Brooke noticed that her hands were shaking a little when she unlocked her phone. Surely due to her exasperation and the anger that was rising in her at his behavior. But she couldn't deny that this possessiveness flattered her a little... A lot, even. After two rings and a deep breath, Brooke already heard his voice on the other end of the line.

LUCAS : Hé Brooke!? Have you seen my messages?

BROOKE : Oh yes, I saw them! Are you really going to spy on me like that!?

LUCAS : I'm not spying on you, I'm just worried about you... Especially since Felix isn't next to you!

BROOKE : And just like that, remind me why he's not next to me!?

LUCAS : Because I didn't want you to feel too watched... I wanted to show you that I had heard you...

BROOKE : The approach wasn't bad except that it seems to make you completely crazy and paranoid! So listen to me carefully. Yes, I'm having a drink with a charming, handsome and funny man... But it's not because you're a jerk who doesn't hesitate to dump a girl right after having sex with her that I'm like you! I take my time and I'm first sincerely interested in someone before I fuck them!

LUCAS : Are you interested in him, then?! This guy!?

Brooke was going to avoid telling him that the only one she was really interested in was him... Because she couldn't have him.

BROOKE : Maybe yes! In any case, I would like to be able to take advantage of my evening to find out...

LUCAS : Are you taking me for an idiot by testing me, Brooke!?

How selfish! Once again! No question of reassuring him or denying this assumption.

BROOKE : I don't have to do it, Lucas! You act like the biggest idiot yourself!

LUCAS : Maybe... But I need to talk to you, Brooke... Can we talk tonight, please?

BROOKE : And what I need, can we talk about it? I think we've said it all, Lucas!

LUCAS : Stop reacting like that, Brooke, I'm being honest with you!

Even though she felt his fragility, exasperation and resentment blinded her.

LUCAS : Tell me where you are...

BROOKE : Somewhere in a Parisian bar... That's a lot of potential places...

LUCAS : Stop making fun of me and tell me right now where you are!?

His authoritarian tone was back and, at the same time, an anger that Brooke could no longer contain resurfaced.

BROOKE : You know what, Lucas...?! Look in your ass to see!

His reply was certainly a little childish but it was unfortunately the only thing that came to him.

LUCAS : Excuse me ? In my ass!? Are you kidding me?

BROOKE : You heard very well, yes! And I'm going to hang up now...

And as she was about to end the call, she heard him say:

LUCAS : I miss you Brooke, please...

Brooke's heart swelled but the resentment that was still too present took over her scruples.

BROOKE : You should have thought about it before throwing me away like a vulgar one-night stand, without any explanation what's more!

Brooke had shouted her words so much her nerves were almost giving out. She caught Chris's attention. He was right behind her and was looking at her with a worried look. Brooke didn't want him to hear.

BROOKE : It's okay Chris, I'll be back in a minute... Really, it's okay!

But of course she realized that she hadn't put her hand in front of the speaker soon enough.

LUCAS : Chris? Peyton's assistant? Is that him you're with!?

BROOKE : Uh no... There are a lot of Chrises... Like bars in Paris... Hundreds, maybe thousands!

But in a panic, she didn't even seem convinced by what she was saying and Lucas certainly felt it.

BROOKE : Goodbye, Lucas!

Brooke didn't give her time to say anything, she was too afraid of giving herself away even more.

BROOKE'S THOUGHT : Damn! He's definitely going to ask Peyton when she gets back, if she hasn't already... And he'll know.

Clearly disgusted that Lucas could have understood that he had nothing to fear, Brooke went to find Chris.

CHRIS : Are you okay, honey!? An ex who can't move on, right?!

BROOKE : Oh yes, at least I thought! But apparently it's a little more complex than it seems...

CHRIS : Is it just me or haven't you really moved on either?

BROOKE : No! What makes you think that!?

CHRIS : You won't do it to me, Brooke... The fact that you answered him, your red cheeks, the passionate anger... This man matters to you, doesn't he?

BROOKE : He mattered...

CHRIS : I'm sure he still does, even if you try to convince yourself otherwise!

Brooke smiled as she took a sip of her cocktail to regain her composure.

CHRIS : So tell me more... Who is this mysterious stranger who managed to capture your heart?

BROOKE : I don't think I really want to talk about it actually...

