A/N: Hello lovely readers! As promised, I'm back with another update with less of a wait! Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed last chapter with that cliffhanger. I was nervous about how it would be received, but I'm really happy with how it turned out and how it will add more drama, complications, and consequences for Part 3. Without further ado, here's the last chapter of Part 2!

Chapter 38: Dangerous Liaisons

Evelyn woke to the sound of two firetrucks screeching past her right side. She was in too much of a deep sleep to bolt upright and gawk at where the sirens were coming from. She forgot where she was, what day it was, or how she even fell asleep.

There was a rumbling of voices around her, and she felt the gentle stop and go of wheels on the road. Why was she in the car? She could ask Arthur. He had to be driving.

Evelyn felt a pinch in her left waist. She lied on her left side, and her feet were planted on the carpeted floor. Did she fall asleep on Dash? Why wouldn't he wake her?

She heard Ruby Taylor's voice float above the two rumbling voices. Why was she there? Was this a dream? This had to be a dream if Ruby was sharing a space with her and they weren't fighting. Evelyn shifted her twist position and tried to get comfy on the body she lied on. She didn't have enough space to stretch her torso and instead compressed herself to curl in the shape of a C. A pair of hands seared on her arm and hair. The closest voice didn't sound like Dash's at all. Where was he?

Evelyn struggled to open her eyes and tried to sit up. Although she fell asleep, she felt like she had run the longest marathon and could barely keep her eyes open. She felt dizzy too.

"Hey, we're almost home."

Evelyn leaned her body against the door and took in the last three faces she expected to see. Ozzy held an arm around her, keeping her steady, while his mom and dad sat to his left. His dad?

Evelyn swayed into Ozzy and groaned. This wasn't a dream. This was real. She couldn't have dreamt this if she tried. Ozzy held her in an embrace, and she breathed him in. This was definitely real. They found him. He was safe.

"Poor girl's exhausted," Ruby said. "We should be there in a few minutes Evelyn."

She nodded her head slightly. It's all she could muster. They not only found Ozzy, but they had breakfast at a 24-hour diner just off the freeway. It was the first time Ozzy and his family interacted together. They were all hesitant at first, as if inspecting and searching one another to see if they were unarmed, safe to trust.

They talked about everything and then nothing. It was a cycle where they would discuss something serious and break it up with a funny anecdote of Ozzy as a baby. Even then, he refused to be swaddled, and always kicked off his socks and hat. He preferred walking around in nothing but a diaper, and he sneezed whenever he tried to eat baby food.

"His favourite word was no," Ruby said. "But rest assured, he was always polite about it."

Evelyn absorbed each of these memorable relics, and hoped she wouldn't forget them. She relished the memory of Ozzy finding out about his family in Mexico. His father, Alejandro, had five other siblings, two girls and two boys who lived on the same street as him. He learned about how his parents met, and when they were finishing up their meal, Evelyn and Ruby went to the car first to give Ozzy and minute with dad. She wanted to know what was said between them. She couldn't help but be naturally curious, but it wasn't her story to tell or ask.

She then remembered beginning to doze on the way back to the city. After much protest, Ozzy coaxed her to lie down and sleep. All she could remember was his hand stroking her hair from her forehead to crown.

"How are you feeling?" He asked her.

"I should be asking you that." Evelyn peeled herself away from him. She didn't feel as dizzy. She sat up straight.

"I'm good now." He looked over to his mom and then dad. "Really good."

Evelyn smiled, found his hand and squeezed it. She looked out the window, now daylight, and saw her building appear in front her. The car slowed until it aligned with the curb.

"This is me," Evelyn said with a yawn.

The skyscraper loomed over her, and she remembered how small she felt in the big city.

"It was nice to meet you Alejandro," Evelyn said. "I hope you have a safe flight back to Mexico."

"Thank you chica. Good luck on your test."

Test. It took a few beats for Evelyn to understand what he was referring to. The SATs. That also happened yesterday.

Ruby held out her hand to Evelyn, palm open. Ruby gripped her hand tight. "Thank you, Evelyn. For everything."

Evelyn smiled and squeezed back. All that was left was saying good bye to Ozzy.

"And you," Evelyn said to Ozzy. "No more running away without consulting me first because I will find you, and I will kill you."

"Okay Liam Neeson," Ozzy said.

Evelyn opened the door and waved to them. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to take a much-deserved nap. See you at school tomorrow?"

Ruby nudged Ozzy. There was no way he was getting out of it. "Of course."

"Good."

Evelyn started walking towards the building, a feeling of elation and exhaustion lifting and weighing down her body. She thought about her bed and almost squealed in delight at the thought of sleeping in it. She couldn't wait to burrow under the covers and sleep the day away.

"Evelyn! Wait!"

Evelyn turned and saw Ozzy running towards her.

"What is it?"

He took her hands and looked at her in the eye. His gaze fell to her lips. "Um…" his eyes returned to meet hers. "I just really want to say thank you."

"Ozzy, it's fine."

"No it's not. But…I-I want it to be. You make me want it to be fine. Better than fine. Always have.—"

"Ozzy—"

"Not just anyone would drop whatever they were doing and go on a mad search with a woman she didn't get along with out of state and actually find that person."

"Well, I think I had a couple lucky breaks," Evelyn said. "Most people didn't believe me."

"Well I do."

"And I believe in you."

"Hmm, I think I finally get that now."

"Took you long enough!"

Ozzy grinned. "I just want you to know that I appreciate what you did. No one's done that for me before."

She caressed his cheek without thinking. She felt a few soft hairs along his jawline. "And I'd do it again."

"There won't be a next time. Which means, whatever happened last night, can't happen again."

Evelyn retracted her hand from his face. He was right. She crossed the line last night. Sure they didn't kiss, but she wanted to. That wasn't right. God, she felt ashamed of herself for wanting it. He knew it, she knew it, and the revving of engines and honks from the road reminded her that they were back home, back in New York.

Back where Dash waited for her return.

"We can't be what we were in the past. We have to find out what we are now."

"Friends," Evelyn said. Friends seemed like an inadequate term. Anyone could be a friend, a good one or bad one, but what could they call what they have?

"Let's go with that," Ozzy said. "And let's make a deal. I will focus on getting better, working through everything—"

"For yourself, not for me."

"For myself," Ozzy said. "And you focus on a goal too. What would you want to work on?"

Evelyn couldn't think of anything. The first thing she thought of was mending fences with Dash. Why did she think of that first? What happened to her career aspirations? Hobbies? Family? Had she lost her way the past few months? She was dizzy again, her axis unaligned, and the cement beneath her lacked the concrete sturdiness she expected it to have. Suddenly she felt like she was in a pool of water, struggling to doggy paddle against heavy waves.

"I…" Evelyn said. "I don't think I have one."

"There's got to be something. When are you without a goal?"

She was paralyzed, her body sinking.

"You still want to be a doctor, right?" Ozzy asked.

"Right," Evelyn said. "I-I got it. I will focus on getting an internship. This summer. In a hospital maybe?"

He nodded and held out his hand. "So we have a deal? We keep each other in line?"

Evelyn squeezed his hand. "Deal."

When Dash woke, he didn't know where he was. The air smelled different than his bedroom. In his bedroom, he smelled the fresh fabric softener that he always attributed to what drying sheets on a clothesline would smell like. Instead, there was a fruitiness in the air, or rather on his pillow. It didn't smell like Evelyn, and when he opened his eyes, taking in the exposed beams and pipes above him, he knew he wasn't with Evelyn. His eyes widened as he took in a garage door that was suspended in front of the bed.

He fisted the sheets in his hands. He heard a rustling of sheets beside him and be braved a look at who was beside him. He cranked his head to the side, saw platinum blonde hair and a face he recognized. Jenny. She curled her body towards him, naked. He pulled up the sheet and confirmed what he already knew. He was naked too.

What the fuck did he do?

Dash shot up, threw off the covers and searched the floor around her bed for his clothes. A wave of nausea lapped over him as he swayed around the bed, knocking on the bed frame, chair and dresser as he searched.

He had to get out of there. He started to sweat, the reality of what he did hitting him on his blindside.

He lost his virginity last night.

There was no denying it. It happened. As soon as he admitted it to himself, he started to remember Jenny's body, the desire, the warmth he felt inside her, to hear her moaning for more. He was in control in that moment, a control he never quite felt with Evelyn. There was always a power struggle, a trepidation to really make a move. Last night, he let go of all of his inhibitions, she was practically gone to him, and it happened.

Where the fuck were his clothes?

He heard the sheets rumple again. "What are you doing?" Jenny's voice was raspy.

Dash cupped his hands over himself. "I'm looking for my clothes."

Jenny sat up, the sheet falling in her lap, exposing her chest. He looked away, trying to push the memory of feeling her supple breasts in his hands, encouraged by her hand.

He looked through her double doors and saw a trail of his clothes that lead to the front door. He raced out of her room and picked up every part of his outfit like breadcrumbs. He threw his arms through the sleeves of his shirt, and legs through the pant legs, almost falling over two times.

"You're leaving."

Jenny folded her arms in the doorway of her room. She now wore a fluffy pink robe.

"Jenny, I-I-"

She walked toward him with a calmness that disturbed him. Didn't she know what they just did? Didn't she get that she betrayed her best friend?

"Don't you want to stay for breakfast?"

Dash shook his head. "No. I'm sorry, it's just, this shouldn't have happened. All of it."

"No, I think this was meant to happen," Jenny said.

"Jenny. I know you're depressed about the whole Queen thing, but you do know Evelyn is your best friend, right? This…this will destroy her." Dash picked up his phone. There was a text message from Evelyn.

Found him. Coming back now.

"Fuck," Dash exhaled. "She's back. I-I have to go."

"You're just going to leave me?"

