Title: The Other Man
Author: Shelby
Summary: "I know your husband hates me. I can see it in his eyes. Don't try to deny it, Blair," Chuck spoke with a wronged pride. He was the other man, but jealous and possessive to the core. Chuck/Blair
A/N: Thank you for all the wonderful reviews. I wanted to get this chapter out before I started to reply and fanfiction had been down, as many of you probably know, so I'm just now starting to receive them. Enjoy!
P.S. Please vote for the poll on my profile!
Blair & Mathew's Living Room: http : / / www . dreamhomedesignusa . com /images/Photoshop%20Images/Classical%20double%20story%20Living%20Room%20interior . jpg
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Blair flinched as she held her stomach and leaned over to adjust the pillows on the sofa. Mathew's parents would arrive at any moment and she needed to have everything look absolutely perfect. Not only would she never hear the end of it from Mathew afterwards, but his mother was very critical. She had spent her life as the number one housewife and therefore felt it necessary to criticize anyone who wasn't.
"Darling, try not to hold your stomach like that anymore. I thought we agreed it is the last place we want attention drawn," Mathew drawled as he entered the room. She turned around to face him immediately. His eyes flickered down and back up. Quickly, her hands fell from her stomach and she walked towards him.
"What housework did you manage to get done?" he questioned. His eyes roamed around, unimpressed. He shook his head and met her gaze again.
"Well I straightened up and made sure the table is set just the way you like," Blair responded. She offered a forced, but warm smile as her hands reached up and straightened the lapels of his jacket. On the inside, she wanted to scream. Only, it was not hard to simply act in the calm manner she did. Blair had always strived for perfectionism. So she spent hours on end to meet her husband's standards, but was only ever met with criticism and questions, instead of the praise she so craved.
She snapped out of her thoughts and came back to attention when she felt his eyes burn into her. He was staring at her with pursed lips. She felt self-conscious.
"Wh-what's wrong?" she stuttered.
"Nothing, I just wish you would have considered that I prefer you wear heals on this sort of occasion," Mathew commented dryly. He nodded down to her feet and then back up to her.
"Well Mathew, my feet are swollen from the pregnancy. These flats that C… I bought in Tahiti are much more comfortable. I can be on my feet longer of I wear them," Blair explained. She had also almost let something slip that would have been disastrous. Yes, he knew about Chuck, but if Mathew knew that half of everything her closet was courteously of Chuck Bass, he'd probably set it on fire.
"Don't speak of Tahiti again," Mathew snapped. His eyes flared with instant anger and he grabbed onto her hand roughly. Blair gasped in utter shock for a moment, but then got herself together. She gently removed her hand from his grasp and nodded.
"Of course, Mathew, I'm so sorry," she apologized. It was easy to make herself sound so genuine, especially when she was… slightly afraid. He seemed to be getting worse and worse. It was most likely her fault because she did in fact have an affair, but he had always been controlling. Lately, it just seemed to be much worse than before. But yes, it had to be her fault.
"That's a good girl," he smiled.
--
Blair stood in the foyer as Mathew opened the door. It revealed his parents, first his mother Anna and then his father Mark. His mother was much younger than his father and did everything in her power to appear as young and as beautiful as possible.
"Oh Mathew, how grateful your father and I are to see you again," Anna greeted. Her face was lit up with excitement as she hugged him tightly. He then shook hands with his father. Once they finished, they walked towards her.
"Blair," her mother-in-law nodded. She then stepped by her without another look. Her father-in-law followed with a similar greeting. Blair stood there for a moment. It always happened, but it still hurt her feelings. She felt invisible when Anna came around, seeing how she rarely acknowledged Blair, unless to criticize her.
"Now is not the time to get overemotional," Mathew warned as he came up from behind. He placed his hand on the small of her back and led her in a forced way to the dining area. His parents had already been seated at the table and Mathew followed them. She just stood there.
"Is it not time for dinner yet?" Anna asked with raised eyebrows. She spoke in a pristine and critical voice. She may have said one thing, but they all knew the underlying meaning. It was 'Are you just going to stand around when you're supposed to be serving dinner?' look.
"Of course, let me just go get it," Blair replied. She then left the room and went into the kitchen. She stopped for a moment and let out a large breath. She felt so damn unhappy. Tears threatened to spill down her cheeks, but she pushed them back. She had to stay strong she…
Her baby boy kicked.
Her hands went to her stomach immediately and she closed her eyes. Now she really was going to cry. Why couldn't she have him now, even if she wasn't ready? She just wanted to hold him, to feel loved by someone who didn't expect her to be perfect. Her baby would need her as she was, love her as she was.
"Blair, are you alright in there?!" Mathew called.
