Chapter Forty-Three

An Uninvited Guest

''They hope I'll crash

And burn,

But I'm here

And I'm staying.''

''Georgina made a wreck at the reception this morning,'' Diana's voice trembled as she spoke, the perfectly rehearsed shade of sound, composed to evoke the deepest sympathy. ''All to get me kicked out of the hotel. Can you believe it?''

''That girl is sick,'' Bart noted, one hand in his pocket, the other swirling a glass of scotch. ''You do realize, there's no way she can really push you off the board?''

''I know,'' She watched him stay completely still, slightly concerned at his stoic attitude. She established herself on the couch in the Millennium penthouse, crossing her smooth legs with an aim to seduce and entice. ''But I don't want to keep bickering with her, and I certainly can't be living in a hotel.''

She looked up at her lover with despair-filled eyes only few man could resist, a cry for help which lures them straight into her trap.

Apparently, Bart was one of those few men.

''I'll call my agent,''He appended, though obviously reluctant to do anything. ''Let him find you a place.''

''Are you trying to get rid of me?'' She smiled tightly, with all sweetness she was capable at that time. Bart's answer infuriated her to the bone. This was definitely not the path she had in mind for them. What Diana wanted, Diana got. ''Or are you scared I might be tempted to move over to your place.''

''I'm just saying,'' He lifted up his palms, walking back over to the bar for a refill. ''I spend more time here than at my own home. Just give my agent a call.''

She glanced down at her phone, text message interrupting turmoil that began to form. ''The lawyer is here.''

''Aren't you taking your step-daughter a little bit too seriously?''

''I took her seriously enough, as did every employee,'' She stated firmly, bothered by how lightly he was taking all of this. This was a major problem. This was a direct threat to her success and wellbeing. The Sparks kid was trying to take hotel away from her, trying to take everything which she fought so hard for. She hadn't languished with her late husband all those years for nothing. The Millennium would be Diana's. ''Georgina owns this hotel.''

''You have a share in it too. She can't get rid of you. If I were you, I wouldn't attend that meeting.''

''The last thing I want to be doing right now is making another enemy,'' She replied, picking up her blazer, thinking this was more than about a share in a company - this was about laying a foundation for a secure future. A future without that annoying brat. ''Let's just go, please.''

Bart set his glass down, turning to her with a quizzical look. ''You don't seriously expect me to come with you?''

''But...'' His mistress stammered, once again put off by the lack of control that kept slipping between her fingers. ''This is about you too. We both know she's trying to kill the Millennium - Tropic partnership.''

''I'm sorry, but I can't take her whims as seriously as you do,'' He shrugged, as if this was all beneath him. ''I signed a five year contract with George. Nothing besides that is of any particular interest to me.''

She stared at him, swallowing his last words, gulping them down only to find how rotten they tasted.

''Let me ask you something,'' She began slowly, crossing her arms. Bart inwardly cringed, knowing something that won't please him was about to stumble his way. ''Do you want me in your life?''

''What is that supposed to mean?'' He inquired, against his will.

''Now that I'm here, we spend much more time together. I'm sorry if it's sending out a different message.''

''I wasn't aware we were sending each other messages,'' Bart retorted, already fed up with the conversation. There was too much talking, not enough action - not his cup of tea.

''Good,'' Diana clipped, though her insides were burning and churning with anger. ''I'm very satisfied the way we are right now. We're both adult and mature. I'd like us to take the next step in our relationship.''

''Listen,'' He sighed after a moment of an awkward silence, pursing his thin lips. ''I'm always honest when it comes to women. I'm having a nice time with you. I enjoy the time we spend together. But I just don't see that next step happening.''

Little by little, Diana's smile fell, her face turning into a stupefied grotesque.

''It has nothing to do with you,'' Bart comforted, patting her forearm distantly, in an entirely uncomforting manner, as one would when trying to make an upset stranger feel better. ''It's me.''

''Are you aware of what we're losing while you're protecting your father?'' he asked, kissing the smooth skin on her neck, working his way up to the jaw.