CHRIS : You're wrong, honey! It'll allow you to vent a little of that anger and resentment... Plus, you'll have the objective opinion of the best marriage counselor in the capital!

BROOKE : Just that!?

CHRIS : Of course! I'm a man who understands men but also women, so... And then, I'm sure it's a much less complex case than what I'm used to!

BROOKE : Oh really!? And what do you consider to be truly complex, then!?

Brooke takes the opportunity to try to divert his attention... It was way too risky.

CHRIS : No need to look far ... And besides, we know them both ... Lucas and Peyton, for example!

BROOKE : And what do you think then, I'm listening? You who are an expert after all ...

CHRIS : I'm not saying that their problems are more serious than yours eh, far from it! But let's say that you, you still have this incredible chance to have your life ahead of you and to be able to rebuild yourself ...

BROOKE : And them, no!?

CHRIS : They built themselves together my dear, they are nothing without each other and they know it ... They have been tearing each other apart for so long but it's always the same thing ... A bit like it was done on purpose ...

BROOKE : You mean... That it's kind of normal for them to argue!?

CHRIS : A little... Even if, as I was telling you, it's much more complex still. But it gets people talking... And that's good for business!

Brooke had a hard time believing what she was hearing.

CHRIS : Well, this time I still have the impression that there's more at stake than the other times... But hey...

BROOKE : But hey, what!?

CHRIS : They'll never divorce, the Scott couple is a commercial war machine, you know... If they did, goodbye to the millions for Peyton and Lucas... Lucas wouldn't be able to share custody of Sawyer...

BROOKE : He really cares about this little girl, it's true... But he deserves to be happy...

CHRIS : It's the most important thing in the world to him! His wife, and the others, have every reason to be jealous!

Brooke's heart tightened in her chest.

CHRIS : Nothing and no one will ever reach the same level or be as important as Sawyer, the apple of her eye.

Brooke's heart tightened even more.

CHRIS : Okay, let's get back to our sheep, or rather your sheep... The mysterious ex! Tell me a little more!

BROOKE : Let's just say he behaved badly!

Chris scrutinized her as if to try to convince her to tell him a little more.

CHRIS : He cheated on you, is that it!?

BROOKE : No, well yes, but not in the sense you're referring to... He deceived me about his true intentions, yes!

Chris put a sympathetic hand on her shoulder, he seemed to be thinking about something.

CHRIS : What if I told you that I had something perfect to offer you to make you, all of a sudden, very happy!?

BROOKE : Very happy!? You can always try... I'm curious to know!

CHRIS : As you know, my dear boss who is also the most uncompromising and the most evil in Paris...

Brooke raised both her eyebrows to agree with the first part of his sentence.

CHRIS : ... This same person is also a renowned stylist who has her entries and her invitations everywhere... When I tried to negotiate an increase on my poverty salary, she dodged... Of course, but... Drum roll... To make me wait or to shut me up...

BROOKE : Come on, give birth!

CHRIS : She offered me two tickets to the Elle Magazine Gala this Thursday night!

BROOKE : Seriously!? That's great! Even though you would have certainly preferred that she agree to give you a raise...

CHRIS : Honestly, I knew in advance that she would say no... But I hallucinated when she gave me the two tickets!

BROOKE : These are hers that she gave you!?

CHRIS : Of course not, it's still Peyton Scott, Brooke... You're really naive!

BROOKE : This time, it would have been even more surprising! But you're right, it really makes me happy for you!

CHRIS : You're too cute! But still so naive...

BROOKE : Why is that!?

CHRIS : Because my surprise was to ask you to come with me, come on!

BROOKE : This Thursday night!? At the Elle gala!?

CHRIS : Yes, honey! The party of the year where the biggest names in the industry will be there!

Brooke was completely speechless...

CHRIS : Reassure me... The face you're making scares me now! Are you still going to accept!?

Brooke still couldn't articulate the slightest answer. Emotion and joy invaded her.

BROOKE : Of course I'm going to accept! It's huge, Chris!

Brooke couldn't resist hugging him so much his proposal excited her and touched her heart.

BROOKE : We're going to talk to all the stylists and editors in chief to make ourselves known!

CHRIS : We'll be the stars of the evening! Even Peyton and Lucas will be bland next to us!

And then... It hit her in the face... Peyton... And Lucas will be there too! And as you heard from Peyton the day before, they will be hand in hand, more in love than ever.