Madison Tanner's Story

---

---

The crystal clear, cyan sky greets Anthony the moment he steps out of the cab that carried him and his belongings to the hotel. Years of working his tail off for Google and this is the first time they have done anything like this for him. It's nice, and long overdue. The well dressed, clean cut man thanks the driver with one of his signature smiles and carefully pulls his suitcase inside the lavish lobby. He would have been impressed, had he not been in places like it for previous business trips. Still, it's nice to know the company appreciates it's employees enough to send them somewhere worthwhile. And unlike other trips, this time Tony comes with a lot less pressure on his shoulders. This time he doesn't have to worry about coming up with an enticing sales pitch or sleeping with the boss to convince her to sign off on a contract. Not that he particularly minds the latter.

His only responsibility for this upcoming week is to relax and enjoy the benefits of working for such a company as Google. As the Marketing Department's "deal closer" (as his boss words it), he will be required to lead a meeting or two with the purpose of teaching others how to make sure to always get the signature from a potential customer. It's the man's specialty and his boss wants him to teach his gift to the rest of the marketing department. Still, it's nothing to loose sleep over. The main focus here will be his much needed R&R.

"Afternoon!" he says, flashing the lady behind the reception desk a bright smile. She looks to be in her fifties, sixties even, but the Liu charm still does the trick and she responds with a smile of her own. "Afternoon sir, do you have a reservation?" fishing into his wallet for his driver's licence, Tony places it on the counter with a slight nod. "I do indeed." The woman takes the small ID card and runs the information through the computer before promptly handing it back to it's owner. The smile on her face falters a bit before she provides him with a few pamphlets and his room key. "Here you are sir, and we do apologize again for the inconvenience, but we made sure to place you with someone from your cooperation and gave you two a comfortable big room to accommodate for our mistake" Anthony's naturally relaxed brows instantly knit together in perplexity as he listens. "Pardon?" The women looks equally confused by his response. "I'm sorry, were you not informed? Our hotel is experiencing a high volume of reservations this week so we were forced to pair up those in your departments to share rooms. Anthony can feel his jaw slowly falling at the sudden news. Why is he just now being informed about this?

"Look, Abigail." he begins, making sure to pronounce the name on the woman's name tag. "Abby...may I call you Abby? I'm sure there's a misunderstanding because I was never informed of this." The conflicted look on the woman's face gives him an opportunity to continue. "Could you please check the system again? I'm sure there's bound to be an available room or two" with a few seconds of hesitation, she does as she is asked, slowly shaking her head in response. "I'm sorry Mr. Liu...we're all booked for the rest of the week. The next available room with open up on Friday afternoon. I can reserve that one for the rest of your stay if you'd like?" A soft sigh eminates from Tony's lips as he gathers his things, gently shaking his head. "That's alright, I'll manage. Thank you."

His walk to the room is quiet and undisturbed, and his mood is significantly lower than it was when he arrived. Coming to a stop in front of room {2204} he lets out another sigh and slides in the key card. He can't think if anyone he wouldn't be comfortable sharing a room with, but that certainly does not mean he's happy about it. Having a roommate could seriously hinder his R&R. The only thing he can do now is hope that whoever this person may be will stay out of his way. Just because they'll be staying in the same room it doesn't mean they'll have to see one another outside of it. Despite the inconvenience, Anthony is still determined to have the vacation he came for.

---

---

Five minutes inside the room and Anthony's phone had begun to buzz excessively. His boss must have gotten word he had checked in and just could not wait to begin pestering him. "Remember you're the boss when I'm not there, so I expect you to behave as such." the man had said for what felt like the hundredth time that day. Honestly, Anthony had lost count at that point. "I know you're supposed to be relaxing, but remember the workshops are important." After a few more "reminders" and a couple of complaints on Tony's side, the phone call ended. About thirty minutes had passed and still no sign of whoever was meant to share the room with him, not that he was eager to meet the guy but it would be nice to know what he had been forced into.

After deciding to get a head start on things before his boss has any room to complain, the male headed down to the conference room in search of some instructions that had apparently been sent for his use in the upcoming meetings. It's unlikely that Tony will actually make use of them, but he can at least pretend. Stack of papers and a glass of Gin n' Tonic and he's headed back up to his bedroom. Perhaps he can give the instructions a read through, while he's poolside, in comfortable clothes and sipping on a well made drink. In contrast to what his boss has told him, his relaxation will come first. The meetings are more of an afterthought.

