Who: Caroline and Xanatos What: Caroline pulled together an amazing welcome party for Xanatos in less than a week When: Friday, May 8 Where: Xanatos's mansion Rating/Warnings: Low/none Status: Complete
Xanatos hadn’t honestly thought that Caroline would be able to pull of the party to his specifications. He had, rather deliberately, overshot what he thought would be possible to pull off in just four days. And yet, somehow she’d managed it. Right down tot he acrobats, who were soaring above the crowd. Some people were watching and gasped at particularly daring feats, though most of the more wealthy guests barely glanced up.
He took one of the flutes of champagne from the tray being carried by one of the servers and scanned the party, catching sight of the blonde who had managed to bring it all together. He walked up behind her, and once he was at her shoulder, he said, “I’m impressed, Caroline. I had worried that I was being too particular with my demands.”
The past four days had been some of the most stressful days of her life. For one she usually didn’t take events with such short notice. At least a month in advance was ideal. But the money was too damn good to turn down. Plus a high profile client would do wonders for her reputation. Which was why she took the job. Even though it meant she had barely slept since Monday, was living off coffee and had been running all around Orange County booking the location, the flowers, the cake, the caterer, and then there was all the entertainment Mr. Xanatos wanted which included acrobats. But she had done it. She had pulled it off. Now it was just a matter of making sure everything ran smoothly during the party.
Caroline was on high alert, making numerous rounds to make sure all staff was on task and observing the guest to make sure they were enjoying themselves. She was currently standing off to the side eyes scanning over everything when she heard Mr. Xanatos speaking to her. “Thank you,” Caroline said turning her head to look over at him. “Oh no. The more particular the better,” she assured him. The worst client was a bride that couldn’t make up her mind.
“I suppose most things are easier if you have guidelines to work with,” he said, a bit of a smirk on his lips. He wondered if, for future last-minute events, he should do away with instruction all together and see what happened, but that could be a decision for a later date. “I trust that it wasn’t too much of an imposition. I know that I didn’t give as much notice as you’re probably used to, though my move here was a snap decision.”
If he did try to test her skills again, with not much direction, well Caroline knew his tastes now. She should have no problem rising to the occasion. But she was beginning to get the feeling he enjoyed testing her. She wasn’t the type to be toyed with. An issue for a later date. She still had this event to get through after all.
“I work better under pressure,” Caroline replied her usual warm smile on her face. It wasn’t a total lie either. She did work well under pressure. But the more time she had for an event the more options she had to book things. “Though yes, more than a week is usually ideal.”
“That’s when I get the best of my work done as well,” Xanatos said, grinning. “I imagine you must be tired though. Why don’t we head up to my office so I can give you your cheque?”
Caroline didn’t usually like to leave an event while it was still going on. Even if only for a few minutes. She liked to know exactly what was happening at any moment in case there were any fires she needed to put out. But it was her clients request and she was looking forward to the paycheck.
“Okay,” Caroline said smile still on her face. “If you don’t mind missing a few minutes of your party that is.”
"I think you've done a sufficient enough job at making sure our guests are entertained that they won't miss my presence for a few minutes," Xanatos said, his eyes sparkling. He offered Caroline his elbow, and lead her up the large, curving staircase up to the second floor.
He nodded at the security guard he had posted at the top of the staircase, whose job it was to make sure none of Xanatos' guests explored any part of the house they weren't permitted to and to keep an eye open from above to break up any trouble before it began, and headed down the long hallway to his office. The music and the sound of his guests gasping at one of the more daring feats of the acrobats drifted down the hall, but it was much quieter here.
He sat down behind his desk and invited Caroline to sit as well. "I can't say enough how impressed I am at what you managed to accomplish here," he said.
Caroline placed her hand on his arm following him up the stairs, still a little unsure about leaving the party unattended, feeling the need to control every moment. But it would be fine for a few minutes. She had worked hard to make sure of it.
Once they were in his office she took the seat in the front of his desk. “Thank you,” Caroline replied. “Just doing my job,” she couldn’t help but add. Because this was what he had hired her for after all. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”
“I think you’ve gone above and beyond your job,” Xanatos said truthfully, though he didn’t admit that he had made it clear, in not so many words, that he expected her to go above and beyond her usual work. He shot her a grateful smile as he unlocked the drawer of his desk and slid out his chequebook. “The children’s room was especially well done for such short notice. I apologize for that, as well. I hadn’t even considered it in the original plans, but talking to some of the guests I realized that there would be likely to be a fair amount of them, and we wouldn’t want to have a gaggle of bored children running around.”
“Yes,” Caroline agreed. “That was a little stressful,” she admitted. It was more than a little. Hell the whole week had been a lot more than just a little stressful. “I should have asked earlier on if there would be any children.” Normally she would have, but with such short notice she didn’t even have time to think about it. “But hey, at least it all worked out,” she said offering him a sheepish smile.
“I’ll say,” Xanatos said, turning his attention to the chequebook. He considered it for a moment, and then added an extra $5000 for all the extra trouble. He signed it with a flourish, and then slid it across the desk to her.
“You can consider your work done now,” he said, smiling. “You’re of course welcome to stay and enjoy the rest of the party, but I hope you’ll do it as my guest instead of as an employee. Or you’re welcome to go home and rest, if you’d rather.”
She noticed the check was a few thousand more than she was expecting, but didn’t comment on it. Instead she just slipped it inside her purse to be cashed later. “Thank you,” man she was saying that a lot tonight. But what else was she supposed to say to compliments and all that. “But I wouldn’t feel right going home.” And although he encouraged her to stay as a guest she knew that sure as hell wouldn’t be happening. This was still her event after all and she had to make sure everything continued to run smoothly.
“Never leave a job unfinished, huh?” Xanatos asked, with a knowing smile. He didn’t get to where he was now because he’d only done things in halves. “Still, I hope you enjoy yourself. Have some drinks, eat some food. You deserve to reap the rewards of what you’ve done.”
“I’ll do my best,” Caroline said standing up, smoothing over her dress in the process. She might have some of the food, but there was no way she would drink while still working. “I look forward to working with you in the future,” Caroline said always the professional before making her way out of the office and back to the party.