A/N: I know I haven't posted in over a month so I am sorry for that. I was ill and things have just been crazy. So a little update on me and when I will be posting. I am going away again on the 3rd of July for eighteen nights but I will try to have a couple written so I can nip on and post while I am away, but no promises. I got my results last week, I passed the year but I have to resit an exam, so yes I have to study some more before August.
I hope to get a couple written this week. As for this post I feel I must remind you that I am a complete Chair fan, and in the words of the great Shakespeare, "The course of true love never did run smooth". If you are going to throw things I would prefer chocolate or a nice cake, and a heads up for any sharp objects would be appreciated.
Letmein I am so glad you love Tabitha, I have some interesting things planned to come out of her mouth. No Tabitha in this post, but she will be in the next one. I hope you still want to see what comes next after this. Smartin thanks. Krazy4spike thanks, I passed all my finals but I have to resit an exam from first semester. Stupid tutors. I am a really bad updater, so I am sorry but life is crazy at the minute, Ronan, I got 62% in the module that the work I sent you was for. That's a 2:1, an upper class honours so I am very happy with that. The anonymous person thank you. HnM Skinnys, thanks. You never let me down. Ziah, yeah more will be coming out, but what is it that you don't understand. If you tell me and I can answer I will PM you. DJ I love that you love my story. Maybe more than two people will realise it, ponder that.
Ok enough rambling, the A/N is nearly as long as the chapter. Read and review you lovely (and hopefully very patient) people
Chapter 5: Dining and Dating
Blair had spent the day trying to find her way around the office. She had shifted through different pieces of paper, letters, press releases and memos. She was organising them into three piles, the recycling pile, the filing pile, and the "I have no idea" pile. She next had to tackle the filling system. Blair thought that Tabitha could have done a better job than the person who had the job before her. She was currently sitting on the floor with her legs crossed reading through some papers. She ran her hands through her hair, trying to decide which pile to put the piece of paper in her hand. She heard a knock on the door and looked up to see Chuck standing with a bottle of water and a plate with a toasted sandwich on it. She smiled and put the piece of paper in the middle of the piles.
"You must be a mind reader, I am starving."
Chuck laughed and stepped over one of the piles. He handed her the food. He sat down on the floor and unbuttoned his jacket. Blair lifted the sandwich and took a huge bite of it. She covered her mouth and mumbled to Chuck, "the food here just keeps getting better."
"So what is going on here?" Chuck asked motioning to the piles surrounding them.
"This pile is junk, this one is for filing and this one I don't know yet. Whoever your communications director was before was extremely unorganised. I need you to go through this pile, when you have time of course."
"I will get right on that," Chuck nodded, "I hate to add to your work but I need to give you some more papers but I thought now that you were sticking around we could look for a school for Tabitha."
Blair took the papers out of Chuck's hands and read them. They were all for private pre-schools. Blair read down the sheet and began laughing, "Chuck I can't afford rent, let alone nearly twenty five thousand dollars in school fees. I am sure there is a perfectly good public school near here."
"There is financial aid within the schools and other organisations that can help. It is a good school and there are extra curriculum activities that she can attend if you are working in the afternoon. Blair it is the best school round here."
"Ok I will take a look at it but I am not promising she will go there. She doesn't need a fancy school, she is already a smart kid."
"Ok just a look," Chuck agreed. He lifted a chip from Blair's plate and snuck it into his mouth with a cheeky grin on his face. Blair stuck her tongue out at Chuck. She realised how easy it was for her and Chuck to fall back into this pattern. Part of her wanted to stop this but part of her enjoyed it.
"Speaking of Tabitha, where is she?"
"She is in the play room with Sarah. They are decorating the wall."
"You are letting her decorate the wall? Wow you really are going to be her favourite person," Blair laughed
"When I was younger all I wanted to do was draw over the walls of Bass Industry, probably just to get my father's attention. It's only paint Blair, it can be painted over."
"You are spoiling her, she is going to think she can get this kind of treatment everywhere," Blair laughed "if the walls of the room we are staying in ends up completely covered in paint then you only have yourself to blame."
"I'll remember that," Chuck laughed as his phone beeped. He took it out of his pocket and opened the message, he smiled for a minute before putting it away again, "will you excuse me please, if you need anything just give me a call," Chuck smiled handing her a card.
Blair smiled and put the card up on her desk. She smiled and lifted her sandwich to take a bite. Chuck watched her for a second, smiling. He turned round and walked out of the room. He walked down the hall towards the reception desk. He saw the petite blonde standing in a summery blue dress. He smiled and approached her.
"Hey, this is a surprise." Chuck said wrapping his arms around her waist,
"I hope it's a good surprise," The blonde asked tilting her head
"Mila, you are always a wonderful surprise." Chuck said kissing her nose, "is everything ok?"
"Yeah, I got the photos I needed for the show next month. Plus two weeks away from you was more than enough"
"Are you here on business or pleasure?" Chuck asked raising his eyebrow
"I'm having a much needed break," she said rolling her eyes wrapping her arms around Chuck, "I am hoping that since my lovely boyfriend owns a hotel he will let me stay with him for a couple of days in New York before I hole myself in my Dad's dark room in California for three weeks."
"Three weeks in a dark room, are you sure aren't a vampire?" Chuck kissed her on the nose, putting his hand on the small of her back, "I have some news. Come with me."
Chuck took her by the hand and pulled her down the hall. She let go of his hand and wrapped both arms around his waist. He laughed and kissed her on the top of her head. Chuck pulled her into his office and pulled her onto his knee.
"Why do I get the feeling I am not going to like this?" Mila asked wrapping her arms around his neck
"Blair, my ex-girlfriend from high school showed up a few days ago with her four year old daughter. She needed help, and I couldn't say no. I gave her a room and a job. I said she could live in a suite for as long as she needed."
"Is that it?" Mila laughed, "I thought you were going to tell me something bad. I'm glad you are helping her, I knew you would."
"You are amazing", Chuck smiled rubbing the side of her cheek. He kissed her on the cheek before smiling, "Tabitha, Blair's daughter, is something else. She is so smart, extremely well spoken for her age. She calls me Mr Chuck, it is so cute."
"I never thought you of all people would call a child cute. Have you gone soft in your old age?"
Chuck laughed, "I don't know whether to be upset by the soft comment or the old age comment."
"It's a term of endearment. I like this softer side of you. Plus we both know there has always been a tiny old man locked up inside of you."
"You are being a bad girlfriend," Chuck said poking her in the side
Mila giggled before asking "What job did you give her anyway?"
"Communication's director. She will deal with all the letters and advertising, which means I will have so much more free time."
"Good, you will have more time to spoil me," Mila said
"That sounds just like what I want to do"
Mila ran her hand through Chuck's hair and twirled a lock around her finger. Chuck looked up at her and smiled. He gently rubbed the small of her back, as she kissed her head.
"Do you want to have dinner here or would you like to be wined and dined this evening?"
Mila thought for a minute, "I want to eat here, I would like to meet Blair and Tabitha. It sounds like she is a wonderful kid."
"She is. I think you will love her. I offered to pay for a private school for her, but I don't know if Blair will take me up on it."
Mila nodded, she wasn't sure what she to say. Chuck gently pulled her chin round so their eyes could meet. He gently rubbed his thumb over her lips, "I heart you."
She smiled, "you're an idiot, but I heart you too." She kissed him gently on the lips, "I need a shower, I feel all disgusting."
"Oh really?" Chuck asked raising his eyebrow
"Behave" She laughed pulling him up. He wrapped his arms around her and they waddled through the reception to the lift.