The door to the spacious suit opens slowly, showing Anthony an empty couch and coffee table, but there's a suit case parked near the entrance of the room. Nothing looks to be out of place, so at the very least this guy is clean. With a sigh, he pushes the door shut and heads to the bedroom in search of less tight fitting attire. What greets him, instead of an uptight man in a suit like he was expecting, is a woman. Thin, blonde and several inches shorter than him. Tony blinks once, twice, before switching his gaze to the suitcase by the door and then back to her. "Don't tell me you're my roommie for the rest of this trip..." he says, more in disbelief than disappointment. Maybe sharing a room won't be so terrible after all. Extending a hand out to her, he puts on his best dimpled smile, behaving as gentlemanly as possible. "Anthony. Anthony Liu. Executive marketing director." he introduces, carefully examining the woman's face. Something about her feels strangely familiar, and not in a good way.

Once freshened up, and still with no sign of her roommate, Madi decided to head down to the pool. She took her carry on into the bedroom and put some country music on the television in the bedroom. In such a luxury suit, there were televisions in the bedroom and living room, and there was a little radio in their kitchenette. Overall, a very nice place that she was kind of jealous she couldn't enjoy by herself. However, that would not keep her from enjoying her vacation. Madi always tried to find the positive in every situation, including having someone to share this experience with. Besides, this was her first company retreat, so maybe her roommate had a little more experience that she could share.

With the music on, Madison hadn't heard the door to the room opening. She was swaying to the music in true Madison Tanner fashion as she slid into the little dress that covered a little more than her bikini did to walk down to the pool. With not paying attention, the blonde gave a small start when she heard a man's voice. As soon as she turned and her brown eyes met his, the word "roomie" ringing in her head, Madi knew that this business trip had just gone south, and not the glorious, warmer, sun-shining south either.

However, Anthony appeared not to recognize her. Perhaps that would be for the better. Then again, she hadn't done anything to him. He was the one that made her high school years literal hell. He had been the one to mock her and her friends for just about everything they looked like and did. He had been the one that destroyed her confidence and self-worth all those years ago that she had spent so long to rebuild.

Moving slowly, as if in shock, Madi took the offered hand. She wanted to say that she knew who he was, but she didn't want to give that away. If he never recognized her, they at least had a chance of having a decent trip. If he did and took up the arrogant ways he had kept in high school, then she was ready for this glorious retreat to end. It was then that the girl realized that she was still shaking his hand, and she hadn't even given her own name yet. "Madison Tanner. New Marketing Manager for the northeast region." She said softly, releasing his hand and brushing some blonde hair behind her ear, ready for his recognition.

---

---

Tony's large, dark eyes hovered on the blonde woman's face a for a few beats, the name she had presented herself as ringing in his ears. Madison...even the name seems familiar. Any thoughts of having met in other business related trips were thrown out the window when she proclaimed to be new. So where has he met her before? "Well Madison, it's a pleasure to meet you. You can call me Tony" he says, smile still in tact. "You're in luck." he adds, heading over to one of the drawers where he had stored some belongings. "You get to share a room with none other than your training instructor for the week." pulling out a comfortable pair of khaki shorts and a nice button up white shirt, he turns to face her again. "So if you ever want a little bit of extra credit, just say the word" the wink is thrown in for good measure before Anthony takes his belongings and saunters into the empty bathroom to change clothing.

After changing out of his black slacks and dress shirt, he pulls on his new outfit and tussles his hair in the mirror a bit. Smiling at the reflection, he takes a step back to make sure he's picked up everything again.Madison...Madison. The name continues to run through his mind like a broken record. Tanner.... Anthony is certain he has never dated and/or slept with this girl before, and she's new to the company coming from a completely different branch. The curiosity gnaws at the back of Anthony's head like an annoying squirrel. It doesn't make a difference whether they've met before or not, but if he doesn't figure it out it will drive him up the wall from the rest of the week.

Washing his hands and stepping out of the bathroom, his eyes wander over to the woman's figure. Madison Tanner.... Coming to a stop in front of her, possibly interrupting her on the way out, his eyes scan her from head to toe. "Pardon the random question Madison but...where did you attend high school?" he asked, arms folded across his chest. He's almost one hundred percent sure there was a Madison Tanner in his high school, that graduated in his class. A band geek and her nerdy clique. Certainly this can't be the same Madison. But now that he can place it, the woman's face is unmistakably the same face that hid behind a pair of glasses and books. If he's correct, and this woman really is that girl from his past, then this vacation has taken a sharp turn for the worst.

