Chapter 23: Gossip Girl Fanfiction – Chapter 16: Tangled Webs (Part 1)
"They say the truth will set you free. But in the Upper East Side, the truth just ties you up in knots... and some knots are meant to strangle. XOXO, Gossip Girl."
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Aryan's Quiet Power
The calm after Gabriel's disappearance was deceptive, like the hush before a storm. I knew better than to relax—Manhattan's elite thrived on chaos. So, I prepared.
Early morning found me at my family's investment firm, Jain Global Holdings, where the market's heartbeat dictated my day. My private office overlooked the city, a fortress of steel and glass, a testament to power built slowly, deliberately.
"Sir, we finalized the acquisitions you suggested," my financial manager reported, handing me a thick folder.
I skimmed it, noting the small but significant companies I'd begun folding into the portfolio. A media startup, a logistics firm, and a cybersecurity company—pieces of a future the world hadn't seen yet.
"Good," I murmured. "Continue as planned—quietly."
This was how empires grew—not with noise, but with precision.
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Gossip Girl (Text Blast):
"Looks like someone's building their kingdom one chess piece at a time. Careful, darling... every king has his enemies. XOXO."
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Serena's Doubts
At Constance, Serena stood by her locker, trying to focus, but the events of the past week still lingered. She knew Aryan had done something to Gabriel—she didn't know what, and she wasn't sure she wanted to.
"You look distracted," Blair's voice broke through her thoughts.
"Just... tired," Serena lied smoothly.
But Blair wasn't convinced. Her sharp gaze flicked toward Aryan, who stood at the far end of the hallway, leaning casually against the wall, talking with Nate and Chuck.
"You trust him, don't you?" Blair asked.
Serena hesitated for just a second too long.
"Of course," she said. But even she knew her voice lacked conviction.
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Gossip Girl (Text Blast):
"Trust is fragile, S. One crack, and it all falls apart. Tick tock... XOXO."
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Chuck's Observation
Chuck Bass watched Aryan like a predator watching another hunter—curious, calculating.
"So, Gabriel's... gone," Chuck said as they strolled out of school, the early afternoon sun casting long shadows.
"Yes," Aryan replied, his voice smooth, unreadable.
"Just vanished," Chuck mused, sipping his coffee, as though the thought fascinated him.
"He made his choices," Aryan said, with a finality that left no room for argument.
Chuck smiled slowly. "You and I... we're more alike than you think."
Aryan's eyes flicked to him, dark and knowing. "I think we both understand the importance of control."
The tension between them was subtle but electric—a mutual recognition of power, and its cost.
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Gossip Girl (Text Blast):
"When two kings stand on the same board, someone has to fall. Checkmate, anyone? XOXO."
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Nate's Struggles
While Aryan and Chuck played their silent chess match, Nate was fighting a losing battle of his own—his family's financial crisis.
"My dad's hearing is next week," Nate confided to Aryan after school. They stood by the Met steps, the city humming around them.
"I know," Aryan said. "I'll make sure everything goes smoothly."
"I can't ask you to do that," Nate said, but his voice was desperate.
"You're not asking," Aryan said simply. "That's what friends are for."
Nate didn't argue—he knew Aryan's help was the only thing standing between his family and ruin.
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Gossip Girl (Text Blast):
"Looks like N's about to owe someone big-time... careful who you're indebted to, darling. XOXO."
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Blair's Game
Blair, meanwhile, was playing her own game—against a new rival at Constance, a transfer student named Amira, who seemed determined to challenge Blair's throne.
"She thinks she can just waltz in here and take over," Blair fumed to Serena during lunch.
"She's not worth your time," Serena said, though her heart wasn't in it.
Blair's eyes narrowed. "Oh, she'll learn her place."
The Queen B wasn't about to let anyone—even someone new—dethrone her.
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Gossip Girl (Text Blast):
"Watch out, B... even queens bleed. XOXO."
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Aryan's Night Moves
That night, Aryan stood on the balcony of his penthouse, overlooking the glittering skyline. His phone buzzed—a message from one of his informants.
"The deal is done. Gabriel's assets are gone. He's out of the picture for good."
Aryan allowed himself a small smile. One more problem solved.
But he knew Manhattan well enough to know there would always be another.
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Gossip Girl (Final Text Blast of the Night):
"When one door closes, another scandal opens. Sweet dreams, Upper East Siders... if you can sleep at all. XOXO."