Hi all! I know it's been so long that I've updated, but if you've read the other OS and short fic I've posted through the summer you've read about what happened to me in spring. I'm slowly trying to get a hang of the fanfics again, hoping to use writing as a distraction. I really hope this long chapter will make it up for my absence and I hope you'll tell me what do you think. - T
...
After the successful night, Blair decided to make the event a weekly habit. She and Chuck decided a day that would be fine for the both of them and for the friends or family that would have to babysit their baby. It was usually a Wednesday, when clubs weren't full of people and above all Serena or Nate weren't busy.
Their best friends were the babysitters Blair always called first. They seemed to be reliable, and Lexie seemed to love being in their company. Whenever they would get back home and check on the baby, she would look cheerful and content, as if she had had real fun.
She was sure that with a guy like Nate she would have fun and with a girl like Serena she would feel admired the way she should. Nate and Serena were young and funny souls, and it was impossible for anybody not to get along with them.
The first Wednesday of May, they left their baby with the blue eyed guy. Nate had looked so caring to Blair. They had got back earlier than planned because she had said she had a problem, and they had found Nate playing with Lexie like a little child. He said sweet words to her and Blair couldn't believe her ears. Of course Nate had kind of denied after he was caught, but Blair found that cute too.
One week after, it had been Serena's turn. As every other week, she had taken Carter with her. They were like glue, he followed her everywhere. It seemed as if he didn't mind to babysit a Bass. According to Chuck, Carter had been captured by Alexandra when he first saw her at the hospital few months before and he had complimented him about her beauty.
Blair really hoped Carter wasn't a werewolf and that he wouldn't fall in love with her daughter and that and he wouldn't ask them to be her fiancé when she would grow up. She wanted him to remain with her best friend.
Carter had been very attentive with Serena. After she had lost their baby around Valentine's Day, he hadn't left town for longer periods so that he could be with her. He had seemed very dedicated to her and Serena seemed really happy to be with him.
Blair thought the only time she saw her best friend so happy was when she was with Nate, years before. This made Blair really joyful, because she didn't think anybody could ever substitute Nate in her best friend's heart – or Dan, for that matter.
Serena's good mood pleased Blair also because at the moment she needed her best friend so badly. She had a task for her that she couldn't fulfill, and she knew she would do a good job.
Blair waited patiently in the kitchen for Serena to come down to have breakfast on the day after she babysat Alexandra. She had spent the night in one of their guest rooms with Carter, and they usually came down early to have something to eat because he had to leave to go to work. They loved to spend moments at their penthouse.
She took something from the bowl and sighed with annoyance while she was waiting. That day her best friend seemed late for some reason, and she would be late for work too if she wouldn't leave in half a hour. When Serena finally entered the kitchen with her robe on, Blair sighed but with relief. "Thank Goddess you're here. I need you."
Serena yawned. "Good morning to you too, Blair. You're up this early? I thought you and Chuck would lay in bed till ten and cuddle."
"How do you know what we do on our free day? Today is an exception, by the way. I need to go to the Palace to meet a new associate for a project. That's why I'm up earlier than usual."
"A project? That's your first, B? I'm sure you'll do great" Serena commented.
She nodded, conceited. "Yes, I know. I've been waiting for this person to come for a few days, and now we're going to work together. I'll do something I've never done... I feel excited and scared. And by the way Chuck doesn't know about this."
"What? How come he doesn't know? Isn't he the assistant manager?"
"He is. But he's busy now. We agreed that we won't leave Lexie alone if not necessary. I know that I should take time for myself so I can do my things, but I don't want to leave her to nannies. Chuck offered to look after her when I have to work and he doesn't."
Serena smiled. "That's so sweet. I bet he's sleeping right now? I've heard you last night. You weren't exactly sober."
"You were probably too tired to even remember it, S. We rarely get drunk. We're supposed to be minors on our teenagers day." She shrugged and took something from a bowl.
"Yeah, right. Then I was drunk too when I heard you screaming his name with a silly voice. We both know you used to drink more then than now."
Blair looked away. "Okay. We were a bit dizzy. Since I'm not breastfeeding anymore I thought I needed few drinks to remember myself how a drink tasted. I've only had champagne when I was pregnant, and not even a lot of it. I couldn't risk."
"It's good that you don't have to be afraid to infect the milk of the baby with alcohol anymore. Imagine how she'd grow up" Serena giggled.
She nodded. "A great liberation, if you ask me. But I'm on edge now, because I think I have an hangover. I think we drank too much" she bit her lip. "My ovaries made me drink too much."
Serena patted her friends' shoulder. "Come on, it's not bad! You're just happy you can drink again. You should thank your ovaries. You seem happier."
"Thank them? They've ruined my night!"
She was confused. "What about them? I thought you already had your period after you gave birth. Didn't you?"
"When you talk like that, you look like my doctor" she rolled her eyes. "And you are right. I did. And it destroyed my plans! For yesterday I had planned to go with Chuck somewhere exclusive where we could have our time – not that we don't have our time here, but with the baby and everything is hard to not be disturbed. But before we left the house I got my period and I didn't tell him, so I suggested to have a few drinks instead of doing what we had to and he seemed disappointed."
"You two have sex in second class clubs, B? I wasn't expecting that from you." Serena's face was made of fake disapproval. "And I don't think he'd be disappointed, you two live under the same roof. When you want to share a few moments of love you can if you're in the mood."
Blair blushed but tried to hide it. "Shh. It's not exactly like that. We made a deal, and this deal consists in planned sex or sort of. We decided we were going to be careful not to risk again. And we are a busy pair now. Do you think it's easy to do it with a baby sleeping in the room next to you? Half of the times we are interrupted by her crying."
Serena made a face. "I have no idea if this amuses me or not... you always had sex out of your house when you were in your teens, right? Now my sleep will be haunted." She pretended to be disturbed by the thought. "Why can't you just make it when Lexie is entertained by someone? She mustn't interrupt all the times."
