Chapter 10

May 5th, 2010 – New York City

... as the kiss deepens, he pulls down the zipper and the dress falls to my feet. He turns me around, nibbling at my neck from behind, sending little jolts of pain and pleasure straight to my core. He pushes me against my desk. He pulls down my panties, caressing my folds with his fingers. I'm wet and ready, arching my back to make it easier. He opens his zipper and frees his member, rubbing it against me, driving me crazy. "Don't tease me, please. I need you inside me." He puts his hands on my hips, taking a firm hold, and slowly penetrates me. I feel him stretching me, filling me to bursting. As he goes in and out I float on a wave of pleasure. "Faster, please! Oh Lucas!" The damn begins to burst and... the alarm.

I wake up sweating, with the bed covers all twisted around me, and a hand wedged between my legs. Damned obsession. It's been over four years since the last time I did it with him, and half a dozen guys have been there after him, but he's still the frigging star of nearly every erotic dream I have. Well, today is our fake little anniversary, so perhaps I have an excuse to be dreaming about him.

I go through my routine, half an hour on the stationary bike, half an hour on free weights, stretching, hot shower, dress up and breakfast, orange juice, greek yogurt with granola and fresh fruit and a large mug of coffee.

Downstairs, Jason and his partner David are waiting for me. After Mark got removed from my office issuing death threats, corporate security decided that my driver would have to be an armed bodyguard as well. This would have meant replacing Jason, who is a peaceful soul, and wouldn't hurt a fly. I set my foot down with the head of security, and the solution was to add an armed goon to my entourage. Hence David. They seem to get along, so no harm done.

"Jason, David. Good morning."

As usual, only Jason replies. David prefers to maintain a pose of silent vigilance. I find him rather annoying. "Good morning miss Davis. To the office?"

"Yes. Marjorie and the children?"

"They're fine, miss Davis, thank you."

The elevator opens and Millie is there with a smile and my Latte. "Good morning."

"Good morning, Brooke. Your eight o'clock is already here."

"Great! Send her in."

My eight o'clock is Valentina Caldwell. She's the last piece of a puzzle I've been putting together for a while now. She has an economics degree from Wharton, and a master in finance from MIT. She worked as an investment banker, and, maybe ten years ago, she switched to the fashion industry, first at Zara, then Chanel, and lately as executive Vice-President at Victoria's Secret. She walks into my office and leans across my desk for a handshake. She's a tall platinum blonde, mid-forties, smart gray eyes and a dry, firm handshake. "Good Morning Miss Davis."

"Please, call me Brooke."

"If you'll call me Val."

"All right. Have you studied the details of our proposal?"

She smiles. "No small talk? Yes I've studied your proposal. Very generous."

"So?"

"I'd have to decline. Even if the terms are very generous, I'd be exchanging a position in one fashion giant for the same position in a smaller one."

"Don't you thing Brooke Davis Holdings has the potential to surpass Victoria's Secret?"

"Perhaps. But that doesn't change the fact that you've only had about half their earnings last fiscal year."

"That means we've been about twenty percent more profitable."

"Granted." She rearranges herself on the chair and looks steadily at me. Time to wave the real carrot.

"What I'm going to say next is covered by the confidentiality agreement you signed before we begun this discussion."

"Understood."

"I'm not looking for an executive vice-president for the Holding. I actually intend to step down as CEO in a few months, and I'm looking for a replacement. That's what you're here for."

Her eyes flash, and she smiles. This bit of information is not unexpected. "That changes things a bit. "

"I assumed it would."

She crosses her legs and steeples her fingers. "Do you mind if I ask you why?"

"No. It's simple. I have two jobs for this company, CEO and head designer. I've been working myself to the bone for three years to do both. I want to drop one of these jobs, the one that bores me, and keep the one I really enjoy." I look into her eyes. "But I need my replacement to be someone smart who will keep this company profitable and honest."

"And you think I might be this someone?"

"I hope so."

"The key for keeping this company profitable is the freshness and the broad appeal of its clothing lines. How do you plan on continuing to provide that?"

"I'm planning on joining the design departments of CoB and Brooke Davis Fashion into a little company, called BD Designs. Sixty or seventy employees, mostly designers. It would work under an exclusive contract with the Holding."

"That sounds like a plan, Brooke. There's still some fine print to discuss, but you've got yourself a new executive vice-president." She gets up and extends her hand again. I get up and shake it.

"Very well. I look forward to working with you."

Around eleven my intercom buzzes. "Yes?"

"It's Mrs Davis."

"Send her in."

I receive mother with a broad smile. "Good morning mother. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Good morning. I wish you'd keep me in the loop for critical decisions involving this company."

"I try, mother. What do you have in mind?"

"You're hiring Valentina Caldwell. That's a big decision, Brooke."

"I agree. Talent of that caliber doesn't come cheap."

"But why? We don't need a high powered exec when we have..." Her eyes narrow. "You're quitting."

I smile at her. "Good job."

"Don't patronize me Brooke! Why?"

"I'm not really quitting, mother. I just want to focus on the part of my job I enjoy, which is designing."

