Disclaimer: I only own the story specific characters I created. The originals belong to Cecily von Zeigesar and The CW.
"Staying late, I see," Eddie popped his head into Charlotte's office a few weeks after their previous encounter. It was after eight in the evening. Everyone in her division had left for the evening.
"You too apparently," Charlotte looked up briefly from her paperwork with a slight smile, "Enjoying how things are run in New York or ready to go back to London?"
"It's a bit more intense here," Eddie sat himself down in the chair opposite her desk, "You're father is quite demanding."
"He knows what he wants," Charlotte kept her focus on her paperwork, "It's up to the rest of us to make what he wants happen."
"You're really serious about this job," Eddie studied her for a moment.
"I have a lot to learn," Charlotte flipped to the next page of her report after leaving a comment on the first page, "I may be next in line for the CEO's office, but he's not going to give it to me until I'm ready. Even then it's up to the Board of Directors to keep my seat. I'm not some spoiled little rich girl who expects Daddy to hand me his job. What I get, I intend to earn."
"Never thought you were," Eddie stated.
Charlotte looked up for a few moments and their eyes locked. "Thank you."
"How about some dinner?" Eddie suggested, "Even future CEOs need to eat once in awhile."
"I have a lot of work left," Charlotte looked to the stack of papers.
"It will still be there tomorrow. Come on, I know a great little place. Best pizza in New York City…you do eat pizza, don't you?" he gave her a mischievous smile.
"What do you take me for? A spoiled Upper East Side Snob?" Charlotte began closing file folders while tossing Eddie an annoyed look.
Eddie tossed up his hands in mock surrender.
"How'd the first few weeks treat you?" Eddie guided her to the elevator bank with his hand at the small of her back, his messenger bag slung over his shoulders.
"I'm the boss's daughter," she sighed, "Which apparently is a communicable disease because people barely speak to me. My boss even shakes when he hands me new work."
"Yet you had a pile of files on your desk to go through," he hit the elevator call button.
"I had to ask for them," she frowned, "I'm not asking for special treatment, but I'm getting the kid gloves."
"It will get better," he offered when the elevator arrived and the doors slid open. Again his hand went to the small of her back to guide her in. Charlotte's breath hitched at the spark she felt course through her. She'd never felt anything like it.
"Evening, Ms. Bass, " the elevator's only occupant greeted her nervously before abruptly exiting the car.
"See what I mean," Charlotte frowned, her finger mashing against the first floor button, "I've ridden this elevator solo every night."
"That's not necessarily a bad thing," he chuckled, "Some of those perfumes and colognes are mighty strong."
"Is my perfume too strong?" she held her wrist to his nose.
"Not at all," he gave her a half smirk.
Outside Bass Towers, Eddie went to hail a cab.
"I thought you said this place was close," she grasped his hand before he could wave it.
"It is," he turned towards her, glancing at the shoes on her feet, "I'd hate for your feet to blister on the walk."
"Don't be ridiculous. These shoes are more comfortable than they look," she rolled her eyes and linked arm with him, "Lead the way."
"Is there a curfew I should be aware of?" he inquired.
"Good grief," she rolled her eyes yet again, "I'm twenty-two years old. I haven't had a curfew since I turned eighteen."
"Still I'd rather not have your father call out the dogs if you arrive home late," he responded, "You forget how intimately familiar my mother is with your father's antics. He is a bit...overprotective when it comes to his children."
"He also recognizes I'm an adult with the ability to make my own choices," she replied, "It isn't like he's waiting up for me. I do have my own place. It's in my parents' building, but it's all my own. I tip the doorman well enough to ensure my business is my own."
"That has to be the most fantastic gig in New York City," he snorted, "Between you and your father, that doorman probably pulls in six figures easy."
"So right," she laughed, " Daddy always taught me to treat those people well because they have information people with agendas might want, and I'd rather keep myself off Page Six as much as possible."
"Does that mean you do things worthy of Page Six?" he raised a curious brow, "I've always been under the impression that Charlotte Bass is practically perfect in every way."
"I just happen to be good at keeping my business off the radar. I'm not perfect, far from it, but I know to keep my business out of the public eye," she explained, "Tipping doormen, waiters, drivers, bouncers is a good way to start."
