310 Isaac's birthday weekend 8

Liz was happy that she didn't crack in front of Mona and Helen, but the whole situation was suffocating. She knows about Max's past, and she accepted it as his past. But now that past was standing in the hallway and staring at Liz in the face and… is it past? Liz felt that it's difficult to breathe.

She leaned on the concrete rail and inhaled deeply while wondering if she can go through this without collapsing.

Liz shook her head while trying to disperse graphic mental images of Max and Mona which were forming in front of her closed eyes. Mona and Max… who knew that his conquests reached New York? Did he sleep with Helen as well? Or with some other woman who is in tonight's attendance? With how many of them? Will Liz always be in danger of facing women who slept with Max? With her Max? Liz's heart cracked. She chanted how that is in the past and that now she is the only one, but the pain didn't subside.

She was not sure how much of this she can take, and she was not sure if she can take this either.

Liz was convinced that she accepted Max's past, but now that she reacted like this and her heart is aching to the point of fainting, did she accept him? Or did she just push it on the side and ignored it?

It was easy to be happy in their little bubble when it's just the two of them and a handful of selected friends, however… can Liz claim that she loves Max when a woman like Mona can cause her this much pain with only a few words?

"Elizabeth…"

A familiar male voice made Liz's insides churn. 'What does he want?'

"Patrick." Liz responded without turning to face him.

"You look upset."

"Maybe because I am. I came here to cool off in peace and you are not helping." Liz squeezed through her teeth.

Patrick stood next to Liz. "I could help."

Liz took a step away from him. "I don't think so."

Patrick balled his hands into fists. Why is Liz rejecting him? Why is he not good enough?

Patrick decided to speak up. "Elizabeth… I heard that Max is not a decent man. Why would you be with him? He changes women more frequently than underwear, assuming that he has time to put underwear on between all the women who went through his bed."

Liz's head was buzzing. Did she hear Patrick right? How come Patrick knows about Max's past? Did he investigate Max in advance? Not possible. Liz remembers the poisonous exchange between Max and Patrick from before dinner, and if Patrick knew this at that time, he would definitely use it. That means only one thing: Patrick found out about it in the last hour. Was it from Mona? Why would Mona talk with Patrick about her one night stand with Max?

"Where did you hear that?"

Liz nodded knowingly. "Let me guess… and you are."

"I built my company from scratch and I don't have thousands of women in my past. I am hardworking and clean. I can take care of you. I can give you security and I promise to treat you well. With me by your side, you will never lack a thing..."

Liz was not in the mood to entertain Patrick. "Get lost."

"Elizabeth…" Patrick called and extended his hand toward Liz.

Liz slapped his hand away. "Did you hear me, or do I need to call the security? Get lost!"

Patrick was not willing to give up easily. "Elizabeth, are you really going to stay with that playboy? He is full of scandals and he will drag you down and Isaac as well..."

He stopped talking when he saw that Liz waved at the security guard who was standing in the corner of the terrace.

Patrick lifted his chin defiantly. "You will regret this!"

"How can I help, Miss Williams?" The security guard asked when he was two steps away from Liz.

"False alarm. Sorry to disturb you."

"No problem." The man smiled and returned to his spot.

Liz leaned back on the rail and exhaled. She remembered Patrick's words, how she will regret her choice to stay with Max. Does she have regrets? Probably. She regrets that she is not stronger, that she can't fight those black clouds above her head which are suffocating and preventing her from seeing all the good in her life.

She has a loving father, more money than she could ever spend, a dazzling career… and Max. Yes, she has Max. Max is a man who always has a solution, to everything. How come she can tackle all the problems, but when it comes to Max's past, she shrivels, overwhelmed by the helpless need to cry and disappear?

…

A few minutes earlier…

Max was in the event hall, talking with Isaac and with a few more people and he noticed Liz walking in hurried steps toward the massive glass French doors.

Wasn't she supposed to join him? And why did she look upset? Dread overwhelmed him as various dark scenarios filled his mind.

Max glanced at the people who surrounded him while thinking about how to get out of the current situation. He needs to talk to Liz and find out what happened.

It took him about two minutes to find the perfect timing to leave without offending anyone, when one man stopped talking and before another man started…

"Excuse me… I think I saw someone familiar." Max said politely, nodded in Isaac's direction, and moved away from the group.

Two steps later, Mona and Helen blocked his way.

"Max, nice to see you." Mona said with a big smile on her face.

Max paused and blinked. "Excuse me, do I know you?"

Mona was flustered. "I am Monica Dwaine. Mona. Last June, we met at the party here in New York, at the Millennium hotel…" She wanted to say that they shared a steamy night, but the group of men who spoke to Max earlier were listening keenly.

Max tilted his head. "I am sorry Miss. I don't remember attending a party in New York at that time. You probably mixed me up with someone. Excuse me…"

Max made his way around shocked Mona and Helen and walked toward the door behind which Elizabeth disappeared.

Of course, Max knows who Mona is. His gift (and a curse) is that he remembers faces and numbers and many other things which he wishes to forget.

It was obvious that Mona approached Max in a flirty way and that she had a hidden agenda. If this were old Max, and Isaac was not standing behind his back, Max would smugly tell her that he does not spend more than one night with a woman because none of them are worth it. But this is new Max, he belongs to only one woman, and he left his partying lifestyle behind.

Max stepped outside and he heard Patrick talk to Liz.

"…People are talking. Max is tarnishing your reputation, and Isaac's. Is that what you want? He is not worthy of you…"

Max thought that all lights went off. He faintly heard Patrick tell Liz how he can take care of her, and Liz rejected him more than once before threatening with security.

Max was not aware at what point Patrick left.

Max looked at Liz's back as she leaned on the concrete rail. She looked so thin and fragile… so alone. And he felt useless because he didn't know how to make her pain go away. How can he make it better if he is the one who caused it? And he is hurting as well. But no matter how much Max blamed himself, he could not stay away from Elizabeth.

Liz closed her eyes and pressed her lips into a line when she felt the familiar scent enveloping her a moment before Max hugged her from behind.

"I am so sorry, Liz." Max spoke in her hair. "I am supposed to protect you and make you happy, but I am doing the opposite."

Liz leaned into his embrace. "I am sorry, Max. I was confident that I love you enough to fight for us, but now I'm not sure that I have enough strength to do so."

Max's heart cracked and he felt that his eyes are burning. Is he going to cry? He heard Liz talk again…

"Don't think that you are doing anything wrong, because I feel safe by your side, and I am happy with you. The problem are others who are jealous and malicious, and I don't know how to fight back."

"You don't." Max responded in a whisper. "We will do it together. Remember? We are a team."

Liz turned toward Max and fisted his shirt under the jacket of his suit. "How do we fight this?"

Max wanted to say how he is not sure, but then he got an idea… "Do you trust me?"

Liz looked at Max and felt that heaviness from her chest disappeared. That simple question dispersed the dark clouds from her mind. She smiled. "Yes."

Max pecked her lips before tightening his hold on her.

After an unknown measure of time, Max held Liz's hand in his and led the way inside, through the crowd and he saw that Isaac is looking their way with a mix of confusion and anger. It seems that the rumors reached Isaac as well. Max exhaled and tightened his grip on Liz's hand. Even if heavens turn against them, he will not let go of her.

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