~ One Night in New York ~

I am back with my new story or what has been my little side project for the last while ;). I'm not going to ramble to much here, I'll let this introductory chapter do the talking. Enjoy and let me know what you think :)

Disclaimer: I own nothing affiliated with One Tree Hill.

Chapter 1

'Stop fussing…' Brooke admonished her as she continued tucking her shirt into the skirt.

'This is too tight…' Haley moaned.

'It's not. It looks amazing on you.' Brooke said with a very satisfied smile as she stepped away from her friend. 'You look hot.'

'I don't need to look hot Brooke. I need to look professional. This is big….very big, huge actually…I don't even know how I got an interview…I mean what if it's a mistake and then I come rocking up in this skirt that's much too tight possibly makes me seem more assured than I actually am…'

'And if you keep blabbering like that you'll ruin any chance you've got.' Brooke mused.

'Je thanks..' Haley mumbled.

'Haley you got the interview cause you excelled at your graduate studies and so you should have you worked damn hard they would be lucky to have you, you've brains and beauty and that's a sure winner and also very hard to come by in these big corporate businesses where most people are at the tup because of their financial endowment..' Brooke snorted.

Haley couldn't help but smile at that. 'Thanks for making me feel better.'

'Just do your best and if worst comes to the worst pop a button and pull this higher on you thigh.' Brooke mused.

'Brooke…' Haley admonished.

'Oh come on Haley you have researched the company…you do realise you may be interviewed by one of the brothers.'

'I've told I'll be meeting with Karen Scott. What do you mean brothers?'

'Have you even done your research?'

'Yes I have.' Haley admonished. 'I'm tutor girl of course I've done my research.'

'Well then you'll know the company was built from the ground up by Karen Scott and her two sons. '

'Yea but I didn't exactly linger on that you know I focused on products and advertisement and income figures and where their values lie…'

'Oh well I hear the brothers are two of the sexiest bachelors in New York.' Brooke gleamed.

Haley just rolled her eyes at that; it was the last thing she was worried about right now. Brooke and her one-track mind. 'Look I better go..'

'Be amazing James H just think of all them graduate loans you can pay off when you get this job.'

'No better motivation.' Haley quipped sarcastically. 'Thanks Davis B..'

'Drinks at JayJays tonight to celebrate?'

'Brooke I haven't even..'

'We didn't even celebrate the interview offer..'

Haley just shook her head at that as she pulled the door behind her.

XXXXX

The glass towers above her were menacingly tall, it was like directly stepping into adult life. Okay well she may be 24 and have done that already but it was her first taste of the co-operate working world having worked in downtown café and restaurants all through her graduate degree to one day enable her to take this final step. Haley blew out a breath about to buzz in when the door flew open and a woman carrying a briefcase in clickety heels with a snotty look on her face blew past her at lightning speed.

'Here goes.' Haley mumbled to herself as she stepped inside her own heels clicking a lot more assuredly than she felt across the immaculate vinyl flooring.

'Welcome to Scott Towers how can I help you today?' A perfectly polished blonde greeted Haley at the reception who suddenly felt like she should have scraped her own hair back into a painfully tight bun rather than leave it down in its natural loose wave like she had.

'Hi. I'm here for interview at 5.30 with..'

'Oh Haley.' The girl interrupted easily. 'Karen is looking forward to meeting you. If you just take a seat over there and one of the girls will be with you shortly to take you up to her.'

'Thank you.' Haley said as she went over to the plush leather couches.

'Haley James.' Haley looked up to see a tall girl coming towards her in a grey business suit.

'Peyton Sawyer.' She introduced herself kindly. 'I work in design so if you do get the job we will be working quiet closely.' She smiled. 'You've really nothing to worry about I know everyone says that before interview but Karen is so lovely. She will make you feel completely at ease.'

'Thanks that actually helps.' Haley blew out.

'She likes to give people a chance you know it can be hard to make it in this city.'

'Tell me about it.' Haley said easily.

'Ok so if you just follow me.' Peyton said leading the way as she continued talking. 'So usually one of the sons is in with her , if its Lucas..well I can see you two getting along, same kind of vibe of you know so you'll be fine and if its Nathan…well.' Peyton paused then and Haley observed how she scrunched her face..'How do I say this…' Peyton mused. 'Ok let's just say if you're unsure how the interview is going just pop open a button or flash him some leg and your golden. '

'You're not joking are you.' Haley said as the two ladies stepped into the elevator.

'No.' Peyton mused. 'And he'll eat you right up he's an aversion for blondes.'

'Great.' Haley responded sarcastically which made Peyton smile.

'You know I think you will make a good addition to this company if you get this job.'

'Why would you say that you've only just met me.' Haley mused.

'OH because I've had girls that rattle off questions to me from the get go about how lucky I am to work with Scott brothers and how hot they are…you don't seem all that fazed.'

