Nate Archibald walked through the finest wines accompanying Bart Bass in one of his extravagant wine cellar. The Vanderbilt foundation is emerging with the Bass Corporation to sponsor a charity event, joining the highest Bidding Benefit around the Upper East Side. Nate was in charge to represent his family as his cousin Trip Vanderbilt was unable to attend. Nate only smiled when Bart laughed with other business partners. This is not his forte, choosing wines. He hates benefits, it just sounded like he is more of the trust fund baby than a real person. But this is not why he is here today. He is on a mission, a mission to destroy Dan Humphrey's image in front of Bart Bass because the guy actually have an input to one very necessary point in the documents. Problem is, Nate is missing those inputs.

Nate followed through what seems to be hours of debating which red wine would be perfect. Finally they went out of the cellar and Nate finally breathed in when Bart bids his goodbye to the other investors. Bart looked back at Nate and smiled.

"I haven't sent my condolences on your grandfather's passing," Bart said patting his shoulder. "I bet you missed him."

"No," Nate was honest. "I don't think we were that kind of a family. If anything I don't know much about him to be saddened by the fact he left. Trip on the other hand was very sure he was assassinated when the coroner clearly said it was a very bad combination of alcohol in his system." Nate had started his plans, because he knew, Dan had served those alcohols to William Vanderbilt ensuring his death. Dan had complied all of William's medicinal history and he led him to a very slow and painful death. Dan had watched him die and sure enough, it didn't affect him in any way.

Bart looked at Nate. "Well, I have experiences with assassins myself, and I get where Trip was coming from," Nate wanted to hide his smile because there it is, an opening. "They have a lot of methods nowadays, from a full frontal gun on your head to a small accident of allergies to nuts."

"I see," Nate said quietly. A little bit more.

"But I would rather face an assassin, you can play dirty with an assassin. If you meet up with law enforcement, you always know there will be 20 more behind him ready to put me down," Bart shook his head.

"Well, you can pay them to shut it," Nate played a little more brave. "I know you can. You've been doing it for quite awhile. Especially that arson, nobody believed it was accidental, but because you played beneath the barriers of laws, you got your money. Who cared what other people believed in."

"Young man, we live in the Upper East Side. The talk can actually kill us. If you are up there you can't let people talk much, because if one negative thing happens to you, you are gone. The men around here, they are smart and they are wicked. They don't rest," Bart said. "Yes I can pay the cops to shut it, but if they messed with me I can't actually go down there and pay up, that would feed them on what they wanted in the first place. Problems with cops are there are good ones and there are bad ones. The good ones is the problem." That's true.

"How would you deal with an assassin?" Nate asked.

"I play by his rules. I kill them," Bart smiled. Nate smiled, bingo.

"Well, since we are practically family in a way, I guess I can tell you this one secret," Nate said, straightening his suit. He had Bart's attention. "You are being followed." Which made Bart laughed, the exact reaction Nate was expecting, but he feigned a shocked face. "What?"

"I know that. That CIA who is working for my son. I'm still thoroughly handling it but his tracks are quite hidden," Bart said. He looked at Nate who was confused. "Oh don't be surprised by this, I have been around longer than you so I actually know some things ahead."

"No, but," Nate makes sure he was saying the right stuff so it goes over smoothly. He needs to push the right button. "I don't think he's a CIA."

"What makes you think that?"

"Because I am," Nate said confidently. "And I assure you our bureau had no such person."

"You are?" Bart asked. He wanted to laugh. But he silenced when Nate showed him his badge, the CIA badge. "He had the same badge. When we caught him snooping around my office."

"Care to explain?" Nate asked. Just a little bit more.

"We caught him and I thought he was an informer and the guards beat him up to tell the truth about his identity. Then I saw the badge in his pocket."

"He used the situation," Nate said. "He knew how you would react, how you would believe him in such circumstances. He needed time to pace his planning and he knew, if he disguised himself as a cop, you wouldn't dare touch him at least for a whole month. With the guards you have around you, he needed an opening."

