her arms over her chest, “Last I checked I wasstill your boss.”

“Yes, youare. And if I let you to do as you please you’d work yourself to death.” Herose from his seat, moving closer to her. “Let me help you, Caroline. We candivide and conquer.”

She seemedabout to argue for a moment, before her eyes softened at the sincerity in hiseyes hiding behind his slightly smudged glasses. “OK. But under one condition. Youorder pizza for us. I’m starving.”

-

An hour anda half later, Klaus and Caroline were sitting cross-legged on the floor,munching the last of their pizza. With the job done, they lounged lazily,Caroline’s back resting against one of the chairs in front of her desk, andKlaus hunched over his laptop, replying to a last minute email. He could feelCaroline’s eyes on him, reminding him of their first meeting during hisinterview. He hit the send button before looking up at her, eyes curios, thenself-conscious when they caught the look in hers.

“Is theresomething I could do for you, sweetheart?” he cocked his head to the side,regaining his composure.

“Tell me,”she started, attempting to sit up a little, “how long have you been working forme?”

“Ninemonths.” He shut down his laptop, placing the machine aside on the floor to giveher his undivided attention. “Why?”

She lookedthoughtful for a minute. “I was just thinking,” She said slowly, “it’s beenquite some time since we’ve known each other and I still don’t really knowanything about you. For all I know you could be leading a secret life as avigilante or something.” She teased.

“Yes.” Hemocked. “With all the work you give me I definitely have the time to roam thecity taking down criminals.”

She grinned.He found he quite liked seeing her so relaxed. “I gave you a job, Klaus. Neversaid it was gonna be easy.”

“I neverthought it would be.” He couldn’t help the small smile that broke its way intohis face. “The interview told me as much.”

She giggled,actually giggled. The formidable Caroline Forbes was comfortable enough togiggle around him, and the sight of it struck him with a beauty that piercedhis being. “Yeah, I remember that. You looked a bit scared at the beginning. Ithought of dismissing you immediately because of it. But then you pulledyourself together. I figured giving you a full interview wouldn’t hurt.”

“Honestly,love, you should be ashamed of finding other people’s misery so amusing.” Heshook his head, feigning sadness. She didn’t even flinch at the pet name.

“Stopdeflecting.” She gently reprimanded. “How come I don’t know anything aboutyou?”

He shrugged.“I believe it is my job to get to know you, not the other way around.”

“Still. I’dlike to know a little more about you.” The smile she gave him was genuine,sincere. It cast her face in such a gentle expression that he found it hard toconcentrate on his own breathing for a moment.

“Alright,”he said, shifting until he was a little closer to her and a little morecomfortable. “What would you like to know?”

“Hmm” shetapped a finger against her chin in mock-contemplation. “You said in ourinterview that you paint. What kind of painting do you do?”

He pausedfor a minute. “That’s very creative, Caroline.” He couldn’t suppress thelaughter that bubbled in his throat.

“Hey!” Shethrew a pen that was next to her at his head. But he managed to dodge it. Notwithout doubling-over with laughter thought. “I said I wanted to get to knowyou, not be mocked by you.”

“I’m sorry,love, I’m sorry. I just didn’t expect such a cliché question.” He said, attemptingto swallow his laughter. “It would appear that you’re not very good at this.”

She pouted, crossingher arms over her chest. “OK then Mr. Know It All. How would you play thisgame?”

“I would askabout your tattoo.” He deadpanned. For a second he thought he might regret it,but seeing nothing but surprise on her face, he continued. “The bird on yourwrist.”

“Oh.” Shemouthed, unconsciously touching fingering it. She smiled wistfully. “I got iton my twenty first birthday with Bonnie. I had just managed to get out of arough relationship. It was a lot of turmoil and unhealthy jealousy. I felt trappedin it. So when I finally managed to cut off ties with that guy I felt so…powerful. So free. It didn’t matter to me how cliché it was to get a bird as asymbol for the freedom. It felt right. I just told Bonnie I wanted to do it andshe came along for the support. She has a matching one on her ankle.” Shepaused, looked down at her wrist. “It’s a reminder for me. A reminder that I’mnever gonna allow myself to feel trapped again. That I can always find a wayout. Cheesy, isn’t it?” She laughed nervously, looking up at him with a hint ofa blush on her cheeks. His breath caught at the sight of vulnerable Caroline.It felt as if he floated in a dream to see her soft edges.

