The next evening, Brooke had an appointment with Lucas at his office ... But also with Felix and Haley. To be able to slip away, she had pretended to go have a drink with her best friend ... Which was partly true ... Knowing that she was meeting up with Lucas, she had made herself as beautiful as possible without overdoing it either. The three of them had arrived to set everything up.
BROOKE : What time did you finally give her an appointment?
LUCAS : I pretended that I had a big meeting that was going to drag on ... We should meet around 9:30 p.m.
BROOKE : Mhh ok ... Come here, I'll redo your tie ... It's not perfect.
Lucas came closer as requested. Any opportunity was good to touch and feel him.
LUCAS : Leave her like that, I'm already stressed enough as it is... But on the other hand, I want a kiss...
BROOKE : Are you going like that? Aren't you changing?
As he wrapped his arms around Brooke's waist and pulled her against him... He answered her while smiling lovingly at her.
LUCAS : The more natural I look, the more credible I'll be...
BROOKE : Oh and I guess the microphones are already placed... On you... Where are they anyway?
Brooke touched his chest to try to feel them... Lucas didn't have time to answer her but let himself be touched.
HALEY : You can search for a long time, my pretty!
LUCAS : Because they're not on me... But keep going, I love it...
Seeing Brooke's perplexed look, Lucas continued by holding his hands on his shirt to maintain contact.
LUCAS : We put them directly in the hotel room before you arrived...
BROOKE : Oh, I see... Since you'll probably end up half naked, it's probably better...
Lucas tightened his grip, feeling that she was trying to move away from him. He brought his face closer, his eyes on hers.
LUCAS : And this kiss, is it coming?
Leaving her no choice, he placed his index finger under Brooke's chin to make her move towards his lips. Their tongues rolled together with passion... It wouldn't take much more to wake up the dormant volcano.
HALEY : Don't kiss too much either, the smell of another woman on your shirt is terrible!
FELIX : Let them enjoy each other a little before all that...
HALEY : They'll have all the time and all night to enjoy it after... Us too, by the way!
Things seemed to have rushed between Felix and Haley and Brooke thought she was going to have to talk to him about it later.
HALEY : Okay, let's recap now, okay?
Lucas held on to Brooke's waist so as not to move away from her while their bodies turned towards Haley.
HALEY : The microphones are already on... Don't forget they'll already be recording as soon as you walk in.
LUCAS : One under the nightstand on the right side... And one under the small desk. But none in the bathroom.
HALEY : Exactly, so no question of having a discussion in this room...
BROOKE : Or even going to take a shower with her...
LUCAS : I would never go that far, Brooke! Whether in the bathroom or in the bedroom...
HALEY : And now the part that I prefer by far! As soon as you have managed to make her say that everything was only lies, you will have to leave her in the lurch...
LUCAS : But I have to find a plausible reason so that she does not suspect that she was set up and start searching.
HALEY : That's it...
A few minutes later, it was already time to let Lucas go to the hotel right next to his office. Lindsay will think that it was the easiest solution to join her quickly. When in fact, it was more of a strategic situation for the range of the microphones and the recording. At the dawn of this delicate moment, Brooke felt that Lucas was having difficulty leaving her... He did not let go of her hand.
BROOKE : It almost seems like goodbyes!
LUCAS : Sorry... I just really don't want to hurt you unintentionally...
BROOKE : Go ahead and don't think about me or it'll go wrong... And I'll cover my ears if it's too much to bear...
HALEY : Or I'll throw her out and she'll go have a drink with Felix while we wait for it to end... Right, Brooke?
BROOKE : Mmhh... But it's okay. Above all, do what it takes to make all this serve a purpose, okay!?
LUCAS : Okay. I'll do my best. I want so badly to make him spill the beans... To nail the beak to Peyton!
Brooke trusted Lucas to achieve his ends. A few moments later, he entered the hotel lobby. It wasn't a luxury hotel... The choice was limited given the need for proximity to his office. As soon as he entered, he already spotted Lindsay sitting in an armchair. She was typing on her phone. He approached, stressed.
