A few short hours later and the function room of the Peninsula Hotel was filled with the most important figures in the New York business world. The entire room was filled with huge round tables adorned in the finest Egyptian cotton ivory table cloths. Candles and flowers centred on each table, all hand picked for the occasion. All culminating months of Blair's hard work and dedication, no expense had been spared for the event and it was evident everywhere you looked. Everything needed to be perfect tonight, it was pivotal for Jack to impress the board members and prove he was taking Bass Industries in the right direction. Blair knew how important it was for him. Blair was going to put the performance of her life on tonight, she was to be the most gracious hostess and exude her natural social grace. Although in reality she had very little time to mingle as there was still so much to oversee. Finally once the majority of the guests had arrived Blair found time to breathe and grab a glass of champagne with Nate and Serena.
"Everything looks so amazing B!" Serena squealed raising her glass to Blair as the others followed suit.
"Yes Blair my sincerest congratulations on yet another Upper East Side social event executed with military precision and superfluous expense. Your life must be so very fulfilling." Dan murmured sarcastically, exuding his usual disdain for high-society gatherings.
Serena scowled at Dan and shot Blair an apologetic look, Blair merely smiled in response.
"Why thank you Humphrey. And tell me how goes your literary impotence?" she asked swigging her drink as Nate smirked into his.
Dan glared at them all before snapping, "I'm going to find my dad and Lily. Excuse me."
Serena's eyes trailed after him and she made to follow but Blair called her back.
"Let him go S, who knows maybe all this sulking will inspire him to write more insipid brooding so-called art."
Serena sighed, "I'm so sorry Blair, Dan usually isn't so rude but he's just stressed right now."
Blair waved her hand airily, "Don't give it another thought S, I certainly don't when in comes to Humphrey. Besides trading insults and jibes is the closet we come to conversation." She joked before turning to Nate. "So Archibald exactly how long do we have you for this time?"
"Well I don't have to be back in D.C. until Thursday, so I'm all yours until then." He said with his usual perfect-Nate smile. "Do with me what you will ladies, I'm at your mercy."
Blair and Serena giggled. Nate graduated with a semi-decent degree from Columbia and had toyed some for time going into teaching but after much persuasion had thought better of it and finally succumb to his Van der Bilt political-destiny. Particularly after his grandfather was diagnosed with cancer two years ago. Now a junior senator and as a result lived mostly in Washington, and his trips to New York had gotten fewer and far between. Blair smiled at Nate and wondered about how her life could have been had she ended up with him as she'd always planned, she'd be on her way to being the next Jackie-O right now.
"Now that's a dangerous offer to make to my wife Nate. Trust me I know." Jack said appearing beside them, snaking his arms around Blair's waist.
Blair sighed in faux disappointment, "You make it sound like a punishment."
Jack smiled at her, "Of course not. It is an honour, I live to worship you my love." He said kissing her softly on the neck as Serena squealed in delight at their P.D.A.
Blair smiled but Jack's attention was suddenly focused elsewhere. Blair turned to see two men approaching; one was middle-aged no later than his mid-forties whilst the other was much older perhaps in early sixties. They both looked vaguely familiar to Blair but she could not place them in her mind. The younger of the men was tall and slender, with thick chestnut coloured hair which sat loosely around his face. He wore a dark grey suit which from the tailoring Blair would have guessed was Yves Saint Laurent. He was not unattractive but not extraordinarily handsome. From the bare finger on his left hand and the way he leered at her and Serena Blair quickly labelled him the toxic billionaire bachelor. How very dull. The elder gentleman held himself with a much greater refinement. He was a great deal shorter than his companion and generously proportioned but gave off an air of authority which told people he was a figure of importance. This was confirmed as Jack greeted the second man with much greater regard than the other, before turning to introduce them to the others.
"Everyone I'd like you to meet two of Bass Industries most important board members; Nick Mills," Jack said smiling broadly pointing to the younger man, "and Robert Denman." Pointing to the elder. "Gentleman you of course know my wife," he said nodding his head to Blair who smiled gracefully. The revelation of their names doing little to jog her memory. "And this is Serena van der Woodsen and Nate Archibald."
All exchanged pleasant smiles and polite handshakes before Jack added, "Nate's the junior senator for New York."