Convinced that this sort of vacation couldn't get any worse, Madi cursed herself for jinxing the situation. Not only was she in the same training program as him and living with him for the week, now she found out that she had to answer to him as well?! Hell no! Taking a deep breath, Madison had to do the hardest thing she had done in a while: keep her smile on her face as he offered her extra credit. It was clear in that moment that he was still the pompous, arrogant a--hole he had been in high school. As much as she had changed, it was too obvious that he hadn't changed in the slightest. He was so full of himself that he couldn't even recognize the girl he had tormented all those years ago.

While Anthony was changing, Madi took that time to braid her hair using the dresser mirror in the room. Now she was determined to spend as much time out of this room as possible. Maybe if all she did was sleep in there, limiting their interactions, and sitting away from him during the meetings, he might not notice her at all. That would be the best way for this week to pass. She had just slipped on her flip flips and was about to make her escape, lost in her own thoughts of getting out of there, that she almost walked into him.

Alas, he had remembered her. "Fairview High School." She said in a whisper. The old her, the one he had ridiculed, would have looked down and tried to escape, but instead, she looked him straight in the eyes. "Why am I not surprised you couldn't remember the girl you did nothing but put down for four years? Now, I'm going down to the pool; you can go anywhere other than there." She brushed her bangs out of her eyes, grabbed her towel and little pool back, and left the room.

The blonde spent the rest of the evening relaxing by the pool and reading materials her boss had given her to sharpen her mind and prepare her for the meeting. If anything, now she was even more determined to excel in this field to show Anthony that she could be better than him at something finally. It wasn't fair that he got the looks, jock skills, and brains. She had dinner served to her by the pool, and didn't return to their room until rather late, hoping she could slip into the shower and go to bed without having to deal with the guy she didn't even want to be in the same state as.

---

---

Anthony bit down a sarcastic chuckle as the woman walked past him. Of course it's her because he's clearly not meant to enjoy this vacation in the slightest. "Well that was rude" he muttered under his breath, heading over to the floor length mirror. Yes, he had probably made her life a living hell back in high school, but the fact that he didn't recognize her immediately doesn't mean he's proud of what he did. Of course, he's not overwhelmed with regret either, but it's not exactly something that he would put on his resume. High school was years ago, circumstances and people change, a concept that miss Tanner clearly has not grasped.

Anthony spent the rest of his day barside, chatting up a few women and potential customers. Despite his best efforts to escape the work mindset, it's become a habit to advertise and look for potential clients when he's speaking to people. Something he's really trying to work on getting rid of but as the company's best marketing tool, he has the responsibility of staying sharp. One conversation and a few drinks in and he's won the corporation another multi-million dollar contract and a potential investment.Maybe now the boss will get off his case and give him some breathing space for the remainder of the week. He's already got enough to deal with having the ghost from his past staying within the same four walls as him.

Almost two in the morning and an energy ridden Anthony finally makes it back to the hotel room. Stepping quietly inside, he takes note of the fact that it's quiet and only the miniature kitchen's light shines through the entire room and guesses his roommate is fast asleep. He hadn't failed to take note of the one bed centered in the middle of the room. Of course it had to be only one bed,
and miss Tanner has clearly beat him to it. It's a king size, big enough for almost four people, and were it under any other circumstances Anthony might have made himself comfortable on the opposite side of the large mattress. However, he's not blind.
Madison clearly hates his guts and he's not exactly thrilled to share a bed with her either. Contrary to what she probably believes is law, Anthony can be and is a good guy.

After taking a much needed shower, he quietly walks into the bedroom area, gathering up a few blankets and a pillow, and heads back out to set up station on the wide couch in the small living room. Not bothering to put on anything other than a pair of sweatpants, he slips in under the covers. Unbelievable. He's meant to be on a relaxing vacation, yet here he is, sleeping on a couch in which he barely fits. Not to mention he needs to be up early to set up for the first meeting. Who cares if it comes off as rude? Tomorrow Madison can sleep on the couch herself.

Madison almost had quite the mind to inform Anthony of what rude really meant. Making fun of a 13 year old girl because she wore glasses? Rude. Propositioning a girl you know but don't remember and offering her sex? Rude. Being an arrogant a**hat? Rude. Telling the person that did all of that to leave her alone? Not rude. They really had to work on his definition of what rude was, because they were very clearly not on the same page.

