321 The new CEO of the Alpha Group 3

Quentin's and Brianna's entrance made other people approach Max (and Liz) as well.

Liz wanted to step to the side, but Max's left hand was on her shoulder firmly, telling her not to leave.

"So far, I let you do what you want." Max spoke only for Liz to hear. "Now we do things my way. I want you by my side and if any of these blokes dares to think bad of you, I will punch him in the face, and then bankrupt his business."

Liz smiled and leaned into Max. Only he can talk about violence in a sweet way. Well, it won't last more than ten minutes, and even if she meets any scornful gaze or hears a condescending remark, she will suck it up. For Max.

Max shook hands with people who approached him, and Liz was by his side and his world was at peace. This is how things should be. He and Liz at the top of the world.

"Excuse me…" Nathan's voice boomed from the speakers. "Can I have your attention? I have an additional announcement to make."

Everyone present stopped talking and waited to hear what is next.

"Uhm…" Nathan paused. "I admit I don't have a speech for this so bear with me. It is unplanned, but since the person in question managed to reach here, I want to take this opportunity to introduce her to you." Nathan said mysteriously. "Two years ago, Director Stanley left the Alpha group and since then I feel that we are struggling with marketing. We have amazing resources, but we are lacking leadership in that department. In the last few months, I was secretly meeting with various promising individuals with the hope to fill in this gap before I retire, and I can proudly tell you that I found a gem. It was my luck to find someone so capable with an impressive resume and tenacity to be the best and I was excited when she accepted to join the Alpha group… Ladies and gentlemen… It is my honor to present to you the director of marketing at the Alpha group who will officially join us on December first… Irene Brooks!"

Nathan announced Irene Brooks as the new director of marketing, and an alluring blonde in a tight-fitting strapless red mini dress stood on the stage next to Nathan.

Nathan and Irene shook hands and spoke something only for them to hear before she took Nathan's spot on the stage in front of the microphone.

Liz grimaced. She didn't notice that Max's whole body stiffened when Nathan mentioned the name of the newly appointed director of marketing, but she definitely felt Max's grip on her shoulder increasing to the point of pain when the woman showed up.

Liz looked at Max with a frown and noticed that his mouth is slightly open, and his face looks like he saw a ghost. Liz wondered if Max is gaping because the woman on the stage is super-attractive. She dismissed that idea. Considering Max's past, he saw all kinds of beauties, and he should not be stupefied by just an outer appearance.

Her thoughts got interrupted by the pain which was increasing.

"Max…" Liz growled in a low voice, to remind him of his grip.

Liz was not sure if he heard her or he noticed that she is trying with her hand to get him to loosen his grip, but he released her shoulder and his hand fell on his side. He was practically non-responsive.

Liz rubbed her shoulder briefly while wondering, what's got into Max? She never saw him act like that. She knew that he is stressed... is it possible that he snapped?

Quentin's expression almost matched Max's.

"Who is she?" Brianna barked at Quentin. She knows that a regular beauty can't freeze a man like Quentin into stupidity. Is this Quentin's ex? She is aware that he would hook up with models, and Irene has too many curves to be a model. However… anything is possible.

"Fuuuuuck…" Quentin said under his breath.

"What?"

Quentin snapped out of his daze and immediately noticed Brianna's furious glare. He scrambled to explain because he does not want Brianna to get the wrong idea. "Uhm… do you remember that I told you a story about Max… he had a girl who ruined him…"

"The one who ghosted him?"

Quentin nodded.

"And that is her?"

Quentin continued nodding.

Brianna hoped that she understood wrongly. Somehow, she would take it better if that woman is related to Quentin versus being THE Max's ex. But she had to confirm... "Is she the woman who caused Max to go crazy for several years?"

"Yes." Quentin exhaled.

"Shit… What about Liz?" Brianna looked toward the area where Max and Liz are. She can't see Liz because they are surrounded by people who were congratulating Max until a minute ago. But she saw Max's head above others, and she didn't need more than a moment to confirm that Max was frozen into stupidity.

"Wait…" Quentin grabbed Brianna's hand. "Maybe Max is over her. Maybe nothing happens."

Brianna yanked her hand out of Quentin's reach. "Yeah. I'm sure that he forgot about her. Why did he hire her?"

"Maybe he didn't know. Nathan said that he hired her… secretly." Quentin's voice drifted away when he realized that Brianna is not buying his explanation.

Brianna exhaled in frustration. "God… all of you are pigs. You are always ready to provide excuses for your buddy, aren't you?"

Brianna could not see Liz, but she saw Mia who was standing next to Hunter, and Brianna headed that way.

"Mia, this is trouble."

Mia didn't get it. "Why?"

"That new director is Max's ex."

"He has many exes and Liz faced a few of them with confidence." Mia stated the fact. "Why is this one different?"

"This one is THE ex."

"What?" This was Hunter asking.

Brianna glared at Hunter. Are all men scoundrels who are ready to lie in order to vouch for each other? "Are you about to tell me that you don't know the woman who almost ruined your brother's life? You are selling us a story that Liz saved him and that she is the best thing that ever happened to Max. If that is true, why is that wench here?"

Hunter paused. "I saw her once, maybe twice, when I visited Max at school. He never brought her home or to any family events. And I was not invited when the two of them hang out…" He looked at Irene and the old image overlapped with the current one. She looks a bit different, curvier, but that is her. "Oh, crap…"

"I look forward to meeting all of you in the upcoming weeks and working with you to take the Alpha group to the next level…" Irene ended her speech and the people erupted in applause.

Brianna saw that Nathan approached Irene and they shook hands before Nathan gestured toward the area where Max and Liz are. She guessed that this is the part where Irene goes into the crowd and meets people, and she will probably start from the newly crowned CEO.

Brianna tugged Mia's hand. "We need to rescue Liz."

There is no way that Brianna will allow Liz to find herself stuck between an alluring ex-girlfriend and stupefied Max.

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