"It's the only way, Nate," Clay ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "The Bobcats will only take you if you agree to their terms-"
"I … I," Nathan Scott was stuck at a crossroad which led to dead end roads either way. For the past twenty four years of his life, Nathan had dreamt of playing for the NBA and now, finally, his time had come. However, much to his dismay, at a hefty price.
"It's not like they are asking you to divorce, Haley … they're just asking you to keep her and Jamie a secret." Clay tried explaining the situation rationally to his newest client. "You need to be the young, single playboy … the guy that all of the girls pay to come and see. It's simple marketing and if you're married with a child, your appeal to the female demographic will drop."
"I am married, Clay!" Nathan slammed his palm against the table. "How am I just meant to abandon my son and my wife?"
"Listen to me, Scott, you're not abandoning anyone … you are still Jamie's father and Haley's husband, the world just isn't going to know that." Clay rummaged around in his desk draw before pulling out a stack of legal papers. "Call Haley inside and we'll discuss this - calmly and rationally." Clay's voice dropped a few octaves, mirroring the soft and gentle tone a of yoga instructor. For a second, it had a calming effect on Nathan's raging mind. "This is your dream, Nate. Don't blow it." Nathan just nodded as he and Clay silently waited for Haley to join them.
Haley James Scott had been waiting in the reception area of Clay's office and she was curious to know why she had been invited over to Charlotte to speak with her husband's agent. Basketball and all the legalities usually never crossed Haley's path. She was just the wife; the biggest cheerleader and supporter of the team. That's it.
"Just go right in, they're waiting for you." Clay's Barbie blonde assistant grinned cinematically towards the door. Haley thanked her before knocking gently and waltzing into the large yet homely office.
Nathan's spirits immediately lifted at the sight of his beautiful wife. Even after all most seven years of marriage Haley James was as shockingly beautiful as ever. Her hair was a subtle cross between mousy brown and blonde and it seemed to shimmer under the dim lighting in the room. Her hazel eyes were framed with the smallest fraction of makeup which surprisingly accentuated the bright colours upon her printed dress; everlasting lengthy legs on show for all to admire. Nate let his hand rest on Haley's bare thigh as she sat next to him, her body buzzing with curiosity.
"Haley!" Clay grinned. He was fond of Haley, she was great: a mother, a wife, a teacher, a friend. She was what every woman aspired to be - classy and … good, to everyone and everything. "It's great to see you."
"You too." Haley chuckled, threading her fingers through Nathan's absentmindedly. Nathan noticed how he was clutching tightly onto Haley's left hand; the hand that held her wedding band - the inanimate symbol of his love for her and vice versa. "So, what's going on?"
"Listen, Hales-" Nathan panicked, perspiration forming upon his forehead. Clay could see Nathan's desperation and he quickly interjected.
"Haley, I want you to remember that I've tried my hardest to avoid this but …" Haley stared back at Clay like a pre-schooler in the first grade - puzzled. "The Bobcats will only sign on Nathan," Clay was trying to pick his words carefully because he knew he was stepping on egg shells. Nathan's family life was at stake and Clay acknowledged that fact.
"I know that, silly! The only available position they have is point guard-"
"No … I mean, yes, but, the Bobcats just want Nathan. They don't want you … or Jamie."
Nathan winced inwardly and he refused to meet Haley's gaze which was now directed at him. Her glare seemed to penetrate a hole into his cheek yet he couldn't look at her. Nathan knew if he did, it would break him … it would break his fragile heart and he couldn't let that happen.
Not right now.
"What? What … is that meant to mean?" Haley stuttered unsurely.
"The team needs a young, edgy reputation and they think Nathan is perfect for that. He is young and his game is boastful … they want to give him a bad boy reputation. They want to see him out at clubs and at charity events with actresses and models-"
"And, Jamie and I don't fit into that kind of lifestyle." Haley muttered inaudibly but the silence in the room allowed her melodic voice to travel well. Nathan could hear the distress in Haley's voice and he tried to reach over to comfort her.
She pushed him away.
Haley pulled her hand out of Nathan's and glanced at her lap.