"Jenny there is no time to play out your fantasy!" Dash said. "This was a mistake. A colossal, irredeemable mistake! We can't speak of this again."

Jenny's eyes were glassy. "So Evelyn is first. Again?"

"She's my girlfriend," Dash said. "I love her."

"Did you love her when you were having sex with me last night?"

"Jenny. I think it's for the best that neither of us talk about this or bring it up ever again."

"And what if I do? Send a tip to Gossip Girl? I've got nothing to lose."

Dash paused as he reached for the door knob. "You'd tell Gossip Girl?"

She shrugged. "It meant nothing to you, so why should it be a big deal? I've got nothing to lose."

"You'd lose your friendship for that?" Dash said.

Her eyes fell on the wooden floors. Her shoulders sagged, bearing the weight of shame that Dash was beginning to feel.

"That's what I thought," Dash said. "So whatever happened last night, it won't be mentioned again. It didn't happen. Okay?"

Jenny bit her bottom lip, and pulled her lips inward, so they disappeared from her face. She nodded.

Evelyn dragged her feet off the elevator. The penthouse still smelled the same. A mix of cinnamon and freshly brewed coffee. Ina must have made cinnamon buns again. Evelyn was so tired that the thought of a cinnamon bun was not appetizing. She longed for her fluffy pillow and heavy comforter to cocoon herself in.

Her father, Lily and Eric were seated at the round kitchen table. It was a comforting sight-seeing her family spread jam on their croissants and sip their coffee. That sense of normalcy reminded her that the craziness of the night was over. Everything would slowly level out to normal routine.

"She's back!" Eric smiled.

Bart and Lily's backs faced her. They both twisted in their seats, dropped the paper or cup of coffee to greet here.

"We found him," Evelyn said. "In New Hampshire."

"We are so glad." Lily enveloped her in a hug.

"I'll have to call the NYPD to call off the search," her father said.

She wasn't sure if what she did last night constituted punishment, and she found herself saying, "I know I left suddenly, and I did leave a text, but there was no time, and I was with Ruby—"

Bart put his hand on her shoulder. "It's all right."

Evelyn learned her head on his sharp shoulder and hugged him. "Thank you."

"We were more worried that you wouldn't find him," Her father said. "Then you would still be looking—"

"I know," Evelyn said. "I don't think I'd be able to forgive myself."

Bart nodded with a look of understanding she couldn't place. "You have to be careful with that. If you can't forgive yourself, it could haunt you for life."

"Well, we're glad that Evelyn doesn't have to go through that," Lily said. "Are you hungry?"

"Not really. We ate on the way back," Evelyn said. "I'm just really tired."

"That's understandable," her father said. "Try not to sleep the day away because you won't be able to sleep at night."

"I'll try," Evelyn said. She leaned over a table and plucked a green grape and popped it in your mouth. "Hey Eric. Did I miss anything at the party?"

He scoffed. "Other than Jenny being dethroned for being a dealer? Nothing much."

Evelyn coughed and coughed and until she swallowed the grape properly. "How?"

"There was a blast on Gossip Girl. I thought you knew?"

Evelyn check her phone and saw a message from Gossip Girl. She read the blast and sighed. She closed her eyes and brought the phone to touch her forehead. "Who told?"

"Not me," Eric said. He stirred his spoon in his yogurt. "Not Dash either."

"Does she think it was me?"

"The thought maybe crossed her mind before she left."

"That's impossible, Eric! I didn't even open this message until a couple minutes ago. I wasn't even in the state last night!"

"I know."

"So that doesn't make any sense after everything I did."

"She was very upset. She wasn't making any sense."

Evelyn took a deep breath. "I'm going to sleep."

She was far too tired to deal with another fatal bullet shot at Jenny. She was too late. She couldn't fight all of her battles for her. Jenny would have to wait. With hinged knees she dragged her body to her room. Instead of collapsing on her bed, she changed, folded her clothes, set an alarm and snuggled under the covers. Her mind kept tossing and turning the mess that she thought she had cleaned up for Jenny. It must have been Thom. Somehow, he found the time to send the blast to Gossip Girl. There was no other reasonable explanation. She finally closed her weary eyes and resigned herself to sleep. Some messes were too big to clean up alone.

Never in his pragmatic mind did Ozzy think he'd ever share a united moment with his parents. He wished he could step outside his body and observe what it all looked like, as if from a TV screen.

He wondered what this scene would have looked like in the diner. His father sat across from him, his gaze unavoidable, his mother on his father's side, Evelyn's hand clasping his under the table. It was a scene that he imagined in different variations, but it wasn't something he ever thought he deserved. Some people are born into the comforts of family and home, but he knew he wasn't. He learned he wasn't born from a marriage and instead broke another. He learned that his father didn't leave his mother for selfish reasons but left to solve his own family crises. It was complicated, complex, and everyone in his family had their own story told on their puzzle piece that fit together to make him.

If he didn't run away, would all of this have happened? Would this perfect storm have formed? Even in his most bleak and hopeless moments, he never imagined this outcome to be possible.

He wondered what would happen now. They were driving back to the Montgomery house where Dash and Philip waited for them. Would punishment serve him? Would Dash freak out about what he didn't know happened with Evelyn? He tried not to worry about these things, but the thoughts lingered in his mind.

What he worried about the most was saying goodbye. He didn't like doing it. He avoided it. He knew he would have to say goodbye to his father, but it was a goodbye that felt too soon, a goodbye that required a see you later to imply that something had not finished. Even if he did have to say a final goodbye, he didn't know how his father would fit in his life now. He had a full and busy life in Mexico. Would his father even want to see him again? Would there ever be the chance? Did he want one?

"I just texted Philip," His mom said. "He's preparing for our arrival."

Ozzy had nothing against Philip, he showed nothing but kindness over the past year, but there was a coldness to him, a distance that came from not being his own. He snuck a peak at his father and didn't get that feeling from him. He was the one who said he should get out of the car to say goodbye to Evelyn. He certainly thought about it, but it reassured him that someone assured him that it was okay. He'd been told no and followed convention for so long that he let so many opportunities pass, and let what was right trump what he wanted.

"You aren't just going to let her go like that are you?" His father had said.

"I'll see her tomorrow," he said.

"And the moment will be gone. Go."

He looked over at his father and mother and wondered if there was any scenario that they could get back together. She was married now, for the first time, but she seemed to look at his father with an adoration he'd never seen.

This wasn't a time to be optimistic. Like his father said, the moment will be gone. Maybe theirs was.

The car came to a stop in front of the Montgomery house. The iron fence still trimmed the perimeter of the property. The masonry was intricate and the moss that grew on the right corner of the house threatened to encroach on the grey stones.

"You ran away from this?" His father said.

"It seems nice on the outside, but it's not what it seems when you're inside," Ozzy said.

"You can't see it any other way until you've stepped outside," Ruby said. "It loses its lustre when you return. You see it for what it is and accept it."

"Did you do that when we moved here?" Ozzy asked her.

"Yes, I did. I should have realized it may not have been as easy for you."

"It's alright. I'm starting to figure it out now."

"It shouldn't have taken that long for me to figure it out. Anyway, we don't have to rehash this right now. Philip and Dash are waiting for us."

Ozzy's was the closest to the door. He couldn't bring himself to open the door and return the environment that he was so desperate to leave. He wanted to stay in the limo, in a bubble where his family was.

His father put a hand on his mother's shoulder. "Why don't Ozzy and I go for a walk first? We can meet you inside?"

"That's a good idea. What do you think Ozzy?"

"We can do that."

His mother kissed his cheek. "I'll see you both inside."

He soon fell into step with his father. They were the same height; his father was much broader in the shoulders and had a slight belly.

"So tell me about Evelyn."

"What about her?"

"Why don't you start with how you met?"

"We went to school together when we were living in Connecticut." He began to tell the tale of their fraught friendship, the good and the bad of it.

"I see," his father said. "So this is much more than friendship."

"No, it isn't," Ozzy said. "Nothing's happened since we both moved here."

They stopped walking. His father gave him a knowing look. "I like to think I've learned a few things about life over the years, so if you were to ask me to asses everything you've told me, then it's clear. You love her."

"What? No," Ozzy said. "That's for the movies. Besides, like I told you, she's dating my step-brother now."

"After you said no to her."

"That's because she could do better than me. She deserves better."

"If you think like that, you'll never have the strength to pursue what you want. Life's too short for that. Missed opportunities, missed connections, all of that leads to what ifs. That's no good."

"So what do I do?"

"He's your brother, first and foremost, so you do nothing. You need to focus on yourself right now. No matter what happens, brothers come before girls. Always. I'm not saying Evelyn isn't worth it, but he's your family. Family first."

"But what about missed connections?"

"Listen, if it's meant to be, there will be another opportunity. In order to identify the problem, we must admit there is a problem. You and your brother love the same girl. That's a problem. You don't know what the future holds, so that's why I say to be open to more opportunities. You never know what will happen, but before it does, think of him first before you think of what your body wants, you know?"

"Where were you the last few months when I really needed this advice?" Ozzy said.

"I wish I knew. It's been so many years that I'm trying to pack as much advice as I can in this short time together."

"So this means you'll be leaving?"

He nodded. "For now. Your mother and I were talking, and we're hoping to work out a schedule so I can see you."

"Really?"

"Of course! Hablas español?"

"A little bit." He suddenly felt a pressure to prove, perform a part of himself that was never asked for.

"We'll work on that," he said. "This summer."

They turned the corner and returned to the front of the house where the limo was parked out front. "I have a question for you," Ozzy said. "I hired a P.I. to find you, and you didn't want to see me. You denied I was even yours."

"When was this?"

"In January."

"That was you?"

"Yes?"

