Dan was at the Biro's base and he flipped pages by pages of Bartholomew Bass's details. Something was missing but he couldn't figure out what. He digs even further and found out that Tyler Manning or Harold Waldorf never left New York like people believed. It was as if Harold Waldorf disappeared and came back as Tyler Manning the day after. People should have recognized him, it is the Upper East Side and the Waldorf family wasn't a no name. What's more important, his own daughter, Blair should have recognized her own father.
He was too focused with the papers that he didn't realize Whitney was behind him.
"Dan," she called once but he was too preoccupied. He pats his shoulder and he looks at her. She smiled. "Dan, you just need a bullet through his head, you don't need to know everything about him."
"Well, it turns out he had more eyes around him. He's even had protocol like he's the president," Dan scratched his head. "Even if I had him located in the perfect place, he might have located 3 men behind my back. The informer was right, 3 months may be hard to reach."
"Are you giving up?" Whitney asked.
Dan laughed. "Of course not. Which is why I am tracing everyone in his world, from his servants to his wingman, find out who are the spies and lay them down on the chessboard so we can start the play."
"You are tracing the whole Upper East Side. Bart Bass is a very influential man," Whitney looked at the papers. She wasn't surprised he had 130 details of Upper East Side residents already.
"I'm jotting down within the importance," Dan said. "Thanks to Chuck Bass, this is going rather smoothly."
Whitney looked at the details and realized two people had more information jotted down. Tyler Manning/Harold Waldorf and Blair Waldorf. "What does the Waldorf family have to do with Bass?"
Dan looked up and for the first time in Whitney's life, she saw a boy in Dan. Dan took the papers from her and said, "Nothing." Dan is the best manipulator in the Biro so seeing him lying like a kid who had done something wrong seems odd. But it was somehow cunning to her.
Still, work is work and she needs to straighten him up. "If you think you can't do it, we can just stop now. If you're in too deep and you fail, you know neither the Biro nor Bass will let you live."
"That is an insult to me," Dan glared at her.
"So get your mind set on putting a bullet on Bart Bass's head," Whitney took all Waldorf related details from him and walked away. Dan was confused. Not by Whitney but the revelation he just noticed. Why is he so interested to know about the Waldorf?
Dan shook his head and went back researching on Bart's spies. Anything Waldorf related is off limits.
His phone went off and he sees the id as Chuck Bass. "Yep?"
"My father is browsing around Manhattan with Blair and I need you to follow him," Chuck said.
"Why?" Dan was confused.
"He's up to something. He doesn't go shopping with Blair and the fact that he is means he's up to something. I need to know what," Chuck said. "Bart has a few guards around him so I had Arthur send in a false notice of a new guard. That should give you at least the whole day to find out about it before they realize it's fake. Don't take too long, it would be my ass if they caught you."
The opportunity had arisen. It was perfect, it was a huge chance. He was automatically set to have no limit on Bart Bass. Even if he gets caught before pulling the bullet, suspicions would be led off as a mere false alarm. If he gets caught after pulling the bullet, they will be too busy watching Bart Bass die. It was a perfect situation, nothing could go wrong.
Right?
Dan watched around as he waited in front Gucci. It was obvious he is not interested in finding out about Bart Bass's business. He is only there to pull the trigger. He looked around and it was obvious there were a few bodyguards around Bart. He needed at least 5 minutes of incognito with Bart, only 5 minutes with the spies off his back and he'll get him. He scanned for the spies; they weren't that hard to recognize now.
"12 for today. Wow, this guy is paranoid with death," Dan said under his breath and looked around. Bart Bass was still busy fitting into his suit. He sighed, even the men in the Upper East Side behave like women. He looked again and sees Bart's mistress, Blair. He saw her smiling and giggling with Bart. Her smile reminds him of someone but he just couldn't put his finger on who.
He looks around again and sees a woman who he saw in Bart's hotel opening. Cecily Hoffman, a woman who collects much of the antiques in the world, a woman with too much money to spend but not much to keep a husband. He sees her looking into the shop and she only shook her head.
Hoffman had her cell phone out and she took a picture before leaving. That was weird.
