This chapter the story officially starts. And yes I know that I said I wouldn't be writing anymore but this story has been brewing for a while. Hope you enjoy it...

Chapter One

"This is a nightmare." Brooke Davis whispered as she read over her financial reports for the last six months. After getting a threatening final notice from the bank letting her know that she had a month before they were ceasing possession of Reverie she found that she had been behind in payments for her restaurant for the last three. Half payments here and there and sometimes none at all. It wasn't like her business wasn't doing well—nothing could be further from the truth.

No, this had to have been done by Dan Scott, her business partner and restaurant manager. He had also been like a father to her. Or so she had thought. Instead of keeping her finances on the up and up Dan had been stealing from her without any guilt. Smiled in her face everyday for years until the damage was irreversible and then suddenly he started acting strange and claimed that an aunt she had never heard him mention since she's known him the last ten years had fallen ill and he has to leave the country to see about her.

Brooke should have known then that something wasn't right with him. But no, she chalked it up to him being concerned for his dear "aunt".

She felt the tears of betrayal building in her eyes and tried to tamp it down but the anguish she felt wouldn't let her. Instead she gave in and threw a frame that he had gifted her for her twenty-seventh birthday a few years back at the wall, shattering the glass as the picture fell out and onto the floor. She crossed her arms and laid her head down for a moment, not sure of what she could do to get herself out of this mess.

"Do I want to know what happened in here?" Haley James, her best friend and sous chef asked as she hesitantly stepped into Brooke's office.

Brooke's head popped up and she forced a smile even if it appeared watery and tense. "Hey you…"

"What's going on Brooke?"

"Nothing—"

"Do not lie to me Brooke Penelope Davis!"

"Dan screwed us. Big time."

"In what way? How did he screw us?"

Brooke looked at her and shoved the paperwork towards her. "Read that."

Haley gasped as she read the letter and the trouble their business was in. "How—"

She shook her head and said, "No. The question you're looking for is why. Why would he do this to us? We were supposed to be a family here…"

Haley rubbed her should comfortingly and said softly, "Oh Brookie…I'm so sorry."

Brooke rose from her seat and began pacing as she asked, "For what? You told me so! You didn't trust him from the beginning." Brooke grumbled as she bitterly wiped her tears. "Turns out for good reason."

"You know I don't trust used car salesman types." She shrugged, making a joke to get her to smile.

And it almost worked. "What am I going to do Haley? If I can't pay by September 16th the bank will seize the property. Then we'd be out of a job and I'll be on the streets!"

"What?! Why would the bank seize the restaurant? We've been doing great the past four months!"

Brooke pinched the bridge of her nose and said, "Yeah I know. But around February Reverie wasn't doing so great and we had utilities, property taxes and you guy's salaries to pay." She then looked at her friend and continued on, "So advised that we should take out a loan with Bradford Banking because he knew someone that would approve us. That way I could make sure everyone got paid on time."

"Anyway…they told me that I had to put Reverie as collateral so they would help us. In case I failed to make the payments. So I did thinking that the profits would increase. And it had. We have been doing great business wise but apparently Dan had to stick his hands in the cookie jar and failed to pay the bank the amount agreed upon and the rest is history."

Haley sat in silence for a minute but when she could finally speak all she could say was, "Wow…I don't even know what to say. Except… What an asshole!"

She then let out a growl of frustration. "I know. I was so damn naïve! I thought about it a lot after receiving that letter and there were a few things that just didn't add up."

"Like what?"

Brooke raked a hand over her face then answered, "Okay…you remember when he said that the money we made wasn't enough to keep the gas or the lights on for the month despite making over twenty-five thousand seven hundred ninety-two dollars the week before he said it. And it only costs seventeen thousand seven hundred ninety-two dollars combined. Which leaves eight thousand dollars unaccounted for."

Haley's eyebrows furrowed as she said slightly joking, "And here I thought you sucked at math."

"I thought so too but you'll be amazed what you could do when someone rips you off. And you know what's the worst part? It's you guys…you're the best team that I ever worked with and…I really thought that I was actually doing what was best for the restaurant and you guys but he fooled me so easily! And I can't even pay you guys this week because I have to scrape the money together to hold off the bank."

"You were desperate and you did what was right. It's not your fault that Dan took advantage of the situation."

