12Summary: When Klaus receives a call that his soulmate has been found after searching her for almost a century, he sets off to claim her before his enemies can harm her. But his soulmate is human this time around, innocent and irresistible, and his wolf wants nothing more than to mark her. Soulmates + Reincarnation AU.
A/N: Features HumanEscort!Caroline and OriginalHybrid!Klaus and the general cast of supernatural-ish characters. I thought about making this a one-shot, then it got really long so I broke it up. This will be a three-shot. Enjoy!
A/N 2: The chapter titles are borrowed from a Chinese threefold curse, loosely translated as 1) May you live in interesting times, 2) May you come to the attention of those in authority, and 3) May all your wishes come true.
The Exclusivity Clause
Part I: Interesting Times
The circumstances that led Caroline to Petrova Palace were a combination of desperation and hopelessness.
Petrova Palace was a high-end escort service, and it was run by four sisters who co-owned the business. Amara was the CEO who interviewed the escorts and the clients; Tatia was in charge of the contracts and the fees; Katherine was in charge of training the escorts; Elena assisted with coordinating "dates."
Amara was no-nonsense and blunt in her questions, which Caroline had appreciated. Yes, she'd had boyfriends before and dating experience. No, she'd never had sexual experiences, and yes, she was a virgin.
When Tatia reviewed her contract with her, she informed her that Petrova Palace took 40% of her fees; the rest was hers, but she was expected to maintain her wardrobe and overall appearance. It was recommended to her to take advantage of discounts offered by Petrova Palace Partners, which consisted of a variety of businesses that offered steep discounts for escorts. Gifts from clients were hers to keep.
Oftentimes, but not always, additional fees were included in her contract, such as if a client had a specific dress code for an event. Petrova Palace strived to negotiate the best terms for their escorts, Tatia had explained, but ultimately, it was up to Caroline to review the contract before it was signed, in order to ensure that she was being taken care of.
Apparently, her virginity would be a huge negotiating factor in her favor.
Then, she was introduced to Katherine Petrova.
At the time, she didn't know it, but her life was about to be changed.
Forever.
The call came from Katerina Petrova, or Katherine, as she went by nowadays, of all people.
"What?" He'd snapped rudely.
"You'll be interested to hear that the most interesting little bird has come into my establishment."
Katerina Petrova and her sisters, all doppelgangers, owned Petrova Palace, a high-end escort service for the supernatural.
"I've no time for games," he responded coolly.
"Her name's Caroline Forbes. A pretty little thing with blonde hair and blue eyes, and a sweet little smile."
His heart stopped, and he stilled at the description.
He could almost hear the smirk on Katerina's face as she continued, "She belongs to us now, but I'm more than happy to set you up on a date or two. Maybe the Girlfriend Experience?"
"You know I won't settle for just a one-time meeting," he snapped impatiently.
"And you know that I normally don't deal with the contracts," She responded coolly, "But for you, I'll make an exception. Especially since I'll get a commission from this. If you're interested in an Exclusivity Clause to her contract, it'll cost extra."
"How much extra, and what does it come with?"
"It's usually $2-3 million extra, annually. On top of having exclusive access to Miss Forbes, you would have the first right to make an offer when the time comes to auction her virginity. However, our Exclusivity Clause does not equate to 24/7 access; our contract requires our escorts to be given at least 1 day off a week. If you would like her to spend nights with you, that will also cost extra; we have a Sleepover Clause that we can add as well, and it also costs an extra $1-2 million annually. With that, however, Miss Forbes will be expected to have her own living quarters with privacy offered to her."
"I'll make it $10 million annually for both the Exclusivity Clause and the Sleepover Clause."
"And you understand that this offer is separate from the offer you will make for her virginity, and there will be a 200% penalty, or in your case, $20 million, should Miss Forbes disclose to us that you've slept together?"
Klaus could almost see the smirk on Katerina's face, but he gritted his teeth and responded curtly, "Yes."
"Very well. Elena will set up the date and text you details. We'll send the paperwork with Miss Forbes at your first meeting."
When Caroline received the news, she didn't believe it at first.