Dan looks back and sees Bart and Blair coming out of the store. Bart's people are already in position and Dan needs to be quick. 5 minutes, that is all he needed. He followed Bart and Blair at a risk as Bart's peoples are already eyeing him for his chase. He stopped to buy coffee, relieving the eyes off him but his eyes caught where they were going. Even if they have noticed him to be the new 'guard', they wouldn't hesitate to kill him if they see him holding a gun on Bart's head. He needed to be fast enough to actually have time for the run. 12 guards around him do not make it easy even with Chuck's given leverage to him. Bart was holding a pamphlet of Guggenheim and Dan assumed they were heading there. Taking at least 20 minutes, he checked and no spies were on him. He started walking towards the Guggenheim.
The last time he went to the gallery was when he was 10 with his mom. It was exciting to him at the time but he couldn't even understand the fascination now. He looked around and it worried him a bit that they left. But who would be in a gallery for 20 minutes? He walks around again and he saw her. Blair. They haven't left yet, but Bart was nowhere to be found. Then he realized even his spies were not here. Did he miss Bart?
Blair walks around and took in the art around. She loved being in gallery and looking through each art with intimate understanding. She smiled looking at the famous Degas. She loved the simple portion of the sculpture. She could spend hours in the gallery. Unfortunately Bart Bass couldn't. Bart left when they were at the entrance, saying that he had some work to do. It didn't mind her at all, as even if Bart followed her, she couldn't really talk to him about it that it makes it awkward anyway.
Blair looked at the next art and then she sees someone familiar.
The guy who works for Chuck was staring right at her. She walked towards him, making her heels click to make it her approach arrogant. She stood in front of him and she sees him smirking.
"Are you stalking me?" Blair asked.
"No, I love the Guggenheim. It's a public place and it's nice seeing a familiar face," Dan retorted. He actually needed to know where Bart went. The only option he had was from Blair.
"We don't really know each other to make it seem like we're familiar," Blair makes a point.
"I know your last name, so at least I know you a little bit more than the people around," Dan gripped his hand in his pocket, he needed to know where Bart is not having a chit chat with Blair.
"I didn't know yours though so I take that as invalid reasoning. You on the other hand are looking much like a stalker," Blair turned around to leave.
"Humphrey," Dan didn't know why he said it. He should have just straight away asked and make up a story about how he dreamed working for Bart instead of settling working for the younger Bass. "It's Dan Humphrey."
Blair looked at him and approached him again. "Do I look like I cared, Humphrey?"
"Well, it makes you come back," Dan chuckled. Blair only stared at him and it should make him uncomfortable, but he couldn't help but stare back at her doe eyes. "Why are you alone?" It came off more as a personal question rather than an inquiry for Bart Bass.
"Why not?" Blair said. "I like appreciating art alone."
"Well, if you have someone to talk about it with you, makes it more fun doesn't it?" Dan looked around. At least that was what his mom told him when he was 10. He thought of it as bullshit now, but he had to lure in Blair somehow.
"Well, I have Bart accompanying me so that should satisfy you," Blair told him confidently when really, Dan knew Bart was nowhere to be found. He checked the whole gallery and the fact that Bart's guards weren't there too means he's gone.
Dan nodded. He didn't think he'll get anything from her but there she was, in front of him, not moving. He looked at her and he didn't feel like Blair was walking away. "You're alone now aren't you?"
"I told you I was with Bart," Blair said.
"Was. In English grammar that means it's in the past," Dan said and he sees that Blair didn't like when someone tried to be smart with her. "Come on, just admit it, the big guy is not here, you're lonely and you actually agree when I said its more fun when you have someone to talk about art."
Blair didn't want to admit that Dan was right, but he is right. Blair restrained herself from admitting up front. "Bart was with me, but he is on his way to the Bass Company because he's a busy man," Dan lighted up on that. Bart Bass's location is found. But Blair wasn't finished. "Unlike you who is supposedly working for Chuck Bass but have all the time in the world walking around Guggenheim."
