I just hope you'll enjoy reading this new installment and thank you for sticking with me. You have no idea how grateful I am for all the feedback and the bumps. Thank you.
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CHAPTER TWENTY
Needless to say, the rest of the lunch was spent in silence, with each of the Evans family member mulling over their thoughts. Philip wore a grin the entire time since he returned to the table. He was curious at first when he saw Isabel pouting. Diane only gave him a curious glance, which he responded to with a smirk. That was their own form of communication when they didn’t want their children to know what was going on. Diane wanted to know what had happened and his gesture signified that he would tell her after the kids had left.
Then returning to Isabel, Philip already knew what had happened there. She wanted to listen in through the door, and Diane beat their daughter to her intentions and stopped her from what she was planning on doing. It wasn’t a surprise really; both he and Diane had always known that whoever child wasn’t being scolded in the office had one ear glued to the door trying to listen in on the conversation that was taking place inside.
Both Michael and Max wore identical scowls on their faces. And who wouldn’t? They were all grown up and yet their father had reprimanded them as if they were ten years old. Add to that, they now had to work together.
Looking at the faces of his family, Philip could only suppress a laugh at his children’s antics. Yes, some things never did change.
After the kids had left, Diane had to grill her husband for details.
“Oh Philip, you didn’t.” Diane sighed, letting him know what she thought of his plan.
“Of course I did. It was a fabulous idea. Now they’ll be forced to work together. I doubt they would sabotage each other since it would only cause them to lose their girls more.” Philip defended.
Diane just laughed, Philip didn’t know how truly alike he was to his sons. “You have no idea what Max and Michael are truly capable of.”
****
Once lunch was done, Max and Michael were more than eager to leave. Both boys bid their parents goodbye, and got into their respective vehicles; Michael in his Escalade and Max on his Ducati.However, unlike Michael, Max didn’t head for home. He went over next door. Unfortunately, Liz was still out on the latest catering gig.
Max allowed himself in, a habit that he had no intention of breaking. He was deciding on whether he should call Liz or not but chose the latter because he might just distract her from her work. He had already pulled out his cellphone while he juggled with the idea of contacting her and he almost dropped it when it suddenly rang.
Looking at the caller ID, he was a bit baffled that his brother’s name flashed on the monitor. Bringing up the phone to his ear, he answered the call. “What?”
“We gotta talk.” Michael replied.
“Yeah, wouldn’t that be why you would call? So talk.” Max said harshly.
“I know you’re pissed—”
“You think?” Max said sardonically.
“Look, Max, I did some thinking and…” Max could hear Michael sigh from where he was, “…you and Dad were right.”
“You’re just figuring that out now?” Max’s tone was evident of his anger.
“I’m trying to apologize, alright?” Now Michael too, was raising his voice.
Silence came from the other end and he knew that Max was ready to listen.
“I’m sorry, ok? I’m sorry. I just…I don’t know what to do.” Michael spoke softly.
“Apologize to Maria”, was Max’s calm response.
“She wouldn’t even answer my calls.”
Max had to exhale loudly. His brother screwed up and it might be that one mistake that would cause him misery for the rest of his life. He believed in soul mates and love everlasting. Max knew that it was Liz for him, and he had an inkling that Maria was it for Michael.
He also knew that if it was the other way around, not that he would be stupid enough to commit the exact mistake Michael did nor would he ever contemplate something similar, he would want someone to extend him the same help that he was offering his brother now.
“Is she in town?” Max inquired.
Michael nodded his head then spoke his reply since Max couldn’t see him.
“Ok, I’ll go see her.” Max said.
To that Michael was stunned. His brother was unmistakably furious with him but he was willing to set that aside to help him get back his fiancée.
“Michael, you there?”
“Yeah, yeah I am.” Michael had to shake his head to clear his thoughts. “Max, I’m really sorry about what happened the other day.”
“Forget it, Mike.”
“No, really, I shouldn’t have blown up at you like that.” Michael insisted.
“It’s over, Michael. I’ll just go over to Maria’s right now. I’ll call you later.” Max picked up his keys and was already out the door.
“Thanks, man. I owe you.”
“Oh you bet your ass you do.” Max ended the call and hopped on his bike. Shortly after securing his helmet, he sped off.
****
Maria was mulling over the idea of leaving. She knew it was a mistake to come home and be near one Michael Guerin Evans. But then again, she didn’t want her heartbreak splattered all over the tabloids, which she knew was bound to happen. If she were to heal her shattered heart outside the comfort of her own home, the paparazzi would most definitely be on her tail, taking crappy shots of her being a sobbing mess. At least in her house, anyone who would dare trespass would be incarcerated.What she didn’t count on though was someone ringing the doorbell when she wasn’t expecting a visit from anyone. Are the photographers growing some manners now?
Her housekeeper interrogated the visitor through the intercom. She then informed Maria who it was which garnered a dumbfounded look from the singing superstar.
Then she had this glint in her eye showing off the anger that was boiling beneath the surface, but still told her housekeeper to let him in.
As Max walked inside Maria’s huge mansion, his heartbroken, possible future sister-in-law met him halfway.
“You!” Maria pointed at him.
“Hey, Maria.” Max greeted, though he was a little bit confused by her not-so-forthcoming welcoming.