"You can't really control the wishes of a baby. Most of the times we succeed it's when she is so tired out that she can't help but sleeping through the night. It's one in a million. Although the lack of sleep she's had in the latest weeks has helped me."
"Helped you? Please, don't tell me your turn on during sex or foreplay is the baby crying."
"What are you thinking! She is not. I'm working with her. You know, next week is going to be Chuck's birthday and I want him to have the perfect gift. Alexandra is helping me when she isn't able to get back to sleep."
The blonde frowned. "Working? She is too young to even create something with her hands."
"You don't say. My project is a secret, and I'm trying to use all the time I have to prepare it. But I have a problem. I didn't have the time to actually finish my birthday gift. And that's when you come in."
"What should I do? I'm lost."
"I'm sure you'll be great for this role. You need to go and confirm the party I have organized. I'll give you the address – you can't be wrong."
"I should just... confirm the party? That's it? Can't you do it via phone?"
Blair pursed her lips. "They need a personal confirmation. Not only for the date, but for what will be served. I have another list of things to give you, the foods and the music and other small details that can't be missed."
"Mmmh, okay?" Serena bit her lip and went to pick something to eat.
"But you need to do everything as I say. This party will not only be for Chuck's birthday but also for the fifty years of the Palace and Bass Industries." She shrugged. "Well, that actually is the covering. He must not know that I have organized a party for him."
Serena nodded. "Gotcha."
"Good girl. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go because I have an appointment. Text me when you do me that favor! And before 2pm."
….
One hour later, Blair was sitting behind her desk waiting for the new associate. He wasn't late, but she felt on edge to wait for him. That would be her first meeting since she had been named the head of the Palace hotel. Not that she was afraid, but she had been busy preparing for Chuck's birthday that she had not given the right amount of time to this side project.
What concerned Chuck's gift was tiring her out. It wasn't something easy to achieve, but she told herself that she had to try harder every day so that she would get what she wanted. The results weren't great yet, but she still had less than a week to try.
When she was in her office, she usually took a moment to think about what it led her on that chair. She hadn't done anything in particular to get that position, she had just used her self control and urge to help who was being ill – or better pretended to be ill to test her. She wasn't sure if this new associate would act the same way, testing her. She had to be ready.
She really hoped that the person that she was waiting wouldn't act behind her back and start checking what she had done since she had started working again, because she hadn't done a lot. This would be the first project she was arranging as a boss and also as a creative designer.
This was the first chance she had to demonstrate herself and the world that Blair Waldorf could do that job and that she hadn't been recommended by anyone.
She started writing some random things on a notebook when a knock interrupted her. She put away the pen and the papers to turn towards the laptop and pretend she was using it. She kept pushing the buttons on the keyboard until the person on the other side entered.
She faked to unstuck her eyes off the laptop and looked at the man that had just got in.
A tall, dark blonde and with grey eyes man entered. Not exactly her type of man, but pleasant. He was wearing a blue suit and carried a little briefcase.
Blair remained astonished behind her desk and blinked once to wake up from her thoughts.
"You must be Miss Waldorf" he sort of whispered and got closer.
She managed to smile and offered her hand. And then she coughed. "Waldorf-Bass. In flesh and blood. And you are?"
He also smiled. "Daniel, Daniel Roe."
"Welcome to the Palace" she smiled with conviction, trying to look sure of herself. "I bet you already know the hotel."
He nodded; "of course I do. By its fame. But I've never actually stayed here before. It seems a nice environment though."
She leaned back in her chair, already having a good mood thanks to those few kind words. She didn't know why but this man looked so charming. She really wished he wouldn't use his charm to turn tables for their arrangement.
"Well, then. What we should discuss first?"
He cleared his voice and started to talk. "I think you should take in consideration what I'm about to tell you, Mrs Waldorf. I've come all the way from France for this."
"France? I thought the company was English."
He shook his head. "Company? Look, I think there is a mistake here."
Blair frowned, rather confused. "I'm not in the mood for jokes, Mr Roe. I thought you wanted to talk about our plans for this hotel." She said, hopefully not passing as the one at fault here. She had studied this case and she was sure the company member with whom she talked to, wasn't French at all. "And your British hotel for that matter."
He shook his head again, almost consternated. "I'm... not part of company, Mrs Bass. I just am the lawyer."
She bit her lip. "I see. This changes things" she said as she wondered why the future associate decided to send a lawyer instead of himself to talk about their hotels. "Then please explain what you have in mind and we'll talk about the project."
"Of course. I'm glad you already seem enlightened by it. There are big plans for you, very big plans."
"This makes me happy. I think that if our hotels should collaborate, we should approve each other's ideas very openly. Don't you think?" Blair asked, trying to be persuasive.
The man seemed confused again. "Mmmh, yes. You mean you and your mother's? I bet she'll be very delighted to know that you approve of the plans."
"What my mother has to do with this?" she wondered, rather upset. "And what she has to do with the English hotel? Who are you again?"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I think we are again confusing things here. I thought you understood I came here representing your mother. I'm her French lawyer" he explained.
Blair could see clearer now, or almost. "Why did you come here on her behalf?"
"Your mother told me she was busy at the moment to talk vis-a-vis, so she pushed me to talk to you before she would come and explain what she has in mind for you." He said, trying to look for some papers in his briefcase. "She told me to tell you that she's really happy to give you this opportunity. She feels like you deserve it."
She raised an eyebrow. "Which... kind of opportunity?"
"The great opportunity to own everything. She wants to resign and since you're her only daughter, she prepared some papers -"
"You're telling me my mother wants me to take over her company?"
….
Everything done and in time!
S – xo
Blair received Serena's text after she finished her lunch and it made her smile delightfully. At least one of the tasks for the day – her supposed free day – had been done. The second task, the one she thought was the hardest to do, hadn't even happened because of a misunderstanding.
She had been very confused. Very, very, confused. After her mother's lawyer had left, she understood that he was the 'company member' she had to meet and that there wasn't anybody English who owned a hotel overseas that would make plans with her.
