Title: Sins of Our Fathers
Chapter: 4 of ?
Pairing: Chuck Bass, Blair Waldorf
Description: What if in telling the story of how he got rich, Bart Bass did what he did best his whole life...Lied. Now that he's gone, his son is left to wonder if he'd inherited his father's gift - destroying everything he touches. He is learning to live with that possibility until his decision turns to fear when he meets someone whose downfall he's not willing to watch.
CHAPTER 4
"Gentlemen, thank you very much for coming here today" Chuck began standing up, straightening his jacket and putting on one of his practiced socially acceptable smiles.
Twelve men in front of him, all seated at the large table in the middle of the room, stared in his direction.
"I can't thank you enough for the wonderful job you've been doing to maintain my father's legacy. But, the moment came for me to step in and I hope my work will do yours justice".
That's when they started exchanging glances.
Something was off and he knew it deep inside. Instead of approving looks and hand-shaking they all sat quietly as if waiting for a cue. Chuck cleared his throat and widened his smile.
"The fact that from now on I will be the one with the deciding vote represents just the slight change in hierarchy. I intend to follow your advices-"
"Mr. Bass…um…" balding man with a red face whose name he couldn't remember, interrupted him. "Would you mind waiting just a moment longer? We're still expecting someone".
Chuck shifted his weight from one leg to another. He searched his long time experience of pretense trying to find the appropriate response for this request, but he just couldn't. In that very second, Board stopped being the connecting line between his childhood and ruling the world and became an obstacle. And he didn't know why.
"Expecting…" he tried politely but his throat was betraying him. "Gentlemen, this is a closed meeting, a mere formality-"
The door opened in that moment revealing the answer.
"Nephew of mine!" shouted the voice from the entrance. The man seemed taller than the last time he saw him. More threatening, certainly.
Large table at the center of the room. Blink.
Twelve men staring at him. Blink.
Familiar place. Blink.
Like in slow motion Chuck tried to take in the surrounding like it has suddenly changed. His eras refused to accommodate to the silence. They pounded with every heartbeat as he waited for words to return.
"What is he doing here?" Chuck asked as his jaw clenched.
Wrong – he knew it immediately.
"Charles, we felt it was appropriate to have a family member present. We have important things to discuss" the same man said again. Then he turned around to face the newcomer. "Jack, it is nice to see you. Please, take a seat".
Chuck watched the scene that played in front of him. His instincts told him to march over there and greet his uncle like he deserved – with a fist on his face, but success in business world rarely involved acting on them. It mostly involved calculated actions based on patience and observation. So, he decided to do exactly that.
He watched as Jack strolled confidently across the room and took the available chair. He watched as the board greeted him with smiles and those closest to him with a pat on the back, even. Friendly atmosphere, Chuck concluded.
"Members of the Board, Charles, Jack" balding man with a red face whose name was Paul, Chuck remembered, stood up and politely addressed everyone present. "First, I want to thank you all for coming."
Chuck shifted uncomfortably in his chair thinking that he already did that. Paul went on an on with praises to the board for fulfilling the seemingly impossible task in keeping the company on top.
"Two years ago when we lost our leader, his will made clear his wishes about leadership. We all welcomed his decision as the logical one – father passing his legacy onto his son" he paused. "However, it was recently brought to our attention that we should be worried for its future".
If Jack Bass was trying to hide the smug smile on his face, he was doing it terribly. Chuck's eyes were now glued to his face, not caring for glances board members sent his way. He didn't care if his look showed all the loathing he had for his uncle or if his body wasn't in such poised position anymore.
"Charles" the man now addressed him, "I believe you recall details of your father's will?"
Heavily, Chuck turned to face the man. "Yes, I do. Especially the part that I'm the one to take over the company after I turn eighteen, which as you all know, happened a week ago".
"That is true. But, there was also a stipulation which allows the Board to delay the handover if we find it necessary".
"What is that supposed to mean?" Chuck growled.
Paul shared another knowing look with members of the board and Jack nodded his head urging him to continue. Soft commotion and throat clearing filled the room as they all waited for the bomb to drop.