''What?'' Blair purred in content, distracted by the amazing feeling he filled her with. Her blouse was buttoned open, pink lacy bra peeking under it. She had skipped last class to meet him in an inconspicuous hotel somewhere in The Village, where nobody knew them.

''Time,'' He murmured softly, grazing her cheek, pulling away to look at her face. He inspected every line, every lash, every curve of her plum lips. Enticed by the red shade, he brushed over them with his thumb. ''We're losing precious time we could be spending together.''

''I can't believe you're saying that,'' She replied, looking away from him. ''If this wasn't about my dad's life, I wouldn't hesitate. You know that.''

''Is his life only thing you fear for?''

''Yes.'' Blair whispered, lower lip trembling.

''Then everyone besides him will find out,'' He urged, turning her chin to look at him. He was already driven crazy by the love he felt, curling his fingers around her jaw. ''Morelli will stop with his bullshit, Dan will be nice to you. Bart will reconsider everything.''

''You think nobody would give us out to my dad?'' She pushed his hand away, angry that he couldn't see the deadliness behind that risk.

He groaned, pulling her to him by the waist, pressing her closer until they couldn't tell each other apart. ''I'm sorry, but hiding is getting more and more difficult. It's wearing me out.''

''I can't do what you want me to do,'' She breathed out as he bit her earlobe, clutching his shirt in her fists. ''But I promise it won't go as long as you think. I'm just waiting for the right moment.''

''Please trust me,'' She breathed out, tangling her fingers in his raven hair. ''Otherwise, I won't be strong enough to put up a fight.''

''Keep the light on!'' Georgina cried out, digging her nails into Blair's arm. ''Keep it on.''

Soon enough, luminous light brightened the small bedroom that ran out of absolute space. It was well past midnight when Georgina anxiously knocked at her doors, shaking, repeating how afraid she was to be alone in the huge, empty apartment. The girl begged Blair to let her sleep over.

Blair had no choice. Something on her neighbor's look had her worried, as if this was a cry for help that shouldn't go ignored. What was lurking in the darkness that had G frightened? What did she see that other people didn't? Blair shivered, laying down on the shabby blanket on the floor, tucking herself in. She warily watched the corners, if some ghostly apparition should appear.

''This is the first time I'm staying over at your place,'' Georgina muttered from up above, having been let to take her place in the small rickety bed. ''Weird, isn't it? We spent years together and yet this is the first time I'm in your room.''

Silence befell them at that statement, as the realization of lost years dawned upon them. How far off did their childhood seem now? How things have changed, how they themselves shifted and grew into people that stopped knowing each other. Blair was no longer ashamed of her room, of her scanty home, and what would her ex-best friend think of it didn't bother her in the slightest.

''That is my mother's mirror,'' Georgie's voice quivered as wide, dark eyes glued to the rusty thing on the wall. ''We gave it to you last time we changed furniture.''

''We used to put make-up in front of it.'' Blair mused distantly, as if a hand had stretched out from an invisible vortex and pulled her into the past. Sweet, but bitter taste of innocence overwhelmed her.

''Yeah,'' Georgina grinned, lost in the days when her family was alive and together. Days of perfect bliss. ''When she was attending committee meetings, we'd sneak in and try on her perfumes and lipsticks.''

''I don't remember giving you this doll,'' G said as she delicately took an old, yet elaborate looking Barbie doll in a yellowed wedding dress. It was a limited addition, a very pricey back in those days, when only a few families in Manhattan could afford such an expense. Something perfect, something unattainable.

''You didn't,'' Blair quickly snatched the doll out of her hands. She stared down at it, brushing her blond tangly hair down, warm feelings stirring in her guts. This was one of the first memories Blair had, a memory of awoken ambition and dream to one day enjoy this kind of luxury. ''You threw it away. Well, you dropped it actually.''

''Can I have it?''

