Brooke stormed into her office slamming the door behind her and fell into her black leather chair throwing the magazine in her hand on the table in front of her. Without thinking she picked up the phone on her desk and dialed with her left hand while flipping through another magazine with her right. Thankfully the phone only rang twice before Brooke was instantly calmed by the sound of her husband's voice.
"Hello?"
"Is there any way that I can talk to you for like 30 minutes?"
"What's wrong?" Nathan asked with a hint of panic in his voice, something about Brooke's voice just didn't sit well with him.
"I just need to talk to you, in person Nathan." She replied her anger flaring a tad bit at his constant questions.
"Can you tell me what's going on?" Nathan asked thinking that it had something to do with Adam, Luke, or another family member.
"There's an article in Star, Us Weekly, and In Touch that you are cheating on me with one of the cheerleaders and that I'm sleeping with one of the guys on your team."
"What?!" Nathan exclaimed earning a few curious glares from his teammates and coaches.
"It says that I was caught sneaking out of an apartment building where Kyle Hillenmeyer, the rookie point guard for the Charlotte Bobcats, is rumored to be living. It also says that while I've been carrying on my affair with someone who's probably 5 years younger than me you've been seen around Charlotte with Kelsey a Lady Bobcat draped on your arm and getting cozy with her in numerous hot spots." Brooke finished reading pushing the magazine away from her. Nathan sighed and rubbed his temples with his forefingers thinking of what they should do.
"Alright I'll talk to coach and meet you at home in like 45 minutes."
"Okay." Brooke replied her hurt and frustration making her voice weaver.
"Hey I love you." Brooke instantly smiled, secretly loving the fact that Nathan could instantly make her feel better when their worlds were crashing down around them.
"I love you too Nathan." Brooke hung up and got up from her chair looking around for her bag and just threw things into her bag before leaving her office and heading towards Peyton's. Peyton sat in her office furiously reading the article about Nathan cheating on Brooke. Brooke calmly walked into Peyton's office clearing her throat to get the blonde's attention. "I'm heading home for the rest of the day."
"Did you see this?" Peyton asked holding up a copy of In Touch that matched the one in Brooke's trashcan.
"Yeah that's why I'm going home; Nathan and I have to plan on what to do."
"How about kill the bitch?" Peyton offered earning a small laugh from Brooke.
"No, I'm going to handle this with my head held high but you can handle things here for the afternoon right?" Peyton nodded standing up and walking around her desk hugging Brooke.
"Just go fix this mess before it spins out of control, how pissed is Nathan about is?" Peyton asked as Brooke was about to walk out of her office.
"I honestly don't know, I can't usually tell by his voice unless he's yelling and he seemed more surprised than anything." Peyton nodded and went to answer her phone as Brooke walked out of the room and out of the building.
Nathan was talking to his coach about what was going on and explain the situation when he heard Brooke's name. Nathan turned wondering if Brooke had shown up at the arena but Nathan's eyes landed on the kid that it was rumored that Brooke was having an affair with and the look on his face pissed Nathan off. Nathan nodded in understanding at his coach before excusing himself and walking over towards Kyle who was laughing and joking with some of the teammates.
"Hey Nathan." Sean May greeted and Nathan looked at him and Sean knew that he meant business and gathered the rest of the guys and walked away back on the court to do some free shooting. Kyle began walking away from Nathan but Nathan's hands flew out and gripped his jersey pulling him back towards Nathan.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Nathan fumed gripping Kyle's jersey tighter his knuckles turning white.
"What are you talking about?" Kyle asked trying to push Nathan away from him.
"You think you're cool by saying you're sleeping with my wife? You think you're the big man on campus for spreading rumors? Don't ever think that you can even say her name. You better hope that I don't find out that you spread the rumors because I will kill you." Nathan roughly released Kyle making him fall to the floor and look at Nathan in shock before Nathan walked off ignoring all the calls from his teammates.
When Nathan got home Brooke was sitting in the living room with her head in her hands. Nathan set his bag next to the door and walked over to her pulling her up from the couch and into his arms. She instantly wrapped her arms around him burying her head in his chest while he buried his face in her hair. "I hate to ask this but it's not true right?" She asked her watery eyes meeting his, he shook his head no. Brooke nodded and burying her head in his chest letting the warmth of his embrace comfort her. Nathan's phone rang and Luke walked over to Nathan's bag and answered the phone.
