202 Lunch at the Alpha Group HQ 4

Max agrees with Liz that the story about Jackson and Sabrina and his disease, sounds suspicious. However, if it's true that he is faking it, it means that Jackson is very calculative and persistent. That is not an easy person to deal with. But this is for his sister, and if Liz and he work together, anything is possible.

"What am I searching for?"

Liz was happy to see that Max is looking at her with renewed vigor.

"First, we need to investigate if Jackson ever had epilepsy, and if that is true, then we need to check if he still has one. Epilepsy does not have a cure; medicine and a healthy lifestyle can help manage the symptoms, and the condition itself can last few months, few years, or a lifetime. Epilepsy is tricky to diagnose, there is no definitive test. Patients become aware of the condition when they have a seizure, so if we can find someone to confirm witnessing one of his seizures, that would be useful."

Max thought how finding credible witnesses from eight years ago can be problematic. Also, if they start asking people who are close to Jackson, that might alert him. And even if they find people with a great memory, there is one more thing… "Can seizures be faked?"

"In theory, yes. But seizures are only the starting point which makes the patient undergo further testing. So, if we can pinpoint the first seizure, that can help us establish a timeline of events. Assuming that eight years ago Jackson had his first seizure, his primary doctor would do some tests, and if he suspects epilepsy, he would send him to a neurologist. From there, Jack would have blood tests, EEG, MRI, and a few others which would confirm abnormal brain patterns and eliminate other causes. As an ongoing condition, he would have regular checkups…"

Max admired how Liz eloquently explained what they are looking for. She is a neurosurgeon, so she is familiar with conditions that impact the brain (aka epilepsy), but he was impressed by the way she laid out the plan. The more he listened, the more he was pulled in, absolutely falling for the woman in front of him. His wonderful girlfriend. She is amazing.

The two of them chatted about Jackson and Sabrina over their meal.

Neither of them is comfortable with Sabrina and Jackson being in a fake relationship, but they are aware that Sabrina is feeling guilty for making Jackson sick, and she will not call it off without a reason. Also, they are not sure if they should meddle, considering that Jackson is not forcing Sabrina into anything and technically, no one is being hurt.

Max and Liz agreed that something about this story does not sound right, and their primary goal is to confirm if Jackson suffers from epilepsy or not. And if he has it, they need to confirm if it started due to that accident or not. Only by exposing him as a liar, they will get Sabrina to be decisive about cutting him off.

Call them selfish, but neither of them like Jackson, and they need evidence to prove to Sabrina how Jackson is deceiving her, so that she can punish him (by breaking up with him).

Max remembered few things and shared his thoughts: "Now that you told me this about Jackson, some other things make sense. More than once, people would approach me and ask if he is my sister's fiancé and I would confirm. I found it strange that they suddenly bring that topic, and it ended with it. It never crossed my mind that they potentially considered collaborating with Jackson and that my confirmation made them decide to sign the contract because they didn't want to offend Andersons."

"Don't blame yourself, you didn't know.", Liz comforted Max.

"Yeah, I didn't know that my sister is faking a relationship for eight years.", Max said sarcastically. "I can't believe that I didn't see it."

Max regrets wasting six years of his life. He spent them on useless partying and insignificant girls, and he missed so many things related to his family. For the last six years, he was not present and there is nothing he can do to get that time back. And even before that, if he was not studying or excelling in other school-related activities, he was focused on Irene. The truth is that for a long time, Max is self-centered and detached from his family.

"Hmm… A fake relationship. It runs in the family.", Liz's sarcastic comment pulled Max out of his thoughts and reminded him that he is the one who faked a relationship with Liz not so long ago.

Max cleared his throat awkwardly. "I did it only for a few weeks. Rina is doing it for eight years.", Max stated the fact that Sabrina's offense is much longer. "And my fake relationship became true, so it justifies it because that fake-dating period allowed us to get closer..."

