Title: Two Beautiful Strangers

Chapter 10

Author: Ellibells

Summary: Chuck Bass is a womanizer, Blair Waldorf is a powerful women. When two complete strangers meet in a bar, it can surely only be the buzz of alcohol that causes the tingling sensation when they touch? AU. Chuck and Blair have never met. T rated initially but will turn into an M in future chapters. Happy Ending.

A/N: Let's not dwell on the latest episode of depressing GG! I promised an update before I jetted off to NYC so here it is! This is rushed but I NEEDED to update before I left for six days so here it is! This chapter is much lighter and cooler than the last have been and this only means there is good stuff to come! THANK YOU to all my ongoing readers and the amazing response I have gotten from this story! You know I welcome all reviews and reader :) enjoy my lovelies!

Disclaimer: I don't own GG unfortunately for me :)

"Where have you been this morning? You missed briefing." Serena asked as Blair rolled into the office later than usual.

"I've been with Chuck." She replied simply, as if it was the easiest answer.

Almost choking on the coffee she was sipping, Serena frowned deeply before wiping her mouth to speak.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me." Blair shook her head.

"What were you two... doing?" she was puzzled at this point, almost surprised that things had worked out this quickly.

"I stand by what I said last night, S. This has nothing to do with anything that conspired between us. Carter is going after Chuck and I felt obliged to settle my own score." She shrugged as if it was the simplest concept.

"Are you sure that's the only reason you are doing this? You could have done it alone?-" Serena suggested but was cut off by Blair's hand in the air.

"I have no ulterior motives if that's what you're thinking. Now what did I miss this morning?"

"Don't change the subject, B." Serena warned.

"I'm allowed to. It's my business. Now what did I miss?" she confirmed, shooting her friend down again.

Sighing out of frustration, Serena didn't argue, for now.

"The samples came and we need to go through final pieces for next week."

"Perfect. Now can I have a moment alone in my own space. I need to check my mail." Blair said sickly but polite as Serena smiled sarcastically and left her to it.

xoxo

"Did you know Blair came to see Chuck this morning?" Serena questioned as she sat with her back against her boyfriend's chest as they sat on the sofa eating popcorn and attempting to what a movie.

"Yeah, I saw her leave. Something to do with Carter?" Nate replied in a calm fashion.

"What did he actually do to Chuck?" She turned, to see Nate swallowing at her question.

"Carter is a bad guy, is it really that important?"

"I know who Carter is, Nate. And seen as though my best friend and your best friend have teamed up for a take down, I think it is about time someone told me what was going on." She shot.

Serena had to hand it to herself, she was getting good at being stern and getting want she wanted through such firm communication. It was a new side of her that she thoroughly enjoyed; even seeing Blair react to her warning tone was rewarding enough to try it again on Nate.

At this point Serena had now moved away from Nate and turned so she was now sitting cross-legged next to him on the sofa.

"Speak." She demanded as Nate reluctantly gave in.

"Before Bart died, Chuck was given his mother's ring. Literally weeks before and well after he died, Carter turned back up in town. We were old friends and Carter was really supportive; we'd go out and relax- take Chuck's mind of things…anyway, Carter got involved with some bad people and a poker game. Long story short, he stole a lot of cash and the ring as insurance money. He lost, fled." Nate admitted, shrugging a little.

"How could he- the ring?" Serena shook her head.

"It was a one of a kind Harry Winston. Out of pure luck Chuck tracked the guys down and made a deal. He would tell them where Carter was for the ring."

"And now Carter is back for revenge." She summed up, standing from her position and pacing a little.

"Whatever you are thinking, please don't." Nate eyed cautiously as he stood too, following her path.

"I know Carter and I know he will look for an easy way in…I gotta go-" Serena jumped from her spot and went to grab her bag and coat.

"Serena-" Nate tried but was only cut off by Serena's lips and sure nod.

"Trust me. I need to talk to Blair." She promised as she ran for the elevator, leaving Nate completely out of the loop.

xoxo

"Carter knows about Chuck's business deal." Serena blurted as she walked in her office, Blair looking up from her paperwork.