"Hey Nate, its Sean." Nathan nodded and reluctantly pulled away from Brooke grabbing the phone away from Luke and leaving the room to talk to his teammate. "You okay?" Brooke shrugged her shoulders yet again falling back onto the sofa.
"Why now? Why are they spreading hateful rumors now? Do they think that since Nathan and I don't do things to get into the press that they have a right to make up such ugly things? And if they do why cheating? Why couldn't they say that I had a drinking problem or something, why do they have to bring up cheating?" Brooke ranted the tears now flowing in streams down her cheeks. Luke sighed and put his arm around her shoulder pulling her to him.
"It's okay you're publicist is already trying to do damage control and find out who's saying these lies, it's all going to be over before you know it." Brooke shrugged her shoulders looking up as Nathan walked into the room.
"What did Sean want?"
"He wanted to know if I was still planning on attending the charity event tonight."
"Did you tell him you were?" Luke asked.
"Yeah I told him that if it wasn't a charity thing I would pull out but I made a promise and I'm going to keep it. Have you talked to Melinda yet?" Nathan asked looking at Brooke who was wiping the mascara from her cheeks.
"No I should probably call her and tell her that we're going to the Boys and Girls event tonight."
"As long as you and I know it's not true that's all that matters." Brooke nodded and kissed his cheek before leaving the room leaving Nathan and Luke alone.
"Are you okay?" Luke asked knowing the answer but still felt that he needed to ask.
"No I'm pissed off, I mean you and I both know how Brooke is when someone is saying things about her but did they really have to say that I cheated on her? Did they really have to go that low? I mean was there not some Hollywood bimbo doing coke or getting pregnant for them to write about?"
"Nathan Brooke is very influential in Hollywood so being gossiped about is something that comes with the territory." Luke replied hoping that he was playing Devil's advocate well enough for Nathan to understand.
"I understand that but dude seriously have you seen the kid that they say she's sleeping with?"
"I saw a picture of the girl that you're supposedly hooking up with and anyone who knew you would know that blondes aren't really your type."
"I don't have a type." Luke looked at Nathan's completely serious face and laughed.
"You may think you don't have a type but the 2 major relationships you've had been brunettes."
"That doesn't mean I have a type so shut up, plus what about Peyton?"
"Peyton doesn't count all that relationship was about sex and don't tell me it's not because even Peyton said that there wasn't anything there. And what if I don't shut up?" Luke challenged standing up so he and Nathan were face to well in Luke's case he only came up to about Nathan's Adam's apple.
"I'll tell Brooke you're making fun of her."
"I'm not making fun of her! I'm making fun of you!" Nathan just shrugged his shoulders his face completely serious making Luke think that he would actually lie to Brooke, did Nathan really look that stupid? "Whatever all I'm saying is that you aren't dumb enough to cheat on Brooke? I mean nobody ever wants to be on Brooke's bad side."
"Well ya know people are dumb and that just what they do. They start rumors thinking it's cool and they don't think about how much it can hurt those affected by the rumor. I could've lost my spot on the team today because of that stupid kid." Nathan fumed falling into the chair behind him as the magnitude of him almost killing Kyle hit him.
"Yeah but I'm guessing you walked away and didn't actually hit him, plus for all you know he might not have even spread the rumors."
"Who else would? Who else hates Brooke or me that much that they have to spread rumors?"
"Haley." Luke muttered not really thinking before he spoke.
"What?" Nathan asked hearing him mutter his ex's name.
"Well if you think about everyone that has ever not liked Brooke in the past the first person that comes to my mind is Haley."
"What would Haley get from spreading rumors about me and Brooke?"
"Maybe she thinks that if Brooke gets whiff of you cheating on her she'll break up with you and Haley can sweep in and comfort you."
"Yeah like that would ever happen, I mean even if and that's a strong if things didn't work out between me and Brooke I wouldn't go back to Haley, she's changed into some superficial person that I don't even know." Nathan replied rubbing the bridge of his nose trying to process everything that Luke was saying to him.
"Well I'm just saying who else would benefit from spreading rumors about you and Brooke?"
"I don't know there are a lot of people that don't like Brooke because she's so successful and married to me and there are a lot of people that don't like me because I'm married to Brooke; I mean she's been on Maxim's Hot 100 List how many times?" Nathan questioned a smirk placed securely on his face as Brooke walked in having heard the tell end of the conversation.
