Sorry this chapter is so short - writing time will be quite tight this week - but I'll do my best.
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The luggage was taken to their room while Marissa, Erica, Brooke and Scott headed to the hotel dining room for a late meal. Marissa was keen to start on the contracts straight away but Scott was the first to insist she needed to stop for a meal – so she could at least keep her strength up.
They discussed the new offer for Mr Joossen's business while they ate. Marissa had her notebook from the meeting and was busy scrawling notes as new suggestions came up in the conversation to changes they could make to sweeten the deal. Brooke and Erica agreed to work on the new presentation, but Marissa was the only one who could re-write the contract.
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After dinner everyone retired to their rooms. They were located diagonally across the hall from each other. The first thing Marissa did when she entered the room she was to share with Scott was plug in and turn on her la top. Next she plugged in a her phone charger. She would give it a minute to charge before she gave Bianca a call. It was so late now she'd be putting the kids to bed. It wouldn't do to disrupt Miranda's night-time ritual. She could wait.
Scott looked at loose end as Marissa sat down in front of her computer to began looking through the contract again.
"Can I at least make you a coffee?" Scott asked turning on the room kettle.
"Thanks." said Marissa. "Make it strong. I need to stay awake and there is a lot to do."
"You think this will really take all night?"
"I have no idea." said Marissa already highlighting clauses that needed editing. "There's a lot to do. I'll try not to keep you awake."
"I was actually planning to keep you company. You might need a sounding board for questions, it's the least I can do."
Marissa gave him a grin.
"You're a good friend." she said, "Madison is very lucky to have you."
"Speaking of Madison?" Scott asked looking to her charging phone.
"Okay, but only a few minutes. I still haven't called Bianca and I promise I would."
Scott placed a hot mug of coffee in front of her.
"Thank you." he said.
He dialled Madison's number.
Marissa took a long sip of coffee. For a second she wondered if she was more tired than she thought, or the volume of her phone was too loud, as she could swear she heard Madison's phone ringing when Scott called her: it almost sounded like it was coming from the next room…
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