Dan looked at her. "Well, good luck roaming alone then." Dan needs to go, his chance will vanish if he stayed too long. But before he left, he sees a slight disappointment in Blair's face. Blair is very defensive and she would never turn herself into a weakling in front of anyone. But Dan walked away, he had a job to do. He can't erase that expression but for the time being, it is not important to him.
Dan walked out and immediately hailed a cab to Bass Company. He was going solely on his instinct. If he failed to do the job, he may as well take information for Chuck as cover. Surely there is something he can get. He can't enter as a civilian, so he took the janitor's cloths and tag. This is a plain simple act the Biro taught him if he was around conglomerates, being invincible means being unimportant.
He looked around and it was the usual office anyone would imagine. You'd think it would be sophisticated but the papers lying around don't make it any more different than a 10 people's office. He scanned for Bart's office, obviously he would be on the highest floor in his own building but he found out, he's actually in the third penthouse which is only the 3rd highest floor. What could possibly be in two highest floor? Looking at how paranoid Bart Bass is, Dan wouldn't be surprised if it Bart stocked all his gold in there.
He tracked down Bart's office and seems like the elevator to his office is being guarded and only people with appointments could get in. Dan looked down, his chances were lost. He was about to leave when he sees a few bunch of women holding Tiffany's bags waiting in front of the elevator. The guard had to confirm first so the ladies waited.
"Wow, I can't believe he is asking that whore for a hand in marriage," one said and the others nodded.
"I saw her today with him around town, that was a first," another said.
"Who'd think Bart Bass decided to get serious with a whore?"
"Well, whore or not she's one lucky woman. Look at all the gold she'll be having."
Dan remembered how Chuck said Bart never goes shopping with Blair. This may be the answer. At least he had something to tell Chuck.
"You know what I heard," the last one voiced out. "I think it had to do with impressing Madame Cecily. You know how that woman is the key to Bass Industries latest project, and well, Bart Bass is trying to impress her with marriage. That Madame loves marriages, that she kept doing it just for her sanity."
So it wasn't out of love. Dan chuckled. That shouldn't be too surprising. Maybe Bart knew that Madame Cecily was out and about around Manhattan that he decided to stroll around with Blair just to please the Madame.
Dan went out of Bass Company and decided to report to Chuck first. He lost his chance to kill Bart, but he knew Bass's company's floor plan by heart now. It should do the trick when he needs it.
Dan took his car and was off on his way to Victor Vitrola when he sees the lonely girl again. Blair was walking towards the park as usual and Dan eyed her.
Blair sighed as she looked around. It was the weekdays so not many were around. There were only a couple of elementary school kids with their nannies around. She remembered that was her when she was 10. She was with her nanny, Dorota. She was kind and gentle, just like a mother should be. She taught her how to draw her feelings out and to love. That was all in the past, as Eleanor fired Dorota when she felt that Blair was too dependent on the nanny.
Blair didn't cry, but she felt like crying every time she remembered her.
Dan could only watch her from far as he followed her at the park. He was reading her but he felt that she was unreadable. But he predicts that when Bart asked her hand in marriage, she would have the biggest smile. All girls would have.
Blair walked around and she sees a pretzel stand. She seldom eats street food but today, she felt like eating one. She asked the kind Indian man for one. She tried to find her purse. Like all woman's problem always is, she had to keep digging her bag but her purse was nowhere to be found. "Excuse me," Blair said still digging her purse.
"Here," she heard someone from behind and she sees him giving money for the pretzel. It was Dan Humphrey. Why was he always around? "Thank you. But seriously, stop the stalking."
"I'm not. I happen to like parks," Dan said as he took the change and he left.
Blair could only frown at him and she left the park a few minutes after, on her way to a huge posh building. Blair ignored the stare given by the doorman. She own that place, he could never stop her from going up. Even if she didn't pay the electricity or water bills, she still owns that penthouse. It was under her name, and no one can take it away. Blair went up with the elevator until it was the 7th floor, her floor, the cursed floor. She went inside and it was clear that no one was living there.