"Are you saying he is…"

"I am sure he is out there to kill you and you're just a sitting duck right now," Nate said and he gets the exact reaction he wanted from Bart, panic. Bart Bass feared death that he would murder anyone to keep being alive.

"I need to.. I need to…" the older man stuttered.

"You need to play his game," Nate started. "You said so yourself, Mr. Bass, you'd play an assassin's game if you meet one."

"Yes," Bart suddenly gained confidence. "Yes I should." And there is when Nate left Bart Bass to kill Dan Humphrey.

Nate got into his car and sighed. Today was a long day. He called into a number and waited. "I did what you asked me to."

"Thanks," Dan smiled. "How did it go?"

"Well, you were right, he is that paranoid towards death," Nate said. "He also doesn't like ruckus, especially in his own event, so if it goes around like you said…"

"He'd need only one assassin," Dan smiled. Everything was going according to plan. "Thank you Hercules, you are a great help."

"Did you send me the documents?" Nate asked.

"I did, all the works of the Vanderbilt clan," Dan looked through his computer. "I am curious, why would you need this?"

"Just playing some hide and seek with my cousin. Though seriously, you're the crazy one. You asked me to rip your disguise off, not to mention mine too but hopefully when Bass is dead, it won't matter much anyway," Nate looked at his own computer, smiling at the documents in there. "What are you planning here Perseus?"

"Nothing," Dan simply said. "Just watch."

Dan hung up and called into another number. "Hey, Chuck, I have some news for you," Dan had researched some of the potential investors for Victrola. "I see some experts around, Patrick Daisy, Gunter Stewart and also that French guy, who expectantly only refers to himself as Maurice," Dan said as he listed the people that have the potential to be a great asset to Victrola.

"And what does these people have in common?" Chuck asked.

"They are bored married men and I bet a little comfort could be done for them in our club," Dan smiled. It was matched up, the area of his expertise with Chuck's business. He was asked to read people and their personalities which is exactly his forte.

"Good. Arthur could never combine those in such fast pace," Chuck smiled widely. "It's nice to have you on board, Daniel. You are a great asset to my business."

Dan smiled, wondering what Chuck would do when Dan disappears the next day, along with the news of his father's death everywhere. He could already see it, Chuck will inherit everything and it shouldn't be that hard on Chuck if he suddenly disappeared. Dan doubts Chuck would mourn either.

"I guess I'll see you at the Hamptons tomorrow then," Chuck said.

"Oh, I know this might sound a bit random and demanding but…" Dan started. "I might need a room." He tries to insinuate that he was on a sexual escapade with a girl.

"Oh, that can be arranged," Chuck smiled. "Anything else?"

"A Chardonnay would be nice," Dan smiled and he hung up.

There will be celebration tomorrow.

Next Day, 11.00 am, The Hamptons

It was awesome, Blair thought as her day went worse. She looked in front of her and there was Dan Humphrey, ignoring her all at once. He was accompanying Chuck on a charity event in the Hamptons. It annoyed the hell out of her that his demeanor towards her changed. It was as if he's treating her exactly like the women he had one night stand with. Now she was even sure he's just one of those jerks that was meant to hurt everyone around him and she was sure he intended that way just to please himself. She looked right beside her and there was Bart, smiling when he bids half a million dollars for a painting she was sure he won't even remember the next morning.

Blair ponders on Bart beside her, he was cruel in some way but he was actually treating her decently. Though it didn't matter anyway, she knew what she was in Bart's life that made him treat her like that, but who the hell is Dan Humphrey to treat her like that?

Blair starred back at Dan who was scrolling lazily at his phone, completely uninterested to the bidding.