Reality came back and she sighed. Blair picked up the main-dish; the rest already set on the table, and carried it into the room. She wore the fakest of smiles as she did so. Her hands carefully set it down in the middle of the table. She then went to sit down next to her husband.
"Darling, fetch me another drink will you?" Mark asked. He held his drink out in Blair's direction. She looked to Mathew who's left eyebrow shot up since she did not comply immediately.
"It would be my pleasure," Blair smiled. She got up again and took the glass from his hand. She then went back into the kitchen and poured the drink. She had to stop for a moment. It was hard to breathe. The dress felt so constricted on her, especially the material over her swollen belly.
"Take it off, Blair. You don't need it."
She spun around and her eyes searched everywhere. She heard him, she did. But he wasn't there. Great, she was crazy. Or she wanted Chuck so badly that her mind was trying to convince her he was there. She shook her head and picked the full glass back up.
"Here you are, Mark." Blair handed him the glass and nodded with a smile.
"Thank you," Mark returned. At least, he did that much.
"You were in that kitchen for an awfully long time, Blair. Do tell me everything is alright?" Anna pressed. She wanted to find something to pass judgment on Blair about. That much was obvious.
"Perfectly fine," Blair smiled as she looked from her mother-in-law to her husband. He nodded in approval before he took a sip of his drink. She looked down. It was going to be a long day. That was certain.
"Blair has been just a tad slower than usual, mother. The pregnancy does tire on her, especially since she is now so far along," Mathew said. Blair looked up in utter shock and surprise. It was almost as if he was defending her, but at the same time it still sounded like he was insulting her.
"She's seven months, correct?" Anna inquired.
"Yes, she, who is sitting right here is," Blair remarked. It slipped past her lips before she had time to think. The room fell dead silent. Her eyes slowly rose to look around the table. Then she felt Mathew's hand clasp tightly around hers.
"Kitchen, now," he seethed in a low voice. She nodded and got up right away. He followed her in and closed the door to the dining room.
"Mathew, I…"
"How dare you speak to my mother that way," he barked. His loud voice cut her soft one off immediately.
"I didn't mean too. It was on accident. I promise," Blair quivered. She shook her head and wiped at the tears on her cheeks. He was speaking so hatefully to her in that moment. Her emotions were on whack from the pregnancy, so that didn't help at all.
"I don't want to hear it. Go upstairs and don't dare show your face to them again this evening. You can clean up the dishes once they leave," Mathew sneered. He then took off into the dining room again. She went up to their room, took off the corset, got into bed, and cried herself to sleep… again.
--
It was about a month later, when Mathew had to fly out for a one-night business trip. Blair was relieved to have the time alone. The past days with him had been absolute hell. When she visited her doctor he asked her if she was depressed. Maybe she was. She had tried to contact Chuck, but Mathew found out. It was a huge fight that led to him having all of her calls being traced, but she guessed Chuck was trying to reach her. He had to be, right? Mathew was a very powerful man and he was keeping Chuck away. But as soon as he got the chance she knew he'd come to find her… she hoped he would at least.
The doorbell ran and Blair's head perked up. She felt her stomach twist with nervous knots and her heart swell. Her feet shuffled out from under her with permission from her brain. Within moments, she was at the door. Her hand pulled it open and revealed the person behind it.
"Chuck," Blair breathed as she saw him from he back. He had his head turned and was looking out to the street, but the suit gave him away, it was a Chuck Bass original.
He spun around and looked at her. She saw his face wash with relief, but also tighten with worry. She moved over and allowed him inside. They were silent as the door closed. And then his hands shot out and she ran to him on reflex. Within moments, his arms were tightly wrapped around her. She felt warm, safe, protected, and loved.
"I'm back," Chuck whispered. He kissed the top of her chestnut curls over and over again. A sob held in his throat and his eyes stung with salty tears, but he didn't let either reveal to her. He didn't want her to think him weak. It was pivotal that she saw him as strong.
"I-I couldn't get away, Chuck. He doesn't let me out of his sight most of the time. He hates me, I swear that he does," she started to cry as she spoke; "He is nitpicking at every little thing I do, what I'm wearing, what I'm eating, how clean I keep the house. I don't have access to our accounts anymore and he wants to know how much cash I have on me every second of every day. He always has to know exactly what I'm doing, even who I'm talking to on the phone. He wouldn't even let me go out to lunch with the girls because my friends influence childish behavior. I can't even contact a lawyer since all of my money is frozen, unless given signed permission by him. I-I can't do anything." She buried her face into his chest and clutched the material of his shirt in tiny fists.
