I have definitely noticed that Madison isn't here in the office. Her and I don't interact everyday, but I feel her in the office when she is here. Bronson you are just being weird now, you feel her. You have a staff of great lawyers, stop daydreaming about Maddie, Madison. I just smile to myself and continue to look out the window of my office. She has only been gone a little over a week, she still has a week before she will be back in the office. Suppose it wouldn't hurt to take a walk through the office and see what everyone is up to. I have been reading the same line on this brief for the last hour.
This office is pretty nice, everyone is friendly and have been very welcoming of me. Well except getting kneed the first month I was here, but I deserved that. I chuckle to myself. Oh there is Alice, maybe I can get some updates from her about Madison without being too obvious. "Hey Alice, how is your day going." She looked up at me from her desk and her eyes are red rimmed. "Alice what is wrong, are you ok?"
"Um, well. I, that is you see."
Something is seriously wrong, she will hardly look me in the eye. "Alice it's ok, if you don't want to tell you boss I understand."
"It isn't that. I, well I don't know what to do about it."
"Do about what exactly?"
Alice just kept looking around the office at all the people around her. She isn't gonna tell me with everyone watching. Well they don't look like they are watching, but I just saw Gale perk up when I started questioning Alice. "Never mind Alice, I am sorry I am being so noisy. It really is not my place to ask." She looked at me searchingly as I walked off. Why is it me she wants to talk to about whatever is bothering her? Wait does it have something to do with Madison. I am gonna have to figure out what is going on.
Of course going back to my office I haven't been able to get back to work since seeing Alice. What if it is Madison? Oh forget the gossip crap, this is an office I can call Alice in here. I will just send her a quick email asking her to come see me.
There is a knock on my office door soon after. "Come in."
"You wanted to see me sir," Alice says as she steps into the room.
"Yes Ms. Wright. Please shut the door and have a seat." Alice sat and started wringing her hands. "Damn it Alice you are going to give me a heart attack. What in the world is wrong with you today? Is it Madison?"
She just looks up at me and looks to be trying to hold back the tears.
"Just tell me what is going on. If you are this upset maybe you should just go home for the day."
"No that won't help."
"Alice?"
"I am just really worried Bronson."
"Ok start from the beginning and let's see if we can't fix this for you."
"Well the weekend before Madison left on vacation her and I went out dancing and met some really nice guys."
Ouch, that hurts. It shouldn't after all this time but it definitely just felt like I got kicked in the gut. "Ok." That is about all I can manage right now.
"Well I met and hit it off with Craig. He is so amazing, I really like him."
"And Madison."
"Well she met Dillon. They seemed to have really hit it off too, and they even talked every night that week before she left."
Oh I really don't want to hear this. "Are you sure you should be telling me all this?"
Alice looks backup at me and starts to smile. "Don't worry, Dillon and Madison aren't together and never will be."
What am I supposed to say to that, obviously I wasn't hiding my feelings about this very well. "I am guessing there is more to this story then."
"Yeah a lot. So the Sunday before Madison left she went to the park and well she saw you actually."
I remember that day like it was moments ago. Madison let me just hold her and I think we both healed in that moment. "Yes I remember."
"Well when she got home she had some pretty disturbing messages from Dillon. I guess he saw you two at the park and didn't like it. Well Madison talked to him and they worked it out, because I guess seeing the girl you like cuddling up to some other guy could piss off anyone." She looks at me and gives me a knowing smile.
"We were not cuddling. We were comforting each other and forgiving."
"Anyway, so they spent the rest of the week just talking on the phone because their schedules didn't allow them to meet up again. Well when she flew off on vacation I guess the next morning she had some pretty possessive messages from him again and this time she said enough is enough and ended it."
Stop smiling Bronson, you should not be smiling about this.
"Well after she left Craig and I were talking about Dillon and come to find out they aren't actually friends. Dillon is Craig's roommate's brother. And his roommate, Stacy, avoids her brother at all cost."
"Why?" Something is wrong.
