Brooke stood in her room, gazing at herself in the mirror and adjusting her hair before preparing to visit the store and discuss matters with her mother.
She exhaled deeply, contemplating the conversations ahead, pondering the words she would share. With Peyton and Lucas out together, a suspicion lingered that they might return with news of their engagement or marriage.
Despite understanding she should feel joy for her friends, a tinge of envy crept in, leaving her uncertain of the target.
'Come on, Davis, refrain from dwelling on Peyton and Lucas; there are still tasks at hand,' Brooke admonished herself before finalizing her appearance and departing, yet her mind remained preoccupied with thoughts of her two friends.
In an internal struggle, the brunette considered hitting her head on something to silence her thoughts but ultimately deemed it an unwise choice, especially with an impending headache expected from encountering her mother at the store and dwelling on Peyton and Lucas.
As she arrived at her car, Brooke's mind revisited Peyton, reflecting on their return to One Tree Hill and understanding the reason behind Peyton's return, primarily for Lucas, stirring mixed emotions within her.
"I cannot allow jealousy to cloud my thoughts, although I am uncertain of what exactly I am feeling envious of," Brooke muttered while driving towards her store to converse with her mother and secure the premises.
Her contemplations were interrupted by her phone's notification sound, providing a welcome distraction. "Thank goodness for a text," she whispered, easing her car in front of the store and pausing to check the incoming message.
Brooke grasped her phone and tapped on the message to reveal that it was Peyton who had sent it. Her face flushed with warmth, yet the brunette could not pinpoint the origin of these feelings she had developed for Peyton.
The twenty-two-year-old was taken aback, as she had expected to feel envious of Lucas being with Peyton, but to her surprise, it was quite the opposite. She exhaled deeply as she read the message.
'Hey, Brooke, I just wanted to inform you that Lucas and I arrived safely at our destination. Please try not to worry too much about me, and I look forward to seeing you upon my return. Don't let your mother's words bother you.'
Brooke smiled at the text, blushing slightly as she did so. After reading the message, she stowed her phone in her purse, exited the car, and made her way into the store, relieved to find Victoria still present, which put her at ease.
Upon entering the store, the brunette observed her mother seated on the couch engrossed in something. The brunette cleared her throat as a means to capture the older woman's attention, which was quickly garnered.
'Is there something you require, Brooke?' Victoria inquired, rising to approach the petite woman who made eye contact with her. 'Yes,' the brunette exhaled, mustering the courage to address the matter at hand. 'We must discuss your recent behavior and treatment of my friends,' she articulated, locking gazes with her mother.
Victoria, meeting Brooke's gaze, retorted, 'Oh really? I was under the impression Rachel hadn't departed.' Her eyes narrowed at the expression in her daughter's hazel eyes.
As Brooke confronted her mother, a direct question emerged: 'Were you at my residence?' she demanded, trailing after Victoria through the store. 'Did you interact with her?' Her chest constricted as she pieced together the events of that evening involving Rachel.
Victoria retorted, halting in front of the sofa she had been sitting on but not taking a seat, stating, 'Nothing the mirror couldn't have told her.'
Brooke, attempting to remain composed and avoid snapping at her mother despite feeling justified, said, 'Leave my friends alone, okay.' She couldn't believe that she had allowed this situation to occur. Victoria, taking off her jacket, retorted, 'I'm trying to protect you from making another mistake.'
Brooke's hazel eyes filled with anger as she followed, argued, 'Firing Rachel was a mistake.' She hesitated and added, 'That was business.' Victoria responded with an eye roll, 'That is not how I want my business to be.' Brooke shook her head and stated firmly, 'People deserve better-' but Victoria interrupted her coldly, 'You see, this is exactly why.'
Pointing at her daughter, the older woman remarked, 'You were not included in the meeting today.' Victoria added, 'You're too emotional. You need to remove emotion from business. That's why I'm here.'
Brooke composed herself and fixed a stern gaze, stating, 'You are here now.' Speaking in a trembling voice, she questioned, 'What about all those years when I was growing up?' Holding back tears, she added, 'You never wanted to be part of my life until I started this company.'