"Forgive me, mi hijo but your mom and I had an agreement that you needed to stay away from certain aspects of my life. I was just honouring our agreement to discourage you from that road. I should have told your mom, that was a clear warning sign, but we weren't in touch at all for the past few years."

"Oh," Ozzy said. "I guess that makes sense."

"Hey," his father said. He put his arm around Ozzy's shoulder. "You are my son. I'm very proud of that. I know I wasn't there for all these years, but I've been with you from afar." He opened his wallet and there were pictures of Ozzy from a baby till his adolescence in California. "I never forgot about you or didn't want you. Circumstances and responsibility for you got in the way."

On the backside of each picture was his mother's cursive detailing the date and location of each picture. Ozzy reviewed each photo carefully and absorbed every detail, and wondered how many stamps his mom used to send him these photos. Did he have more? Where? What was his home in Mexico like?

His father kissed his forehead, along his hair line as Ozzy continued to look through his wallet. He observed the frayed corners, the credit cards, the drivers licence. "We should go in. Your mom's waiting for us."

He didn't want to go. He wanted to learn more. Know more about everything. He wanted to stay with his father, bring his mother out of that house and go. Run off somewhere.

But he knew what reality he faced. He couldn't run anymore. He faced the heavy door he knew so well to manipulate, and he gathered his strength to return. He needed to go through that door right now. He couldn't be wary of it. And he wouldn't be going in it alone.

With his father at his side, he finally conceded. "Let's go."

School on Monday morning did not return to the regular routine that Evelyn expected. Dash was avoiding her, Jenny hadn't showed up for school, and the girls on the steps were now led by the auburn-haired Catherine Baizen.

"Is it me, or are we living in an alternate universe?" Evelyn said after witnessing the flank of Catherine and her minions sauntering down the hall. Catherine smirked at her but made no attack. She was too busy relishing her position at the front of the flank, where she followed no one anymore.

"It's not just you," Eric said. "Everything we thought we knew has changed."

"It changed overnight," Evelyn said. She left for one night, and Catherine's coup had not only succeeded, but she already held an iron grip on the social hierarchy. A new reign had begun.

She knew Jenny's minions were fickle, but their defection happened quicker than most. Even Blair had her die-hard minions who sided with her when Jenny first asserted her bid to leadership in her freshman year. This shift of power was tectonic, an earthquake of such magnitude and she had somehow slept through.

Evelyn searched for Dash between classes. She checked his usual spot in the courtyard, his locker, his classrooms, but she couldn't find him. She texted him again and waited for his response. Was he really that mad at her? Wouldn't he also be elated that she found and brought Ozzy back safe and sound?

She wondered about these questions all morning and determined to rush to his locker after her last morning class. He had to pick up his lunch, right? Drop off books maybe?

When the bell rang, Evelyn was the first to leave her seat. She raced down the halls and waited at the banks of lockers in the St. Jude's hallways. She watched every face that passed her, and she still couldn't see Dash. She waited until the hallways emptied. She knew he was at school, she saw him from a distance in the chapel for announcements.

Evelyn leaned back on his locker, her arms crossed over her chest. Why was he avoiding her? She knew he was angry that he left, but she came back. Doesn't that mean anything? Couldn't he understand?

She pushed herself off the locker and began to walk away. She started towards the Constance hallway, dragging her feet until she noticed someone turn the corner to walk toward her. Evelyn halted. It was Dash.

"Dash…"

He looked up from his feet with dark circles under his eyes. "Evelyn," He nodded in greeting and continued to bristle past her.

Evelyn caught his arm and anchored him toward her. "I've tried calling and texting you and you haven't responded. Can't we talk?"

He continued to stare at the floor. "I thought we already did."

"A lot has changed since then," Evelyn said.

He wiggled out of her grip and moved to his locker. He fiddled with his locker combination. He tried once, twice, and finally opened it on his third try.

"Dash. Talk to me."

"Did anything happen when you found Ozzy?"

She shook her head. "No."

"There was a blast on Gossip Girl."

"If you saw it, then you should know that not everything she reports is true," Evelyn said. "I hugged him when I found him, yes, but I don't think that was too much considering the circumstances."

Dash shoved his books in his locker.

"I'm not lying to you Dash," Evelyn said.

"But I don't think you're telling the full truth either."

Evelyn knew what he was referring to. In that moment of reunion, she wanted Ozzy to kiss her. It was a lapse of judgement, temporary insanity maybe, but she didn't want it again since. It was a freak occurrence.

"It seems like you are looking for a specific answer, and it doesn't exist. Would I have let Ozzy kiss me in that moment? Probably. But I didn't encourage any such thing. Nothing happened. If you could get over yourself right now, you should be thanking me for finding your brother."

"Oh yes, thank you so much for your service. You know what? Without you, we would have never found him! That's right, you're the chosen one, the only one who can solve Ozzy's problems!"

"You can lay off the sarcasm. I get it."

"Finally, we agree on something."

"Dash. Where does this leave us? This won't work if we keep fighting all the time."

"I know," He said. "I just… need some time to think."

"You need time to think?"

"Yes," A sharpness cut through the s of the word. "I need to think if I can somehow trust you if Ozzy is in the picture. If he's in your picture."

"Fine. You know where to find me when you sort that out."

Why couldn't he trust her? He couldn't even look at her. She wondered if he really did consider breaking up with her. Her chest contracted at the thought. He wouldn't do that would he? She felt her eyes sting at the thought.

She carried these fears down the hall and away from Dash's careful eye. He watched her move back and away from him. Once she was out of sight, he collapsed into the bank of lockers. He hit his forehead again and again, wondering if she could ever forgive him for what he did.

Spotted: D looking worse for wear while fighting with E in the hallway. I guess not all reunions are with open arms.

Most of the board of directors of Bass Industries were already seated with their portfolios open when Bart arrived. He took his seat at the head of the table and greeted everyone. In front of him was the proposal for the Thailand project. He was initially surprised with how quickly the deal was drawn. It was usual for these new developments to take at least a year to plan for. So long as it improved and expanded the Bass brand at a reasonable price, he had no problem with it.

Bart adjusted his tie, unbuttoned his suit jacket and made himself comfortable. The last remaining board members trickled into the room. He was flanked by them on either side. The only vacant chair was across from him, at the other end of the boardroom table.

He looked at the clock. In a couple more minutes, they could begin the meeting, open the meeting minutes and get started. He spoke to Bruce on his right, small talk really, until the door opened once more.

Bart paused mid-sentence when his brother took a seat across the table from him. He snuck in the room, quiet, and most people didn't look up the same way Bart did.

What was Jack doing here? He sent him back to Australia. He was in a moment of perplexity and stunned. His hands felt cold, and he couldn't conceal a hard expression that crossed his face.

"Why don't we get this meeting started?" Jack said.

They all agreed and Bart leaned back in his chair. The whole meeting was a blur for him. He paid attention, but his mind also worked to retrace his steps. He gave him a ticket back to Australia. He accepted it. He got word that he took the flight. What happened?

Soon, it was time for a vote.

"All those in favor," the woman who was taking the meeting minutes asked.

All of the board members raised their hands. Bart didn't. He couldn't agree to such a decision because he knew Jack did something to shape this result in his favour.

"All those against," the minute recorder asked.

Bart didn't raise his hand. He couldn't show the board his outward defiance to the project. He did support it, but he didn't support his brother having such an invested stake in it.

"All those who abstain."

Bart finally raised his hand. He didn't like it, but it was his only play.

Then, the board opened the discussion on who would lead the project.

"The floor is open to nominations."

Bart looked at his notes. Two names were listed with their qualifications for the project.

Bruce raised his hand. "I would like to nominate Jack Bass."

Clarence, another board member, raised his hand. "Seconded."

Jack smirked from the other end of the table. He looked at Bart in the eye, a challenge behind his gaze, a glint of victory in his eye. He thinks he already won.

Bart raised his hand. "I would like to nominate Ram Chakri."

Barb, one of his most loyal board members, raised her arm. "Seconded."

There. At least Jack was not the only contender.

"We will let the nominations sit for the week, and we will vote next week. Any new business?"

The room was quiet. Bart began to close his portfolio.

"Meeting adjourned eleven forty-eight a.m."

The sound of shuffling and briefcases snapping shut echoed in the room. Bart stood, his gaze still on Jack who greeted and mingled with the board members. He left the board room and checked his phone for messages. He said goodbye to each board member and lingered. He waited for every board member to leave. Jack was doing this on purpose. He was making him wait. He had too much to do to sit outside the board room and wait for his brother.

He wanted to give up and go back to his office, but his restraint stopped him. His brother was supposed to be on the other side of the world. How did he get here? When did he get here? Bart couldn't let these questions go unanswered.

Jack finally appeared. He shook hands with Bruce and patted his upper arm.

"Are you trying to pick me up?" Jack said.

"Not funny. What are you doing here? I thought we had an agreement."

"We did. I worked on the project from afar, and I came back for the meeting. Skype just doesn't do it you know?"

"Are you looking to be the leader of this project? Is that what you wanted this whole time?"

Jack shrugged. "I would do it. I have the experience since I established Bass Industries in Australia singlehandedly. But then again, that might be thinking too small."

"When do you leave for Australia?"

"You already want to get rid of me, huh? Having me around makes you that uncomfortable? I don't know. I have some unfinished business. In fact, why don't we discuss those matters now?"

Bart looked at his watch. "I think I'm booked solid for the afternoon."

"That's alright. I already booked an appointment with Clarissa for right now."

He was going to have to have a strong word with Clarissa. "Fine. Let's go back to my office."

"Lead the way, brother."

Blair twirled her fork in her spoon, watching the rosé covered pasta knot in a uniform spiral. She wouldn't normally order a carb dish, but she couldn't resist this week. She finished school, and her schedule had opened up. She relished in her ability to do what she wanted, free of responsibility. She rarely let herself indulge with time off without striving towards a goal. Besides, she figured she wold work it off at her yoga class later that afternoon.

