199 Lunch at the Alpha Group HQ 1

~ Seattle, the Alpha group HQ ~

11:57 AM

Sabrina stopped her car at the side of the road, in front of the Alpha group HQ building, and turned to Liz.

"Here we are.", Sabrina said with a signing voice, before continuing cheerfully: "Thank you for giving me a call, I had fun. We should do this more often."

Liz confirmed. "I had fun as well. Now my work is less tight, so I should have more free time, but I will need to see how it goes. I would love to visit your store."

Sabrina nodded happily in agreement. "Please, stop by anytime."

Liz took a deep breath and glanced at herself in the side mirror before turning to face Sabrina. "Am I OK?"

"Don't be nervous. You are stunning.", Sabrina said with a gentle smile while observing Liz's hair, styled into a relaxed half-crown twist. "Louis did an amazing job, and when you step inside, people will know that you are their lady boss…"

Earlier that morning, after the coffee, Sabrina took Liz to a specialized boutique on the 6th street. They were greeted by Louis who was friendly with Sabrina, and it was obvious that they know each other.

Sabrina introduced Liz to Louis as Max's girlfriend. "Liz will visit Max at work for the first time and she hopes to leave an impression and I immediately thought of you…"

Louis beamed. "Thank you, dear Rina, for thinking about me. I'm sure I can help your friend."

"My future sister-in-law.", Rina corrected him.

Louis stifled a laugh. "I get it, I get it… I will not slack on this one…"

Liz was engrossed into checking out clothes on hangers and she didn't hear Sabrina saying the 'sister-in-law' part.

"She has great legs, so no pants...", Sabrina told Louis.

Louis eyed Liz for a few seconds before he started pulling dresses for them to see.

Liz held one black and one royal blue pencil skirt, but Sabrina dismissed them. "Those are great for employees, but you are not one of those. You are the boss, dress like one."

Liz blinked at Sabrina in confusion. "How am I a boss?"

"Max is the boss, or he will be soon. And you are his boss. That makes you the boss of the boss of all those employees, so you are the ultimate boss. Anyway… You need something smart and flattering but not too stiff and business-like. Show dominance in a casual way that only the boss-lady can have…"

As Sabrina spoke, Louis swiftly changed his recommendations.

After several dozens of choices and three trips to the dressing room, they all agreed that Liz looks amazing in a well fitted white shirt and a knee-length cream skirt with matching cream pumps that have bows at the front.

"This is perfect! Not showing too much skin, but it shows your to-die-for waist and long legs. It's classy and girly and demure enough to allow us to boldly accessorize without being too flashy…", Sabrina said while putting a necklace with large crystals around Liz's neck.

Back to the present…

"Thank you, Rina, for everything.", Liz gave Sabrina a hug before getting her cream-colored purse and stepping outside.

Liz could not believe that she is so nervous that her fingers feel tingly.

She took a deep breath and chanted to herself to be cool. She is only going to visit Max, and this is only a building, why is she making such a big deal out of it?

Liz walked through the extra-wide revolving door which had security guards on each side, and stepped into the huge entry hall.

The entry hall has seating arrangements on both sides, organized for groups from four to ten people as sofas and chairs around coffee tables. Straight in front (from the entrance) is a massive reception desk with the Alpha group logo at the bottom, and a wall behind it.

There are a lot of people, walking, sitting, talking, looking busy. Liz observed that most of the women are wearing pencil skirts and she had to admit that Sabrina was right. If Liz went with her choices, she would blend in with the workforce as she belongs there. Liz wondered if she is too casual. If she replaces her high heeled pumps for sandals, she could go to a classy brunch.

Liz started walking toward the reception, and even with all the clamor from the people present, she could clearly hear the crisp sound of her high heels hitting the white marble floor.

Based on the number of people holding disposable coffee cups and sandwiches, Liz concluded that there is a coffee shop nearby and maybe a deli, probably behind the reception, because the seating arrangements on each side are extending beyond the reception.