"It's about 5 times now." She replied offering a small smile to both Scott boys who were seated on opposite ends of the living room. They had only been in Charlotte close to 6 months now and things were already starting to come undone. Moving back to Charlotte was hands down the best thing they did but why all of a sudden are the tabloids attacking them. "Melinda is issuing a press release to E! News and People Magazine about how we are not going to let some untrue and despicable rumors come between us and that we're going to fight it and get to the bottom of it." Nathan nodded pulling her into his lap wrapping his arms around her waist as the front door flew up and Karen and Deb rushed in with Adam clutched to Deb's chest.
"See I told you it wasn't true." Karen exclaimed sitting on the couch next to Luke.
"I didn't doubt you I said that I hope they aren't fighting about it and letting the stupid rumors tear them apart." Deb replied putting Adam on the ground and sat down on the chair next to Luke. Adam ran over to his parents and threw his arms in the air.
"So I take it you guys heard the rumors?"
"Yes and it's just horrible that someone would say such hurtful untrue things."
"It comes along with the being famous and successful."
"Yeah people are just jealous that Brooke's fashion line is doing so well."
"And that Nathan's turning the Charlotte Bobcats organization around and making it a playoffs contender." Brooke added not really liking how every time a rumor about the couple came out that it was always because her fashion line was doing so well.
"So what if you're successful? I mean that's no reason to try and break up your marriage."
"But it's not and Melinda and Stacy are doing damage control and trying to find out who's spreading the rumors." Both Karen and Deb smiled happy that the couple wasn't giving into the rumors but were going to stick it out and fight back. "Can you guys watch Adam because we have the Boys and Girls Club even tonight?" Nathan asked looking between the three wondering who would offer first.
"I'll stay here with Adam since Peyton's taking Jess to see her dad." Brooke and Nathan nodded each kissing Adam before getting up and leaving the room to get ready for the Charity Auction that night.
Brooke looked at herself in the mirror picking her outfit apart not finding one good thing about the dress or herself at this moment. Nathan stood in the doorway of the bathroom fixing his hair and studying his wife, he knew that she was going through some serious self doubt and it hurt him that she had to go back into that mindset that nothing she did was good enough and it hurt to know that someone would want to make her think like that. Nathan walked up behind her smiling at her reflection as he stilled her frantic hands that were moving all over her dress and hair. "You're beautiful." He commented kissing her lightly behind the ear.
"I look fat in this dress, my hair is just too boring, and I look like an old maid." Nathan frowned and turned her around his hands lightly resting on her shoulders.
"That dress only makes you even more beautiful, your hair is amazing, and you look like a smoking hot super model. So stop thinking you're not good enough and know that you are the only girl that ever catches my attention and you're the only one that I ever want to be with. I took a vow 8 years ago that I was going to spend the rest of my life with you and I plan on carrying that out and now I'm going to go show off just how lucky I am by having the most beautiful woman in the world on my arm and the one that I get to call my wife. Now are you ready Mrs. Scott?" Brooke smiled up at him and lightly kissed him her mood completely changed by his sweet words and nodded her head turning around to grab her clutch before exiting the room behind Nathan.
The camera flashes were blinding as Brooke and Nathan stepped out of the limo at the hotel where the Auction was being held and both braced themselves for the questions that were going to be hurled at them and they decided in the limo that Nathan was going to answer all the questions since Brooke was most likely going to lose her control too easily. Nathan smiled and walked up to Kim Stills an E! News correspondent that was covering the A-List event. "Nathan, Brooke can I talk to you for a second?" Both nodded and smiled as the camera turned towards them. "So first off Brooke you look amazing." Brooke nodded her thanks and blushed when Nathan lightly kissed her temple whispering that he agreed in her ear. "Nathan, how do you feel about the rumors going around about you and Brooke cheating on each other?"
"Well at first I was shocked that someone would actually print something so unbelievable in their magazine but then I thought about it and I realized that whoever spread the ugly untrue rumors is jealous because I have an amazing woman as my wife and the mother of my child and I wouldn't dream of even looking at another woman because of how great my wife is."
"How do you feel about the rumors Brooke?" Kim asked turning the microphone towards Brooke who was standing slightly behind Nathan.
"It hurts to think that there is someone out there that hates me that much that they have to spread an ugly rumor about my husband and me cheating on each other but I understand it comes with the territory."
