Her head was starting to ache again. She caressed her temples with her index finger, in an empty hope that it would somehow alleviate the pain, as she did so she closed her eyes.

Are you happy?

That question was bothering her more than she would let herself admit it. She had everything to be happy; she had everything that she could ever want: a luxurious penthouse; her dream job; a wonderful son and she was married to Chuck Bass.

Yes…yes and yes and yes…I AM very happy!

She went back to the drawings she had in front of her, not losing track of all the work she had to do if she wanted her company to top all other with their new Fall/Winter collection. The proposals from her designers were from bold to too classic – Blair felt exasperated as she could not establish a common link between the models that she had in front of her. But yet again, she was no designer! She left out a sight, turned around and looked outside the window.

The blue from the sky promised that a wonderful summer day was waiting for her outside. She couldn't remember the last time that she had truly enjoyed a summer day. Every time she had, she would be on vacation either with Chuck and Henry or only with Henry as Chuck would have to be somewhere else on business. Today she wanted the day to herself! That thought stung a little as she felt the weight of guilt falling upon her for not wanting to go out with her son; but sometimes you must take some time just for yourself, right?

She quickly dialled her best friend's number. Serena would be the perfect company for her, and she could use some girls' time.

"Hey B", Serena's voice brought her excitement to a whole new level. She was doing this, she was going to leave her papers on her desk and only look at them tomorrow.

"Hey S, how are you?"

"B are you calling to check on me?" she could ear Serena giggle on the other side of the line, and for the first time she noticed something else…the sound of cars passing by, several people talking at the same time, some construction noise…all in all…the sound of New York.

"S where are you?"

"Me? Well I was called to do a pop-up photo shooting, so I am on the way to meet Pierre – the photographer."

"Oh shoot!"

"Why? What is the matter?"

"Oh nothing really, I was just craving for some girls' time with my best friend but since she is busy I will have to be content with Dorota."

"Oh I'm sorry B! I would love to spend some quality time with you…I mean, it has been ages, no? When was the last time I saw you?"

"Hmm…that would have been at the Empire's re-launch party!"

"Exactly!" Serena sighted on the other side of the line and Blair, unconsciously mimicked her, "Well sorry B, but I really can't…maybe another time, alright? Listen, I gotta go…give kisses to that rascal godchild of mine!"

"I will", Blair couldn't help but to sound disappointed.

"Love you B"

"Love you too, S"

Dan stared at the semi blank word page. Semi blank because he had written on the top left side of the page: Origins.

Serena had told him to seek inspiration where he got it from his first book, but somehow the only thing that that book reminded him of was Blair! There had been so much behind it all: his frustrations as an outsider that never fit him; his love for Serena; the whole Brooklyn – Upper East Side conflict, but one way or another it all would crash down to Blair.

Gosh, if he would go back in time he would punch old Dan for the stupidity that was dating Blair Waldorf! He was utterly over her; the only thing that had remained from that relationship was a strong animosity.

He looked at the blank page again for a brief second. And then he typed: Reasons why I went from loving the bitch, to hate her. He probably shouldn't write this, but with his wife's request still very much fresh on his mind he started to type. Maybe, who knows, this would lead to his new book, a sort of "The Count of Montecristo" that was betrayed by the one he loved, tossed into despair and near downfall just so that in the end he raised from the ashes, more powerful than ever and with the awareness that his true love had been another all this time. Nah, it sounded too cheesy already. However he still typed:

1 – She dumped me without a word, an explanation…anything.

Damn her! He felt rage building up inside just at the memory of those days. She broke his heart to go after Bass, and she didn't have the decency to tell him a single word. He had been her friend after all…when she most needed someone, he had been there.

2 – She used me for solace, because no one else was available.

How could anyone, anyone normal, betray someone that had done everything for you? He had been there when she lost her baby, when she ran away from her groom, when she didn't know who the father of her unborn child was – he had been through it all. And at the end she disposed of him like if he was a tissue, you use and toss away.

3 –She hated me when she got back from her summer with Chuck.

Well to be fair he did say that he didn't want to have anything to do with her anymore…but she didn't even fight it. He had seen her perseverance in so many other occasions and yet, with him she just let go. She gave him shelter when he needed, that was a fact but he felt like he had deserved more from her.

4 – She forgot all that I have done for her, and set me aside on my darkest hour.

He had hurt them all…his so called friends, but deep inside he always thought that she would know him better, that she would fight for him…maybe not for his love, but for his redemption.

5 – I really loved her.

And she was happily married to the man she traded him for. That had hurt him more than he would ever admit. There had been a time that he had wanted her back. That he hoped that she leaving him for Bass would have been some sort of plot, or even that she would regret it, come to his loft and beg for him to have her heart again. But she never did…and he never had her heart.

He printed that list, grabbed the paper and folded into a very small bundle that he placed on the back pocket of his pants. Still standing he deleted what he had written closed his laptop and headed off to a familiar place. To where he would always go when he needed to clear his head. And boy, did he had to clear it now…after bringing to the surface all this old feelings that he had buried and built a whole new life on top of. He hated her…he hated Blair W. Bass.

With that last thought on his mind he headed off his penthouse, to try to enjoy the wonderful summer day that was outside.

Blair could help but to feel disappointed that her instant project of spending the rest of the afternoon with her best friend had failed. What were the odds that today, of all days, Serena had work to do? The woman was a model; it was not like she was working all the times! But today she had to, and she had to accept it!

"Dorota!", Blair shouted to the emptiness of her office "Dorotaaaa!"

Nothing…

"Dorotaaaa!"

Very faintly she started to hear the sound of her maid's steps. The sound became clearer and then, when it stopped, Dorota's head peaked from her door, waiting for Blair to allow her in. With a nod from her boss's head, Dorota entered the office.

"You called Mrs. Blair?"

"I did indeed", Blair made a little pause for suspense and turned around to face the window, "Dorota when was the last time we fed the ducks?"