"And why would he know that?" Blair questioned, pushing her work aside and frowning at the blonde.

"Because I told him." She answered simply, smiling with satisfaction.

"The reason I didn't tell you anything about Chuck and I's plan was because I knew you would pull something like this! I promised him we would keep his company out of it." She snapped, standing abruptly from her seat.

"Carter would have found out from somewhere. But by me planting the seed…we know his next move and you can intercept."

"But- there is no 'we' and we have no idea what Carter will do next-" Blair muttered as Chuck stepped into the office unannounced.

"Care to tell me what's going on? I heard mine and Carter's name mentioned?" Chuck made his presence known as he closed the door behind him, eyeing the blonde and the hostile posture of Blair.

"She told him." Blair blurted, pointing to Serena who shook her head and rolled her eyes as if they were in the playground again, through the blame around.

"She told him what exactly?" He asked curiously, frowning deeply at how annoyed Blair looked. Even with frown lines and a scowl, she was beautiful.

"I told Carter about the London deal." Serena stated bluntly with a shrug.

"Who the hell gave you permission to share that information?" Chuck almost yelled.

"Nate mentioned it last week and I knew that the only way Carter would approach you would be if he had a way in, so I gave him one."

"You let her do this?" Chuck snapped as he turned to accuse Blair who stood bewildered by the accusation.

"Of course I didn't! How dare you!" She shouted back, not quick enough to realise that she had thrown a pen in his direction, hitting him firmly against the chest.

"First this and now you're trying to physically assault me?" He gestured to Serena and then rubbed his chest, his mouth agape as Blair's formed a thin line.

"Wow…talk about sexual frustration!..." Serena mumbled with a cough to cover herself as Blair's face grew horrified.

"Do you two need a minute?..." She added with a small smirk as she noted Chuck biting his lip not to grin.

"Yes." Chuck supplemented as Blair's eyes shot to his before shouting again.

"No!"

Laughing quietly, Chuck shrugged with a smirk as Blair turned flushed, red cheeks and all.

"I'm gonna take that as a yes…" Serena grinned and laughed as she back stepped to the door, opening it and in only the sight of Blair, winking before leaving them alone.

"She- erm…" Blair stuttered as she tried to regain ability of speech but as Chuck neared her behind the obstructing desk, she only fought to calm her beating heart as it thumped loudly in her ears; sure he could here it now due to his overwhelming proximity.

"She what?" Chuck smiled warmly as he was now next to her, his eyebrows knitting together as his hand sunk onto her upper arm.

"Sh-she was teasing-" She swallowed hard as she let him run his fingers down her bare arm, leaving goose bumps in their path.

God she knew she should have moved away from his touched or changed the subject at least but his presence, his scent overwhelmed her and as much as she was mad at him for everything, she wouldn't let herself move from his touch. She wouldn't bother lying to herself for the latter; she wanted to help him to be near him. Any opportunity to see his face, touch him innocently in a kind gesture even if it was the brush of a shoulder or hand, it would be worth her time.

"I know…" He drawled

"This is just a business deal…" She assured her self as he watched her reaction as she closed her eyelids tight at his touch and closeness.

He wasn't able to control himself when his other hand slipped from his waist to her chin, lifting the supple skin between his thumb and index finger until he was able to place his lips against her cheek, savoring the silky texture against his lips for a longing moment as he kissed the spot with appreciation.

"Of course it is…" He whispered against her ear before he pulled away, stroking her cheek as his hands left her marred with his smell and handle.

She licked her lips subconsciously before she eventually felt the absence of his once scolding touch. Snapping her eyes open, with blushed cheeks, she pulled at her pencil skirt and coughed politely, shrugging the last few minutes away.

"I don't know what came over me." She composed herself before stepping out of his region, at a safe enough distance that she wouldn't feel the heat radiating from his perfect masculinity and the overwhelming need to jump him right there and then.

Laughing lightly as the obvious affect he had on her, he smiled warmly at her when she caught his eye.

She was intangible, an adventure, gorgeously complex and he wanted to know every crack and smooth plane. He wanted her more than he had ever known.

