Brooke, looking absolutely fabulous in a sleeveless, dark pink maternity dress had spent the majority of her morning holed up inside her office on what had to be the single most boring conference call of her entire life. Sure the initial ploy had started off interesting enough. There was to be a major merge with Sascha Naj and Kenneth Cole for a fall collection and plans for the fashion show, months away, were already in high gear. To assist Jessica Washington and the rest of the Sascha Naj crew, Kenneth Cole's chief Production Analyst, Felix Colwell, was being tasked to head the project. So for the next few months, this fashion big shot would share their office space and supervise their ideas. For Brooke it was just another manager and just another project. To Jessica and the rest, it seemed more like the second coming of Christ. The whole office appeared to be in a frenzy, rushing around, cleaning up, decorating Mr. Colwell's office with a deluxe gourmet fruit basket. She rolled her eyes and smiled to herself as she walked down the hall to the office of the only person who cared less than she did. Sure enough there was Gordon, feet up, giggling mischievously as his hands absently tangled the phone cord.

"And who are you sweet talking this lovely afternoon?"

"Wouldn't you like to know, Diva?"

Brooke grinned as she put on her sunglasses and grabbed her friend by the arm.

"Come on. Let's get out of here. You're taking me to lunch."

"Oh no!" Gordon practically screamed. "You know what happened last time. Child, I am not fooling with your ass!"

"Gordie! Come on! It's just three blocks and I am starving."

"Yeah but last time we hung out, you got to bleeding and passing out and all kinds of carrying on. I just don't want to be responsible for anything else happening to Baby Diva."

Brook smiled at her friend. Gordon, always the drama queen, was actually being genuine. He had felt horrible after learning that Lucas had to rush Brooke to the emergency room following their tennis match. He had spent hours by her side during the doctor ordered week long bed rest and out of guilt had bombarded with her beautiful bouquets of every flower imaginable. Even though she had assured him over and over that it wasn't his fault, he couldn't help but worry.

"Baby Diva is fine, she's just hungry. And so am I. I know you probably are too so what do you say we ditch this place for an hour and go get some grub?"

"Fine", he finally sighed with a dramatic eye roll. "If you insist."

"And I do", she giggled.

They gossiped and laughed as they walked arm in arm to one of Brooke's favorite nearby delis. Gordon mocked gagged as his best friend ordered Pastrami on Rye with sweet pickles, onions, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise and black olives.

"What?" Brooke shrugged as she bit in.

"Nothing. That is just nasty, Diva. Pure nasty."

"You never know until you try it."

"Try it? Hell, I don't think I'd live to tell about it. I bet you go to the bathroom and it sounds like someone is performing an exorcism on your ass!"

"Gordie! That is so gross! I'm trying to eat here", she laughed.

"Whatever, hag."

She playfully kicked him under the table and moaned as she devoured her lunch much to his disgust. Pretty soon an hour had passed and it was almost time to go back to the office.

"Gordie, it's a beautiful day. I say we ditch work and go do something fun. I know! What about Coney Island? I haven't been in forever."

"As much as it would thrill me to see your hind parts screaming like a little girl on one of those rides, Diva you know today is not the day to be skipping. Felix Colwell will be in and you know Jessica will have a seizure if we're not there for the dog and pony show."

"Who is this Felix Colwell guy anyway? I know you know everybody so you may as well spill."

"Actually, I don't know too much about this cat except that he has some pretty powerful connections and he's going to be seriously involved with our fall campaign. Jessica has a lot riding on this so it'll be interesting to see how it all pans out. And I hope it does pan out because I am too cute to be in the unemployment line."

"I just hope this guy isn't a dick. The last thing we need is some old fogey , know it all up in our business."

"Child, with a name like Felix, what can you expect?"

"That's true. Who even names their kids something like that nowadays? I mean, really!"

"I bet he's older than Moses."

"With wrinkles and a bald head and a pot belly."

"And I bet he gets the biggest crush on you."

"Or you", Brooke teased as they made their way back to the office.

"Real funny, Miss Thang. You're a regular comedian."

"I try. Look, I don't know about you but I think I'm gonna take off for the rest of the day. I'll meet Old Man Colwell tomorrow. For now, Baby Diva and I are going to go shopping. Then I am going to go home and eat lots of ice cream and then take a nap."

"Must be nice…", Gordon snorted.

"It is. Besides, I do deserve one relaxing, stress free day without drama, don't you think? And maybe one day when you get pregnant, you'll understand", Brooke joked.

"Not this lady", Gordon winked. "Girlfriend, I couldn't imagine sharing a bathroom with another person much less a body."

"Gordie, you're priceless", Brooke grinned as she kissed his cheek and turned for her office.

She was startled by the sight before her. There was a guy, dark hair and skin wearing running shorts as he appeared to be snooping through her desk files.

"Excuse me! Hello!" Brooke waved out of exasperation as the guy continued to ignore her. "Hola?"

"Hola", the man smiled.

"Okay", Brooke sighed. "Look, I don't know who hired you but it is not procedure to have the cleaning crew sort through important office files, okay?"

"Hola."

"Great. Just fucking great", Brooke muttered as she began to gesture with her hands. "Okay. You aye have to get out aye and no touch stuff."

The man smiled and shrugged as he walked towards her and away from her desk. She noticed his nicely shaped legs and the way his muscles filled out the Polo sports tee.

"What? Janitorial uniforms must really be progressing…"

He only spoke more Spanish that caused Brooke to groan.