"I take $34,000," Chuck smirked beside him, but Dan rolled his eyes. She looked up front and it was a diamond necklace. If she was back in her teenage years, she would have yearned for someone to give that necklace to her, but nowadays, she thinks that as just a rock. She feigned a smile whenever Bart present her with a gift, she loved it but it didn't quite click nowadays.

"$100,000," a lady offered, beating everyone in the room and everyone looked at her. "Cash." Blair hides her smile. Lily Van Der Woodsen does know how to wow people. Her husband William nodded at her as she spotted him and Blair sees his son Eric beside him. He is grown now and Blair actually missed the boy.

Dan quietly observe as Blair smiled at the Van Der Woodsen family. It was the one family out of all the Upper East Side to greet her genuinely and he supposed that maybe the blonde in the picture frame was more than just a gal pal towards Blair.

"It's nice to meet you again, Mrs Van Der Woodsen," Blair smiled to the older women, the one who would take her in when her mother didn't. But Blair felt the burden of Serena's death was too much she decided it was best not to accept Lily's offer.

"It's nice to see you too," Lily eyed the engagement ring on Blair's hand and she lost her smile a bit. "Blair, you know our offer is still there. If you needed…"

"Thank you, Lily. I really appreciate it but I'm fine now," Blair smiled. "Really, I chose this road and I don't fear it."

"Well, you were known to be a fearless girl," William smiled. "But I think you deserved more than… him." He looked over to Bart Bass who was talking to his assistant, Tyler Manning. He knew he wasn't allowed to talk because Bart Bass has thrown the order but he felt like saying everything right now.

"I know he can be tough. But I'm fine, really," Blair assured them. Blair sees Eric behind them, talking to one of his peers. "He actually looked like Serena."

Lily looked back and smiled. "He does."

"Blair, what are you doing tomorrow night?" William asked. "We would like you to come to dinner and even if you bring Bart along with you, we'll try to behave."

Blair laughed. "Sure, that would be wonderful."

Blair missed them, missed Serena, missed her own past. But she was over that. She's in the present now and she's not looking back ever. Not once.

Then Dan Humphrey was right there staring at her and she was brought into the memories of him kissing her. Blair looked away and decided to find Bart. If anything, she should be with him.

Dan sipped his wine and looked around. He smiled smugly when he sees all Bart's bodyguards were eying him. If he does a even the smallest gesture, they were all complied to take charge immediately. Dan wanted to laugh. He had a plan, and Bart Bass didn't know he had helped Dan accomplish this plan.

Dan didn't notice that Tyler Manning was watching him closely too.

Dan checked his phone and he sees that Nate had texted him. He was around the Hamptons to watch Dan. Dan sighed, that guy was a CIA agent, and he was free as a bird. Dan looked for Chuck, his work should be done as of now. He sees Chuck flirting with the waitress, a cute blonde who is far too impressionable.

"Listen, I have some personal stuff to do so…" Dan spoke like any employee would.

"Oh please, have the day off!" Chuck said. He gave his key card to Dan. "Make sure you lock it after use."

"Will do," and Dan's plan started. Assassinating Bart Bass will end tonight. Dan was about to set off but then he sees Blair walking down the stairs and he didn't realize he was staring at her. She caught his eyes and slowly she looked away. She was hurt, and by all means, Dan tends to think it was her fault. She shouldn't be wasting her time on a guy like him. Dan admits, even Bart Bass was a better man than he is. Dan looked away and left the building.

He didn't realize that Tyler Manning was following him.

Dan took his bag and went into the room Chuck had booked for him. It was spacious and it was definitely a love bed in there. He didn't care, he just needs a place to tag in his stuff and gets ready to scan for the assassin that is targeting his head on a platter.

Chuck Bass had the best room in the Hamptons, or in detail, he had the room facing Bart Bass'. Dan is not killing him from Chuck's room obviously but he reads Bart Bass. Since they are playing the same game, Bart will put his enemy closer. The bonus point is Bart likes to see the process of killing.

