Hi everyone! Here's chapter 5 I hope you all like it. Thanks to all who reviewed and set up alerts and favorites (lilohb, narutofangirl45, thibbs65, luja14, takemewhenyougo, sandygirl, dianehermans, aschly, britt, brucas and the guests).

Thanks!

Krystal

Chapter 5:

Brooke put her phone back in her purse and leaned back in the horrible plastic chair, "Your life begins today Brooke Davis," she closed her eyes, "Your life begins today."

Ten minutes later Brooke sat up when she heard a knock at the door, Millicent opened the door, "Brooke it's time for your meeting."

"Great," Brooke stood up and adjusted the folds of her skirt. "After my meeting, I am not to be disturbed. I'll be leaving the office at 1pm, route all calls to Julia in marketing."

Millicent nodded, "Are you sure everything is alright Brooke?"

Brooke grabbed Millie's hand, "Everything is great Mills. I am taking control of my life today. It's a little bit terrifying, but I'm sick of the alternative."

"I found the boxes you asked for." Millicent responded in a hushed tone.

"Terrific, just put them in my office please, I'll take care of it when I get back."

Millicent grabbed Brooke's hand, "Are you leaving Clothes Over Bros? If you are I want to come with you."

Brooke smiled, "We'll talk about it after I see Ted and Victoria." Brooke headed down the hallway to conference room one, before she opened the door she took a deep breath. 'Please let this be the right decision,' she said to herself. Her parents were already seated when she arrived. "Good morning."

"It certainly is," Victoria said without looking up from her phone, "Now what is this about Penelope I have a very busy day, but you insisted."

Brooke turned to her father, "Good morning daddy."

"Hello princess, how was your trip?" Ted said with a smile.

Brooke loved her father very much, if she could force out Victoria and just have dealings with her father she would. She smiled at the graying hair along his temples, something she had never noticed before. "My trip was fine," she inhaled, "Now I'm sure both of you are wondering why I called this meeting."

"Get to the point darling," Victoria said, she still hadn't looked up from her phone. "I really do have a busy day."

Brooke closed her eyes, "I want you and daddy to buy me out of Clothes Over Bros. I would like to resign immediately."

That statement got Victoria's attention, "Excuse me?"

"She wants us to buy out her stake Vic," Ted said, pulling out his own phone, "I'm going to send Matt down in acquisitions a message. We can get started right away."

Victoria put her phone down, "Why the sudden urgency?"

Brooke put her hands in her lap to stop from fidgeting, "It's something I've been thinking about for a long time, I need a change, I want to launch a couture boutique line. I want it to be small so I can maintain it... Myself."

Victoria studied Brooke's face and smiled, "You're pregnant aren't you." She clapped her hands together, "I was wondering when you and Julian were going to make us grandparents. Why not just step down then decide what you want to do here after the baby comes."

"I'm not pregnant mother." Brooke blushed. "Julian and I have been living separate lives for months now, bringing a baby into that would just be incredibly selfish and unfair to a child."

Before Victoria could say something else, her father spoke, "Matt said you currently own 49.25% of the company and 500,000 shares of stock. We can have legal draw something up to that effect. We are going to have to borrow against the company Vic to give her fair market."

"That isn't doable right now Ted, we just took out a loan to do the last expansion. None of those stores are turning a profit yet." Victoria's eyes narrowed at Brooke, "We are prepared to offer you $5 million for your 49.25% and $0.25 to the $1 for every one of your shares."

"Vic you aren't auth-" Victoria put her hand up at her husband.

"You understand that it's a tough time right now for Clothes Over Bros Penelope dear. This is our best offer." Victoria smiled.

"Mother, that offer isn't even half of what I am owed. I think we should listen to daddy and have legal draw up papers for my attorney to look over." Brooke stood up, "I have retained an attorney on my behalf, Clay Evans, he's going to draw up my counter and I'll have it messengered over by the end of the week."

Victoria let out a loud laugh, "Clay Evans, that little runt from the old neighborhood grew up to be an attorney? How ironic. Well," Victoria stood up and crossed the room, "There really is no reason to retain council darling, legal will draw up a fair and equitable deal, you'll sign it and then you can go open your silly little boutique store." Victoria stopped at the door, "It's incredible timing because I was just telling your father the other day that we should launch a couture collection that's accessible to the masses. So good luck."

Brooke headed back to her office feeling emotionally drained. A small part of her wanted to call her mother, apologize and pretend nothing had happened. She found Millicent in her office, "What are you doing here Mills? I told you I would take care of it."