"Okay. Watch and listen very carefully. You…no…touch…my…stuff…no…more…okay?"

"Okay", the man repeated in a heavy accent.

"Okay", Brooke repeated as she headed to the copier.

"Hey you, how was lunch?" Jessica asked cheerily.

"Delicious but I was thinking I might take off early…"

"Oh Brooke you can't. Please! I totally need you. Felix Colwell is here and we have this conference call and…"

Brooke knew full well where the conversation was going and after all, it did seem a little unfair for the boss to have to beg. Besides, a few more hours in the office wouldn't kill her.

"Okay, okay, Jess. Now where is this Colwell character and is he cool?"

"He's around somewhere and he's a great guy, Brooke. I think you'll like him a lot. He's a very important man and I think he's going to do great things for this company."

"Whatever you say, Jess. I just hope he isn't an ass, you know? I've had my fair share today and speaking of, you might want to brief the non English speaking custodians about not going through our files and things when they're cleaning."

"What are you talking about?"

"The new cleaner guy. I caught him going through my stuff when he's supposed to be emptying out the trash. Then I try to scold him and he only speaks Spanish."

"That's odd. I don't think we have anyone who fits that description…"

"Sure we do and there's the perp right there", Brooke pointed.

Jessica inhaled sharply and leaned into the wall for support. The woman looked like she had just seen a ghost.

"Hey buddy, what are you still doing by my office?" Brooke demanded. "This is Jessica Washington, President of the company and trust me she was not happy to know what you were up to earlier."

"Brooke…", Jessica faintly whispered.

"I…no…touch…your…stuff…no…more", the man spoke slowly with an accent as his hands gestured for emphasis.

He winked as he walked off.

"The nerve of him", Brooke huffed.

"Brooke…"

"He must be new if you've never seen him around."

"Brooke…"

"Good help is so hard to find."

"Brooke…that, that wasn't the new janitor."

"Oh? Who is he? Do you know him?"

"You could say that", she sighed. "That was Felix Colwell."

Brooke gulped and tried her best not to faint. So much for the old, fat, bald, wrinkled, know it all she had been expecting. Instead there was Mr. Tall, Dark and no English speaking Handsome. If first impressions were everything, Brooke knew she had more than blown hers.

"Excuse me", she called. "Yoo hoo. Wait up."

"Running and gunning, baby. You gotta keep up with me."

"So…you do speak English."

"We might not get very far if you keep trying to speak Spanish."

"Oh. Well I'm Brooke Scott and…"

"I'm Felix Colwell", he grinned as he extended his hand. "So that would make me your new and temporary boss for the next few months."

"Oh. Sorry. Um, it's really nice to meet you."

"Likewise."

"Sorry. It's just that you were looking at my desk…"

"I thought I might find some notes from your conference call."

"…And, well, you're totally not what I expected…looks wise and all."

"Oh because I'm Mexican?"

"No", Brooke's eyes widened. "Oh no. That is totally not what I meant."

"I think it is. What? You got a thing against Mexicans? You think we're only good enough to plow your fields? We can't work alongside you in the office or God forbid be your boss?"

"Oh God, no. I did not mean it like that. I…I am not a prejudiced person, believe me. I just meant that you were younger than what I expected…"

"I cannot believe racism still exists in this day and age and here in the city too", Felix said as he sadly shook his head. "That really hurts. I've worked hard my whole life and believe me, I have earned everything I have."

"I'm sure you have…"

"Don't pity me", he yelled.

Brooke's eyes brimmed with tears. The man before her was truly hurt. No matter how many times she tried to rectify the situation, she only seemed to jam her foot further down her throat. Now he thought she was an evil, ugly, vile racist.

"I don't pity you, I…"

"Of course you don't. Why should a wealthy Park Avenue socialite like yourself waste pity on a poor peasant boy like myself?"

"Felix…"

"Oh! So you don't respect me enough to call me Mr. Colwell?"

"I'm sorry. Mr. Colwell…"

"That's my father. Call me Felix."

"Okaaayyy…listen Felix, um, I'm really sorry that we got off on the wrong foot…"

"Maybe you should be more sorry that you're a racist!"

Brooke could feel her blood beginning to boil and that along with the pregnancy hormones could make for a dangerous combination.

"Look you! I don't know who the hell you think you are and I don't give a rat's ass how many powerful design connections you have, I absolutely refuse to stand here while you accuse me of such hateful things! I am not a racist! In fact, I am the least racist person you will ever meet. My friends and my ex boyfriends have been Black, White, Biracial, Asian, Latino, Jewish…I do not discriminate. Racism is ignorant. How shallow do you have to be to judge someone by the pigment in their skin? I mean, that is so ridiculous!"

"Are you done?"

"No…and I'll have you know that my best friend in the world is a gay, black man! Now. How you like them apples?"

Brooke was practically yelling and their confrontation had garnered a small audience. His hurt and angry expression turned to a large grin followed by a wink.

"That's cool. I know you're not a racist. I was just teasing. A little workspace humor. No big deal, right?"

No big deal? Brooke was ready to pommel the man with her Louis Vuitton handbag!

"What…"

"I was just having a little fun. Lighten up, toots", he laughed as he walked away.

Brooke could feel her cheeks burn as the others stifled giggles.

"Did you see that?" she fumed as Gordon walked up behind her.

"Trouble", he said shaking his head with a saucy grin. "Sexy but trouble."