Brooke flopped down in her chair again and sighed, "Well now we're back to square one only this time I could lose the restaurant, my staff, my loft apartment upstairs. Damn it everything was going so well and now this."

It was Haley's turn to pace the floor in contemplation. "There has to be something we could do. Maybe we could talk—"

"I doubt talking will get us out of this one Hales…" she said as she began folding the letter into a paper plane.

Haley exhaled as she gave her a worried look, "We could try."

"Yeah I guess we could but I don't know what good it'll do."

Haley paused then placed her hands on her hips and replied, "Well for starters we can explain why this happened in the first place and maybe find out what can be done about this mess."

"And if the situation stays the same?"

Haley hugged her and said with assurance that she wasn't quite sure she believed. "Well we will formulate a plan as we always do. But one thing is for sure…" she said as she looked into Brooke's eyes, "we're not going to lose this place. We've all worked too hard to get it to where it is now and damn it we will work harder to get us out of this. Do you hear me?"

Brooke nodded just before sending the paper plane through the air and into the shelf.

"Good, now come on. You've been in here for over an hour and it's time to set the menu for the dinner crowd."

Brooke exhaled and put on a brave face and smiled, not wanting the rest of her staff to see her vulnerable and worried.

Squaring her shoulders she looked at Haley and said, "Okay…game time."

"That's my girl." She said as she followed Brooke into the kitchen area.

Brooke clapped her hands to bring the entire staff's attention to her and said, "Alright guys listen up! You know what time it is. It's time to set up the menu for tonight's dinner rush. So for appetizers I want: Orange Glazed Meatballs. Fried Prosciutto Tortellini. Turkey Sliders with Sesame Slaw. Scallion and Caramelized Onion Dip. Fried Mozzarella, Basil, and Nectarine Stacks With Balsamic Glaze, " Brooke said with a ringing voice.

"For the salads I want: Salmon and Avocado Caesar Salad, Grilled Chimichurri Chicken Avocado Salad, Honey Mustard Chicken Avocado and Bacon Salad, for Vegetarian Salads: Roasted vegetable salad with feta and grains, Crudo vegetable salad, Vegetarian Caesar salad, Warm lentil, avocado and feta salad." She said as the dishes appeared in her head.

"Soups I want: Rosemary Chicken, Bacon, and Potato Soup, Vegetable Cabbage Soup, Curried Corn and Cheese Soup, Vegetarian Bean and Barley Soup, and Creamy Spinach Soup."

"Main courses I want:

Beef Tenderloin stuffed with Mushrooms and Shallot Dressing served on a Tomato Garnish. Prime rib of beef with Au Jus recipe and Horseradish Sauce. Herb-Dijon crusted Rack of Lamb rolled in fresh herbs. Stuffed Rolled Lamb Leg with Basil…stuff the leg with spinach, garlic, croutons and Parmesan. Veal scaloppini lightly sautéed then served over a Wild Mushroom Cream Sauce. Rolled White Fish Fillet with white wine, shallots, fresh mint combined with white fish fillet. Poached lobster tail in butter…"

"You heard the lady chop-chop! Let's get to it!" Haley shouted already in position, bringing out the meats that Brooke and herself had prepped for tonight.

Despite the looming doom of their beloved Reverie, Brooke and her magnificent staff shined as they always have, getting orders out by the hundreds.

"Where's order 1434? The Veal and the Fried Prosciutto Tortellini?" Chris Keller, one of their best servers, demanded. "The customer is getting antsy out here!"

"We're just finishing up on it." Haley said as the line cook finished plating the order. Haley grabbed mittens and placed it on his tray personally with a slight smile. "There you go. Now get back out there!"

Chris smirked flirtatiously, "Thank you Hales."

She rolled her eyes and resisted the urge to push him out of the kitchen, "Go on in there before that antsy customer leaves without paying!"

"Yes ma'am." He said with a chuckle, exiting the hotter than hell kitchen.

"You may as well give in Haley…" Brooke said with a laugh as she helped Antwon 'Skills' Taylor, their line cook with one of his dishes.

"We have a strict no dating coworkers policy for a reason Brooke." She said as she began cooking another main course.

Brooke paused then chuckled, "Ohh yeah? When did I come up with that one?"

