swirling_storm (swirling_storm) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2016-05-11 08:35:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, chuck bass, elsa of arendelle |
Who: Elsa Arendelle and Chuck Bass
When: May - post stormtroopers
Where: Charity Event
What: First Meeting
Rating/Warnings: Low/None
Status: Complete
Chuck sighed as he entered yet another charity event. This was his least favorite part of the job. No matter what it did for his reputation, or the connections that he made, he would rather be spending his evening elsewhere. Like at his club, or in the company of multiple women who only cared about his pleasure. Maybe he would luck out and find one, or more, to take home with him at this party.
Chuck immediately headed for the bar ordering himself a glass of scotch. Drinking was the only way he would get through this thing. It was the only way he got through most things, but that wasn’t the point. Drink first and then he would get to mingling.
It was the second charity event she’d been to recently and she had to admit it felt somewhat good to be getting back to them, doing good for the charities her parents had supported. While they weren’t always overly entertaining they were good.
Sadly her wife hadn’t been able to join her, but she was determined to talk to people and have a good time anyway. She made her way to the bar to get a drink when she noticed a young man, “You don’t look at all happy to be here” she said with a kind smile.
Chuck turned his head to where the voice was coming from. She looked too happy to be here. But Chuck knew better than to say that out loud. Maybe if he was at a different function, but here he needed to make a good impression on people. “I’m always up for a good cause,” Chuck replied with just the tiniest hint of sarcasm in his voice. He couldn’t help himself.
Upon closer inspection he realized who he was talking to. He made it a point of knowing everyone that ran a successful company or in her case a network. “And what brings you here on this fine evening, Ms. Arendelle?” he asked taking a sip of his drink.
“A mixture of networking and a belief in the cause” she told him, having noted his previous less than enthusiastic response. She knew that some people didn’t like these sorts of things but if you had to be here you may as well enjoy it, at least that’s how she viewed it. “I’m sorry but you have me at a disadvantage, Mr..?” she felt awful that he seemed to know who she was and she couldn’t say the same.
Well that caused him to scowl. Usually most people knew who he was. He expected everyone to know who he was. He was Chuck Bass after all. “Bass,” he replied with another sip of his drink. “Chuck Bass,” he added giving his full name. Well technically his full name was Charles Bass but he never went by that.
“Oh of course, Bass Industries. I do apologise, I’m afraid I’ve been out of the loop on connections for a while” Elsa said with a kind and what she hoped was an appeasing smile.
Chuck still wasn’t pleased. Although he was somewhat new to the area so he really shouldn’t expect everyone to just know him by his face. Still he did expect it. But Elsa had regained some points by at least recognizing his company. Even if Jack was CEO, Chuck still thought of it as his company and it would be one day. “That’s correct,” he replied finishing off his drink and motioning for another. “What’s kept you out of the loop?”
“My parents died, that was what forced me to take over the company and I’ve been too busy learning the ropes as it were to make time for these events or check out other businesses” she explained, finding his straightforwardness kind of refreshing.
That was actually a lot like Chuck. He inherited Bass Industries after his father’s death. Only he had been in no condition to run it at the time and the board had appointed Jack as CEO. Now Chuck was VP and running the West Coast division. However he was determined to prove himself and outshine not only his Uncle Jackass but his father as well. However, Bart did spend Chuck’s entire life grooming him to take over the company. So he didn’t have to learn the ropes now, he already knew it. “I take it your parents didn’t groom you to take over the company?” The was no I’m sorry for your loss. That wasn’t Chuck’s style. Plus for all he knew her parents could have treated her like shit like his father had.
“Not at all” Elsa said, she didn’t mind at all that he hadn’t expressed sorrow - she’d had enough of that and while she had loved her parents they hadn’t been as perfect as people thought. They’d sent her away to boarding school when her sister had been ill so they didn’t have to divide their time. There was resentment there. “I had no intentions of having anything to do with it. But when I came back my father offered me a position presenting the weather and when they died it was in the will that I was to take over the whole network”
It sounded like her life was the complete opposite of his. But he knew not all CEOs were groomed from birth. Especially in this day and age, there were so many startups out there. The fact that she hadn’t had taking over the business instilled in her since day one said nothing about her ability to run the network. “Right,” Chuck comment as the bartender brought over his next drink. “You’re the meteorologist as well.” It was a fact that he knew but had somewhat forgotten.
“That's right” she nodded, “I enjoy that aspect far more but thankfully I have a good board of directors to help with the company. They're all invested in helping it do well” That was something Elsa was very grateful for, she had a wonderful team and with her inexperience she relied on them a lot.
“I don’t see the point in running a company if you don’t get to enjoy some aspects of it,” Chuck agreed. Precisely why he had opened his club. Granted Victrola was also was also a huge success. But that wasn’t the point, it was still his passion project one his father had never believed in.
“Exactly, I need to have something I enjoy and weather is a passion of mine” she said, “I assume you’ve been intended to take over the company since birth?” she asked him, it would make sense and he was obviously good at it. She knew his name even if she hadn’t recognised him immediately.
“Yes,” Chuck confirmed with another sip of his drink. “Probably the only reason my father wanted a child,” there was a hint of bitterness in his tone but not much. Chuck wasn’t exactly sure why he was sharing the information either, but it wasn’t exactly a secret that his father hadn’t been much of a dad.
“I’m sorry” Elsa said, “That must have been difficult but at least you are successful and capable that must feel good. Be proud of yourself, that’s really all that matters in the end”
“Thank you,” Chuck replied with some actual sincerity in his voice. It wasn’t really a big deal to him anymore he had outgrown that. But it was still nice to hear someone acknowledge how challenging growing up Chuck Bass had been. “It was nice to officially meet you Elsa. If you ever need to hold an event my hotel’s are always available.” He had ballrooms and conference rooms, whatever she needed.
“It’s nice to officially meet you too” Elsa said, “And I will definitely think of you when I need an event location. Thank you very much, I hope I’ll see you around again soon” she added because they should both really be networking. Even if they weren’t inclined to.