Everybody Talks: A Klaroline Fanfiction

Chapter 12

"No I told you, city department messages go on the purple message paper. Council messages get an orange sticker, not a hot pink, and those get placed in the middle inbox," Caroline let out an exasperated sigh, "it's really not that difficult. A three year old could do it."

"I'm sorry," the young dark haired girl offered, her doe-like eyes expressing how apologetic and intimidated she was feeling.

"Really April, you've had all summer to learn this. What have you been doing the entire time?" The young girl stammered over her words, but Caroline held up a hand to stop her. "Just go double check the costumes for the Gone with the Wind showing tomorrow night."

"But I steamed them yesterday."

"Well steam them again," Caroline ordered, "This event will be perfect. If anything has fallen through the cracks while I've been gone I want to make sure that everyone knows I'm back now and picking up the summer slack." She almost burst out laughing when April curtsied—actually curtsied—and rushed off to her small desk to finish the morning tasks Caroline had assigned her.

"Trust me Caroline, it's only been a week and things have improved considerably since you've returned," said a voice behind her.

She turned and smiled politely at the compliment. "Thank you Mr. Mayor."

Richard Lockwood nodded and walked into his office as Caroline made her way to her own desk near the window. April Young, the intern the Mayor's office had hired over the summer, had been sad to let the work station go but there was no way Caroline would be giving it up. She had earned her place at the good desk with the view.

Through the door, Caroline could see Mayor Lockwood at his desk. The father of her former boyfriend caught her eye and offered her a smile, tipping his cup of coffee toward her. She smiled and raised her own, recalling how earlier in the week he had expressed gratitude that she was back because April severely lacked skills in the coffee making department.

Caroline had expected it to be awkward between herself and the Mayor upon returning. In fact, a small part of her had wondered if she would even have a job to return to at the end of summer. Things hadn't exactly ended in best way between her and Tyler. Their breakup had been quick and firm, but it hadn't been without heartache. However, when she had called the office before her return from Chicago, the Mayor was very pleased to hear that she would be returning to her old job.

It had been a busy week for her, reorganizing and triple checking all of the things that April seemed to have let lapse over the summer; but it was nice to feel needed. Caroline had gotten used to it over the latter half of the summer while she had been caring for her father after his heart attack. Aside from his recovery, she had enjoyed her summer in the city, which had been unexpected after she'd had her taste of Europe. When her father was feeling better they went to dinners and he took her to a couple of shows, she had time to explore some of the more unusual shopping corners of the city, and even stopped by one of the colleges that was downtown; although that part was her father and Stephen's idea more than hers.

"Just think about it honey," her dad had said, "you're so smart. Too smart to work as a secretary all your life."

Her eyes went down to her bag, where the brochure for Franklin University still sat since she had stopped by their offices to get her dad off of her case. She had ended up flipping through it on the plane, since she didn't have any other reading material, and looked over their different programs.

Caroline switched her focus back to work, waking up her computer and clicking over to the Internet. Her eyes shifted back and forth to see if anyone was watching her, but everyone seemed to already be out at lunch or otherwise occupied. April had enough to do that she shouldn't be bugging her again until well after lunch. Quickly, Caroline's fingers darted across the keys, typing a few words into an Internet search engine and waiting for the results to show.