Haley chuckled, "When Felix Taggarro used to work here and he was being extra pushy about asking you out."

"Oh right…I forgot about that." She laughed, as she chopped vegetables speedily.

"No you didn't." Haley shouted back.

Brooke laughed, falling into the usual rhythm of the night rush. Speed, carefulness and culinary perfectionism. Reverie's financial problems far from her mind.

-x-

The next day after receiving news that the banks decision was irreversible and that she had only a few weeks left before they took action Brooke and Haley walked upstairs to her loft, both deciding that Brooke didn't need to be alone at this time. Or rather Haley giving her no choice in the matter.

Once unlocking the door, Brooke walked to her bed and collapsed from depression and exhaustion. "Haley…I'm tired but I don't think I can sleep after reading that damn letter …"

"I'll make you some chamomile tea…" she said as she walked straight toward the kitchen.

"Thank you but I'd prefer something a lot stronger. Like a White Russian or a Bloody Mary." She said through her pillow, her voice muffled but still perfectly understandable.

"Alcohol is not what you need my friend…" Haley said as she began brewing the tea in the teapot she had given her as a house warming gift a year back.

After drinking the chamomile tea, Brooke laid there staring at the ceiling until she slowly started drifting to sleep. Unfortunately for her, she could not sleep as peacefully as she had hoped, with all of her worries swirling around in her head. Mainly losing Reverie. But slept she did.

Meanwhile while Haley paced back and forth near the kitchen area as she held her cellphone against her ear with her left shoulder, patiently waiting for the phone to stop ringing. At the sound of the machine prompt asking her to leave a message she swallowed her pride and did as asked saying, "Hey it's me…Haley James, you know, the short honey blonde chick who used to live across the hall from you and dated your brother about twelve years ago—"

"Haley?"

Her heart dropped at the sound of his voice, she wasn't sure why she had that reaction considering it was her calling him. "Oh you picked up…"

His deep smooth voice chuckled, "Of course I picked up. It's not everyday that a blast from the past calls me out of the blue." He joked, "How's it going Hales?"

Haley closed her eyes, mentally kicking herself while telling herself to not blow this. "Right. Okay well since I have your attention…remember when we last talked about seven months ago you said you were looking to invest in something new? Are you still looking?"

"Of course. Although nothing has sparked my interest yet. Let me guess you found something for me?"

Haley looked at Brooke sleeping form and winced, knowing that she might not approve of what was about to transpire but desperate times…"Something like that."

"Okay…I'm listening."

"There's this restaurant that's doing incredibly well consumer wise, it's in a prime real estate area—" she hurriedly explained, speed talking as she always did when nervous.

She could practically see his six foot frame pacing as he said in a drawn out tone, "But?"

She takes her hand through her long tresses and explained further, "But…the owner—my boss is at risk of losing the property. So if you could…let's say invest two hundred fifty-seven thousand nine hundred twenty dollars—"

He hissed with unsureness, "That's a lot of money Hales—"

"I know it's a lot of money but it's a fantastic restaurant that makes authentic delicious food which in turn makes a ton of money so you'll get it back in no time and then some…" she then took a much needed breath and asked, "Can you at least meet me for lunch so we can see the property?"

"Where?"

"Reverie on 77th and Burgundy Avenue."

There was a long pause on his end and Haley wanted to yell from impatience but kept silent because of Brooke who was finally able to get some rest. "I'm not familiar with that neighborhood…but I'll come. Just know that you owe me though." He teased.

Haley rolled her eyes and said, "You always say that but you never come to collect."

"Oh it's coming." He jokingly promised.

She smiled, knowing he wasn't really serious "Yeah, yeah, yeah. See you tomorrow Luke."

"Actually tomorrow's no good I have a very important meeting that could run over until God knows when." He paused as if thinking and said, "How about Wednesday? Wednesday is good for me."

Haley winced as she admitted, "Ooh Wednesday is a 14 hour shift…" she said thinking of changing her mind but then she remembered how much Reverie needed him and it was now too late to back out then said, "but I'll make it work. Come by around one o'clock."

"Alright see you then."

She smiled, "Alright see you then." She then disconnected the call and sighed with a relief. Haley then looked over to her best friend and prayed that everything worked out as she hoped.

