Chapter Two

"Thanks so much for your support, Esteban. I couldn't have gotten a place here if it wasn't for the discount. And the free suite on the 23rd floor was just sweet of you!"

"Oh no need to thank me, Maddie. Anything for an old friend, and an old colleague. Besides we consider you now an esteemed Tipton patron," replied Esteban in his same strong accent. Maddie beamed at him. She had kept in touch with Esteban even in the years that she had stopped working at the Tipton to go college and then to Harvard Law School. Even when she became a city councilor, she always managed to stop by at the Tipton to visit old friends. She even set up some of her business meetings there most of the time.

Through the years, Esteban rose from the ranks from bellboy to doorman, to concierge and finally to manager of the Boston Tipton. Mr. Moseby had been promoted a long time ago. He was now the overall manager of the Tipton chain of hotels and was Mr. Tipton's right hand man. He travels a lot now to oversee the Tipton hotels all over the world so Maddie doesn't see him very often. He was one of many that Maddie still misses behind the front desk even if she was glad that Esteban had gotten that job and was doing well at it.

"You can always count on me to support you and I'm sure the rest of the Tipton will too," Esteban continued. He took the "Vote for Fitzpatrick" button Maddie just handed to him and proudly pinned it on his Tipton tie. "Perhaps we can hang your campaign banner at the front of the hotel too."

"Oh will you?!" Maddie cried excitedly.

"No, he won't!" came a familiar shout from the door.

Maddie instinctively froze. And she saw that Esteban too had a similar reaction. Only now he seemed to appear like the stuttering bellboy years ago instead of the confident manager that he was.

"Oh Mr. Moseby!" cried Esteban with an even heavier accent—an indication that he was more nervous than usual. "I didn't realize you were in town."

Maddie turned around and found her old boss had just entered the lobby with the usual stern expression. Maddie understood Esteban's sudden plunge of confidence. Even through the years, Mr. Moseby still had that effect on her that made her want to behave better. But she snapped out of it and greeted him with a hug.

"Mr. Moseby, it's good to see you again! It's been so long!"

"Oh hello Maddie!" Mr. Moseby replied cheerfully as he hugged her back. "Good to see you, good to see you, Maddie and I'm so glad you decided to choose the Tipton as your venue for your campaign headquarters."

"Well, I wouldn't have it in any other place, Mr. Moseby. And I'm so glad you're here. I'm touched that you've come to support me in my campaign."

Mr. Moseby slowly let her go and his face suddenly turned serious. "Well you know I will always support you. I would certainly vote for you, but…"

Maddie's smile faded and she was suddenly confused. "But?"

Mr. Moseby looked uncomfortable. "Well you see, I can't really appear to support you in public. And neither can the rest of the Tipton staff while they are on duty." He gave Esteban a look before his eyes fell on the button Esteban just pinned. Esteban's face fell and he fiddled with the button. "I'm really sorry Maddie, it's just that Mr. Tipton has issued a policy that we are not to publicly support any political candidate. The Tipton must always appear to be neutral because it might turn off a lot of potential clients who may be supporting the other party. It's just business."

Maddie nodded. "It's alright Mr. Moseby. I understand. Your support is all that matters anyway even if it's just in a private capacity." She turned to Esteban who was sadly taking off the button on his tie. "Yours too, Esteban."

"Well, I might as well inform both of you as well," continued Mr. Moseby. "Mr. Tipton has asked me to stay here and oversee things throughout the length of the campaign, on the account that there will be quite a lot of media coverage that will be good publicity for the Tipton."

Maddie grinned at him. She just knew this was her old boss' way of being grateful to her. "Oh Mr. Moseby you don't have to thank me for helping you get the Tipton get extra publicity. I wouldn't choose any other venue for my campaign headquarters but here. Besides, I think the Tipton is most competitive price-wise too and has good service."

But Mr. Moseby still looked uncomfortable. "Well, I'm grateful Maddie, but the thing is, you're not the only reason why there will be extra media coverage."