LUCAS : Hey...
Hearing the sound of his voice, Lindsay's face lit up and her gaze rose to the one she was waiting for.
LINDSAY : Lucas!
Lucas forced himself to smile back. The scent of her strong perfume wafted into his nostrils as she stood up. Lindsay took pleasure in placing her hand on his shoulder and prolonging the kiss she placed on his cheek.
LINDSAY : So!? I didn't see a bar when I came in... Where is it hiding... You who knows the place?
LUCAS : You're right, I do. And the bar is located at the back, on the courtyard side... But I thought we could...
Lucas paused... He wouldn't want it to be too obvious and hesitated to finally start with a drink.
LINDSAY : That we could...?!
LUCAS : Well, if you're thirsty, I guess we could start with a drink... If not...
LINDSAY : Go ahead with your idea, Lucas... I'm sure it's a great one, too...
Lindsay inched closer to him. Lucas knew what she was trying to do and played along with her.
LUCAS : Pretty dress... It really shows you off. In fact, I was thinking we could have gone upstairs, straight away...
And while Lindsay's eyes were now shining with a lustful and playful glow, Lucas was already racking his brains.
LUCAS' THOUGHT : Luckily Brooke can't hear me...
Lindsay didn't seem to notice anything, far too excited by the turn of events. She whispered in his ear:
LINDSAY : You'll see, the underwear I chose for you shows me off even better...
LUCAS : Oh yeah...?! I can't wait to see... Don't move from here, I'll take us a room...
LINDSAY : More and more of a gentleman with me, I see...
LUCAS : With such a pretty woman, the opposite would be unforgivable!
Lindsay laughed and licked her lips as Lucas walked away just after giving her a knowing wink. Of course, the room keycard was already carefully tucked away in his right pocket. But to complete the pretense and make the scene perfect, he walked up to the reception desk.
RECEPTIONIST : Good evening sir, what can I do for you?
LUCAS : Good evening... I'd like to order a bottle of champagne for room 221 please. With two glasses.
RECEPTIONIST : Fine sir. I'll put that on your bill right away.
LUCAS : Actually, I'd prefer to pay you in cash directly... How much do I owe you?
Not wanting to leave any trace or evidence that could be used against him, Lucas was cautious. Once his purchase was settled, he proudly returned to Lindsay who was waiting for him wisely, crossing and uncrossing her legs.
LUCAS : Room 221... Miss.
Lucas held out his hand to her, which she took and she let herself be gently lifted and dragged towards the elevators. Lucas hoped so much that they wouldn't be alone inside... He could already feel her trembling with impatience. But when the door opened, it was clear that no one was coming out and no customers were waiting either.
LUCAS : After you...
Lindsay smiled at him and stepped forward. Lucas quickly pressed the floor button and activated the door closing.
LUCAS : It's already on the second floor that we don't...
But Lindsay had already slipped in front of him, against the wall... She wrapped her arms around his neck.
LUCAS : Wow... Easy, my dear...
While Lucas delicately grabbed both of her arms, she insisted by sticking herself against his chest.
LINDSAY : I saw that you were in a hurry to close the door and I've always dreamed of doing that in an elevator, haven't you!?
LUCAS : To tell you the truth, I prefer a bed...
LINDSAY : I didn't know you were old-fashioned, like that... I thought you were more adventurous!
LUCAS : You'll see if I'm old-fashioned... And I'll show you how inventive I can be in a simple double bed... Or not...
As soon as he arrived on the landing, Lucas took a deep breath... He was going to have to slow down a little and calm Lindsay's ardor. And as he opened the room, his hand trembling slightly...
LUCAS : But like I told you, I'd like us to talk a little first...
Lucas knew that from now on, Brooke would hear everything he said... He kept his calm and his composure. As if she hadn't heard anything, Lindsay let herself fall backwards on the bed. She stretched out her arms.
LINDSAY : You should come lie down next to me... This mattress is divine...
LUCAS : How about we sit down to start? I ordered us some champagne, it should be here any minute...