"Thanks guys I hope you have a good night." Both nodded and walked away from the sweet girl that was a firm supporter in team Brathan as it read on the shirt she was wearing and stopped in front of the shutterbugs smiling and proving to the world they were going stronger than ever.
The moment Brooke and Nathan walked into the ballroom they were utterly exhausted about talking about the rumors, this even wasn't about if Nathan and Brooke were cheating on each other but was about raising money to help the Boy's and Girl's club. Brooke spotted Kyle Hillenmeyer across the room and looked at Nathan who was in a staring contest with Kyle, finally both stepped forward moving towards each other with their significant others being pulled behind them. They walked towards a quiet place in the room away from the prying eyes and ears of the other party goers to have the much needed conversation.
"Look Nate," Kyle began looking to his date for the evening for support and she smiled nodding her head giving his hand a squeeze. "I wasn't talking about your wife this morning; I was talking about my fiancée Brooke. I understand why you got so aggressive this morning because I would do the same thing if I heard that someone was saying my girl was cheating on me, so I'm hoping there are no hard feelings." Nathan nodded also looking to Brooke who had an amused smile on her face.
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have come at you like that I just don't respond well to people messing with my family and I'm hoping that you'll forgive me for coming at you." Kyle nodded and stuck his hand out and Nathan shook it both silently agreeing that it was behind them now.
"Oh and Brooke you never have to worry about this guy even looking at another girl. He's the voice of reason while we're on the road always telling the guys to call their girlfriends or wives when he thinks that something's gonna go down." Brooke nodded and smiled leaning into Nathan who wrapped his arm around her waist. Kyle shook Nathan's hand again both muttering apologies before Kyle walked off towards one of his old teammates leaving Nathan and Brooke alone.
"Well that was easy now wasn't it?" Brooke asked breaking the silence that had fallen between the two who were still standing in the back of the room. Nathan nodded his eyes scanning the room amazed at everyone that had turned out for the event. Brooke sighed as she looked around the room at the rest of Nathan's teammates and their beautiful dates that made her look like crap in comparison.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Brooke quickly replied her eyes falling to the floor.
"Something's wrong." Nathan commented turning his body so he was leaning against the wall giving Brooke his full attention.
"It's nothing I'm just tired." Nathan shook his head wondering when his wife was going to realize that Nathan had long ago picked up on the hints to when she was lying and when she wasn't and right now she was blatantly lying to him.
"We should sit." Nathan replied deciding that if she wanted him to know she would tell him if she didn't she wouldn't. Nathan wrapped his arm around Brooke's waist as they walked over to their table as the auction began.
Nathan knocked on the front door of their Charlotte home adjusting a sleeping Brooke in his arms as he hoped that Luke would hear the door and come open it because Nathan didn't want to wake up Brooke after the emotional ride home from the event they had had. Brooke had finally given in and told Nathan about how ugly she felt in a room filled with girls who she swore were 10 times prettier than her and how much she hated going to events like that. Nathan only laughed and kissed her tears away reassuring her that she was beautiful in his eyes and that was all that matters.
After Brooke fell asleep Nathan couldn't help but curse out who ever started the rumors because they put self-doubt into Brooke's head and made her question everything she did. Luke finally opened the door and silently laughed at Brooke sitting bridal style in Nathan's arms and moved aside letting Nathan in and shutting the door behind him. He watched Nathan throw Brooke's purse on the table near the door before taking her up the stairs and towards their bedroom. The minute Luke saw Nathan hit the top of the stairs Brooke's phone began to ring. Nathan turned and nodded his head telling Luke to answer it. Luke pulled the phone out of the bag and flipped it open seeing Melinda flashing across the screen.
"Hello?"
"Hey Luke its Melinda can I talk to Brooke?"
"She's sleeping right now."
"Oh well is Nathan there?"
"Yeah." Luke replied handing the phone over to Nathan mouthing that it was Melinda.
"Hey Melinda." Nathan greeted making his way into the living room to sit on one of the chairs.
"Hey Nate I'm sorry I'm calling so late but I have some news to share with you."
"It's okay what's up?"
"Well after numerous threats of lawsuits and boycotts I think I found out who might have helped the rumors flourish."
"Who?"
"Does the name Chris Keller ring a bell?"
"Yeah why?"
