Disclaimer: I don't own Gossip Girl or Ed Westwick's pants (nothing's changed since I last updated sadly).

AN: Hi everyone! Sorry for the super late update! Initially I had no intention of finishing this story but I had a sudden burst of inspiration and felt like writing this. I hope you all enjoy!

4. Decipio
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Blair made her way back to Carter's office, she took the route through the copy room just to make sure she didn't surprisingly bump into Chuck's new conquest…or should she say slutty secretary from Christmas' past.

After all she'd been through you'd think the world would show her some mercy…

Maybe one day…

She stopped in front of Carter's door and looked at him hunched over and pinching the bridge of his nose. He seemed to be under a lot of stress. Apparently she wasn't the only one shook up from Serena being here. She didn't know much about Carter and his 'affairs of the heart' but she did know that he cared about Serena at one point in time. From what she knew there hadn't been anyone while she was…gone…either so bringing back these old feelings must be tough of him. As much as she hated to admit it, Carter and her were alike in more ways than one.

She wished she could comfort him in some way, but he was too big of an asshole already and she sure as hell wasn't going to stroke his wounded ego.

"Knock. Knock. I got rid of the pest and we need to discuss damage control," she smiled sourly and sat down sloppily across from him.

"Right…" he looked at her and sighed. Damage Control? How exactly were they going to tell Chuck Bass that he couldn't have Serena as a secretary without him getting suspicious?

"I know I was thinking the same thing," she admitted, noticing the shock on his face.

"But-"

"We can't exactly tell Chuck to get rid of Serena and hire someone else, because knowing him that'd just make him want to keep Serena more. We technically could just tell him his job doesn't really require a secretary and due to budget cuts we need to remodel and install a ping pong table where Serena's desk is supposed to be?"

"Brilliant plan…" he said his voice full of sarcasm.

"But?"

"But, let's just say that Chucky and I got into a bit of an argument the other day when we went to go see Park 79 about secretaries in general-"

"Secretaries in general?"

"Yes secretaries in general-"

"Isn't that a random as well as pretty specific topic to be talking about in my absence?" She asked, looking at him quizzically.

"Blair! Can you please just shut up and for once listen to my story!"

"Nope."

"That's what I thought, anyway…I said if he wanted a secretary that badly he could get his own, pay for his own, etc."

"Wow Baizen thanks for making it literally impossible for us to get rid of her!" she fumed!

"How the hell was I supposed to know that he was going to go hire Serena out of all people? I almost forgot she existed," he all but lied to himself.

She gave him a pointed and all-knowing look, which practically screamed: You're an idiot Carter, always have been.

"I could always go and burn her desk to the ground?" she suggested.

"Couldn't he just go and buy a new one for her?"

"Then he's going to have to buy a hundred because I'll get rid of them all!"

"Fine you go do that!"

"Fine," she yelled back and slammed his door.

Blair tucked her peach blouse back into her highwaisted skirt and sat back down at her desk in the reception area with a huff.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

*Flashback to Freshman year of High School*

Blair started ballet when she was ten.

Ever since she was little she'd gone and seen the nutcracker every Christmas and she never missed the Swan Lake performance.

She thought that the ballerinas were gorgeous and secretly wished she could move as gracefully as the figures onstage.

When Mr. Baizen suggested that Blair pick up some hobby that put her determination and upper-class skills to use (other than scheming and maxing out her credit card), she was initially shocked.

However, she wasn't afraid to admit that ballet had always been at the back of her mind and Mr. Baizen fully approved.

She wasn't the best dancer, that award went to Natasha who'd been dancing since she could walk. But Blair had poise, ambition, flexibility, and she was small in stature (which automatically made her a star pupil).

She'd been dancing for five years now and while Natasha was still above her level, she was pretty darn good.

It was March and their spring recital was in less than a week. Everyone told her they were going to be there to support her so she'd been staying late at the studio every night to practice.

Serena, Nate, Carter, Penelope, Iz, Kat, and all her friends from school promised they'd be there so she wanted to live up to their expectations.

That is, they were all going to be there until Serena's mother announced that an agency from California called and said they'd love it if Serena modeled in their Spring Fashion Week show.

Serena had modeled for a few designers at some local shows and it had never been a big deal until now. So of course Lily arranged for everyone to go including Carter, Nate, and Blair.

Except Blair couldn't go.

Because. Of. Her. Damn. Recital. That'd. Been. Scheduled. For. Months.

Even Nate had left her a voicemail saying he was sorry but that he'd been dying to go to California to check out USC and this was the perfect opportunity.

"It's ok B. I went to your last show remember. I'm sure you'll be perfect as always," she'd laughed.

Blair went 'home' that day, darted straight into her room and cried.

"Serena! Serena! Serena!" she muffled into her pillow.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

"Serena, Serena, Serena…" she muttered as she furiously scribbled out some invoices.

"I beg your pardon?"

She looked up only to see the mother chucker himself as he walked around her desk to look her straight in the eye.

"Oh don't mind me Chuck, I was just practicing my Mrs. Chuck Bass signature and you happened to catch me in the act," she glared at him, her eyes sending him darts telling him to back off from behind her desk.

"You called me Chuck," he noticed, smirking.

"Yeah, well you see I might've decided that Mr. Bass was too formal for someone lacking manners such as yourself."

"Is that so?"

"Yes now is there something I can help you with?"