Chuck sat across from her. He wasn't as elated as she was for finishing their first year of college as she was, since he didn't put in the time and emotional commitment Blair did, so the feeling wasn't the same. Regardless, Blair couldn't wait to spend the summer with him. It would be sweltering in Thailand, but she didn't mind that reality. When staying at the best hotels, AC was always there to cool her down.

Chuck looked at his phone, again, as he chewed on his sandwich.

"Are you waiting for a call?"

"Yes. The board meeting should be finished by now, and I still haven't heard back from Jack."

Blair's chest tightened. Did this have anything to do with the memo she delivered to Jack? It wasn't damaging was it?

"I'm sure he's just busy," Blair said. She chewed on her last mouthful of pasta and looked at her own phone. Should she message Jack? Would he even see it? She tried not to think of the worst-case scenario that could be happening at Bass Industries, but she couldn't help it. Chuck had worked so hard for months on this project, and he would be crushed if it didn't get off the ground.

"If he still hasn't called, I can think of a few ways to get your mind off it."

Chuck smirked. "I'm always open to suggestions."

Blair smiled. She was about to make her first suggestion when the phone rang.

"It's Jack." Chuck picked up the phone on the first ring.

He leaned back in his chair, his arm holding up the phone to his ear supported by the chair arm. His expression remained the same, a good sign, and he nodded and said yes.

"I'll see you soon then," Chuck said and hung up the phone.

Blair sat up straighter in her chair. "What did he say?"

"He wants to talk in person about it, but the deal went through. It's happening."

Blair's spine curved as she relaxed her muscles. "I told you! I told you it would work out!"

"Let's not celebrate just yet. Jack said there are a few final papers that need to be signed off, so I'll see him after."

Blair waved to call their waiter's attention. "Will we celebrate tonight?"

A small smile revealed itself on Chuck's face. "Hopefully."

With her afternoon now open, she vowed to make their celebration special. Her mind raced with all of the preparations she would need to make. She would certainly go shopping for a new outfit and lingerie. She had the house to herself, so she wanted to make sure there were enough candles, Dom, and what else could make this special? Eclairs. Chuck couldn't resist a perfect Eclair. She mentally prepared her checklist, and her fingers tingled. She would need to call Dorota to help her plan this. Blair vowed to not only make tonight special, but a night to remember.

No one snickered or stared at him when Ozzy returned to school on Monday. It was like any other day. Some people glanced at him, more so for curiosity than ridicule. He didn't know why, but no one bothered him much else.

School wasn't that bad today. Yesterday certainly helped. When he walked back in the house, his father by his side, it wasn't as bad. Philip was cordial as always, and his mom went out of her way to dot on him and his father. She would fill up his father's coffee (black with two sugars), and Ozzy's water once they were halfway full. He also remembered Dash showing up looking dishevelled and pale with stains on his shirt.

"Looks like you've got something on your shirt son," Philip said.

"I'm not feeling well. I'm going upstairs." Dash's complexion was as white as the tiles in the kitchen.

He didn't think too much of Dash or his sickness. He was too occupied with his parents, talking at times in their own code of memories from the past. The hardest thing was saying goodbye. His father left his phone number and told him call whenever he wanted, and his mom assured him he would see him again.

Ozzy attended his classes in a daze. He wanted to remember everything that was said, every story that was told yesterday. It was a welcome change to have something to look forward to than dread. He couldn't wait until he could see his father again. He was giddy in a way he was when he went to the beach every day when he lived in California.

He wasn't sure how long this feeling would last. He was sure he would swing back to the shell he was days ago like a pendulum, yet he stayed in this moment, hopeful.

He ate his lunch alone out in the open. He tried reading Fahrenheit 451 to prepare for his incoming literature examwhen he felt someone sit beside him.

"Hi Ozzy. How'd the SATs go?"

He flinched at the shrill voice. It was Catherine. "Oh it was...missable. You?"

She sighed. "Not my best, but it should do. I tried texting you, and you didn't answer. You missed out on an incredible night."

"Yeah, my phone's been acting up. It wasn't working that day. What did I miss?"

"You are looking at the current Queen of Constance for one." Catherine smiled.

"Like you wanted? Nice. That's…good. Good for you."

"Thanks." Catherine sat on her hands and rocked to her sides, unable to contain her excitement. "I wish you were there to celebrate with me, but maybe we could tonight?"

"Tonight?"

She nodded.

The words on page 46 of the book began to blur. They had their own code, and he knew what she was hoping for. He wasn't strong enough to not consider it. He thought about her body first, how open she was to letting him explore it. He then thought of the drugs she offered whenever he was with her.

"Tonight…" Ozzy repeated.

He remembered what he agreed to with Evelyn yesterday. He needed to work on himself. He couldn't, or shouldn't, bank on Evelyn to remind him or steer him away from his bad habits. He had to be able to do it himself. He needed to say no. No. No. No.

"Don't you have to be with those girls all the time now?" Ozzy said.

"I was thinking later. Past their bed times."

"Oh. I um, don't think I can."

"Why not?"

"I'm trying not to…do that stuff anymore."

"Drugs? We don't have to do that. In fact, I'd prefer it if it was just...you and me."

That didn't make Ozzy trust her any more. If he was around her, he knew he would make poor decisions. Sure, she could promise him that she wouldn't have those drugs in the beginning, but he could break down and ask for them, beg for it, if he knew they were within reach.

"I'm sorry Catherine, but I don't think it's going to work."

Catherine's smile dropped. "Is this about that post on Gossip Girl with you and Evelyn? Are you cheating with her on your own brother?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about this." Catherine flashed her phone in his face. It was picture of him and Evelyn embracing on the concrete. Who the hell was around to take that picture?

"That's not what it looks like," Ozzy said.

"Then what is it? With Evelyn she always comes back to you. You!"

"Nothing happened. I…had a bad night, and Evelyn was there for me. That's it."

"On a romantic getaway to New Hampshire?"

Ozzy sighed and began packing up his things. "If you're going to be that petty, you won't last as Queen for long."

"And you'll never be king!"

King? He swore Catherine made up half of these terms. "I don't care about any of that stuff. Find someone who does."

He slung his bag over his shoulder and left the cafeteria. A voice inside him chanted that he needed to apologize for being too harsh, for hurting her feelings, but the rest of him kept moving forward. If he were to move forward, he needed to move on from the people who held him back.

Spotted: Queen C getting her first dose of an unweilding subject. Can our new monarch bear the pressure of heart break, or will this new Queen turn to stone?

Jack remained standing when Bart took a seat in his chair. His chair supported him, grounded him in the room. The air was so still a line could be cut between the brothers and across Bart's desk.

"Why don't we just get to it. I know you want something from me. What is it you want this time?"

"You know me so well." Jack pulled out his portfolio with a letter and a set of blueprints. He pushed them across the desk. "While taking on a new project in Thailand is nice, I had something…bigger in mind."

"What are these?"

"You don't remember? That letter is from Douglas Hunter, arson aficionado."

Bart saw the printed words on the page that formed to makes sentences, but he couldn't make sense of it. "How'd you find him."

"The right P.I and lots of fucking money."

Bart didn't touch the papers. He saw the blueprints. They were a copy of the same blueprints of the first building he bought almost twenty years ago. He knew the layout well. He knew where the boiler room was, the emergency exists, the occupancy rate. All of it.

"What does this mean?"

"This, means that I finally have enough evidence to prove what you did on May 24th, 1993. Douglas will testify, and this blueprint is the only one that exists after the fire."

"No, it's not," Bart said.

"And how would you know that?"

Bart returned his gaze to the papers. "Are you looking to destroy our whole family?"

Jack chuckled. "Since when have you and I acted like family? Please. This is how it's going to go. You are going to resign from CEO of Bass Industries. Then, you will appoint me, and I will take over. If you do that, I won't take you to court, and you won't be incarcerated."

"And if I don't resign?"

"Then I take you to court, convict you of arson, and you lose the company and go to jail. Not to mention, your precious son and daughter will finally know that you are the reason their mother's dead."

"Take that back. I know you seem to twist what happened that night, but that certainly did not happen."

Jack shrugged. "You will deny it till the day you die, won't you? I'm serious brother. All these years, you've taken the credit for what we built together from the start. It's my time to see what I can do for this company."

"And you will throw me in jail to get it?"

Jack shrugged. "You didn't seem to have a problem edging me out all those years ago."

"That was completely different. You were not of sound mind."

Jack laughed. "How's this for sound mind? You have until the end of the week to decide whether or not you will resign. It all boils down to one simple thing really. What's more important to you. Your relationship with your daughter and by extension your family, or your successful company?"

Bart felt a paralysis take over his body. It was as if Jack had strapped his wrists to his chair and gagged him.

Jack retreated to his office door. He looked over his shoulder, his smile menacing. "Choose wisely."

Evelyn found Jenny eating her lunch in the library. It was a small library, small enough that most students passed by it as if it was another classroom. On that Monday, Evelyn careened for the silence, the stares, and the standoff nature that happened in the courtyard. She greeted the librarian, and moved forward. With each step she took, the original hardwood floors creaked. Jenny was the only student to sit at one of the study carols that lined the back wall.

"Is this where the mighty fall?" Evelyn propped her arm on the side wall of the study carol. Jenny ate her peanut butter sandwich while she scrolled through her phone. There were no messages.

"It is where they seek refuge."

Evelyn held up her lunch bag. "You aren't the only one."

They moved to one of four group study tables lined up to divide the fiction and non-fiction stacks. Evelyn sat across from Jenny and unwrapped what Ina packed for her. A slice of leftover quiche, chips, and sliced carrots.

