Bart
I was working from home today.
I was in my office.
"Why is Charles flying all the way to Australia to inform Jack?"
I looked up at Lily.
"He could just call him."
"I think Chuck thought it wasn't news to be shared over the phone. It was news to be delivered to Jack face to face."
"Then you should be accompanying him."
"Jack hates me."
"Maybe he does. But maybe he doesn't hate you."
"If my own son hated me, my brother definitely hates me."
"You don't know that."
"I do know that."
"Okay."
She walked out of my office.
Lily shut the door behind her.
I sighed.
Steven
I walked back into the apartment building.
"Van Der Woodsen penthouse again?"
"Is Bart here?"
"Mr. Bass is working from home today."
"Thank you."
"Top floor."
"Thanks."
I got in the elevator.
I hit the top floor button.
The elevator doors closed.
Lily
Steven stepped out of the elevator.
Bart
"Twice in one day. I'm beginning to think you like me."
"Is your husband here?"
"His office up there."
"Is he busy?"
"I think Bart is just doing paperwork."
"Thanks, Mrs. Bass."
"Oh, stop. Anybody that dates my kids calls me "Lily."
"Thanks, Lily."
Steven
I ascended the staircase.
Bart
There was a knock on my office door.
"Come in!" I bellowed.
Steven opened my office door.
"Is Serena gone?"
"Serena did promise Blair she'd accompany her to Paris."
"Uh-huh."
"So, she is going to Australia and then Paris."
"Mm."
"But she's coming back. Not talking to Blair's ex-husband."
"Thank you. Because my step-daughter doesn't learn from her best friend's mistakes."
We shook hands.
"I do have a question to ask you, Bart."
"Uh-huh."
"I know Serena is only your step-daughter. But I know she doesn't have the best relationship with her Dad."
"No, she doesn't."
"So, I'd like your blessing to propose to Serena."
"My blessing?"
"Yeah."
"Why me?"
"Because you're the longest step-Dad Serena has had. Besides Rufus. But from Serena's point of view, that seemed pretty toxic."
"It probably was."
"And plus that's just weird."
"Mm?"
"Asking Serena's ex's Dad for his permission to propose to his son's ex-girlfriend."
"Probably."
"Yeah."
"So, the person you should be asking is Lily."
"Lily hates me. I don't know why."
"Mm."
"It's something I've been meaning to talk to you about. I just haven't really had a chance to-"
"Oh, come on. Spit it out."
"I've always been kind of a traditional guy, I guess. So- I wanted you to know what my intentions are with Serena."
I looked up at him.
"What I'm saying is- I'm gonna ask her to marry me. And I sure would appreciate your blessing."
"Well... Thing is, Steven. Serena's not much for tradition. And I doubt she'd care whether or not you had her step-father's blessing. But for what it's worth... If Serena says "Yes." If she figures you're the one. I guess she could do a whole lot worse than you."