A scheme begins to form - CLOSED - Veronica + Reggie
While she’d admitted to Kevin that she’d speak with Betty, nothing stopped Veronica from keeping her previous engagements. She entered the lobby of The Empire behind a young Parisian couple, holding hands and speaking in lively tones about their upcoming trip to the symphony that night at Lincoln Center. She peered past the flurry of kisses between the couple to find him sitting at one of the low tables near the bar, lazily sipping what looked like scotch and making eyes at the young twenty-something behind the check-in desk.
Veronica expected no less from Reggie Mantle.
“You’re late,” He addressed her as if she were one of his father’s many assistants. The Mantle family owned a number of industrial conglomerates throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe, making Reggie a sort of international ‘chaebol’. In theory, he was the only one who truly understood Veronica in a professional sense: she’d one day be heiress to the same sort of organization. If Reggie had been less of a bully in his youth, Hiram Lodge would have found him more than suitable for his daughter. But now, with Reggie’s obsession with menswear, fast cars, and Asian pop stars, he spent more time spending the Mantle fortune than he did building it.
“By a minute. Surely you can spare that long,” She unwrapped the scarf from around her hair and took off her coat and sunglasses. Veronica considered herself a fashion icon, unless she was purposely trying to go unnoticed, like she was tonight.
“Are you that embarrassed to be seen with me, Veronica? It’s not as if we slept together.”
“Who knows what one can catch just from breathing the same air as you,” She replied sweetly. Veronica hadn’t ordered a drink, but that didn’t stop the waiter from setting a martini glass in front of her.
“I took the liberty of ordering you a Manhattan,” He informed her, smirking as she took a sip, “If you’re asking for my help, the situation requires something stronger than wine.”
He had a point. Veronica was already on a liquid diet from now until Kiss on the Lips. Whiskey certainly counted as a liquid. While she often preferred hotel bars with more glitz and glamour, the dark tones and art-deco interiors of The Empire suited Reggie well. In the corner of the bar, they’d go unseen. At least she didn’t have to fear for her virginity, like every other girl lured into having a drink with him.
“I’m not sure if you had time to check Gossip Girl while sleeping with all of Red Velvet, but Betty Cooper is back.”
Reggie smiled. Unlike Archie’s smile, which Veronica knew to be genuine, Reggie’s was one of satisfaction. He knew something she didn’t.
“When are you throwing the ‘Welcome Home’ party, and will you be inviting guests from Spence or Brearley? I need a practice run before school next week.”
“Don’t be gross, or at least wait until I leave!” Veronica snapped, setting down her martini glass. He was toying with her. She’d have to get to the point.
“I know why Betty left in the first place. She slept with Archie behind my back. He admitted the whole affair to me yesterday at Laduree.”
Reggie was silent for a moment, swirling the scotch in his glass before taking a sip. Veronica knew he was choosing his words carefully. Any interaction with Reggie Mantle was similar to a game of chess: he was just working on his most advantageous move.
“I know.”
“Don’t tell me Archie told you too...” Veronica sighed, “Though I can’t imagine why he would. You two can’t decide if you’re best friends or sworn enemies most of the time.”
“I find a little bit of both is the best way to live,” Reggie replied, “The question becomes, what are you going to do about it?”
Veronica took a long sip of her cocktail, appreciating the subtle sweetness among the bite of the dark liquor. It was sophisticated and classic: something she aspired to be but hardly felt in this moment.
“Archie can be forgiven provided he takes the necessary steps to Cartier,” Veronica said firmly, “But Betty Cooper should have never come back. If anyone is a professional at embarrassing a girl on the Upper East Side with a secret, it’s you.”
“Why not just send the affair tip to Gossip Girl?” Reggie asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
“Because I have only Archie’s word and no physical proof,” Veronica admitted, leaning back in her chair. “I haven’t spoken with Betty but I see no reason for it to not be true. But you know Gossip Girl: she won’t share anything of that magnitude without evidence. What I need is something that implicates Betty in a situation so terrible she has no choice but to leave that keeps both Archie and myself out of the scandal.”
“Gossip Girl already has pictures of Betty leaving the Ostroff Center,” Reggie winked at a group of Japanese girls checking into the hotel before turning his attention back to Veronica, “Why not just call her out on alcohol or drug abuse? It wouldn’t be the first time Betty’s taken MDMA.”
“I can’t use it, she was visiting Kevin after Alice Cooper locked him up temporarily for drugs.”
“Figures, Keller does know how to party a bit too hard,” Reggie agreed, taking another sip of whiskey, “But I think I can help you.”
“Without involving Archie. Or me.”
“I’ll do my best, princess,” Reggie rolled his eyes, his words dripping with sarcasm, “Besides...you didn’t even ask how I knew about their affair.”
“Reggie, if you’re saying what I think you’re saying...”
“As much as I do like to watch...this was an accident,” He smirked, reaching into his suit pocket and pulling out a USB drive. “But I have proof. Complete with a timestamp which would prove you not being there. Most of Constance and St. Jude’s can attest for you still being at the wedding.”
“But don’t use that!” Veronica hissed, reaching over the table to snatch the drive out of his hands. But she was short with shorter arms, and he kept it easily out of her reach. “I asked to not implicate Archie, which means not showing him having sex with her!”
“As I said, I’ll do my best to find something else,” Reggie repeated, tucking the drive back in his pocket, “But I’ll need something from you in return.”
“My body is worth much more than a scandal.”
“In most situations that’s what I would ask for, but not this time,” Reggie sighed irritably, “What I need is to be selected to escort you to the Spring Cotillion.”
Veronica swallowed. Cotillion would be the biggest social event of the season, if not the year. The photographs, video, and testimonials followed a debutante to her wedding, stories told to her children and grandchildren. Cotillion was not simply choosing who was the most attractive out of the heirs of the Upper East Side, it was a political and social alliance.
“But Archie and I have talked about going to Cotillion together since we were seven, Reggie. That’s...that’s just how things have to be!”
“And I need to escort the most eligible debutante in New York City to get my father off my back so I may continue to enjoy the lifestyle I’m accustomed to,” He stated firmly, setting down his empty glass. “Break Archie’s heart for one night to return my favor. I’m sure showing up at his townhouse in nothing but a trench coat and Agent Provocateur will earn his forgiveness after. Considering Andrews has never experienced heartbreak in his life, it’ll be a new experience for him.”
“And if I don’t agree to you escorting me,” Veronica asked bluntly, “What then?”
“Then I’ll make sure that Gossip Girl knows that not only have Archie and Betty been having an affair, but you’ve known about it and done nothing. Being kept in the dark about a scandal like this is forgivable for a Queen...but willingly complying to both Archie and Betty’s disregard for your relationship and friendship is what’ll destroy your social hierarchy at Constance. Kiss your status goodbye, Veronica, no one will respect your authority or fear you anymore.”
Veronica stared. She knew Reggie was conniving, but not this diabolical. She wanted to wipe the smirk off his face with a strong slap, but instead she gathered her coat, her scarf, and her sunglasses, pushing away from the table to cover her identity again.
“Just make it happen, Reggie.”
“Pleasure doing business with you, Veronica,” He smiled, helping her into her coat as she recoiled at his touch. “You’ll be hearing from me soon.”