"I'm sorry for not seeing your messages on Saturday. After we left the party, things just got crazy."

"I know."

"You know?"

"Dash came back to look for Ozzy."

"Oh. Okay, um, well how have you been doing since—"

"Well, yogurt hasn't been poured on my head yet, so I'm doing great so far."

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you," Evelyn said.

"You don't need to apologize. It was my own fault."

"Do you want to get the throne back?" Evelyn said.

Jenny chuckled. "No way. I don't need that stress anymore. Besides, I have to focus on more important matters."

"Like what?"

"Like calling up Eleanor for another summer internship."

Internship. She remembered what she agreed to do with Ozzy. She hadn't thought about it at all before she talked about it with him. What would she have done this summer if she didn't think to pursue her own goals? Would she go to Europe? Stay in the Hamptons?

"I've been meaning to work on that myself," Evelyn said. "But I've been a little distracted lately."

"I know."

Something about the way Jenny said those two words unnerved Evelyn. It was an accusation and an implication that she knew something that Evelyn didn't.

"Wait. What is that supposed to mean?"

"You and Ozzy. It was on Gossip Girl."

"That was taken out of context."

"Dash seemed pretty upset when he came back to the party."

"Since when do you care about Dash?" Evelyn said.

"Since when did you care about Ozzy more than him?"

Evelyn shut her empty container and shoved it in her lunch bag. "Did I…do something to offend you?"

"You tell me. Did you send the blast about me to Gossip Girl?"

"Are you serious? No, I didn't!"

"Ladies," the Librarian appeared. "Keep your voices down."

"Sorry," Evelyn said. She turned back to Jenny. "After I talked you out of paying a dime, you think that I would sell you out?"

For the first time, Jenny's guarded glare softened. "I didn't understand because Eric didn't do it, Dash told me he didn't do it, Thom couldn't have done it, and you were AWOL, so I thought maybe you did it to distract from Ozzy's disappearance."

"I didn't do it. I opened the blast right in front of Eric. Here," She presented her phone. "Check my messages. I haven't sent a single tip to Gossip Girl since Nate's party last year."

Jenny picked up Evelyn's phone and set it down. "I believe you. I just don't understand who did it. I'm going to be tormented for the next year now that Catherine is in control."

"It had to be Thom. He's the only one who would have had any reason to do it."

"I guess. Who knows where he is now."

"With his family. He got busted big time with his grandfather. We probably won't be seeing him anytime soon."

"That doesn't sound much like a punishment."

"I don't know. Getting shamed by his grandfather would hurt pretty bad. He seemed very pissed when he had to pay off his debts."

"How do you know this?"

"I went to his grandfather's weekend estate. It's…a long story, not that some people want to hear any of it."

"Dash?"

Evelyn nodded. "I told him everything, and he still doesn't believe me. He couldn't even look at me."

Jenny squirmed in her chair. "Really?"

"Yeah, and it was like he hadn't slept at all. How many times do I have to reassure him that nothing is going on or will be going on with Ozzy for him to get it?"

"I don't know…"

"Did he mention anything specific when he came back to the party?"

Jenny shook her head. "I left soon after he arrived."

"Well, he told me he needed some time to think," Evelyn said. "Can you believe that? I didn't kiss him, he didn't kiss me, we talked when we were coming back to New York, and we've agreed to redefine what our friendship means. If anything, this is better for Dash, no?"

"It sounds like it."

Evelyn shook her head. "Enough of him. Jenny, just be thankful your single and don't have to deal with how annoying boys can be."

Jenny nodded her head but couldn't meet her eyes. She kept her gaze to sealing her plastic sandwich Ziploc bag, precisely and meticulously. As Evelyn continued to eat her lunch, she didn't notice Jenny wiping her palms on her pleated skirt, or how she bit the inside of her cheek, wincing from the sting. Instead, they kept eating, and occasionally spoke in hushed tones.

Chuck waited at the hotel bar of the Empire for an hour. Normally, this wait would have unnerved him, but he didn't mind. He analyzed and reanalyzed Jack's tone on the voice. He seemed in good spirits, possibly chipper, and it made him optimistic. Maybe this finally meant the Thailand project had been greenlight?

Jack set his briefcase on the bar and swiveled onto the seat beside Chuck. "I'll have what he's having."

"Is this a drink of celebration or mourning?" Chuck sat back on his chair and swirled his glass of scotch.

The bartender set Jack's glass in front of him. "It's for celebration, my nephew."

Jack lifted his glass and clinked it with his. They did it. Chuck began to envision himself watching the cement being poured in the ground, mounds of dirt around. He would have to wear a hard hat for safety reasons, he would rent a villa, and Blair would stay with him. The picture formed in his mind. He'd been building it for months, but now it felt real.

"So, let's talk specifics." Jack set down his drink. "The board has one week to vote for who they want to oversee the project. I was nominated of course, and I am confident that vote will be in my favour."

"I'll start packing my bags," Chuck said.

"I wouldn't do that just yet," Jack said. "Someone else was nominated."

"So? What makes them more qualified than you?"

"While you make a good point, it doesn't negate the fact that I might have another offer on the table."

"Like what?"

"CEO of Bass Industries."

Chuck heard the words that came out from Jack's mouth, but he couldn't seem to process them. "What are you talking about? My dad's been CEO for years."

"Change is good after years of the same thing, right?"

"I don't understand. My dad would never step down from being CEO. He's the heart and soul of the company."

Jack rolled his eyes. "Let's just say nephew, that I made him an offer he couldn't refuse."

"Does this have to do with my mother?"

Jack shrugged. "Shadows are quite haunting don't you think?"

Chuck's head felt as if everything was shaken and thrown upside down. "What about the Thailand project?"

Jack chuckled. "There is no Thailand project. At least for you."

"What?" Chuck's voice began to escalate. "After all the work I put in? After everything I did for you? Everything I risked for you?"

Jack shrugged. "Please don't be dramatic. Why would a nineteen-year-old be given such a senior role on this project? You were being delusional."

"You said I'd get a spot on this project!"

"I said I'd try. I did, and someone else will get hired who is more qualified."

Chuck stood up. "I can't believe you."

"You really should," Jack said. "Because I did you a courtesy of telling you the news before you heard it through an official statement."

"How could you do this to my dad?"

"Ask Blair. She helped."

Chuck's face drained of colour. "Blair?"

"Yeah. You should ask her."

Chuck stared at his Uncle. His father warned him. How could he have been so naïve to follow his uncle all this time? The way he carried on, typing on his phone, and sipping his drink disturbed Chuck. He didn't care at all? After everything he said to him?

Chuck looked at the stranger in front of him with disgust. "You're no family member of mine."

Jack shrugged, slightly amused. "I am whether you like it or not, kid. Look, don't be huffy because you got outplayed. You did the right thing helping me out."

In that moment, it was clear to Chuck that he had certainly done the wrong thing.

When Ozzy returned home from school, his mother waited at the kitchen booth. She sat on the side of the booth that had a clear vision to the front door. She hunched over the table, leafing through brochures.

"Ozzy," she said with more enthusiasm than normal. "How was school today?"

"Not bad," he said. Today was an okay day. He didn't feel 'back to normal', and he thought about turning Catherine's offer around a couple times in his afternoon classes, but he held those urges off. He didn't know what his new normal was. Was there a normal? All he knew was that today, he had something hopeful to think about. That made today okay.

"I've had a busy, busy day, Please, sit."

Ozzy shuffled into the booth and sat across from her.

"Your dad texted me. He arrived home safely."

His parents were texting now? He was happy about that, but he had to wonder how Philip would feel about it. "Does Philip know?"

"Of course," his mom said. "He encouraged us to stay in contact for your sake."

That wasn't the answer he was looking for. Now she chose to follow full-disclosure with Philip? He would be lying to himself if he didn't admit that he hoped his parents would get back together. It was a fantastical idea, but he still clung onto that hope. He saw how they interacted with each other during that weekend. They loved each other.

"We got to talking, your father and I, and after some visits to different facilities today, we both think it would be best if we move forward by addressing what moved you to run away a few days ago."

"I'm back aren't I?"

"Yes, and we're so lucky to have found you, but we feel that it might be a good thing for you to speak to someone professionally about how you've been feeling since we moved to New York."

"What?" Ozzy scoffed. "Like a therapist?"

"Counselling, Ozzy. Look," She pushed three pamphlets across the table. "There are some of the most renowned places in the city that specialize with helping you develop the tools to use so you don't have these thoughts and spirals again."

Ozzy looked at the stock images of pale faces, smiling, holding hands in open fields with blue skies and grassy pastures. "You think I'm crazy?"

"Of course, I don't think you're crazy. That's not what we're talking about—"

"I'm not a drug addict."

"I never said you were. After sleeping on it, I knew we needed to seek help beyond our emotional means. The drugs are symptoms to something else that's going on, Ozzy. I know you probably don't feel comfortable talking about it with me, but you can talk to someone who is completely impartial, and they can give you perspective."

"So you'd rather put your faith in a stranger to fix me than me doing it?"

"Ozzy," She reached across the table and took his hand. "Going to one of these places isn't a vacation. It's going to take a lot of work for you to work through this."

He tried pulling his hand out of grip, but her grip on his hand tightened.

"I almost lost you once. I won't—we won't go through that again."

He looked at the pamphlets on the table. Something about the idea of these counselling centres scared him. He thought of the sterile grey rooms, blue uniformed nurses, pumping his arms with IVs, pills and god knows what else. He thought of lying in that room, by himself, quiet, cold, and it paralyzed him.

"Blair?" Chuck called when he arrived at the Waldorf Penthouse. Dorota appeared in the dining room, alarmed.

Chuck lowered his voice. "Is Blair in?"

