An Affair of Ethics

Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill characters

A/N: Thanks for the reviews guys, I'm glad you liked last chapter. Also, I'm sorry I couldn't update sooner. Here's more…

Rating: T

Genre: Humor, Romance

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Chapter Nine

Lucas arrived in front of Haley's big house and waited for a minute or two in is car. What was he going to do once he'll be in front of Brooke? Would it be better to pretend nothing had happened between them last night or deal with it now to get rid of the awkwardness? He sighed and shook his head. He really wasn't any good in relationships department. He noticed another car was parked in the drive way and was surprised to see Nathan was there. What the hell is brother was trying to do? And how was he even aware of Rachel's blackmail? Lucas stepped out of his car and pulled his hand on his forehead. His head was starting to pound again. He pulled on his sunglasses and sighed with pain.

Brooke appeared at the front door and waved at him. "Lucas! You took a hell out of time!" He joined her and smirked at her.

"Sorry, the traffic…" He kissed her cheek almost unconsciously and smiled at her shocked face. "Good morning to you too."

"Yeah, c'mon." She closed the door behind him and led him to the kitchen where she was taking her breakfast.

"What's my brother doing here?" He asked once he was sitting on a stool. Brooke kept her attention on her pancakes but answered still.

"Oh, he brought Haley breakfast. Can you believe he forgot to bring me something too, the jerk? No I understand why you're like that." This time she turned around, wearing a wicked smile on her lips.

"Like what?"

"Uh, you know? A jackass… It runs in the family, genes defect." She shrugged and couldn't help but laugh at the face he made. Him, a jackass?

"Very humoristic in the morning Davis…"

She rolled her eyes and replied almost immediately. "Yeah, you bring that side out of me…"

"So, uh, I told Peyton about Rachel's plan. She told me she'd meet me here." He stated, while keeping his eyes on her body. She was wearing tight pants and an almost transparent shirt and it made his mind go… crazy.

"Okay… uh, I made some coffee, you want some?" She asked nervously, noticing he was checking her out.

"Sure, can't work without my daily dose of caffeine. And since I hadn't had any yet…" He glared at her playfully, knowing well that if she hadn't phoned him, he would have had coffee.

"K." She gave him a cup and carefully poured coffee in it.

"So Haley and Nathan, uh?"

"Yeah, who would have guessed?" Both laughed a bit, trying to picture them together: the smart superstar and the unemployed loser…

"Not me or anyone who knows Nathan. I still can't believe it."

"Yeah I know… but he's nice with her and she needs it. I met her ex Chris Keller once and oh my god he was horrible with her and everyone else actually. He's got that attitude; I wonder how she even lasted so long with him…"

"I heard some things about him, like how he treats his employees like shit and all…"

"Did you know he's using the third person to talk about himself? He's so self centered and thinks he's better than anyone else. It's crazy… I don't think I'll meet someone worse than him one day… I mean you've got some ego but…" It was a compliment. Well, it didn't really sound like it but it was one.

"See, I'm not so bad…"

"I guess you're not Lucas Scott…" Brooke took a sip of her coffee and smiled at the blonde man. He smiled back at her and turned around when he heard somebody's laughs.

Haley and Nathan entered the kitchen giggling like teenagers and only sobered when they saw how Brooke and especially Lucas were glaring at them.

"What? I'm not allowed to have fun in my own house?" Haley asked with a roll of eyes. She took Nathan's hand and led them to the fridge.

"I didn't say anything Haley." Brooke replied with a knowing smirk.

"No, but your boyfriend's eyes are saying it all." She answered and started giggling again. Nathan also laughed a bit. Couldn't they just realize the sexual tension that was between them?

"Oh please, you're not gonna start again! He's not my boyfriend, okay?" Brooke glared at her and rolled her eyes exasperated.

"Right…" Nathan rolled his eyes at his brother who couldn't help but blush a bit. "So why are you here Lucky Luke?"

Lucas shook his head, sighing. "Shut up Nathan… I'm only here for business anyway. Rachel is trying to blackmail us."

"How?" Haley asked a bit concerned about Brooke's interests. She sat down next to her friend and took the brunette's hand in hers.

"She apparently hired a detective or something and he took pictures of Brooke and me, flirting."

"What does she want in exchange?" Nathan asked glancing at his brother with concern.

"Money."

"$500.000" Brooke cleared out and Lucas almost chocked in his coffee. She hadn't told him how much the red-haired wanted yet. And it was a big surprise. Sure he was wealthy but not to that extent.

"Like I have that money, seriously, couldn't she get any stupider?" He scoffed and Brooke looked at him bitterly, while nervously applying blueberry marmalade on her pancake.

"So, what is your plan Lucas?" Haley asked him simply.

"Well legally, she can't do that. This is pure blackmail and it's against the law."

"So?" Brooke asked expectantly and Lucas shrugged a bit before answering.

"Whether you call the police and I'm sure she'll make the press aware of our little PDA… and then I'm not sure it's a good publicity for you… they could portray you as the bitch who not only stole Rachel's clothes but also stole her lawyer by seducing him…"

"Or… what's the other solution?" Brooke winced a bit, afraid of what he was going to tell her.

"You renounce pressing charges against her and she does the same, like she suggested days ago. Meaning you get nothing: no acknowledgement for your work, no damages, nothing." He sympathetically placed a hand upon her and rubbed it softly. Brooke couldn't help but smile at the gesture. He could be so sweet sometimes...

"I guess I have no real choice…"

"That's it when you don't have any money, dear." Nathan wrapped his arms around her shoulders from behind and kissed her forehead. Lucas glared at his brother who noticed it. Nathan pulled away from the brunette and lifted his arms in surrender. "Don't worry, I've got mine. No need to get all protective with me!"

"Shut up Nate. Brooke you need to know that whatever you decide to do, I'm behind you. What do you wanna do?" Lucas asked gently. Brooke took a breath and ran a hand through her hair. She was screwed…once again.

What was she supposed to do? Let Rachel win or fight once again with the risk of losing even more?

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Okay guys, that's all for today. Sorry if it sucks, I tried my best but I'm having a hard time writing lately...

Kiss, I'll try to update asap