"I told you I wanted to go with you." Millicent smiled, "I know your mother, there is no way she's going to let you stay in the building much past lunch. So I thought I would help you get a jump on her."

"How did you know I was planning to resign?" Brooke asked, closing the door.

"You haven't been happy here for a while, I know that's why you volunteered to scout out new locations. I knew it was a matter of time." Millicent placed some more items in the box in front of her, "So where are you going, did another company make you an offer?"

"No," Brooke paused, "I want to open a small boutique store. Get back to my couture roots, I miss showing in Bryant Park. I would love to take you with me Mills of you are still interested. It might take me a few months to get off the ground, but if you are willing we could do this together."

"I'll take it," Millicent smiled, "It would be great to take some time off, I miss seeing Marshall during the day."

"How old is he now?" Brooke asked.

"Two and a half," Millicent emptied out the two drawers of the filing cabinet into the box that was nearly full, "I get so jealous, Marvin is with him more than I am. So I will gladly come with you, take as much time starting up as you need."

There was a knock at the door a few minutes later, Brooke opened it and was face to face with Henry and Clive from security. "Miss Davis, I was informed that we needed to escort you from the building... Immediately."

"That was sooner than I thought," Brooke smiled at their sad faces, "Victoria ordered my removal right?"

"Yes ma'am," Clive answered, "I'm really sorry Miss Davis."

"It's fine, Mills," She looked at Millicent, "Could you hand me my purse and my cell phone? I'll have my driver Chris Keller come by later and fetch those boxes." She reached for Millicent's hand, "Call me tonight." Millicent nodded, "Alright boys lets go."

Thirty minutes later Brooke was sitting outside Clay's office, when her phone rang, the caller ID said it was Lucas Scott. She answered, "Hi Mr. Scott."

"Brooke," Lucas sighed, "I'm glad you took my call. I've been trying you all morning."

"I'm sorry about this morning. I had some things I needed to take care of, you know before we moved forward. I snuck out because I didn't really trust myself to leave when you were awake" Brooke smiled.

"I understand, so are you free for dinner?" Lucas laughed, "I know you said you needed some space, but it's only dinner. I promise to be a complete gentleman."

"I would love have dinner with you Lucas, but tonight I have plans." Brooke opened the car door, "I'm moving out this afternoon and I'm having dinner with Chris and Rachel. Can I have a rain check, I would love to have dinner with you in a few days when the fire I just started is extinguished."

"You started a fire?" Lucas asked in confusion.

"No, not a literal fire." Brooke headed inside and waited for the elevator, "We can talk all about it in a few days. Will you still be at The Garland?"

"Yes," Lucas said quickly.

"I will meet you in the lobby Thursday night at 7:30." Brooke said as the elevator chimed.

'That's three days from now,' he thought, "I would have preferred a date sooner than that, but I will take what I can get. Better three hours too soon than even a minute too late." Lucas said recalling one of his favorite quotes from Shakespeare.

Brooke didn't get in the elevator, "Merry Wives of Windsor that's an interesting choice as far as Shakespeare quotes go. I guess the question is are you Ford or Falstaff?"

"I'm Ford naturally, you chose me in the end. Your husband is the drunk and bumbling Falstaff." Lucas rubbed his head, "I'll see you on Thursday my lady."

Brooke giggled and pressed for the elevator a second time, "I'll see you on Thursday Lucas."

Brooke was brought back to Clay's office after a few minutes in the lobby, "Brooklyn Davis," Clay called out.

"I hate when you call me Brooklyn," Brooke said kinking her eyebrow and folding her arms across her chest.

"I know, have a seat." Clay said as he walked back to his desk. Brooke sat in one of the club chairs across from him. 'I helped pick these out,' she thought to herself. "Alright, so there has been a development."

"What development?" Brooke said crossing her legs.

"Well originally I was just going to draw up a standard resignation package complete with buyout options," Clay leaned back and linked his hands together behind his head, "Then that crazy bitch of a mother of yours called my office and threatened me." Clay pushed two stacks of documents in front of her, "So first one is the standard one we discussed, says you'll take 50% payout for your stake and share options." Clay paused, "And this one is an aggressive counter offer to the shitty deal they are going to offer you, my own version of a verbal fuck you to your mother. It states simply that they owe the success of Clothes Over Bros as a brand to your initial concepts which means you are invaluable. We won't settle for less than 90% of your payout and I will file an injunction so they can no longer use your face or name without your expressed consent. So which one would you like to sign and file?"