Chuck listened to every single word from her lips and then replayed them in his head like a broken record. He stayed deadly silent. His face was transfixed into a permanent scowl, but she didn't see that. The only sign of gentle humanity he showed was how he held her. He felt an angry fire brew within him and it grew with each cry that came from her lips.
"Don't cry, love. I'm here now. I can help you, I will," he assured her. His hands stroked her back and he kissed her head. She then pulled back at him just a little.
"Why-why didn't you come sooner?" Blair questioned. She knew how selfish it sounded, but her emotions were on whack. She felt needy and lost. Another moodswing had obviously hit. That had to be the answer for it
Chuck stared at her for a moment, unsure of what to say. He had tried to contact her, especially when she tried to get a hold of him. He was learning a lot more about her husband because of it though. Chuck was being watched, just like he had Blair being watched. And since Blair hadn't left her home that much, Chuck approaching her on her husbands property… well he could be arrested if Mathew cried, "trespassing". But it was worth the risk. And with Mathew gone had had to have more of a chance. But how did he explain all that to Blair? Or that Serena was sort of working with Mathew, working against her best friend. He was supposed to be Chuck Bass, strong and undefeated. That was how Blair knew him. He didn't want her to know him in any other way. His dry lips parted. He had to say something.
"I-I had a few things to workout. Blair, look I need to tell you something… about Serena," Chuck said.
"What about Serena?" Blair frowned in confusion. His explanation did not make much sense. What did Serena have to do with anything?
"She… well she uh, sort of told Mathew I was in Tahiti with you and when I got back to the city. He's been watching me to make sure I haven't come near you since," he told her. His eyes looked for some kind of reaction, but she now seemed extraordinarily calm.
"Oh, so that's why I felt like I've been all alone for about a month. I mean besides the baby, there's no one really on my side anymore," she shook her head and pulled away from him. Blair walked over to the mirror and crossed her arms.
"What?" Chuck frowned. He went towards her immediately and laughed in an exasperated manner.
"You're not alone. I'm here. We can leave, now if you want to. I know that you're scared of loving me again, but you have admitted that you do love me. I'm not going to hurt you again. You can come with me. Sure, there's going to be drama when people find out, but I'll be here. I'm on your side. I'm with you," Chuck stressed.
She turned around and sighed. Her wall had built back up some in that month she didn't see him. That much was obvious, but that wasn't he only problem.
"No," Blair shook her head and looked him directly in the eyes, "that's the problem, Chuck. I know you're with me now and that you are all on board, but how do I know it's going to be that way later on in life? I could easily take the risk if I was just me, but it's not. I have this baby boy inside of me and I'm the only one he's depending on right now."
"So staying in your miserable marriage with Mathew is going to help the baby?" Chuck scoffed. He knew that anything, but trying to reassure her right now was wrong, but he couldn't help it. The way she sounded made it seem as if there were zero possibility that she was leaving with him, coming to be with him.
"Who-who said I'm not divorcing him?" Blair snapped.
"Because you've made such a move to do that in the last month," he rolled his eyes.
"And how the hell would you know!? After all your promises, you just left me here! You have no idea how trapped and controlled I feel! It's a viscous cycle that I can't break! I don't feel like myself anymore! I-I… Mathew." Her voice dropped to a whisper and then she silenced.
"What?" Chuck was perplexed. She had just cut off mid-sentence and said…
"Chuck, Mathew's here. You need to leave now," Blair urged. She motioned towards the window and then came towards him. With much effort, she tried to get him out the door. But he wouldn't budge.
"So, let him come. You can tell him that you're divorcing him, even if it isn't for me. What are you so afraid of?" he refused. His eyes searched hers for an answer, but she looked away from him. The door opened and Mathew came in looking pissed.
"Mathew, I…" she attempted to say something, but was interrupted.
"Don't even bother, Blair. Officer, it's that man who is trespassing on my property," Mathew barked. He was followed by a police officer. He motioned towards Chuck.
"Of course, Mr. Prescott," the officer nodded and then looked towards Chuck, "I'm afraid that I'm going to have to ask you to leave, sir. Or else I'll be obligated to escort you off the premises."
"I won't leave unless she comes home with me," Chuck refused. He placed his arms around Blair's waist and held on tightly. She did not exactly pull away from him, but her expression as she looked at Mathew was not promising for Chuck either. She seemed torn and distressed. It couldn't be good for her or their baby.
"Home with you?" Mathew scoffed and laughed sarcastically; "Tell me, what fantasy world have you been living in? You act as if she's your wife, but she isn't. She's mine. You're the other man. That's all you are, all you'll ever be…"
"Mathew, stop it!" Blair screamed. She had watched how her husband's words affected Chuck. They made reality set in even more and he looked devastated. He still appeared livid, but crestfallen too.
