Chapter 1 : Pilot
A/N : This is my first multi-chapter story. I'm a big fan of Chuck & Blair pairing, so both of them will be the center of my story. English is not my main language, so I hope you can understand more if there's a lot of error in spelling and grammar. I hope you can enjoy the story as much as I do. Cheers!
Disclaimer: I do not own Gossip Girl character, except those characters I created by myself.
Waldorf's Residence, Neuilly Sur Seine, Paris, France
"Good morning Miss Blair.. Time to wake up."
Dorota walks toward the window, slowly draw the curtain and roll up the blinds. The first rays of sunlight burst through the window.
Blair's eyes fluttering open, her dark long lashes barely part, "What time is it Dorota?"
"It's 7.30 a.m. You ask me to wake you up before 8 a.m. You said that you need to pick up Miss Serena at the airport, yes?"
"Oh my god..Dorota, I almost forget." She gets up instantly and runs toward her bathroom. "Dorota, could you put my Rich & Skinny sleek jeans and my fuschia blouse on my bed. I'm in a hurry."
"Oui, Miss Blair."
"Dorota, tell Rudolph to prepare the car, I'll drive by myself to the airport."
"Oui Miss Blair. Do you want to have your breakfast first?"
"Just put two bottles Organic Peach Bottled Ice Tea for me and Serena in the car, thank you."
"Right away Miss Blair."
La Première Seats, Air France, Flight from JFK New York – Charles de Gaulle Paris
Serena opens her eyes slowly. She realizes that her head lean in comfort on someone's shoulder, a stranger who sits next to her. She straightens her body and lift up her head from his shoulder. The man who sits next to her speaks.
"How unfortunate I am, when a beautiful girl who happen to lean on my shoulder and have a goodnight sleep decides that my shoulder is not enough to satisfy her."
Serena blushes on his statement but she encourages herself to have a look on his face. She is curious with how he looks like, the man with soft and sweet voice who called her beautiful.
"I'm sorry sir. I don't mean to disturb you by leaning on your shoulder. I really am sorry."
"It's Nate."
"Pardon me…"
"My name is Nate. Call me Nate. For your information, it was such an honor to have you sleep on my shoulder. Who am I to refuse such a beautiful young lady leaning on my shoulder." He winks at her. Serena's face reddens.
"May I know your name? I mean, you already know my name, may I know yours?"
"It's Serena."
"Beautiful name for a beautiful girl. So what bring you to Paris?"
"I live in Paris. I went to New York for business and family."
"Oh I see. si vous êtes un parisien ? "
"Non, je ne suis pas. Je suis un New Yorkais, ma famille vivent à New York, je suis né à New York aussi, mais je travaille et j'habite à Paris maintenant avec mon meilleur ami. "
"Oh, je vois. So, a New Yorker then."
"Well, you can say that, I'm a part of Upper East Siders."
"Really, what a coincidence. I live at Upper East Side too, but we never bump into each other."
"Well, that's because I have stayed in France since high school. I even have my introduction as a debutant in Paris. Okay, enough about me. How about yourself Nate. What bring you to Paris?"
"Well, same like yours, I'm on my business trip, but to Paris. We are going to rebuild a small hotel into a big one and make it one of of our existing hotel chain."
"Wow, it sounds interesting."
Suddenly, a voice interrupt their conversation.
"Dear passenger, this is Robert your captain speaking. We are just about to touch down at Charles de Gaulle airport Paris in about 5 minutes and we are running on time. The weather around is good. Thank you for flying with Air France today. Bonjour."
"Well, I take it as a sign that we should fasten our seat belt then. We almost in Paris." Said Serena after the pilot make his announcement.
"Yeah right. By the way Serena, may I have your number? Maybe we could go out someday and you can show me the real beauty of Paris beside yourself of course."
Serena blushes before giving her response, "Give me your phone, I"ll type it down. Just give me a call and I'll free my schedule for you."
Pilot's voice heard on the speaker once again.
"Welcome to Charles de Gaulle airport Paris where the local time is 8.55 a.m. We'll be taxiing to the gate for the next few minutes, so please remain seated with your seatbelts fastened until I have turned off the seatbelt sign. We'll be parking at gate 1. Enjoy your stay in Paris. Use of cellular telephones is now permitted. Thank you for choosing to fly with Air France today and we hope to see you again on a future flight."
Bass' Penthouse, Palace Tower, Madison Avenue, New York
It's nearly midnight when Chuck arrives at his family penthouse. He went to his family penthouse after drove his bestfriend, Nate, to the airport for his business trip in the interest of The Empire Hotel chain in Paris that being their current project for Bass Inc and drop by to his office to finish some works.