"Ah yes, well normally I'd ask you to handle some of my paperwork. But as you know I have a secretary to do all the dirty work for me now."

"Oh I'm sure-"

"Actually I was just leaving for the day."

"And? The time card station is over there?" she motioned to the table at the other side of the office.

He chuckled.

"Oh Blair, you know I never leave without saying goodbye to you."

"I'm touched…really. Wow Chuck you sure know how to make a girl feel special. But now that I think of it, isn't it a little early? It's only three?"

"Always so perceptive Ms. Waldorf, that's why I came to see you. There's this building lease we need to sign off on that was initially due today, but tell Carter that I spoke with the guy and we'll sign it some other day."

"Wow Mr. Bass very specific details. I'll just go tell Carter that right away 'there's a guy that Chuck talked to about the thing, got that boss?'"

"Perfect."

"Great, happy to help Bass."

He winked and left, but before she could ask him anything else he'd already stepped into the elevator.

Attention ladies and gentlemen. Elvis has left the building.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Chuck's limo pulled up to the notorious building on Madison Avenue and he got out after finishing the last bit of scotch that he had left in his glass.

He made it through security and took the elevator up to the tenth floor. Normally he'd take the stairs just so he could delay the visit to his father's office but they had scheduled this meeting a week ago and he was already late.

Bass Inc was the leading real estate firm in all of New York, heck all of America sans a popular firm led by two brothers in Los Angeles. But in all honesty their profits surpassed even theirs by millions.

Chuck started working at Bass Inc four years ago, and unlike the rest of his father's employees he came straight out of high school. At first everyone thought Bart Bass was an idiot for hiring his immature as well as irresponsible son. However Bart Bass knew what he was doing and as father and son they had kicked the Buckley's business out of Manhattan. Their profit had doubled and they were now competing with big firms from Asia and Europe. Of course only those who worked at Bass Inc knew about Chuck working there. He was their 'behind-the-scenes' guy. He was cunning, quick, and intelligent. He was also willing to do all the dirty work for his father.

So when Baizen Enterprises stock price started rising, and they were seeing a boost in profits… Bart Bass got curious. Why was this firm that he thought was initially a piece of crap…doing well?

So as usual he sent Chuck to investigate.

Chuck knocked at his father's office door and waited for Bart's secretary to come and get him.

Marissa or something was her name?

A tiny woman appeared with a huge smile on her face, no this one was definitely Nancy. Marissa was blonde and almost a foot taller than him.

"Mr. Chuck Bass so happy to see you again, Mr. Bart Bass is waiting for you anxiously."

"Thank you," he nodded and followed her to his father's desk.

This is so pointless, having a secretary to escort you from a door to a desk.

"Chuck!" Bart exclaimed, getting up to pat his son on the back.

"It's like I haven't seen you in months how's it going?" he joked but motioned for Chuck to sit down.

"It's only been 3 weeks father."

"So it has," Bart mused, though he was perfectly aware.

"Tell me everything you've got."

"The company's still small. Their checkbooks are a mess; their buyers and their properties are terrible. Over a hundred or so employees. Carter's terribly full and sure of himself, and every thing I've seen makes me certain that they should be failing…but for some reason they're still trudging on."

"Do you know what that reason is?" Bart asked.

Chuck was initially going to tell him about Blair straightaway. But while he was contemplating what he was going to say he kept thinking about those eyes. Those dark eyes that had been haunting him since he'd seen her a few weeks ago. Those eyes that held so much emotion, and pain, and he was so confused.

She was so confident, so sure of herself, held so much potential and a part of him hated doing this to her…she was so unlike Carter.

But business was business.

"Carter's secretary."

Bart laughed, an almost intimidating laugh.

"No seriously."

"I wish I were joking father but Ms. Waldorf, Carter's secretary, is the only reason that firm is still afloat. She manages and keeps everything in order, including Carter, without her the firm would surely plummet."

"Then get rid of the girl," Bart waved as if it was nothing.

"That's not going to be as easy as you think it is."

Bart guffawed. "You're telling me that Chuck Bass, infamous bad boy, who is known for his good looks and 'seduction powers' can't get a secretary to quit her job?"

The sarcasm and disgust in his voice made Chuck scowl.

"No that's not it, there's something else tying her to the company. I know it, I just don't know what it is."

"Then figure it out! Simple as that," Bart slammed his hands on his desk.

"I'll do my best," Chuck stood up, getting ready to leave.

"Do better," Bart sneered.

Chuck left his father's office then, slamming the door behind him and ignoring Nancy's persistent goodbyes.

He took the stairs back down to the limo that was parked on the side of the street. All the while contemplating how exactly he was going to get the information he needed out of Blair or Carter or…Serena? Of course! Carter and Blair both seemed riled up when she came into the office this morning. But what connection did they have to his stepsister?

Instead of heading home he decided to go back to B.E. maybe Serena was still there? Or if not he was sure a certain brunette was probably still around to lift his spirits.

Yeah so it's been a while! But I mean at least I didn't abandon this story for a whole year. Just half...lol you guys should count your lucky stars I even updated! I have a lot of free time now. Sorry for any mistakes I'm doing this whole thing sans beta and I don't really care that much it's for fun! Thank you for all the reviews you left for the last chapter! I hope I can update again soon I have lots of ideas so your reviews would sure be some form of encouragement!