"I bet your father's considerable influence helps a bit," Eddie prodded her, "Does he own those newspapers yet? Mom says he's always threatening to buy them and put them out of business."
"I try to keep my business off Daddy's radar too," she replied, "I'd rather not be followed around with bodyguards and private investigators."
"Good evening, Char," the man behind the counter greeted Charlotte when she entered Jovanni's Pizza after the short walk.
"Hi, Joey," Charlotte gave him her typical flirtatious smile.
"The usual?" he wiped at the counter.
"You know me well," she nodded.
"New friend?" he eyed Eddie up and down with an appreciative glance.
"Old friend," Charlotte replied, "Eddie and I go way back. He's known me since I was in pigtails."
"We go back farther than that," Eddie laughed, "I remember you as a baby screaming your lungs out."
"Don't be ridiculous," she huffed, "I never did such a thing."
"Sure you did," his shoulder's shook in amusement. He put in his order, paid the bill and then led her to an empty table. "So I take it you've been here before."
"Best pizza in the city," she nodded, "Dad would take me here after a board meeting at Bass when I was a little girl if I was super good. Of course I was always super good, so we came here often. It was a treat for me as Mom refused to lower herself to pizza, except when she was pregnant. I come here all the time, and I love it."
"I'm going to make it my mission to find hidden gems you haven't tried in this city," he replied.
"Good luck with that," she sung out sweetly, "I'm confident I've been to every good restaurant in Manhattan."
"Sounds like a challenge."
"Bring it on," she responded confidently.
Joey brought out their slices of pizza and addressed Charlotte, "I threw in those cinnamon sticks you like so much...on the house."
"You're the best, Joey," Charlotte beamed in reply. "You always take such good care of me."
Joey blushed and returned to his place behind the counter.
"I think someone has a crush on you," Eddie teased, eyeing Charlotte's slice of pizza. It was much larger than his own.
"I'm not his type," Charlotte snorted, "I think he's trying to impress someone else at this table."
Eddie choked on his bite of pizza.
"Don't sound so surprised," she tapped at his shoulder in scolding, "You are a pretty handsome fella."
"He's not my type," he swallowed.
"What is your type?" she picked up her pizza slice and took a bite.
Eddie choked a second time.
"You do know how to chew, don't you?...If I remember right, you brought that brunette to several galas. Didn't see her last year though," Charlotte teased.
"Heather," Eddie cleared his throat, "I'm not seeing her anymore. She wanted a commitment I didn't want."
"You don't want to get married?" Charlotte inquired.
"I didn't want to marry her," Eddie clarified, "I have no problem with commitment or marriage, as long as it's the right two people making the commitment. I look to my parents...and your parents, and I know what it looks like. I haven't had it."
"It's hard to believe two people can be as happy together as my parents," Charlotte sighed, "It's a hard example to have. It's clearly out there, but I haven't found it either. Sometimes I think I never well, certainly not to their level. Twenty five years of marriage later and they're still as passionate about each other as they've always have been."
"How did they meet?" he inquired.
"High school," Charlotte replied.
"High school sweethearts then," he assumed.
"No, god no," Charlotte laughed, "I wouldn't call them that. I mean, they did hook up in high school for a bit, but they didn't start a real relationship until after they graduated. Dad had commitment issues, and Mom dated my uncle, Nate, forever."
"I thought your dad was an only child," he frowned.
"He is," Charlotte backpedaled a bit, "It's an honorary title. He's dad's best friend. Dad does have two stepsiblings from when Grandpa Bart married Grandma Lily. Dad doesn't really see them as stepsiblings anymore. They're just Aunt Serena and Uncle Eric."
"So your mom dated your dad's best friend. Isn't it a bit against the bro code to date your best friend's ex?" Eddie took another bit of his pizza. His mom had never given him the backstory on her boss and his wife. He found this soap opera a bit more interesting than he probably should.
"You have to have known my dad back then to really get the thought process," Charlotte explained, "He'd been in love with Mom since he was a very young boy, but she was always with Uncle Nate. Uncle Nate was the closest thing Dad really had to family. When Mom and Nate broke up, Dad says he couldn't help himself...didn't want to help himself. It didn't last for very long. It was in secret. They were both insecure about where they stood with the other. Mom was too caught up in what society thought. She got back together with Uncle Nate...a couple of times. Eventually it was just something they could no longer ignore. They just fit together. When they finally got together, they never let go...They never will."
