I do not own Gossip Girl or its characters.
Okay so I'm just going to give you guys a heads up that you may be flipping back and forth between chapters depending on what is revealed in this Chapter. Some of the Chapters being 12, 14, 15, and 23—just to name some and probably others! So here it is! I hope you enjoy it!
Chapter 25: Juliet's Confessions
Dimitri watched patiently as Jimmy's car took off out of the alley, then nodded, signaling his men to start the car. He looked down and ran his hand over the money again and felt the excitement and rush it gave him. It had all been too easy. He laughed to himself. These Upper Eastside Manhattan elites thought that they knew how to play the game, but really, they were just pawns. Apply enough pressure and play the right angles, and the money was free for the taking.
Dimitri took out his phone and sent a message then closed the case of money. It was time for the next and last phase of the game. Closing a deal had never felt this good.
XXXXX
Blair replayed Chuck's words in her head. She didn't want to, but she couldn't help it. What if he was right? What if she would always come second to Serena with Dan? Sure Serena had Ben now, but what would happen when Ben and Serena would end, which Blair knew would naturally happen. Would Serena go to Dan for comfort like she always did? Would Dan welcome her? Of course he would. Dan was a nice guy and wouldn't say no, but what part of that would be just being a nice guy, and the other part still having feelings for Serena.
Blair couldn't help but think back to when Serena found comfort in Dan after she found of her father was manipulating Rufus and Lily. Nate had been crushed. Could she deal with an even more crushed heart than she had now?
If she and Dan worked everything out now and she went back with him, she knew that she would fall even more in love and let her guard down again. Was she setting herself up for a fall?
Was Chuck right? Were they really meant to be? They always seemed to find each other like Dan and Serena found each other.
Stop it Blair, Blair scolded herself, Dan hasn't even cheated on you with Serena. Not that you know of anyway. But he did leave to go help Serena…
"AH!" Blair yelled in frustration. She fell back on her bed, wiping another loose tear off her cheek.
She had been hurt now by both Chuck and Dan, but Dan's had been worst because she had not expected it.
At least with Chuck, Blair knew the outcome. She knew what she was getting into. He was the familiar. Blair felt a little comfort in that thought.
But with Dan, she saw herself having a different kind of life. One that she had come to crave and desire. A life without games. A normal life. She did know for sure that Dan would never intentionally hurt her, but was that better?
With Chuck, she knew what to expect from him, and so she could keep some walls up and guard her heart, but with Dan, she felt her walls come down, fully exposing her. Yes. Dan would never intentionally hurt her, so she wouldn't expect him to, leaving her guard down, leaving her heart wide open for heart break. Just like today.
So live a life constantly expecting the worst, or not knowing the outcome.
Blair sat up and grabbed her jacket and purse. She hoped Chuck was still at The Empire.
XXXXX
"Dan!" Serena called running into the loft with Ben and Juliet following close behind. "Dan!"
Serena ran back and opened Dan's bedroom door to find him sitting on his bed reading old articles from Constance High School.
"Why didn't you answer me?" Serena glared.
Dan looked up at her and shrugged.
"I really don't want company Serena. Can you shut the door?" He glared back.
"Dan?" Juliet said poking her head around Serena. Dan looked up in surprise.
"It's nice to see your safe Juliet." Dan said politely. "Now if you please? I would like to drown and torcher myself in old memories." He smiled holding up his papers. Serena gave him a look.
"Normally I would leave you to it, but I think you should meet us in the living room. I need to talk to you. All of you." Juliet answered looking at each of them.
Dan looked hesitant.
"It has to do with Blair, Dan." Serena pleaded. He didn't need to hear that twice and followed them out of his room and into the living room.
"Where is G, Dan?" Serena asked noticing Georgina's empty bedroom.
"Oh she is probably with Dimitri now." Juliet answered for Dan. Ben, Serena, and Dan all looked at Juliet in sudden shock.
"Jules…" Ben started unsure.
"Just let me start from the beginning Ben, please?" Juliet pleaded holding up her hands.
