The Con

Chapter Three: Part One of the Con

Haley scanned the text thoughtfully, taking in all the information she could on her (hopefully) future husband. She looked at the picture of him again, trying to fit the information to his face. It was certainly a good one - the face, that is, even though the picture wasn't exactly flattering. It was grainy, and it caught Nathan Scott at a side profile.

"So, what have you learned about him?"

Haley turned to Taylor, who was sat on the bed and noisily biting her nails. They had 'invested' some of their money into staying in Wilmington, North Carolina's biggest and most expensive hotel. Nathan lived about an hour away in Tree Hill a town too small and too claustrophobic in Taylor's opinion. She had insisted in staying in a bigger city.

Haley took a deep breath and read out the points she had made on a notepad. Taylor almost laughed at Haley's planning and dedication. The girl was way too smart. She should have gone to college but te James's hadn't really left their daughters much money when they had died, and she had just missed out on a scholarship.

"He's loved in Tree Hill all his life, except for the four years when he went away to Duke on a Basketball scholarship. He dropped out of basketball in his second year though and changed his major from Engineering to Business and Politics…"

"Why did he do that?" Taylor asked.

"It doesn't say," Haley answered, and wrote something next to the bullet points that looked suspiciously like 'find out why'. "Okay," Haley continued. "He hasn't been in a serious relationship for three years…"

"Which is very bad for us."

"With someone called Peyton Sawyer, daughter of Larry Sawyer the owner of AP Shipping Industries. Ever since he's had many publicised dates with various 'it' girls and celebrities…"

"Which is also very bad for us."

"But none of them ever end in anything more than… well, that's left to our imagination, obviously. His brother is the famous author Lucas Scott who is engaged to local fashion designer Brooke Davis. Lucas and Nathan have different mothers but the same father, Dan Scott who is head of the multi-million Corporation Scott Corp. Nathan's mother is former charity-worker Deb Scott and they've been married for 25 years.

"Nathan is currently working for his father in between making public appearances. He's become the unofficial face of Scott Corp. even though Dan Scott is still in charge."

"Okay, I think you are suitably knowledgeable, so lets do this thing. Now remember, your name is Natasha Gregory, you're 23 years old and looking for a job. You left your old one because it didn't stimulate you anymore. Always make sure your car is a block behind his when trailing, give him a chase and act aloof at first, find out his schedule, if he has any habits or whatnot, and never, ever, ever…"

"Close your eyes during a kiss, yeah, I know."

Haley took the band out of her newly died honey brown hair and shook it out. She swung a black bag over the grey sweater and black jeans she was wearing and blew Taylor a kiss. Taylor watched as she walked out of the room, ready to tail the guy she was supposed to get to marry her, and she worried.

Nathan pulled his black Mercedes into the only available space outside Karen's Café. It was dinner time and the place was always buzzing around this time. Nathan was a regular, he always got the same thing too. Milky coffee and a Ham and Cheese panini.

The bell above the door rang when he entered and Karen, the owner and the mother of his half-brother, looked up and gave a broad smile. "Nice to see you Nathan," she said in her chirpy voice. She was obviously in a good mood.

"Thanks. Uh, can I have the usual Karen?" Nathan asked, moving out of the way of the door where a pretty brunette was trying to get in and talking a stool beside the counter. He loosened his tie and took his jacket off.

"Sure thing Nathan. Been working hard?" Karen asked, going to the coffee machine and making Nathan's large milky coffee.

"Do I ever?" Nathan answered with his trademark Scott smirk.

Haley had to stop herself from staring at the beautiful man in front of her. Taylor had said he was good looking, but Haley didn't think she'd ever found someone so fanciable before. His dark hair and blue eyes looked amazing, and even in a suit he had a kind of athletic casualness about him that made Haley's stomach flip.

'Get a grip on yourself Haley James', she thought to herself, stepping away from the door and heading to the counter, standing as close to Nathan as possible without looking like a creepy stalker. A blonde haired waitress gave her a broad smile and asked for her order.

Haley remembered reading an article on Nathan Scott (she was sure he hadn't looked this hot in that photo either) on his likes and dislikes. It was a 'what do you prefer?' kind of thing, and one of the questions had been 'white coffee or black coffee?' He'd chosen white coffee. The information was probably useless, but Haley was nothing if not meticulous and the white coffee that was being set in front of him by the older brunette woman brought about a sense of achievement to Haley.

"Um, I'll have a Caramel Latte please," Haley said, taking full advantage of the broad coffee range. She'd had to endure black coffee this morning because Taylor had drank all the milk from the mini bar in milky cocktails that she'd made up herself.

Haley risked another glance at Nathan. He was talking to the brunette woman with a sense of familiarity, and Haley guessed that she was Lucas Scott's mother, Karen Roe. He gave a loud laugh showing off perfect teeth, and Haley's stomach flipped all over again.

'He's a playboy and a complete ass by all accounts,' she told herself in an attempt to put herself off him. It was almost working, but then he turned his head and caught her eyes. They seemed to lock on each other and Haley's stomach flip-flopped all over the place. She looked away just in time to see her Caramel Latte get put on the counter.