LINDSAY : Oh you, you know how to talk to me...
LUCAS : Unless I'm trying to get you drunk so I can enjoy you better...
If only she knew that sentence was true but not in the way it sounded in her ears.
LINDSAY : I hope you understood that I was planning on sleeping with you no matter what you did...
On the other hand, Brooke almost strangled her because Lindsay was acting like the easy girl she was.
LUCAS : And I hope you understand that I won't go any further until we've been honest with each other... It may be old-fashioned but I need that... I need honesty and respect to go further...
LINDSAY : Indeed, it's very old-fashioned... Don't you want to be like all men and think with your crotch?
LUCAS : I assure you, my crotch also really wants to express itself... Let's just say it's waiting for permission from my brain...
Lindsay just looked at him with envy but considered what seemed to be a non-negotiable condition. Brooke, she listened... But her stomach twisted more and more even though she knew Lucas was acting. She found him really convincing just by the words ... Without seeing his gestures or his glances towards Lindsay.
LINDSAY : Well, I suppose we have things to say to each other ... What do you want to hear?
LUCAS : The truth, Lindsay ...
LINDSAY : The truth ... You know it as well as I do ...
LUCAS : Indeed. But I want to hear you say it.
LINDSAY : I... I guess I shouldn't have... Excuse me. But you owe me an apology too!
LUCAS : An apology, me!? And you, you shouldn't have what!?
As if saved by the bell when he was clearly starting to show the anger that inhabited him, the room service knocked on the door. Lucas took the opportunity to move away and go open it. He then came back with the ice bucket that he put on the desk. Instinctively, he glanced at the ledge under which the microphone was placed, he thought of Brooke as he opened the bottle.
LUCAS : Excuse me... This has all been really hard on me, you know... The media , my agent, Peyton...
LINDSAY : I see you're all tense, Lucas... I'd like you to relax a little... Come here.
Lindsay was already standing and facing Lucas when he turned around. She put her hands on the collar of his tie.
LUCAS : It'll be fine, I'll pour us our glasses and...
LINDSAY : Shhh... No discussion, just let me do it. This evening will make us forget all our worries...
Lucas stopped in his service and let Lindsay take off his tie to regain his trust if necessary. Brooke could easily imagine what was happening and knowing that she was putting her hands on him was annoying him.
LINDSAY : There you go... Dare to tell me that it's not better like this?
LUCAS : It's perfect, thank you...
But Lindsay didn't let go of the contact for all that... Her fingers went down to undo his first shirt buttons.
LUCAS : My shirt is relatively comfortable though, you know...
LINDSAY : But your torso is magnificent...
Lindsay continued with one hand while the other came to caress Lucas's tanned and warm skin. Lucas put his hands on hers... Pretended to caress them before grabbing them to move them away.
LUCAS : This is all making me a little hot... I'll help ourselves.
On the other side... The lump in Brooke's throat was getting tighter and tighter. She even felt nauseous.
BROOKE : I swear, I think I'm going to throw up on his carpet!
HALEY : I hate to tell you, but he's doing pretty well so far...
BROOKE : A little too well for my taste...
HALEY : Come on Brooke, he's going to get her drunk and get what he went looking for... Would you rather go out?
Despite everything she felt, she couldn't possibly leave the place. She wanted to be there, she wanted to hear. Even if it hurt, she couldn't imagine being anywhere else... She tried to breathe calmly... She listened again... And imagined them, facing each other...
LUCAS : Cheers Lindsay!
LINDSAY : To ours, Lucas! And to this night...
LUCAS : A night rich in frankness and attraction finally assumed ...
LINDSAY : A night of lust that will only be the beginning of a passionate life ...
LUCAS : What are you ...!?
LINDSAY : You like the set that I bought just for you ...!?
Brooke realized that Lindsay had just undressed. She couldn't help the new nausea of disgust that took hold of her.
BROOKE : I'm going to get some air!
And she went out... Headed to the toilets to freshen up or to a terrace to breathe in some invigorating fresh air.