"From the reporter at Us Weekly said that they were out at a club celebrating Haley's album release and the reporter asked who Haley was wearing and she said Clothes Over Bros and then Keller said that he saw Brooke out and about with another guy and described the guy and that's how the press got a hold of the rumor of Brooke cheating on you and the rumor about you cheating on her was most likely also started by Chris but the reporter wasn't sure."
"I'm gonna kill him."
"Nathan don't, Brooke is going to get a call from People Magazine and Seventeen wants to do an article about being successful and wants Brooke apart of it so just let her know okay?"
"I'll tell her when she wakes up."
"Also don't go killing Chris Keller you're legal teams already all over that."
"Doing it the legal way isn't any fun for me." Nathan whined stomping his foot like Adam did when he wanted something.
"Don't make me come out there and duck tape you to a chair." Melinda warned playfully falling into the easy going relationship she shared with Nathan, Brooke, and even Luke. "So just remind your awesome wife about the interviews and go to bed you have to be up early for practice tomorrow." She hung up on Nathan making him laugh at the phone; she was always playing the role of publicist for the couple and personal assistant at the same time.
"So what did Melinda say?" Luke asked handing Nathan a glass of milk and some of his cookies as they sat at the kitchen table.
"Well she heard that Chris started the rumors about Brooke and most likely started the one about me."
"See I told you that Haley had something to do with it." Luke replied hating the fact that he thought that Haley was behind it but Luke couldn't dwell on the past, Haley had walked away from both Nathan and Luke all those years ago and never looked back so why should he?
"Yeah and I have to tell Brooke that People and Seventeen are going to be calling her." Luke nodded and threw Nathan a stack of post-it notes that Brooke left by the phone for occasions just like this. Nathan grabbed a pen from the drawer behind him and wrote it down sticking it to her cell phone that she was going to have to grab before she left for work in the morning. Nathan yawned and nodded at Luke both of them walking up the stairs since Luke was spending the night like he did every time Peyton was out of town. Like Luke said, it was better to be around family then alone any day so Nathan and Brooke were more than willing to let both Luke and Peyton stay with them when the other was out of town.
The next morning Brooke woke up to her cell phone ringing and looked over at Nathan who was still sound asleep next to her, she lightly kissed his temple as she crawled out of bed and down the hall to Adam's room. "Brooke Scott." She answered smiling when she saw her son still sound asleep.
"Mrs. Scott this is Kasey McKay from People Magazine and I was wondering when we could schedule an interview?"
"Um, I'll be in New York on Friday." Brooke replied looking over her planner feeling a bit overwhelmed about all the things she had to complete on her 5 day trip to New York.
"Well how about we meet for lunch for Friday?"
"That's perfect." Brooke replied writing lunch with People in her planner for that Friday. She then hung up the phone and smiled as Nathan's arms wrapped around her waist.
"Good morning." He whispered kissing behind her ear. She turned and kissed him pulling him tight to her body.
"Thank you."
"For what?" He asked pulling away slightly to look at her.
"For everything, I don't know what I would do without you some days." She replied looking back at him with semi-glassy eyes. Nathan just shook his head and smiled, that smile that he only ever gave Brooke and Adam now since the little guy was Nathan's pride and joy.
"I'm just making sure you know how amazing you are." Brooke laughed and kissed him again before pulling away and beginning to make breakfast.
"When's your game in New York?"
"Saturday night, why?"
"I just wanted to make sure that I didn't miss it."
"Why would you miss it?"
"People called and they want an interview and I just wanted to make sure that I didn't miss your game."
"You sure you wanna do that?" Brooke stopped the lid of the egg carton falling back down.
"People only want to talk about the company and my marriage to you."
"What if they want to know about how we got together? Are you going to tell me everything that happened?" Nathan asked wanting to make sure that she was completely sure about what she could be walking into.
"Should I let them know what happened? Should I really air that for everyone to know?" She asked now rethinking agreeing to do the interview.
"I think it would add a degree of reliability, who knows there might be another young girl out there going through what you're going through. So yes I think if they ask you should but at the end of the day it's your decision." Nathan replied kissing her cheek before leaving the room to get Adam, leaving Brooke to think about what Nathan said, what was she going to do?
A/N: So I just decided to sit and free write in a sense I didn't have a plan for this chapter and the next chapter will most likely be the interview and everything that it is in it. I hope you guys enjoyed this update!
