FF: Seducing the Throne::NEW Thread PG 1 - Page 57

Chapter Twelve

- Something Wicked this way Comes -

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December Twenty 'Second, Ten years ago

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"Arnav! You do remember what day tomorrow is right?" asked Khushi as she carefully rotated her taali around her husband's exasperated face.

Arnav who had been tending to his actually existent plants before his wife decided to blow smoke in his face for her invisible God's, held his breath till she'd moved on to further ends of his pool-side garden before answering.

"Of course I do."

Slightly surprised at her husband's harsh tone, Khushi asked in a voice of patent disbelief, "And you don't have anything planned? Last year you bought her a pink elephant."

"Actually," he corrected, his attention still focused on a particularly difficult to trim plant, I bought her an elephant, Aman had it painted pink."

Khushi who was now back at the French doors merely rolled her eyes at the insignificant detail, before repeating, "You bought her a pink elephant."

"She asked for one."

"She was 12!"

"So?"

Taking in a carefully measured breath Khushi wisely decided to walk away.

Only Aasha Singh Raizada would ask for a Pink Elephant in compensation for having been too ill to have the circus themed birthday, she'd claimed she wanted.

And only Arnav Singh Raizada would reason giving it to her.

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December Twenty- First, Present Day

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Most people would presume that plotting and planning was more of an inherent feminine trait. Then again most people did not have Blair Waldorf and Chuck Bass's blood burning a trail through their systems.

Besides, a good plan was almost as good as sex, well'at least it would be provided the damn plan actually worked.

Damien Bass would be lying if he were forced to say he didn't have his doubts.

James on the other hand didn't seem to have many doubts about it at all. Then again James was part Archibald, and while Damien loved Uncle Nate, he never had been particularly bright.

Hell Nate Archibald had dated Damien's mother for years and cheated on her to bang Aunt Serena and then broke up with her to date a litany of Vanderwoodsen's and event the odd cougar.

Like he said not particularly bright.

His eyes on the mantle clock, he waited till the hands crossed twelve. His smirk sliding into place as he felt a rush of adrenaline rush through him, he held him hand out as he asked pointedly, "Phone?"

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"'oh for the love of God Aasha you can be such a drama queen sometimes, this is hardly like the last time, for one you aren't at your awkward stage anymore, you have boobs so filling out a dress won't be a problem, you're a Raizada and practically half Waldorf-Bass as well '."

"Bite your tongue!" screeched Aasha, horrified at the very thought.

Renee however oblivious to her mortification, rolled her eyes, "In a platonic god-daughter way I meant. Not in the marry their only son way'anyway where was I? Right'um so, not, awkward, you can fill out a dress and most importantly'..you have a custom-made ready for all occasions DATE!!"

"I don't care Renee, I am not going to that bloody ballroom-massacre and I'm sure Mohit won't want me to either." She tacked on in an afterthought as if that was the end of the conversation.

But in turning away Aasha missed the horrified shake of Renee's head. She also missed the quick glint of affirmation flash in her eyes, because until, the shrill ring of the house-line and Renee's phone rang out simultaneously she was too busy attempting to school her features not to betray her incase Renee decided to grill her on how and since when, Aasha Singh Raizada, had begun to let a man, any man influence anything she wanted to do.

But to her surprise instead of the horror struck out burst from her friend before she told her she'd been joking about the Mohit bit, she watched her curtly answer her phone and hand it over to her, with a brief, "It's James'he says he wants to say 'hi'."

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"Hello?"

"Hello, love'" drawled the all too familiar voice, causing Renee to dart a nervous glance at the vacant cushions, the unattended ice-cream tub before she answered with a guilty grimace. "If you're calling to ask me about '"

"I'm not calling to ask you about anything," cut in the silky smooth voice, latching on Renee's hesitancy with surgical precision, "I'm calling to help'."

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Six years ago

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"The sage green goes wonderfully with her complexion'." Mused Blair, her hair in an immaculate bun, as she motioned for the model, modeling the beautiful A-line cut, gown to turn around.

Only to be veto-ed by Arnav's curt, "No."

Blair who had just about had it with Arnav's annoyingly curt demeanor and inexplicable rejections, finally pinned him with a pointed 'explain-yourself-look'. A look, as predicted the infuriating lug Khushi had married simply ignored, while he returned to sketching a mass of tumbled lines on the foot long sketch pad he had balanced halfway between his table and desk.

But Blair Waldorf was no mere minion to be ignored, even it was by Arnav Singh Raizada, leaning over and grabbing his desk phone of its cradle, she waited for the ever unperturbed ASR to react as she sweetly began, "Hello? Yes, this is Mrs. Bass, connect me to Mrs. Raizada on her home line please'"

Almost immediately, as predicted, the phone was snatched out of her hands as with a few sharp words Arnav Singh Raizada immediately cancelled out her orders, and bit out in a voice of pure annoyance, "Is it not enough I'm allowing Aasha to attend this idiotic Ball? Must you attempt to relegate me to the sofa for the weekend?"

Blair Waldorf who had long since learned to be gracious in her victories wisely pointed out ' "The sooner we pick a gown the sooner, I'll be out of your overly gelled hair and you and Chuck can discuss the benefits of hair products for men. Now the sage green?"

Annoyed yet seeing the logic in his wife's equally petite and equally aggravating Upper East Side version of a pesty friend , he obliged her with a ' " The tulle takes away from the cut and the scallops are horrendous, it's like a bad puke colored version of Scarlett's gown."

Blair who had been playing with his fashion conscious senses for a while now by suggesting one horrendous creation after another, allowed herself a small triumphant smile as she waved away the model and said in her low cultured voice, "The real samples now, I you would please."

Blair looked back at him, waiting for an angry blast for, wasting his precious time, but much to her surprise far from having actually ignored her so far it seemed Arnav Singh Raizada had actually paid more attention then she'd given him credit for, as he tossed the now complete sketch across the wide mahogany table.

"Vintage French lace for the bodice and the inner bottom fold, light crisp creamy organza for the overlaying layers, and the sash'"

"Silk, tan-ivory silk. And loose the straps." Blair cut in as a vision of the masterpiece the sketch would realize floated through her mind.

His eyes fastening quickly back on the sketch, he pulled the book back automatically, not even bothering to debate Blair's suggestion as he flicked his fingers deftly over the page to incorporate the minor changes Blair had demanded.

In fact he was so engrossed with the design that he didn't even need her to voice her opinion on the gowns slight train, her annoyed flick and condescending 'hmmph' was enough for him to add a layer of lace to underlie it.

Ten minutes later both Waldorf and Raizada fashion sensibilities catered to, both reassumed their patent veneer of ennui, only a slip of a satisfied smirk giving each away.

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Hey Upper East Sider's, Gossip Girl here.

Your one and only source into the scandalous lives of Manhattan's Elite.

So the Christmas season is here and something tells me that something wicked this way comes!!

And what wonderful timing, Mr.Sinfully-Wicked can make it just in time for a certain lady's birthday.

And while Pink may have been her preference when she was little, I have it on good authority it's all scandalous red now.

You know you love me.

XOXO

Gossip Girl

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::Authors Note::

amazing wrkk!

loved it!:D

thnx for the pm!:D

"…oh for the love of God Aasha you can be such a drama queen sometimes, this is hardly like the last time, for one you aren't at your awkward stage anymore, you have boobs so filling out a dress won't be a problem, you're a Raizada and practically half Waldorf-Bass as well …."