"I'm sorry, Hales," Clay watched the sadness in both Nathan and Haley's eyes start to grow more and more evident. "The Bobcats' chairman wants to keep you and Jamie hidden from you public eye … He, he wants you to drop the Scott name."
"What?" Nathan practically pounced out of his seat, his six foot two frame springing upwards dramatically. "We never discussed that, man. She's my-"
"You guys already discussed this?" Haley whispered, the tears welling in her eyes. "Without me and Jamie?"
Haley suddenly felt betrayed. She understood that the NBA was Nathan's dream and she knew that he had worked exceptionally hard to get where he was today but … Haley and Nathan had promised each other that they would work through things together. After everything the couple had endured, they had vowed to confront one another in order to make the best decisions for their family. They would unite against the world, together.
It seemed as if Nathan had forgotten this.
"It's not like that, Hales, Clay spoke to me about it briefly when I signed my contract but, I didn't think it would come to this. I just thought Bill was bluffing. I thought the board would see me with you and Jamie and they'd forget all about it-"
"You signed your contract a month ago, Nathan! Did you not even think to mention all of this to me?" Haley now felt worse. She felt worse because Nathan had chosen to hide this all from her. "And your plan with the board didn't work, obviously, so … what do we do now, huh?" Haley let a stray tear fall down her cheek. "Where do we go from here?"
"The team is willing to pay for all the legalities, you just have to sign a few forms." Clay scooted the papers over towards Haley. Being full owner of a record label, Haley understood the whole legal jargon and her eyes continuously traced the words - send papers of decree absolute - on the first page.
"You want a divorce?" Haley hiccupped. She was no longer holding back her tears and her cheeks flooded with the briny water. The water dripped down her face, the salty taste lingering upon her lips.
"No, no, baby, no," Again, Nathan tried to reach for Haley but she whacked his arm away from her. Nathan felt rejected and defeated and he began to pace the length of the office. With his large legs, he only managed to take three-to-four steps before having to spin around and walk back. "Clay!" Nathan desperately pleaded for him to help him out of such a sticky situation.
"You can change your last name without any legal documentation of a marriage or a separation," Haley realised how monotonous and business like Clay's voice had become. He wasn't her friend anymore, he was Nathan's agent; he was just doing his job. "There is no need for a divorce, Haley … this whole thing it's just business, we keep you a secret and Nathan gets to live his dream. That doesn't mean Nathan loves you or Jamie any less."
Clay's words were like a heavy punch to Haley's chest – Nathan gets to live his dream.
Flashbacks of Nathan playing basketball flooded Haley's mind; at the River Court, at Tree Hill high, after his accident, with Quentin, with Jamie and Haley knew what she had to do. This was everything Nathan had ever wanted and Haley knew she couldn't take that away from him. Nathan had let her go on tour when she was sixteen and he had given up everything for her to live out her dream … Haley would be a hypocrite if she didn't let Nathan do the same.
He deserved this world; he had worked for it, after all.
"I have one condition." Haley sloppily wiped her tears away with the back of her hand.
"Sure?" Clay looked over at Nathan curiously, unsure of what Haley was going to ask next. Clay knew, for a fact, that Haley wouldn't ask for money or property or anything of that sort and … other than that, there was nothing left to ask for. "What is it?"
"If I drop the Scott name, so does Jamie." Haley gulped audibly. "I know my place in all of this but … Jamie's just a boy, I'm not letting him get dragged into this mess."
"Haley," Nathan's own tears were beginning to form. A certain scene was imprinted in Nathan's brain like a scorching burn; the moment Jame had been born. Nate remembered clutching Haley's petite little hand, comforting her as she yelled in immense pain. Nate remembered Jamie's shrill cry as he entered the world. He remembered how Haley's face lit up in happiness at the sight of their baby. He remembered holding his son for the first time. He remembered Haley calling him his name for the first time – James Lucas Scott. "Please, baby, please-"
"That's all I ask for. I'm not letting my son get ambushed by legalities and forms and confidentiality agreements … If I drop the Scott name, my son does too."
Nathan noticed how Haley said, my son and not our son; his heart shattering within him.