In a world of six billion people, it only takes a chance meeting with one person to change to your life. How that change affects your life is up to you.
"So let me get this straight, you let your new girlfriend take mom to a spa weekend and you don't know where it was or when they would be back." Michael raises his voice in disbelief.
"It's a girl thing Mike, what would they think if I asked where it was?" Nate goes on the defensive.
Michael sighs. He still can't figure his own brother out.
"When did they say they would be back?" He relents.
"Sunday afternoon/evening. Mom's gonna be fine. She needed to get away. Why are you giving me the third degree."
"You really want me to answer that?" Michael glares at his pacing brother.
"Look Mike, Suzanne is different."
Michael rolls his eyes, so were the couple of dozen before her. "Uh-huh. How long have you known Susan and where did you find her?"
"Suzanne, she doesn't like being called Susan or Susie. We've known each other three months, and I'll arrange for us to get together next week. I promise."
Michael noticed that Nate avoided the question of how they met.
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The element of surprise is the best weapon you have at your disposal. Think ahead and make sure you have an excuse you can use. You'd be surprised at what you can find out in a matter of minutes.
"What's the hurry?" Fi questions Michael as he speeds to his mom's house that Sunday afternoon. Michael wanted to be there when Nate's latest conquest was there.
"Nate's new girlfriend."
"Another one." Fiona grins.
"This one is different? She took mom to a spa weekend and Nate doesn't know where they went or ..." or what? I want to talk to her to find out her intentions."
"You mean interrogate?" Fi smiles. "I can't wait to see this."
Michael didn't bother to answer her.
As Mike and Fi pulled up to the house as a grey Lexus sedan pulls away. Out of habit, Michael looks over at the driver of the car, who was talking on her cellphone with the hands-free speaker in her ear. He didn't realize he was staring at the retreating figure of the car when Fi interrupts him.
If you think you recognize someone, don't make it to obvious by staring, just look at them like you are flirting.
"Like what you see Michael?" Fi commented jealously.
Michael ignores that remark.
Michael rushes in the front door.
"Mom? Mom is everything ok?"
"Everything's fine. We had such a good time. Suzanne is a dear."
"Where is your guest?"
"Oh you just missed her, she has a work issue to take care of.." Maddy beams. "We had the most wonderful time. I was puffed and pampered and pedicured. Nate sure knows how to pick 'em."
"Yea he does. So tell me about her."
"What's there to tell? She's the first girl Nate has brought home in a long time. And she is the first one that he listens to. She's polite and protective. She and her friends. "
"Her friends?"
Yes, Michael, you're the one who stresses safety in numbers. A couple of her friends joined us. And they made sure I was safe, they all..." Madeline stops then changes her mind about what she is about to day "they were very protective of me. They were like daughters."
Michael thinks twice about that slip that his mom almost made. What isn't she saying?
"Think we can meet her." Fi steps in and asks before Michael can get another word in.
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Michael, Fi, Sam and Veronica make their way through the crowded sidewalks to the local comedy club. "I don't think we're gonna get in. Veronica utters. "No knows how to even get their name on the list."
Michael doesn't believe they can get in either, there has to be some mistake with them meeting here. You have to know someone, who knows someone to even be considered to be put on the elite entry list. Otherwise you have to wait in the line like everyone else. Maybe they've been intentionally given the wrong place to meet.
"Leave it to me" Fi purrs as she makes her way to the man at the door "Hi there" She begins to flirt "We're supposed to meet our friends, Nate and Suzanne--"
"Oh yea, they're already here." The bouncer interrupts her. "George" he calls over to another bouncer, whispers in his ear and points. "Just follow him."
They follow their escort past the set tables on the floors and up to a private area, "Wow, this is exciting. I don't think my friends have ever gotten in this far." Veronica giggles as she latches on the Sam's arm as he takes in the view of the scantily scad women crowding the place.
They are lead to the private area. Now you really have to owe someone to get this far. The door opens and Michael comes to a dead stop when he spies the couple sitting at the table.
