Chapter 13

September 1, 2019

Several Hours Earlier (Before the Club Scene)

Chuck pored over the old business documents in front of him as he tossed back yet another glass of scotch. He could desperately use some time to unwind with Nate and he'd really wanted to take him up on his offer for drinks, but he was too focused on trying to find his father's would-be assassin.

"Fuck!" He cursed aloud, slamming his glass down causing amber liquid to slosh all over the table.

Landry looked up from her book with a sigh, "Chuck, it's Saturday night. Go out with your friends who you haven't seen in 10 years. Those documents will still be there tomorrow."

He squinted his eyes as he perused the spreadsheet once more, "I just feel like there has to be something here that I'm missing."

She walked to him and gently massaged his shoulders, "And a clear head might help you see it. It hurts me to see you this stressed. Go out with Nate and Serena, or maybe call Blair -" She really just wanted him to be happy, even if it was with another woman.

"I will not be calling an engaged woman at midnight on a Saturday night," he replied sternly, "But I will go out with Nate. Come with me?"

"No," She declined, "I'm just getting to the good part." She held up her copy of The Historian.

He knocked back one more scotch before kissing her cheek and texting Arthur to meet him out front.

XOXO

When he entered the club, he saw Nate first, but his eyes soon found Serena and a scantily-clad Blair dancing up a storm in the middle of the dance floor. Dammit, Nate, thanks for the ambush.

He considered just leaving, but watching her body move rhythmically to the music was too hypnotic. He perched himself on a bar stool and watched her undulate sensually against Serena. From his position, he could see a sheen of sweat glisten across the top of her breasts, and his mouth went dry as she dropped to the ground and ran her hands in a tantalizing path from her ankles to her thighs, not unlike her striptease at Victrola. As she slowly rose back into a standing position, he caught the faintest glimpse of her lilac-colored thong underneath her dress. She has no idea what a temptress she is, he thought as he ordered a double from the bartender.

When the three friends headed to a private booth, he knew he should leave, but he couldn't resist the urge to be closer to her. He tossed a hundred dollar bill on the bar and started in her direction with a single-minded focus. Mine was the only thought racing through his head as he worked his way toward her.

XOXO

September 2, 2019

"Oh, God, Chuck, yes!" She moaned as he entered her with a hard thrust.

"Fuck," He muttered under his breath as he felt her wetness envelop his aching cock. He grabbed her ass and hoisted her further up the wall as he started to slam into her with abandon. Her breathy mewls turned him on even more, and he reached up to pull the top of her dress down to expose her heaving breasts. Biting her neck, he tweaked her nipple with one hand causing her to gasp loudly. "You feel so good," He groaned in her ear, "Tell me you're mine, baby."

"Mmmm," She sighed as she tightened her legs around his waist, "I'm yours, Louis, I'm yours."

Fucking hell, he cursed as he woke up, even in my own wet dreams she belongs to another man. He huffed and threw the comforter back and headed to the shower to manually work out some of his frustration.

Throughout the day, Landry noticed that Chuck was in a particularly sour mood. He had barely said a word to her besides to snap at her for ordering the wrong brand of coffee from room service.

Normally she would just ignore him until he got over his grumpiness, but she was tired of his moods. "What is it now, Chuck? You've been an asshole to me all day."

"It's nothing," He answered coldly.

"Like hell. You've been acting like a lovesick teenager ever since the reunion."

He scowled and snapped at her, "Just mind your own fucking business for once." He was hung over and horny as hell, and he was not in the mood to deal with her interrogation.

"Fuck you, Chuck," She yelled back at him, "Any time you get into one of these dark moods of yours, you turn into a dick and shut everyone who cares about you out. I'm not your personal punching bag."

He drew a breath and relented, "You're right. I'm sorry. It's just -"

"Blair?"

"Yes, I don't know what to do, and I feel like a complete jerk talking to you about her."

Her expression softened and she grabbed his hand to pull him down on the sofa next to her, "You can talk to me about anything. I've come to terms with the fact that there's no future for you and me as a couple, but if I want to be a part of your life, I have to get used to Blair's presence in it. Now, tell me. What happened?"

"Remember how you talked me into going out with Nate last night? She was there."

"With Louis?" She asked, thinking that the sight of Blair with her fiance had set him off.

