Author's Note:

First of all I want to thank you all for your reviews, they have made me smile and want to be able to post sooner. I finally found time to finish writting and editing this chapter though, so I hope you enjoy it as much as the prologue. Please give me feedback! Specially since I don't have a beta and am prone to make spelling mistakes (bloody spelling corrector is stuck in spanish and won't change languages).

- I must admit my dear friend that I find the blonde lady most pleasing to the eye. – Nathaniel answered.

Chuck didn't answer and instead stared pensively at both ladies, assessing their behavior and manners. After a while, Chuck seemed to have made up his mind and turned towards his friend.

- I rather disagree with you Nathaniel. Although it is understandable what draws you to the blonde lady, I personally find the brunette irresistible and am positive her dark looks will be a good match to your fair ones. Plus, judging by her behavior, it is hard not to notice she is well bred, wealthy and born to be a pleasing wife. The blonde, on the other side, appears too… spontaneous and expressive, something our society often criticizes on a lady.

Nate considered all of his friend's words with uttermost care and observed the ladies closely; it seemed obvious that everything Chuck said was true but Nate couldn't shake the feeling there was something else about both ladies that didn't quite meet the eye.

Serena had already drained her glass of champagne and was laughing quite noisily. Blair on her side smiled discreetly and didn't even touch her glass.

- Oh dear Blair! Haven't you noticed two of the most handsome gentlemen in the party keep staring at us? – asked Serena in-between giggles – What do you say B, should we ask them to come and join us?

Lady Georgina Sparks, who had been eavesdropping on Blair and Serena's conversation from a nearby table turned around and stared at them with an affected expression.

- Please dears, tell me you weren't commenting on the gentlemen sitting on that corner. You really have no idea of who they are? – asked Georgina in a mocking voice – It is obvious you don't engage much in gossip, maybe you think you're too above for it. – she added resentfully, never forgetting her family wasn't as rich as Blair's or Serena's – The gentlemen are no less than Charles Bass, heir to the biggest fortune in Manhattan, and his old friend Nathaniel Archibald, grandson of Governor William Vanderbilt…

Serena and Blair exchanged glances and ignored Georgina's incessant babbling. Georgina soon noticed they weren't paying attention to her anymore and turned to face her own companions without hiding her distaste. She hated those two stuck up bitches, always so charming, always the talk of the envious ladies and always praised by the gentlemen. Georgina envied their fabulous wealth and never missed a chance to create cruel gossips about them, to show people they weren't that perfect or charming.

- So that was the infamous Mr. Bass – said Serena observing him closely – I dare say I understand why young debutantes find him so attractive… he is just so dark and mysterious don't you agree B?

- I indeed find his dark looks attractive. Although I still can't understand why so many young ladies have allowed him to dishonor them – added Blair coldly – I despise girls who are so desperate they would let someone like him, with that kind of reputation, deflower them without a proper commitment.

On the corner of the ballroom, Chuck was plotting with Nate the best strategy to approach the ladies and court them.

- Remember my dear friend, you must never approach first the woman you are actually after because she will feel too powerful and turn you down. I recommend you to approach her blonde friend and converse with her. Ignore the brunette at first, then, almost imperceptibly, engage in a conversation with her and that's when you'll have her in the palm of your hand.

- Chuck, we learned to ride horse together and you have always been like a brother to me so I don't think it is much to ask you to please accompany me through this perilous task of courting this woman who my mother will approve.

Blair saw them approaching their table and her heart did a double take. It was the first time a gentleman would court her! Blair's expression was inscrutable though, as she observed the gentlemen come closer.

- Pray excuse my friend and I ladies, but we were wondering if we could enjoy the pleasure of your company this lovely evening. – said Chuck in that smooth and polite way of his. - Let me introduce us first: I am Charles Bartholomew Bass and he is my friend Nathaniel Archibald.

- Lady Serena Van der Woodsen and Lady Blair Cornelia Waldorf. Please do join us. – answered Serena animatedly and Nate smiled at her.

Nate and Serena soon engaged themselves in a conversation and seemed to be getting along really well. Blair tried to join in the conversation but gave up after a few tries. After several minutes, Blair noticed Chuck drinking slowly from his glass while staring at her and felt a little uneasy. She excused herself from the table and walked towards the veranda, hoping that the cool evening breeze would help her relax.

Blair closed her eyes and tried to eliminate the feeling that had formed at the pit of her stomach when those dark, sensual, unreadable eyes were fixed upon her. She thought she heard some movement to her right but didn't open her eyes. She did open her eyes when she felt a hot breath near her ear.

- I also enjoy the pleasure of the cool night breeze on the balcony. – whispered a husk male voice in her right ear.

Blair turned brusquely and saw, unsurprisingly, herself reflected on those dark eyes she was trying to escape from. She took a big step back as delicately as she could and then addressed him; trying to intimidate him and ignoring the fact that he was taller than her.

- Mr. Bass, it is a very inappropriate conduct to follow a lady and then scare her almost to death – she reproached him – not to mention you left your dear friend and mine all alone in the ballroom and withdrew them of the… pleasure of your company. – added Blair in a sarcastic tone.

- I am deeply sorry to have caused you distress Miss Waldorf – said Chuck in a silky tone of voice – As to our friends; I merely allowed them to tend to their own affairs. They were barely minding our presences and it was rather boring inside without you.

After a while, Blair proceeded to turn her gaze towards the inky blue sky once again, almost ignoring his presence next to her.

Chuck pretended to be stargazing and instead was taking in every millimeter of his lovely companion. She was all he liked in a woman: stubborn, sarcastic, and fearless. He now noticed he'd been wrong at his first impression of her: sure, she had been raised well and was well bred, but Chuck wasn't sure anymore if she would make such a passive and submissive wife as he had thought. Her petite body and thin frame were fashionable and suggested elegance. Her dark curls gave her a classical and romantic look and framed her pretty face perfectly. Her round and full lips were irresistible. Her dark and deep eyes, framed by thick lashes, were unreadable; they reminded him of his own dark and inscrutable eyes. Who would have thought that there was so much more to that young brunette girl he had spotted since she made her entrance in the ballroom. Chuck Bass, who bragged about his infinite knowledge about women, was now doubtful. He had finally found someone who puzzled him, someone he couldn't quite figure out. She was too much like him; he would love so much having her as one more of his many prize conquests.

There was only one problem, Chuck realized, she was the lady chosen to become the future Mrs. Archibald and if he bedded her… then he doubted Nate would ever forgive him and then, their long friendship would be over. She represented too much of a risk. Chuck realized he must stay away from her from now on in order to avoid temptation.

Blair was thinking about how his hot, minty breath against her ear had made her feel and felt rather confused. She cursed Serena for being so absorbed in conversation with Mr. Archibald and took one more long breath of refreshing air before entering the ballroom once again.

Chuck observed lustily as her modest chest rose as she inhaled a large amount of cool night air and his gaze followed her every move as she entered the room and sat between Serena and Nate.

Nate had been enjoying himself so much with Serena he almost forgot it was her friend he was supposed to be courting. As he wondered whether he should excuse himself and go look for her she appeared and sat between Serena and him. Nate tried to remember all of Chuck's courting and flirting tips as he subtly turned to face Blair and flashed a smile at her direction. He didn't notice his dear friend Chuck glowering at them from the balcony.