-x-

Lucas Scott adjusted his bright Navy blue Armani sharkskin two-piece suit and tie for the fifth time, the look of it just not settling with him. Presentation is the key to everything. As Chief Executive Officer of Luxuriont Hotels he believed that firmly. Hell it was how he got so far into his career in the hotel industry—well that and his family's wealth. But even with a good head start it still hadn't been easy to become what he is today especially in today's market. He had developed a great hotel chain designed in luxury but affordable. This meeting with the Board had to go well. Lucas needed their approval to design another hotel but this time with an edgy, upscale restaurant that he planned to franchise alongside his hotels that his dearest oldest friend, Haley James, had brought to his attention the other day. He had surprised her the day before their agreed meeting time and she had looked jumpy and nervous but he could tell that she was stressed out about the situation.

"Before I agree to anything does the owner know about this arrangement?" he had asked, having a feeling that Haley wasn't being as straight forward with both parties. Haley always had a sneaky habit when she desperately wanted to help someone.

Haley nodded eagerly, "Of course."

Lucas sent her a disbelieving stare, letting her know that he suspected that wasn't the case and was giving her the option to tell him now before he made it his business to inform the owner himself of what they were discussing.

She sighed then said, "Okay, okay I'll tell her. She's one of my best friends and I want to help her. She doesn't deserve to lose this place because of some oily snake who wanted to take the money and run while screwing us all over."

Lucas nodded in understanding, lifting the glass of Rob Roy to his lips.

"I can't believe that I've never eaten here before." He said after devouring the most luscious Spicy Glazed Shrimp and Vegetable Kabobs he ever tasted, the sweet and tangy shrimp and seasoned vegetables were a complete meal on a stick. Caribbean jerk seasoning gave those kabobs a special, spicy flair. "It's amazing…the food, the service, the cocktails…"

"Thank you we try to ensure that our customers come back for more. You should try our desserts."

"What do you suggest?"

Haley smiled wickedly, "Oh, I know just the thing for your taste buds."

"Bring it on chef."

And indeed she had brought it with this extraordinary dessert, made with crisp chocolate-hazelnut meringue and whipped cream. Simple but deliciously extravagant as well.

The phone rang, breaking him out of his thoughts of Haley and Reverie. He picked up the call then answered with a confident, "Hello?"

"Hey what's going on?" Nathan Scott, the Chief Operating Officer of Luxuriont Hotel chain as well as his younger brother, asked on the other side of the line. "Is it something that I should know about?"

Lucas scratched the back of his neck and chuckled, "Uh…I'll be honest with you Nate it's a wait and see game right now."

"As in?"

"As in you'll have to wait and see. But know this…if everything happens the way that I want it to, Luxuriont will be greater than ever."

Nathan snorted, "And how exactly do you plan to manage that?"

"You'll have to wait and see like everyone else bro. See you at the meeting." He then hung up and refocused on securing his tie. He hated ties but they completed the look he was going for, professional, powerful and yet approachable.

Using Verb Ghost oil Lucas finger brushed his blonde hair in a swept back style, the product has a mixture of argan and moringa oils to enrich the hair shaft with essential nutrients. After which always left his locks looking healthy, smooth, frizz-free, and radiantly full of shine. Satisfied Lucas smirked and exit his office.

"Good morning Mr. Scott, I have the graphs and statistics of Reverie's earnings—which is really impressive by the way—as well as customer satisfaction rates, how much money it'll take to maintain the property, the estimate on utilities, staff wages…everything you asked for is right here." Millicent Huxtable, his very reliable assistant, rattled off upon seeing him, showing him the flash drive while trying to match his long stride through the building. "Oh and here's your coffee…"

Lucas flashed her a grateful smile and took the Styrofoam cup of Espresso from Starbucks, "Thank you and good morning to you too Millie. And excellent work on getting that for me so fast. As for it being impressive well…let's just hope that the Board agrees with you." He said as he led the way to the boardroom.

Thirty minutes later after all of the Board members including Nathan were seated Lucas had Millie turn on the projector as he began his hour long presentation. He showed them the figures of what they could potentially make with the restaurant and had a few doubters considering the Reverie was an unknown business whereas the Luxuriont is presently located worldwide. But with his infectious confidence and smooth talking he was able to convince them.