"Spill." Serena ordered sitting on the couch next to Juliet.
Juliet took a deep breath.
"It all started when Chuck came to see me about a month ago."
"He went to London to see you?" Ben asked shocked.
"I was in a cafe studying and I look up to see him standing in front of me. I was pretty pissed." Juliet frowned.
"What exactly did he want?" Dan asked.
"He told me about Ben and Serena."
"You knew before you got here?" Ben asked surprised. Juliet ignored him and continued.
"You can imagine my surprise when Chuck showed me actual pictures of Ben and Serena together, and not one phone call from you Ben." Juliet glared at her brother.
"I was afraid of what you would think, and that you would tell mom. I just didn't want you to be upset."
Serena reached for Ben's hand and squeezed it in support.
"Anyway, Chuck told you about Ben and Serena, and then?" Dan asked.
"Right," Juliet turned towards Dan, "...well Chuck then brought up you and Blair forming what he called a dangerous friendship..."
Juliet noticed Dan's face harden.
"...that had formed into more. I told him I didn't understand why that would involve me. He then went on to say, that if we could manage to manipulate the situation, that would cause you and Serena to get back together, that Ben would be free from Serena and Blair..."
"Would be his for the taking." Dan finished coldly.
"Exactly. He said she would be weak and emotionally broken." Juliet nodded.
"I can't believe this Jules!" Ben shook his head. "I defended you to Blair-to everyone! Blair was sure you were up to something but I stuck up for you!"
Juliet turned towards Ben and felt the tears start to form in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry Ben...please forgive me...I was still bitter about Serena...and with Chuck offering me money for school..." Juliet pleaded. "Like I said before, to me all I saw was you being selfish. I gave up everything to carry off that scheme against Serena and then you ended up dating her? Right after being released? Can't you understand my frustration and where I was?"
Ben just looked at Juliet sadly and shook his head again frustrated.
"I understand." Serena finally said taking Juliet's hand. "I do. I know that it happened way too soon and Ben and I should have been more careful about that, but we didn't think and just jumped right into a relationship not caring too much about how it would affect our families."
Ben looked at Serena and frowned, then looked at his sister.
"I understand Jules and I really appreciate you being honest now." Ben smiled sadly. Juliet smiled back.
"Okay so Chuck wanted you to come back to New York to manipulate us all, but what exactly was the scheme. I mean Blair was onto you from the beginning." Dan asked.
"Of course she was." Juliet rolled her eyes. "As soon as I saw her I knew she was on high alert. I mean, she even knew about W, so I had to figure out a loop hole or a change in direction that not even Blair could make sense of."
Dan, Serena, and Ben exchanged worried glances.
"What kind of loop hole Juliet?" Serena asked.
"Well our first game plan was to go right after you and Ben. Chuck knows that Blair is jealous of you Serena and that if Dan would show you any kind of compassion…"
"He was counting on Blair to freak." Serena finished. "But she is better than that now, we both are."
"Yeah, but when I saw the Gossip Girl pictures of Dan and Blair, and Chuck's, I realized that they were a lot more serious then Chuck would admit. Not to mention how happy and content you guys were running half naked through the loft…" Juliet smirked at Dan. Dan blushed suddenly remembering. "I knew that it wouldn't be that easy as Chuck said. The way he spoke about it Dan and Blair were just a fling, nothing serious."
"That's what he wanted to believe." Dan glared.
"So realizing Chuck's emotional involvement could mean failure, I asked him to leave, saying that with him out of the way, he wouldn't be suspected."
"So that's why he went away suddenly on business." Serena said somewhat to herself. "I just thought he was upset about Blair and Dan."
"Exactly what I was counting on." Juliet beamed proudly.
"Okay continue." Serena frowned at Juliet. Juliet smirked but continued as requested.
"After Chuck had left I realized that trying to break up you and Ben first would be too predictable, that Blair would be on top on me instantly, especially if I would be messing with her best friend. I learned already not to try to come between you two."
Serena laughed at the memories.
"Then you manipulated the situation at W." Dan spoke up. "Which Blair was onto immediately."
