Title: Only The Lonely
Chapter Title: The Masterpiece Society
Author: Restive Nature
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Dark Angel. They belong to Cameron/ Eglee. No infringement is intended and this fiction is for private enjoyment only.
Rating: NC-17
Genre: Fan Fiction
Type: Romance, Humor
Pairing: Max/ Alec
Summary: A remake of the "Pretty Woman" movie, with Max and Alec in the lead roles.
Spoilers/ Time line: This takes place pre-series. Due to the nature of the fiction, some information will be different, but should not overly affect the fiction.
Feedback: Always welcome!
Distribution: Ask first please.
A/N: I've taken some liberties with Alvero Domingo here, who is the son of celebrated tenor Placido Domingo. I've no idea if Alvero sings at all, but he would be about 50 years old at this point in the storyline. Just a little real life flavor of things to add to the atmosphere of the story.
Chapter Twelve
The Masterpiece Society
Alec sat at the hotel bar, nursing a whiskey straight. He'd just gotten back from his meeting with his team and home court and he wasn't especially pleased with what he had been asked to do. Instead of hanging around the hotel suite while Max readied herself, he had told her that he wanted to be surprised by her ensemble. He'd changed into his tuxedo as the plan for the evening was opera. And then he'd wandered down, Max promising to come down as soon as she was ready.
Alec shifted slightly and felt the dig of the box in his inner coat pocket. Manticore had been impressed by 494's and the others glowing reports of how Max had been helping more than just the Spaulding character get in with the people that they had targeted, all without meaning to of course. They had come up with a plan, providing jewelry that had been installed with bugs, to record her conversations. As long as she was in range of the receiver, she and whomever she conversed with would be recorded. The first, that had been chosen by Sabine, since she knew which dress that Max had planned to wear was a simple diamond tear drop pendant.
When Alec had questioned how this would be helping, the project commander had smiled snarkily and asked if he'd ever heard the term 'pillow talk'. Alec had and realized that they were using Max to fish for tidbits that might come from the wives and girlfriends of the businessmen. What had him agreeing was the simple fact that if he refused to put Max in that position, it would have raised red flags for both of them with the brass and while he could handle Manticore's discipline, it wouldn't be that simple for Max. All he had to do was activate the switch. He had no choice. Well, that was incorrect, he decided. He had choices. He just didn't like the consequences of them. But in the long run, he knew that doing this wouldn't pose too great a threat to Max. Who knew, maybe Manticore would decide that she made a great ordinary operative in Seattle and pay her for information garnered. It would be a supplement to her income, maybe could get her out of the life she was in.
But even as he tried to think of the positives of that line of thinking, he knew that he would never want that life for her either. She would either have to do despicable things in the name of gathering Intel for Manticore. Or she would start to question what she was learning and Manticore would put her down. He couldn't bear to think of that and so hoped that he could figure out some way to let her gracefully drop off Manticore's radar when this mission was done.
“Mr. Spaulding?” the bartender interrupted his musing. Alec glanced up, waiting. The bartender smiled. “Miss Guevara is on her way down sir.”
“Thanks,” he smiled. He quickly finished his whiskey and set the glass on the bar. It was removed immediately and he turned his stool to watch the entrance to the lounge. It was only moments later when Max entered, laughing and talking with another of the hotel's employees that was coming in. She laughed and the sight that she made, set Alec's heart to aching. If only there was some way that this was all real. Amidst all the glamor and secretiveness and planning and everything, she was real. His only real thing.
After she said her farewell to the employee and the girl moved off to join the bartender, Max turned to look for Alec. He was dead ahead of her and when she turned he could see the sparkle on her face that remained from her good mood. She near took his breath away. She looked sleek, from top to bottom, like one of those old time movie stars. She was dressed in a floor length, tight red dress that clung to her like a second skin. She wore elbow length white opera gloves and was carrying a small clutch purse that matched her dress. But instead of her usual bouncy hairdo, curls or waves, her hair was wrapped in some intricate knot, with a small curl on her forehead. She looked perfect.
He stood and made his way to her as she waited in the entrance for him. As he neared, she held her arms out slightly. “Do I pass muster?” she asked quietly.