A quick shower to wipe the slate clean. Yes he needs it before he goes to sleep. He walks toward the kitchen to grab a glass of juice before walk straight toward his room. Suddenly a stern voice heard.
"Charles. Do you know what time it is?"
Chuck looked at his right side and meet his father standing there. "Yes, father. I just returned from taking Nate to the airport. He takes evening flight so he will be in time for tomorrow's meeting with Pierre – Emmanuel Taittinger Jr. to discuss about the purchase of his hotel in Place de la Concorde which will be rebuilt into The Empire. I don't notice that you already back from Spain."
"I see. Great progress, I hope for your success in your project with Nathaniel. Yes, I just arrived an hour ago. Your mother insist to get home early, because she has early meeting with the board of Bass Foundation this morning. Charles, I want you to attend my annual Sunday Brunch at Waldorf-Astoria Tower. I want you to be acquainted with our social circle. Don't make me disappointed Charles."
"Thank you father. I will try to."
"Bart, don't be to hard on him." his wife approaches him and smoothing the non-existing wrinkles on his sleeping robe, "Hello sweetheart."
"Mother, you're back." Chuck approached his mother, Misty Bass, and gave her a hug.
"I missed you my baby boy. Do you miss me?"
"Do you even have to ask mother. Of course I do." Misty gave Chuck a kiss on his forehead. "Go get some sleep and we will have breakfast together, tomorrow morning."
"Yes, mother." Chuck then left his parents at the kitchen and walks toward his room with a glass of orange juice.
"I told him to come to the brunch this Sunday as you ask me to. He said that he will try to come."
"Really, and you don't make him promise to come?"
"Nope. You said that no pushy word, so I'm not doing it that way."
"It's true. I don't want our son feels obliged to come to a brunch and sense the real intention of his beloved mother."
"Oh Misty, can you just stop being match-maker to our son. He's old enough to find her own companion."
"A good companion yes, but not a good wife, who will love and cherish him until death do them apart. Someone who can be equally powerful to keep things interesting between them, don't you think so my love?"
"Who am I to argue the chairwoman of Bass Foundation." Bart then kiss his wife forehead. "Let's get some rest, we need it after our flight from Spain."
"Lead the way Mr. Bass." Bart take his wife's hand and lead her to their bedroom.
Terminal 3, Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris, France
Blair run from the place where she parked her car toward the arrival gate. She takes a look on her watch, it's about time Serena's flight arrived. Thanks god the traffic is not bad and she could arrive on time.
Serena and Nate walk toward the gate. "You said earlier that someone will fetch you here?" asked Nate.
"Yes, my bestfriend will fetch me up. She might be out there already to fetch me up."
"So see you later then."
"See you. Just give me a call if you would like to have a free tour around Paris." Serena smiled sweetly. "Bye." Serena gives a kiss on Nate's cheek and walk toward the gate. After few steps, she looks back at Nate and wave her hand toward him.
Smile spreads across Serena's smile. This guy was really something. She always meet and be acquainted with some guys while she's travelling, a fling, that's what Blair always call them, but this time is different. There's something fluttering in her stomach, her heart beats faster.
"Serena! Over here." Blair waves her hand.
"B…!" Both girl embrance each other in a warm hug. "B, I miss you much you know."
"I miss you too S. I don't know, being around you almost all my life and how we always travel for business together make this one time relly hard for me. How was Lily and Eric?"
"They're great. They send their regards for you. Actually my mom was not that excited when she saw that I came alone. Sometimes I feel she loves you more than me."
"Yeah, like my mom does to you, her prefference is more on you than me."
"Who can resist the charm of Serena van der Woodsen, right?" Serena winks at Blair. "And who will not down to his knees when it comes to society darling Blair Waldorf." both girls drawn into sea of laughter.
"Let's get going then. There's a lot of works waiting for us at office, then you and I have a lot of stories to share with, so move your fine ass now S."
Both girls walk toward the parking lot where Blair parked her car.
Hôtel de Crillon, Place de la Concorde, 8th arrondissement of Paris
The doorman opens the car's door and Nate step out of the car. He walks toward the frontdesk. He tells the frontliner staff his name and they give him his key. The hotel staff ushers him to his room.
He arrives at Hôtel de Crillon half hour earlier before the meeting with the representative of the hotel, Pierre – Emmanuel Taittinger Jr., to discuss about the purchase of the Hôtel de Crillon which will be rebuilt into The Empire. It means, he will have time to freshen up himself before the meeting. His phone rings.
"Hello, Nate Archibald speaking."
"Hello Nathaniel. I assume that you arrive safely in Paris, since you talk to me right now on the phone."
"Never been better."
"Well, there must be something happened to you on your flight to Paris, do tell me the detail."
"You know me so well man. Let say that I met someone on my flight to Paris. She's beautiful, energetic, sweet and I don't know, she's just like one of a kind for me, I just can't get enough of her."