"Sounds kinda like a cheesy fairytale," Eddie noted.
"Because it is," Charlotte's eyes lit up in amusement, "That's how Dad used to tell it to me, as a bedtime story. It was about Princess Blair and how her Prince Charles came to rescue her from a mundane life. I was six...I think, when I realized the story he was telling me was about them. It was definitely the G version of their tale. I kinda wish I hadn't grown up, so he'd still tell it. I recorded it once without him knowing. I wish I knew where I put the tape."
"It's probably in that colossal closet you have," he teased.
"Your parents have to have their own great story," Charlotte stated, "Dad always says it was their stable influence which kept him and Mom together."
"It's a pretty simple story really," he shrugged, "They met in college, got married, had two kids. No drama."
"But they're happy," Charlotte offered.
"Nearly forty years later, yes, they are," he confirmed.
"Does Eugenia ever talk about retirement?"
"Not really," he shook his head, "Especially since your dad hired her an assistant of her own."
"An assistant to an assistant?" Charlotte lifted a brow.
"I think it was his way of lightening her load to keep her happy," Eddie stated, "She mostly handles the Bass charities stuff and the annual Christmas Gala. She likes coming into the office everyday. She likes the rapport she has with your dad."
"Dad dreads the day she turns in her retirement paperwork," Charlotte stated.
"So does Mom," Eddie laughed.
"I think the day she does retire will be the same day Dad does, so for my sake, I hope it's ten, fifteen years down the road," she smiled.
"Not ready for the big office yet?" he asked, "Your dad took control pretty young, and he's done quite well for himself."
"According to Dad, every success he's ever had is due to Mom."
"It's a hard legacy to live up to, your father, I mean," Eddie stated.
"Yeah," she nodded, "He's a brilliant businessman. I hope to be able to one day achieve even a sliver of his success."
"You will," Eddie assured her.
"Thanks for seeing me home," Charlotte stated just before stepping out of the cab.
"It's what a gentleman does."
"Gentleman, huh," she chuckled, "Been awhile since I've been around one of those."
"See you at work tomorrow?" he inquired.
"I'll be there," she replied, "Thank you for dinner."
"I meant what I said about finding those hidden gems of Manhattan you haven't tasted yet," he stated.
"Next meal is on me," she insisted as the doorman came to open the door for her.
"Deal," he called after her when she walked to the door.
"Thanks, Pete," Charlotte tipped the doorman generously.
"Working late already?" the doorman tipped his hat to her and held the door to the building open for her.
"So much to do, so few hours in the day to day it," she smiled, "Is Daddy home?"
"They both are," Pete nodded, "About an hour ago."
"Better leave them alone then," she snickered, "Have a good evening, Pete."
"You as well, Ms. Bass."
Charlotte rode the elevator to her penthouse apartment, sighing in relief when the car came to a halt. She loved her apartment. It had all the comforts of her parent's home, yet it fit with her personality perfectly.
"Good evening, Ms. Bass," her housekeeper, Daniella, greeted her. Daniella was the niece of her father's long time driver, Arthur. She'd come to New York after spending several years in Los Angeles working for a Hollywood starlet. Charlotte had tried several times to get the name of the starlet, but was rebuffed because of a confidentiality agreement which had been signed. The only comment Daniella had ever made was that Charlotte was much tidier than her former employer.
"It's late, Dani," Charlotte handed over her belongings, "You don't need to wait up for me every night. If I'm not home by eight, I give you permission to turn in."
"Thank you, Ms. Bass," Daniella bowed slightly before disappearing.
Charlotte went to the kitchen, pulled a bottle of wine and a glass before retiring to her bedroom with the intention of enjoying a relaxing bubble bath before bed.
Aside from the enjoyable dinner with Eddie, her day had been downright awful. No one talked to her in the office, choosing instead to talk behind her back. She knew she'd have to adopt a thick skin to survive in the real world, but she'd never thought it would be so tough.
As she relaxed in the tub, a rogue tear trailed down her cheek.
TBC…