Who: Blair Waldorf and Chuck Bass What: Dinner then struck by mistletoe When: Backdated: December, during Mistletoe Plot Where: The Empire hotel Rating/Warnings: Family Friendly Status: Complete
Blair was one of the few people Chuck could actually stand in Orange County so of course he was spending as much time with the brunette as possible. Well when she wasn’t busy with school or her internship. He had a busy schedule himself though with running Bass Industries and getting Victrola ready for it’s opening. But somehow he always managed to make time for Blair.
Tonight he was treating her to dinner at one of his hotel’s restaurants. That was the only food he trusted in the area so far. “Anything you want,” he told Blair. “On the house.”
Blair had been reluctant, at first, about going out with Chuck, but in the end she’d agreed, because truthfully she enjoyed spending time with him, because he reminded her of home and at the moment she really needed that reminder, because at home in New York it wasn’t snowing while in Orange County it had been snowing since the beginning of the month. Honestly, how was that even possible? It wasn’t supposed to snow in California.
“Well aren’t you generous.” Blair smirked at Chuck as she opened her menu to glance through it. She’d never been to this particular restaurant, but then she didn’t go to hotels to eat dinner often.
Blair had been missing out. She should know by now that any Bass hotel had some of the best restaurants around. The finest dining. And he intended to show her that tonight.
“People often think generous when they think Chuck Bass,” he retorted. “The two go hand in hand. I don’t know why you’re so surprised,” he was being sarcastic of course. Just as Blair had been. But hey he knew who and what to spend his money on. It’s part of what made him successful. Or rather continuing his father’s success but he was determined to outshine his father.
“Have I mentioned you look ravishing tonight?” he added a smirk on his own lips. He couldn’t help himself, he was Chuck Bass.
“Generous is one of many things people think when they hear Chuck Bass.” Blair’s gaze flicked up to Chuck and she smirked once again. She was sure that not everyone thought well of Chuck, but she knew Chuck and knew most sides of him and still enjoyed spending time with him, mostly because they were very similar in a lot of ways. “And you have, but I won’t stop you from saying it again. You know how much I enjoy when people tell me I’m ravishing.” Blair always had the latest fashions and while most of what was in her closet was warmer weather clothes, luckily she’d had a handful of dresses that suited the current weather better.
Chuck was perfectly aware of his reputation, but he honestly didn’t care too much about how well liked he was. As long as his employees respected him and did as they were told that was what mattered. And if not? Then he’d fire them. But for some reason he did care what Blair thought of him. “Well in that case you look ravishing,” Chuck repeated with a grin. “Victrola is opening in a few weeks,” Chuck had been spending a lot of time there lately. “I’m counting on you to be my date.”
“Oh, are you? Well, I guess I could humor you for one evening.” Chuck was not someone she’d ever thought about dating, but she’d be lying if she said that Chuck wasn’t attractive and considering how attractive she was, he couldn’t have picked a better person to ask to be his date on his club’s opening night. They would make a very good looking couple for any photographers that Chuck would no doubt be hiring for the night.
The opening was going to be a great night. Chuck already knew that much. But with Blair at his side it would be even better. “You won’t regret it,” he replied as the waiter showed up to take their order. Chuck ordered a nice steak for himself and waited for Blair to order before continuing their conversation. “How’s the internship going? Do they still have you fetching coffee?” he couldn’t help but smirk at that. Even though he had seen her do it, it was still hard to imagine Blair agreeing to get anyone coffee.
“Somehow whenever you say that I almost always regret it.” If that were actually true she wouldn’t spend any time with Chuck so she was clearly teasing him once again. Blair ordered a grilled chicken plate for herself then took a sip of her wine, “Unfortunately, all interns have to get coffee at one time or another. However, I do it the least and haven’t had to go on a coffee run since you saw me.” It was really the only part of her internship that Blair disliked. “Other than that, it’s going fine.”
“I have trouble believing that statement.” Who would ever regret a night with him? He always made sure a good time was had. “You aren’t all interns, Blair.” He still couldn’t wrap his mind around the fact that she had taken an internship. With her mother’s connections he was sure she could skip over the unfortunate internship part of beginning a career.
