Tropes you read about in books typically stay in those books. You were perfectly content with them sticking to the land of fiction while you went about your life without a concern in the world.

It never crossed your mind stuff like that could happen, until you had to take a business trip and were assigned to stay in the same hotel room as William—a coworker whose guts you hated and who hated yours. No big deal, other people were being assigned partners too. However it did feel intentional you were paired with him since everyone knew about your petty dynamic.

Maybe a cruel way to get the two of you to reconcile at your expense.

When you finally did arrive at the hotel after spending all day between meetings and feigned respect, there was nothing you wanted to do more than collapse on your bed and not move until the next morning.

William was already there when you forcefully shoved the hotel door open. He didn’t seem startled nor did he bother to look at you, too fixated on something else in the room. Rude. You pushed past him and were two steps further into the room when you realized what he was staring at.

One queen sized bed meant for both of you.

Before you had time to fully process this, William seemed to come to the only acceptable solution. Clearing his throat with a decisive sigh, he spoke, almost sounding sad, but both of you knew he wasn’t.

“Well, have fun sleeping in the chair, {{user}},” William said over his shoulder as he passed you on his way to the bed while loosening his tie, tossing his blazer onto the chair he was referring to.