"Charles, pardon our indiscretion regarding your personal life, but your behavior suggests that you're not ready to face this kind of responsibility".
Chuck rose to his feet, his hands placed on the table as he leaned forward his eyes dark and threatening.
"You don't have the right to deny me of what rightfully belongs to me!"
"Charles-"
"Will is a legal document and you have no power to change my father's wishes!"
"We're not denying you the right to sit in front of this board one day. But, we can't allow you to lead the company until we're completely sure that you're ready".
He took some time to process information not changing position and feeling the burden of every eye in the room looking at him. He needed silence and he silently begged for one man to stay silent. Trembling anger inside him told him that he wouldn't able to take one word from that worm.
Pictures from two years ago came back… The same smug expression, the same faked concern, the same look. Chuck remembered the rage on his uncle's face when he was sent to lead the branch in Australia – the least profitable section of the company. And now, he was back to toy with him.
"Fine" he said finally. "But, if I may ask, what is Jack Bass doing in this meeting?"
"Jack Bass has agreed to oversee the board in important matters having your best interest at heart. We felt that it was appropriate to have family member make sure that we fulfill our obligation to you and show you that it is not in our interest to exclude you from this company".
"Jack Bass and my best interest don't belong in the same sentence unless you want to point out that he doesn't care for it" Chuck glared at his uncle who was now playing the role of concerned relative.
"Chuck, I know we had our differences-" Jack finally opened his mouth.
"Differences? That's how you want to call it?"
The whole board was now silent watching the exchange.
"I was mourning a loss of my only brother, Chuck. I was hurt that he didn't believe in me enough and I just took it out on you. I apologize for that" he placed his palm over his heart. Chuck wanted to puke. Instead, he just chuckled and looked away.
"Charles" some other member of the board said his name "this company is empire. So many people depend on it, including every one of us present and so many families. We just can't risk placing it in hands of someone who doesn't understand that".
"We will revisit this in three months and we honestly hope that in the next six months you can really become our new leader" someone else said.
"What do you mean?" Chuck quickly turned his head.
"Your behavior, Charles. It has to change. Debauchery, threats, bribes, promiscuity, extravagance, bad press… It reflects poorly not only on you, but on all of us and this company".
Chuck smirked and looked at his uncle again. He then looked at every man in the room that one by one, bowed their heads. Still smiling he stood up.
"All right, gentlemen. Uncle Jack, your apology really touched me and I'm looking forward to your guidance and advices".
He then nodded, excused himself and left the room in long strides.
"I want that piece of shit out of this island and out of this world!" Chuck yelled walking into his study slamming the door behind, leaving Nate and William completely puzzled. "Call my lawyers! Now!"
He drank half a bottle of scotch before lawyers arrived. He drank the other half in the next two hours they spent there revising every corner of Bart's will. Next bottle was wasted as he smashed it against the wall when they left.
"Chuck…" Nate called silently after he watched his friend walk back and forth ever since Nate and William were the only ones left in the room with him.
"I'm sorry, Nathaniel, I can't talk right now. I'm too busy trying to find the most painful way to kill my uncle! I'm afraid that throwing him to the snakes might end up in mutual bonding".
Nate laughed at this, but closed his mouth the second Chuck glared at him.
"You think this is funny?!" he stopped pouring another glass of scotch. "I'd do it with my bare hands."
"You heard the lawyers, Chuck" Nate tried to reason with him. "There's nothing you can do. Everything is done according to your father's will".
"Yes" he replied and took a sip. "The will that says I can't have his company. I knew he hated his brother, but apparently he hated me even more. He left it to me like a good dad, but made it impossible for me to actually have it. Well played, Father" he said more to himself.
"It's not impossible" Nate said guardedly.
Chuck put the glass down and looked at William first than at Nate as if he was delusional. If he had it in him he would burst out laughing, but his lungs were unable to produce such sound. Like it was possible to just stop being what he was overnight, especially when every fiber of his twisted was being tested to tug the darkest corners. Their request fell into the category 'impossible' the minute they voiced it out and that bastard knew it.