Very reluctantly, knowing this doll meant entirely something else to Georgina than it did to her, she gave it up. To Blair, it was a living relic of her awakened passion. A reminder to do better, to study harder. To make a better life for herself. To Georgina, it was something sentimental that connected her to her mother.

''Thank you, Blair,'' She murmured before drifting off, lulled by the sanctuary of the small room and good memories it evoked. Georgina held onto the doll tightly, finally finding some peace to go to sleep.

''Good morning, sunshine,'' His husky voice greeted her as Chuck picked up the phone. There was the sound of a coffee machine in the background. ''Are you at the bus stop already? I'll be there in five, sorry - making us some coffee.''

''Take your time, I just got into Constance.''

''You're there early,'' He faltered, glancing at the clock. It was an hour before her first class, he memorized.

''I have something to take care of,'' Blair vaguely explained, wishing she was cuddled in his warm bed right now instead. It'd been forever since she'd been in his apartment in her building. These days, it was too risky to go up to him. ''I'll meet you here, okay?''

''Okay,'' He automatically replied, taken aback by the abrupt change of their morning routine. The line went dead. Blair shoved her phone in the pocket and closed the doors of Management Club, sitting down at the occupied table with pursed lips.

''You need to stop,'' She stated, refusing to meet his curious blue eyes.

''Stop what?'' He gently asked, dropping down the report he was writing. She hated the way he always dropped whatever he was doing to meet her, to talk to her, to help her out. She hated his mellow voice and peace he seemed to evoke in her with a mere glance.

''Everything.'' Blair snapped, irritated by his superb graces. ''Dinners with my family? Casual drinks with Dan? Jessica fawning over you?''

''Blair-''

''Does my brother know? Does he know how you feel about me? Did you tell my dad too?''

''I did no such thing.'' Morelli took a sharp look at her, offended at such accusation. 'But...''

A tense silence ensued and outside, rain started to fall, loudly splattering against the window glass. New Yorkers, unprepared for the surprising downpour, hid under their coats or ran for the shelter of many buildings. The sudden realization of his unspoken answer had her heart clenching.

Dan did know. It was all over him, the way he stopped avoiding looking at her - as if there was hope after all. Maybe even Jessica knew too. That's why she'd been taking subtle jabs at them through the dinner.

''How?'' Her voice trembled in silent rage. ''How could you-?''

''I said nothing,'' He affirmed in aggravation. They stared at each other, eyes locked in silent war.

He was the one to lower his guard first. Ed raised his hand up as if to cover hers, but quickly pulled it back. He sighed, scratching the tattoo of Hokusai wave on his forearm. ''Your brother figured it out by himself. Due to... Unforeseen circumstances, we've become close and he was too smart not to catch up.''

She scoffed, crossing her arms, blaming him for his heart, for the way he felt.

''I never meant to play up to Dan.'' He quietly spoke, lowering down his gaze. A cloud settled over his brow, as if disturbed by matters that were out of reach to any of them. ''I - Dan's been helping me with something. I hope you understand I never meant to hurt you in any way. I genuinely like your family. I never wanted to take anyone's place. I never saw this as means to get closer to you. I'm sorry if you think it is.''

She opened her mouth to say something, something ferocious that would crush and crumble him, but there were no words to tell. Who was she to deprive him of a company? Who was she to take away something he prized, to turn her back to their complicated friendship when all he did was be there for her. When everyone else abandoned her, he was there.

Edward had always been a lone wolf, someone to banish society completely, appalled by the ways it functioned. There was sadness rooted so deep into his being which hardly anyone managed to notice. But Blair noticed it. And here he was, starting to accept society again, enjoying domestic delicacies with her family which he so feverishly doomed to non-existence. It seemed like it was doing him good, despite the conflict it emitted.

At that moment, his phone rang and name Anette flashed on the screen. His face hardened. Vividly disturbed, he quickly excused himself and went to take the phone call outside, leaving Blair at odds with her thoughts.