'I'm not.' Haley said. 'I don't really buy into all that.'

'Karen is going to love you.'

XXXXX

And that she did.

In fact it hadn't felt like an interview at all more of an informal chat where Karen just talked through her credentials and then told her they'd love to have her on board.

Haley had the pleasure of meeting Lucas too who had been nothing but friendly and open to her and considering comments Brooke had passed off about the whole bachelor of New York thing he wasn't living up to the pretence in nature.

She walked down alongside him now as he gave her a tour of her office quarters. She would be working in the advertising and marketing side of things which she was told Nathan overseed whereas Lucas was more involved in the financial quarters.

'And this is Nathan's office…' Lucas said as he knocked hearing zilch from behind the door. 'Whom you probably won't see until tomorrow he often doesn't roll in her until 1pm.'

'Is that allowed?' Haley voiced aloud before she berated herself..'Sorry I..'

'Don't apologise to me.' Lucas chuckled. 'It is and it isn't…I mean he'd the one who has to stay here until like 10 or 11pm most nights so take your pick.'

Haley didn't say anything more on the matter, sure she was a night owl herself always worked better in the later hours of the evening but she wasn't about to set her office hours around it.

'So I'll let you off here Haley.'

'Thanks for the tour Luke.'

'No problem, I think you're going to like it here.' He said easily. 'Nathan can be a bit of a thorn but you have the nicest boss in the world not being bias.' He mused. 'So just go to Karen with everything or if he's annoying you.'

Haley just raised her eyebrows at that.

'There's a reason we work at separate ends of the building.' Lucas mused.

'I figured.' Haley said easily. The pair of them said their goodbyes before she stepped inside the elevator.

'Nathan's going to want her you know that.' Peyton mused as she stepped out of her office after Haley left.

'Something tells me Haley is nothing like Nathan's conquests at this office.'

XXXXX

'You do realise this is the beginning of everything.' Brooke squealed as she took a sip of her extra strong mojito.

Haley giggled much t exuberantly the mojito clearly taking it affect. 'To my last night as a graduate. She squealed.

'To your first day as a sexy office girl…' Brooke squealed back pointing at Haley's attire which she hadn't had the time to change. Her shirt was now tied up in a knot instead of tucked into the skirt to look clubbier thanks to Brooke's advances again.

'Woo we need shots lots of them..' Haley giggled as she stood up trying to steady herself.

'I've my name tag on that hot bartender girlie…'

'the one with the tattoos totally not my type..' Haley giggled.

'You always go for the dark hair boys.'

'True but not covered in tats and even I'm not that drunk.' Haley quipped before making her way towards the bar. She smiled as Owen went out collecting glasses knowing full sure Brooke would pounce.

'What can I get you to drink lady?' This older, smooth talking guy said as he casually slipped in beside her. Haley had to roll her eyes at the ring on his right hand instead of the left, like girls didn't know that trick. He was probably another one of those high-flying office guys with ana affair going in each department. Hey, she shouldn't be judgy but this bar in particular was known for it.

'I'm ok thanks someone is buying them.'

'It looks like it's coming out of your purse.'

Haley rolled her eyes not even noticing the brunette guy to her left-hand side.

Nathans smiled at this guy's lame attempt at chatting this girl up. He swirled the whiskey around in his glass as he discreetly eyed her up from the side in tight fitted black skirt and extremely forgiving white shirt which was unbuttoned enough to skin the lace trimming of her white bra. That would do him just nicely he smirked to himself.

'Like I said its covered.' Haley replied sternly.

'Not a whole lot is covered in that tight package of yours.' The guy obviously leered slipping his hands around her waist.

Haley grimaced at his tight grip trying to pull away from him.

'I think the lady said she was with someone.'

Haley groaned as she heard the smooth-talking voice from another guy beside her, Brooke, and this damn shirt she knew it would get her in trouble. She was about to forfeit the shots altogether and just get away from this damn bar.

'It's not really any of your business.' The guy countered.

'Well I know a hint when I get one.' Nathan said confidently.

The ma just rolled his eyes at the Scott brother, knew him well in this bar at this stage. Who didn't.

Haley felt like shaking herself like a damn dog when his grimy hands were off her she sighed in relief realising she hadn't even turned to the guy beside her so she did and boy when she did…she was pretty sure her mouth dropped open at the sight of him.

Holy fuck.

Her temperature sky rocketed and she had the sudden urge to pop another button knowing if she got that far she may as well take the whole damn thing off. 'Thanks..' She recovered rather quickly feeling rather extroverted with the mojito swimming through her veins.

Nathan faltered as the girl turned and he got a proper look at her. My god. She is beautiful.