"Care to tell me juicy detail, Nathaniel."
"It's exclude sex man. We were just talking, she's sleeping on my shoulder half of the flight, but there's something on the way she looks at me, the way she smiles at me, like I told you before, I just can't get enough of her."
"Well congratulation. Hope she's the one for you."
"I hope so, what about you?"
"Well, I'm Chuck Bass, I don't do girlfriend. Fling yes, girlfriend, I don't think so."
"Hahaha. I'm waiting the day where Chuck Bass conquered by a lady."
"Very funny. By the way Nathaniel, when will the meeting starts?"
"in twenty. I think I need to prepare myself and you need your beauty sleep. I'll report the result to you as soon as possible."
"Funny. Okay, I'm looking forward for the detail. Bye."
"Bye."
Waldorf's Original Fashion House, 7tharrondissement of Paris
Serena and Blair walk hand ini hand into the building and drawn into their own world of conversation. Eleanor sees both girls and greets them.
"Hello girls, Blair, Serena."
"Hello mother." Blair whose greet her mother first, she gives her kiss on her both cheeks, followed by Serena.
"Hello Eleanor. It's very nice to see you today."
"I'm good. How was your trip dear? How is Lily? Eric? I hope they're good."
"Yes, they're great in fact. My mother sent her regards for you and Cyrus."
"Thank you dear. So back to business, how's New York?"
"Well, Fashion Week will start two days after tomorrow, it's mean on Friday. We will have our turn to introduce your new line L'Amour on Tuesday, next week. So I guess you will have more time to prepare properly."
"Yes mother. As a compliment of your success in this Fashion Week, I will publish your up-close and personal interview about your new line on the front cover. I think it will be a good idea if you give a sneek peek, one or two dresses from your newest line to catch more people's attention."
"We thought it was a good idea, what do you think Eleanor?"
"Sounds good to me. I also have a good idea. Why don't you two who modelled my new line for the article?"
"That's a great idea Eleanor. Who else right, the best person to advertise Waldorf's Original other than the Waldorf heiress and Waldorf heiress bestfriend." Eleanor, Blair and Serena laugh in unison.
"What do you say Blair dear?"
"Who am I to refuse such a great offer. I'll be glad to advertise your new line."
"So, what are we waiting for? Let's have both of you fitted. We want my line look magnificient on both of you right? Let's not waste our time then. Come."
"Lead the way mom."
Eleanor leads both girls to fitting room to have their measurement.
After almost an hour
"I don't know that wardrobe fitting could be very this tiring." Serena pull her hair in a ponytail. "I'm starving. Let's have lunch B."
"Yeah, come on. Do you like to join us mother?"
"No thank you. Just go both of you. Cyrus will pick me up and we will have lunch together."
"Oh, okay then. Let's go B. I'm really starving."
"Okay. Bye mother. Enjoy your day." Both girls left the Waldorf's Fashion House.
Executive Lounge, Hôtel de Crillon, Place de la Concorde, 8th arrondissement of Paris
"Merci beaucoup for your time, it's very nice to have business with you and your company. I will have Bass Inc. lawyer to draft the agreement that we already agreed on."
"I'm looking toward it. Pierre, appelez-moi Pierre."
"Alright Pierre."
"Mr. Archibald, if you need anything, or if you want to enjoy the greatest thing of being Parisian, don't hesitate to call me."
"That's very kind of you Pierre. Appelez-moi Nate, it will be better, like I call you Pierre."
"Oui, Nate."
"I'm going to excuse myself then, I'm a little bit tired after a long flight from New York. Je vaisvous voir bientôt Pierre."
"Oh, mon dieu, it's okay Nate. Have a good rest and of course, vous voir bientôt."
Nate take his cue and leave the Executive Lounge toward his bedroom. On his way back to his room, he scroll his phonebook and he's looking for Serena's phone number. He calls her.
"Hello.."
"Hello, Serena. It's me Nate."
"Hi Nate."
"Well, I'm wondering if you are free tonight? I would feel very grateful if you are willing to accompany me to enjoy the night in Paris."
"I don't have any plan yet, so it's safe to tell you that I'm free for tonight."
"That's great. I stay at Hôtel de Crillon. Where do you want me to pick you up?"
"I thinks it is better for me to pick you up. We don't' want you to get lost in Paris, right?"
Both Nate and Serena laugh.
"See you tonight beatiful."
"See you tonight."
La Cantine Du Faubourg Restaurant, 105 rue du Faubourg Saint Honore District
"Who are you talking with on phone?" Blair asks Serena. She saw something on her bestfriend face, it's different from the way she's smiling, the way her face glowing.
"Someone I met on my flight back to Paris."