But then Katherine had impatiently pinched her arm to prove that she wasn't dreaming, and gave her the contract. A man she didn't know had offered her a $10 million contract that included both an Exclusivity Clause and a Sleepover Clause. She now had $6 million in her bank account – more than enough to pay off her mom's medical bills and to put some money away for college.
"Because of the sum offered and the clauses included, we've set up a complimentary first date for the both of you to review the contract and to make changes as necessary. Make sure you discuss those and return the revisions to us within 48 hours so our legal team can review it. This date will be paid for with your company credit card, and Petrova Palace will pick up the bill. However, if your client insists on paying, let him." Tatia had explained, and Caroline nodded as she received two copies of the paperwork.
Just who was Klaus Mikaelson, and why did he choose her, of all people?
Anxiety gripped her nerves as she debated over what to wear for their first meeting. Thankfully, Mr. Mikaelson had requested a lunch date, so nothing too formal. Caroline hadn't had the opportunity to go shopping for new clothing just yet.
From what she had heard, the restaurant she would be meeting her client at was an upscale restaurant that had a beautiful rooftop view of New York City. She ultimately settled on a navy sundress that brought out the color of her eyes, picked out a pair of strappy wedge sandals, and opted for a simple necklace and matching bracelet. She curled her hair into soft waves that fell down to her chest and applied a light layer of make-up. Caroline finished her outfit with a clutch.
She made sure to remember to grab the contracts that she placed in her personalized folio before she left her apartment and met up with the car service that Mr. Mikaelson had hailed for her. The driver, a polite and rather handsome man with a charming smile, introduced himself as Enzo. She quietly thanked Enzo for driving her, and when they arrived at the restaurant, he flashed her a grin before wishing her good luck.
"Mr. Mikaelson is expecting me," she politely told the hostess.
"Of course," the hostess responded in kind as she gestured to her side, "Please follow me. Mr. Mikaelson arrived just shortly before you did. He asked me to alleviate any concerns you may have about being late, and would like you to know that he wishes for you to arrive safely."
Caroline couldn't help but nod and nervously tuck her hair behind her ears as she followed the hostess out the door, to the rooftop.
All the tables were empty except for one.
She wished that someone had told her that he was unfairly pretty; a dangerous combination of dirty blond curls and dark-blue grey eyes, cheekbones to die for, and the most kissable lips she'd ever seen on a person. Even casually dressed in a Henley and jeans and sneakers, with a handful of necklaces, he was easily the most handsome man she had ever met.
When he saw her, an expression crossed his face, something akin to surprise and disbelief, and there was a scrape as he pushed his chair back to stand up as he turned towards her.
"You must be Mr. Mikaelson," she said politely, stopping an arm's distance away.
"I am," he confirmed, "but please call me Klaus. And you must be Miss Forbes." He gave her a charming smile, his dimples flashing, as he offered his upturned hand to her. Flustered, she allowed him to take her hand. He dropped a soft kiss onto her fingertips, and gave her another soft smile as he guided her to her seat. "Thank you for joining me today."
Sparks seemed to jump between them; she could feel a pull towards him from the core of her entire being, and she couldn't help the blush that overcame her. Surely it was just attraction because he was incredibly good-looking and ridiculously charming?
As if sensing her discomfort, he gestured to the empty tables around them. "As you may have guessed, I bought out the entire rooftop. I thought you might prefer some privacy for our discussion."
She nodded. "I… appreciate your thoughtfulness. And please call me Caroline."
Then, a thought occurred to her. How much did it cost to buy out a restaurant rooftop? Was she allowed to put it on the company credit card? As if reading her mind, he added, "Although I appreciate Petrova Palace offering to foot the bill, I've already paid. So please try to enjoy our lunch, Caroline."
Her immediate concerns assuaged, she offered him a shy smile. "Thank you."
He returned her smile, and a server came by with a couple glasses of wine.
"So tell me about yourself." He said casually.
"There's not much to say," she demurred.
"How did you end up working for Petrova Palace?"
She shrugged, biting her bottom lip out of habit as she thought about what to say. Finally, she decided on the simplest version of the truth. "My mom got sick, so I dropped out of college to take care of her. All my savings went towards her medical bills, but she died anyways. A… friend recommended Petrova Palace to me. I sent them my resume, they invited me for an interview, and here I am."
