Chapter One

where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
somewhere along in the bitterness
and I would have stayed up with you all night
had I known how to save a life

Fidgeting on the cheap leather seating inside the lukewarm interior of the bright yellow cab, Brooke Davis tucked a strand of her long dark hair behind her ear and glanced out of the window at the blurred landscape outside. She was already late for a meeting with her newly appointed publicist, they were supposed to be hunting for a property to house a new Clothes over Bros store. Peyton Sawyer came highly recommended and, aside from her reputation for being a little of a wild child, there were no other blemishes on her record. Brooke had been advised to hire her by her assistant Millicent because Peyton could work a room like no one else and her public relations skills were impeccable. From her girlfriends she had learnt that Peyton Sawyer changed lives. Through her associations with them, people had gone from unknown to complete stardom in mere weeks. Not that Brooke needed any help on the celebrity front, she was one in her own right, but she interested to see what Peyton could do for her.

Adjusting her size six-and-a-half foot inside her Giuseppe Zanotti suede platform sandals, she chewed the inside of her cheek. She was a little nervous, she had to admit it and she didn't like it. Brooke was usually calm, collected and in control of the situation but right now her hands felt clammy and her teeth ached, a sure sign she was stressing.

The vehicle ground to a halt and Brooke handed him his fare, stepping outside into the harsh cool air of New York City. Her curious hazel eyes travelled up and down the façade of the building ahead of her several times before she took a step to approach it. The structure was simple but it appeared sound, grey without being charcoal, old but not so much so that it looked outdated. All in all, Brooke was sort of impressed. It seemed this Peyton girl actually knew what she was doing.

"Brooke Davis, I've heard so much about you," stepping forward, Peyton offered her a skinny hand, pulling her best professional smile. "I'm sure we're going to have a lot of fun working together."

Brooke widened her eyes slightly, she hadn't expected Peyton to be so… informal, not in her mannerisms but aesthetically. She was beautiful, there was no denying, and her warm blonde hair that curled around her heart shaped face only emphasised this. But Brooke had expected a hardened woman dressed in head to toe Prada, her whole being screaming high maintenance and severity. But Peyton, in her loose fitting multi coloured plaid shirt, ripped jeans and Louboutin heels was anything but severe. "It's nice to finally meet you Peyton. Everyone has told me a lot about you," she cast an eye back to the store front "It's pretty remarkable that you've found somewhere like this in the Meatpacking District, I thought everywhere would have been snapped up by now, considering how popular the area is."

"I'm sure they have," Peyton laughed, almost whimsically, as they entered the dilapidated building. Striding into the centre of the room, she propped her oversized Prada sunglasses onto the top of her head. "What can I say?" She glanced around the room in pride. "I have contacts."

Peyton Sawyer loved her job, which was why she completely immersed herself in it. There was something exhilarating in discovering the perfect location, or having the best contacts on speed dial. And the hand shake of a pleased client? Was priceless. Peyton had never been the most compassionate person in the world so acquiring happiness had never come easy to her, the blame for this lay partially on her parents, the other half on herself. Growing up in North Carolina she had been brought up in a very… family orientated household. The sort that insisted on games night Tuesday, and family dinner Sunday. But behind the familial rituals and traditions, Peyton had often felt suffocated and unwanted by her relatives. Her older sister, Kate had always been the shining star in the unit. Class valedictorian with a scholarship to Yale pre med, married to the former quarterback of their high school, Kate was the first person her parents mentioned when they referred to their children. And although Peyton knew that they were proud she was making it on her own in New York, they would have been a little more enthusiastic if she was doing it back in North Carolina, and with a husband and a couple of kids in tow.

"I really-" Brooke paused, trying to find the exact word to describe the feeling that was filling her on viewing the interior. It was spacious and despite the fact that currently it looked more like a squat than a hot boutique, she could see definite potential. "Like it," she finished, her mind instantly crammed full of ideas for the walls, carpets and furniture.

"It was erected in 1900, when the area was still mostly used as a centre of commerce for slaughterhouses and packing plants, but in the 1980s it became known as a hub for drug dealing and prostitution," Peyton had a twinkle in her mossy green eyes. "If these walls could speak," she spoke in barely a whisper, brushing her fingertips against a row of wooden panels.

Brooke watched her publicist with an interested expression, she appreciated knowing the history of the building, which she definitely hadn't expected her to begin spouting. "When can we sign the lease?" she enquired, her pupils focusing on Peyton's face.

"When can you sign the lease?" Peyton retorted.

"Well, I have a lunch date this afternoon, but this evening, or tomorrow would be great," Brooke tugged a Bendels planner from her Chanel handbag, and began thumbing through it.

"Great, Julian will be so pleased, he's been searching for a tenant for a while," she whipped out her iPhone and began tapping the screen at high speed. "I'm sure your familiar with the process, you'll need your lawyer present and so will Julian, I'll arrange it all for you."

Brooke froze for a second "The owner, what is his surname?"

Peyton glanced up from her screen, eyebrows raised. "Baker, why, do you know him?"

Letting out a small chuckle, Brooke turned away and let her eyes drift round the room. This was so typical. "I'm only marrying him."

"Wait," Peyton snapped her fingers in sudden realization. "You're this… 'pretty girl' he always raves about," she crossed her arms, smirking. "It's so good to finally meet you."

"I had no idea Julian owned anything on this side of town," Brooke admitted "Although I don't exactly keep track of everything he buys. How do you know him?"

"Friend of the family," Peyton narrowed her eyes. "How fortunate for you, at least we're safe in the knowledge this place will be yours by this time tomorrow. I highly doubt Julian would refuse his blushing bride."

"I should hope not," Brooke smiled curtly, glancing at her Blackberry to check the time "I have to go, so I'll just leave all of this in your capable hands," she made a move towards the door.

Nodding her head slowly, Peyton followed in Brooke's wake, locking up as they stepped outside into the crisp September air. Once outside, Peyton turned back to Brooke. "Say hey to Julian for me," she smiled warmly, hoisting her leather Chloé tote onto her shoulder, and dropping her sunglasses to her nose. "Take care of yourself, and don't worry about a thing," Peyton raised a hand in farewell, before spinning on her heel, hailing a cab and climbing in in one swift movement.