“Well, let me know the date and time and I’ll be sure to get something appropriate for the evening.” Blair already had an outfit in mind. She’d seen it the last time she’d gone shopping and had passed it up at the time, but for the opening of Chuck’s club, it would be perfect. She would have to call the store first thing in the morning to make sure that they still had it and in her size. “Well for the moment, I am an intern. But, hopefully it won’t be for much longer.” True, Blair could use her mother’s connections, but she didn’t want to do that. She wanted to show her mother that she could do something on her own and make a name for herself.
Of course Chuck already knew the date of the opening. He had to in order to get everything ready. However it would be much more fun to spring it on Blair. He would give her a few days notice but not weeks in advance. “I have no doubt that you’ll look stunning,” no matter what outfit she wore.
Chuck cut into the steak the waiter had just delivered before speaking again. “I’m sure you’ll be an assistant in no time.” Not that an assistant was much better but it was a step up from an intern and if Blair wanted to start from the bottom far be it for him to stop her.
It wasn’t that Blair wanted to start from the bottom, but she didn’t want to be known only as Eleanor Waldorf’s daughter. She wanted people to know who she was because she had earned it. She had known when she’d started on this route that it’d be frustrating at times and there were times she wanted to tell the people she was interning for that what they wanted her to do was below her, but she kept her mouth shut for the most part and did what was asked of her. “Someday I’ll be at the top and I’ll be able to say that I did it on my own terms.”
Chuck could understand that. He didn’t want to be known as Bart Bass’ son either. He was going about it a different way though. He was going to take back the company and make it better than what his father had built. Outshine him, and kick Jack to the curb while he was at it. “Knowing you, it won’t be long,” he grinned digging back into his food.
The rest of the meal went well. At least Chuck thought so. They were falling back into their old rhythm. Even though it had been almost a year since he had seen her it didn’t take long for them to get back on track. Back to their banter. When they were finished with their food he almost made a snide comment about bringing her up to his suite, but thought better of it. This was Blair Waldorf. One of his closest friends. Yeah she was gorgeous but their relationship wasn’t like that. Besides, knowing her? He might just get smacked.
“My limo can take you home,” he said instead placing his hand on the small of her back to lead her back outside. Just as they stepped out of the doors of The Empire hotel mistletoe seemed to appear above their head. Before he knew what he was doing he pulled Blair in his lips colliding with hers.
As hard a time as Blair gave Chuck, she was genuinely having a nice time with him. Having a familiar face around, even Chuck’s, was better than having no one from home around. “I might have to come here again. Bring my father and Roman here perhaps.” It had taken a long time for Blair to forgive her father for leaving her mother for another man, but now she enjoyed spending time with them, which was good since she was currently living with them.
“A limo all to myself? I’ll take it.” Smiling, Blair allowed Chuck to escort her outside. She pulled her coat closed around her as they exited the hotel, the chilly air biting at her cheeks, reminding her of home. She was about to thank Chuck for dinner when something suddenly came over her and she turned towards him just as he pulled her towards him and she found herself kissing him back.
Chuck deepened the kiss, doing his best to keep his hands on her back and not let them wander down to her ass. The mistletoe disappeared but Chuck didn’t pull away immediately. He was enjoying this kiss with Blair far more than he would have ever suspected. The taste of her lips, the way her mouth melded perfectly with his. It might have been one of the best kisses Chuck had in his life and he had kissed a lot of girls.
Finally he pulled away, hands dropping to his sides. “Goodnight Blair,” was all he said. There wasn’t anything else to say. Not matter how much he had enjoyed the kiss Blair was his friend. That’s it. So what was the fluttering in his stomach?
Whenever Blair had thought about kissing Chuck it had always brought a bit of a grimace to her face, but in that moment when the mistletoe vanished from above them, Blair was surprised to find that her first reaction was not to push him away and slap him, but to continue kissing him. Had Chuck not ended it, Blair wasn’t sure that she would have. It was the strangest feeling, because Chuck was not the person she should be kissing. Chuck wasn’t the kind of guy she should date or the monogamous type.
As the kiss ended and Chuck wished her a good night, Blair did the same despite her shock at what had just happened then got into the limo, her heart still pounding.