"I guess he is very demanding, acts like he is her dad and they really don't get along. Then on the day Madison didn't call him back Dillon showed up at Craig's place royally pissed off claiming all women are whores and wanting to know where Stacy was whoring herself around. Craig kicked him out and Stacy hadn't heard from him since then."
"You said she hadn't heard from him, meaning she did finally hear from him?"
"Yeah, he showed up at their place yesterday. I guess he was really pissed again and he was grilling Craig about Madison. Craig doesn't know anything other than what I tell him, and he wasn't about to tell Dillon anything. But I guess as he stormed out the door he said he would just find out on his own."
"Find out what on his own?"
"Well they weren't sure, so Stacy wanted to give him some time to cool off but didn't feel right about what he had said so she went by his place this morning and he wasn't there."
"Ok he wasn't there, was he at work?"
"No, Dillon's landlord was there and Dillon left yesterday evening. Told the guy he was taking a much needed tropical vacation and left, asked if he would feed his dog for him while he is gone."
Ok, that doesn't seem so bad, "he needed a vacation, I don't see the problem. Wait you don't think he went to find Madison do you?"
"I really don't know. Stacy said two of his past girlfriends have restraining orders against him because of his behavior."
"Have you called Madison, just to let her know what is going on?"
"She isn't answering her phone. I have tried her three times today. Maybe I am over reacting and she is out on a boat or something and doesn't have service. I usually don't hear from her much when she is on vacation."
"Still you never know what a guy like that will do, it is only Monday and Madison isn't due back until this weekend. We need to get ahold of Madison."
******
The hike and waterfalls are impressive. Kauai has some truly amazing waterfalls. Oh wow, now someone is leaving me chocolates at my door. Thanks but no thanks. I don't eat things I don't know who gave them to me. In the trash you go. That is also where my phone should probably go too. It and water do not mix, hopefully taking the battery out and leaving it out on the counter tonight will keep me from having to get a new one. Really don't want to have to get a new phone. I really hope the water didn't damage my SD card with all my pictures on it.
The hotel is having their luau tonight. Those have always been amazing too. One of these days maybe I will try to be learn some of the dances they look like so much fun. Only a few more days before my vacation is over, am about ready to head back to my life back home.
The luau as always was absolutely amazing! I ate and drank and even learned a bit of the dances. Not that I was much good at it, but it was a lot of fun. I am ready to just fall into bed, ouch what the heck. I have a sticker in my foot, wait no it is a thorn, from a dozen red roses set off to the side of my door. I have no idea who this person is, none of the guys around here have even paid much attention to me. I picked them up and stuck my nose down into them. I mean who isn't going to smell the roses, come on its roses! Huh, they have a funny smell to them. Oh well, they are beautiful and who knows what other flowers and such they have been around.
I unlocked my door and set the roses on the counter. Oh damn, I don't feel so good. I must have drank more than I thought. I just need to get to bed.
Man, maybe I shouldn't drink so much anymore. I can barely even open my eyes and I have a splitting headache. Haven't felt like this after drinking, well ever. I think I am getting too old for this. I am on vacation why am I even trying to get up anyway? Ah that would be why. Someone is rudely pounding on my door.
It took me another fifteen minutes to talk myself into making it to the door, so I was not in the greatest of moods when I opened it. And was shocked as hell, "Bronson, what the hell are you doing here?"
He didn't even answer just walked in and put me in a bear hug.
"Bronson, stop it you are suffocating me!"
He loosened his grip but didn't let me go, "Sorry Madison, I didn't mean to."
"Bronson, I have had a rough morning, so please why the F*** are you here?!"
"You haven't been answering your cell phone and Alice is really worried about you."
I gave him my best skeptical look, "really Alice is worried about me, and where is she pray tell? Are you hiding her in your pocket?"
Bronson looked down at the floor, "No Alice isn't with me."
"I didn't think so, I have a splitting headache and since you came all this way, I am sure there is a story behind that, but I have to go lay down. Come in and you can fill me in while I try not to fall back asleep on you."
I laid back down on my bed and Bronson walked over to the chair closest to me. As soon as he sat down, I closed my eyes. "Ok Bronson why are you here?"
He cleared his throat, "Dillon is missing."
