When in Vegas
Title: What happens in Vegas....
Category: AU M/L
Rating: Adult (language, mild violence and sexual situations)
Disclaimer: They aren’t mine just borrowing them for a little while.
A/N: This will be mostly Max's POV. I will warn you that Max is nothing like the Max we know and love from the show. He is VERY cold hearted and has some distorted opinions when it comes to women. Liz isn't so sweet either no doormat action going on here at all. There will be some strong sexual situations and some violence but not too bad and nothing close to rape at all but if that isn’t your thing then it’s cool but you have been warned. THANK YOU TO THE AMAZING/WONDERFUL/FANTASTIC Crashdown_51 for the kick ass banner!
Summary: Max Evans is prominent architect with a heart of stone thanks to Liz Parker, a beautiful woman who has destroyed him once already. What will happen after a chance meeting in Vegas, a marriage and an unusual arrangement? Will he be able to throw her aside as she had once done with him, or will his hatred for her turn into something else?
~*~*Chapter 1~*~
“This is the life Michael.” I take a sip of my beer and take a look at my surroundings.
“Not for me man. This just isn’t my thing anymore.” That is my good friend Michael what can I say about him except that he used to be able to handle himself with the big boys until he got married. Don’t get me wrong I love Maria about as much as I can care for any woman that I’m not sharing a bed with for the night but ever since Michael got hitched I haven’t had a partner to party with. Now this is not a Max Evans pity party by any means because well, I don’t need any help in that department but I miss my friend.
Michael is the only person I can trust 100 percent and that includes my family. My parents don’t exactly approve of my lifestyle like I could give a shit. I try not to speak with them too often and save myself from one of their hour long lectures about how I’m living a disastrous life and all that shit. They want me to follow this path that they have set for me and it’s not going to happen. Mainly because I have absolutely no desire what so ever to get married. To me there is no point and I personally feel it’s unnatural to be with one person for the rest of your life. It’s disturbing.
I started my own architectural company with Michael a year after graduating college and after moving from Boston to southern California. Michael and I have thrived in our business and turned Architectural Dimensions into a multi million dollar company.
“So are you ready for tonight?” Michael asks me and snaps me out of my thoughts.
“Yeah everything is set. You flying back home after the meeting?” I ask and already know that he is.
“Yeah Maria needs me now, she has her hands full with Dylan and Taylor.” I’m really happy for him. He and Maria have been married for 4 years now but have dated since college. When Maria got pregnant in college she had to drop out and Michael almost did too but Maria wouldn’t let him. He worked two jobs to help Maria out while she was home with their daughter. I thought they would have gotten married right away but they decided to wait, not that there was any doubt that they would get married one day.
“Yeah I figured.” I say and spot a nice blonde across the pool.
“Man are you on the prowl 24 hours a day?”
“You know it.” I say and lift my sunglasses to get a better look.
“You need to start taking your life more seriously Max. You can’t be a bachelor for life you know?”
“Yeah thanks for the concern but I’m perfectly content without any attachments thank you. Besides I’ve seen what married life is like and no offence but no thanks.”
“Whatever. I’m going up to the room for a bit. I’ll see you at 7. Don’t get wrapped up in whatever and be late again please. These are important clients.” He tells me as if I was a child.
“Yes dad. I won’t be late I promise.” I give him a mock salute.
“And take a shower before dinner please.” I throw his hat at him and turn my attention back to the blonde who is laying down on one of the lounge chairs. She rubs lotion over her long legs and I smile to myself.
“Time for some entertainment.” I say before walking over to her.
~*~*~*~*~*
Architectural Designs 10th floor:
“Good morning Mr. Evans.” I’m greeted by just about every female that I see as I walk to my office. Michael has stopped me from personally hiring any of our female workers and made me get a new secretary after I went thought about 8 different women. I would sleep with them and they would want something serious and things would just get strange. I made it a rule not to get involved with anyone in the office ever again. I caught one of them writing Mrs. Evans on her notepad over and over and that was the last straw for me.
I make it to my office and sort through my mail for most of the morning. Why can’t everyone e-mail things? Such a waste of paper I think.
“Mr. Evans your mother is on line 2.” My 90 year old receptionist thanks to Michael informs me. Ok she’s not 90 but you know what I mean.
“Tell her I’m not here and you don’t know if I’m coming in at all today.” I’m not in the mood to talk to her today.
“Yes sir.” A few moments later she tells me that my mother left a message to call her back when I got in. Any minute now she will call my cell phone.
I feel my phone vibrate a few moments later and ignore it. I never check my voicemail and anyone that I care to talk to knows this. If it’s important they will call back I don’t have time to sort though messages. I turn my attention back to work when I feel the phone vibrate again. I ignore it only to have it vibrate AGAIN. I don’t understand why people don’t understand that if you call someone and they don’t answer calling back like crazy isn’t going to help.
“What!” I finally answer it not bothering to look at the caller ID.