“It isn’t.”he said, eyes boring into her. “I understand.”

She gave hima grateful smile, locking his gaze with a gentle look. “What about you? Do youhave any tattoos?”

“Yeah,” henodded. “Right here.” He placed a hand over his left shoulder. “A feather thatbreaks out into birds. Similar to yours but more elaborate. I actually designedit myself.” He didn’t know why he shared all of this information so easily. Butsomething about the way in which she was looking at him made him want to spillall of his secrets to her.

She lookedintrigued. “Can I see?”

He swallowed,then nodded. By some miracle, he managed to undo his tie and the first fewbuttons of his shirt with steady hands. His eyes alternated between looking inher direction and looking away, unable to determine his stance. Slowly, hemoved the fabric of his shirt to the side, revealing the ink on his shoulder. Sheinched closer towards him, eyes fixated on his shoulder. He felt a hint of ablush rising to his cheek, but the heat he suddenly felt didn’t seem caused bythe blush. She came so close to him he could faintly feel her breath againsthis skin. Slowly, she took hold of his shirt collar, moving it away gently tobetter see his tattoo.

“Wow,” she whispered.Her breath brushed over his skin. It tingled. “The details are amazing. When didyou get it?”

His eyes fixatedon her face, unable to look away. He felt entranced between the look in hereyes, the feel of her breath leaving feathery touches against his skin, and theheat radiating from her. So acutely aware, he was, that if she moved thetiniest bit closer, she would be touching him. So much so that his skinthirsted for touch. For a long moment, all he could think of was what her lipswould feel like against the skin she was studying.

“I waseighteen.” He whispered, afraid that if he breathed louder he would disrupttheir moment. “I had just move out of home, fled really. I didn’t grow up inthe best household. When I left, it felt like I just broke out of a cage. This,too, is reminder that I am never to let anyone pin me down again.”

She lookedup at him, eyes filled with an unreadable expression. Yet they both understoodsomething, as if a missing piece of a puzzle neither of them knew they wereputting together had fallen into place. And neither of them seemed capable ofbreaking free from their trancelike state. Her eyes lingered on his gaze, onlyto flick for a fraction of a second towards his lips. In her distractedattention, her thumb gently grazed her shoulder. He jolted at the contact, shivering.And she seemed to move even closer. Or he moved closer, he didn’t know anymore.All he knew is that she was so painfully close he could almost taste her.

Her phonerang, a jarring awakening from a most painfully exquisite dream. Sheimmediately pulled back, her eyes widening when she realized what their situationalmost led them to. Quickly, she scrambled to her feet, snatching her cellphonefrom her purse. This was her private line, Klaus did not gain access to it.

“Hello.” Shesaid cheerfully, as if their encounter never happened. She turned away fromhim, as if refusing to look at him. And he couldn’t help but drop his gaze tothe floor, something between dread and disappointment churning up in his insides.“Enzo, hey! I thought you weren’t arriving ‘till tomorrow…. This is the bestsurprise, are you kidding me?? I’ll be home in twenty minutes, OK?” She hungup, stuffing her phone into her purse again.

“So themagazine is in order.” She said, reverting to a professional tone. “The issueshould be top notch.” She continued as she gathered her things in preparationto leave. As she stood by her office door, she half turned her face towardshim, giving him an indifferent glance. “Please clean up and lock up before youleave.”

He watchedher leave, jealousy welling up in the back of his throat, a bitter bile ofpathetic helplessness. The ache that had been nudging him opened its jaws andswallowed him in a void of unrelenting despair. This Enzo, whoever he was, knewnot his luck. She ran to this Enzo. No, she ran away from Klaus. The helpless youth,the foolish boy who had inappropriate feelings towards his boss.