She had misunderstood everything. Every single detail of the call she had received few days before. She had hoped to arrange her first deal as a manager, while instead she was given the opportunity to take over a different place and situation.
She wanted to leave her office as soon as the lawyer left but she felt like she didn't want to run home and face Chuck. She wanted to decide for her future alone. She thought that with the job at the Palace she already had it all planned from now on, but this other offer baffled her.
She was angry at her mother for not telling her in the face or at least on the phone. She was the manager of her company after all. If she wanted her to take over, why not ring her to let her know?
Her rage and preoccupation didn't make her realize that someone was staring at her. She had to blink to realize it wasn't just her imagination. She pretended to put on her happy face and run to the little girl in the pram to kiss her cheek. "How did you get here, sweetie? Last time I checked you couldn't walk."
When she spoke, he came in sight and their eyes met. For some reasons, he looked quite handsome that afternoon. It didn't matter that she wanted to avoid talking about what had just happened at work and her nonexistent deal, it was always a pleasure seeing him.
"You didn't come for lunch so I thought I'd find you here... you alright?" he asked.
She bit her lip and let her daughter play with her hand. "I've had till few minutes ago. I'm sorry if I didn't make it for lunch. I can make it up later" she winked at him.
"No worries about that" he walked to her and kissed her cheek swiftly. "Your daughter missed you. She's been saying mo the whole day."
"She knows how to spell mom? I didn't know that. That's great. But I wished he'd say dad first" she tried to change the subject.
He shrugged. "Mom is easier. She already knows how to pronounce those syllables. I think it's too early for her to call me" he giggled.
Blair faked to act dumb and focused on her baby again. "You were missing me, huh? How nice of you. I've been missing you too! I hate that I had to work on my free day."
She took her in her arms and gave her a kiss on her forehead. Chuck was looking at her suspecting that something was wrong, so she hoped she was at least being credible trying to look tired and just wanting to greet her little daughter.
"I've been meaning to ask... why did you? You seemed in a rush yesterday when I asked you about it. I know you're hard-working, but even Blair Waldorf doesn't say no to a day with her family" he commented.
She managed a smile, "I should be honest with you, Chuck." She bit her lip, making him frown. "I had to see someone. That's the only reason why I came to work today."
"Someone? Should I be worried?"
She gave him a quick pat on his shoulder. "Of course not, silly. It was meant to be a surprise for tonight, but... well I've done my first job as the manager of this hotel" she lied.
He smiled proudly, which made her bit her lip again because of the lie she had just told him. "That's great. I was sure you'd start to get used to this place and its duties very soon."
"Yeah, that's true. I really love working here. But you should fire the secretary."
"What's wrong with her?" he wondered.
"She still calls me Miss Waldorf!" she complained, making her baby turn on the last syllable.
Chuck put a hand on his forehead and laughed. "I think we better head home."
….
Once back to their penthouse, Blair and Chuck found Serena waiting for them in the foyer. The girl looked quite upset by the looks on her face.
"Serena, I thought you would leave after lunch" she said. "Not that I want you to leave, but..." she couldn't finish her phrase that her best friend jumped off the couch and went to hug her.
Chuck was pushing the stroller inside the penthouse with a worried face. He had actually seen his stepsister really giddy few hours before, she seemed excited for something. He couldn't think what or who could be hurting Serena right now, although he guessed.
"Calm down, S" Blair tried to shush her friend by making her sit back on their couch.
Serena's eyes filled with tears and she was crying and shaking. She seemed really upset. She was holding on Blair's shoulders as on to dear life. Seeing her cry like that was making Chuck uneasy so he well decided to leave and take the baby upstairs.
Serena seemed to free herself of her burden when she heard Chuck climbing the stairs. Maybe she just needed privacy. "I hate him, Blair" she cried.
"Hate who? Don't tell me it's Carter's fault that I'm gonna -"
"I went to run your errand, Blair, I went to that fancy place you wanted me to confirm for Chuck's birthday party" she started to explain soon and Blair thanked God that she had waited Chuck to be upstairs to mention her mission. "I did everything you asked to me and then – and then, then I saw them."
Blair frowned, Serena was making her feel anxious. "Who did you see?"
"Carter. Carter, I saw Carter. Carter and a blonde. Do you understand, B, Carter and a random bimbo. Carter and a random slut" she kept crying.
She shook her head in disapproval. "Oh my, I knew it! I knew he was going to break your heart, that damn Carter Baizen! I could strangle him with him own hands if you'd like."
"I loved him, Blair. I really loved him. I thought he was the right one to live my life with, he made me – he made me so happy, so lively, made me have the best time in my life. I've never felt this way" she explained to her best friend with teary eyes.
"I know, sweetie. I know" Blair tried to comfort her as she caressed her back. "He doesn't deserve you. He's an asshole. You should just insult him right now, using the worst words."
Serena hold on Blair's jacket tightly. "It's too hard, it's too hard. My mind is blurred by the love I feel for him. How can I ever insult him?" she asked and recoiled back when she did. Her face was a mess and she looked so tired.
"Believe me, it helps. When I used to be so mad at Chuck because he hurt me, I used to make up the weirdest nicknames. Why don't you try it too, making fun always helps."
She shook her head, "It's not that easy, B. Imagine if the man of your life did that to you, how would you react?"
Blair tried to find the right words for that answer. "I know how would I react. I'd kill him if it wasn't illegal or either I'd send him bankrupt."
"Can't we do that?" she asked sheepishly.
"What, kill Carter?"
Serena smiled briefly. "No, no. Bankrupt him."
"I think that's too much even for Carter, S. Unless you want Chuck to make his business life a hell. He has many friends who would help" Blair laughed evilly, thinking about it in her mind.
"No no" Serena had a sudden change of mind. "That's too cruel even for me."
"Alright, alright. Sorry, that was too much" she shrugged. "But it made you laugh."
Serena and Blair kept talking and the brunette succeeded in changing the subject after a couple of minutes, trying to make her best friend think about other stuff. She suggested they watched a movie and ate popcorn in front of TV like old times and Serena accepted gratefully. She was in the mood for some old Hollywood classic and to a quiet afternoon and evening.