"Okay what was that?" Nathan asked as soon as they were alone in the boardroom.

Lucas chuckled with triumph and said, "That my dear brother was the future of Luxuriont. Come on I'll treat you to lunch…"

-x-

Brooke sighed with dread as she prepared to let the staff know about the financial bind they all were in. She had put it off for a few days but their pay period was coming up and she needed to explain why everyone had to take a pay cut. Brooke feared that she would lose some good people behind this move but she ultimately would understand why they would choose to jump ship. This was a hell of a snag. If she were in their shoes she wouldn't stay either. Not with the credentials all of her staff had. The fact that most of them had chose her small restaurant instead of some big wig bistro always humbled her.

"Okay you can do this…you can do this…you got this." Brooke chanted to herself while pacing the kitchen floor. She then imagined their anger and disappointment and hissed, "I don't have this."

"You don't have what?" Haley asked, as she entered the kitchen.

Brooke exhaled, "How am I supposed to tell everyone that we all have to take a pay cut so we can get out of this mess? How am I going to tell them that the man we all trusted irrevocably was the one to put us in this position?!"

"Tell them nothing." She suggested.

Brooke's dark brow lifted in confusion, "Tell them nothing?"

"Right. Tell them nothing."

She looked confused and distressed as she said, "I can't lie to them Haley—"

"You're not lying, you're protecting them and your brand."

Brooke exhaled and eyed her best friend warily, "By omission I would be."

"Not really…" Haley then grabbed one of the chairs from the stack and sat it down and proceeded to sit. "You might want to grab a chair yourself…"

"Why?"

"Because—I have something to tell you and you most likely won't like it…"

Brooke leaned onto the counter and asked, "What did you do?"

Haley began fidgeting as she tried to explain, "Okay…I might have overstepped my boundaries—"

"What did you do Haley?"

Haley sighed and said in a rushed tone, "I have a friend that was looking to invest in a new venture. I convinced him to invest in Reverie—"

"You did what?!" she exclaimed, unable to believe her ears.

"He has agreed to pay off our debt but we will partner with his hotel chain and pay forty percent of our earnings to his company. But the name stays the same, we just have a new owner pretty much."

"I didn't agree to this—I was trying to avoid selling Reverie!"

"Brooke it gets us out of the fire!"

Brooke pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration, "And puts us in a brand new one! Haley you had no right to do this!"

"I just wanted to help!" she said with a frown.

"Everything alright in here?" a smooth masculine voice asked, breaking up the brewing fight between the two friends.

Haley turned and forced a smile, "Lucas! What are you doing here?"

"I just got out of a meeting with the Board about this place and all systems are a go on my end. Did you get a chance to discuss it with—"

Brooke eyed the handsome stranger with his blonde hair in a swept back style, dressed in the well made bright navy blue two-piece suit that made him look both noble and distinguished and had took an instant disliking to him then and there and said, "Yes she just did and she obviously overstepped where she shouldn't have—"

"Miss…?"

Her expression set in a firm frown she introduced herself with a clipped tone, "I'm Brooke Davis, owner of Reverie. And you are?"

"This is—" Haley began but was interrupted by the man himself.

"Lucas Scott, CEO of Luxuriont Hotels. I had heard a lot of pleasant things about you chef Brooke." He said as he offered her his hand to shake. Which she promptly ignored. He drew back his hand with a scoffing smile, "Okay…If you want to play hardball we can but for your sake you should just go along with it."

Brooke cocked her head and asked with an attitude, "And if I don't?"

Lucas walked toward her, close enough for her to study the length of his face, his forehead width and cheekbones with his tapering jawline that held a five o'clock shadow His lips looked soft but firm and tempting—stop he is the enemy! Brooke thought inwardly.

He smirked and said, "I'll go over your head to Bradford Banking and purchase Reverie without your consent, do an overhaul with this place without you running the ship. Or…you can take this check…" he said as he presented it to her. "Pay off your debt with the bank and go into business with me."

Brooke's eyes snapped to Haley who had her eyes downcast. Business Lucas Scott was much different than the Lucas she knew.

"I'm a patient man Ms. Davis but don't linger too long." he said with a wink before exiting the way he came.

Brooke looked over at Haley and narrowed her eyes angrily, "Is that what you call help?"