Suminary: Chuck Bass has it all: the money, the lifestyle and the women... What happens when he comes home after the summer and finds out his stepsister brought home a friend. Who appears to be a female version of himself... What happens when that particular stranger turns his Bass-world up side down... Is it possible for Chuck to have finally met his match...?
Disclaimer: I don't own anything! The caracters and gossip girl are property of the CW and it's creators.
Chapter 1
Blair wakes up early the next morning, having barely slept: last night's encounter was messing with her head all night.
She was quite shocked when she found him standing in her room, looking at her personal belongings. His broad and masculine shoulders faced her, his suit appeared to be tailored, the fabric shining in the semi-darkness of the room. It was obvious that he rich, very rich, and the fact that he stood in the apartment could mean only one thing: it was Chuck.
Serena had told her all about him; how he is a notorious playboy, bedding a different woman every night - sometimes even two or three a day, or even at once. From the way she talked about him, it was obvious that Serena wasn't pleased with the fact that her mother had remarried his father. Judging from her own experience, Bart wasn't that bad. He had something about him that made women give him a second look. And the man standing in her room had that same attitude. It was obvious in the way he carried himself as he turned and stepped towards her walk-in closet. Pulling the doors open gently and taking his time to look at every piece separately. She wondered: would he takes this much time in bed too...?
'Now, don't be a bad girl Blair. You haven't even officially met this man.'
That was when she decided that it was about time to make her presence known.
"Looking for anything in particular?" she wondered loudly, "Maybe I can help..."
She didn't intend for it sound like some sort of invitation, but somehow it came out that way. He straightened his back and then slowly gave her a full frontal look of himself. As his amber colored eyes met hers instantly, she watched how they afterwards shifted to her brown curls and to her mouth. He really took his time- it almost felt like he was memorizing every inch of her body, especially once he gave her an once-over. Really slowly...
When Blair realized his eyes lingered on her body that was only clad in a see-through white kimono and a deep red 'one-piece' lingerie set, a smile crept up her full red lips. It'd been a while since she'd last been looked like that by a guy, who wasn't some gay tailor or wanna-be designer...
His eyes screamed raw and pure lust, and his look almost made her want to close that gap between them and lock that door. He didn't look like some scared little boy who'd just been caught stealing a cookie out of the jar, or some deer caught in the headlights. Those types are fun to play with too... easily dominated and nod yes to her every request... It can be fun to simply push them down and ride them off to heaven. But it's even more exciting if she's the one who ends up being thrown upon that mattress... and he looked just the type to do so... Her strain of thoughts was interrupted by his response to her earlier question:
"Only if you model them..."
"Nice try..." Blair responds with an even more devilish smile and honest answer than Chuck could possibly aware of. His response is cliché, but bold.
"Pardon me for my curiosity" He kind of apologizes. Interesting...
"Well after all it is a quality we all posses. Apparently some can control it better than others."
"I wasn't expecting to run into you just yet." he admits.
"They never are..." And with that she kindly, but silently, gestures him to leave her room. She closes the door behind him.
'This should be fun...'
That scene has been playing repeatedly in her mind all night, and she couldn't make it stop. Hopefully a day filled with work will help her mind cool down.
Blair looks at herself in the full-length mirror. She's decided to wear a purple briseux dress today. A Waldorf Original. As a teenager she hated it when her mother made her wear one of her latest designs; she always felt like her mother was playing dress-up with a real-life Barbie doll. Now she's always proud when she wears one of her mother originals. This one, in particular, seems as if it is glued upon her body: it's extremely tight fitting, especially around her petite, that makes the little curves she has stand out even more.
Before leaving, she checks the rest of her reflection: her Mahoney curls rest upon her shoulders in the front, a few strains of hair are pulled to the side, staying in place with the help of a shiny black pin- one that matches her black pearl earrings and ring, all worn to match her shiny black hooker-high heels. She takes one of her Louboutin handbags and puts her iPad and blackberry in it, along with her ruby red lipstick, eyeliner and mascara.
In the kitchen, the chef has just started making breakfast. He gives her a polite nod and then continues his work in silence. She wishes she could have brought Dorota with her, but her family home in France would have been left unattended. The maid stayed behind to make the final arrangements, before joining Blair in New York to stay with her once she finds her own apartment in the city. She normally wouldn't have agreed to staying with Serena's family, but she was unable to find a descent apartment in time.