Minutes ticked by, one by one, and Blair patiently waited for her friend to return. This time, she would be softer, but they needed to set the bounds first. Time passed, the rain stopped, streets crowded again, but Edward was nowhere to be seen. It didn't matter, she would wait inside the club until first class started. Blair propped open a book and started studying, grudgingly aware her grades had started slipping up.

Twenty minutes after Edward left, doors burst open and Chuck stormed in, his dark coat billowing behind him as humid draft moved through the room and outside on the hall. It slammed the doors behind him, spiking the already dramatic scene.

''When were you going to tell me?'' He spat as she rose in alarm, turning to face him.

''Chuck?''

''They want you to be with him,'' His lip curled in disgust. ''Your family - they all want you to be with him. Are you even aware of what you're doing to me?!''

''You're right,'' She started steadily, sensing his turmoil and the cause of it. He had found out. Blair bit her lip, her insides writhing as his slanted eyes blazed fire, as they turned dark and demonic.

''Damn right I am!'' He snapped, his nostrils flaring as he felt like a fool, like an idiot, sensing hostility towards Morelli, an instinct that told him that man would be there to ruin him. Yet his worry had always been met with silence and he was led to believe himself a panicky, possessive fool. ''I've been right all along! I knew he had feelings for you. And now Dan thinks it alright to rub it in my face?''

He scoffed, nervously running fingers through his rain-dripped hair. Abruptly, he stiffened and his shaking hand dropped lamely to his side. ''You knew too, didn't you?''

''I found out the day you came to my home,'' She quietly replied, seeing no reason to lie. ''The day you left.''

The pain of that day was a somber reminder of the thorny path they've been through and they shared a look only people that have been through hell and back could share.

''You knew.'' Chuck shook his head, trying to diminish the oncoming memories of the day he packed his bags and with a leaden heart left her building. Instead, he focused on the matter at hand and anger that built up in him, monstrous, laced with crushing anxiety. ''Do you see what's happening to us now?''

Blair closed her eyes, the complete opposite to his seething form. She was calm and collected, only the slight crease on her forehead showing how deep this was all affecting her. ''I didn't want this either, trust me. You are completely right.''

''And what do I get with being right?'' He retorted furiously, eyes flashing. ''They want to control your life and I can't even tell my parents we got married! I'm right, yet I end up alone, every single night.''

It was a flash of the moment when pain alighted his eyes, like a vicious lightning strikes the darkness of the sky. Blair's mouth was left agape as she grasped the hurt he felt, as an invisible fist clenched around her heart - the same fist that had his heart in a tight grip. But he had turned his back to her and pointedly stared out the window. She didn't see his face, but they were connected in a way that she felt everything he did.

''I couldn't tell you, I'm sorry,'' She conceded, anxious for him to look back at her. ''I don't expect you to understand me, but please - just trust me.''

Still, he stared out the window, down at the wet pavement and muddy puddles.

''Chuck, look at me,'' She faintly spoke, lightly tracing his arm with tips of her fingers. ''I love you - only you. Right now I feel the same thing you feel.''

''You know what I feel?'' He growled, turning to glare down at her. ''I feel I have no self-respect anymore.''

''Chuck, don't go,'' She pleaded as he turned to walk towards the doors, wanting to solve this here and now, wanting him to calm down because she was tired of fighting, of struggling against the current. They were supposed to stand united now and these morose feelings only brought back painful memories from the past.

''No.'' He muttered as his hand rested on a knob, his face hidden. ''I need to be alone for a while.''

As he opened the doors, Morelli was on the other side about to enter and Chuck lost his cool. He abruptly grabbed Ed by the collar, furiously glaring at him for a while before letting him go completely, as if he wasn't worth the effort, and disappeared into the crowded hallways.

Why won't you pick up the phone?

Next minute, another message came.

Please answer me.

He sighed, planting the screen against his forehead. The phone vibrated and he squeezed his eyes shut before reading another text.

I miss you.