"Shut-up, Blair," Mathew seethed.
Chuck watched, as the moment seemed to happen in slow motion. When that man told his Blair to shut-up, well he sort of lost it. He lunged towards Mathew like a crazed animal.
"You don't speak to her like that!" he raged. The officer blocked him and pinned Chuck with his strength. Still he struggled.
"I want to press charges," Mathew told the officer.
"Wait, just stop, please!" Blair shouted. Everything was happening so fast. Chuck was handcuffed and being pushed out the door. Mathew grabbed her from behind and held on tightly.
"Dear, don't cause more of a scene then this already is," he seethed in a low voice.
"Blair, just leave! I'll be out in a few hours you can go to my suite! Just get away from him!" Chuck shouted before he was yanked out the door.
Mathew slammed the front door shut and looked out. Blair put her hands on her head; she suddenly had the worst headache. She didn't know what she was doing, but only what she wanted. Her feet shuffled forward and she went towards the door. She pushed Mathew from the side and pulled on the knob desperately.
"You can't keep him from me. I-I… I need him," Blair voiced. But that didn't sit well with her husband. His anger rose quickly and he grabbed her by the arms.
"Stop this, you're acting like a maniac," Mathew snapped. He pushed her away from the door with full force, but held onto her arms as he did so. So she immediately pulled away from him. He released her and she fell forward just a bit, but caught herself.
"I love him! I love Chuck, not you, him!" she cried. Tears had not yet come, but her voice blasted with the volume of a loud sob. She breathed unevenly and made direct eye contact. It was time to speak against him, for herself. She had to do it.
"Yeah?" he took a step towards her as his eyebrows lifted in question, "Well you are married to me!" He pointed to her and then to his chest. His voice echoed around the room. It held a harsh and livid tone.
"I don't care!" Blair shook her head and gave a hard push to his chest.
"Yes, you do," Mathew seethed. He grabbed hold of her arms again and had to push her against the wall to get her to stop. She screamed in frustration and kicked her legs. He wasn't hitting her back, but he was restraining her from hitting him in a pretty insensitive manner.
"Now stop this. You will not continue this behavior and you will never see him again. If you so as try and leave me I will take both of you to court and prove just how unfit of a mother you are, Blair. Do you honestly think a judge is going to allow someone more involved in her affairs than her baby to keep that baby?" The ultimate threat was thrown down in her face. It was the worst thing he could have used against her, the lowest.
She stopped and stared at him. The air was filled with tension. It was eerily silent too. And then, she snapped.
"I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!" Blair raged. She pounded her fists against him with all force, slapped his cheeks, and kicked at his legs. He backed away from her in shock and she broke. Her back slid against the wall and down to the floor. She sobbed and put her face in her hands.
"I hate you… I hate you," she wept. She did not look at him, but kept herself that way, her knees brought to her chest.
"Blair," he frowned. His exterior softened slight, but he stood baffled more than anything. Slowly, he walked towards her. But then she freaked again.
"Don't!" Her scream was ear shatter. She pointed at him and spoke in a deadly tone, "Do not come near me."
The order she threw at him did no sit well. His soft exterior vanished and his hands came forward. He yanked her up from the floor roughly and pushed her up the stairs.
"Stop, what are you doing!?" Blair cried in distress. She had almost fallen down twice. Then they came to their bedroom and he shoved her onto the bed. She stared up at him in fear and shock.
"If you so much as speak to me again like that or try to leave me, I will do everything in my power to take that baby away from you, if not by me then by child services. With your obvious depression and Chuck's recent arrest neither of you are fit to be parents," Mathew furthered his threat. His arms then pushed her down by her shoulders and held her down by force. He wanted to be up-close and have the largest intimidation factor ha he could have. It worked.
"O-okay," Blair stuttered. She wasn't only terrified of his words, but his actions. If she dared retort, it seemed likely that he might slap her across the face. Mathew had never been violent, but she had never seen him so demanding or angry and that said a lot. And if he hurt her, then he could hurt the baby. Her unhappiness would have to deal, the baby's protection was much more important.
"Good," Mathew smirked. He stroked her cheek even when she flinched. Then he got up and went into the closet. He came back with two suitcases.
"Get us packed. We're going to the Hampton's in an hour. Don't call anyone and tell them either. You'll regret it if you do." With that, he left the bedroom and slammed the door.
Blair put her hands on her stomach and started to cry.
"This is bad, baby. Mommy's sorry because this is really, really bad."
He didn't kick. Obviously, her son agreed.
--
A/N: Don't forget to vote on the pole. The birth will be either in the next chapter or the one after that.