"Ahh yes. William van der Bilt's grandson?" Robert said nodding to Nate. "I know you're grandfather very well. I was sorry to hear of his recent ill health, how is he?"
"Very well sir considering." Nate said solemnly.
Robert nodded his head with a sympathetic look on his face, "Give him my best and the rest of your family of course."
"I will thank you."
"Nate's making quite the name for himself in D.C." Jack said patting Nate on the shoulder, trying to turn the conversation to less sombre topics.
"So I've heard," Robert replied. "I know William always held great hopes for you, especially in the political field."
Nate smiled but it was Jack who responded, "I'm sure it won't be long before we're visiting to at the White House."
Nate laughed and shook his head, "I wouldn't be so sure about that."
"Come on Nate, William's been vying to get a Van der Bilt into the White House for decades. And after what happened with Tripp and that cheap blonde, you're probably the closest shot he's hand it years." Jack said taking large gulp of champagne. "Even if you are half-Archibald."
Blair shifted uncomfortably beside him; she hated it when Jack was like this. He had no tact or sense to others feelings, especially when he was drinking. But thankfully it seemed Nate's years in politics had given him a thick skin and knack for diffusing difficult situations and he merely brushed Jack's comment aside.
"Perhaps, but I'm hardly the next JFK." He said graciously. "Besides high politics isn't for me, I'm much happier doing what I'm doing…"
Jack snorted, "What handing out second-hand clothes and food parcels to the 'so-called-unfortunate'? Giving them houses and medical treatments paid for by our taxes?"
Jack chuckled into his glass as he took another slug. Nate flashed his best senator-poster smile again but the tension between him and Jack was building. Like many of their Upper East Side acquaintances Jack couldn't understand Nate's interest in health reform or better social support for the disadvantaged. To them it seemed utterly pointless. Nick, Robert and Serena looked increasingly uncomfortable. Blair needed to lighten the mood as best she could.
"Ignore him Nate," she said airily, as she placed her hand gently on Jack's arms. "The closest Jack gets to political-debate is arguing about the difficulty of getting Behike Cubans. I'm sure he'd sign over the Constitution for Communism in a heartbeat if you paid him in cigars!"
A soft laughter broke out amongst the group as the awkward tensions slowly dissipated. Well all except Jack who was now glaring intently at Blair.
"Are you calling me a Communist?" Jack growled.
Blair shook her head, trying her best to smile despite the dark scowl Jack was giving her. "What? No honey…it was a joke…" she stammered.
Jack's face twisted in resentment as he opened his mouth to respond but was distracted as more people joined their group.
"Darling there you are." Lily exclaimed as she pulled Serena into a tight embrace. "We've just left Daniel at the bar and I must say he isn't in the most social of moods this evening."
Serena broke from her mother and hugged Rufus who said, "This second book is turning him into a mini-Shapiro."
Serena giggled, as Lily said hello to Nate, Nick and Robert.
"Lily how are you?" Robert said stepping forward receiving the obligatory kiss on each cheek.
"Very well thank you Robert." She replied courteously before turning to embrace Blair. "Blair I have to say you really have outdone yourself this time!"
Blair smiled politely as Jack continued to glower. "Thank you Lily, how was Italy?"
Lily threw her head back and sighed, "Utter heaven, the perfect anniversary getaway. But now back to the dull grind of business and board meetings. With the exception of Nick and Robert of course." She added flashing a shining smile at the two men.
"How is everything at Rhodes Industries?" Nick asked, speaking for the first time. Blair had almost forgotten he was there.
Lily rolled her eyes, "Testing. It's frustrating working with a board that lack any real sense of vision, unlike Bass Industries."
Nick and Robert both laughed. Blair was impressed at Lily's subtle and friendly style with the board, in contrast to how Jack usually operated, forward and aggressively.
"True, true." Robert said. "Well I must find my wife. I shall see you all inside."
Nick nodded a curt goodbye and followed Robert into the main ballroom area. Rufus, Serena and Nate chatted idly, Blair hovering on the edge of the conversation as Jack leaned in to Lily with a false smile.