My eyes popped right back open, "oh my God, what do they think happened to him?"
"Sorry, not that kind of missing."
I just looked at Bronson quizzically.
"His friend that Alice is seeing is worried about you."
"Me?"
"Yes, I guess Dillon has a history or getting a little obsessive with the women he sees."
"That kinda makes sense based on some of his actions, but why is everyone worried about me?" I said as I got comfy again and closed my eyes.
"Dillon's two previous girlfriends have restraining orders against him, and he left town a few days back. Told his landlord he was going on a much needed tropical vacation and asked if he would feed his dog."
"You think he is here, don't you?"
"We really don't know, but when you wouldn't answer your phone or text Alice she really started freaking out."
"So, you decided to be the white knight and come save me?" I still didn't open my eyes back up, but I can hear Bronson shifting in his chair.
"I just wanted to make sure you are ok."
"I am fine, my phone had a bit of a mishap and is drying out on the counter. I am hoping I don't have to get a new one when I get home."
"I am sorry I bothered you, we all just really wanted to make sure you were ok."
"I understand that, but you guys could have just called the hotel you know."
Bronson just smiled at me.
"I am going back to sleep, I am still on vacation and do not need to spend my time talking to my boss." I didn't want to sound like a total bitch so, "You did come all this way to check up on me, if you aren't heading right back to the states, if I can get myself out of bed this evening you want to go have dinner?"
Bronson looked shocked, but before he said anything I stepped in. "Just as friends. You came all this way the least I can do it be somewhat accommodating."
"I understand Madison. I have a flight back tomorrow afternoon, so I am staying for a night anyway. Do you want a later dinner?"
"That would be great."
"Ok, I will be back around 8. Does that work?"
"Perfect, see you later Bronson." I listen to him walk out and securely shut my door and then immediately fell back to sleep.
I did not wake again until 6 in the evening and managed to drag myself to the shower. I was feeling better just not at the top of my game yet, but no women in her right mind would be seen with someone like Bronson without looking her best. Waking at 6 gave me 2 hours to see if I could at least manage ¾ of my best.
Bronson showed up at 8 on the dot, when I opened the door, he was holding a beautiful bouquet of roses, a single rose and a box of chocolates. When I looked at him, he had a worried look on his face. "Bronson what's wrong?"
"I just found this single rose and chocolates outside your door."
Madison just smiled, "yeah, I have a secret admirer here. I had a dozen roses last night from them."
Bronson still looked worried, "this doesn't bother you at all? After everything I told you about Dillon?"
Madison just rolled her eyes, "no Bronson it doesn't. Other than Dillon getting a little weird before we broke up, he was a really nice guy. I know what you said earlier, but there is nothing I can do about what Dillon has or hasn't done with previous girlfriends. And frankly I am on vacation and shouldn't have to worry about that crap."
Bronson smiled at Madison, "as you wish. Let's go see if I can give you a great night to remember on your vacation."
"Are you going to tell me where we are going or what we are doing?"
Bronson just smiled a mischievous smile and shook his head no.
But Madison was not disappointed. He took them on a moonlight dinner cruise, and they talked and danced like old friends. None of it was uncomfortable or felt wrong. Actually, for the first time in a very long time for Madison everything felt perfectly right. And when he dropped her back off at her room, he didn't even try to kiss her goodnight. He gave her a hug and hoped she had a great rest of her vacation, and he would see her in the office when she gets back.
Madison went to bed that night dreaming of a man she had thought she would never see again or be willing to talk to again in her life.
The next morning, she decided to grab a book and just head down to the beach, but when she opened her room door there was another dozen roses in the hall but all the buds were cut off and laying around the vase. Madison just shook her head and left it all there, she wasn't going to let anything ruin the remainder of her vacation.
Madison came home Saturday to give herself a day to recoup before she had to head back into work. When the taxi pulled up to her place at the door there were dozens of wilted roses. Madison though, looks like maybe this is a Dillon problem, crap. When she got in her house there were 57 messages on her machine and after going through them, all but 3 were from Dillon. She didn't return any of his messages and worried where all this was going.