Liz thought about how Max is funny while childishly pushing the blame on his big sister and coming up with random excuses. And he is cute as well. Ah, she could listen to him the whole day, but unfortunately, the reality is calling.

Liz glanced at the time and saw that it's almost one in the afternoon. "When do you need to return to work?"

Max refilled their glasses with wine. "I have time for one more drink with my wonderful girlfriend. Let's move to the sofa, it's more comfortable."

Liz didn't refuse. If Max does not need to work, she would stay with him the whole day.

Liz thought that when she does her research in the future, she can stay with him. That round table where they had lunch can be her station and she can work on her laptop and steal glances of her handsome boyfriend while he is working (and not in a meeting). Liz didn't want to voice her thoughts. Not yet. Liz was embarrassed to admit that she is claiming for herself a corner of Max's future office, four months before it becomes his.

"Are you satisfied with how the incident downstairs was handled?" Max asked when they settled on the sofa.

Liz needed a few seconds to understand that he is asking about the incident at the reception. "Are you asking me if I agree with the punishment for those three women from the reception? Didn't you understand what they did before you punished them?"

"I punished them because they made you unhappy. I didn't pay attention to what they actually did.", Max said with a straight face.

Liz was not sure how to respond. But this is not the first time that Max went over the top because someone made her unhappy. Well, at least he didn't punch them. However, there is one thing that is bothering her. She almost forgot about it, but now that the topic is brought up...

"Do all of your employees call you 'Max'? Or is that reserved only for female ones? Or is that…"

"Liz…", Max interrupted her next words because he saw that whatever was coming next, it's worse than the previous one. "Don't go there. You heard that she was not acting friendly in front of me. You are only torturing yourself by digging deeper, and there is nothing."

Liz narrowed her eyes at him, and she hates that her insecurities are swelling, but she is unable to suppress them. "Max. Do you think that I am blind? I saw how that receptionist was acting and how she was looking at you, and those other women in the lobby and those two in the elevator. They are devouring you with their eyes and I can't help but wonder if that is only their wishful thinking, or if they already got a taste of you and want seconds?"

Max looked at Liz seriously. "Elizabeth… I need you to have confidence in me. Have confidence in us. I can't control how they are looking at me or how they address me when I am not around, but that is as far as they can go because I never mixed work and pleasure. No matter how attractive a woman is, if she is getting her paycheck from the Alpha group, I passed. And now that I've found you, that expanded to every other woman in the world because you are the only one for me."

Liz pressed her lips into a line and looked into his deep blue eyes which stirred with emotions and she believed him. She really did. But her discomfort didn't lessen much. She decided to share her thoughts: "I believe you. But that does not mean that I'm enjoying the fact that all those women are eager to get close to you. I know it's not fair and there is not much you can do about it and I don't blame you. I'm only telling you how I feel."

Max looked at Liz with a troubled expression for a few seconds before pulling her into a hug. "Thank you for telling me. Trust me, I know how you feel."

"You do?"

"Do you think that it is easy for me every morning watching you go to work with the knowledge that Dr. Snobby will be close by? But I repeated to myself that you are my girlfriend, and that the only man in your heart is me, and that you will not give him a chance, and it gave me the strength to keep my sanity and not storm to your workplace and I was able to wait until I have you in my embrace again."

Somehow, Liz forgot about Dr. Snow and she realized that Max is right. No matter how much she is not interested in a romance with Dr. Snow, the fact is that he made a move on her, in front of Max. "From next week, he will not be there."

Max chuckled at Liz's innocence. "He is one man who openly made a move on you. Do you believe that no one else is interested in getting close to you?"

Liz made a face and thought about her other colleagues and realized that all of them are much older, most of them with their families (probably) and she does not like the idea that any of them is romantically interested in her. "Don't put ideas into my head. I won't be able to talk to anyone normally because I will think that they have some hidden agenda."

Max tapped her nose with his index finger. "Maybe you should think that. Then you will not be shocked when someone grabs your hand and asks you to be more than coworkers."

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