Losing Control

When in Rome

Zach:

    After landing, Zach picked up his briefcase. He exited the plane but bypassed the luggage claim. He knew that arrangements were made to have everything taken to his suite at the hotel. He then wandered to the airport exit where a car was waiting for him. The driver nodded while Zach climbed into the back seat.  Then he closed the door and headed to climb into his driving seat. They set off into traffic. Zach was anxious to get settled and figured out what he was doing.

    The ride to the hotel gave Zach time to think, 

        "Why in the hell did I come to Rome?" he thought.  Macy had been here for three weeks and the whole time all Zach could do is worry about her.  He wasn't getting any work done.

 He should be home, he had plenty of work to keep him busy, but after the call from Sarah, he had not been able to focus. So finally two weeks after her call, he announced that he was going to be out of the office for an unknown amount of time. Jen was surprised and asked if he was leaving for business. Her shock intensified when he told her no. She did not pry but knew that something odd was happening.

    She worked for Zach long enough to know that he never took time off. He had no family or friends to take time with and he was anal about his business. She had never seen him not at the office unless work required him to travel. As unusual as it was, she agreed to forward anything important to his personal phone or laptop and assured him that she would keep him in the loop.

        "I have everything under control Zach.  You go take care of whatever it is." Sarah told him as he packed his briefcase.  

***

         "Welcome, Mr. Green.  We are happy you chose to stay with us.  Here is your room key, and if I can be of any assistance please don't hesitate to ask."  a receptionist warmly greeted him with a sultry smile.

 She pretentiously flirted while handing him a key. She held it out to him while pushing her breasts towards him. He nodded at her but was too distracted to notice what she was offering. Her flirtatious efforts were wasted, as he strolled toward an open elevator.

    Reaching his suite Zach opened the door into a large living area. He admired the open kitchen and living room before heading to the master bedroom. His bags were waiting at the foot of the bed. Zach dug for his toiletries and a pair of grey sweats before heading into the adjoining bathroom. He hoped a shower would help him relax. The hot water soothed his muscles but did nothing for his racing mind. He still could not decide what was wrong with his brain. He was in Rome. He had no business in Rome. There were no professional reasons for him to be in Rome. Something had come over him when he thought about Macy in another country by herself. He knew that she was grieving in her own way, but his heart tugged when he thought of the girl he remembered. On an impulse, he had dropped work and booked his flight. The problem now was that he was in Rome with no plan. He had not thought past getting here. The little forethought he had, came when he called Sarah and gotten information on where Macy was staying. Now he needed to figure out how to get to her without making himself seem like a deranged stalker.

    Stepping out of the shower Zach sighed while he looked at himself in the mirror. His looks had matured in the four years since he had seen Macy, but not changed so much that she would not recognize him. He realized she would still recognize him, but he might not recognize her. She had been 15 when he left. Her black shoulder-length hair had been frizzy and uncontrollable, and her braces with pink rubber bands had made her adorable. She would be 18 or 19 now. He did not know what she would look like grown-up. He tried to picture it, but nothing came. Instead, he finished shaving and headed back to the in-suite kitchen. Grabbing a tumbler, he poured a whiskey and sat at the bar. This was going to be difficult.

 Macy:       

    Macy threw another dress on the bed. She still could not find what she wanted to wear. She had promised her roommate a night on the town to celebrate her twenty-first birthday. Marie was a party girl. The exact opposite of Macy. She moved into the flat a month before Macy, but they had known each other for a couple of years. Since Marie had come to Phoenix during Macy’s senior year.   She and her father had lived in Phoenix while her father started a business there and the girls had met in school.  Marie was older than Macy, but because they both were academically advanced the two had been in the same classes. Even though they were opposites they hit it off and stayed in touch.

    When Maire came to Macy’s college graduation, she had confessed to Marie that she needed a change. Marie invited her to stay in Rome as roommates. Macy had debated on it but decided that being in Rome with her only friend was a step in the right direction.  She needed to do something on her own.  During graduation, Macy realized that she had never made a decision for herself.  Her life had been planned by her parents or Sarah and Macy had always just done what they expected.  A trip to Rome would be the first time Macy just did something because she decided to.  An adventure that she chose.

    Now she had been here for three weeks and Marie’s constant nagging finally wore Macy down.  Marie spent at least an hour every night trying to convenience Macy that she was missing out on life by not partying.  Macy thought it was absurd but because of Marie's birthday finally agreed this one time.

  They were going out. All she needed was to pick a dress. The red was her best option, it complemented her pale skin, black hair, and green eyes. Pulling the dress on Macy decided on silver teardrop earrings and a thin silver bracelet. She knew that Marie liked more flash, but she felt confident that the mid-thigh dress suited her. Its modest neckline showed a small amount of cleavage and the dress hugged her curves perfectly. The sleeveless dress was modest enough for her, but also daring enough to be sexy. Macy was on the short side at 5’1 so the 6-inch black heels finished off the outfit.

     “You look hot”, Marie said as she walked in, in her pink mini dress. She had silver heels on and a leopard pink belt around her waist. Her sleeveless dress had a deep v showing a decent amount of her breast. She looked stunning, and the large drop diamond earrings added the flash that Marie favored.

     “Are you ready to head out then?”, Macy looked at her friend. “Sure, we are meeting Ian and Max at a bar not far from here, it’s in a hotel, then we will ride together to the club.” Macy set the silver chain of her black clutch over her shoulder as they headed out to catch a taxi.