Losing Control

Connected

          While Marie giggled at Ian, Macy did her best to pretend Max was interesting. When the girls arrived at the meeting spot Ian insisted that they have a couple of drinks to kick off the night. Macy quietly told the bartender to bring her a club soda. She did not mind a few drinks, but Ian rubbed her the wrong way, so she decided to wait until they got to the club. She felt like a clear head would serve her well. Marie had been dating Ian for a few months, and Macy kept her thoughts to herself because her friend seemed to enjoy his attention, but Macy just felt like the guy was a creep. Even if his best friend seemed like a harmless, shy and quiet guy.

     After Max came with Marie to get Macy at the airport he had come to the flat a couple of times because he was Ian's best friend and Ian would come to see Marie.  Marie encouraged Macy to get to know Max and even tried to get Macy to consider going on a date with him.  But Macy managed to convince Marie that she just didn't want to deal with a boyfriend right now.  The truth was Max just didn't do it for her.  She couldn't imagine herself dating him, he was too quiet and seemed like Ian's sidekick instead of a friend.

    Macy stood to go to the ladies’ room.  She gestured to Marie, but her friend shook her head.  So Macy headed off on her own.

    Macy walked through the bar taking her time looking at her surroundings, she did not get a good look on her way in, but she knew this was a hotel that catered to wealthy customers. The bar and lobby had expensive artwork and plush furniture. She and Marie had sat at the bar near the entrance, but there was another close to the back. Macy had a chance to see it as she walked past. The restrooms were located at the very back. She noticed that this area seemed quieter than the front. There was a circular couch with a coffee table were guests could relax. Beside it was a pool table that no one was using. One guest sat at the bar nursing a glass with gold liquid in it.

    As she passed the back bar a bartender nodded in her direction, the man drinking did not lookup. Even slumped his face was still at eye level with the bartender. She guessed he would be above 6 feet when he stood. He was wearing dark trousers and a black button-up shirt. She assumed at one point there was a jacket to match the trousers, but after business he had taken his suit jacket off.  Macy could see the Rolex on his left arm. She could not see his face but something tingled when she walked past like he was familiar.

    She shut the door to the ladies’ room and picked a stall.  After finishing she stood in front of the sink washing her hands. Then she touched up her makeup before trying to find another reason the linger. She really did not want to go tonight. She would rather be in her flat, reading a novel and relaxing, but it was Marie’s birthday and she did not want to hurt her feelings.

    When Macy finally exited the restroom, she was looking down trying not to stress.  Only a few steps and she crashed into a wall. Not a wall, a man. It was the man from the bar. She had been right about his height, he had to be at least six-five. He was broad like he worked out. She looked up to see his eyes were blue. Her heart fluttered. She was checking him out. He seemed to notice, and a smirk appeared on his face. Dimples appeared in each of his cheeks as his smirk turned into a smile.

 “Are you guarding the bathroom, or may I pass?” 

Macy squeaked, as a blush ran up her neck and to her cheeks. She moved to let the man pass and wondered what was wrong with her. She could not utter a normal word. Here was this gorgeous sample of a man, and her brain froze. What was the deal with that? She wanted to slap herself in the forehead. He had not said anything crazy, but she froze. She freaking squeaked. What was wrong with her? And why was he familiar? She kept beating herself up as she made her way back to her friend. She felt like she knew him, but it was a fleeting memory.  Before she could be frustrated by her thoughts she was back to her seat beside Marie.

        "Ahh, there she is." Marie spoke loudly. Macy knew she was already tipsy.

      Marie stood from her seat as soon as Macy made it to the table. She clapped and bounced, “Are you ready? I need to dance right now!”

 Macy smiled at her friend. This is why she could not get out of this, Marie was too excited, and Macy could not bring herself to ruin Marie’s birthday. She smiled and nodded while Marie grabbed her hand to drag her out into the lobby. They followed the guys to a waiting taxi, and everyone loaded up, ready to head for the club.

Zach:

     Zach washed his hands in the bathroom, he had been nursing a whiskey, while he talked himself into going to the flat that Macy lived in. He had been in Rome for more than a week and still had not reached out to her. The first few days he was conflicted about interfering with her life. He had no business being here or trying to involve himself in her affairs, but he also knew that Macy was alone. She was David’s daughter and David had been a good mentor, even a friend when Zach began making his own way in the world. Zach owed David and Leann.  Everything he learned from them had helped him become the success he was. Macy was technically an adult, but he still felt the need to check on her.  She was in a new country with only a friend whom he didn't know anything about.  She could get into any kind of trouble here and he just needed to be sure she was okay.  Although he was not sure why he felt so strongly about Macy's well being.  The girl had managed so far without him interfering, but something in his gut told him that she would need someone to take care of her.  And he knew all too well how it felt to be alone in the world.

    He wiped his hands on a towel before leaving the bathroom. He needed to get his head right and do what he came to Rome to do. He really should have been back in Nashville by now, but the extra time here had not been a total loss. Zach worked from his suite and had managed to meet with a few investors who were in Rome. Everything he does at the office had been done here. He felt guilty for being gone, but nothing was pressing him to go back. It had been too easy to avoid what he came for. 

    When he walked out of the men’s room Zach headed back towards the bar he came from. He couldn’t help but smile when he saw the woman who walked into him. He was walking towards the restroom, not paying attention to anything when he felt something hit him in the chest and heard a distinct “oomph”.  He looked down at the tiny creature that bumped into him, she was small.  Her green eyes widened when his eyes met them, but she quickly looked down and she squeaked an apology before scooting past him. He spotted her again as she walked out with another girl, two men following.

    From where he sat, he observed her raven hair that reached her waist. She was as short as he remembered but the heels, she wore showed off beautifully toned legs. The red dress hugged hips that flared and an ass that he could not stop staring at. She looked like she would be soft in all the right places. He lifted his glass letting his eyes wander over the woman. Once she was out of sight, he gulped the last of his drink and headed out.  He needed to do something to take his mind off of the reason for his trip.  After tonight he would have a clear head and a plan on how to reconnect with his friend’s daughter.