“Darling,” he smiled, reaching for her outstretched hand. “You look wonderful. But...”
“But what?” she asked, a little frown on her lips.
“I have to say, I think there's something missing,” he teased. Max glanced down at herself.
“I can't imagine what,” she grouched. “Except perhaps a little more room to breath.”
“Actually, I was thinking along the lines of this,” Alec announced as he removed the hated jewelry from his pocket. He held the slim black box before him and Max tilted her head inquiringly. Obligingly, he opened the case and held it before her as she drew in a breath.
“Oh, it's beautiful,” she whispered.
“You like?” he murmured and she glanced up at him and nodded. “Well, it's just a loaner. I saw it and thought of you.” He nearly choked on the lie, but he had a role to play, same as always. Her hand was reaching to stroke the large diamond placed in the gold filigree surrounding. Seeking a way to break the sudden tension, Alec popped the lid slightly, bouncing it off her knuckles very lightly and then chuckling when she gave a small startled yelp. She saw his grin and giggled along.
“Alex, you tease,” she chastised, though he could see the merriment in her eyes. When her laughter abated, she arched her eyebrow and asked, “put it on me?”
“Of course,” he agreed as he began lifting the delicate chain from it's mooring. He handed her the box to hold as he manipulated the catch and she turned so he could carefully place it around her neck, activating the transmitter as he did. “That's not something I hear you often ask,” he murmured quickly. She giggled again and when the pendant was settled, touched it lightly. “There,” he sighed, satisfied that he had gone through with it. “You look amazing.”
“That's a good upgrade,” she smiled. “Shall we? Alonzo told me that the limousine is here.”
Knowing that to be the assistant manager's name, Alec nodded his head, taking the box back from her and slipping it back into his coat. He held out his arm for her and the pair made their way out to the vehicle. Jed was off that evening, but the unknown doorman got the same treatment from Max that all the employees did. They chatted about the opera they were to see that evening and Max was evincing excitement over it, telling him that she'd never imagined that Seattle was so progressive. Alec held his peace at the little tidbit of information that he'd held back. He had wanted to surprise her, but then, hearing her story the evening before, wasn't sure how she would feel about the matter.
When they pulled into the Cale's private airstrip at SeaTac, Max was definitely confused. She turned to Alec after noting several other vehicles all parked next to a large quonset. “Alec? What's going on?” she asked, a little worried.
“Part of the surprise,” Alec smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. “You're right. There's no opera house in Seattle.”
“So where...?” she began and then her eyes widened as she caught sight of some people boarding the sleek jetliner on the tarmac. “Are we flying somewhere?” Alec was delighted in part only, at the sudden excitement in her voice. He nodded, unable to find his voice. “Where?” she was almost bouncing in her seat.
“LA,” he whispered out and was relieved when her eyes went wide and she was suddenly hugging him.
“Really? Oh that's wonderful,” she enthused. Alec held her close.
“Are you sure?” he murmured into her hair. “If it's too much, I can make your excuses...”
“It's not a problem,” Max assured him, smiling so widely that he wondered that her cheeks didn't ache. “I've no problem with the city itself. An I highly doubt we're going down memory lane for me.”
“Of course,” Alec agreed quietly.
“Because we'll be going to the Pavilion, naturally,” she grinned, shortening the name of the refurbished Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, otherwise known as Los Angeles Opera. “I heard that it's beautiful.”
“Probably,” Alec agreed, his tension easing slightly.
“I always wish I could have gone,” she mourned a little before perking up again. “I always thought that I could have gone to their Christmas Eve celebration. It was a free event, you know?”
“I didn't know that,” he mused as their driver opened the back door. “But now you get your wish, huh?”
“I do,” Max nodded as Alec climbed out and then turned to offer his hand to her, which she took. “It's wonderful.”
“Well, I'm glad I got to make this wish come true,” he chuckled, “even if I didn't know you'd made it.”
“You do seem to have a knack for that Mr. Spaulding,” she flirted once she was upright again. Again, she inserted her hand into the crook of his elbow and he led the way up a red carpet to the jet that was waiting for them.