"It's so wonderful for you to join us tonight Lily, I've been meaning to talk to you about that proposal I mentioned to you before you went away…"
Lily's smile faded a little, "Jack as I already told you the board at Rhodes Industries just doesn't think it's the right time…"
"Yes but as you said they don't have the vision you do, I'm sure with a little encouragement from a successful woman such as yourself…" he said using his utmost charm to woo her, but Blair knew Lily would be more than immune to it.
Lily's forehead pinched together, "I don't think I'd feel comfortable pressuring the board into making that sort of decision right now."
Now Jack's smile too fell away, "Who said anything about pressurising? It's a great opportunity, and what's business without a little risk? He asked his words growing more heated.
"Like I said I think the result may not be worth the risk." Lily said straightening her back.
God how many ways can she tell him no, thought Blair as she listened in. She could feel the tension brewing once more but was not sure how to intervene, not wanting to say anything to make it worse between her and Jack. Thankfully this time Serena stepped forward obviously having heard the exchange between them and said;
"Come on, I thought this was mean tot be a party not a board meeting."
Nate appeared at her side. "Exactly. Now I say we drop all this talk about politics and business and head to the bar."
Lily and Serena nodded and followed Nate into the crowd. Blair went to follow but was pulled back tightly by her arm. Jack was glaring at her again but now much closer to her face.
"What the hell was that?" he snarled through gritted teeth. "Do you enjoy humiliating me?"
"Jack…what?" she stuttered in confusion.
"Laughing and joking about me in front of your jumped up friends as usual!" he barked.
"As usual? What do you mean?" she asked as he tightened his grip on her arm.
"You know exactly what I mean! You're always belittling me and mocking me in front of them! They all think they're so much better than me, Nate with his family's connections and Lily with all her husband's money…" he ranted.
Blair gathered herself and placed one hand against his shoulder, "Jack I'm sorry I wasn't trying to put you down I swear…I just wanted to try and lighten the mood. You know how tetchy Nate gets when people go on about his policies…" she didn't want to tell him the real reason wasn't Nate at all but that she wanted to stop Jack before he made an even bigger fool of himself. Finally she added, "…I'm really sorry."
Jack stared at her for a moment, his face still red and his mouthed screwed up in anger but Blair could feel it slowly subsiding. She knew it really wasn't about her, it was about whatever deal Lily had turned him down on. He took a heavy breath and shook his head, running one hand across his hair.
"No I'm sorry Blair I shouldn't have snapped at you, I'm just a little on edge." He said. "I just really need tonight to go well, it has to be perfect."
"And it will be." She said soothingly. "What can I do to help?"
Jack was calmer now but anger still flared in his eyes. They were staring right past Blair and fixed firmly on the blonde woman across at the bar. Blair knew exactly what he was thinking and shook her head in disbelief.
"I can't…" she said.
Jack turned his eyes to her and stared down intently, "Lily likes you Blair, she might listen to you."
"I don't know."
Jack gruffed, "Look just convince her to have another look at the proposal, so she can see what a good move it would be."
Blair didn't want to upset Jack again but didn't think much to his plan, "Lily's a pretty shrewd business woman honey, if she doesn't think it's the best…"
Jack cut her off, "What are you saying Blair, my proposal is crap? You agree with that gold-digger?"
"No, no…" she said backtracking. "…but maybe like Lily said it's just not right for her company."
"And what the hell does she know about business? She's on the board of two global billion-dollar companies; one she got from her daddy and the other she pried out of my dead brother's hands!" he spat.
"Maybe but I still don't think there's anything I could say to change Lily's mind." Blair said softly, trying not to take a side. "I mean why would she listen to me?"
Jack scowled at her, still staring at Lily and her family by the bar. Blair could literally hear the cogs in his mind turning, "Serena would."
Blair gaped at him open mouthed in shock, "You can't put me in that position. She's my best friend."
"And I'm your husband." He replied.
Blair looked down, "Jack I can't…is this deal really that important? Can't you find another client?"
Jack laughed an almost cruel laugh, "No Blair this is it. It's this deal or it's all over…"
Blair stared at him in utter confusion, "Jack what are you saying?"
Jack shook his head, "Look never mind." He rounded on her once more, looking at her forcefully. "Blair you've always been able to manipulate people to do whatever the hell you wanted, why don't you use it for something which might actually matter for once."