"Which was really annoying." Juliet glared at Dan who just smiled. "But yes, as soon as she connected the dots so to say, she started to suspect not only me, but Chuck, which he did not want."
"So you started at square one again?" Serena asked.
"Not exactly. I knew that if we just started another scheme, Blair would see threw me, so I had to lead her down to a dead end."
"You knew she bugged your room when you called Chuck?" Dan asked surprised.
"I was counting on it." Juliet smiled. "I needed her to expose me, especially to Ben and Serena."
"Why especially us?" Ben asked leaning forward.
"Because I needed your emotional involvement in the next stage of the scheme. Before I tell you this next part you have to know that I was highly desperate, and really upset about you and Serena." Juliet said to Ben.
"Great." Ben sighed annoyed and sat back into his chair.
"We all have done things we're not proud of Juliet, but what matters now is that you're telling us. It's okay." Serena soothed.
Juliet nodded thankfully at Serena and took another deep breath, and straightened herself on the couch.
"After I pretty much failed time after time, Chuck took over. I had managed at least to bring him into the light about Dan and Blair—that they were more serious than he had thought, and that didn't go over too well with him. In my opinion it made him even more desperate."
Dan saw sadness in Juliet's eyes, while she remembered Chuck's state.
"He decided to up things a notch and started by contacting Georgina."
Dan and Ben's mouths dropped while Serena slouched into the couch shocked.
"Excuse me? I was the one who contacted Georgina." Dan said in disbelief.
"I'll get to that Dan I promise." Juliet smiled.
Dan took a heavy sigh and sank back into his chair annoyed.
"So what did Chuck have on G?" Serena asked watching Dan with a concerned eye.
"Chuck knew through his own personal grapevine that Georgina had pretty much abandoned the whole stay away from Russian mob, and was involved with Milo's father again. Who happened to also serve sometime in the same prison as Ben."
"Yeah I remember Dimitri, but how did Georgina get involved with him when he was in prison?" Ben asked.
"Dimitri went into prison because he stole a whole lot of money from his family and hid it in off shore accounts for himself. Georgina had gotten pretty involved with him while he was serving his time, bringing Milo to see him, when his own wife wouldn't even answer his calls or letters."
"Dimitri had her killed 2 months before he was released." Ben added quietly scaring Dan and Serena slightly with the reality of the situation. Dan couldn't help but worry about Milo's future if that was going to be his dad.
"Sadly yes he did, and he got away with it because prison was his sanctuary."
"But his sanctuary plan backfired. He thought he would have longer, but he was released in just a year. Not enough time for the anger to subside and for betrayal to be forgotten in the Russian Mob." Ben said.
"Not enough time at all." Juliet agreed.
"Did G know about the money he stole?" Serena asked Juliet.
"I'm sure she did, seeing as she was broke since she refused to let her parents know anything about Milo."
"So she worked her way into Dmitri's heart using Milo. Sounds familiar." Dan growled quietly from across Serena and Juliet.
"I still don't understand how Chuck used this against G." Serena frowned.
"Chuck gave Dimitri just enough money to get back into his families good graces, without having to touch his off shore accounts. He told them some stupid story about…"
"The Irish mob? I heard about this." Ben said. "A lot of Irish mob are upset about being accused of stealing money from the Russian's by Dimitri."
"Yeah well Dimitri counted on his families hate for the Irish, to welcome him back in." Juliet said shaking her head in disbelief.
"So Chuck gives Dimitri and Georgina money to help save his ass, in exchange for what?" Dan asked.
"That's where this takes a turn, and please don't hate me." Juliet pleaded again.
"Just continue Jules." Ben answered quietly.
Juliet paused for a moment looking at her brother and then went on.
"Dan and Blair couldn't have picked a better time to expose me. It was perfect really. Chuck and Dimitri set it up, so what was I supposed to do, now that I was in so deep?"
"You knew you were going to be abducted?" Ben asked in sudden shock. Juliet could feel his eyes burning into hers as she met his questioning gaze.