Dan looks around for light entrance and one facing east was clearly the best opening to kill someone in the room. He crawled behind the sofa and watched the area outside properly. Then he sees it, the amateur assassin who was supposed to kill him, wearing a waiter's cloth and sniper ready in hand. Dan looked at the clock, it was almost noon and Bart Bass must have notified the assassin to be ready for the kill. There will be a polo match at noon. Noon is the time people get a change of clothes, the time when everyone should be inside the villas. The media turnout of the benefit will be ruined if the kill happens before or after. Bart is too proud to let that happen.

Time was still morning.

"Must be that he's standing there just to see if I was a sitting duck for now," Dan whispered. Slowly, he walked in front of the window. He looked pass the assassin to the sky behind him. "You can't kill me now could ya? Image is too important."

It must have slipped Bart's mind that Dan also thinks like an assassin and he didn't know that Dan could play well. Nate's information had told him that Bart can't deny the panic that comes through him whenever death is there. Dan knew this from the get go, and he plans to manipulate this side of Bart. Dan continued watching and nothing was shot through. Dan sighed, "Amateur."

Dan sees the position of Bart's room. He smirked. "Well, at least Bart wanted to see the work being done. Wrong move Bass."

Dan quickly changed his clothes into a polo shirt and simple jeans. He needed to greet the assassin. Being simple is the best way. Dan went out of his room and then he sees Blair again. He tried to hide it but he immediately looked away when she saw him.

Blair sighed, he was avoiding her. Blair walked pass him and into her room (Bart's room). But before she went in, she had to say something. "You know if you despised me so much after that sex, you could just say it and be done with it. You don't need to feel guilty about it. It's pretty normal for people to act that way actually."

Dan was surprised. For someone who was very keen in calling herself a whore, she seemed deeply hurt by his actions. Obviously he was acting like a total jerk, but her reactions wasn't what he expected. He suddenly sees that Blair was a fragile doll, not anymore broken, but was waiting to crash and burn.

"Sorry," he simply said and walked away. Blair looked behind her and she found herself wanting to cry. She thought maybe he did despise her. "I didn't regret it. Just so you know, I just…" Dan quietly watched her. "You deserved better." He left.

Dan walked towards east, pretending he didn't hear what Blair said. It didn't bother him, it shouldn't bother him but he was kind of distracted now. Dan looked around, damn it Blair, he thought. Dan shakes his head. "One last thing to do Humphrey and you will be off into a nice vacation, no more Blair or the Upper East Side after this."

Dan arrived on location and he sees the small hut by the hill. Slowly he approached it and knocks on the door.

"Yeap," Dan heard someone answering.

"I'm here to take some Polo things."

The door opened and there he was, the 'waiter' that will kill him. "Sorry, the door is suddenly locked I have no idea. Please, I'll get your stuff out," Dan smiled. Slowly he mimicked a gun with his hand and pretended to shot through the waiter's head.

"Damien Dalgard, I've heard about you," Dan slowly spoke and the waiter lost his smile. He immediately took his gun out, but Dan was faster that he had a knife with him, right on Damien's neck. "You do know my skills with knife will kill you right before you pull the trigger."

Damien gave up, he took his gun down but Dan still had his knife up. "I heard about you, you were Biro's best assassin. I was surprised to see a powerful man like Bass wanting you dead. I almost told him, it will be impossible."

"But?"

"The money was good," Damien simply said. "And really the dream to kill Perseus is really something else."

"Sorry, but you are aiming the wrong target," Dan took the gun off Damien and held it up against Damien. "I was the one who decided for you to be here. Everything here is well planned. You are here just to lend me this very faithful loaded sniper."

"So you're going to kill me now?" Damien looked at him. Dan smirked.

"Not yet," Dan said as he lowers the gun. "My good friend who is a very good CIA agent needed someone to take in. So, have fun in hell."