White cloths were over the furniture and drapes were covering the windows. Dusts were everywhere and the echo of Blair's shoes is just proof how empty the house is. Blair looked around and sighed. She left it empty when she left high school and dared not to look at it anymore. But Bart found out about the place today and he said it would be a good idea if they settled there. Bart had given her a choice of marriage as he wants to impress Madame Cecily, yes, she knew all about it. Blair said it was fine if he gave her the most expensive Tiffany's diamond cut ring.
That is how cheap Blair felt. A diamond ring could buy her into marriage. She smiles, at least it would be less painful when they divorce. Blair looked around, it was a warm homey feeling inside that penthouse. Maybe it wouldn't be a bad choice to be living there again. Blair actually liked the feeling of the penthouse. Her mother rarely was there anyway so there were minimal memories of her. Blair took the drapes off letting the sun coming into the penthouse.
She took the cloths from the furniture and she sees the sofa Dorota always sits on when she was monitoring Blair while knitting. When Blair dropped out of high school, she wanted to find Dorota, but her home in Queens had been left empty. Blair hugged herself on the sofa. It was comfortable.
She will be marrying Bart Bass for the sake of her business. She should feel overjoyed. But all she wanted to do is curl herself to sleep and hopes she would wake up from this terrible nightmare.
Dan went into Victor Vitrola and passed Arthur to find Chuck. Chuck was busy with a blonde girl who didn't seem thrilled when Chuck pushed her away. "Hey," Dan said calmly.
"Sorry babe, you need to go. Business is always first," Chuck pushed the blonde away. She wasn't happy and actually glared at Dan when she went out. "So, what do you have? New projects? Demolition of shops for his new hotel?"
"He's marrying Blair," Dan said simply and he sees Chuck's smug turned into a frown. "He went out with her as a first sign of serious relationship." Should he tell him about Madame Cecily? Would that be too much?
Chuck was speechless as he looked at the table in front of him. He took the glass with scotch and drank it like it was water. This couldn't be happening. Blair could never marry Bart. Dan looked at him and realized Chuck has feelings for his father's mistress. That guy actually has feelings for someone else.
"You okay?" Dan asked.
"Yeah, I mean of course she would marry him, she would because she's after his money…" Chuck was murmuring now.
"It was for business," Dan decided maybe it's not going to hurt if Chuck knew the reasons. "Cecily Hoffman. Bart is trying to impress her for the new project he had. The old lady loved weddings and fairy tales about love thus with Bart marrying Blair, should do the trick."
"But why Blair? He had 1000 mistresses, why Blair?" Chuck asked. Dan thought about this, he didn't quite understand this himself. "Couldn't be because of that?"
Dan looked at him. "Because of what?"
"Blair actually resembled my mother a bit, and… No, Bart is too smart to even get that sentimental," Chuck said. Dan didn't think of a research to find out about the late wife. He sees Chuck taking his wallet out and looked at a picture. He gave the picture to Dan. "It couldn't be. Right?"
Dan saw the picture and it showed a younger Bart Bass with a woman resembling Blair. He sees Chuck waiting for an answer. This guy is liking Blair a little too much.
"It might be," Dan thought of a game. A new game that would be fun. "Bart has 1000 mistresses but Blair is the only one cut out to be a Mrs. Bass. Not just because he looks like his late wife, but Blair herself was an Upper East Side resident."
"What?" Chuck was confused.
"You knew that Blair was a Waldorf, right?" Dan sees Chuck nodding. "The difference with her and other mistresses is that she knew how to act as a wife of a conglomerate. She knew how to play these Upper East Side games. Bart Bass chose her because she was the only one suitable to play a Bass' wife."
"You mean…"
"You can stop him," Dan quickly said. "You can pull her out of it. Right now, Blair is stuck with Bart because she thinks Bart is the one that caught her. Play Bart's game, play against him until you catch her. Until she falls into your grip. Until Bart can't take her away."
Dan's words was like a hypnotist to Chuck that Chuck was caught up with it. "What should I do?" Chuck asked him.
Dan smiled. "You'll be fine as long as you'll do as I say."
It was decided, Dan would pull a bullet into Bart Bass's head, but he wouldn't pull the trigger. Bart's son would do that for him. Dan had placed himself as a puppet master with Chuck Bass as his puppet. Question is, where is Blair positioned in his plan?
To be continued