Once on board, they were directed to the lounge, where the crème de la crème that were invited for the evening waited. The Cales were all there, chatting amongst themselves, as well as the Marchmonts and other various board members and spouses. Alec was relieved to see that the others in his unit were mixed among the group. X5-791, or Tim, as the others knew him was sitting, one leg crossed, his arm companionably around X5-102, his “wife” Laurie. She was posing as a distant cousin to the Cale's that Manticore knew for a fact, hadn't been seen by Jonas or the others since she was a small child. Alec deliberately didn't think on the fact of what Manticore operatives had done to prevent the switch from being discovered.
“Tim, Laurie,” he greeted quietly. That had been one of his ins, was being an old friend of Tim's, that had prompted Jonas to deal with him. The pair glanced up and smiled in greeting as several people shifted to make room for the newcomers. Alec glanced at Jonas. “Sorry, we were running a little late.”
“No problems son,” Jonas boomed out as another attendant made the rounds with glasses of champagne. He took one for himself and one for Max, which she accepted quietly. Her eyes were still lit with excitement. “We're still waiting on a few people. We've plenty of time.”
Margo leaned forward then, breaking off her conversation with Tina Marchmont. “Maxine dear, you used to live in Los Angeles, didn't you?”
“I did,” she nodded. “Though I hate to admit, I never had a chance to take in an opera while we were there. Plenty of theater, which was enjoyable of course.”
“Yes,” Margo nodded. “Such a wonderful cultural center, though I imagine it was slightly slanted somewhat given the minority populations that were still prevalent.”
“It did add some flavor to the productions,” Max chuckled. “I do recall that 'Rent' had much more flair given the actors predilections in real life.”
“Oh goodness,” Tina simpered, joining the conversation. “I recall seeing that in New York when it first premiered and my goodness how I've dated myself.”
“Oh, you did?” Max enthused, turning slightly to the older woman. “How was Wilson Jermaine Heredia's performance. Oh, I wish I could have seen that,” she wailed slightly. “He was so amazing as Angel.”
“He was,” Tina nodded along enthusiastically. “Such soul and he was lovely. I must admit I wasn't as impressed with his partner in the stage production.”
Max nodded along seriously, the conversation appearing to absorb all her concentration as the women discussed the merits and shortcomings of the different actors in the play, versus the later produced movie. It was nothing Alec was familiar with and so he turned his attention to the males that were fondly watching their women. He had to stifle a grimace when Tim signaled in their discreet code that Max seemed to be made for this life. In a way, he couldn't agree more.
At long last, the last two couples, Biggs and Sabine, and Alyssa Dexter and her partner arrived, almost together and they were ready to settle in for their flight. Max immediately drew Sabine into a discussion of the costumes they might see that evening, as they were to be seeing a different opera, that the Cale's were keeping under their hats at the moment. Beside him, Alec heard Biggs snickering quite often and when he finally questioned his team mate, Biggs gestured to where Max was holding court as she led a discussion about the different plays that the collected individuals had seen or might be acquainted with.
“... and they were such different times, weren't they?” Max was saying, gesturing broadly as she leaned in, alight with merriment. “When being young offered you so many opportunities before the shackles of the responsibilities of wealth made you grow up.” There were nods all around as her listeners seemed to be hanging off her words.
“Yeah, so?” Alec asked quietly as Biggs snorted once more.
“Dude,” Biggs snickered, “every single one of those productions she mentioned? They're all about the working class or the impoverished rising up and throwing off the shackles of the rich jerks. And she's got them freaking eating it up like it's gospel.” He broke off to howl with laughter again, slapping his hand on his knee. Alec turned to regard Max, who glanced at him and winked. He could contain the chuckle either and then shook his head. His girl was something else.
Seeing that she was dealing well, better than he was, Alec allowed himself to relax slightly, sip from his champagne and not worry so much about the evening. Jonas finally let slip that they were going to be seeing the celebrated youngest son of Placido Domingo, an Alvaro Maurizio Domingo Ornelas, who had consented to appear in lead tenor role of the production. At Max's gasp, Alec took it to be a good thing. He had heard of this Domingo fellow, knowing him to be a big deal in the opera world. But it was all Italian to him.