Being the first one showered and ready for bed, those laying in the bed? Also not that rude. She hadn't kicked him out or told him to sleep on the couch. Instead, she just went to bed, wearing her pajama shorts and a simple tank top. The blonde slept soundly through the night until she heard an alarm blaring in the other room. Groaning, Madi rolled over and swiped her hand over her phone. "5:30?" She muttered. Her alarm wasn't supposed to go off until 7! However, once she was awake, the young woman could never go back to sleep. She tossed for a few minutes before turning off her alarm and going over to the living room.

"Anthony, turn that damn alarm clock off!" She said. "Why are you even getting up so early?" As soon as she was up, she was up and there was no hope in turning her mind off until that night. That could possibly be why she over thought everything, because her mind never stopped. Before falling asleep, Madi had promised herself that she would give Tony a chance to prove he had changed, even if everything she had seen thus far had shown her that he hadn't. It never hurt to try at least.

Her clothes were still in her suitcase, so Madi waited for her roommate to finish with the bathroom while she rifled through the neatly folded stacks of clothing to pick out a pair of brown slacks with an orange tank top, putting a sheer white shirt over it. Now all she had to do was fix her hair and brush her teeth before her day really began.

---

---

Despite the uncomfortable position, Anthony sleeps like a rock. A heavy, dreamless sleep. The kind of sleep he hasn't had in a while. It's not until his cell phone alarm blares from the coffee table a few feet away and he pushes himself into a sitting position that he remembers the less than fortunate situation he has been shoved into. His head is pounding, his back aches, and it's much too early for his brain to properly function while being switched onto vacation mode. As if that weren't enough, the first thing to come out of his lovely roommate's mouth is a loud complaint thrown in his direction. Letting a sigh escape from the deepest part of him, he gets to his feet, calmly exiting out of the alarm's notification and setting the phone back down on the table.

"Must you be so loud this early in the morning?" he mumbles, stretching his stiff limbs as his half naked body makes its way towards the lavish bathroom. "I liked you better when you kept your mouth shut and your face shoved in a book." he adds on his way past her. Anthony has never been a morning person, but even if he were, he's positive not one person would appreciate being yelled at first thing in the morning. Ignoring any sort of comeback from the girl,
he walks into the bathroom, quickly working through his morning routine only to come back out fifteen minutes later. Not bothering to get dressed just yet and without so much as sparing Madison another glance, he waltz out of the bedroom area and towards the small kitchen. There's no way in hell he'll make it through this day without the proper amount of caffeine in his system. Much to his delight, there's an espresso machine poised at one of the counter's corners, complete with it's selection of strong brews. Making sure to choose the heaviest one, he sets to make himself the only positive thing this morning thus far.

Not even a minute into waiting for the coffee to brew and Anthony's phone begins to vibrate uncontrollably in the other room.
There's no need for him to check the caller ID, he can already make a solid guess on who would be calling this early. Promptly ignoring the buzzing, he focuses his full attention on making the perfect cup of Cuban espresso he possibly can.

BZZZ! BZZZZ!

"Too damn early....". Going against his best judgement, he ignores the call once again, tempted to just mute his phone for the remainder on the day. As much as the boss swears up and down that he trusts Anthony and his skills, he surely doesn't act like it. A couple more sips and the blasted contraption begins to buzz for the third time. Resisting the urge to groan out loud, he trudges over to the living where the noisy device sits. "What now?" Having worked for the company for several years now and reaching the position he has means that all formalities between Anthony and his higher up have been dropped completely. Whether the man likes it or not, he's not going to get many "yes sir"s from Anthony.

"Is that any way to talk to your boss?" Unamused scowl properly in place, Tony leans against the kitchenette counter, bringing the cup back up to his lips. "It's six in the damn morning, how do you expect me to great you when you have me getting up this early during my supposed vacation?" he complains, setting the phone on speaker and placing it on top of the counter top. A sigh can be heard on the other side of the phone line. "I just wanted to make sure you were up." the man responds. Tony scoffs. "Also, I realized I forgot to mention to you the issue of the overbooking. Whoever you get is most likely new to the company so be nice." The tall Chinese suppresses a sarcastic laugh. "Sure. That all?" He decides to leave out the fact that it's probably a bit too late to fulfill that request.