He already knew all this about her. The moment he got the call from Katerina Petrova, he had his people dig up everything there was to know about Caroline Forbes.
But still, hearing it, seeing and feeling her pain, cut him to his core.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart," he murmured sincerely.
She shook her head and gave him a small smile. "You don't have to. It's a depressing topic and not really something to dig into on a first date. I should be apologizing, really."
He frowned. "There's no need to apologize. I'm the one who asked."
"I've um, never done this before," she confessed. "I was supposed to get some training, but they told me that I didn't need it for… this."
It was true. It was something that Katerina had offered, but he declined. He wanted his soulmate to be as untainted by Petrova Palace as possible. He wanted her in all her innocence and naivety. He didn't care that she didn't know all of the acceptable social decorum of his world – he was the Original Hybrid and king of the supernatural world, and she would be his queen. Kings and queens did not follow the rules; they made them. Additionally, if he played his cards right, she would never return to the Petrovas.
"It's quite alright," he reassured her. "It's nothing you'll need to concern yourself with while you're with me."
"And are you… used to acquiring services from Petrova Palace?" She asked quietly.
Unease flowed through their bond, and his wolf demanded that he fix it. Immediately.
He shook his head, "I'm not unfamiliar with them, but usually the services I required in the past were escorts to events and functions I had to attend. I usually pay for a couple hours and send them on their way once the event is over."
He could see the apprehension in her face.
"So… you want like, a live-in girlfriend? For… um, your personal pleasure?" She flushed an adorable shade of pink, and it didn't help that he could smell her attraction to him. It drew his wolf to his surface, pressing against the confines of his human form.
"I want you to be comfortable," he corrected. "I don't expect you to present yourself perfectly all the time, but I will expect you to dress for occasions if they call for them. Otherwise, you may wear whatever you please." Seeing the confusion on her face, he added, "And while I would like nothing more than to have you in my bed, to hold you in my arms and kiss you, and to show you my affections and to perhaps earn yours, I will never force you into anything you do not wish."
"But why me?" She whispered. "If you've read my contract, you know that I don't… know any of that stuff. I won't know how to… please you."
"Why not you?" He responded. "You're beautiful, you're strong, you're full of light. You, more than anyone, deserves a chance at building a life for yourself. And for the time being, you deserve to be spoiled. It would please me," he continued slowly, "to get to know you. To see what makes you smile, to find out what brings you joy."
She stared at him curiously, her head tipped to the side as she finally said, "You sound like what a boyfriend would sound like."
"Considering that the Girlfriend Experience is included in your contract, I imagine that it entitles me to some perks," he responded candidly.
Her face was an open book – he could see her skepticism, her doubts, and her fears. And he needed to address them immediately before she became overwhelmed and he risked losing her. "Caroline, sweetheart, the reason I use this service is for companionship. I'm a rather busy man, and I've no time for conventional dating. You came recommended by Petrova Palace – they described you as wholesome, genuine, and intelligent. I've no interest in spending my time with greedy harpies and their hidden agendas."
When she watched him with curious eyes, he continued, "Admittedly, I had no idea what you looked like before they scheduled us," it was a small fib, but if it helped put her at ease, then he'd deal with the consequences later. "But this arrangement won't work if you're not comfortable with me. I've no wish to make you unhappy."
He could see her soften towards him, her frown slowly smoothing out, but she needed one last push, so he reluctantly offered, "How about this – we try this arrangement out for a couple months. If at the end of it, you're still uncomfortable with me, then I'll cancel the contract and pay the penalties, and make sure that you're not penalized in any way, including financially."
"Just like that?" Her voice was an uncertain whisper.
"You have my word." He easily agreed, but he had no intentions of letting things devolve to that point. He had no intentions of chaining her to him, but he planned to court and woo his little mate until she couldn't see her life without him.
His pretty little soulmate.
He felt his heartstrings tug at the thought of her struggling through life, alone, without anyone to love and cherish her. On one hand, he was thankful for it, because someone else in her life would be a complication that could get messy. But he was here now, and he would ensure that she was well taken care of.
After all, he'd waited nearly a century to find her again.
Caroline mulled over her lunch date with Klaus as she neatly organized and packed up her apartment.