They arrived in showy pomp and circumstance and climbed into the various vehicles that the Cales had hired. Max and Alec snagged a car with Biggs, Sabine and the younger Cale, Bennett and his fiancée. None of them showed the excitement that Max did, over the coming evening and when Marianne finally agreed with Max's assertion that they were in fact seeing Madama Butterfly, the girl seemed over the moon. Sabine questioned why and Max was able to give them a short rundown of the story and the movie that was produced, based on the opera. Which apparently, was quite a common theme with stage productions to film back before the pulse.
She expounded a little on the film Miss Saigon, but was excited to see how the play actually originated. None could fault her enthusiasm, though to Alec some of the themes of the movie hit a little closer to home, but he pushed that aside.
Once they arrived at the opulent, at least in his opinion, Opera house, they were ushered in immediately and plied with more champagne as the Cales directed everyone to the various balcony's. As a special treat, Margo moved Bennett and Marianne behind themselves and offered Max and Alec seats front and center. They situated themselves in their seats and Max reached for the opera glasses, handing a pair to Alec, to which he mentally shrugged.
“If I'd known that you'd have been this excited for the opera, I would have arranged a sojourn earlier,” Jonas was leaning forward to say to Max. She turned and included them all in a brilliant smile.
“My father instilled such a love of music,” she began, “all music, and so this is very definitely a wonderful treat for me, no matter when it happens.”
“That's lovely, my dear,” Margo sighed. The lights began to dim and though there was still some low chatter, it quieted through the auditorium and in no time, the opera had begun. Alec, who had worried over his slightly more sensitive hearing, found that it wasn't as bad as he had thought it might be and thanks to Max's run down of the story, followed along easily, though the classic Italian wasn't easily discernible at all times. It was made all the more bearable when Max slipped her fingers into his, squeezing tightly at various points of poor little Cio Cio San's life.
The first intermission kept them in their seats as champagne was brought to them for a quick refreshment. The set changes and readiment happened quickly and the second act began. Alec found himself leaning forward as well as he began to enjoy himself.
It wasn't until the second intermission that the trouble started.
Feeling the need to stretch his legs a little, he took up Jonas and Margo's offer to stroll the interior. They joined the thronging crowd that had the same idea and were soon found by friendly faces. When a waiter offered more of the bubbling beverage he noted that Max was quick to decline. He turned to her and with a gentle chuffing at her bare shoulder, had her complete attention.
“Would you care for something else sweetheart?” he asked quietly in her ear.
“Just some plain fruit juice would be wonderful,” she agreed, sounding relieved. “All this champagne is making my mouth dry.”
“All right,” he agreed, pressing a kiss to her temple. “I'll be right back.” With a slight squeeze at her hip, he began moving his way through the various bodies filling up the floor. When he made it to one of the stationed bars and put in an order for juice, he was met by Tim and Laurie. They had broken off from their assigned marks and made their way to report in to Alec.
“Things are going pretty smooth tonight,” Tim enthused. “Leider is getting nice and drunk. He'll probably spill on those contracts at some point.”
“That's good,” Alec nodded. “Any indication that they have Larkowski working for them?”
“Just some tidbits,” Laurie nodded. “Hints from the work they've been producing, but no one has mentioned him by name yet. I get the feeling that they've got him off somewhere secluded, working on things so he's not distracted.”
“Well keep working on that,” Alec concluded. He took the juice and a Scotch from the bartender and grinned at the others. “Back into the fray, huh?” He glanced back to where he had left his party and frowned when he didn't immediately see Max.
“That poor girl,” Laurie chuckled and Alec turned to her. She gestured to Alec's right and he swung his head around. There was Max, looking annoyed, trying to turn away from that damnable Logan Cale. Again! Alec grit his teeth as he saw her shake the man's hand from her arm. She shook her head and then turned determinedly back to the group she had joined.
“Maybe you could give her some pointers at E&E,” Tim joked. Apparently Biggs had filled them in on Cale's pursuit of Max at the Marchmont's, in addition to what they must have seen themselves.
“I think I will,” Alec nodded shortly. “Starting right now!” Ignoring their knowing laughter, Alec wove his way quickly through the mass. Once he was close enough, he heard her short, clipped tone that he just knew indicated ire.