Beautiful. Do you hear yourself? He picked up the glass to look at it? What the fuck was in that whiskey…

He fumbled a moment getting caught in the alluring amber speckles of her brown eyes that created a sultry warmth with the golden hue of her hair. 'My pleasure.' He said smoothly berating himself for actually fumbling over the girl.

Get yourself on par Nathan.

She was biting her lip now as she smiled at him.

Fuck she was something and that sweet action was doing something to him. He wanted her more than he wanted any female in a long time. And he was going to have some fun while getting there.

'I mean he was right after all.'

Haley was smiling up at him through drunken eyes until his words played over in her head. He was right. 'What do you mean?'

'That is a tight package.' Nathan goaded her making an obvious statement of looking her up and down.

Haley drew her arms across herself only pushing her breasts up more to him completing naively of course she wasn't used to such low buttons.

'Yea that's even better.'

'I don't come to be looked at like a piece of meat.' Haley spat, her demeanour completely doing a 360 in a matter of seconds.

'And yet you dress like that.'

This time her mouth did drop open. 'Excuse me…'

'Come on your dressed for sex.'

Great. Of course the hottest guy in the place was heinous. Just bloody great. Dammit. 'I am not.'

'Hey, I'm not complaining we can leave now if you want.'

'Yea cause that's going to happen.' Haley spat at him as she turned her gaze away from him catching the bartender filling up her shot glasses.

'Oh come one what's a night of fun between two hot strangers..' Nathan goaded her.

'I don't need that to complete my night it's been quiet fun thank you very much.'

'Maybe there's a lot tighter things than that package of yours…you haven't done it before have you?' Nathan goaded her then.

'What?' Haley knew she shouldn't have egged him on but she couldn't help herself. Besides, she was drunk and he was damn attractive looking, it wouldn't hurt to stare at him another few seconds even if his personality was a complete turn off.

'Gone back and just had sex with someone.'

'That's none of your business and it's not really something you should be proud of.'

'The things I would do to you.' Nathan smirked.

'Wow you use this smooth talk on every girl you meet at the bar..'

'Nah just the ones that need loosening up.' He made a point of looking downwards before meeting her fiery eyes again. It was a major turn on.

'Your derogatory.'

He ignored her comment and subtly grazed her hand feeling rather unnerved by the electric jolt that shot through his body, his eyes quickly found hers wondering had she felt it , the subtle surprise reflective in her eyes told him she had as she reached for a shot off her tray and quickly downed it. 'Want to taste it on my tongue?'

Haley just pulled back from him then as if broken from the weird trance between them. 'I'm good thanks.' She spewed sarcastically. 'Now if you'll excuse me.'

Nathan stepped in front of her just slightly. 'Tell me your name.'

She crossed her eyes at his defiance. 'James.' She said easily enjoying the frown on his feature before she walked away.

XXXXX

Haley groaned as she huddled her body back further against the wall as if that could make her magically disappear.

'Our taxi will be here soon.' Brooke said thinking Haley was grumbling because of the 6-inch heels Brooke demanded she wear.

'It's not that its that's guy…' Haley said grimacing as he walked away from the girls he had been entertaining. Fuck fuck fuck. He spotted her. He looked right at her and she had been looking at him. Fuck.

'that's' him.' Brooke barely kept in the squeal. 'Damn Haley he's…'

'Hi ladies. James.' He said knowing full well Haley had been lying to him.

Brooke chuckled. Oh it had been a while since she'd used the James nickname.

'Hey.' Brooke's voice was sweet as pie.

Haley rolled her eyes to which Nathan enjoyed.

'So you two don't come out here often?'

'What makes you say that?'

'It's my local and its usually the same kind of crowd and everyone knows me here.'

Haley scoffed at that. 'Right you mean you've got with everyone in there bar us two.'

'If you want to change that I'm willing.'

'Like I said I'm going to have to pass.'

'you seem frustrated to do so.' Nathan easily flirted with her.

'No your just a frustrating individual.'

He chuckled at that. 'You really don't know who I am?'

'No so sorry I can't feed into your superiority complex.'

Brooke just smiled at the back and forth banter between the pair she couldn't even get a word in.

'Hey, I'm not asking you to its sorta refreshing.'

Haley just rolled her eyes.

'Wow refreshing…you really have been around the block.'

'I'd like a go around it with you, come home with me.' Nathan said easily.

Brooke just scoffed as she nudged Haley and gave her a knowing look. Haley just gave Brooke the same you think I'm going to do that look back before she turned back towards Nathan. 'I'm not going home with you I barely know you.'

'You won't be saying that come the morning.'

Her eyes were going to be painfully sore from the eye rolls, she almost squealed in delight as the taxi pulled into the rank. 'We're going…'

'At least tell me your real name.'

'It's.' The brunette friend began to shout as the blonde girl shoved her into the taxi effectively shutting her up.

