Chapter 3

All We Are

Brooke walked through the Clothes over Bros office with her head high observing everything going on. From what she could tell at the moment it all seemed to be running smoothly. As she made her way to her office many of her employees greeted her with smiles and Brooke would return them. She set her purse and some folders on her desk and then heard a knock on the door.

"Brooke." Adam said standing by the door way. He was a tall man, mid thirties, short dark hair and clean cut. He was also Brooke's assistant up in New York.

"Adam, hi. What the hell is going on here? I leave you in charge when I'm not here I expect you to run it as I do. Now care to explain to me why were all the orders shipped to Houston instead of Los Angels?"

"About that..." he started

"I told you repeatedly I needed them to go to Houston. I left you a note on your desk as well before I left. Why did you tell the distributors?" she stood their with her hands on her hips waiting for his answer.

"I had some personal problems and didn't get to the office on time so they sent them out before I could tell them." he explained and then began to apologize "Brooke I am so sorry. I promise it won't happen again."

"I don't need you're personal life interfering with my company. If it happens again you will be fired. Do you understand?" she told him and he nodded "I assume you called our Houston store and told them to send them back so we can send it to Los Angels." she waited for him to say something but he stayed silent. "Adam, you know how things work here already. You've been here the longest I wouldn't have expected this from you at all."

"Sorry Brooke, I've had a lot on my mind. I assure you this won't happen again. I'll go and-" he was cut off.

A slightly younger man walked into Brooke's office. He was more attractive than Adam. He had a chiseled face, blonde hair, piercing blue eyes. "I actually called Houston last night and told them the situation." he looked at Brooke and then to Adam "I over heard you're phone call with Brooke. And noticed that you didn't do anything when you hung up so I did." he smirked at Adam and then looked back at Brooke.

Brooke had a surprised look on her face. "Scott, wow, thank you so much. You have no idea how much trouble you just saved me." Brooke walked over to him and gave him a hug. "Thank you again." she said pulling away. Adam looked at them.

"I'm just glad to help you out, Brooke."

"That's what I like to hear. Now could you give me and Adam a minute." Scott nodded "Thanks" Brooke said and waited for him to leave. "Do you see that Adam? He stepped up and was paying attention to this company even when I didn't ask him to. If you don't look out I might have to promote him to be my assistant."

"Brooke I promise it won't happen again."

"I hope it won't." she said turning around and Adam knew it meant she was finished talking to him.

When Adam walked out of her office he saw Scott standing not to far away waiting for him. Adam walked over to him and had a pissed off expression on his face. "Knock that smirk off you're face, Scott."

"I'm going to get promoted to be her assistant and you know it. You should really pay more attention to your job."

"You haven't been here nearly as long as I have, Scott. There's no way she'd promote you to her assistant."

Scott let out a small laugh, "I'm going to do what it takes to get your job just warning you now. And damn it's going to be so good when I sleep with her."

Adam furrowed his eyebrows and looked at Scott in disgust "Is that all you want my job for. Become her assistant and then fuck her. She's not like that plus she has a boyfriend who she's is completely in love with."

"We'll see about that." Scott replied and then walked away from Adam who shook his head.

Brooke walked over to her desk and sat down in the chair. She looked at the picture frame that was on her desk. It was of her and Owen. She missed him terribly. She barely saw him when she was down in Tree Hill and to make things worse she had to come up to New York sooner than expected. She hated being apart from Owen. She still hadn't called him and so she grabbed her phone and dialed.

"Brooke, baby, hi." he told her.

"Hey hun..." she said replied

"How is everything going?"

"Adam has been slacking off lately. I don't know what to do. If he keeps it up I think I'm going to have to demote him. He's letting his personal life interfere with work and that's not acceptable."

"That sucks babe. Adam was a cool guy. But if he's not your assistant who will be?" he asked.

"I'm thinking maybe, Scott. He really stepped up and seems like a guy who wouldn't let his personal life get in the way."

"Scott? Have I met him?"

"No, I don't think so babe. He's hasn't been working here too long but I can tell that he is a great addition to the company."

"Well that's great. Any idea when you'll be coming back?" he asked

"I'm not sure. I want to stick around here for awhile just to keep an eye on things. I'll try to get home soon."

Owen sighed. "Okay."

"I miss you, Owen."

"I miss you too, Brooke. Well I'll let you go. Call me soon okay."

"I will. Love you."

"You too." he said and they hung up.

After working all day on some designs she decided to call Rachel. After overdosing a few years back Brooke was there for her to try and help her through it. And Rachel let her for a week that is and all of sudden she disappeared. It wasn't much later though that Rachel gave Brooke a call and let her know that she was okay. She checked herself into rehab and it's been 3 years or so that Rachel has been sober. Brooke promised herself that she would never let Rachel feel alone again. She blamed herself for what happened to Rachel but she was glad that Rachel was in a better place now.

"Hey whore are you in town again so soon?" Rachel asked.

"Yes I am, bitch and I know you're happy about it. You're ass misses me the second I leave you're sight" she laughed.

"Oh Penelope don't kid yourself. You're the one that is missing me that's why you came back so soon to New York"

"Okay! You're right! I came back because I'm dying with out you! You're the only person worth living for! I can't go on with out you right by my side!" Brooke exclaimed sarcastically into her phone.

"Hah! Funny. Why did you come back then? You just left like what 4 days ago?"

"People suck at their jobs sometimes that's why."

"What happened now?"