Chuck came to check on them two times, once alone and another time with the baby. He just said that he needed something from the living room, but Blair was sure that he was also coming to check if Serena was alright.
Serena smiled again to Blair's surprise and contentment after they finished their second film. It was almost dinner time and she didn't look ready to leave anytime soon. "I'm so sorry I showed up like this. I know you wanted to spend your free day with your family."
"Well, you are part of my family" Blair grinned, and then she hugged her best friend.
"Thank you, Blair. You managed me to distract me."
"Shush, no thank yous. Remember that I love you. And after today I love you more because of what you did for me" she winked at her friend knowingly.
Serena winked back. "Anytime. I'm sure that event is gonna be great."
…
Blair found Chuck upstairs when Serena left at midnight. Their baby was perfectly safe and sound and was fast sleep in her crib when she checked, while her husband was on his side on the big bed of their bedroom with his arms crossed behind his head. He looked asleep from afar because of the dim lights, but he wasn't.
"Did Serena leave?" he wondered.
Blair started getting undressed before she answered. "Yep. She said she was going to Lily's to sleep and tomorrow she'll face things."
"Baizen problems again?"
She nodded. "That piece of work, I hate him. He managed to hurt Serena for the, what – third time in a couple of years? He should be castrated."
"I'm sorry for her but anyway, it was expected. A tiger can't change her stripes" he reasoned.
Blair seemed to disagree. "Not all tigers, maybe."
"Maybe I wasn't a tiger" he smirked from the bed.
"You are a panther" Blair stated, finding her nightgown in a drawer and putting it on before jumping on the bed next to him and under the sheets.
Chuck allowed her to put her head on his chest and to be pulled in a half hug. He looked like her big teddy bear in a sort of cheesy way. She loved to hug him like that, to make him feel she was close. The warmth of his body was a blessing and she adored to live that life day after day.
"I'm sorry for today" Blair said after a long silence. She hoped he hadn't drifted off to sleep.
He cleared his voice before he talked. "Sorry for what?"
"Well for going to work on my free day and spending the rest of it with my best friend instead that with you and Alexandra" she explained.
"We still have your free day next week, Blair. I surely won't hold a grudge against you because you decide not to stay with me. You have a life besides me and our baby" he said.
Blair smiled in the dark, "I'll make it up to you for this missed day, I promise" she told him as she started to think about the last details for his birthday party.
"Can I ask you something, Blair?"
"Of course."
He took a breath before he spoke. "Why did the associates want to meet you on your free day? Not that I'm wondering too much, but it's just weird to have meetings at the end of the week."
Blair bit her lip. It was truth time, she guessed. "I didn't tell you the whole truth earlier" she started to explain. "I didn't meet any new person to help the hotel today."
"What do you mean? Did they not come?" he asked.
"No. Someone indeed did come. It just wasn't... someone I expected."
Chuck frowned with curiosity in the dark of the room. "Don't tell me -" he was quickly cut off.
"Chuck, my mother wants me to take over her company. She wants to give me Waldorf Designs and she sent a lawyer to tell me today."
"What?" Chuck questioned, standing sit on the bed and making her fall from his chest.
She lighted up the lamp on the nightstand so that she could see his expression. "Today my mother's lawyer showed up at my office to give me some papers. I thought he was one of the associates from Britain when he introduced himself, then he dropped that bomb on me."
"Well, that's... a pretty big bomb to say at least" he commented.
"I think it has nothing pretty."
"Why are you saying this? Your mother is giving you a great opportunity, you can inherit her company." He said, matter-of-factly.
She glared at him in confusion. "If you recall, I already got a job. I've started it recently, but this doesn't mean I should quit it because my mom offers me to run her company."
"You can always run both, Blair. I wouldn't say it's easy, but it can be that easy. I could help you getting the hang of that, if you'd like" he offered.
"You're not helping me by saying this. I need to make a choice, I can't be greedy and get both jobs. And I have already less time by being the head of the Palace alone, imagine if I also had to run a fashion company. You'd see me even less than you saw me today."
He nodded and sighed. "I don't know, Blair. The choice is up to you."
"Sadly" she seemed depressed about it. "I think I might as well sleep on it."
"Yeah, I think that's a good idea" he agreed.
Blair turned off the lamp on the nightstand and adjusted under the sheets. She hoped that she would dream the answer to her riddle because at the moment she didn't know what to decide. It hadn't been hard accepting the job at the Palace, but choosing between that good position and another at an entirely different environment wasn't the same.
She thought that the job at Waldorf Designs had some pros, though. She would be the boss, hence she could work at home. That was for sure something that would benefit her family life when she reasoned about it.
….
The following morning Blair received a special visit.
"M-mom...?" she asked when she saw her mother sitting on the couch of their living room.
Eleanor Waldorf smiled widely and reached her daughter to greet her. "It's been so long since my last visit... it's refreshing to get back to New York."
"What are you doing here?" she asked with a bitter tone.
"Aren't you happy to see your mother, Blair? Come on, give me a hug" she suggested and took the initiative and put her arms around her daughter.
Blair glared at her. Better to say the things she needed to say quickly to get over with. "Don't act like this! Don't like things are going fine, mother!"
Eleanor seemed confused. "What are you talking about, sweetie? If it's about my proposal to you, I came here to explain things."
"Don't you know I have already a job?"
"Of course I do. And it's an amazing job. But does it suit you? Didn't you want to work in the marketing when you were a child? You'd be great for Waldorf Designs, Blair" she explained.
This made things harder for indecisive Blair. "Maybe when I was eleven and I saw daddy working in his office, but now I don't think I want" she answered with a certain insecurity in her voice. "I've really been enjoying working at the Palace. Running a hotel may not be easy, but I'm getting used to it."
"I know, and like I said the Palace Hotel is a great deal, but isn't that boring? Checking on the guests, making sure everything is on place..."
"Mom, if you recall I'm a perfectionist."
