Sorry for the late post.

SPOILERS - this week - Marissa have work to do, Erica is reformed and Madison shows up in an unexpected place.

...

Mr Joossen was very thorough in ensuring he got his point across, laying out what he expected of Chandler if they were to take over his business. So insistent was he on his five points that he repeated them three times.

He wanted assurances that the company name would not change, that no one would be fired from their job during any restructuring that could take place; that the shareholding scheme that all employees were entitled to, would be retained; that there would be no asset striping of any kind and most importantly that the original warehouse in Haarlem where the company was founded almost four hundred years ago, would never be sold.

...

The meeting ended over four hours later than planned. Mr Joossen still wasn't convinced about the sale but he agreed to give them some time in the morning, to look at a changed contract. They would have just one hour to convince him before his flight home.

They left the meeting exhausted and disheartened and was it getting late. The car drove them across the city to their hotel. Marissa pulled out her cell phone to give Bianca and the kids a quick call to find out how their Halloween party was going. She was frustrated to find the battery was flat. She'd have to charge it at the hotel before she could use it. Erica, seeing her disappointment, actually offered her the use of her own phone. Marissa thanked her, she was clearly making an effort with her change of heart, but she knew Scott had the greater need. He had missed two opportunities to talk to his girlfriend and he was desperate to make sure his family was alright. He got hold of Madison straight away and they talked all the way to the hotel. It sounded like she was having a good time at the party.

Although it did mean Marissa would have to wait a little longer to talk to Bianca.

When they got to the hotel, Brooke was the one to go up to the desk to get the keys to their rooms, only there was apparently a mix up. Only two rooms were reserved in their name, not four.

"So we'll book an extra couple of rooms." said Brooke simply.

"I'm very sorry." said the desk clerk, "But we are fully booked. We have two large conventions in the hotel at the moment. A bit of a double booking I'm afraid."

"Well what was the mix up with us? What happened to the other rooms we reserved?"

"There was a cancellation. The call came through today at… two o'clock. They were snapped up almost the moment they became free."

"But who made the cancellation?"

The desk clerk could only look blankly back.

"I'm afraid I don't know."

"Well, can you get us rooms at another hotel nearby." Erica asked stepping up to the desk, Scott and Marissa joining her.

"I'm very sorry. I'm not sure we can help. We've already had to book up most of our neighbours to accommodate the overflow… I mean we can try…"

"Don't bother." said Marissa.

"What?" asked Erica.

"Look it's late. I honestly don't have the energy to traipse around this city looking for another hotel, there is too much to do. We've got rooms… we've got beds… It's one night, we can share."

"There are only two rooms."

"Are they single or double?" Marissa asked, looking to the clerk.

"Both double."

"So it's fine." said Marissa turning to Erica again. "You share with Brooke, I'll share with Scott. We're all adults here. There isn't a problem."

"You'll share with Scott?" asked Erica unable to stop the sceptical raise of her eyebrow.

Marissa groaned and looked heavenward for a second.

"Erica, I have to re-write the entire business contract in one night, just so we have something presentable for Mr Joossen in the morning. The original took me over a week to do! I doubt I'll be getting any sleep at all tonight and I need to get started sooner rather than later. Please just don't… okay? Don't."

"So we'll share." said Brooke, looking to Erica. "I think I can stand that for one night only."

"Scott?" asked Marissa looking to her friend.

"One night." he said with a nod. "I promise to be the perfect gentleman."

Marissa gave him a grin.

"You always are."

…