"Meet me at the palace bar tonight so we can talk?" He asked.

"No. Come to mine. I'm not in the mood for a public outing…anyone could be listening." She corrected, rooting herself towards the door which she now opened for him.

The quicker she got him to leave, the quicker she could slap herself for nearly cracking under his presence.

"Seven?"

"Eight." She corrected again, liking the way he would simply nod at her order rather than fight her on it. It gave her a little thrill to know she had a little control.

xoxo

"Punctual." Blair noted as she greeted a neat looking Bass off the elevator.

"Good evening." He greeted, innocently placing a kiss against her cheek for a second time that day.

Tilting her head to the side when he removed his lips, she smiled as he lead the way into her living area, leaving her wondering if all of his actions were only intentional to make her want to pause and cease the moments.

xoxo

After a good hour or so of discussing a tactic, they were now sat in the dining room, just talking. It felt comfortable. They didn't talk of anything in particular, just things. She noted how warm he looked when he spoke of Nate and how long he had known his best friend as well as she noted how he seemed to tense when talking about Bass… like there were so many unresolved feeling that he wanted to say but couldn't quite.

He slipped in from the service entrance and neared to dining room quietly.

He had watched Chuck all day and followed him this far. He knew full well that the loyal polish maid never worked such hours, not since she had Anna which made it all the more convenient for him so slink in undetected.

"I having a meeting with the buyers tomorrow and I need to keep it on lock down. Make sure Serena doesn't open her mouth again." Chuck argued as Blair sighed.

"I told you it wasn't my doing the last time. Trust me when I say Carter won't touch Bass."

"It's not you I don't trust, it's him. And well, Serena…"

"It was a slip of the tongue for her the first time. Serena is like a loyal puppy. She is hardly going to strut into Carter's hotel room and announce that you have a crucial board meeting for the deal at the Russian Tea room tomorrow. That's the last place he would look and Serena will be at work all day. I will make sure she keeps in line. I have years of blackmail on that girl." Blair assured as the room seemed to go quiet and the man in the shadows heard shuffling of chairs.

"I never took Chuck Bass for a worrier…" Blair teased lightly as she handed him his coat, now in the living area again as she ushered him to the elevator.

"I'm not. I just prefer to keep my business strictly business…most of the time…" he smirked as she shoved his coat to his chest.

"Same time tomorrow evening?"

"I'll be counting down the hours." He replied with ease as he stepped into the elevator, facing Blair as she dropped her hands on to her hips.

"Goodnight, Bass."

"Same to you, Waldorf." He nodded with a final playful grin as the doors closed and she was left feeling satisfied with their meeting.

She felt a tingle when he said her name in such a tone. She wanted to melt at his teasing but instead she trailed her body up to her bedroom and collapsed against her bed.

"What the hell am I doing?" She whispered to herself as she rubbed her face.

Just like a light switch clicking on, she knew she should have cooled the flirting. She was going down a route she had sworn to herself and Serena she wouldn't take and yet she found herself running in circles.

No matter where you run, you just end up running into yourself. Replayed in her head as she fell into a deep slumber of nothing but vague memories of his hands all over head body and the essence of that one night she had felt alive.

A/N: BAM! This was a terrible chapter for me! (and a tad short) I am shocking at writing a good scheme but hopefully next chapter it will all come to light! I am a man with a plan! …I think!

I am going to NYC in the morning! WHoo! Manhattan baby, here I come! :D hope this was enough to satisfy you until I am completely inspired by NYC and update next week!

Thank you to all my beautiful readers and reviewing! Thoughts, feelings, threats all welcome! It would be the perfect going away pressie :D

Grace, Rf, Kels, bfan – It is always a pleasure to read your reviews and to know that you are all enjoying this story :) Thank you.

Edlover – I will defo say hi to Ed for you! He flew back from LA last week so here's hoping I will be able to stalk down him and Leighton and the other cast! Hyped! Glad you like the scheming and as ever I love reading your amazing reviews :D Thanks sweetie :) Can't wait to here thoughts on this one.