“No, thank you,” she all but growled. “I'm sure that the art collection is very impressive. But I've no wish to visit your family's cabin. I'm not really big on the outdoors.”
“But it's not precisely the great beyond,” Cale was insisting with smarmy tones. “And the drive isn't that long. The scenery is quite pretty, hmm?”
“Here we are darling,” Alec interjected loudly and caught the dark scowl that the man leveled at him. “Fruit juice as promised.”
“Oh, thank you sweetheart,” Max turned to him and he was pleased at the relief in her eyes. She took the glass he proferred and took a long sip. And then she went up on her tiptoes to press a kiss against his cheek. “You always take good care of me.”
“Of course,” he smiled tenderly down at her. And then glanced at Cale. “Thanks for keeping her company, but I've got her now ol' boy. Darling,” he turned his attention back to Max, wrapping his arm around her and cuddling her close. “You'll never believe who is here.”
“Who is that?” Max asked, confusion in her voice and it wasn't affected.
“Mark and Anna Brooks,” he made up the names on the spur of the moment. “Do you remember him from school?” he asked, giving her a clue and she picked up on it immediately, remembering obviously the back story that they had created for themselves.
“Mark's here?” she smiled broadly. “Oh goodness, I haven't seen him in forever.”
“Yes,” Alec nodded. “And when he found out you were in town, he insisted that Anna had to meet you. He would have come with, but she's a little worn out. She's expecting their first child.”
“Oh lovely,” Max enthused and turned back to the group. “Excuse us won't you, I absolutely must say hello.” There were polite nods and as they moved away, Cale's eyes locked on them as they went. When they were far enough away, she turned her face up to them. “Are there actually friends to meet, or were you just playing the amazing role of a knight in shining armor?”
“More of the second,” he chuckled. “And if anyone asks, we'll just say that Anna's condition worsened and her husband whisked her home to get some rest.”
“Braxton-Hicks,” Max nodded and Alec frowned at the sudden change. She smiled up at him and expanded. “False labor contractions, often misconstrued as the real thing, bother women from as early as six months on.”
“Okay, works for me,” Alec smirked and continued leading forward. They finally found a just deserted alcove and he encouraged her to sit and rest, enjoy her fruit juice while he marveled silently at Cale's audacity. At long last, when the Scotch and juice were gone, the lights flashed colors, indicating that they were to resume their seats. Alec held out his arm to escort Max, whispering in her ear that he was enjoying the evening, but was quite looking forward to getting back to Seattle. She agreed, but as they entered their box seats once more, she stiffened in the arched entryway and Alec wondered at what was going on. Until he heard Cale, Logan's smarmy voice welcoming them back.
The young couple moved slowly into the box as Logan quickly explained that Marianne had developed a bit of a headache and so they had obligingly switched seats, theirs having been much further back than Jonas'. Alec helped Max sit and then took his own chair. As before, the lights dimmed and the orchestra lifted up their instruments and chatter disappeared. The story resumed and instead of the intermittent clutching of her fingers at his, Alec experienced a thorough clenching of her fist as he imagined she sat through the whole third act with the uncomfortable sensation of Logan Cale's eyes glued to the back of her head.
At the climax of the opera, he heard a sniffle and glanced over to see that Max had at least been able to get caught up in the story again. He could see the large luminescent tears trickling down her cheek as Cio Cio prepared her child to go with his father and new stepmother. There was a flutter of white between them and he turned to see that Logan was proffering Max a handkerchief. She stared at it for a moment and then, barely turning her head, murmured, “thank you, but I've my own.” She let loose of Alec's hand to retrieve her clutch purse and withdrew a much daintier version of what was being offered and settling the clutch in her lap, dabbed at her tears. “Alex knows how teary I get at these productions and always makes sure I've a ready supply,” she offered quietly to everyone and there was a knowing nod from a moist eyed Margo. Valerie Cale on the other hand, looked bored and completely unaffected. With that said, her hand slipped into his again and Alec felt a small surge of triumph as Cale slowly pulled his arm back and Max closed the slight distance between them to lean her head on his shoulder as they watched the final scene play out.
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Thirteen
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