"No, she was alone, and I couldn't resist her. We both had a lot to drink."

"What did you do?!" She inquired anxiously.

"I-" He rubbed his temples, ashamed to respond.

"You didn't! Chuck!"

"No, God, no!" He responded quickly, "But I...we danced, and I -" Fuck, why was this so hard? He turned his eyes away from her, "I kissed her neck, and we danced...and not in a PG-13 kind of way."

"You're such an idiot, Chuck," She yelled, throwing a pillow at him.

"I know."

"You need to tell her how you feel," She emphasized slowly, "Stop being so damn stubborn."

"She's engaged to another man, Landry. I missed my chance. How many times do I have to say that?"

She rolled her eyes, "But if she loves you -"

She doesn't," He cut her off.

"How do you know that? She let you kiss her," She reminded him.

"We've always had a certain physical attraction to each other. It doesn't go beyond that."

"Again, I say you're an idiot."

"I'm done with this conversation."

"Whatever, Chuck. Waste your life being miserable when you have a chance at real happiness. I'm heading out for a while. Have fun sulking."

XOXO

Blair awoke that morning with a killer hangover. How much did I drink last night?

She thought back to Serena's phone call. She and Serena had taken quite a few shots; she cringed at the thought of behaving in such a juvenile manner. They had danced and laughed like they hadn't in years. Serena and Nate had made out like a bunch of horny teenagers. After that, her memory became a little foggy.

There was more dancing...and Chuck? Oh, God. His hands all over her body. His tongue on her neck. His arousal pressed against...She groaned. What the hell is wrong with me?

Serena bounded into her room, hot macchiatos in hand, "Hey, B, where'd you go last night?"

"I came home early because I had a headache." It was partially true. She'd chased after Chuck when he left the dance floor and had hailed a cab when she couldn't find him. "Didn't think you would miss me, what with your tongue down Nate's throat and all."

"Ugh,I just really missed him, and his talented mouth," Serena groaned, throwing a pillow at Blair. "But you're one to talk. I saw you dancing with Chuck."

Blair reddened, "So? One dance between old friends is nothing."

"Yeah, except that was closer to dry-humping than dancing."

"It was that bad, huh?" Blair covered her face in her hands, shaking her head.

"I'm surprised they didn't kick you out for public indecency. Blair, what is going on between you two?"

Sighing, Blair looked at her friend with a hint of sadness in her eyes, "I don't know. I think it's just that we've always been so physical with each other. There's some crazy carnal attraction that just draws us together."

"Are you sure that's all it is?"

"Of course," Blar responded a little too adamantly.

"You mean to tell me that you don't still have feelings for Chuck? He was your first true love - because, let's face it, Nate doesn't count - and that doesn't just go away, no matter how long it's been."

"I'm engaged, Serena! And he's married." She couldn't keep the melancholy expression from her face, "Our time has long since past."

"Bullshit," Serena challenged, "Engaged doesn't mean married, and Chuck and Landry are getting a divorce."

Blair's head snapped up, "What are you talking about?"

"He didn't tell you?" Serena asked in astonishment. Why were her brother and best friend the two most stubborn people she knew?

"No, but it doesn't change anything. I love Louis, and besides Chuck doesn't feel that way about me. Like I said, it's always just been physical for him."

"Again, I call bullshit. You know for a fact that that's not true," Serena grew exasperated with her headstrong friend.

"Just drop it, Serena," She snapped.

"Fine, but you've got the answer to your happiness sitting right in front of you. Louis bores you; it's obvious," She stood up and walked out of the room leaving Blair to sulk alone.

XOXO

As Blair exited her building later that day to meet Louis at the airport, she was shocked to be cornered by Georgina in the lobby.

She rolled her eyes, and said, "Don't you have some desperate sleazebag to dupe into being your baby daddy?"

"Leave Milo out of this," Georgina warned.

"I'm running out of patience. What do you want?" Blair sighed.

In response Georgina held up her cell phone for Blair to see. She audibly gasped when she saw a series of photos depicting her grinding all over Chuck in the club. "Guessing you don't want your prince to see you dry-fucking your ex in public, huh?"

Blair growled in frustration, "Why are you such a voyeuristic freak?"

Georgina smirked, "It's always good to have insurance."