Liz noticed numerous gazes directed her way as she walked toward the reception. She wondered if they are looking at her because of her not-so-business like outfit or because she is a new face. Of course, she didn't consider the possibility that she is gorgeous and that she looks like a million bucks.

Liz stood in front of the reception behind which three women were busying themselves on the computers in front of them.

It took two seconds for the middle receptionist to look at Liz and to summon her to come closer. "Can I help you?"

Liz smiled. "I am here to meet Maximilian Anderson. Can you tell him that Elizabeth Williams is here?"

The receptionist raised an eyebrow when she heard Max's name. "Do you have an appointment?"

Liz was not sure how to answer this. "I'm meeting him for lunch, does that count as an appointment?"

The receptionist's expression shifted. "Really? You are meeting with Maximilian Anderson for lunch and you want me to tell him that you are here, and you don't have an appointment?"

Liz didn't find anything wrong with that. "Yes. He is expecting me, so I will appreciate it if you tell him that I am here."

The receptionist tilted her head and smirked. "Do you think that any woman from the street can come and demand to have lunch with Max?"

Liz frowned. Why did this woman suddenly become so casual? Isn't Max her boss? She should call him Mr. Anderson. Based on the receptionist's smug expression, Liz understood that the woman has no intention of calling Max. Liz remembered that Max told her in the morning, that she should text him. Ah, she was so nervous that she forgot.

Liz got her cell phone and told the receptionist: "Don't worry about it. I will text him and this will be clarified."

Liz sent a text to Max: "I'm downstairs, at the reception."

Liz glanced at the receptionist who glared at her and Liz thought how the woman is acting out of line. Isn't she just a receptionist? Well, that woman started it first, there is no need for Liz to be polite. She threw her a smug smile.

"Thank you for your time…", Liz leaned closer and read the woman's name from the nametag on her left chest pocket. "… Valery."

Valery glanced left and right at her coworkers who looked busy before turning back to Liz. "What are you trying to pull?"

The other two receptionists are not busy, and they are obviously following the exchange between Liz and Valery, but they didn't want to intervene one way or another.

Liz blinked innocently at Valery. "Me? I'm just trying to have my lunch. What are YOU trying to pull? You are a mere receptionist, and if you don't know if you should ring Mr. Anderson and tell him that I'm here to see him, your job is to check with someone who has more authority than you, instead of showing your ignorance."

Valery stared at Liz. "What did you say?"

Liz rolled her eyes. "Don't tell me that other than being ignorant and full of yourself you are also hearing impaired?"

Valery's mouth opened a few times, but no words came out.

Liz stifled a laugh. "It seems that now you are mute as well. I know. You are new at this job, right? So, you want to prove yourself. I will give you an advice: being arrogant and speaking without thinking is not a good trait for a receptionist. You never know who you might offend."

"Do you think you are some big shot?", Valery hissed when she found her voice. "You came from the street, without an appointment, asking to see Max. If I disturb him for every woman who walks in here just because she has a pretty dress on, I will lose my job."

Liz shook her head and didn't respond. There is no point in arguing further with this woman. Valery is hotheaded and as much as Liz wanted to provoke her because she was rude, Liz is not enjoying this. She only came to have lunch with her handsome boyfriend, alright?

A small smile at the edge of Liz's lips irritated Valery.

"Are you going to stand here and pretend that Max will come to pick you up?", Valery asked mockingly.

"Am I disturbing your work? I apologize. I will stand over there.", Liz responded innocently and took a few steps on the side. She turned her back to the reception, while observing the entry hall.

By now, her exchange with Valery attracted the attention of a number of people who observed curiously from the side. Liz did her best to ignore them. She wondered how long will it take for Max to come down. Or maybe Foxy will come. Or maybe someone else. Liz checked her phone and saw that her message has a status 'read', so he saw it.

"I will appreciate if you leave the building.", Valerie's voice sounded from behind Elizabeth.

Liz turned to the woman slowly and she could not believe that Valerie walked from behind reception because she can't stand to look at her. What is her problem? "Excuse me?"

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