"Adam happened. I have no idea what is going on with him lately. He said he has some personal problems which sucks but I don't want that interfering with my company."

"Oh." Rachel said in a soft voice "Yeah you need to keep you're employees in check."

"Yes I do which is why I am here much earlier than usual. Anyway I was hoping we could get together tonight for dinner or you can come over to my place."

"I'll come over. I'll bring Chinese food and we can lay low tonight. Watch a movie or something." Rachel suggested.

"Yeah, staying in sounds good. After the day I had I really don't want to be around people tonight. Come around eight?"

"Yeah. I'll see you later, Brooke."

"Bye Pookie." Brooke replied with a nickname she had given Rachel a few years back and hung up the phone.

After hanging up with Rachel she started to tidy up the small mess that she had on her desk and then gathered her things and her purse. She got up from her chair and walked over to the doorway, switched off the light and then closed the door behind her. She walked towards the door of the main office when Scott spotted her.

"Let me get the door for you, Brooke" he said as he flashed her a smile.

She smiled at him. "Thanks Scott."

"Need any help carrying that" he said pointing the stack of manila folders she carried.

"Yes, that would be great" she told him as she handed him the folders and they made their way towards the elevators and she pushed the down button. "Thanks again for the call you made last night. I don't know why Adam is slacking off but I just home it doesn't continue."

Scott nodded in an agreement. The elevator doors open and they walked in and Scott spoke as he pushed the lobby floor button, "He has been coming into work late the past few days and seems to be very disorganized." he told her.

She nodded while she listened. "Is that so?"

"Yeah. Who knows what's going on with him? Maybe this job isn't as important to him as it use to be." he said t o her.

"Yeah...maybe." she said in almost a whisper. The elevator doors open and they walked out towards the door. Scott pushed the door open with his back and let Brooke out first and then he followed behind her. Brooke hailed a cab and opened the door and then turned to Scott. "I'm glad you're working for my company, Scott. We need more people like you." she said smiling as he handed her the folders. "I'll see you tomorrow morning." she said to him.

"Wow, thanks Brooke. I'm glad to be working here."

She nodded. "Thanks for carrying these folders down for me. Bye." She said as she got into the cab and Scott shut the door. She waved at him and he waved back and watched her leave.

Brooke sat on her couch in her loft and put the E! Channel as she waited for Rachel to arrive. Every time Brooke was in town they would always watch Chelsea Lately either together or would call each other during the commercial break to discuss. It wasn't too long after that she heard a knock on the door. She jumped up and walked over to the door and opened it and she smiled as she saw the red head in front her holding a bag of Chinese food.

"It's great to see you, Rachel" she said allowing her to enter.

"Of course it is." Rachel said walking over to the kitchen counter to place the bag down. Brooke rolled her eyes and Rachel laughed when she saw her do that. "It's great to see you too" she said placing the food down and embracing Brooke in a hug.

Brooke grabbed a couple of plates from the cabinets while Rachel got the utensils. They served their food and then walked over to the couch. Rachel spoke first.

"Work really that bad you had to come back so soon?"

"Yes!" Brooke exclaimed "Mainly Adam though. Do you know Scott?" she asked Rachel who shook her head. "I didn't expect you too but he started working for me a few months ago. Anyway he tells me that lately Adam has been coming in late and that he seems to be disorganized. I expect him to be responsible while I'm gone. I trust him you know. I don't want my company to get screwed because of one of my employees irresponsibility. "

"Looks like you got some firing to do" Rachel told her with a small smile and her eyebrows raised.

Brooke shook her head. "I'm not going to fire Adam. He's been with a part of Clothes Over Bros too long. I'm going to keep an eye on him though these next few days to see if I notice any change."

"Yeah, you can do that to." Rachel said and took a bite of her egg roll. "Okay so enough of about work. How's Owen doing?"

Rachel saw Brooke's face light up. "Owen is great."

"I bet he is. You did say he was the best sex you ever had." Rachel laughed.

"And he is. Seriously, Rachel, it gets better each time." she said and all Rachel could do was smile at her friend. "Seriously though we're doing pretty good. I mean he hates it that I'm always coming to New York especially this time because I was only back for four days and we only really spent one night together. I don't know what to do to make it work."

"Tell him to come along with you."

"Rachel, he has work you know. He can't just up and leave."

"It was just a suggestion..."

"I know. He's come before you know but he can't just come every time. I really want this to work you know. Owen is the guy for me. I can feel it."

"Well, I'm happy for you Brookie. He is definitely my favorite guy that you've dated."

"Really?" she asked surprised "What was wrong with Lucas? Or Chase?"

"Well, Lucas w all knew he was meant to be with Peyton. Good thing you ended it didn't want you to get hurt by him. And Chase...well Chase was just boring, Brooke. How you ever dated him in the first place really shocks me." Rachel said and Brooke hit her playfully. "And Owen, well Owen saved my fucking life so of course I love him for you. He saved me and I know if you ever need it he'll save you too. He's definitely a keeper."

"Yeah he is." Brooke nodded with a smile.

I had no idea I'd get such a great response to this story. Thank you to all my reviewers: Angiel72206, Kate, becky89, Angie, Idon'tknowyet, Lync, justawritier, kirddle2, Summer Davis, Lena, Ashes, and WhiteRose0925.

Thanks for reading and please review.

And if you haven't already read Lync's Brooke and Owen fic, Love Comes Softly her user name is FairyStarDust112