Chapter Text
"Caroline, I need you to stay late tonight," Alaric said, not looking up from his computer. His salon was a hotspot for celebrities in Los Angeles, and that often meant accommodating the schedules of the rich and famous. "I've got a new client for you, but he won't get off set until ten tonight or so."
Groaning, Caroline nodded to her boss. "Fine," she answered into her coffee. "It's going to be a long day for me, though. Who's the client?"
"Klaus Mikaelson."
Her eyes went wide as her brain quickly processed the possibilities. "Those curls," she muttered to herself before heading to the nearest magazine in the waiting area. Sure enough, bad boy Klaus Mikaelson of acting fame was in need of a haircut. "Excellent."
"If you could hold off on the evil plans until you actually talk to the client, I'd really appreciate it," Alaric teased.
Humming, Caroline just pulled out her phone to check her schedule and look up more recent photos of her newest client.
The salon was mostly dark when Klaus approached. "Are you sure this is the place," he asked into his phone.
"Yes," Rebekah scoffed on the other end of the line. "You're a nightmare in need of a haircut, and this place comes highly recommended. As your stylist, I'm ordering you to go inside. As your sister, I'm threatening your life if you don't."
"Thank you, Bekah," he sighed, testing the door. Surprisingly, the door was unlocked. Hanging up, he pushed his way into the deserted salon. "Hello?"
"Back here," a pearly voice called out. A woman waved as we walked toward him, blonde curls bouncing around her shoulders. "Sorry, I wasn't expecting you for another twenty minutes," she said, ushering him back to her lighted station. "I'm Caroline."
"Klaus," he greeted, removing his jacket while she finished setting up her accoutrements.
"It's really nice to meet you, Klaus," she said, smiling. "I have to admit, I'm a huge fan of your work."
"Thank you, love," he said sincerely. He made himself comfortable in the seat as she fastened the cape around his neck. "I just need a trim, we're starting principal photography tomorrow."
"Of course," Caroline said, though she frowned as she looked at him in the mirror. "If we go for a more substantial trim, though, I think we can neaten up your curls and make them easier to manage."
Smirking, Klaus pinned her with a sexy gaze. "My producers seem to like the shaggy dog look, sweetheart," he said. "I don't think they'd appreciate a major deviation from that."
She bit her lip in thought. "Do you like the shaggy dog look?"
Klaus shrugged. "It hasn't hurt, but it is a bit high-maintenance for my tastes."
Nodding, Caroline raked her fingers through this curls.
Klaus tried not to preen at the sensation.
"And these producers," she mused aloud, "will they fire you if we do deviate?"
"Probably not," Klaus admitted, curious at the mischievous glint in her eyes. "What?"
Suddenly gripping the ends of his curls, Caroline sheared through the hair standing on its end. The cut was closer than Klaus expected. "Whoops," she said innocently.
Klaus huffed out a disbelieving laugh. "I guess you'll have to neaten things up, won't you?"
"For what it's worth," she said, shrugging, "I'll make it worth it."
His shy grin turned dirty. "I'll hold you to that, love."