As Dorota pointed to the staircase, Blair appeared. "What is it?" She jumped down the stairs two at a time. "Is something wrong?"

She reached for his hand, but Chuck shook her off. "What did you do for Jack?"

"What do you mean?"

"You can stop lying now, Blair. He told me you did something for him. What was it?"

"I-I picked up a package for him. He sent it to my mother's office. He said it was really important—"

"And, what? You didn't think to tell me?"

"Jack said not to," Blair said.

"Really, Blair? After what happened in the fall you'd think you'd learn."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Blair's tone turned sharper. "I did what he asked for you."

"For me? Really? Tell me, what was in the package?"

'A memo and blueprints. I couldn't really tell what they meant, but Jack assured me it was for the Thailand project. He didn't want to worry you—why are you looking at me like that?"

Chuck shook his head and chuckled. "You believed that?"

"Didn't you?"

"There is no Thailand project, Blair! Jack used us to be CEO of Bass Industries."

"Wait, what?"

"He's got something on my dad. I think Bart is going to step down on Monday."

"Wait, no. We have to do something then! We can't let Jack get away with this."

Chuck held Blair's hands. "I think you've done enough."

Blair pulled her hands back as if she was slapped. "Chuck, I know you're upset—"

"Upset? Blair you have no idea what you've done."

Tears started to well in her eyes. "I didn't know, Chuck. You didn't either. I-I was doing this for you—"

"It doesn't matter! When I said that we don't keep secrets from each other, this is why. We're supposed to be a team, Blair."

"We are a team," Blair said in a small voice.

"You don't get it! This isn't just between you and me anymore. This affects my family! This could destroy my family. Do you understand?"

"But Chuck—"

"Save it. This isn't high school anymore. This is real this time. Now with my father and uncle going at it, it's war."

Tears dripped down Blair's cheeks. "I didn't mean to—"

"You didn't know, but you still lied to me. Again." Chuck turned to the elevator.

"Chuck wait! I can explain—"

He punched the elevator button. "I think you've explained enough."

When Bart returned to the penthouse that evening, he went straight to the bar. He poured himself a scotch, swallowed it, and refilled his glass. It was late that evening. He skipped dinner, and he was grateful that everyone seemed to be in their rooms. Bart moved to the couch and sat down. He swirled his drink, and his brother's words repeated in his mind.

The rest of his day had been a haze. He physically attended meetings, voted on decisions, made notes on potential projects, but every spare thought brought him back to his brother. He wondered how his brother found Douglas Hunter. He wondered how he found the blueprints to the building, they were old, outdated, and didn't reflect the current high rise that was a pillar in Bass Industries' portfolio.

Most of all, he wondered how he let this happen. How did he get so comfortable? He knew that his brother was after something when he arrived months ago. He should have nipped his hopes in the bud, sent him back to Australia sooner, forced Chuck not to see him. He was no brother of his. He was an estranged man who thirsted to take everything he achieved.

"Hey, dad," Evelyn's voice wafted from the kitchen. She held a bowl in both hands and put it in the sink. "We missed you at dinner."

"Oh, dinner. Yes, I missed it too. I had lots of work and meetings. How was your day?"

"It needed a bit of sweetening. Don't tell Lily, but I finished her Ben and Jerry's."

Evelyn rounded the bar and took a seat beside him. "I just got off the phone with Aunt Kim. She says hello."

"And how is she doing?"

"She's fine. I was actually talking to her about the summer, and we both agreed that taking on an internship would be a good idea. I was thinking of applying to the hospitals in the city. You know those board members I met at the your brunch in September? Could you give me their contact information?

"That's an excellent idea. I can call up Frank Verone and Micheal Hill if you want. I can give you their phone number so you can reach them?"

"Really? That would be a good start I think. I don't know, I've never done this before," Evelyn chuckled. "I think it would be a good idea to stay busy this summer. Given the recent drama that's going down at school, scrapping bedpans would be a good distraction."

"Is everything alright?"

Evelyn waved him off. "Yeah. Just girl drama. I'm trying to stay out of it from now on."

"Good thinking."

Jack's words played in his mind again. His hand was forced and he had to choose: his company or his family. He would be lying if he didn't admit that he thought about choosing the company. After all, it was the one thing he'd worked for the most and spent the most time with. It was his longest standing companion.

As his daughter sat beside him, he couldn't possibly see how he couldn't pick the latter. She had grown into his life again, become a part of him that was cut out all those years ago. He couldn't imagine the pain of losing her again.

Out of all the things that could have brought him down, he never thought ancient history would be one of them. Most people forgot history, or simply didn't care. But it became a weapon much stronger than a turn in the stock market, a recession even, or mistakes that give advantage to a competitor.

He tried to think of a way out of choosing. He thought about any angle that would clear his name in court. He had to be proven without a shadow of a doubt, no? He tried to assess his options, analyze, and evaluate the best course of action. Bart looked back at his daughter and he took another drink.

It was late, but Chuck hoped his father was still awake. The afternoon had been a whirlwind. After meeting up with Jack in the afternoon, then Blair, he went to Central Park to clear his head. He needed to make sense of what he learned today before he went to see his father. Once he went to find him at his office, he was already gone. Now, he found himself hoping he hadn't gone to bed early. He couldn't fathom how his father could with the news Jack told him today.

Chuck stepped out of the elevator and searched the penthouse for his father. It was quiet, and he couldn't see anyone in the living room. Chuck walked down the long corridor and saw his father in the kitchen. He wore his robe over his pajamas, as he was putting his glass in the dishwasher.

"Chuck? It's late. What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you."

"Is something wrong?"

"You tell me," Chuck said. "Is it true that you're stepping down as CEO from Bass Industries?"

"Where did you hear that?"

"From your successor!" Chuck hissed.

"Jack? You're still talking to Jack after I told you not to?"

"Is what he told me true?"

"Why don't we stop answering questions with more questions?" Bart said. He tucked his fists in the pockets of his robes. "You need to first tell me what's been going on."

Chuck didn't answer immediately. He knew his father wouldn't like his answers. "Jack never went back to Australia. He's been working here since you dismissed him."

Bart inhaled sharply. "And?"

"I helped him with the legwork for the Thailand project. I thought it would lead to an internship this summer."

"So you were helping Jack with that?"

"Just that. Nothing else."

Bart shook his head. "And what happened today?"

"He told me that it wouldn't work out and said that you would step down as CEO. Is that true?"

"I haven't made a decision yet. Your uncle shouldn't get ahead of himself."

Bart looped around the kitchen and began towards the stairs. Chuck watched him go with more questions than answers. "What does Jack have on you?"

Bart paused at the foot of the staircase and looked over his shoulder. "Nothing that concerns you."

"But this could be a major blow to our family. I'm not going to just stand by as Jack takes over."

"I appreciate your concern," Bart said. "But you've helped make this a bigger mess already. Listen to me very clearly, Chuck. Stay out of it. I mean it. Go on a trip with Blair, or Nate, but if you want to help, stay out of the way. And whatever you do, do not tell Evelyn any of this. Can you do that?"

Chuck swallowed hard. Could he? He desperately wanted to know what happened. He now understood what a snake Jack was. Even more importantly, he wanted to get back at him, and fix the mistakes he made. How could he just sit back and do nothing?"

"Will you do that for me?" His father rephrased.

"I will."

Two weeks passed, and Evelyn didn't hear much from Dash. She waited for him to give her an answer, an indication, or a reassurance that he could indeed finally let go of his insecurities and trust her. She couldn't catch his eye when they passed in the hallway, she didn't see him in the courtyard, and every time she checked her phone when she received a text, she was always disappointed that it wasn't from him.

Evelyn lingered in the halls on the final day of school. All of the lockers hung open, abandoned. Creased and crumpled papers littered the hallways. A couple pencils rolled about. Each opened locker revealed a darkness inside that she didn't look into. She focused on arriving at her locker, proceeding through the routine of unlocking her lock for the last time that year. She snapped the lock open and shut the lock on its own. Then, she dropped it in her tote.

Was this how a relationship ended? The words hadn't been uttered, but she found herself in a period of silence that signalled an end. It wasn't definite, explosive, but it was quieter than a whimper. It was a silence that faded, receded like a shore line.

Evelyn pulled out her remaining two binders from her locker. She checked every corner in her locker in case she had forgotten something. She didn't. She never did.

She was the only one in the hallway now. Evelyn looked back and then forward for a sign, for something to call her from one of those directions. Silence.

Evelyn slung her bag over her shoulder and moved forward. She dragged her feet to the nearest exit that would take her down the stairs and through the front gates of the school. She would walk all the way back to her building, her room. Maybe she would do something with Eric. Maybe she'd call Jenny or Ozzy. She didn't really know what she was going to do.

"Evelyn, wait."

Dash stood at the opposite end of the hallway. His sleeves were rolled up to elbows, his tie loose.

Evelyn just stared at him. His cheeks were rosy, as if he had run back to school. She'd been waiting two weeks for this moment. Why didn't she feel any relief from the anticipation?

He walked towards her. "I went to the penthouse and you weren't there."

"I was in a meeting with Coach McKingley after school. She's hoping to hold soccer practices over the summer for the girls that will be in the city."

"I'm glad I caught you," Dash said. "I want to talk to you."

"To tell me your verdict?"

"Yes."

"And? Is this over?"

His brows scrunched together. "No. Why? Do you want to break up with me?"

"Well, no, but we haven't really had much of a relationship these days."

"I'm sorry," Dash said. "I was conflicted, and I didn't want to be rash with this. Didn't work out so well last time. Then something else came up."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. It's good news. Sort of. Anyway, I do trust you, Evelyn. It's just…I don't think you see this, but you like have this connection with Ozzy that always made me uneasy. That night, it just seemed impenetrable. That's why it's so easy to jump to conclusions."