"You like him, don't you? Admitt it to me Serena. It's all over your face."
"You know me so well B. He's good looking, who can resist someone with so much charm."
"Well, aren't you going to tell me his name."
"Nate."
"That's all? No last name?" Blair asked her again with shock expression.
"Nope. Well What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Serena winks toward Blair.
"Since when you become Shakespeare Lover?"
"An hour before the worshipped sun peered forth the golden window of the east."
"Oh mon dieu, what have you done to Serena van der Woodsen my beloved best friend?" Blair giggles seeing Serena's attitude.
"Well, tonight I have a date with him, so now we need to hurry back and you need to help me to get ready."
"Fine with me, as long as I have full juicy detail when you're back."
"Pinky promise."
Both girls left the restaurant after paid the bill.
Bass' Penthouse, Palace Tower, Madison Avenue, New York
He rolled off from the bed, went to his alarm to turn it off. With a heavy eyes he get up from the bed and went to shower. Today, he will face up his day in office like always, buried with a dozen contracts to sign and went home to drunk for a bit at the bar and then go to his room for get some sleep. He's doing the same thing on his weekdays and on weekend he enjoys his life with Nate, gone to Italy or just having Lost Weekend in his suite at Empire Hotel.
After he showered and get dressed, he got a text from Nate informing him about the result of his meeting in Paris. He texted him back to wrap up the deal. He got into the elevator and went to the waiting limo outside. Suddenly his phone rang.
"Hello Charles."
"Hello father. Is there something important you need to talk about?"
"Well, I'm wondering maybe do you have time for your old man for lunch. I know that I can ask through your personal assistant, but I think I want to ask it personally to my son."
"Of course. Is there something urgent? It's quite unusual."
"Well, I have to talk about something with you in person. So see you at lunch?"
"Yes. I will ask Gloria to inform your personal assistant about time and place where we will have our lunch."
"Thank you son."
After the call ended, Chuck called his personal assistant and ask her to free his schedule this afternoon and book place for lunch at Pera Mediterranean Brasserie.
Later that night at Blair House
Waldorf's Residence, Neuilly Sur Seine, Paris, France
"So you are going to New York within this week for the Fashion Week my dear?" Harold asked his wife.
"According to Serena, my line will be introduce next Tuesday, so safe to say that I'll be in New York on Saturday, the latest. Why are you asking my dear?"
"Well, since I will go to New York tomorrow morning, to handle the Ford's deal by myself, and might be finish by Friday, it means, I 'll be free for the rest of the week."
"And…" Eleanor responded to her husband's statement.
"Maybe my beloved wife would like to have her beloved husband to accompany her on her Fashion Week?" Eleanor's face glowing, and her eyes shining.
"I'd love to."
Harold continues, "Beside, Bart Bass invite us to his annual Sunday Brunch, knowing that I will come to New York this week. He insists both of us to come and bring our lovely daughter with us."
"Me too?" Blair asked his father for confirmation.
"Yes, you too sweetheart. You are going to New York too right, covering the Fashion Weeks event, aren't you?"
"Yes I am. I'm leaving with Serena on Thursday to New York, Serena already booked the ticket for both of us. By the way father, who is this Bart Bass? I never heard about him from you before."
"Well he's one of my friend from Yale but from different major, he took Business. He's not part of the Old Money of Upper East Side which make him a New Money of Upper East Side, but he eventually married one of the girl from Old Money family from New Hampshire who is coincidently your mother's long lost best friend."
"Oh.."
"Don't be so surprised my dear, that's a common thing that happens in Upper East Side. Being part of an Old Money was prestigious, even their money not as much as the New Money." Eleanor tried to explain more to her daughter by emphasizing some word about how's life ran back there in Upper East Side.
Blair not used to with how's life run in Upper East Side. Her parents moved to Paris when she was ten years old. At that age, she's not aware how things run, she just remember how she enjoy attending brunch with her parents and having summer vacation at Hampton with Serena. Serena started to continue her study in France with her on their junior year until they graduated together from Paris-Sorbonne University where Serena majoring Communication and History and Blair majoring Intercultural Management.
"Blair, do you have any plan after this Fashion Weeks ended?" Harold asked her daughter.
"Well, Serena and I decide to take a break and having our summer vacation together, but we haven't decide yet, where we are going to spend our vacation."
"How about Hampton for this year? It's been a long time since the last time both of you spend your summer there. It will be a great reminisce." Said Eleanor.
"Yeah, you should consider it Blair-Bear. It's a nice option to take." Harold spoke, tried to bolster his wife opinion.
"I will ask Serena about it." Blair smiles to both of her parents.
There goes the very first chapter. Please Read & Review. Let me know what you think about my story and whether I should continue my story or not. Thank you.