The mellow feeling spread over his body. He missed her too, so much that it hurt more than anger. Chuck skipped going to class and spent the day trying to relax, since he seemed to find very little enjoyment in the overindulgence of scotch these days. Not even a gold facial and Elysian cleanse at the spa could make him feel better.

Right now, he was sprawled on the couch in his apartment, TV on in the background to make him feel less alone, to keep himself away from rushing down to her.

There were eleven missed phone calls from Blair that day. He wanted to answer each one of them, but his head told him to keep it cool. To keep her away from him. To punish her.

What could keep his heart still, though? Only the sound of her voice.

Chuck mulled the matter over, chewed it up and spit it out. Finally, he had come to a decision. He refused to be shaken up by someone like Edward Morelli. His relationship was much bigger than that. What he and Blair have was epic.

Yet the fact that she withheld something from him, for the sake of that prick - it was infuriating. The fact that her family fawned over Morelli tore him apart. He knew he was being selfish in a way, he knew he wasn't the only person in Blair's life, but he had always seen himself as her white knight.

The reality was that Chuck seemed to be more of a villain and it was the fact that crushed him.

His phone vibrated again, announcing another call from Blair. Chuck didn't feel angry anymore. He didn't feel sad. There was that terrifying feeling in the air - the absence of Blair. The clock ticked loudly, closing in on the night. He couldn't bear it anymore. He was just about to answer the call when the doorbell rang.

Chuck smiled to himself. She had risked getting upstairs to make peace and it only made him want to cradle her in his arms more.

Only, it wasn't Blair.

By the look of it, they seemed to be a mother and a daughter. Flashy jewelry adorned them, glinting against the too bright hall light. Both of them had luscious, tended brown hair, falling in neat soft curls below their shoulders. The mother's face was wrought with wrinkles which she tried so hard to cover up with heavy make-up. Her face was falling in such odd angle it gave away she was once using botox and stopped. Unlike her mean beady eyes, her daughter had wide grey eyes that perfectly fit into innocent, sweet look her face was giving off.

Chuck stared at the girl, as if he once saw her, and a sinister feeling stirred in his guts, telling him he should remember her. The strong smell of their perfume had awoken a restlessness, as if foreseeing the storm.

''Good evening, Chuck,'' She spoke awkwardly as her mother nudged her forward. Her waxed eyebrows were knotted, showing insecurity and anxiety. She looked up at him under her full lashes. ''Do you remember me?''

Only then had he remembered. The girl he brought back home and slept with months ago to get back at Blair. The girl he decided to forget about as soon as his mission was accomplished. Just a mean to an end. And here she was, knocking at his doors.

Only now had he noticed large belly hiding under her silken Chanel dress.

''I'm pregnant,'' She stammered, rubbing her stomach in nervousness. ''You're going to become a father.''

It was as if a cannon ball hit his chest. Chuck stilled, petrified by the shock, and the mother seized the advantage to invite herself in the apartment. She looked around, inspecting every detail with hard scrutiny. The daughter swiftly followed, not knowing what to do.

''Wait,'' Chuck shut the doors after them, leaning heavily on a knob, feeling his whole body seized with a violent tremor. ''Just wait! You say I'm going to father a child, yet I don't even remember your name?''

The girl's mother snapped her head towards him, outraged and offended. ''I will assign this crudeness to your confusion!''

''You never asked me my name that night.'' Girl quietly spoke, looking down, blushing lightly. ''My name is Elle.''

''I don't believe this.'' He shook his head, staring at the girl. She didn't seem so shy that night. They were both drunk, just a stupid one-night stand. It was true he may have foregone asking the girl her name, but he was sure he used protection.

Or did he?

''Watch your mouth,'' The mother spoke, holding tightly to her shiny fur coat. ''You're not dealing with a mere janitor's family.''

''How about you take your own advice?'' He growled in annoyance, already deciding that he hated the woman. He ran a hand across his face, turning to look at Elle. ''Look, the night we spent together meant nothing. You can't just barge in here and declare me a parent.''

