Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. They belong to Cecily von Zeigesar and The CW.
Chuck growled in the mirror as he tried to get his tie to lay right. He'd spent the past five minutes tying and then untying his tie with no success. His hands began to shake as he made another attempt.
"Can I help you with that?" Blair asked as she stumbled into his bathroom dressed in one of his dress shirts buttoned unevenly. She winced as the bright lights hit her eyes as she had woken up only moments earlier.
"I don't know what the hell is wrong with me," he groaned as he let go of the tie to let her give it a go.
"It's just nerves, Bass," she assured him, "It's to be expected. This is a big day for you."
"I'm not ready," he stated, the fear that he had kept contained during their weekend in the New Hampshire bed and breakfast resurface in full force.
"Yes, you are," she nodded as she began to expertly work his tie into the perfect Windsor knot. They'd been having this same conversation all weekend. "Lily has a whole team of advisors that she turned to before she gave you the vote of confidence. She wouldn't turn things over to you if she didn't think you were ready. She wants you to succeed almost as much as I do."
"I'm going to mess this up. I've messed up everything else in my life," he insisted.
"You are not and you haven't," she responded as she tightened his tie roughly around his neck to momentarily cut off his ability to breathe. She didn't want him destroying the confidence that she had worked so hard to instill in him during their brief trip away. "Stop beating yourself up. You're going to do great."
Chuck coughed as she restored the flow of oxygen.
"Are you trying to kill?" he asked as he rubbed his neck. He could see the red outline in the mirror of were the necktie had strangled him, but he knew she hadn't hurt him enough to leave any bruises.
"I'm trying to stop you from over-thinking this," she clarified as she continued to fiddle with his tie, "Perhaps if I cut off a little oxygen, I can slow your thoughts down."
"Or kill off a few brain cells," he amended.
"You've done enough of that with Nate over the years with your herbal fixes," she smirked as she finally released his tie and allowed him to inspect her work.
"Not bad, Waldorf," he admired as he made one minor adjustment so that it was perfectly straight.
"Daddy taught me when I was eight," she shrugged, "Mother was always running late for whatever event they were going to, so I had a lot of time to practice."
"A Waldorf woman, late, I cannot imagine that occurring," he teased.
She slapped him playfully on the shoulder.
"Thank you for staying with me last night," he replied as he pulled her into his arms, "I wouldn't have been able to get any sleep last night if you hadn't worn me out."
"And I'll be eagerly awaiting your return," she replied as she smoothed out the top of his jacket.
"Have lunch with me today," he requested.
"I think you'll be a little too busy for me today," she shook her head.
"I'm never too busy for you," he clarified, "Remember what I made you promise."
"Yell at you in front of the Board of Directors or slap you silly," she recalled.
"Come," he requested once more as his hands went around her waist to pull her closer to him, "You can meet Eugenia."
"No," she shook her head once more, "I don't want to distract you today."
"Please," he pleaded, "Blair, I'm not one to beg, but you're forcing my hand."
"I'll tentatively agree," she compromised, "But only if I get a call from your assistant saying that it is okay."
"You know I do pay her salary," he laughed, "She'll say whatever I tell her to."
"Want to bet?" she challenged.
He began to laugh in earnest at the cute expression on her face as she tried to put her foot down even though she looked like she was still half asleep.
"I love you, Waldorf," he replied as he captured her lips He didn't give her the chance to respond with her own declaration.
"You'd better get going," Blair stated as she pried herself out of his arms, "You don't want to be late for your first day as CEO. What type of message would that send to Bass Industries?"
"The one that says I have the sexiest woman in my suite that I can't pry myself away from in the morning," he groaned at the loss of her body heat.
"If you behave today, I promise to make it worth your while tonight," she purred seductively in his ear as she went behind him to look at his reflection in the mirror to ensure that his tie was straight and that he looked presentable, "Serena came home this weekend, and we're going shopping today to catch up. I might even stop at that lingerie store that you like."
"Jesus, Blair, are you trying to encourage me to leave for work or take you back to bed and have my way with you?" he cursed.
"If you don't leave right now you don't get your surprise," she whispered.
He quickly grabbed his leather briefcase (a gift from Lily that was waiting in his suite the previous night when he and Blair returned from their bed and breakfast weekend), kissed Blair one last time and then made a beeline for the door before she could do or say something that would alter his plans.
"Love you, Bass," Blair called out to him just before the door closed. She could almost hear him chuckling through the soundproof door.
Her phone chirped moments later to let her know she had a text message. "Love you too, Waldorf – C."
Blair sighed happily as she ordered herself room service and then went about preparing his suite for the evening as she waited for the food to arrive. She had a lot to do before she met with Serena, and if she really was going to meet him for lunch that left less time that she had originally planned.
TBC. . .