"What do you want?" Blair asked again impatiently.

"I want your help to hack into Gossip Girl's server. That bitch has exposed far too many of my secrets."

"Wow," Blair said in shock.

"What?"

"Nothing. Just as far as your blackmail schemes go, it's pretty tame."

"What can I say? I must be getting soft. In return, I will delete the photographic evidence of your indiscretions, and I will help protect Chuck Bass's secret."

Blair looked surprised for the second time in this conversation, "What the hell are you talking about?"

"I know that Bart Bass is alive."

Blair never begged anyone for anything, but in a moment like this, it was necessary. "Georgina, you cannot tell anyone about this. It would destroy Chuck."

"I know one Daniel Humphrey who would kill for this intel," She goaded.

"Why would -" She nearly screamed at the realization, "He's writing a book about Chuck?"

"Yes, but I want to make sure that he never finds out the truth."

"You're not that nice," Blair responded suspiciously.

"No, I'm not, but I've always had a soft spot for Chuck, ever since we -"

"Okay, I don't need details," Blair cut her off. "What do you want me to do?"

"Meet me along with Chuck, Nate, and Serena at the Palace tomorrow. We will outline a plan then."

After Georgina walked away, Blair let out a deep sigh before texting Nate and Serena to meet her at Chuck's suite. She sent another quick text to Louis excusing her absence at the airport. There goes her plan to avoid Chuck every day for the rest of her life.

XOXO

Stepping off the elevator, Landry almost collided with Serena.

"Oh, hi, I don't believe we have met properly. I'm Serena."

"Alexandria," She replied with a small smile.

"If you don't mind my saying so, you seem a bit flustered. Are you okay?" Serena asked.

Landry laughed, "I'm sure you know what a stubborn ass Chuck is."

Serena rolled her eyes, "I know all too well. He and Blair seem to be in a competition for who can out-stubborn the other."

Landry looked at Serena intently and decided that she could trust her, "Were you at the club with them last night?"

Serena faltered, unsure how much she should reveal to Chuck's wife, "I was."

"Did you happen to see their little show?"

Shocked by the bluntness of her question, Serena could only nod.

Landry shook her head, "It's okay. Chuck told me."

"He did? What did he say? I just came from talking to Blair about it, actually."

"He's in love with Blair, but he's too stubborn, foolish, and selfless to allow himself to talk to her. He thinks that he's missed his chance. He thinks she's happy with Louis."

"Blair said the same thing. Trust me that she's not happy with Louis. She misses Chuck. I don't think she ever stopped loving him. I just wish they would at least talk about their feelings. Ten years later, and they still can't do it. Before he left, they spent years toying with each other, always afraid to admit how they felt. It nearly destroyed them both."

Landry shook her head in agreement, "I wasn't around, but I saw the shape that Chuck was in when he found out about Blair's engagement."

"I am heading to Chuck's now. Blair texted me and Nate and said that we urgently needed to meet her there."

"Listen, I have to go, but maybe after your meeting, you and Nate can find a way to get the two of them alone? The world might explode, but they desperately need to talk or neither one of them will find any peace."

Serena nodded, "I'll see what I can do. It was so nice to meet you. Thank you for being there for Chuck when he needed someone."

Landry smiled in acknowledgement and walked out the door.

XOXO

Dan sat at the bar, sipping a jack and coke, wallowing in the fact that he had made very little progress on his book. He had texted Georgina multiple times since she revealed that Chuck was actually married to the hot woman he had shown up to the reunion with, but she had been eerily quiet. He didn't feel like the bit about Chuck Bass being married was enough to sell his story. He knew that it would be shocking, but people would get over it fairly quickly. He needed the deeper truth about the Basses.

A pretty woman with a ponytail and silver dress sat down next to him. He looked her up and down, and decided what the hell. Turning to her, he said, "Buy you a drink?"

She ignored the come-on, "Are you Daniel Humphrey?"

He stammered, "Um, yes, do I know you?"

No, but you will. I'm Raina Thorpe. I hear that you are writing an expose on the Basses, and I think I have something you'd like to hear."

A/N: This took me all day to write. Reviews are gold. :) Even anonymous views are humbly appreciated. Love to you all for sticking with me through this complicated story so far.

Also, I created a Twitter account if you want to follow me for updates: @About150Times