This reminds her, the day she has ahead of her is a full one: not only does she have back to back meetings with potential buyers like Saks, Neiman Marcus, Barney and Bergdorf, but she also has to meet with a real estate agent and probably an interior designer too. With those thoughts in mind, she decides that she could really use a cup of and, apparently, the chef however isn't going to offer her one. If Dorotha was here, the table would have been set and a platter of fresh fruit, berries to be exact, along with a cup of coffee would already have been offered to her.
"Good morning, Blair."
"Good morning to you too, Bart."
"Coffee?"
"Yes, please."
The chef opens one of the shiny kitchen cabinets, takes two cups and sets them before them. Next he reaches for an Italian coffeemaker and hand-presses them both a cup.
Blair adds half a teaspoon of sugar and a bit of cream to hers and then follows Bart to the living room.
"Lily told me that you are meeting important buyers later today."
"I am. First, however, I'm meeting the real estate agent, Lily recommended, in hope of finding an office space by the end of the day, along with an apartment or a penthouse nearby. You gave me a wonderful, warm welcome here, but I can't keep counting on your hospitality."
"Take your time on the housing part: the room you are staying in stays empty otherwise, anyway," Lily greets them from the top of the staircase, before gracefully descending.
"Lily has a point there. As for your business, it's true that it needed an office yesterday," Bart adds like the true business man he is.
"That I know and it's the first thing on my list for today. However, you knew that too Bart. I wasn't planning on moving the business overseas for at least another six months; both you and Lily convinced me otherwise."
He nods his head in agreement.
"But you'll see," she continues. "By the beginning of next week, Waldorf designs will have a running office right here in New York City."
Bart gives her a small smile this time, as Lily offers: "Blair, darling, if there is anything I can do to help..."
"There is: I'd like to have an arrival party in honor of Waldorf Designs. Maybe we could go over the details tonight?"
The big smile on Lily's face makes a verbal response unnecessary. With that Blair rushes out the door.
The first two office spaces were a disaster. No way in hell would any contractor start on (I'm afraid I fail to understand what you mean here…) one of them with the deadline set for next Monday, 5 days from now. Lily had recommended Humphrey real estate, because she and the owner are old friends (read: lovers), however, Mr. Humphrey was otherwise occupied that morning and Blair got stuck with the protégé: Vanessa Adams.
After not one but two horrible properties Blair decides to have a heart to heart with the young woman, making her fight back her tears as she yells at her.
"Do you really think that I'm going to spend one more minute with you, while I could be making a million dollar deal somewhere else? I know you're young and probably very new at this, so I'll bear with you through one more. But if you don't give me something great or at least something promising, I will take my business elsewhere..."
"Please Miss Waldorf, don't. I really need this," Vanessa begs her: "If I am unable to close a deal with you today I'm out of job. And I really need my job."
"Show me what you really have for me. Not what your boss wants you to sell to me."
"There is only one property that matches your description perfectly, but my boss has already an offer on the table. We're just waiting for the bank to approve the loan they requested."
"Where is that property?"
"It's on the corner of 5th avenue and 76th street."
"I want to see it."
Vanessa tries to say something, but Blair stops her: "No but's! If I like it I'll make the owners an offer they can't refuse and then that commission is all yours."
When she doesn't reply, Blair looks at Miss Adams with disbelieve: "Are you really thinking about it?"
"Yes… I would mess up my boss's commission."
"A goody two-shoes like you will get nowhere in this business! Unbelievable!" Blair throws her arm around. "That's it; you have wasted enough of my time. Goodbye, Miss Adams!"
"Miss Waldrof! Wait!" Vanessa shouts after her, catching her right before the elevator doors close. "I will show it to you. On one condition."
"I'm listening…" Blair says with a roll of her eyes. She pushes the ground floor button and the elevator starts to move down.
"I want the full commission."
"Of course."
"Seriously?" Miss Adams looks at her quite baffled. She hurries after Blair across the ground floor and out on the street.
Blair nods and adds: "It can get better: I'm looking for an apartment too around that area. If I love your next property, then I want you to handle that next case too. Both on full commission."
"Really?" Vanessa's first reaction is to hug Blair. When she stiffens, she quickly lets her go and straightens out her act(I'm not sure about that…). Full of confidence Miss Adams walks up to the curb and whistles very loudly: "TAXI!"
A yellow cab immediately stops in front of them. Vanessa opens the car door for Blair and lets her get in first.
"The corner of 5th avenue and 76th street ,please."