Nathan smiled as he watched them. JaysJays on a Wednesday night just got a whole lot more interesting. If he had any say it wouldn't be the last he'd see of her.

XXXXX

'I can't believe you didn't go home with him.'

'So I've heard you whined about it in the taxi all night when we were taking our make-up off and again this morning..' Haley said as she dropped her handbag on the countertop across from Brooke who was switching on the coffee machine.

'Haley he was gorgeous and I've never called a man gorgeous in my life…but those eyes my god.'

'He was a complete playboy Brooke he practically told us we were fresh meat.' Haley countered with a flick of her hand.

'Oh honey there is no us, he wasn't looking at me you two were practically having eye sex with each other on the street.'

'No we weren't..' Haley countered as she slipped on her black heels.

'He would have done you good.'

'And that would have been a great start to my first day at work waking up in some random guy's bed.'

'I think it would have gave you a good confidence boost.' Brooke mused as she thought about it.

'I'm doing just fine Brooke.' Haley countered as she ran her hand through her long blonde locks.

'I know you are but for the life of me I don't know why your wearing pants today.'

'The job description didn't say tight black skirt everyday besides, I think the pants look smart.'

'They do make you ass look good but.'

Haley just laughed at her friend. 'I'm glad you approve not that I'm too concerned about my ass the only impression I want to make today is that they made they made the right choice offering me this role.'.

'You'll be amazing now go or you'll also be late.'

'And whose fault is that?' Haley teased sticking her tongue out at her before she left the apartment.

XXXXX

She had felt a little twitchy with both nerves and excitement but as she entered the building today it was soon lost on her once Karen took her under her wing. For the owner of the company she was not what Haley had expected, she always tried not to be too judgemental or shove people into stereotypes but by nature it often happened especially in a city like New York where to her and Brooke's experience the wealthy people well they came across wealthy - the same was not to be said for Karen. She was as humble as they came and Haley could tell from her short time with her this morning this was an everyday occurrence for Karen, she may be the owner of this incredibly successful business but she was very much a part of the everyday running's in the office.

'I don't know why I sought fit to give you a grand tour of the place when this is gonna be your floor..' Karen said bemused at herself. 'I get a little too excited when we get someone new on the team Haley you'll have to forgive me.'

Haley just smiled. 'It's nice to get a sense of the place as a whole and put some names to faces I guess.'

'I think you'll really like it here Haley and I know Peyton is excited to have you on board she's been complaining we haven't got a normal girl in for a while.' Karen mused making finger quotes.

Haley was seemingly surprised by Karen's words and he face must have showed it.

'I'm sorry …Peyton's being around my house since she was a little girl she's my niece so you'll get use dot hearing me say she complains a lot.'

Haley just laughed softly.

'And Nathan my other son, well let's just say they've bashed heads enough times about some of the women he has expressed interest in hiring around these quarters…' Karen shook her head. 'Speaking of I think Nathan's about to have a team meeting at 9.30 if you want to jump in on that I'll introduce you.'

'Sure sounds good.' Haley said as they continued walking down the corridor towards the end where Nathan's office was situated.

Karen knocked for a moment hearing his muffled come in as she breezed through the door rolling her eyes at the girl who was perched on the edge of Nathan's desk with a much too short leather black skirt, hardly office attire. 'Oh morning Kylie…that was a long trek from the finance department at this hour.' Karen said kindly but Nathan knew her words were anything but.

'I like my morning cardio.' She answered easily. Haley actually felt embarrassed for the girl.

'Can you just give us…' Karen hedged.

'Oh of course.' Kylie said not really paying any attention to Karen. 'I guess I'll see you in the gym at lunch.'

'I guess you will.' Nathan smirked.

Kylie smiled pulling one of her tight blonde curls before she all but strutted past Karen and Haley who had now stepped into the room.

'I told you to let her go Nathan.'

'You're the one running this company mum I think she'll want to hear it from you.'

'I didn't even hire her that was your decision while I was away in Boston and one you won't be making again. Anyways I wanted to introduce you to our newest girl on the public relations team…this is Haley…'

Haley's eyes bugged out as she stepped from behind Karen. It was him. The guy from last night. He was her bosses son, the other Scott brother...oh my god.

The guy from last night was standing right in front of her…looking absolutely fucking delicious in a navy-blue suit and holy god his eyes, Brooke was right….she couldn't remember them being that blue last night but she had a good bit of drink in her. Shit technically he's my boss. And then there was that damn equally irritating yet likeable smirk on his face again.

Nathan plastered that cocky smirk on his face as he stepped forward dually noting Haley had frozen in shock. Well his day was about to get a whole lot better, maybe he wouldn't be taken Kylie for a trial run after all.

'James…right?' He filled in her last name for her with a wink equally as cocky as his entire demeanour as he stepped forward to shake her hand.