"It's not like that," Evelyn said. "He's my friend, but you're supposed to be my best friend. Honestly, I think we're going in circles here."

"I know. That's why I want to put this behind us. I trust you, and if you want to spend time with him you can. Maybe it would be better if we all spent time together. Look, I really don't want to lose this. I love you, and I don't want to hurt you anymore."

He took her hand then the other. Evelyn closed her eyes, absorbing the warmth from his hands. She missed this. She missed him.

"What do you think?"

She stepped forward and into his embrace. She breathed him in, the spice in his cologne mixed with the sweat that dried on his neck. Evelyn rested her cheek on his shoulder, her lips brushing the skin on his neck. She lifted her head and kissed the same spot again. Dash pulled away and looked at her with an intensity and vulnerability she hadn't seen in a while.

Without a word, he cupped her cheek and kissed her. The kiss was different this time. He kissed her as if it were his last. It was odd to start with an ending, but that's what it felt like to Evelyn. Dash kissed her with such passion that her knees felt weak. They stumbled back, entangled, until Evelyn's back pushed in the door of one of the open lockers. The door slammed, echoing down the hallway, and the darkness inside the locker was concealed behind Evelyn's back.

Dash jumped back, startled. His breaths were ragged, and his eyes darted from side to side.

Evelyn caressed his cheek. "Dash?"

He flinched, startled like a deer. "I'm sorry. I-I…"

"Is everything okay?"

Fear plagued his eyes. His grip on her tightened, and after a few breaths, he relaxed. "It is now."

Evelyn smiled. "Good. I don't know how much longer I could have stuck it out for a stalemate."

"Speaking of stalemates," Dash said. "I had one with my father this week. I applied for internships this summer and I got one."

"Dash, that's great."

"Yeah it is but there's one problem."

"What is it?"

It's in South Korea."

"South Korea?"

"Yeah. My dad convinced me to apply, and that it would be a good opportunity to practice my Korean, so after a stalemate, I'm going."

"All summer?"

"Most of it."

Evelyn nodded. "That's okay. No, that's great."

"No, it's not. I'm going to be away from you."

"In the short term. But this is an excellent opportunity. You can't say no to it."

Dash pulled her away from the locker. "I knew you'd say that."

"Come on. It'll be okay," Evelyn pulled Dash towards the nearest door. "We have Skype, and we can still text. We'll figure out this whole long-distance thing."

She walked through the door first and soaked in the warm sunlight above her. She heard the familiar honks and sirens from streets away. She even found herself smiling. Everything was okay today. She didn't find herself struggling to cut through the dark waters in that moment. Instead, she was planted firmly on the concrete where she belonged. She would spend the summer storming the patient rooms in Mount Siami Hospital and kick a ball around in Central Park.

She hadn't spent a summer in New York before. She wouldn't have Dash around to explore it with. It should have made her sad, but she was content with it. She didn't need him to be there like he needed her. She would find her way, find who she wanted to spend time with. He would find his.

Summer promised a new beginning she didn't think she needed. She didn't know what was in her path ahead of her, but this time she didn't feel nervous or anxious. This wasn't her first big change. That happened when she moved to New York a year ago. But the challenge that lied ahead was making New York her home.

Chuck tipped the empty bottle of scotch to allow every last drop to drip into his glass. He would hate to be waste even a drop from his vintage collection. Normally, such a limited collection was reserved for special occasions, happy occasions, but the way Chuck saw it, he was in the midst of realizing a special occasion. He and Blair had broken up.

He didn't say those words to her explicitly, but he thought he was clear. He didn't want to see her. He didn't want to know how much she was involved with his family matters or with Jack. Most of all, he forgave her and trusted her again, and she went rogue again.

He washed his mouth with the same richness of flavour that he'd grown to love. What was he going to do? Not only had Blair betrayed him, but his father refused to let him help with anything. How could he just do nothing? Chuck Bass was many things, but helpless was never one of them. He felt as if his wrists were tied together like a prisoner.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Chuck sighed and slumped further into the couch. He opted to skip overseeing his move out from the dorms a couple days ago to seep in the silence of his suite at the Palace. Was it Blair? Maybe if he didn't answer, she would just go away.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Chuck rubbed his eyes. Who was he kidding? Since when did Blair ever walk away?

Chuck struggled to stand, and he swayed to the door.

"Nate?"

"Finally! I've been looking all over for you," Nate said. "Didn't you get my calls or texts?"

Chuck leaned against the door. "I don't know where my phone is."

Nate brushed past him and inspected the room as if looking for something or rather, someone.

Chuck swung the door shut. He winced when the door slammed.

"I heard what happened," Nate said.

Chuck ambled toward the couch. He collapsed and sprawled his arms to both sides. "I guess this means you won the bet after all."

"What happened?"

Chuck rolled his head to face Nate. "Did Blair send you?"

"No. I've been looking for you since you didn't show up to move your stuff out of the dorm. Seriously where is your phone?" Nate began to pace around the suite, looking under pillows into drawers.

"Thank you for the concern, but I'm doing fine."

Nate, now inspecting the shelf underneath the coffee table, pointed to the empty scotch bottle. "Not as fine as that vintage was."

Chuck smirked. "Quality makes all the difference, Nathaniel."

Nate stood up. "Seriously, what happened?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"I don't care if you want to," Nate said. "Blair's very worried…"

"I think….my family is in jeopardy," Chuck said.

"Financially?"

"No. My dad….and my uncle…it's all a mess. Fighting for the business. My dad told me to stay out of it. Too bad Blair couldn't."

"What does Blair have to do with this?"

"She went behind my back and helped Jack. He's got something on my dad, but I don't know what."

"Does Evelyn know?"

"No. She's out of it. For the best really. Wish I was. But now that I'm not, I want to know, but I can't do anything about it. Bart made it clear I am to stay out of it."

"You're not making much sense," Nate said.

"Dad wants me to go away for a while. It doesn't matter where, but somewhere far away, so he can hopefully clean up this mess."

"Okay, but I'm coming with you."

He chuckled. "What? Don't you have an internship at the mayor's office this summer?"

Nate shook his head. "I don't know about you, but I feel burnt out after first year. I talked to my grandfather, and we agreed that I'd start that up next summer. I'm free, and I certainly can't let you go wherever it is you want to go like this, alone."

"Thanks, Nathaniel."

"You've done the same for me."

"Touché." Chuck finished the last of his drink. "So where are we going?"

Nate looked around the room and noticed a globe on one of the dressers. He picked it up and brought it to Chuck. "How about we spin it, see where it lands, and start there?"

Chuck spun the wheel and waited for Nate to press his index finger to a spot on the globe, to a place far, far away from Blair, his father, and the whole mess with Jack. Nate showed Chuck where his finger landed, and Chuck felt his ropey shackles loosen. If he couldn't do anything to help the situation, the best thing he could do was leave it.

"Should I spin it again?" Nate said.

Chuck shook his head. Chance was meant to happen only once.

"Wake up sleepy head!"

Blair groaned and pulled the covers over her head despite wearing a sleeping mask. Didn't Dorota know to leave her alone? So she'd been cooped up in her room for the past few days with Dom and Godiva Gold collection. There was no place she'd rather be.

"The first thing I do when I come home is to see my best friend, and this is the welcome I get? Come on, get up!"

Blair rolled her covers back and pushed her sleeping mask onto her forehead. She already knew by the sound of the voice who was there. "I'm sorry, S, but I don't want to."

Serena was a radiant sight for sore eyes. Her hair was darker than she remembered, a dirty blond in need of sun. She wore jeans and a peach blouse. "Well that's too bad. Move over."

Blair groaned as she rolled over to give space for Serena. Serena sat in her place, back against the headboard and put the covers over her legs. It reminded Blair of their sleepovers when they were little. Serena was the one who usually overslept not her.

"So, do you want to talk about it?"

"No," Blair said through her pillow.

"Have you talked to him since?"

Blair rolled on her back. "No. It's over Serena. I make one mistake, and it's over."

"I haven't seen Chuck at the penthouse at all, which makes me think that your version is the nicer version."

"Whose side are you on?"

"Yours. Always," Serena said. "But I'd like to know what it is I'm supporting."

Blair rehashed the events. She admitted that she didn't tell Chuck that she did Jack a favour, and that she may have been willfully blind while doing said favour.

"I mean, it's not like I knew what masterplan Jack had. How could I? I tried to stay out of it."

"Until you couldn't."

"I thought I was doing the right thing. Jack sent those files to my mom's office. What else could I have done?"

"Well, you could have said no," Serena said.

"You never take my side."

"Blair, of course I take your side. I'm just playing…devil's advocate."

"Well, I don't know why Chuck is so set off. If anything, he should be mad at Jack."

"He definitely is, but maybe he's channeling his animosity through you. It still was a betrayal. B, it's one thing to manipulate Chuck to do what you want, but you were manipulated this time, and the consequences are bigger this time. This time, you can't do damage control."

"I know." Blair reached for another Godiva chocolate. When she saw that the box was empty, she threw it to the ground. "Do you think he's ever going to forgive me?"

"It depends. If things get sorted out with his family, then maybe. It'll just take time."

Blair sighed. "But I want it fixed now."

"I know. But listen, we can make the time go by way faster together."

'How?"

"By shopping of course!" Serena threw off the covers and jumped to her feet. "It's time for some retail therapy."

"No," Blair said.

Serena put her hands on her hips. "What do you mean no? Blair, you've never said no to a shopping trip."

"What's the point? I'm never showing my face again."

Serena reached for Blair's arms and pulled her to an upright position. "Okay, you need an attitude change. The glass is half full, not half empty."

"Spare me Serena. I don't even know what I'm going to do this summer. I was supposed to go to Thailand, and now…"

"You were going to go?" Serena said.