"So tell me about that property," Blair asks, quite exited, to her own surprise. She feels pubescent again, excited about a new toy she wants. And knowing herself, if she sets her mind to something it will happen no matter what. She loves a good game, especially if the price is big enough. "It has 15 stories..." Miss Adams starts off, while pulling out her Samsung tablet, searching for more details in the file. "It's a mixed use building. Only five out of the fifteen are offices. All the rest are condos."
"Okay," Blair nods.
"It was originally built in 1910. But obviously remodeled later on."
"Oh I love that."
Vanessa smiles big. "A typical floor is around 2.500 square feet. The one for sale is larger. 3.027 square feet to be exact."
The vehicle comes to a stop. "That will be 18 dollars 34 cents, ladies."
"I'll get this." Blair gestures for Vanessa to step out of the car: "Sir, I was wondering if I could pursue you to drive me around all day. I have back to back meetings to attend all over the city. Of course you'll keep that meter running whilst you wait. And I'll pay for your lunch and coffees throughout the day."
He looks at her oddly: "You do know that there are businesses who deliver that kind of services, right?"
"Yes, yes. I am fully aware of that, but I'm asking you. So are you up for it or not?"
The man nods in approval. Blair smiles at him and hands him a one hundred dollar bill.
"This is your lunch and coffee money for today. Oh and keep the change..."
"But Miss..." the man starts to object.
"Waldorf." She smiles at him. "And I'll see you in a bit!"
Blair and Vanessa walk into the building.
"As you can see the lobby was recently renovated, just like the rest of the building. There is keyed elevator access to the floor you're interested in. There are always visitor cards available, but those are name assigned so you'd need the front desk informed, if you are expecting clients or business associates- otherwise they won't get into the elevator. The desk is attended from Monday through Friday from 8 am to 6 pm. There's also tenant controlled air conditioning."
The office is on the third floor, in between two other businesses. Blair finds that fantastic: when fashion week comes around no attendants will complain when the crew pulls off an all-nighter on the sewing machines. Vanessa shows her the big corner office that is situated directly in the corner of 5th and 76th. Looking out into the park, Blair is blown away: this is exactly what she is looking for. It has two separated bathroom spaces for both men and women, a room large enough to be the lunch room and she can have a small kitchen installed in the next one. There is her office in the corner and still enough space for not one but two conference rooms, one storage room and there still are six workspaces left. The best part of it all is that the office is almost completely made out of glass walls, so there is almost no unnatural light needed. Of course, it is also a prime Upper Eastside location.
"I'll take it!" Blair smiles.
"Really?"
"Yes! So tell me: how much has my competitor offered?"
"They agreed on 4.995 million dollars."
"That means the owners had to settle?"
Vanessa just nods.
"How much where they asking?"
"They set price at 6.5 million dollars. Their asking price is quite accurate. I think Rufus estimated it around 6 to 6.250 million."
"I want you to contact them and offer them 6."
"Why not start at 5,5?"
"I want them to know I'm serious. And I want them to know that they would have their money in their bank account within 12 hours, if they choose to sell it to me."
"I will contact them immediately." Miss Adams nods.
"You do that and get back to me. I'm going to have to leave now. My next appointment is waiting. Make it work!" Blair turns around and heads out.
She is pleased to see that her cab is still waiting. The man is leaning against his vehicle, with a large Starbucks cup in hand. "Miss Waldorf," he greets her.
"Hello..."
"Ben."
"Hello, Ben." She gives him a small smile.
"I took the liberty of bringing a coffee along for you." He offers her the cup.
"That is very generous of you." She smiles while accepting the cup.
"So where to next?"
"Back to 56thstreet. I have to meet someone at the Henry Bendel store in 15 minutes."
#Blast_210909#
Spotted: A lost French maiden on the Upper East Side?
Unlike her step-brother, Serena Van Der Woodsen brought home a little reminder of her summer abroad... Is this 'friend' another wanna-be or is she here to stay?
It appears to be the latter... She was just spotted leaving a 'for sale' condo on the corner of 5th and 76street... Perhaps it's about time I give her a warm welcome myself...
You know you love me,
XOXO, Gossip Girl
AN: So this is the first official chapter of the story. I hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. All thoughts and questions can be left in the box below. They are all very much appreciated and get answered personally by me. I enjoy reading what you think about this story. I'm overwhelmed by the amount of reviews I have already recieved, they each brought a smile to my face, and the amount of people who decided it was worthy to put it in their favourites or allert list. It's truely inspiring and helps me continue this story.
I would also like to take the time to thank my beta's: Angie and Martha, they are miracle workers!
With love,
- D.