"Yes." She whispered.
Ben shot up and shoved the books off the coffee table making everyone jump.
"I can't believe you! I was worried sick! Sick! I thought the worst! I couldn't sleep!"
"I know! I know! I'm SO sorry Ben!" Juliet sobbed throwing her face in her hands.
"I thought you were in danger! But you were just playing another fucking game!" Ben yelled before he fled to the kitchen and shoved pots and pans off the counter, making a loud crash.
Dan ran into the kitchen and took hold of Ben.
"Ben, calm down! I know your upset and so am I, but we need to hear all of it, because if Chuck has an endgame, which I'm sure he does, I need to get to Blair."
Ben looked from Dan to Serena, who nodded at him in agreement with Dan, while she comforted Juliet. Ben took a deep breath and walked slowly back into the living room, kneeling down next to Juliet.
"I just love you so much Jules. It hurts you would do something like this." Ben whispered.
Juliet looked up with tears in her eyes.
"I know. I'm sorry Ben." She sobbed. Ben knelt forward and hugged her which she gladly accepted.
After a moment, for Juliet to calm down, Dan finally broke the silence.
"So you knew you were going to be kidnapped that night?"
Juliet looked up and nodded.
"Chuck and Dimitri knew that Ben would recognize Dimitri and know he was in the Russian mob. Chuck knew you would either go to him or call Georgina for help to get me back."
"What if we would have gone to Chuck instead of Georgina?" Dan asked.
"We had a plan for each one in case, but Chuck was banking on Georgina. He knew that it would cause the most trouble."
"Milo." Serena said out loud looking at Dan.
"Yeah. Chuck was hoping that by bringing Georgina and especially Milo back into the loft, that it would cause problems between Dan and Blair."
Dan swallowed and fought to keep his anger down. He hated it intensely that Chuck had been right.
"Chuck knew that Dan cared about Milo enough, that it could hurt Blair." Serena said sadly. "Wow. He is desperate."
"That's not all." Juliet frowned. "I heard from Dimitri that the plan wasn't working the way they wanted. Dan and Blair were too strong and that Blair and you Serena were starting to suspect Georgina, due to finding out about Dimitri serving with Ben last year."
At her words Dan smiled sadly.
"So to escalate the situation, Georgina got these papers," Juliet said picking up the packet of papers Georgina had left Dan on the coffee table, ", and dropped a bomb on Blair and Dan. Chuck knew the idea of maybe someday raising Georgina's baby would make Blair's skin crawl."
"And I just made it worse." Dan sighed sadly.
"Hey." Serena said leaning towards Dan. "You had just had a hell of a bomb dropped on you, and you were in shock, in the moment."
Dan gave Serena a forced smile, then turned to Juliet.
"Did she have any intention of really putting me as his guardian if anything would happen to her?" Dan asked quietly.
"I honestly don't know Dan." Juliet answered sadly. She looked down and noticed that they weren't signed. Serena followed Juliet's gaze and noticed too.
"You didn't sign them?" Serena asked Dan.
Dan looked up at her and smiled slightly.
"No. I do care about Milo, but Blair's my future."
Serena looked at Dan and gave him her brightest smile.
"Okay, so Georgina came into the picture to stir trouble between Dan and Blair, and steer us towards you and Dimitri." Ben said to Juliet. "So Serena just gave up that money for nothing?"
At Ben's words, Serena's face lit with realization.
"Originally I thought Serena wouldn't have that kind of money she could get to fast enough, so I figured she would go to Lily, who we all know would have questioned it or said no…"
"Which could have caused a rift between me and your brother?" Serena finished for Juliet.
"Yeah. But then when you were able to get the money, Chuck came up with an alternate plan. Dimitri was supposed to not complete the switch. He was supposed to reject the money, and say that it was counterfeit or not enough."
"I would have suspected Serena." Ben frowned.
"Yes, so when the deal went through, and Dimitri let you take me, I thought that Serena didn't help, and that you had gotten the money on your own."
"That's why you were surprised to see me." Serena confirmed out loud.