'Right, time for an introduction.'

She picked the coffee up and walked over to a booth on the far wall. Just as she passed Nathan she 'accidentally' tripped on the back of a stool, and her coffee went flying out of her hands…

Right onto Nathan's lap.

Nathan jumped up like he'd been scolded… well, he had, and Haley's hands flew to her mouth.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry!" she cried, grabbing some paper towels off the counter and rushing up to him. "I'm so clumsy!" she said. "Here, let me."

"No, don't worry about…" Nathan was cut off as the 'sensitive area' was being rubbed by the brunette and her paper towel. He looked down to see her patting the offending wet patch, and it was just a little close to his man parts. He raised his eyebrows at the girl and couldn't help smirking.

Haley inwardly cringed. God, what was she doing? Taylor had taught her the member massage when she was seventeen as a sure fire way to get any mans attention, and while it certainly seemed to be working she hated doing it. She pulled her hand away and set the towel down on the side.

"Are you okay Nate?" Karen asked. Nathan nodded and smirked at the girl in front of him. Her cheeks were firing up in a way that Nathan found completely endearing. She'd obviously not meant to get so close to him.

"Let me buy you another drink," Nathan offered. "It was really rude of my pants to drink up your last one."

Mentioning pants, Haley's eyes went down to the wet-patch again. She couldn't help it. She looked up quickly and stared at a point on the wall, just to save herself any further embarrassment. "I think that I should be the one buying a drink," she said, trying to force humour into her words. "I am so sorry."

"Really, don't worry about it. Uh, Karen, can you get… sorry, I didn't catch your name. Or your drink."

"It's Haley…" Haley suddenly stopped herself and inwardly yelled. God, I'm so stupid! she thought. She was supposed to be Natasha Gregory, and she had almost given her real name.

"Haley?"

"Uh… yeah. Haley Gregory. It's a Caramel Latte, but really, you don't have to do that…"

"Don't worry about it. I'm Nathan."

Karen gave a knowing look before going off to make another coffee.

Haley sat down on the stool next to Nathan and gave an awkward smile. "So, do you live here?"

"In the café or the town?" Nathan asked, surprised that she didn't recognise him.

"In the town," Haley said with a laugh. "I'm not from around here so… I'm still kind of trying to find my feet. And a job."

"Oh. Were are you staying?"

"Um, in Wilmington, but I really like it here. Its so charming and…"

"Small?"

"Yeah, I guess it is. So, what do you do?"

Nathan stalled the question by taking a sip of his drink. It was kind of refreshing not having a girl all over you because of who your dad is and how much your worth. "I work for Scott Corp."

"Oh, I've heard about that," Haley said, blowing on her coffee and scooping up the froth with her finger. "No offence, but that's exactly the kind of job I don't want," she laughed. "I left my old one because I felt… stifled, you know? Oh God, I'm sorry. I have no idea how the hell I got so personal. Just tell me to shut up."

Nathan laughed. "I'd never tell you to shut up," he said. "And I know what you mean. I'm not too crazy about working there either."

Haley was surprised to hear that. She'd assumed Nathan was the eternal playboy, the kind of guy who loved his cushy job and no-strings lifestyle. "So why do you?"

Nathan shrugged. "Obligations, I guess. Besides, like you said, it's a small town. There's not many other places to work."

Haley looked at his face as he spoke. He was smirking that charming smile of his, but his eyes looked… well, they looked kind of sad. Haley bit her lip and gave a sympathetic smile that he didn't catch. It was probably better that he didn't.

'give him a chase and act aloof at first'

Taylor's words came floating into Haley's head and she drained her latte quickly. "Wow, I didn't realise the time," she said, making a show of looking at the clock on the wall. "I need to be going." She slid off her chair and put some money on the counter.

"Hey, I told you, the drink was on me," Nathan said, picking the money up with one hand and grabbing Haley's wrist with the other. He put the money in and closed her fist around it.

Haley felt electricity at his touch, and by the confused look on his face Haley guessed that he felt it too. 'He's just a mark', Haley told herself, repeating it over and over like a mantra. "Thanks," she said with a quick smile. "Well, maybe I'll see you around then."

Nathan nodded. "Do you want to do this again sometime?" Nathan asked. "Maybe we could grab something to eat too."

Haley looked into his eyes and felt a shiver of excitement at the prospect of a date with Nathan.

'He's just a mark, he's just a mark, he's just a mark, he's just a mark.'

'Give him a chase and act aloof at first.'

Haley took a deep breath and rearranged her face into a mask of regret. "Wow, I'd really love to but right now isn't a great time. I mean, I'm still settling in and I've got… stuff going on. Really though, it was nice meeting you Nathan."

"You too Haley."

Nathan was disappointed as hell, but he wasn't about to let her know that. She might be saying no now, but Nathan Scott always got what he wanted when it came to girls, and Haley Gregory was going to be no exception.

AN: First encounters... doo dee dah dah dee. Anyway, what did you think? Any good? Any bad? Any anything? Please review!

Conaleigh xx