Flirting With Danger – Chapter 3
"I'll have the beef tenderloin, and she'll have the roasted rack of lamb," Chuck informed the waiter.
"Actually, I want the smoked bass," Blair corrected, glaring at him.
"But you love the lamb here," Chuck looked confused.
"A lot has changed since then."
"So...the beef tenderloin for Mr Bass and the smoked bass for the lady," the waiter repeated, his eyes flicking back and forth.
Blair smiled, "yes, thank you." Her gaze returned to Chuck and hardened. "Why did you ask me to dinner, Bass?"
They looked at each other for a few moments - Blair found herself trying her hardest not to squrim under his gaze. He was wearing a black suit that was no doubt tailored especially for him. And of course, he was wearing a bow tie but not as vibrant as the ones he used to wear. Tonight, he wore a pale green bow-tie.
Somehow, it matched her dress perfectly.
"Stop looking at me like that," she snapped.
"Sorry," he muttered. "So what have you been doing since you left?" Blair observed that he didn't answer her previous question.
"Finished up high school in France. Went to Yale. Now I make money by managing other people's wealth," Blair reeled off, "and you?"
"Took over my father's business. He passed away three months ago," he replied.
Blair pursed her lips. "I'm sorry, Chuck," she said in a neutral tone.
"Well if you really were...you'd have come back for his funeral," Chuck said bitterly. "Don't tell me you didn't know. It was all over the newspapers."
Blair looked away, her eys filling with tears she did not want him to see. He was right. She had known about Bart's death. But she was on assignment and couldn't make it back to New York in time for the funeral.
There was a long silence and then their food arrived. Blair felt as though she could cut the tension between them with a steak knife.
Suddenly, Blair's phone bleeped and she hurriedly got to her feet. "I have to go," she murmured.
He nodded curtly, not saying a word.
Both of them could feel it - the great distance between both of them.
"Too much has changed," Chuck said out loud to no one in particular and left the hotel.
--
"Gwen! What's wrong?" Blair asked.
"You wanted to start your assignment early - here's your chance."
Blair made her way to a dark alley where she could talk more freely. "Hang on for a second, Gwen."
"Come to headquarters tomorrow, Blair. We've decided to brief you early," Gwen informed her in disdain. Blair could tell the Gwen did not approve of putting her on the new assignment earlier than usual.
"Thanks, Gwen," Blair said and hung up.
Just then, she felt someone grab her by the waist. "Don't you dare scream, lady. Hand over your purse...NOW!" a guttural voice sounded behind her. She felt a gun being pressed against her lower back.
"Oh please, are you serious?" Blair scoffed.
"Don't act smart with me, bitch!" the man yelled, his bad breath providing Blair with more than enough motivation to kick his ass.
Blair took a deep breath. "Okay, I'll co-operate." Just as she predicted, he loosened his grip on her and she whirled around, twisting his arm at a painful angle and knocking the gun out of his other hand.
"Wow, you're actually stupid enough to work alone." Blair kicked him in the groin, causing him to howl in pain. "That was for ruining my new Michael Kors dress, you asshole!"
A few metres away, Chuck Bass watched Blair Waldorf beat up a guy who had just tried to mug her, in astonishment. What. The. Fuck?
Blair picked up her purse and emerged from the alley as though nothing had happened.
Chuck entered his limo and called Madeline.
"I need all the information you can find about Blair Cornelia Waldorf. Fast."
--
"Morning, Fred!" Blair smiled mechanically at the head of security. He waved and held his hand out for her ID. He scanned her card and nodded, motioning for her to pass through the elaborate scanning system. She stepped onto a platform that glided through a series of scanners. Lastly, she did a retina scan and was finally allowed into the building.
"Gwen," she nodded at the plump lady who was absorbed in her laptop.
"Blair! You're early," Gwen looked displeased. "You'll be briefed at 10 o'clock."
"What's wrong?" Blair narrowed her eyes.
Gwen sighed in exasperation, "Blair, I just...I hope you can handle the challenge they're throwing you."
"Oh come on Gwen! I'm fantastic. And they know that. If I couldn't handle it - they wouldn't put me on this assignment," Blair folded her arms in front of her.
Gwen rolled her eyes. "So much for modesty."
Blair laughed, "oh did I tell you? I almost got mugged last night!"
"You what!?" Gwen stared at her wide-eyed.
"Right after I left the St Regis, this guy tried to mug me! Can you believe it?" Blair paused, "and he ruined my dress!"
"Wow, you must have really kicked his butt if he ruined your dress!" Gwen said in mock horror, feeling sorry for the guy.
"Oh, I did," Blair smiled proudly.
"And nobody saw you right?" Gwen asked anxiously. The worst thing that could happen to an agent was being found out.
Blair shook her head, "nobody saw."
"What were you doing at the St Regis?"
Blair's eyes darkened. "Dinner with an acquaintance."
Gwen knew that when Blair's tone changed drastically, it was best to leave her alone.
Blair waved goodbye and strode to the pantry. As she nibbled on a croissant, she went to check if Gossip Girl had anything new about her.
Spotted: B and C together again dining at the St Regis but leaving only moments after their food arrived. What's up with them? Oh well, they've always had an on-off kind of relationship - that's why we love them! Meanwhile, S was spotted at the airport, boarding a private plane headed for Los Angeles. Isn't that where N is right now?
--
"Good morning, Ms Waldorf, please take a seat," Josef Franco, director of Henderson Inc gestured towards the leather chair before him.
"Good morning director," Blair smiled automatically. She knew she was the agency's most prized agent and had a reputation to uphold.
Blair had always stived for excellence, be it training camps, or assignments. Blair Waldorf was simply the best. Ruthless and determined as hell, she was the poster-kid for Henderson Inc.
"Blair, this assignment is going to be...different," Josef confessed, his dark eyebrows knit in frustration. "As much as I hate to do this, the board of directors find it necessary."
"I don't quite understand, Josef," Blair said slowly.
"I know you're not a team player and all your assignments so far have been individual," he paused to take a sip of his black coffee, "but you're going to have a partner for this mission."
"My work is flawless when I do it alone! Why the sudden change?" Blair protested.
"I know, I know. You're assignments are all...perfectly delivered but the board had decided that you cannot go into this mission alone. And I can't go against their decision."
There were a few moments of silence.
"When do I meet my partner?" she asked, her voice devoid of emotion.
"Tomorrow, same time, same place. We'll have a joint briefing."