Author's note: Thanks to the reviews that I got so very quickly, I decided to finish up the story. My chapters for this story will be relatively short, so the story can be longer. I hope you all will enjoy this ride you're about to get on. Once you get on, there's no getting off. You'll never guess where this story's gonna go. And remember NOTHING is as it seems in this story! :D ENJOY! R&R!


She rolled out of bed early in the morning, looking 'Brooke Davis' as usual. It was the beginning of a new year for her, and she had a feeling this year would be much different from the previous. She made her way to the kitchen to get breakfast. In the corner of her eye she saw her boyfriend, Julian Baker, sleeping on the couch, nestled in blankets. She slowly walked over to him, and admired his presence. He was still wearing his day clothes; shoes and all. She rubbed his hair, and gently nudged his head.

"Babe... wake up." She whispered.

Julian stirred in his sleep. Brooke knew there was no waking him. She smiled, and pulled the covers farther over him. She walked back into the kitchen, feeling more awake than ever. Brooke felt really good and she wasn't sure why. She wasn't usually very cheerful in the early morning. She placed her hand on the door to the refrigerator, but was interupted by the incesant ringing of her cell phone. She groaned when she saw the caller ID: "Bitchtoria" linked to one of the worst pictures taken of her mother.

"Hmm. Funny, I thought bats were nocturnal, and yet you're still bothering the living in the daytime. Why?" She said, in a snappy tone.

"Careful daughter. This bat has fangs, and you will get bitten." She tells Brooke, from the other end.

"What do you want, mother?" She asked, annoyed.

"Well, to wish you a happy new year, of course."

"And?"

"And because it's a new year... we're making new changes to the company. I was thinking-"

"No." Brooke cut her off.

"I didn't even get-"

"No. End of story. Last time we made changes to the company, you slept with an employee!"

"One time! And anyway, he'll be a great asset to the company."

"Exactly. 'He'... No."

"Brooke, listen to me. As much as you hate to admit it, the new line isn't doing as well as you thought it was going to. In fact, it's sinking pretty quickly. Do you realize how many different clothing companies there are? One-hundred and sixty-eight. One-hundred and sixty-eight in the united states alone, Brooke! That's one-hundred and sixty-seven companies that can shove 'Clothes over Bros' out of this competion. The company can barely make it with you and me alone. We need Lane on our side."

"Lane?"

"Lane Hudson. He's the CFO of two multi-BILLION dollar companies, and if he's running the works, you won't need me around anymore."

"So there's a less chance you'll sleep with him."

"Not likely, but I can try to make the exception... he's not my type anyway."

"Yeah, because your type is standing in traffic waiting to be hit by a truck."

"I wouldn't want to make this kind of decision if I thought it would harm the company. Trust me, Brooke. Lane will be the best thing you ever did for 'Clothes over Bros'."

"And I'll still have sole proprietorship?"

"As it should be."

"Fine... I'll get back to you."

"Good. I'll talk to you then."

Brooke hung up quickly and sighed. She placed her elbows on the counter, bruied her head in her hands and groaned. Julian sat up on the couch, and saw Brooke in the kitchen.

"Why do I feel like you just made a deal with the devil?" He asked, in a groggy voice.

"I haven't yet." She laughed. She walked over to Julian and sat down on the couch next to him. "My mom wants me to hire this guy, to help with the new line."

"Uh-oh. I know where this is going."

"Don't worry. My mom promised she wouldn't sleep with him... of course, her word's never meant much."

"Oh, I wasn't worried about her. I was worried about you sleeping with him."

"Oh, okay. Then you can hire a slutty intern to work with you, and then neither of us has to worry." Brooke laughed.

"I like where this story's going." Julian laughed. Brooke, jokingly, hit Julian on the arm and they both laughed. "Did you get the mail?" He asked, changing the subject.

"No. Why?"

"I'm waiting for a letter. I submitted my film to Sundance, and I haven't heard anything back yet."

"Well, let's find out. Go get the mail, sleepy-head." She laughed, rustling his bed head. Julian ran outside to get the mail. Brooke went back into the bedroom to get dressed. She opened one of the dresser drawers and saw a blue satin box sitting at the bottom of the drawer. Being her curious self, Brooke opened the box and saw a 10-carat diamond ring in a 'Tiffany setting'. Tears began to well up in Brooke's eyes.

"Brooke!" Julian called from the front door. Brooke, quickly, closed the box and put it back. She walked over to Julian who had the biggest smile on his face. "It made it! My film made it to Sundance!" He exclamied, embracing Brooke.

"Oh, baby congratulations! I'm so happy for you!" She said, crying.

"Are you crying?" He laughed.

"Yeah... I'm just... I'm really happy right now." She said, holding her soon-to-be fiance.