''Wait a moment,'' Mother sharply spoke again, holding her daughter's forearm tightly, pulling her back behind her. ''Listen to me carefully, Charles Bass. I spent months dealing with my mentally shaken daughter. When we went to see the doctor, it was already too late. We've overstepped legal limit a long time ago. Elle can't perform an abortion, that is the reason why we're here.''

''I haven't slept with anyone since that night.'' Elle whispered, looking him straight in the eyes. ''I'm going to give birth to your child, I'm positive.''

''Why should I believe you?'' He spat as the chaos grew within him, as the realization of the consequences dawned upon him. In the midst of the dangerous tumult, only one he could think about was Blair. Blair. His wife, the only person he wanted to have a child with. ''I don't even know you!''

''Here,'' Her mother rummaged through her Louis Vuitton bag, handing him the card. ''This is our doctor's business card. You can ask him anything you want. We have an appointment tomorrow at 9 am. You're expected there.''

Blair was coming back from class when two elegant women left the building and walked out on the street.

Something greater rooted her to the spot and the girl stopped too. Their eyes locked, a flash of recognition passed in the wide grey orbs of the daughter, and the mother smiled smugly, looking at Blair's poor, cheap outfit and face devoid of any makeup. She grinned maliciously, recognizing the penniless girl from the papers. Against her beautiful Elle, she didn't stand a chance.

Completely oblivious, something struck Blair's chest, as if a knife just passed through her ribs. She rubbed spot under her collarbone because her heart was, for some strange reason, beating wildly. That girl looked familiar, she thought as she watched the stylish family enter a cab and drive away.

Blair kept dropping things that day; plates, textbooks, pencils - even dropped Jessica as she supported her to change the light bulb. A foreboding feeling infested deep into her guts as Chuck continued to ignore her calls. Finally, somewhere after midnight, she sneaked out of the home and knocked at his doors.

She knew things between them were still amiss the moment he opened up. There was grimness in his expression and it increased as she closed the doors.

''I kept calling you,'' She started, hesitant to touch him lest he shrunk back from her. ''I kept texting you, but you didn't text me back.''

She noticed he refused to look at her and Blair couldn't have felt worse, she knew she had hurt him, she knew how complicated her life was. All he wanted was to love and be loved, but she continued to give him nothing but trouble. Chuck kept silent, unconsciously backing away.

''Scream at me,'' She begged, torn by suffering and guilt, taking a step towards him. ''Get angry, but please - don't shut me out.''

Her lower lip trembled as she saw how distant he looked. Finally, Chuck met her gaze and his eyes softened. Very slowly, as if it was paining him, he spread his arms open and she rushed into his embrace, drinking in his perfume.

''I'm sorry,'' He whispered shakily, holding her tighter. ''I'm sorry for everything.''

''No, I am,'' Blair buried her head in his broad chest, relief spreading over her body. Finally, she was able to breathe. ''You were right. We shouldn't wait any longer. Let's do it, tonight. We'll let everyone know.''

''I'm sorry,'' He repeated once again and her heart burst at the pain in his voice. She leaned back to face him, cupping his face in her cheeks. Why was he so pale? Why were his eyes red, as if filled with tears?

''There's no need for you to apologize,'' She urged, wanting to make him feel good. Blair stretched herself on tip of her toes and started kissing him, knowing how to soothe him, but Chuck seemed to flinch away from her lips, holding her at bay.

''Go home, Blair,'' He looked away, breathing heavily. Had he not forgiven her?

''I don't want to,'' she breathlessly said, trying to kiss him again, but Chuck seemed determined in keeping her at arm's length.

''Blair, please,'' He pressed on desperately, squeezing his eyes shut. His voice was firm as he said, ''Go home before somebody sees us.''

Moments ticked by in silence as she uneasily stared at him. With great effort, seeing how agitated he was by her presence at that moment, Blair succumbed. Unwillingly, thinking he needed more space, she nodded and left his apartment.

Chuck had forgiven her a long time ago, but the furthest thing from her mind would be that, right now, he couldn't forgive himself.