“Maxwell it’s your mother. Why do you insist on answering your phone like that and why did you tell your secretary to tell me you are not in and why haven’t you called me back you are obviously available to talk so why haven’t you called me back.” She says this in one breath, it’s a gift I think.
“For starters I didn’t feel like a lecture and in case you forgot I have a business to run. What is it?” I feel a headache coming on already.
“Why haven’t you been by the house lately? Are you avoiding me?” Oh God here comes the guilt trip. I know her though she acts all nice over the phone then once she gets me to the house I’m on her turf. She’ll lay into me for hours on end.
“I don’t feel like another one of your lectures mother. Is there anything you wanted because I have to go.”
“No I just wanted to say hello that’s all.”
“Very well then goodbye.” I hang up before she even answers me. This is not the way I wanted to begin my morning.
“Damn what’s with you?” Michael comes in my office and sees me throwing darts after I hang up.
“My mother called.”
“And you took the call?” He asks and I’m sure he’s surprised.
“I had to, she was blowing my cell phone up.” I throw the last remaining darts and one of them hit’s the bulls eye.
“So what is she bitching about now?” Michael knows her all to well.
“Same shit. What’s up?” I grab a bottle of water from my mini bar and sit in my leather chair while Michael sits across from my desk.
“Just wanted to let you know that we nailed the Jacobs project. Seems like they fell for you bullshit at dinner last week. Good going.”
“Hey that bullshit has made you a rich man.” I laugh and take a gulp of my water.
“Very true. So your coming to Taylor’s birthday party right?” He asks like I would miss it.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world you know that.” Taylor is my princess.
“Yeah how could I forget that girl idolizes you.” He laughs.
“Don’t be mad because she likes me better.”
“Well I think she’s the only female you can stand to be around for more then 10 minutes.”
“Hey I have good taste.” We both laugh.
“Alright well I’m going to get back to work which is something you should get back to.”
“Yes boss.” He laughs and walks out. I stand up and take in the view from my office. There is nothing like New Port Beach. I love living so close to the ocean that was something I missed in Boston.
“Anne I’m going to be out of the office for a few hours.” I grab my briefcase and head out. Today is too nice of a day to be indoors.
“Thought you could sneak out did you?” I see Michael near the elevator.
“Yeah like you weren’t about to do the same thing.” I say pointing to his briefcase.
“Whatever. So where are you off too?” He asks me.
“You know where.”
“Man we are lucky that we have good people working for us.” We both laugh at that. Michael has been leaving early since his son Dylan was born not that I blame him the kid is cute I’ll have to admit it.
“Yeah well we busted our asses for long enough let someone else do some work. Its what they get paid for anyway.” The elevator doors open up and we both step in.
“We can’t slack off though. This is not how we wanted to run things I just don’t want to lose sight of what we built.”
“Is this Michael Guerin saying all this to me? When did you become worried about business?” I hit the down button and wait.
“Come on Max I’m serious here. We can’t slack off now just cause things are going well for us. We are on the top right now and I’d like to stay there.”
“I know you do and I do too. I got everything under control. Go home and enjoy your wife and kids I’ll see you tomorrow.” The doors open and we head to our cars.
“Hey why don’t you come by the house for dinner one night. I’m sure Maria would like to see you.”
“Yeah maybe.” I hit the alarm and get into my convertible.
“See ya man.” I wave to Michael as I’m driving off. I love working and living in New Port beach. I’m never too far from the ocean which is my passion. I if I could surf all day I would. There is something so soothing about being out in the ocean riding a wave. That is the closest thing to God that I believe in.
I pull up to my house and go in to change into my board shorts and grab my surfboard. I try and spend as much time as I can surfing.
~*~*~*~*
Max’s House:
7:00 and all alone at home. Time to take care of that problem. I flip open my cell phone and scroll through my contacts.
Kim, she’s a great lay but I can’t stand her smoking. Susie, always wants to cuddle after. I’m not in the mood for that tonight. Julia, likes to be in control. Not in the mood for that either. Bianca, perfect!
“Bianca darling. What are you up to tonight?” I know she’s always available when I call but I ask anyway.
“Nothing at all honey. What did you have in mind?”
“How about you come over and find out?” I say and get a laugh from her.
“Ok I’ll be there in an hour.” She hangs up and I got take a shower. I can always count on Bianca to deliver.
~~
The next morning I wake up and forget who is in bed with me for a moment. When I look over I see who it is. Last night was exactly what I needed. I’m relaxed and ready to do some work today. I get out of bed and start the coffee before turning on the shower. Once I get the coffee and shower going I wake up Bianca.
“Time to go sweetheart.” I pull the blankets off of her in an effort to get her up faster.
“Ugh Max you know I hate when you do that!” She’s reaching for the covers but they are on the floor leaving her naked in the middle of my bed.
“Yeah well how would you like me to wake you up? With breakfast in bed?” I snort.
“You are such an asshole! I don’t know why I even come here.” She gets up and searches for her clothes. It’s amusing.
“You come here because you know I can give you what you need. Don’t try to make this into something that it’s not. I have to go to work.” I wait for her to get her clothes on and walk her out.