"Yeah. If the scheme would have been a success, Chuck said that you would run back to the loft looking for Dan, who would have been hurting too and…"
"You would have successfully set up a situation in which Dan and I could have failed in by ourselves." Serena finished for Juliet.
"In our hurting finding comfort in each other?" Dan frowned.
"We've done it before Dan." Serena said sadly.
"If you both thought you were abandoned by your significant other, then we were counting on you two reconciling." Juliet said quietly.
Dan glared and ran his hands over his face in frustration.
"So Dimitri screwed the rest of the scheme up by taking the money?" Ben asked.
"You can never trust the Russian mob, especially one with a past history of stealing." Juliet sighed. "That's why Georgina isn't here I'm guessing. She is probably long gone now."
"Wait. Your part, Juliet, might have failed but Chuck still has Blair right where he wants her!" Dan said sitting up.
"Emotionally broken." Serena swallowed remembering Juliet's words from earlier. "Dan…"
"I have to go!" Dan yelled jumping up from his chair and grabbing his coat.
Serena got up and followed him.
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm not sure. Find her. Tell her I'm sorry. Tell her the truth—what Juliet said." He thought out loud.
"What if Chuck is there. He could turn everything against you. I should go with you!" Serena started concerned.
"No. I should go to her alone. Hopefully Blair loves me and knows me enough to believe me."
Serena nodded and hugged Dan.
"Call us if you need us."'
"I lost my phone remember?" Dan sighed annoyed remembering his sudden misfortune.
"Take mine Dan." Juliet said standing up and walking over to him. "Besides, Chuck will probably answer my phone more than yours."
"He will be mad you told us." Dan said concerned taking the phone.
"I know, but when I realized that Serena actually paid the ransom, I had a sudden change of heart." Juliet smiled looking at Serena.
"You mean that she actually might care?" Ben asked with a laugh.
"Yeah, something like that." Juliet laughed back.
"Bye guys I'll call you if I need you!" Dan yelled as he closed the loft door.
After a moment Serena spoke up.
"Well it's good to know that I didn't waste that money after all." Serena smirked.
Juliet laughed and hugged Serena for the first time.
"Thank you Serena. I'm sorry I was horrible." Juliet whispered. Serena pulled back.
"It's okay, but let's just hope that we can fix this problem with Dan and Blair."
XXXXX
"Blair!" Dan yelled getting off her penthouse elevator.
"Mr. Dan?" Dorota answered coming out of the kitchen.
"Dorota! Where is Blair?"
Dorota looked at Dan sadly.
"She went to see Mr. Chuck."
XXXXX
"Chuck?" Blair yelled into the quiet penthouse as she got off the elevator. Blair couldn't help but notice the packed bags in front of the elevator changing her focus. "Chuck!"
Suddenly Chuck rounded the corner looking confused.
"Blair?" He answered surprised.
"Are you going somewhere?" She asked quietly.
"I would rather not stick around and see the reunion of Dan and Blair." He answered coldly.
"Chuck…I…" Blair looked down not knowing exactly how to say what she wanted to say, but a beeping light caught her attention.
Realizing that it wasn't her phone, she pulled out Georgina's phone that she had taken earlier that day.
"Blair?" Chuck asked confused. He knew that wasn't her phone, because he had her phone. He watched her open the cell phone in her hands.
Blair's eye's suddenly widened in surprise and she looked up at him in shock.
"I have to go!" She yelled quickly, spinning around and pressing the down button.
"What? Why? What did that say Blair?" Chuck asked moving towards her, but the elevator came too fast and she slipped inside, putting her hands up and pushing a shocked and surprised Chuck out.
"Goodbye Chuck." Blair yelled as the elevator doors closed.
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AHH! I Know! What did the text message say! I hope most of you figured out who sent that text to Georgina's phone…And will Blair find out what Chuck's been up to? Haha stay tuned! What did you think? I hope it wasn't too much truth for one chapter, but I have been holding onto it for so long, I just had to let you all in on it now! SO now you can know what's going on, when Blair doesn't!