Dan thought Deb would never leave. He knew she had a million errands to run but she seemed to be taking her sweet time in getting them done. First she retrieved, sorted and even read through some of the mail. Then she checked something on the Internet. After that, she put on a pot of coffee. Just when Dan thought he might lose it, finally she gave him a quick kiss good bye and hopped into her luxury car.
He watched her pull out of the driveway, then gave her a few extra return minutes just in case she forgot something. Finally, the coast was clear. Dan felt like a kid on Christmas morning as he popped the tape in the VCR. Maybe it would be nothing but based on Brooke's agitation the day of the party, it was probably something. And no doubt it was juicy. Sure she had tried to play it off like it was something from work but Dan had suspected otherwise. He knew the actress was acting.
"Hey Brookie, it's me Felix. If you're watching this tape, then I guess I'm already 25 grand richer. That kind of sucks for you, huh? Too bad but hey, it works for me. But anyway. I guess you're wondering what this is all about. I mean, why would I make such a tape? Why would I want to make you aware of its existence? The answers are simple. It's something I feel you should know. I made the tape because (a) I'm a voyeur and it's a kick to look at later. Naughty amateur home videos beats real porn any day. Always remember that, kid. (b) You never know when you're gonna need that extra tool, you know, that little something special to give you the upper hand and keep the ball in your court so to speak. Now for whatever reason, you all of a sudden have changed. Supposedly you're a nice girl now and you love some poor, crippled boy from North Carolina. Okay…whatever. If that's your story, then stick to it, Princess. I know you love the loser or at least you think you do. In that sense, I sort of feel a strange kinship with the dude. It's almost like we're brothers. Hell, he did you, I did you, right? Anyway, I just thought you should know the truth. Don't take this as any type of disrespect because it's not. Use it for entertainment, instruction...whatever. Just enjoy and take notes. Share it with Lucas, if you want. Anyway, I'll quit my commentary because I know you're anxious to watch. So without further ado, Brooke Davis in all her glory giving her finest performance to date. "
There was a pause in the video then it cut to the next portion. Brooke was sitting on a bed wearing just a silk robe.
"Well, well, well", Felix entered the room grinning. "If isn't the treasure of the soap world? I guess right now I am the luckiest son of a bitch on this planet. Brooke, baby, why don't you uh, show Daddy your crown jewel?"
Brooke grinned seductively as she slipped off the robe and spread her legs wide. She was totally naked.
"Damn, girl, you're so hot. Oh baby, you look fine. Touch yourself for me."
Brooke did as she was told, giggling as she pleasured her own body for Felix before orally satisfying him as well. Then they had sex in every imaginable position.
Dan turned off the tape, absolutely stunned. Then his face broke out into a smirk, which escalated into a huge grin. Suddenly, he couldn't stop laughing.
"Nice choice, son", he said aloud to himself. "Maybe Nate should check that out and he'd probably go for an upgrade."
Dan replayed the tape, relaxing in the hours that Deb was gone. Meanwhile, not far away in another spacious home, a young woman nervously and eagerly awaited the departure of her significant other as well. Brooke thought Lucas might never leave and she practically had to usher him out the door. When she was confident she had privacy, she slipped the tape in. She would watch it once and once only, then savor the moment when she burned it in a huge beach bonfire.
Settling into a chair, Brooke pressed the play button on the remote. Static. It had rewound to the beginning so Brooke fast forwarded it. More static. Damn! She sifted through eight hours of what was a blank VHS tape. Brooke cursed out loud as she ejected it. Then for the first time, she noticed the seal. That tape still had a seal which, meant it could record data. The tape Brooke had first had did not have a seal, meaning it was intentionally broken so nothing could erase the material already on it.
Shocked, Brooke sank onto the floor. She suddenly felt ill and very afraid. The tape in her hand was an imposter. The question was, where was the real one and who had it? Brooke couldn't think or see straight. She had to figure things out. She had to get it back before it fell into the wrong hands. She had to make it right before Lucas found out.
Her head was spinning. It was a classic case of "who done it?" or in this situation, "who had it?" And why? Who could have taken it? And was it an accident? Dan? Deb? Karen? Keith? Nathan? Haley? A stranger? Gosh, it could have been anyone. What if Lucas already knew? What if he had already seen it?
"Nonsense, Davis, get a hold of yourself", Brooke commanded herself. "Of course he hasn't seen it yet. He would have flipped."
Brooke knew she had to remain cool and play her cards right. She was savvy and smart and more importantly, a damn good actress. She could figure it out and when she did, she would demand that tape back…by any means necessary.
Dan. It had to be Dan. He had seen her with the tape? But exactly how much did he see? She had heard stories about the sinister Dan Scott of "back in the day". Was he really that heartless and cruel? And if he had the tape, what would he do with it. What was he capable of?
And Deb. Or Karen. Or Keith. No. Why would they rummage through her purse? That wasn't like them. What about Nathan and Haley? Same thing. No way. But maybe…what if Brittany had done it, being precocious like most small children her age. She could have been fishing in Auntie Brooke's bag and pulled it out by accident. What if Nathan and Haley had taken it, thinking it was one of her Elmo or Sesame Street tapes?
Brooke's mind and heart were racing. Grabbing the phone, she frantically dialed Haley.
"Hi, you've reached the Scotts. We are not home. Please leave your name, number and a brief message and we will get back to you…"
Damn! The machine. Brooke called her cell.
"This is Haley's cell and I can't come to the phone. You know what to do at the sound of the beep and I'll get back to you if you're lucky."
Shit! Lucky? Ha! Brooke felt like the unluckiest woman on the planet. She'd have to try Haley later. Or maybe she wouldn't. What if Haley would make it worse? Brooke was dying inside. What was she supposed to do? What could she do?
No one was ever supposed to know but someone did know. An extra party was now well aware of her shameful secret. Dan Scott could not stop laughing. He had watched it five times already so surely his ears and eyes weren't deceiving him. Hell, Brooke was so damned hot, he had already rubbed one out for good measure. Once that selfish purpose was served, he focused on the matter at hand. There was business to attend to. He picked up his phone and called a business acquaintance.
"Chris? Dan Scott, here. Listen, I have a big job for you. I'm going to need a few favors…"