In a sudden move Damien threw his fist on Dan who dodged and took Damien's arms and pushed right through his back. Damien tried to let go but Dan was too strong. "You son of a bitch!"

"Easy Dalgard, you don't want your life to end soon do you?" Dan said.

A simple click was behind Dan and he knew that sound perfectly. A simple click of a gun right behind his head.

"Put the gun down Perseus," he knows that voice, Tyler Manning. "We need to discuss something."

Tyler Manning was aiming a gun right on Dan's head.

"Let's have a small chat Mr. Humphrey," Tyler smiled.

Meanwhile, Blair was in her villa, watching Bart Bass smiling as he looked over his window. "What are you smiling for?" she asked, hardly interested honestly. Dan's words still bothered her. What does he means when he said she deserved better.

Bart turned to look at her and he literally skipped towards her and pulled her hand so she was in front of the window too. "Look at that, Chuck's villa."

Then she see it. The sweet Tyler Manning holding a gun right at Dan Humphrey's head. She was horrified and wanted to close her eyes on whatever that will happen next. It was impossible. Bart gripped her arms to make her stay put. "Bart, what is this?"

"This is what people gets when they mess with me," Bart whispered in her ears. Blair's eyes widened. Did he knew? "He thinks he's smart enough to rid me off this world, well, I do my work differently. I'll crush him before he even leaves this damned world."

"Bart… Don't…" Blair was afraid, she was terrified. Dan Humphrey was about to die in front of her. If she was right, she'll be next. Witnessing the speech that she could not hear, she sees Dan saying an audible sound towards Tyler Manning.

Then a gunshot was heard.

Blair closed her eyes when she heard the gunshot. But she heard Bart laughing behind her that she opened her eyes. Dan was still standing. She sighed in relief. The gunshot was probably the race that is being held around this time. She looked at Bart, wondering what the hell is he thinking.

"Tyler will handle that assassin without any ruckus so now," he took a champagne from the table. "Is for celebration."

"Assassin?" Blair asked.

"Oh yeah, you didn't know didn't you. So this guy named Dan Humphrey was paid to get rid of me. Now I won't kill him off easily, because really, I needed to know who is it that wanted to put a gun on my head," Bart poured her a glass. "When I know who that person is, then I'll kill him."

So he didn't know. Blair should be sighing in relief, she should. Instead, Blair was horrified, it was the first time Bart had shown her this side of him. As a matter of fact, it scared her more that the target was solely on Dan. She looked back at Dan and he is now facing Tyler Manning, thoughtful in a very serious discussion. It was also very confusing now that she knows he's an assassin.

A phone call startled Blair. It was Bart's phone. "Hello," he almost whistled. "Yes, Tyler. I've seen him. Yes, please, bring him here." Bart looked at Blair. "Let's go meet the devil ok cupcake."

Blair wanted to run, she was scared, for Dan's life. She sat right at the end of the sofa, fearing anything that could happen next.

She sees him coming inside of their villa, expression was ice cold. She caught his eyes and all she could see was fear in his eyes, somehow it looked like he was deep in his own thoughts. Then he looks at her, somehow he looks calm. He sees the fear in her eyes, and he nodded, as if saying that everything's was going to be fine.

"Welcome, we meet again, Mr. Humphrey. Or like Mr. Dalgard called you, Perseus isn't it. I have to say you really got me fooled before. But not now. I can read you. When Nate Archibald told me you weren't a cop, I thought the only way do this is to kill you, but after awhile, with Mr. Manning's help, I realized that Nate Archibald sudden expose was a bit odd. I looked it up and the documents told me Nate Archibald was never a CIA, nor are you," Bart smiled and Dan could only stare at Tyler. This is his doing.

"Then you're going to kill me now? Or do you want to know about the one that paid me?" Dan asked.

"You read my mind well," Bart smiled. "Who paid you?"