They went through the contracts before having lunch. It was… oddly endearing, how seriously Klaus took the contract. He asked her questions and encouraged her to ask them as well, made sure that she was comfortable with all the terms and conditions it detailed for her, and triple checked the contract to ensure that everything worked out to her favor and benefit. He pointed out a loophole in one of the stipulations and altered it so that she received a bonus commission every time additions were made to her contract.
Then, after the contracts were signed, they had lunch. She was relieved to discover that Klaus was pleasant company. He shared with her that this restaurant he chose for their first date was a favorite of his, not just because of their extensive vintage wine selection, but because the chef enjoyed rotating his menu often, based on what was in stock and in season. Additionally, the view from the rooftop was incredible. By the end of their lunch, Caroline found herself genuinely smiling, feeling more and more at ease with Klaus.
She wasn't quite sure why, but she felt like there was… some sort of connection between them. Something that drew her to him, and perhaps him to her. She felt like she could trust him, and it scared her, because she had never felt this way about anyone else, and never with someone she'd barely met.
She was going to essentially live with Klaus for a couple months at the very least, and quite possibly up to a year. It would make more sense to just stay at his penthouse, even on her day off, than it would be to keep paying rent for her apartment. She tentatively thought about subleasing it, but she wasn't sure how busy she would be and didn't want to risk any backlash.
For now, packing up her stuff would make her life infinitely easier in the future, regardless of which way things turned out. Worst case scenario, she would unpack everything. Best case scenario, she would move the things she decided to keep to a storage unit, and donate everything else.
Enzo would be arriving in an hour to pick her up and take her to Klaus' penthouse. She had a lot to do before she was ready to leave the apartment that had been her home for three years.
It was the sweetest torture, to have her so close to him and yet so far away. Her scent was all over his penthouse, and he couldn't go anywhere without breathing her in.
Klaus' penthouse in New York was in a luxury apartment at the top of one of the most expensive buildings in the city. It had four bedrooms – one master bedroom and three guest bedrooms. There were large windows all around the apartment and in each of the bedrooms, a large living room and kitchen, and a separate area that he used as a makeshift office as needed. The apartment was rather impersonal, with the exception of a couple paintings he hung up and a couple bookshelves filled with books he liked.
The entire penthouse was fortified with protection spells and enchantments, and Caroline was easily added to the protections since she'd already been added in a past life. Once her current reincarnation settled in, he could have the protections reinforced with a couple strands of her hair and a drop of her blood.
He gave her the guest room closest to his room, picked out bedding in gold and pale pink. He ensured that the furniture he ordered had plenty of room for storage for her things, as well as the things he planned to buy for her.
Klaus found himself craving everything she did – the way she sighed so blissfully when she first splayed out on her bed and marveled over the softness of the sheets, the delight on her face when she looked out the large windows and swooned over the view of the city, the way she curled up on the window-seat or furniture. He was fascinated by everything she did, by the myriad of expressions that crossed her face and by the way she spoke.
Her touch was tantalizing – whenever she grabbed him by the hand to tug him to the window to watch the sunset, every time she snuggled into his side while they watched a movie or TV show, the way she tried to curl into his warmth when she inevitably fell asleep… and the way she turned her nose into his crook of his neck when he picked her up and carried her back into her room, tucking her into her bed despite his reluctance to let go of her.
He knew that she felt the draw of their soulmate bond, even if she didn't know what it was. The bond would have heightened their attraction to one another, told her that she was safe with him, even if she didn't quite understand it.
Klaus wanted everything of his little soulmate, and more. And while his wolf wanted nothing more than to claim her, both his vampire and wolf were in agreement that she wasn't ready yet and that this would not be forced on her. He would not chance losing her.
So until she was ready, he would content himself with this.
He had a year with her, and he planned to make the most of it. Marcel and Elijah could manage the supernatural affairs in New Orleans until he was ready to return with his soulmate. But for the time being, it was imperative that she not be put in the slightest trace of danger. Her exposure to the Petrovas was already more exposure to his world than he would have liked, but he couldn't exactly complain, not when they brought her to him. He had already arranged for a protection detail for her, with some of his most competent hybrids and older vampire sirelings, for the handful of times that he knew he would have to deal with business.