"What do you suggest, Nathaniel? That I have myself castrated? Go to monastery? Give away my fortune to charity?" he asked and raised his eyebrows.
"No, but there are ways?"
"Like what?" he growled again.
Two men watched as Chuck ran hands across his face as if trying to scrape it off. Nate hated seeing Chuck like this. He wanted to scream at him, shake him and tell him that he was in trouble of his own making, but kept quiet, searching for possible solution; one that Chuck would accept and follow.
He, too, remembered different time when Chuck was a different man – a different boy. And he also remembered when it all changed, never fully understanding reasons for it. Overnight, Chuck became someone else; cruel and mean, unmoved by suffering of others, hardened. That was the only thing giving him hope he could go back just as quickly.
"You don't have to change completely. Just… Just tone it down" Nate tried. That would be a start.
"Our whole world lives out of overstatements." Chuck discarded it.
"What if you found something you can commit to. A cause, charity-"
"I could give away all of my money and it would be enough".
They shared a look and new that it was true. Unless Chuck was seen reading to blind children three times a week for the next three months or wearing a nurse's uniform, they wouldn't buy it. And even if he did succumb to such humiliation they would have him escorted into mental hospital.
"There is one other thing, sir" William spoke for the first time.
Both Nate and Chuck quirked their heads waiting.
"What if you found yourself a woman, sir?" valet presented his option. "Imagine, if you could commit to a girl, sir, she could take care of everything else – charity, social events, good publicity. Not to mention that she would look wonderful on your arm. Sir."
Chuck stared at his loyal servant wondering if the world had gone mad without him noticing.
"You mean… Like a… Girlfriend?" he asked, last word dripping with disgust.
"Yes, sir" William responded bravely.
Nate's head spun around to look at Chuck and then back at William.
"You suggest that a solution to my problems is a woman?!" Chuck asked again. William nodded. "Women are beautiful creatures, William, but from my experience, they don't have such ability".
"Chuck, wait… " Nate lifted his hand.
"You can't be serious!" he snarled.
It was official. The world was doomed.
"William is right, Chuck".
He rolled his eyes.
"OK, let's say that I don't think you're both delusional. Who? Every parent on the Upper East Side has their daughters on lockdown because of me!"
Nate's lips grew into a smile.
"What if that someone was new in town and you offered to show her around?"
Chuck's heart skipped a beat at the sole idea of having excuse to be near her. But, he couldn't. Too dangerous.
"Nathaniel, you were very protective of that particular girl and now you're just handing her over?"
But, Nate's smile was still in place.
"This time, you'd be forced to behave" he said. "Or she'd be running back to Paris."
He was silent for a couple of minutes. She seemed unafraid of him, which was a good start. She was absolutely beautiful which he tried to ignore. And she was new, which meant an excuse. He tried to pretend that pursuit of a certain brunette wasn't already in his plans.
Nate and William took his quiet as a sign of approval. When he looked back at them, they both had grins on their faces.
"Just make sure you don't fall in love" Nate teased.
Before he could answer, William jumped in, relishing the success of his idea. "Or that she doesn't fall in love with you, sir".
And then, his features fell and eyes darkened.
"I will" he said simply, downing the last sip from the glass. "No one has loved a Bass and lived to tell the tale".
Blair stared at the beautiful hand-written card in her hands, moments after it was delivered by courier. It was an invitation to attend the private gathering in Charles Bass' manor. She slowly pushed it over to Serena whose bemused look matched hers.
Somewhere deep, Blair felt her heart skip a beat.
A/N: Now that you know which direction the story is going to go, I beg you to have in mind that this is not 'seduce and destroy' kind of plot. Having all of Chuck's troubles in mind ( and more to be revealed ) the question is if he is going to last long enough before destroying them both? Will things go according to plan? How will Eleanor react? What about Jack and Georgina? Please, tell me your thoughts
Thanks for reading and don't be afraid to review (even if it's not good). It means a lot.
Lora :*
P.S. I'm sorry if I prolonged chapter and dialogues too much. Also, Blair's feelings will be explored more. :)