She stays silent for a long time, mulling it over. Finally she speaks again. "I could take over as CEO."

"You're very good at what you do, mother."

"Thanks."

"But you're no leader." I let her stew on that for a bit. "I need you to stay on as CFO. Make sure the company stays healthy."

"Will you stay on as Chairman of the Board?"

"Yes." It's just one day-long meeting every quarter, plus a larger meeting once a year.

"Very well, Brooke. When are you stepping down?"

"Six months, give or take."

She gives me a sour look. "I hope you know what you're doing."

"So do I, mother."

I walk down to the fountain a bit past six thirty. Today I want to be waiting for him there when he arrives. I'm wearing a dress I've designed for today, a simple red and white tube dress, low cut, slightly cinched waist, ending at the knees. White three-inch peek-through wedges, a matching wallet and large hoop earrings complete the ensemble. I'm still using my hair loose and straight, Chanel cut, a little longer than shoulder length, with a tint very close to my original dark brown, and reddish highlights. I wait for a few minutes, and he arrives from the west, wearing tan slacks, black leather shoes and a white long-sleeve cotton button-down shirt. His hair is a little longer than I prefer, and artfully messy. As before, he brings a single, long stem red rose.

We greet each other with a tight hug, which ends up with him twirling me around, and both of us laughing.

He sets me down and puts me in the ground, resting his hands lightly on my shoulders. "Looking amazing, Davis."

"You're looking fine yourself, Scott." We sit on the rim of the fountain and he gives me the rose. "Thanks." I smell the rose. "I have a little something for you." I open my wallet and pull a little rectangular box, wrapped on matte black paper, with a tiny red bow.

He smiles as he opens it. He likes receiving gifts almost as much as I do. He just likes to play cool about it. It's a fountain pen. A fancy one, with an engraving of the logo of the Holding. "Wow, Pretty Girl. This is pretty cool. But you shouldn't..."

"It's a thank you gift, Broody. And an apology."

"Why, for heaven's sake?"

"You warned me about Mark. Do you remember?"

"Of course."

"I was pretty snooty about it."

"You were entitled. I was overstepping."

"That's not true. You were just being a good friend. And, as it turns out, You were right."

The flash of pleasure and the satisfied smirk are gone almost before I can see them. He passes his arm across my shoulders and pulls me close. "I'm sorry."

I enjoy the physical closeness. "No harm done. In fact, major harm avoided, in large part due to your warning. So, thanks."

I get up and pick up his hand. "Let's go, Broody. I made reservations."

He blinks as he looks into my eyes. "You did?"

"Sure." I let go of his hand and do a pirouette. I'm happy as I haven't been in a long time, and I am exactly where I want to be, with the person I want to be with. And soon, I'll be free. "Let's celebrate."

He picks up my hand and we start walking towards the east. "Celebrate what?"

"Our little fake engagement anniversary, of course." I skip as I walk, kiss him in the cheek and laugh a little. "And my freedom."

I take him to a little french bistrot midtown. It's romantic as hell, with soft lighting, and a Piaf selection playing on a loop. We sip a velvety bordeaux, as we nibble and I play with his fingers. I tell him about quitting the CEO job in a few months, and beginning to get my life back. I also tell him about Peyton moving in with her producer. He tells me about his second book, which should be released in a couple of months, his impending college graduation and gossip from Tree Hill. He also tells me how Nathan is doing, chosen as the best shooting guard on the NCAA for the second time, and as one of the hottest new prospects in next year's NBA draft. For a while, the one subject we carefully avoid, the monkey in the room, is Lindsay.

Over dessert I decide to break our tacit agreement. "How's she doing?"

He sighs and straightens up in his chair. "Recovering. She's basically moved in with me, spending most of her time in Tree Hill. She is getting back to her work slowly. She told me to say hi, by the way, and that you should come and visit."

I stare at him, both mortified that she is living with him, and surprised that she knew we were meeting. I latch onto the latter, to avoid contemplating the former. "She knows you came to see me?"

"I have an excellent excuse. Our editor is begging for another installment of our book. It seems that ours has been one of the best selling children's book this year."

"I've noticed the fat royalty checks."

"That's right. So, Lindsay, our agent, wanted me to come see you and persuade you to do another."

"I'd love to do another. I really enjoyed it last time."

"I can come the week before Jamie's birthday, just like last year. Then we drive to Maryland."

He looks me in the eyes as he says it. "This time she would be coming with us."

I sigh. The prospect of spending a week locked up with him, working on a new book fills me with joy. It might compensate a bit for being near him and Lindsay together for a few days. And I know he won't be happy about spending Lily's birthday without her for the first time. "All right. I'll make arrangements."

"Do you want to do another adventure with the same protagonists as our first book, or go for a completely different thing?"

I think of our little princess with her brave, impulsive heart and her crazy outfits, and her little knight, protecting her and always getting into trouble. They were supposed to by Lily and Jamie, but we ended up putting more of ourselves into them than we ever planned or intended. "Oh, I don't think those two are done yet. I say we take them on another adventure."

He answers with a huge smile, one that makes my heart dance. "I agree. We take them for a spin again."