Nate was sitting there having a somewhat serious conversation with the woman that was driving the gray Lexus. She was leaning forward, inches into his personal space, and dressed somewhat conservatively in an emerald green ensemble, but it still looked sexy on her with a couple of the shirt buttons undone.
Leading someone on -- even if you're just trying not to hurt their feelings -- is not the right way to handle things. You've been warned.
The woman tilts her head and looks solemnly at Nate, then says something and plants a fake pout on her subtly painted lips, her violet blue eyes were sparkling as the light reflected in them, her light brown hair had been pinned in the back in a chignon, Nate pulls the pin out her hair, pauses and kisses her.
Michael felt a strange pang of jealously stirring inside him when he saw the interaction between the two.
She looks familiar, but he can't place where, yet. So why did he get that feeling?
"Mikey, hey you made it." Nate finally notices them and waves them over "We've got a great table."
"Hello, nice to meet you." Suzanne introduces herself. She's polite, educated, entertaining and mysterious. So what does she see in Nate?
"So what is it you do?" Michael subtly asks after drinks are served.
"Don't worry honey, Mikey gives everybody the third degree." Nate throws him a sharp glance.
"That's ok." She smiles. "Its pretty boring actually. I'm a Project Manager for Harrison Industries. We do a lot of work with the high end hotels here."
"Sounds interesting." Veronica quips, she has no idea what that was, but wanted to keep on good terms with her new best friend. If she could get them into a private room here, what else could she get?
"It can be, but it's also a lot of work. One of the managers wasn't going to use her table tonite so offered it to me, so I," She pauses, exchanges a loving look with Nate and squeezes his hand. "We, thought it would be nice for our first get together." She snags an appetizer while avoiding Michael's eyes.
Nate beams. "Isn't she great. She's so modest, but she's a valuable employee."
Everyone had a good time that night. She charmed everyone at the table, but Michael was still trying to figure her out.
She took a sip of her drink and made a face, "uh, I've got the wrong drink."
Nate takes a sip "Yea, we don't want you giggling all night and telling tales do we?" A grin is plastered on his face.
"Nate it wasn't like that. That was an isolated incident." She gives him a severe look.
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"Fi, there is something familiar about her." Michael whispers as the other four at the table are locked in a heated conversation.
"Admit Michael, you don't like any girl Nate is involved in."
"Make an excuse to go to the ladies room, strike up a conversation; see if she's got any scars or identifying marks."
"You never give up do you."
"Not a chance."
Fi got her opportunity about ten minutes later.
"Excuse me, I need to go to the ladies room."
As if by telepathy the other two women heeded the call of nature and left the table with her.
They were gone about 20 minutes when they finally came staggering back, giggling.
"Sorry we had to stop at the drink for a bar." Fi erupts in giggles as Veronica blushes.
Suzanne plants herself in Nate's lap and wraps her arms around his neck. "Hi honey. Did you miss me? I had to stop and socialize for a minute or two. We're not driving tonight are we?"
"No, I can give you two a lift." Michael offers. "I insist."
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As they leave the club, Michael notices Suzanne pretends to stumble while hanging on to Nate. She's very convincing.
Michael watches from the rear view mirror at the two in the back seat. He watches as Nate kisses her neck, as she removes his hand from wandering down her body, finally reminding Nate to behave. Nate finally stops and begins to play with his cell phone, at one point Michael catches her eye; she raises an eyebrow then turns to look back out the window.
"Well what did you find out?" He asks after the pair is dropped off at her condo.
"She wasn't drunk or even drinking that much. She had to play nice to some markers and act like she was drinking. Those weren't normal businessmen either. She has a scar where she got implants, a birth mark on her left thigh, a scar on her left wrist,"
And a scar on her neck, unnoticeable unless you are looking for it. Michael tells himself.
"So you figured out who she is yet?"
"No."
"Well she's keeping Nate in line so that keeps him out of your hair."
"Yea it does."
Michael picks up his cell and makes a call "Sam I want you look someone up for me."