The three of us congressed at the Empire. Chuck poured himself a drink.

"As I see we have two distinct goals. Rosie and I want to block the sale of Bass Industries you wanna get old Ben out of Jail. Yet, a singular strategy may satisfy us all."

"Could you sound any more perverted. Get to the point." I tell my brother

"Blackmail." he told us.

"I can't pressure her unless I have hard evidence" Serena replied

"Well while you two were brunching I took the liberty of checking the safe at the house. Did you know she has a safety deposit box at the Dorset Bank on Madison?"

"No."

"I know you've spent your entire life not wanting to become your mother but desperate times." he held up her passports and her former engagement ring from our father.

"So if she's dressing up as Mom why do you need me? Obviously I want to help but it seems like this is a two person mission, not 3 ."

"You're gonna spook Lily. Distract her."

"That I can do." i grab my things and leave. I head to the family apartment and head to get more of my fathers things out of the safe, when I came across something interesting. I came down Just as Lily came back.

"Rosalie. I assume you weren't upstairs playing with Rufus' guitars." She commented

"If you didn't want me rooting around the family safe you should have changed the combination." I reply

"Well I'm curious, what were you hoping to find?"

"A way to stop you from disposing the last remaining bit of my father's company, low and behold. I did." I smile.

"What are you talking about?"

"My father kept a copy of the terms and conditions in relation of my brother taking over the company. My father split his share evenly between us as you may well remember but here is the thing, you only control your own and Chuck, however should anything major need to be done to the company like selling it, you need my authorisation as well. Which you don't have. So you can't butcher the company"

"Rosalie." she sighed "Is that what you think I'm doing?"

"Why else would you sell Bass Industries?" I question "Especially when you know how much it means to us."

"Because it's in trouble, Rosalie." my eyebrows furrowed

"What are you talking about?"

"You read the papers, real estate, hotels. Even in Manhattan no one is impervious." She went to sit down on the sofa.

"Then why wouldn't you tell us?"

"Because I thought we could ride it out, refinance or something. I was hoping I could turn it around and I would have to tell you or your brother. But then Charles disappeared and you were forging your own way in the world just like your father wanted, by the time you got back it was an inevitability."

"So you expect us just to except it? Go on with our day? Mom I may not be as interested in the business but I'm still apart of it. So is Chuck. We had a right to know. I would have dropped everything to help in anyway I could."

"I know you would sweetheart but that's not what your father wanted for you. It was always his plan that Charles would run the company and you would have your own life with minimal input. If I sell now, I can control how we sell it and to whom. There is a private buyer who has made a very generous offer. The company will stay intact and so will your fathers name. They money from the sale will give you and Charles a chance to build a future and who knows maybe buy it back some day. But if this deal get's messed up..." I caught on

"Bass Industries will go to the highest bidder, someone will fire the employees, cheapen the brand."

"Exactly, this buyers committed to maintain the company's integrity, your fathers integrity. And I know he'd want you and Charles to be apart of the next phase."

"Is it Russell Thorpe? In fact you don't have to say, I know it's him."

"The important thing is you believe me when I tell you I don't want your father's legacy to die. I'm trying to save what's left of it. In 24 hours you'll see. And hopefully Serena will see it too."

"Okay, 24 hours. I will convince Chuck, he might not trust you but hopefully he will trust me in trusting you." I stand "But Mom, two things never ever forge my signature and two I want to be kept in the loop, the good, bad and ugly."

"Okay." she agreed "I promise." I grab my things and leave. I call my brother

"Sister, I have good news."

"Me first. Whatever you have to force Mom's hand stop." I tell him

"Why?"

"Because, I trust that despite out protests, she's trying to do the right thing. We may not like it but if this sale goes through, it could be the only chance to preserve what our father built."

"What did she tell you?"

"The truth, finally. It's worse than we thought, the only option is to sell and buy it back later. She wants 24 hours to prove it." I tell him "I know it's what neither of us wants, but I honestly don't think she's lying this time. She want do right by the company and by Serena's former teacher"

"Fine, I will talk with Serena. Do you think she's selling to Russell Thorpe?"

"I think so, the timing of it all doesn't seem like a coincidence. I will be going to the party later on, will I see you there?"

"Of course, See you later." I then check the time just after three. I call Dan, he answers

"Hey." he sighs

"Hey, what's the matter?" I wonder stepping out into the lobby and leaving. I give a smile to Vanya as I exit the street.

"Serena called and wanted to talk, she asked me to meet her but never showed up so I in turn missed my interview."

"oh, Daniel."

"I know, I know. I just, I was just trying to be helpful and i thought like every other time, this would be different. You know it's times like these I'm so happy I chose you."

"Why?"

"Your honest and up front, you don't lead me on as a friend and as a wife. You actually tell me you can't make it and cancel."

"Well someday maybe Serena will learn. Look, I have to attend this party hosted my my fathers former business partner, do you want to join me, may be you can sneak in your resume to some influential people."

"Actually I have a plan B so I'm gonna have to pass"

"Okay, but good luck again. i will see you later. I love you"

"Thanks and I love you too." I hung up and got a car back to the house. I changed for the party and then the doorbell rang. I opened it Serena was there

"Hey, is Dan here?" She wonders

"No, he's out, come in." I let her in and finish getting ready. "He told me you asked to talk with him."

"I did, but the thing with Chuck too longer than i thought. Is he mad?"

"When Is Dan mad. He just sees the best in you and your shit time keeping. But hey what do you expect."

"Okay i deserved that. Are you going to that party?"

"Yes. Did Chuck call you?"

"He did and relayed what you told him, including the part about helping Ben." I grabbed a manilla envelope "What is that?"

"This is my attempt at helping my husband. Since he missed his interview, I thought I could slip it to a secretary of someone in the business."

"That's nice of you. It's a shame that they day you come back from honeymoon you're caught up in all of this." i laughed

"If being a Bass-Humphrey was easy, life would be dull." her phone started ringing, she answered it.

"Hey, Eric what's up?....This morning after brunch?"

"I'm going." I told her finally ready to leave

"Let me call you back." she hung up "Do you mind if I tag along as your plus one?"

"No, it's fine." We left for the party.