Eleanor nodded, "Yes. And that's why I want you to be the manager of my company, Blair. Because you are the best of the best. Think about it, even Alexandra may inherit Waldorf Designs one day. What if your little one wants to become a designer?"
Blair sighed. Her mother wasn't wrong but it was confusing her more. "She's too young to even walk by herself, mother. It's too early to think about her future. And by the way she has a future, she'll inherit Bass Industries when she grows up."
Her mother giggled. "Oh sweetie, don't get me wrong for what I'm telling you right now, but why should you just think about Charles' part? After all he did the same with his company, didn't he? I feel offended."
"Let me clear something for you, mom. It's not that I don't want your company, it's just that I already have a job, and a good one" she repeated.
"Well you do. You are the head of the Palace who is owned by your husband who also is your vice. Isn't that family business?" she asked with a mocking tone.
Blair glared at her with anger. She hated when people made her notice that, as if it wasn't enough. "I did not get that job because I married Chuck. I wasn't given the opportunity because God – I'm lucky I'm the wife of a billionaire. I was chosen for the job because of my qualities, my character. I was not recommended."
Eleanor shook her head and smiled. Blair didn't know why but she felt as if she was about to say something rude to her. She hoped she wouldn't ruin her day. "Blair, dear. You know that I've always told you how great you were when you were younger. And how great you are and you'll be. But there is still something you need to learn on your way."
"Stop it! You're trying to brainwash me to drop my job!"
"Brainwash you? I hoped that such thing would fail by itself, but you only proved you were good enough to run my company without any help" she explained with nonchalance.
Blair couldn't understand. "What do you mean with this, mother?"
Her mother shrugged, "Just that... with a few calls and friends on the high spots of Manhattan's finest, you can do anything."
"W-what? This can't be... this isn't real. This isn't true" she tried to say, but her throat seemed dry soon and she couldn't manage to talk properly. "The woman who did the inspection saw me doing my duties and gave me this job. She did it!"
"Well she is one of Cyrus' old friends for that matter. She casually talked to him before she checked on the hotel and he told her you were his daughter in law, so she wondered if she could do something for him and I suggested a job offer for you" she said.
She couldn't find the words to express how she was feeling. She just wanted to go upstairs and cry until she wouldn't have any more tears. "This means... she just chose me because I was your daughter. She simply overlooked what I had to offer."
"Blair, what could you offer at that time? You were six months pregnant and couldn't work anyway. You needed back up."
"I didn't need anything, mother!" Blair fumed, trying to let out all of her rage. "If any, I didn't even need the job at the Palace! I know I'm good, I could've found something after the maternity leave was done! I didn't need your help!"
Eleanor seemed annoyed and put out. "It's hard to find a job today, even for Blair Waldorf."
"That's the stupidest excuse I've ever heard" she sighed with rage, trying not to raise her voice too much.
"Look Blair, you know I did it for you and for your future."
"Didn't Waldorf Designs have to be my damn future? You could've offered the company to me back then instead of now. I would've said yes!" She exclaimed, pretty enraged. "And my future it's not your business. I am a wife and a mother now, I think I can take care of myself."
She shook her head. "I wasn't thinking about resigning one year ago."
Blair shook her head back and clenched her fist. She was so mad that she wasn't sure she could keep up for another five minutes of conversation. "You need to leave right now, mother. And if you don't want to, I'll call Chuck so they can escort you outside." She ordered with a severe tone.
Her mother didn't have to hear her say it twice, she took her handbag and coat and put them on. Before she left she just said one last phrase. "One last thing. Charles has nothing to do with this mess me and Cyrus made."
"I don't need you to know. Chuck hasn't been the bad wolf for a while, unlike somebody else."
Eleanor sighed and looked down before she disappeared in the elevator.
Blair had to sit down for a moment after that fight. She couldn't believe her ears and what her mother had told her. She couldn't bear that she had been accepted at the Palace because Cyrus was a friend of that woman who faked she was ill.
She took a deep breath and then decided to go upstairs. It was still early morning for Chuck and the baby to be awake, he wouldn't be going to work because it was the week-end and she was sure he would spend half of the day in bed.
She really didn't want to bother him on his free day, but she felt support right now and she knew he wouldn't mind if he woke up earlier than usual.
Blair kicked off her heels and went on the bed next to him. He was asleep on his side with the face towards the window. She moved closer to him and hugged him from behind, placing her hand on his chest, making him move after a few seconds.
She thought it would take longer to wake him up, but Chuck surprised her. He turned towards her and smiled in his sleep, his eyes half open and not ready yet to see her. She tried to smile at him and waited for him to open his eyes.
"Blair..." he greeted her with a harsh and sleepy voice. She tried to make a bigger smile but she couldn't do it. While trying to move the muscles of her lips, the tears started flowing on her cheeks. He was soon alarmed and finally woke up. "What's wrong?"
She sighed, "I don't want to go to work today" she cried like a little child.
"Then don't. You're the boss there, you can take a vacation if you want." he suggested. If only he knew the real reason... "There's no need to cry" he continued and tried to wipe a tear.
"I hate my mother" she continued, her tone more melodramatic.
He frowned. "Because of her offer?"
She nodded. "She was here few minutes ago."
"Eleanor was here? Good grief I missed her then. If she made you angry to the point to cry" he shook his head. He didn't like when Blair's mother put her down. "What did she say now?"
Blair couldn't help but cry more. "She's a bitch, Chuck. A big bitch. I hate her and my job, I hate everything."
"Calm down, what did she say to make you loathe your job now? Is it about Waldorf Designs again? Did you make a decision, perhaps?" he wondered.
She shook her head. "I don't think I'll ever want to take her company" she commented, "I don't want to take the company of a woman who pays other people to do her husband a favor."
"I'm not following."
She looked down. "I was recommended, Chuck. Understand? Recommended. Who could've believed I would climb the business stairs so fast? No one besides me! It was too good to be true" she said as she mixed words with tears.
Chuck put a hand on her cheek. "Did she really do that? Oh God, of all the stupid things your mother could do, she did the most offensive."