She'd already met Lorenzo St. John, otherwise known as Enzo. They'd been best friends in her previous life, and he'd been adamant in helping to protect her in her next life. Klaus hadn't liked the idea at first, but the Augustine vampire had proved himself to be quite useful at rooting out and dispatching his enemies, and he worked quite well with Kol. Klaus found himself reluctantly impressed and agreed to the younger vampire's demands. And really, he wasn't going to deny his soulmate additional protection, especially when it was so willingly given. Furthermore, Enzo was one of the few vampires that he truly trusted, and the Augustine vampire was young enough that he could move with some autonomy throughout their world without being detected or traced back to the Mikaelsons.
Caroline's contract stated that she was to be given 1 day off every week; that day was to her choosing, and she had decided that she wanted Mondays off. He tried to respect her privacy, so he had Enzo take her to wherever she wanted to go. But Caroline herself later shared that she usually spent part of her free day volunteering at various places – an animal shelter, a homeless shelter, and the children's hospital.
Klaus ordered one of his minions to get him information on the various places she volunteered at and wrote out anonymous checks to said organizations. They were worth it to see his little mate come home the following Monday evening with a bright smile on her face, none the wiser, as she excitedly shared about the good fortune that fell on said organizations.
The rest of the week, however, he tried to spoiled her. He set up a schedule and routine for them – Tuesdays were pampering days; she had appointments at the spa for a massage and mani-pedi. Then, once she was returned to him, he would take her out for lunch, always somewhere nice and always somewhere different.
He dealt with supernatural issues from Monday to Wednesdays, and Marcel and Elijah had explicit instructions, under pain of being staked or daggered, to not bother him beyond those three days unless it was absolutely dire. But during the days he worked, he encouraged Caroline to enroll in online classes, to spend her Tuesday evenings and Wednesdays studying. He knew that her ambitions for college had been interrupted by her ailing mother and then by financial distress, but he was more than capable of ensuring that she had the time and resources to finish her degree. He also reassured her that they could rearrange her schedule to accommodate for more study time if needed.
The wide-eyed look of surprise she gave him, followed by gratitude and her genuine smile, and the impulsive hug she gave him, the way she threw her arms around his torso and tucked her head under his chin, sparked something warm along his chest that didn't leave him for a long time.
It made him feel like he was doing something right for once.
Klaus didn't schedule anything for Thursdays – he let her choose what she wanted to do, where she wanted to go, and he dutifully accompanied her, providing commentary and conversation. She always picked something new every time, shyly looking at him for approval at her choices, although he never denied her. She oftentimes selected a variety of activities – they usually started with something adventurous like a hiking or kayaking, followed by brunch or lunch somewhere nearby, and then a low-key afternoon outing like going to the zoo or botanical garden. Other times, she opted for what she called a "lazy day." He never had objections, since lazy days usually involved movies and cuddling, and he would get to spend the majority of the day with her pressed against his side.
On the weekends, from Friday to Sunday, he would whisk her away somewhere new. They would usually leave Thursday night or early Friday morning, and they would always return late Sunday night. He loved seeing the way her eyes lit up when they landed and she found herself in a new state or country. He enjoyed seeing his little mate soak up the sights and sounds of the new cultures she found herself in, and he delighted in being the one to share these new experiences with her.
Caroline wasn't sure what to think of this arrangement. She had an inkling that her… contract with Klaus wasn't a typical one.
Did all clients look at their… escorts the same way he did her? With this intense look that burned her to her core, that sometimes made her think that he wanted to devour her?
She knew that she was attracted to him, and sometimes she thought she might want to have sex to him, but what if it was all a game?
Katherine had warned her that there was a fine in her contract, thankfully one that Klaus would have to pay, if she ended up giving her virginity to him. It was double whatever fee they had agreed on for the initial contract. It was a $20 million penalty. And he signed the contract – didn't contest it.
Did… did that mean that he was certain he would never have sex with her? Or did he mean to, and paying $20 million was his guarantee?
She didn't know what to think.
But she'd been living with him for a month now, and so far he hadn't been inappropriate. And while he would find reasons to touch her – holding her hand or elbow, wrapping his arm around her waist, kisses on her forehead or cheek – but so far, he hadn't pressed for anything more.
But the way he looked at her made her think that he might want more.
TBC…