"I was hoping another 5 minutes to live because you obviously would kill me after you get that information," Dan rubbed his jaw. "But you just wasted your question, Mr. Bass, I never know who do I kill for. I just kill."

"What?" Bart lost his smile.

"If you ask anyone, even Damien Dalgard who you had just hired, they would know. I never choose my clients. They choose me, and it never matters to me who had chosen me. They leave me with the target and I kill them," Dan smirked. Blair looked at him, horrified. The Dan she knew was either a cold guy or the vulnerable one, not this filthy killer. He seemed heartless and everything good about him vanished. "Plus you think you knew me well, you don't. I could easily disappear right now if I wanted to. The 15 guards you have around this area wouldn't matter much because there are a lot of people around and I can easily disguise myself when I run away. Plus Mr. Manning's simple gun would never kill me. You're just wasting your time. Not mine though, I can kill you right now if I wanted to because truthfully, the sitting duck right is you. You just brought in an assassin in front of you. In the middle of the guards who can't save you."

" Tyler! Kill him!" Bart panicked.

"Calm down, Mr. Bass. If I were to kill you, I would spare the talk," slowly Dan took the seat right in front of Bart. Blair eyed him. "I'm here to make a deal."

"A deal?" Bart asked.

"I don't know who paid me to kill you but I sure do know the amount that was put on your head," Dan said, smirking. "A million. Sorry but that is quite cheap and I know your assets are way beyond a million."

Blair was still eyeing him. She was confused, what had happened to the Dan that was so vulnerable and crying before. Was that all an act? The one that looks through her, was that an act?

"What are you suggesting?" Bart asked.

"Pay me," Dan smiled. "Pay me to kill the one that puts that bounty on you and I will certainly inform you who wants to rid you, kill him and do everything clean."

"Why would you do that?" Blair suddenly asked. She had to.

Dan smiled. "This is how I do my business. Everyone needs to survive, Miss Waldorf." Dan reverted his eyes towards Bart. "Do you want it or you still want to undermine my skills and maybe, end up dead?"

"You are really something else, Mr. Perseus," Bart smiled and he laughed. "Much braver, smarter than all those other dead assassins. But I need some kind of proof you won't bail on me."

"How about your life?" Dan said. "I couldn't kill you now but I assure I can do it tomorrow. I killed many of your peers without making it an obvious kill and I can kill you now making it look like Tyler Manning was on you since he started working for you. I know this business more than you so you'd better watch out Mr. Bass, if you try to ruin me, you would be ruining yourself. Take it, or leave it."

"You son of a bitch," Bart took Tyler's gun and held it up Dan's head. Blair stood up, afraid. "I can kill you right now!"

"No you can't," Dan said as he stood up. "I thought you were one who likes to watch blood flowing but you only had me in the hut so you could bring me here, to rub it off me that you're better. Seeing as you tremble right now means you never pulled the trigger, never made a kill yourself, because really, you'd rather have all the dirty deeds behind the back burner because Bart Bass is a coward. Though I'd tell you, you're smart, take the deal, or go to hell right now."

"You can go now," Tyler Manning slowly took the gun off Bart's hand. "Mr. Humphrey, we'll be in touch."

Dan smiled as he waved, exiting himself. He sees Blair and her eyes was in fear. She feared him. She should be.

Dan walked off and walked into the hut that Damien Dalgard was in. Nate was there and seems that his people had turned Dalgard into the authorities. Nate saw him and smiled. "Thank you for this catch. You should see Vanessa's awe on me when I catch this guy." Dan was silent and suddenly, he dropped on his knees. "Hey, Dan! Dan!"

Dan was exhausted. All because Blair Waldorf suddenly interfere with his life.

Tyler Manning had said to him, "If you kill Bart Bass right now, you will destroy my daughter."

To Be Continued

Yeah sorry for the two weeks delay. I was on a very grand family vacation. But fear not, I did this extra long and I assure you, I will update in two days (really of the new semester does not make me busy). Read and review!