Angelina & Brad: SECRET NEW TALKS

Inside the private conversations between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie — and how the talks could affect their divorce

Ag reements had been reached. A regular visitation schedule had been set up to ensure a smooth transition for their six children. And with the help of a mediator, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were close to finalizing their divorce in a way that was amicable and surprisingly free of drama.

But now that’s all changed. Against the advice of his lawyers and without the private mediator present, Brad, 53, has been engaged in secret talks with Angelina, Life & Style has exclusively learned. The discussions center on a key element of Brad and Angelina’s agreement: raising their kids in LA. “Angie is absolutely miserable being based in LA,” says an insider. “She doesn’t think raising them there is good for the kids. She prides herself on exposing them to different cultures and traveling around the world.” So she’s trying to renegotiate things. “She’s talking to Brad privately,” the insider says, “which is putting the [official] divorce settlement talks on hold.”

MEETINGS AT HER HOUSE

Keeping the kids in LA had been a priority for Brad. “He wanted his children to be based in one home instead of living all around the world like nomads,” explains the insider. But while Angelina, 42, agreed at first, she recently contacted Brad personally in an attempt to get him to change his mind — and made an extremely tempting offer. “Angie told Brad that if he agrees not to make LA their home base anymore, he could start to accompany the family on vacations,” the insider says. “That is huge for Brad.”

The actor wants to spend as much time as possible with his kids. But he has another reason to want family trips to resume. As Life & Style reported, since he quit drinking a few months ago, he’s accepted blame for the end of his marriage and has held out hope of reconciling with Angie. The private conversations with her have led him to think it could really happen. “She has invited Brad over to her new Los Feliz mansion, which is close to his house,” the insider says. “Part of him hopes they can resume their lives together there and have a new beginning.”

But friends worry Angie’s just set-

ting Brad up for disappointment. “Brad has blinders on when it comes to Angie,” the insider says. “His friends are very concerned that she is using him to get the divorce agreement changed, and once he realizes that, it could send him spinning.” Brad’s legal team has also urged him to put a halt to the secret talks. “They feel it’s only going to hurt Brad’s interests as far as the kids are concerned,” the insider says. “But Brad is refusing to take the advice. It’s obvious he is hoping to get back together with Angie. And he’ll do whatever he can to make that happen.”