“So you’ll call me?” She asks when I open the door for her.
“Yeah sure.” And women wonder why I treat them the way I do. Not two minutes ago she was sick of me and now she asks me to call her. Whatever.
I have my coffee on the balcony and I’m tempted to blow off work and spend the day on the beach but Michaels right, I have to keep my focus on work. After a quick shower I pick out a suit and head to work.
~*~*~*~*
Architectural Designs:
“Mr. Evans a Cindy Adams has left you several messages. She said it’s imperative that you call her back as soon as possible.”
“Thank you.” I grab the rest of my messages and walk to my office. Who the hell is Cindy Adams? I sort through my e-mail still wondering who this person is.
“Shit!” Now I know who she is. Some psycho girl that I went out with last week. I refused to give her my cell phone number and I guess she looked up my work number somehow. I’m definitely not calling her back.
I met her at a club and we ended up back at my place that night. The next morning she’s telling me how she’s going to break the lease to her apartment soon and start packing to move in. Apparently she had confessed her love to me when I was sleeping and according to her I said it back. I somehow managed to get her out of my place and changed the locks immediately.
“Mr. Evans it’s Miss Adams again on line 3.”
“Umm tell her that I’m out of town for the week please Ann.” I really don’t feel like dealing with her right now.
“Max don’t be late on Sunday please. Maria will have a heart attack.” I’m having lunch with Michael at a local restaurant.
“I won’t. I’ll be there.” I don’t know why he‘s freaking out.
“So any interesting dates lately?” He asks me.
“You know I think it’s sweet how you try to live vicariously through me.”
“Asshole! I’m perfectly happy thank you.”
“Perfectly bored you mean.” Michael gives me a look after I said that.
“Don’t be an ass I was just trying to make conversation since your life consists of one thing only.” He’s got a point there not that I’m complaining about it.
“Whatever I’m perfectly happy I’ll have you know. I wouldn’t change a thing about my life.”
“Yeah you keep telling yourself that. You can’t keep this up forever Maxwell, you know that.” I sit back and think about what he said and while a small part of me thinks he’s right another part of me wants to say hell yeah I can keep this up forever.
“Not everyone’s idea of happiness consists of a wife, kids and a dog. I personally find it disturbing.”
“Whatever. Your miserable and you know it, your not fooling anyone least of all me. I’ve seen you be head over heels in love you were just too chicken shit to do anything about it until it was to late. Everyone has their demons Max, you need to get over that shit and start to look for something real. Not every woman is bad or out to hurt you Max. Look at Maria, she’s great.”
“Yeah I think she’s the exception. Anyway this is a lunch not a counseling session can we eat please?” I don’t feel like talking about this and personally I’m pissed that he even brought it up. I haven’t thought about her in years and now thanks to Michael she’s going to be in my head for the rest of the day.
I want to kill Michael. I’ve been sitting here for the past hour thinking about her. That bitch that couldn’t give me the time of day back in college. When I finally got up enough nerve to talk to her she laughed me off. I guess you could say that I was sort of a nerd in college but that day changed everything for me.
After that day I started going to the gym working on my physique. I went to one of the top salons in our area and got a total makeover. I was a new man with a new attitude and never looked back. Michael tried to talk me out of it but I didn’t care. I was never going to give another woman that kind of power over me. I wonder what she’s doing now? I hope she’s miserable. I hope she’s as miserable as I was when she laughed at me that day.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Max’s house:
Tomorrow afternoon is Taylor’s 6th Birthday. I stopped by toys r us to get her something and it was hell. I had no idea what to get her so I just went to the Barbie isle and got a shit load of stuff. Girls like that stuff so I‘ve heard.
For the first time in months I’m home alone on a Saturday night and let me tell you I’m not liking it at all. I went down to the beach but it was full of teenagers and couples making out or having a bon fire, not my scene at all. I wasn’t in the mood to go out to any bars or clubs so after a long walk I came home and tried to watch television but there wasn’t anything on. Saturday night is not a good night for watching TV.
I look over at my bookcase and something catches my eye. It’s my college yearbook. I haven’t looked at the thing since graduation. I place my drink down on the coaster and get up to get it off the shelf.
This brings back memories. I haven’t seen any of these people since graduation, not that I was big man on campus or anything. I flip through my graduating class and see her. At one point I thought she was a Goddess, a gift to mankind. Now I detest her. I wish I never laid eyes on her. Elizabeth Parker, She Devil.
Ok I’m SUPER nervous about this one. I know I’ve said it before but this time I really am. I really want to know what you guys think so far. Thanks to all that read this.
Anyway thanks for all the FB. Yes Max is quite the asshole but we knew that was going to happen. I did say that part of the reason is what Liz did to him but i never meant it to be the only reason. Some people are just jerks, Max is one of those. Thank you for reading.
Thank you all for the FB. Regarding Liz’s fertility issues, that will be further addressed later on. Thank you all again for reading. I love reading all of your FB.