Maddie's face crunched in confusion. "Why?" Then she lit up as an idea hit her. "Is there a new Hollywood celebrity coming to stay at the Tipton? Oooh! Who is it?! Maybe I can convince him or her to support me! I could get a free endorsement!"

Mr. Moseby shook his head awkwardly. "Uhmmm… no Maddie, it's not a celebrity. But someone just made a reservation to use the other half of the ballroom you're not using for your headquarters. I'm afraid it's—"

"Trevor Morgan?!" Maddie suddenly exclaimed for she just saw her rival walk through the revolving doors with a briefcase in one hand and a trolley with a suitcase in the other. He was followed by a group of his supporters. Maddie pushed past Mr. Moseby and came face to face with him. "What are you doing here?" she demanded.

Trevor appeared surprised to see her. "I can ask you the same thing."

Maddie crossed her arms across her chest and lifted her chin higher to glare at him. "I'm booked here for the campaign."

"So am I," replied Trevor.

Maddie's mouth fell open at his audacity. "Are you following me? You can't stay here!"

"Neither can you!" he smirked back.

"THE TIPTON BALLROOM IS MY HEADQUARTERS!" they both said and then: "Huh?"

They stared at each other before they both turned to Mr. Moseby.

"I'm sorry," cried Mr. Moseby miserably. "But Mr. Morgan faxed his reservation for half the ballroom yesterday at the main Tipton office in New York. When I called here to check if it was available, Esteban told me only half of it has a standing reservation. I didn't know until this morning that it was for you Maddie. There was no reason for me not to approve the reservation and book him the other half last night."

"Well then he'll just have to cancel that reservation and go someplace else," said Maddie as she glared at Trevor.

"Hey, I have much right to be here as you," he retorted. "I can't find another place in the middle of Boston right now. The Tipton is the most ideal venue for my headquarters."

"The Saint Mark Hotel is right across the street!" she pointed out.

"It's being renovated," argued Trevor. "Besides, the Tipton is more competitive price-wise and in terms of service."

"Thank you!" said Mr. Moseby.

"Shut up!" Trevor and Maddie said together before they resumed their glaring contest.

"I'm not moving out!" Maddie said firmly.

"Neither will I!"

"Fine then, just keep your people to your side of the ballroom. I won't have you spying on me and interrupting my fund-raising activities."

Oh please," Trevor rolled his eyes heavenward. "Why would any of my people come close to a bunch of bleeding heart liberals?"

"I don't know, maybe because they're scared that their establishment puppet candidate will lose!"

There was a sound of an elevator bell and the doors flew open to reveal a 23-year-old blonde young man in a gray striped suit and pants.

"You?" Mr. Moseby suddenly sputtered. It interrupted Maddie's screaming tirade with Trevor. She turned to face the young man who strode in cheerfully towards the front desk.

"Hi Mr. Moseby," the young man greeted. "It's nice to see you again too. We're all set Maddie." He stopped as he saw Trevor. "What is he doing here?"

Maddie didn't answer him but turned from Mr. Moseby to Trevor with a superior look.

"Cody Martin's my campaign manager," she explained proudly. "If you must know, he graduated top of his class from Columbia U in political science last year. He has weekly opinion column at the Boston Herald and he teaches high school students how to choose really deserving candidates that work for the environment. He's the most efficient and most organized manager and he makes an irresistible batch of organic cookies perfect for sorties. What have you got?"

Trevor didn't look fazed. "A really resourceful manager that probably has a lot more imagination than Mr. Organic Baker here." He turned towards the revolving doors just as it twirled again. Maddie followed his gaze and saw another 23-year-old blonde young man emerge into the lobby in a flashy outfit that was more suited to a rock star than anything else.

"Zack?" Maddie muttered in disbelief before Mr. Moseby screamed:

"Oh no! The bane of my existence! They're both back!"

Oh I just love Mr. Moseby. This story won't be updated as fast as Consequences before and my excuse is also my busy schedule. I'll try to update it when I can but I don't really have much time to write these days so I'm already warning everyone that there might be delays in this fic. Still, I appreciate all of you who reviewed.