Blair was speechless at his words. She felt so torn, she didn't want to get Serena involved in any of the business issues between her mother and Jack but she didn't want to push Jack any further. He really seemed to be on edge tonight.
Jack remained silent as he stood there with his wife, his mind obviously racing with schemes and plots. Then he suddenly snapped, "Great that's all I need."
Blair turned to see what had angered him now and felt her breath catch in her throat. Chuck swaggered in the entrance hall in a perfectly tailored dark teal Oswald Boateng suit and matching bow tie. Everything about his appearance was so deliberately handsome, so rich, so refined. So Chuck Bass. Blair felt her heart pound as though it would burst right out of her chest as she took in the sight of him. But her feeling of astonishment quickly faded into fury as she surveyed his chosen 'accessories' for the evening. Hanging on his right arm stood a tall raven haired ethereal-like figure. Her skin was as white and smooth as porcelain, and contrasted bewitchingly against her green eyes. She wore a stunning backless Cavialli gown with a gaping neckline and revealing as her outfit may have been it paled in comparison to that of her counterpart.
On Chuck's left arm was an equally as tall but much more voluptuous vixen. Her coffee coloured skin and features created a mysterious and somewhat exotic aura around her, Blair guessing somewhere from South America. Her chocolate coloured curls fell freely against her bare back and the barely there silk of her scarlet dress which exposed so much leg and back it was almost impossible not to stare in awe. From the way she held herself and surveyed others in the room, she was a woman accustomed to being stared at in such a manner. Although most eyes in the room were drawn to her nearly naked body Blair was transfixed by her face. There was no other word her, she was pure beauty. Deep caramel coloured eyes perfectly set against model-like cheekbones and full pin up girl lips. She was an Amazonian goddess and everyone was under her spell and she knew it.
"God, why does everything with Chuck need to be such a performance?" Jack snarled.
Blair mumbled something incoherent in response, her eyes still firmly fixed on the stunning women either side of Chuck as they approached her.
Chuck grinned as he stopped in front of them, "There they are my favourite aunt and uncle."
"You're late." Jack snapped. "We assumed you weren't coming." Blair knew when Jack said 'assumed' he meant hoped.
Chuck shook his head, "What and miss your big night? No, I wouldn't do that to you…" he said grinning. "…either of you." his eyes flashing toward Blair.
"Not tonight Chuck. I've worked too hard for you to screw it all up with one of your little escapades." Jack said warningly.
"I'm appalled at how little you think of me Jack." Chuck said his grin firm in place.
Jack either couldn't think of a response or was bored of Chuck already. He merely scoffed and turned back to Blair, "I've got to go and make sure the board are seated. Remember what we talked about." He left without another word to Chuck or his friends.
Blair moved to follow but Chuck called after her.
"Where are my manners, allow me to introduce the lovely Oksana," he said pointing to the red-headed figure, who smiled curtly in acknowledgement of Blair, before he added. "And this is Abiliana." The Amazon however acted as though Blair was not there.
"Charmed I'm sure." Blair said in a bored tone.
Her frustration only seemed to spur Chuck on, "Oksana's Ukraine's hottest supermodel…"
"…hardly an achievement." Blair muttered snidely.
"…and she's become the latest face for Chanel's new campaign in Europe. In fact I recommended her to Karl myself." Chuck said.
Blair rolled her eyes, "Well it seems Chanel is no longer associated with class. I will have to find somewhere else to shop." She said nastily before turning her attention to his other guest. "And what work experience have you line up for blow up doll number two? Even the great Chuck Bass couldn't persuade Lagerfeld to go for hooker chic in the fall line surely."
Chuck actually sniggered but Abiliana looked furious. "Actually Abiliana is a linguistics researcher at Harvard. She's here as part of Bass Industries partnership with Ivy schools." Chuck said snidely.
"Oh." Blair replied, she could feel herself blushing against all her will. That's fantastic, she thought, not only is she stunning but the Amazon is the sexed-up Einstein.
Chuck sensed Blair's rising humiliation and couldn't help himself. "She's just completed her PhD on the meaning and origins of world names. It's being published in the Review."
"How fascinating." Blair replied.