"That's right, she offended my ego this way. I actually feel worthless right now."
He kissed her on the lips and pulled her in a hug, "You're not worthless, Blair. You're better than many people out there and you're doing your job right at the Palace. And if your mother thinks it differently, she can go to hell, no offense."
She sighed. "I don't want to see her anymore."
….
"Thank you for going out with me" she told Chuck while they were walking around their neighborhood.
Chuck was pushing the stroller and smiled when he looked at her. "Anytime" he commented.
Blair nodded and looked away, paying attention to the asphalt for a second. "My mother insisted that I should take her company because this way Alexandra has a future."
"That's not entirely untrue, Blair."
"I know, but she was obsessed that without Waldorf Designs, she'd be done for. As if she doesn't have a future!"
"When our baby grows up, she'll inherit Bass Industries and all the best hotels of New York city. What else is needed? Not to discard your mother's company, but this is more than enough for a person. It is a lot even for me" he said.
She sighed and kept thinking about Waldorf Designs. "That's what I said, that Lexie has a bright future ahead of her. But she said that she should be free to choose when she grows up. She might want to become a fashion designer, mother thinks."
Chuck turned to her and frowned. "But if she's still barely able to sit without support" he shook his head. "She's too young to choose what she wants to do with her life."
"It's not even that at this point. She just wants me to drop my job at the Palace and be in charge of her business and threatened me with the recommendation."
"If you think about it, she's not totally wrong" he said, but Blair shot a glare at him. "If you don't take her company, someone else will and may not be a person of your family since you don't have siblings. Maybe your mother doesn't want that it goes to another person."
She looked at him for a moment then reasoned about it. "Ugh, I hate you, Bass."
He rolled his eyes and smiled. "Would you hate me more if I now was honest with you?"
She frowned. "It depends on the topic."
"I think you should accept Waldorf Designs" he suggested, looking at the street while he pushed the stroller. "Not to make your mother win. But to show her you can carry on with the name and you can be more successful than her."
"What about the Palace? If someone finds out what my mother did, I'll be ruined! Everyone will think that I got the position because I married you and that I am privileged."
"People are bound to think that. They also thought it about me when I inherited the company" he said. "But then I showed I knew how to do my job and they accepted me."
She sighed and stopped once they arrived next to a boutique who sold baby clothes, "I haven't been working for long, Chuck. It's too early to say that the staff accepted me, and I honestly feel out of place sometimes."
"Well then if you do... you have your answer" he said as he pushed the stroller with Alexandra inside the boutique.
Blair looked at him confused even more and then decided to drop the argument and follow him and the baby inside.
….
Blair thought that in the end Chuck was right. If she really wanted to avoid criticism from the staff at the Palace, she might as well stop working there and take over Waldorf Designs as an excuse. It would be perfect, no one would suspect what lied behind that action.
As the day passed, she decided she would try to finish all the preparations for Chuck's birthday party first and then resign from her job at the Palace hotel. It wasn't an easy decision to make. It meant giving up easily for her, but at the same time she thought not every hotel manager remains at the same place forever, nor would he or she justify why he was leaving.
She tried to reassure herself that she was doing that for her best and that things would be alright when she would inherit her mother's company. At least the talk about how she got the company because she was Eleanor's daughter wouldn't annoy her.
The day of Chuck's twenty-third birthday finally arrived, between all of the stuff she had been dealing within the last few days.
Say that she was excited was an understatement. Blair was really proud of all the preparations she had made. Every thing was ready for the night and she hoped that her gift would also please him. She had spent weeks arranging it and she was sure to succeed.
Blair found Chuck and their baby in the kitchen when she got back from work that day. He was preparing her lunch and talking to her about random things as if she could understand him.
"There you are" she said, entering the room. Chuck looked up from what he was doing and Lexie started mumbling some random syllables. "You're eating earlier than usual" she noticed.
"And you're here earlier than usual" he commented, as Blair reached him and kissed his cheek and did the same with their daughter.
Blair shrugged her shoulders and started to strip down of her bag and jacket. "I've prepared the documents for my resignation" she informed him. "They'll be ready for tomorrow. My mother's lawyer came by and told me that by the end of the month I can take over my mother's company."
"You're finally resigning for the job?" he said. "Are you okay about it?" he wondered as Blair frowned while looking at Alexandra.
She glared at him, almost annoyed. "Stop making me reconsider my decision, I beg you" she said as she turned back to her daughter to help her eat her lunch. "I'm done with the Palace. The job as a manager was the best of the best but I'd rather have my reputation safe than be seen just as the boss' wife."
"You know that you're much more than that."
She sighed. "Maybe for you... how about the rest of the world?"
He put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure I'm not the only one who finds you amazing. You're a great woman, Blair. Not only a good mother, but also a good worker. And I'm sure that for the brief time you've been at the Palace people have seen that."
She looked away, still holding the spoon with baby food for Lexie. She hesitated before she gave it to her. "I really hope this doesn't turn into a scandal" she commented, looking scared. Of all the things she disliked, one was being taken for granted because of the gossip.
"It won't" he told her firmly. "And if by any chance, it does... we'll shut it down" he finished and winked at her with a grin.
Blair exchanged his smile with a bigger one. "I love you" she muttered.
He showed his appreciation with a quick kiss on the lips. "Not more than I do."
She made a giggle and grinned again. "And happy birthday" she said, she had almost forgotten to tell him that.
"You remembered?" he looked surprised. Not that he didn't trust Blair's memory, but he didn't think his birthday was too important to remember. It was just a birthday in the end.
Blair made a funny face, "Silly, how could I ever forget?"
Chuck gave her another kiss on the lips. This time he decided to make it last longer, but while they were in the middle of the best part, their baby started shouting and almost cried. They broke their contact and Blair got back to her, she still had to eat some of her food anyway.
"Mmmh, looks as if you're jealous. Yeah, Lexie?"
"Ma-da gu gu" the baby answered as she was trying to take the spoon from Blair's hand.
"Exactly like that, sweetie" Blair laughed as she and Chuck exchanged an intense glance.