Brooke slouched down in the chair for a minute, "She is unbelievable, I just want out, I didn't threaten her, I didn't want anything that wasn't entitled to me. I cannot believe she threatened you." Brooke closed her eyes for a moment and thought about what she wanted to do, "I'm tired of being pushed around Clay, let's file the aggressive packet. She should have just taken the hit this time, I'm prepared to fight for as long as it takes."

"Great," Clay tossed the standard packet behind him, "WE are prepared to fight as long as this takes. I'm going to handle your case myself."

"Clay I cannot let you do that, your father will kill you." Brooke dropped her chin.

"Are you kidding Brooklyn, dear old dad is the one that suggested the terms of the aggressive plan. I guess he's never liked your mother." Clay moved on to the third stack of papers on his desk, "Moving on to the divorce decree."

"I can't afford to pay your dad for his billable time," Brooke said.

Clay waved her off, "As far as you're concerned I am the only one that worked on this for you." Clay winked, "So I know you said the date of separation was yesterday, but I backdated it a bit."

Brooke looked at the documents, "That's more than a bit Clay, that's almost six months ago."

"I know, I backdated it to when you two stopped sharing a bed. You've been in the spare room almost six months right?" Clay asked.

"Does that matter, we've been intimate since then?" Brooke began twirling her platinum wedding band on her finger.

"No it doesn't," Clay continued, "So this is an aggressive motion as well. We are challenging the validity of your prenuptial agreement."

"What, why?" Brooke quizzed.

"Julian's father made sure that his son was protected, in the prenup you almost get nothing." Clay added, "I was reading it over with a fine toothed comb and if Julian committed adultery it voids your agreement. That opens you up to Paul Norris's fortune."

Brooke covered her mouth to stifle a laugh, "You are incorrigible Clayton Evans, there is no way Paul is going to let that happen."

"I know, it's a threat." Clay sat up straight, "Paul's attorney's are going to want to give you anything you want to just go away."

Brooke was confused, "I can't prove he cheated Clay."

"Stay with me for a minute. We are going to walk softly and carry a big stick Brooke and our big stick packs a wallop. Julian's affairs are no secret in the Hollywood circle, Paul knows he cheats on you. Up until now, you have just let it slide, well that stops today. It is a new day Brooke Davis, time to find your back bone and push back." Clay pushed the divorce papers in front of her.

Brooke reached for the pen and signed in all the places there were tabs, "I feel like I can't breathe."

"That's called fear, you've been with Julian almost half your life, it's scary to move on." Clay patted her hand, "You can do this Brooke, the woman I know is in there somewhere, it's time to let her out."

Brooke and Rachel loaded up the last box into her Chevy Yukon, "That's the last of it B." Rachel closed the trunk, "When is it happening?"

"Clay's office filed the papers this afternoon," Brooke said as she headed to her car, "A process server was going to serve him this evening at the studio. I know as soon as he gets them he's going to come here looking for me."

"Good thing the jerk doesn't have my address." Rachel smirked, "It's too bad though, I would love to see the look on his face when he gets his due." Rachel's phone chimed, "That was Chris, he just left your office. He's going to bring everything to our house, you can figure out where it's all going later. Right now your stuff is going to be stored at the Casa de Keller."

Brooke jogged around the front of Rachel's car and hugged her, "Thanks Rach. You have always been the greatest friend."

Rachel hugged her and laughed, "You know it B. I'm amazing."

Julian and Lucas were walking around the back lot, "So I think studio 4 will be perfect, the set bones are the best on this lot. I think we should make the town of Tree Hill look like an every town, so the viewers can picture it being anywhere. Any questions so far?"

Lucas thought, 'how did you ever land a woman like Brooke? You seem like such an idiot.' "So how long does it take to get everything ready to shoot?"

"Well we're going to put a rush on it to get a pilot shot for pilot season. Ideally CBS or The CW will pick it up, those networks are in our family. When we get a series order we will put some money into transforming the set into Tree Hill." Julian said, "Anything else?"

"No," Lucas said, he noticed a messenger coming their direction.

"Julian Baker?" The messenger said.

Julian put his hand up, "That's me. What is it? Something from studio?"

The messenger shrugged, "Not sure man I just go where the tablet tells me to." He handed Julian the tablet to sign, "Oh and I need your thumb print."

Julian signed and gave him a thumb print, "Anything else."

The messenger opened his bag, "Nope, sorry bro." He handed Julian a manila envelope, "You've been served."

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Thanks again for reading!

Krystal