n suddenly tugged the corners of her mouth down。
？Chin up； dear！ Where？s that smile gone？？ Bailey Winter clapped his hands once； twice； three
times； like a demented cheerleader。
Vanessa tried to will a smile onto her face； but somehow the thought of Dan had tainted
everything。 She missed him。 And Chuck Bass？s beefy chest was no substitute for love。 Vanessa
sighed； panning the camera around the property？s emerald green lawn。 Once again； all she really
had was her art。
She trained the camera back on Chuck； who was now leaning up against the edge of the pool
chatting with Stefan。 Sweetie bobbed up and down behind him； teasing the pugs； which were
barking angrily。
？Girls！ Please！ Quiet down！？ Bailey stuck his fingers in his mouth and gave a shrill； surprisingly
loud whistle。 ？Daddy is working！ I can？t concentrate with all this racket！？
？Sorry； Bailey。？ Chuck turned and grinned over his shoulder。 ？I？ll try and make sure Sweetie
doesn？t bother them。？
？What is that plague…ridden monster doing in my swimming pool anyway？？ Bailey screeched；
his skin turning from bronze to scarlet。
Vanessa focused her camera on the other side of the pool； and it was immediately clear to her
what that plague…ridden animal was doing： Bailey？s discarded pencil wasn？t the only thing
floating on the pool？s surface。
？Tell me that is not what I think it is！？ Bailey was definitely screaming now。
？I？m sorry； Bailey。？ Chuck waded toward the offending turd。 ？Sweetie can？t control himself
sometimes。？
？Get out！ Get out！ I will not have you turn my sanctum sanctorum into some kind of sewer！ This
is East Hampton； not Calcutta！？
Vanessa pushed her