Victoria, with a feigned look of surprise in her blue eyes, responded sharply, 'What? Cheerleading, school president,' she retorted with an eye roll, 'Stop acting immature,' she sneered. 'You are the face of a company, and you managed to take your company as far as possible on your own,' Victoria stated, causing Brooke to shake her head in disbelief, pondering what she had done to deserve a mother like Victoria.
'Then you turned to me when you needed assistance,' Victoria remarked. Brooke, biting her lip and shaking her head, replied, 'Rachel needed my help, and you made me fire her.' Brooke felt her skin burn with anger and pain as Victoria insisted, 'You earned my help,' disregarding the hurt expression on Brooke's face. 'Rachel did not deserve yours,' she concluded.
Inquired Brooke, her voice trembling, 'Did I earn it? A daughter is not meant to earn her mother's guidance or affection; it is meant to be unconditional,' she declared.
Expressing disinterest and annoyance, Victoria rolled her eyes and proceeded to walk past Brooke, stating, 'Whatever.' Taking a moment to compose herself, Brooke stated firmly, 'You're fired,' causing her mother to come to a halt.
'What did you just say?' Victoria questioned, visibly surprised, as she studied Brooke's face for any signs of hesitation.
'I said you're fired,' Brooke declared through clenched teeth. 'You're going to fire me and jeopardize our entire company—' Brooke interrupted Victoria, shaking her head. 'But it's not our company; it's my company, remember.'
'I am not an employee,' Victoria stated, walking towards Brooke until she was face to face. 'I am your mother,' she asserted. Brooke acknowledged this fact with a nod. 'I know,' she replied. 'You're fired,' she reiterated for the third time.
Brooke stated, instructing Victoria that she could depart. After Victoria left, Brooke found herself overwhelmed with emotion and retreated to the couch, tears streaming down her face. It has now been two hours since Brooke sat on the couch, reflecting on the conversation with her mother.
Despite standing up to her mother, Brooke found herself struggling to shake off the feeling of guilt. Deciding to reach out for support, she briefly considered informing Peyton of the situation but chose against it, not wanting to disturb Peyton's time with Lucas.
However, deep down, Brooke longed for Peyton's presence by her side. Resolving to tidy up, Brooke gathered her sketches, carefully storing them in a drawer before securing it and preparing to leave.
The individual took a deep breath as Brooke reached for the light switch and glanced back at the store, murmuring softly, 'This is my store, my dream,' as she turned off the light with a pained sigh. She opened the door just in time for a figure to push her back forcefully through the display, causing screams and cries to escape Brooke's throat.
The mannequin fell down, the sequence of events unfolding so rapidly that Brooke had no time to defend herself. Despite her attempt to shield herself by moving her arms in front, the figure roughly grabbed and pushed them above her head.
Without warning, the individual began to relentlessly hit, punch, and kick wherever he could reach. The petite woman cried out in agony, trying to curl up into a ball as the assailant's fists struck every part of her body.
'Stop…please,' Brooke pleaded amidst the blows. As time passed, Brooke's vision began to blur while the man continued to beat her a few more times before getting up to survey his handiwork.
Brooke thought it was all done, but the guy ripped off her dress and tossed it away, then tore off her bra and panties. 'Please, no.. no,' Brooke pleaded, understanding what was happening.
However, the man paid no heed, forcefully spread her legs, pulled down his jeans and underwear, and despite Brooke's pleas, he smacked her and forced himself on her.
Feeling excruciating pain, Brooke cried out, not realizing she could experience such agony. 'Stop.. stop..,' she wailed, but the figure ignored her cries and pleas while thrusting in and out.
As the figure placed his hand on Brooke's neck and squeezed tightly while thrusting deeper and harder into her, she had no strength to resist, only to cry and weakly beg.
'Have a nice night,' he declared before departing.
Aftеr bеing lеft in a bооdу and bruised state, Brooke fоund herself оvеrwhelmеd by shосk and unable tо rеfrain frоm crying. In her distress, the оnly thought occupying her mind was Peyton. Bеfоrе succumbing to the pain and falling uncоnсiоus, she crіеd out for the blond, аn action she could not exрlаin.