“Don’t you ‘hey Maria’ me. You knew, didn’t you?” she accused.
Max looked away guiltily for just a second, but it was enough of an answer for Maria.
“How dare you? After I helped you get back home early to Liz, you didn’t even think I should have been told about what Michael was doing?” Maria yelled.
Max had to wince at that. Though to his defense, he had no idea that Michael was doing…whatever it was he was doing. “Maria, look. I didn’t know Michael was with someone. We went to a club that night but I left early.”
“So you left him alone.” Maria concluded.
Max’s lips thinned to a grim line. “Yeah, but I didn’t think he would cheat on you.”
“So he did sleep with someone?!” Maria asked, appalled.
“No. He said he didn’t.” Max pleaded.
Maria had to sigh. She had to sit down and since they were in her living room, she took the couch closest to her. She was wearing her pajamas but she still looked beautiful, as if everything was right in her world. The only clue as to how skewed it really was, were in her eyes. Her usual bright and cheery self had dimmed; Max saw that first thing after walking in her home.
“I’m really sorry, Maria.” Max said, taking the couch opposite her.
“Why? It’s not you who did anything wrong.” Maria replied as she stifled a sob.
“Maybe if I had dragged him back to the hotel with me, this wouldn’t have happened.” Max thought out loud.
“Max, I’ve known you for…God knows how long, do you really think Michael would’ve left?” she asked with one sculpted eyebrow raised.
Max shook his head, “no, I guess not.”
“He’s a big boy, he knew what he was doing. He was thinking of just himself, that egotistical bastard.” Maria was angry once more. She had been switching back and forth, from feeling heartache and fury. “He didn’t even bother to think how I would feel! Or what it would do to me if it leaked out to the press! Does he even acknowledge the fact that I would be made to look like a fool after that stunt of his?”
Max reached over and squeezed his friend’s right arm. He hated his brother for what he did. But what’s done is done. Hopefully, he could help these two out and get them to reunite.
“I know he’s sorry, Maria. He’s been trying to call you to apologize.” Max explained.
Maria looked at her boyfriend’s brother seriously, “Tell me, Max, do you believe that he didn’t sleep with anyone?”
Max gazed back into his friend’s green eyes and answered just as sincerely, “I believe him.” He knew that although Michael may have been moronic enough to go back to his room with someone other than Maria, he wouldn’t have slept with any other woman. Michael used to play around with numerous girls who would throw themselves at his feet, not one of them he slept with once Maria got in the picture.
Even before she and his brother got together, Michael somehow “lost his touch” as he called it. It was easy for them to get any girl they wanted, and during their younger years, they did. But when they met Maria at one of her video shoots where they were included in the roster of guys that she would be acting with, Michael was hooked.
Then, just as suddenly as the idea of going over to Maria’s house sprouted in his mind, he had a way to have Maria get back at Michael. He grinned slowly and Maria knew that he was up to no good.
“What are you thinking?” she had to ask.
“What if you give him a dose of his own medicine?” Max smirked.
Maria had narrowed her eyes as she looked at her friend. “O-kay,” she said reluctantly. “How are we going to do that?”
“Fool around with someone else?” Max easily suggested.
Maria was quick to give her reply, “No, no! I’m not going to stoop down to his level. Maybe that works for the two of you but not for me.”
“It’s the only way he’ll learn his lesson.” Max added.
“Think of something else.” Maria demanded.
Max had to pause, ‘what else is there?’
Maria rolled her eyes; she couldn’t believe that she was in her living room with her fiancé’s brother conjuring up ways to get revenge.
“Alright, what if you don’t really fool around with anyone but make him think that you are.” Max said.
“How do we manage to come up with that one?”
“Easy. I’ll tell him that when I got here, some guy just left before you let me in. Like he was leaving sneakily, trying not to get noticed or caught, get it?”
Maria hesitated but after chewing on the idea some more, she smiled. “Max Evans, I wouldn’t want to know what else lurks in your mind, but I have to say, I think I like that plan.”
Max could only laugh inwardly. Now Michael will really get a taste of what he did to Maria. Maybe then he’d learn his lesson.
****
Michael was anxious to know what Max and Maria had talked about. He had been pacing his living room for the past thirty minutes and absentmindedly had started chewing on his nails. Max decided to turn off his mobile, knowing that his brother would be calling him every hour. Instead, he opted to drop by Michael’s house and tell him the news.
The minute Max parked his bike on his brother’s driveway; Michael was already walking out the door and heading straight for him.
Max took off his helmet and hung it on the bike’s handlebar. He then got a closer look at Michael and saw that he was nervous which caused him to feel guilty… a little bit. Just as quickly as that pang of guilt assailed him, he also remembered what Michael did and he was certain that he was doing the right thing. It was high time that Michael got the shorter end of the stick.
Max gave him a grim smile and sighed heavily. “I’m sorry, man.”
“What happened?” Michael asked hurriedly.
Max shrugged as he walked into his brother’s place, Michael was right behind his heels. “Maria’s royally pissed at you. She almost chewed my head off as well. But that’s not the worst part…” Max trailed.
“What else could be so bad?” Michael almost whined.
Max gave him a pitying look and that made Michael feel like the earth was about to open up and swallow him whole.
“I think she’s started seeing someone else.”
tbc...