….
"Should we really go to this dinner tonight?" Chuck asked as he was fixing his bowtie.
Blair bit her lip while she was trying to fix her hair. "Come on, Chuck. It will be my last dinner as the manager of the Palace! I better leave in a great style, you'll see."
He shrugged and was distracted by an incoming text. "Lily said she'll come to the dinner tonight" he said, "and she wishes me happy birthday too. Weird."
She turned to him and pretended she wasn't surprised. "What's weird about your mother sending you the best wishes? She was probably busy earlier and she possibly didn't have the time to do so."
"Not that she never sends any birthday wish to me, but she usually does it personally. She hates sending texts messages."
"Well, this time she decided to use technology. What's wrong with that?" she asked, particularly worried that he would get suspicious.
He sighed and left the room, headed to the bathroom to fix few other things of his outfit.
Blair sighed too but with relief. He was really good at finding out stuff she wanted to hide from him, surprises were mostly his thing and not hers. She hoped he would not find out anything until they would arrive there.
When she finished preparing, she checked on her daughter. Alexandra was with Dorota getting ready. The reason why their maid was there was that she had invited her to the party, and her husband and daughter and son would come too.
"Miss Lexie ready, Miss Blair."
"Thank you, Dorota. She's beautiful in her new dress, isn't she?"
Dorota smiled. "Miss Lexie resemble you and Mr Chuck's beauty. She's born to be pretty. And look, her curls growing fast!"
Blair touched the head of her baby and Alexandra looked up to smile at her. "It's true. I can't wait until they grow out so that we can play with them. Gladly for now I can't complain because I can still put headbands on her head."
"Lilac headband does contrast with baby's skin. So graceful."
Chuck cleared his throat few seconds later. He was next to the door frame and was carrying Blair's and Lexie's spring coats. "Are we ready to leave, girls?"
Dorota already had her coat on so she waited for Blair to wear hers and helped the baby with her little one, then the four of them finally left for the dinner party.
….
Dorota reached her husband and kids when they arrived at the location of the party, while Blair was holding her baby in her arms.
"Congratulations" few guests wished them on their way to the room with the tables.
Chuck would shake hands every once in a while and Blair would fake smiles as they met some of the wives of her husband's associates.
"She was totally going to find a flaw in my outfit and our daughter" she said of a woman in her fifties that would occasionally spread false rumors about her.
"Don't care about her" Chuck said. "She's just envious you are a beautiful and young woman while she has to use botox to appear more lively."
She sighed. "These people are even worse than gossip girl" she said, noticing Serena in the crowd. She was with her mother and with Rufus, she also spotted Dan Humphrey and a random girl she never saw next to them.
"I'm glad you all came" Chuck greeted them.
"We had to, Charles. We couldn't lose this occasion to celebrate Bass Industries. They're still a little mine, aren't them?" Lily said with a cheerful tone.
Chuck smiled. "Of course. So this means that you should feel tonight is also dedicated to you."
"Don't be silly. This is your night. You have the merit of taking the company where it is."
He looked away, almost embarrassed. He felt like this every time someone commented on his achievements with Bass Industries. Blair took his hand and squeezed it. The two exchanged a look and then he smiled at her.
"Now if you'll excuse us, we have to go greet some other guests" Blair said and took him away from his stepmother and half parents.
They went through the crowd to meet with other people who had come there. Blair was herself surprised that many of them had arrived, but at the same time she realized they came because after all the disguise of that party was that it was dedicated to Chuck's company.
The waiters were serving champagne and some hors d'oeuvres. She was pleased at the way they tasted and how the room had been organized.
"You look amused" he commented as they were sipping glasses of champagne. "Why?"
She grinned and shrugged. "It's nothing, really nothing."
He licked his lips thoughtfully. "Mmmh. We'll see" he said as he took his daughter in his arms. "We better reach our table because dinner is going to be served soon."
Blair nodded and she followed him to the table at the center of the room, where they sat down together with their baby who had her own baby chair.
Around them, there were different tables. The one in their proximity was Lily's, and Rufus and his son and his possible new girlfriend were sharing it. Serena was sitting there too. Blair looked in her direction and saw her best friend lifeless and lost in her thoughts. She looked like someone who wanted to be somewhere else. She decided she would go talk to her after the speech, she knew she was still depressed because of that playboy Carter.
The other tables behind them were occupied by some of Chuck's associates and their wives and some of Bart's old friends, who came there to remember him.
Chuck really looked in the dark as she watched every thing she planned, come to life. It was her dinner too after all, they were not only celebrating the company but also the hotel and it's over fifty years of existence.
Once they finished the delicious main course, music started. It wasn't usual dinner music, it was a modern track that Blair knew he liked.
"What? Isn't this -"
"Yes, it is!" she pretended not to know anything.
Chuck frowned. "I don't think this music is appropriate for this party at all, but I can't deny I like it."
She was pleased. "It's true. Isn't this one of your favorites?"
"You have a good memory" he complimented her, and they shared a joyful look.
After few other meals, it was time for Chuck to speak. He went on the platform in front of them where there was a microphone and everyone could see him.
He cleared his throat and then started talking about the industries and how much they've grown through the years thanks to his father, and how he could now continue making them grow better and greater. It was an usual speech, he was even annoyed that he had to say those words because they were the same every other year.
When he finished talking, people clapped their hands and he returned to his seat while Blair stood up and went to the platform for her speech. People silenced when she went there, eager to listen what she had to say.
"First of all, I wanted to thank you for being here. It is my first time as the manager of the Palace hotel and I wanted everything to be perfect. I haven't been working for long at this place but I know fine well that it had to have innovations. It is surely one of the most ancient buildings of New York..." she was saying, reading the piece of paper she had written before. "... and I think you appreciated it as much as me and my family do."
Blair continued with her speech as people were listening carefully to her. It seemed as if they were really interested in what she had to say and this made her feel less edgy because of all that was going on in her life lately.