"Indeed it is. She has quite the talented tongue." He smirked.
Blair sneered in disgust. "And tell me what does Chuck mean? Heinous? Sycophantic? Nauseating?"
Chuck sniggered again but it was Abiliana who finally spoke, her velvet voice crushing Blair's comments. "Charles has its roots in early French and German," her tongue rolling over her R's. "It encompasses total masculinity."
"Can't argue with that." Chuck quipped.
"Don't flatter yourself." Blair muttered furiously under her breath before turning back to Abiliana. "Well in American it means repellent lecherous fiend!"
"I'm flattered that you have such a high opinion of me Blair." Chuck replied genuinely.
Blair was getting angrier by the second, "Oh and I suppose your name…" she ranted thrusting a finger toward Abiliana. "…means unparallel beauty or something equally as ridiculous!"
"It's Latin for 'skilled expert'." She replied matter-of-factly.
"Oh and trust me she is." Chuck said.
"Great." Blair murmured to herself.
"What is your name again?" Abiliana asked as though Blair were some unimportant nobody.
"Blair Wa…Bass…Blair Bass." Blair responded through gritted teeth as Chuck shook with silent laughter.
Abiliana thought to herself for a moment and then said simply, "Plain."
"Excuse me?" Blair asked.
"Plain. Blair is Gaelic for plain." She replied surveying Blair up and down as she did so. "Another fitting name it seems."
Blair glared, who the hell did this jumped up tramp think she was. Blair was about to launch into a verbal tirade when the Ukraine's supposed next top model spoke up. Blair had totally forgotten about her until now.
"Mister Chuck…" she whined in a thick Eastern European accent. "…I am bored." She said pouting at him like a spoilt child.
"Why don't you ladies go to the bar and order a few bottles of Dom Perignon, why I have a private word with my dear aunt." Chuck said emphasising the final word, causing a shiver to shoot down Blair's spine.
Both women shot a hateful look at Blair before slinking away towards the large crowd gathering in the ballroom. It was almost time for dinner to begin; Blair and Chuck were one of the few still in the reception area. Chuck's eyes followed them for but a moment before returning to Blair. Blair glowered at him, rage and wrath boiling insider her.
"Are you alright Blair?" Chuck teased.
Blair did her best to compose herself. "I'm fantastic."
"You look tense." He said eyeing her up and down, edging himself closer toward her. "Is there anything I can do to help relieve your stress?"
"Yes." She replied as Chuck arched an eyebrow. "Keep your hookers on their leash tonight." She said maliciously. "Don't ruin tonight Bass."
"And why would I do that?"
"Because you're you." she snarled. "I do have to admit I expected more from you Bass." She added eyeing his guests at the bar as they excitedly ordered their champagne clutching Chuck's platinum card. "Don't you think this little billionaire playboy performance of yours is a little haggard now?"
"Sorry I disappointed you." he replied, his devilish grin faded and his face became humourless.
An awkward silence followed, Chuck gazing fixedly at Blair assessing her appearance. She was not dressed nearly as provocatively as Chuck's dinner guests but she was no less captivating. She wore a black floor length strapless gown, encrusted with hundreds of miniscule Swarovski diamonds. Her hair was pinned up, with a few random curls hanging loosely by her ruse brushed cheeks. Her ruby lips were pursed, crying out to be kissed by his. Blair could feel his eyes raking over her; she knew she needed to get away from him.
"We should head inside." She stammered.
"Blair…" he began but she cut him off.
"We don't want to miss the start of dinner."
She moved to leave but he stepped in her path.
"You can't avoid me forever; you'll have to face me sometime." He said.
Blair shook her head, "No I don't. What happened was..."
"A mistake, I know you keep saying Blair but we both know that doesn't ring true. Call it what you will Blair a mistake, a lapse in judgement...it will happen again."
"You're wrong." Blair snarled. "It was a trip down memory lane I won't be repeating. Ever."
"Blair..."
"No Chuck listen to me! I'm not going through this again! This...us...is done. So you can flaunt all the whores you want in front of me, I don't care." She said harshly. Chuck's lips curled at her words but Blair wasn't finished. "Now why don't you go find your little play mates and try salvage something from this evening. My husband is waiting for me."