313 Isaac's birthday weekend 11

Patrick saw that Isaac is leaving and he took that as his cue to make an appearance.

"What did Isaac say?" 

Patrick noticed that Ronald ignored his question because he is busy with his phone. He thought that it's something important, so he waited a bit before calling: "Dad. What did Isaac say?"

"Nothing." Ronald responded absentmindedly.

Patrick frowned in confusion. He clearly saw Isaac and Ronald talking, and given the current hot topic of Max and Liz, they were not discussing the weather. "Nothing?"

"He does not care if that boy was Don Juan or Casanova before he started dating Liz." Ronald said dejectedly.

Patrick was not willing to accept it. "We are going to leave it at that?"

Ronald snorted. "Foolish boy. Stop your rash actions and use your head."

"I am using my head. But when I see that a guy like that can get close to Elizabeth, while she rejects me, I lose my composure. How can he be better than me? He is obviously a guy who got everything served on a plate and now he is enjoying his life partying with women while squandering his family's money. I have no idea how Isaac can tolerate him."

"Squandering his family's money…" Ronald repeated and gave his phone to Patrick. "Why don't you look for yourself what kind of a guy Max is?"

Patrick frowned and looked at the phone. The more he scrolled, the more his frown deepened. "So… he has an Ivy League education and is an executive in a big company… It only proves my point that he is enjoying the glory of his family and that he is not worthy."

Ronald grabbed his phone from Patrick's hands. "You are not thinking, Rick. If he is throwing his money and life away, his father would not make him the next in line to lead such a big company. Didn't you see that Max is not a single child? There is another boy next to Max with the same last name as an executive..."

Rick exhaled. "I underestimated Isaac. I thought that because he has all this, he would allow a man of any financial background to get close to Elizabeth. However, Isaac was calculative. He always was. There is a chance that the Anderson family is richer than Isaac…"

Patrick felt that his ship is sinking. "Where does that leave us?"

Ronald exhaled and shook his head. "I don't know, Rick… I don't know…"

Nearby, on the dancefloor…

Mona is dancing with Andrew (aka her date) and trying to improve her mood. Maybe her plot to spend the night with Max failed, but the evening is not completely ruined, Andrew is still here, and she wants to make the most of it.

"Mona…" Mona's mother called. "We are going home."

"No. Mona. WE are going home. You included." Mona's mother said sternly.

"Why, mommy… I want to stay longer."

"Mona, don't argue with me."

"I don't want to argue. I am not a child and I am here with Andrew. I will go back later…"

"Now, Mona!" Mona's mother said impatiently.

Mona was embarrassed that her mother is treating her like that in front of Andrew and anyone else who might be watching. "I'm not leaving without an explanation. What's got into you?"

"What's got into me? Let me tell you a story about a loose woman who waited for the hostess of the party in front of the restroom so that she can steal a certain boyfriend by telling the hostess how she slept with a man. And that loose woman was not lying because about one year ago she slept with him. It was a foursome. Three girls and a man. Sounds familiar?"

Mona stared at her mother. She was unsure what to say because no matter what she says, it will only enrage her mother further. And her mother already knows more than necessary. From where did this come?

Mona remembered Helen and Jodi and she cursed them internally. Helen is aware of the in-front-of-the-restroom incident, and Jodi is the one who blurted that Mona spent the night with Max and two other women. How dare they! It's one thing when youngsters gossip, but this is her mother! And she is not happy.

Mona's mother saw changes in Mona's expression, and she leaned closer. "Don't try to lie your way out of this. Get your things. We are going home, and I expect an explanation."

"What kind of an explanation?" Mona asked timidly. Is her mother really expecting to hear details related to Mona's wild nights?

Mona's mother grabbed Mona's wrist and tugged her toward the table where their purses are. "I want to know why my family's name is being dragged through the mud? I remember you talking about Max as a playboy and I asked you how do you know… well, this clarifies many things. You slut! Is this how I raised you? When will you learn that a man sleeping around is not a bad thing, while a woman's reputation gets easily ruined... Loose girl... Who will marry you now? All the good ones will not want you for more than a mistress... Just wait until your father hears about this..."

Mona panicked. This is bad. This is really bad. She thought of denying everything, with a story that someone is spreading malicious rumors, but this… Mona forgot that she badmouthed Max before dinner! She needs a different tactic, and she needs to come up with it quickly because if her father gets a wind of this… it's over. She will be over. Her father is extremely strict and old-fashioned. He might disown her or maybe even send her to a monastery.

Mona decided to act pitifully. "Everyone is having parties, mommy… I attended because all my friends did. And when everyone drank, so did I but it's not as bad as you think it's…"

"Save it!" Mona's mom exclaimed angrily. 

"Don't you care what the truth is?" Mona's eyes swelled with tears. Not because of what her mom said, but because her mom is dragging her and people are watching! How embarrassing.

"The only truth that matters is that everyone is talking about you coming here to steal Elizabeth's boyfriend and that you are a loose girl who is sleeping around. Move faster!"

Andrew watched Mona leaving and he wondered if he should leave as well because they came together. He is not really attached to Mona; they went out a few times and he accepted to come as her date because Isaac Williams is the host and Andrew is not silly to miss this party.

Andrew saw a few ladies chatting on their own, and he decided to approach them. Mona is gone, but that does not mean that his evening ended.

Isaac sat at the table and glanced at the people present. He felt empty. Isaac was planning an eventful weekend with Max and Liz, and it only caused trouble that pushed Max and Liz away.

"You look down. Where is Max?" Benjamin asked when he sat at the table next to Isaac.

Isaac exhaled. "Max left."

Benjamin was visibly disappointed. "Already? I was hoping to talk to him more."

"You did?" Isaac was not sure if Benjamin means it or if he is only being polite.

Benjamin confirmed. "I wanted to discuss potential cooperation. You know that I'm thinking about starting a project on the West Coast, but I need someone solid there who can watch over execution because my base is here and there will be a lot of money involved. Well, I guess I will need to call his office. Or can you give me his personal number? That will create a few shortcuts for me."

"You are serious." Isaac voiced his observation.

"Of course. Do you think that some gossip can prevent me from seeing that he is reliable? Those who spread gossip are only capable of flapping their mouths because they are jealous. We know how this works. If Max left a party with a woman, it would spark gossips no matter if they parted ways two minutes later or not. A man like Max is a good catch and there will always be women following him. However, regardless if those stories are true or not, tonight, I saw a young man who realized that there is a problem and he took care of it openly without mincing his words. He was respectful in addressing you, kind in talking to Elizabeth, and threatening when facing gossipers. He is someone who knows when to bend and when to resist…"

Isaac listened to Benjamin praising Max and he was happy that his friend is sharing the same opinion.

Isaac didn't notice at what point Jason joined them, but Jason was nodding in agreement with Benjamin's words and Isaac was happy that both Benjamin and Jason expressed their interest in working with Max.

Maybe this evening was not a complete failure after all.

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