"Of course. To support Chuck. Not that he seems to care about that."

"Blair, I get that it's important to be a supportive partner, but what about you? Is that what you wanted to do this summer?"

"Of course," Blair said. "What feminist class did you take at Brown?"

"Okay, I may have taken one this term, but Blair, it's really opened my eyes to a lot of things. For one, neither of us know how to drive."

"That's what drivers are for," Blair said.

"Yeah, but wouldn't you like to know the skill?"

"Not really. Cars kill people."

"Okay, let's try a different approach. Close your eyes. If you could picture where you want to be in the summer, without Chuck. Where would it be?"

Blair closed her eyes and did her best to push any thought or reminder of Chuck aside. He popped up a couple times, but she pushed it away. Where was the best place to be in the summer? She reminisced on fresh air and the smell of freshly baked croissants. She pictured her favorite Monet painting in the Louvre. She pictured her dad and Roman at their vineyard, smiling. She heard the sound of a wave crashing, seaside.

"Whatever you're thinking about must be good," Serena said. "You're smiling."

Blair opened her eyes and for the first time since the break-up, she felt a lightness inside her. She was able to think of something other than Chuck.

"What did you think of?"

"Paris," Blair said. "And Daddy, and Cat." She hadn't heard from her father in a while. She didn't realize how much she missed him until then. Nobody but her father could help soothe a broken heart.

"I can't believe that worked," Serena said under her breath.

Blair rolled out of bed and stood in front of the mirror. Her hair was matted, and she had been wearing the same pyjama set for the past few days. Did she really let herself go this much? How did she let that happen? Blair looked at the mirror with a look of horror.

"Of my God," Blair said. "I need a shower. Stat."

"I didn't want to be the one to tell you, but…"

"And I need to shop. Now."

"Thank God. I have nothing to wear for the summer."

"Me neither. We're going to need a whole new wardrobe for Paris," Blair said. The plan was already formulating in her head. She finally felt like she had a purpose again.

"We?"

"Of course. What do you think I'd leave you here alone? We haven't been together for the whole year!"

Serena smiled. "So, we're doing this?"

Blair thought about the way she had moped through the past few days. She wondered what she did wrong, what she should have done, and what she needed to do to fix everything. Never once did she wonder what she needed. She only pondered what she needed to give. The truth was that she couldn't do anything to change the situation. All she could do was take care of herself.

"Yes. Yes we are."

When Ozzy first visited the Ostroff Centre, he concluded that it was no more than a medical hotel. On each floor, there was a front desk with separate rooms lined on each side. The rooms were furnished like a hotel room complete with a single bed in the middle of the room, a seating area with coffee chairs, a small wardrobe and ensuite bathroom. The blinds were titled up, blocking the sun.

Their tour guide spoke on and on about the state of the art facilities which included an art room, gym, swimming pool, and library. He heard her go on, yet his eyes wandered through the windows of the other patient rooms. Some were occupied, others weren't. He saw different patients sitting around or reading. They didn't seem to be doing much else.

At the end of their tour, his mom turned to him. "So, what did you think?"

"I dunno."

"I thought the swimming pool would be good for you."

"Yeah, if it were summer camp," Ozzy said.

"Ozzy, give this a chance. Nothing will change if you're going to be stubborn about this."

"You're not the one who has to live here," Ozzy said. His mom swallowed and began walking ahead of him.

Ozzy picked up the pace to catch up with her, "Look, I'm just saying that I think it's going to be lonely. Did you see those kids in the rooms? They're there all by themselves. Trapped."

"Why must you always insist that you're always alone? You won't be here by yourself. I'm not going to just drop you off and let the professionals do their work. We've always been weathering the storms together. It wasn't perfect, and it didn't always work, but we tried. I'm not going to leave you here alone, do you understand? I will be here with you every day."

"You haven't always done that."

His mom grabbed his hand. "It's not going to be like before. Everything is different now."

"One week," Ozzy said. "If it's not working after one week, you take me out."

"Deal, but if you stay, your father will visit you. Regularly."

"That's not a deal. It's more of an ultimatum."

His mom grinned. "Didn't you just give me one?"

Ozzy looked at the last door at the end of the short hallway. "Which room would be mine?"

"One twenty-two."

He moved toward the room, not only to appease his mom, but to calm his own nerves. His days would be structured here with counselling sessions in the mornings followed by physical activities and lunch. There were field trips set up to different places like the MET, the New York Public Library, and the Museum of Natural History. It sounded like a rehab summer camp. He'd never been to summer camp.

Ozzy opened the door to see the same configuration and furniture as every other room. The room smelled like lemon polish, fresh and artificial, but the only thing he noticed above all of these trivial decorations was Evelyn sitting on the bed.

"Evelyn? What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for you of course. You walk slow." She had a bowl of guacamole in her lap. She dipped a tortilla chip in the dip and ate it. "I see why you like this now, but maybe that's because I made this dip. Want some?"

Ozzy looked at his mother. Then, Dash appeared from the bathroom. He wiped his hands on his pants.

"Okay, what is going on here," Ozzy said.

Evelyn stood and offered the bowl of dip to him. "Your mom and I were talking, and we both thought this would be the best fit for you this summer to get back on your feet. My step-brother, Eric, spent some time here a couple years ago, and said that it was helpful. He also is available anytime to talk if we can't understand what you're going through by living here."

Many thoughts spun in his mind. Evelyn and his mom now talked? Dash was in the same room as him and Evelyn? Eric Van der Woodsen spent time in rehab?

"Also," Evelyn said. "I will be in the city all summer, so I will make sure that you will be so surrounded by amazing people that you will have no choice but ask me to leave."

"That's—" Ozzy noticed Dash come closer. He placed his arm around Evelyn's waist. He didn't glare at him or seem at all angry at Evelyn's proclamation that she would spend time with him this summer. His eye remained on Evelyn, holding her as if she were fragile, fearful that she would break if he let her go.

"That's so generous," He finished.

Evelyn rolled her eyes. "And we'll have to Skype Dash too."

"Why?" Ozzy asked.

"I'll be in Korea this summer for an internship. I haven't had the chance to tell you, but I'll be gone for most of the summer. We'll hang out before I go."

"Yeah, sure. It's been awhile."

"Too long," Dash agreed. "We all just want to see you happy."

"I don't know what to say," Ozzy said.

"You don't have to say anything," His mom said. "Just remember this. Remember how this made you feel when you don't feel as good on your bad days."

"I don't deserve it."

"No one deserves anything. Take grace," Dash said. "It's like goodwill."

Even though the room was unfamiliar, the furniture used by however many guests, the room was full of familiar faces, and that might be enough grace to get him through the summer.

Bart read over the last draft of the contract. A large part of him couldn't believe it had come to this. He read through every line, inspected every detail his lawyers countered in subsequent drafts to include in the contract. Was he really going to give up everything he had worked for?

He had went back and forth with this for the past two weeks. On some days, he felt confident that it was worth it. Today, he wasn't so sure. He thought back of the grueling hours he spent building the company from the ground up. He sacrificed almost everything for this company. It paid itself back to him. How could he possibly throw that all away?

He hadn't talked to Lily about this. How would he explain it? Stepping down from CEO of Bass Industries would be a major shock to his family, but to the city itself. It would make stockholders nervous at such a radical shift in leadership. In the contract, the transition wouldn't be swift, but more languid to ensure that the transition would be as smooth and controlled as possible both personally and publicly.

Bart flipped to the next page. His eyes scanned the articles and sections desperately in search of a loophole, an escape from this whole mess. Chuck was already aware of the situation, but he managed to handle him. Sent him away for now and talk about it later. Evelyn was still in the dark, but he hoped to do it privately, over dinner this week.

But what would he do? All he knew was how to work. He was always working towards a goal, and in a couple weeks, he wouldn't have to get up and be at work for nine. What would he do without it? How would he fill the hours of his normal workday? What would his friends say behind his back?

In that moment, he hated his brother. He hated him for putting him in this position, and he hated him even more for putting his family through upcoming uncertainty. No matter how much he hated him, he had won. Jack would probably remind him of this fact for the rest of their lives.

Bart neared the last page of the contract where the dotted line was etched, empty.

"Are you going to sign it or what?" Jack said from the doorway.

Bart picked up his pen. Like most successful businessmen, Bart was always willing to buy and sell at the right price. But there was no price high enough for Bass Industries. It was like a child to him. A child that he had nurtured from its infancy to its now global empire. How could he give that up?

"I wonder what Misty would do," Jack said.

Bart's grip on the pen tightened. He scribbled his signature on the line.

Bart was always willing to buy or sell at the right price, and he knew this wasn't the right price. It was nowhere near. But this time, his family wouldn't bear the cost.

And all in an instant, everything changes. We leave the past behind and speed towards the unknown. Our future. We set out for faraway places and try to find ourselves, or we set out to try and lose ourselves. Perhaps we start exploring pleasures closer to home. The problems start when we refuse to let change happen and cling onto old habits. But if we hold on to the past too tight, the future may never come.

You Know You Love Me,

XOXO Gossip Girl

END OF PART TWO

A/N: We have finally made it to the end of Part 2 readers! Can you believe it? The story will continue for the third and final part of this crazy story. Stakes will rise, hearts will break, truths will be revealed, and we will FINALLY find out the curious case of Misty Bass!

So what's next you may ask? The first chapter of Part 3 will be titled: "The Unusual Suspects".

I just want to say a big thank you to all the readers around the world who have read, favourited, reviewed, and have followed this story over the years! I always thought this story would be best shared and hearing from all of you on a regular basis has really made writing this project as fun and rewarding as it's been.

Let me know what your theories are for what's to come in Part 3 with a review! See you all next time for the beginning of Part 3!

Till next time,

XOXO, EZ11