She arrived to the crucial and final point of her speech until she was distracted by the noise. She kept reading but the people in the room wouldn't listen to her, they were indeed distracted by something else. Blair didn't know what it was until she raised her head from the paper and saw one hundred people staring at their mobile phones.
She looked at Chuck and his mouth was half open, he looked almost resigned and displeased. Then she noticed Lily and Rufus, both of them quite surprised and sorry as well. Serena was on the other hand looking at her plate, a little off. But Blair was really surprised by Dan's face, he was smiling, and it wasn't a random smile. He seemed pleased and proud.
What was going on?
She didn't know what to do, so Chuck came to her rescue. He reached her on the platform and excused them and suggested their guests to carry on with the dinner.
He escorted Blair to a balcony where she could cool her mind off. He then kissed her cheek and hugged her. She felt that it wasn't necessary to do that and so she recoiled back from his arms. "Those ungrateful people" she commented. "Damn Gossip Girl for stopping my speech!"
"I'm sorry, Blair" he said. "But I couldn't stop it."
She was confused. "Couldn't stop what? The blast? I don't care as long as it isn't about me."
"It was about you" he confessed her directly.
She opened her mouth and her heart started beating faster that she had to keep herself steady by putting a hand on the ledge. "Give me your phone" she ordered him, and he did as she asked.
Oh oh oh. It looks as if it wasn't just fate that put Blair Waldorf all over the Palace. Our former Queen was discovered to have gotten the job of her dreams – and everyone's dreams; as a favor. You did not only take the richest man of NY, you also needed to become powerful on your own with his fortune, huh? Words tell me her loving-to-the-point-of-causing-diabetes-husband, has nothing to do with this. It was only mommy's fault. Well, what a loving mother you have, B. I wish mine would do the same for me. I'd own lots of buildings by now. Good luck finding your new employment, sweetie. xoxo
She gave the phone back to Chuck and heaved a deep sigh. She felt drained and lost. She just wanted to go home and forget about this day and above all, she wanted to move on.
"Someone must have found out about this. I'm sure of it" she started guessing as she felt her heart speeding as the seconds passed. "I haven't told anybody!"
Chuck noticed that she was trembling and was having a hard time standing up, so he gently took her on a bench and put the jacket of his suit on her shoulders.
"My life is ruined now! Ruined. And I'm still so young, I'll be the laughing stock of everyone at the Palace Hotel from now on."
He put his arm on her shoulder and took her towards him so that she could put her head on his chest. "You won't. You are great, you don't have to prove anything to them."
She was crying now. When he looked up at him he felt hopeless. "You don't understand, Chuck. Those people will always judge me because I've been recommended by my mother. Taking Waldorf Designs will be another proof of that. I don't know what to do."
He caressed her head. "You will fight to demonstrate that that's not true. Damn, Blair, I've never seen a more hard-working person than you are. And those who dare to go against this statement are idiots. Same as the person who leaked this information to gossip girl."
"I'm going to murder him with my own hands" she cried.
"Him? Do you know who it is?"
"Of course not, but whoever it is... will get my revenge" she promised. "I can't believe anybody would do this on the day of your birthday after I planned this party to the last detail so that it would be perfect" she said with rage in her tone.
"I'm more worried for you than for my birthday party gone wrong" he said, wiping the tears on her cheeks.
She sighed and ordered herself to stop crying. "I feel enraged" she continued, looking at the beautiful landscape in front of them.
"You have every right to be. But see the bright light, you're going to resign from this job, aren't you? You won't have to see those people anymore and be afraid they'll judge you. But don't stop coming to the hotel for good. At the end of the day if you do this, they'll win. They'll think they can insult all of you want because you seem uncaring of their words and that you left this job because of your recommendation, which is not the case."
"What should I do then? There is no choice."
"You have a lot of choices. Like admit your parents were at fault. People will see you as a honest person and many of them will accept you telling the truth more than running away from the whole thing and avoid the press. I'll be by your side."
Blair thought about it for a second and then decided to stand up. "Alright, let's do this" she said as she offered Chuck her hand and they got back in the main room.
….
"How are you feeling?" he asked when they went back home.
She smiled and seemed calm. "I'm okay, thanks for asking."
Blair had gone back to the room full of guests to apologize. She had explained why she was leaving her job and that she didn't know anything about what happened. She just wanted to empty out her heart of that delusion her mother gave her, and most of the people in the room seemed to understand it. She was okay with how it turned out. Some of them also applauded.
"Good. I'm really happy in the end it all turned out well. Besides that incident, it was a great evening" he commented as he put his daughter on their bed so she could crawl.
Blair seemed pleased with that. "I'm sorry everything didn't go as planned, Chuck. I also had a cake for you but since we couldn't eat it, I asked them to take it here."
"You really didn't have to do that for me. I'm happy as I am. I just need you and the baby in my life... that is all" he said.
She grinned and went to kiss him. "I'm so glad that you are my husband. Not because you're Chuck Bass, but because you're the best man a woman would ever love to have as their partner for life. I'm happy you are mine and of all the women you could have had in New York, you've chosen me."
"Well I couldn't choose better."
She bit her lip and smirked, taking him on the bed next to their baby. "Since you've been so lovely to me tonight, it's time for me to give you your present."
"Blair, you didn't have to" he told her.
She took Alexandra in her arms and sat her on her lap. "I forgot! Lexie's gift comes first. Come on, Lexie. What's the present you got for daddy?"
Their baby looked at her with a lost expression, then focused on her father. Chuck extended his hand towards hers and the baby gripped her finger around one of his. "Da" she murmured.
"You're so sweet, princess. And daddy loves you" he said to the baby.
Alexandra raised her head to observe him and laughed. "Dada! Dada! Dada!"
"Uhm. What did she say? Is what I think it is?" he wondered, looking at Blair now.
His wife smiled and nodded.
"Dada dada dada!" the baby screamed, and he couldn't do anything else but taking her in his arms. "Daaaaa da."
He was literally speechless. It was all unexpected for him. "This is seriously the best gift I've ever got. Dada loves you baby" he kissed her head and the baby echoed the word for a while.