324 The new CEO of the Alpha Group 6

Cold water didn't help no matter how much Max splashed it on his face.

Max balled his hands into fists. He was happy and everything seemed great and then it all collapsed. How can he fix this?

"You are a shithead." Quentin's voice sounded from the side. "How can you make an elementary mistake?"

Max was irritated. Since when is Quentin qualified to give moral lessons? "I don't remember you being a shiny example of decency."

Quentin snorted. "I never claimed that I am. But when I decided to pursue a woman, all stops were off, and I never gave her a reason to doubt me."

Max frowned. "I fucked up and it's my problem. Why are you giving me a hard time about it?"

"Because it's not only your problem, M. I spent months to get Bri to trust me, and your stupid stunt got her to remember why she never tied herself to a man. You fucked up, but I need to apologize to Bri for that because when I tried telling her that you are not cheating on Liz, she called me a pig who is ready to lie in order to cover for your sorry ass. I wanted to tell her that she is wrong, but when I saw you gaping at Irene like a dumb caveman who never saw a woman, even I thought that you allowed your two wives to attend the same event. And do you think that Bri will snuggle happily by my side when she knows that Liz is hurting? You said that you changed. You said that you love her… Act like it M, or get the hell out of her life."

Max could see the disappointment in Quentin's expression, and he realized that he ended up hurting more people than just Elizabeth.

Since Liz entered his life, he got closer to Quentin and Hunter, and with Sabrina as well. Max's parents don't nag anymore, and they are happy and proud that he changed, or to be more accurate, he reverted to his old self but with some enhancements that come as part of a happy relationship. And there are Mia and Brianna and Olivia and many other people who make him feel comfortable when he is himself.

Many things resurfaced in Max's mind, mostly related to Liz and he could see her smile and the glow which told him that she is happy.

Max remembered his reaction when he saw Irene, and he is aware that he has no idea if that lasted a few seconds or a few minutes. Probably longer because he does not remember Irene's speech or their handshake.

Max chanted that he will not hurt Liz again, just how he promised when they spoke outside of the hotel, and then he remembered that Liz didn't meet his gaze when they returned. For the first time, her beautiful dark eyes were not directed at him and it was suffocating.

Max thought that he is running out of oxygen. After two deep breaths, he looked at Quentin. "I know Q… I know I messed up. I need your help because I can't lose her."

"Are you sure that you are over Irene?"

Quentin nodded in agreement. Max has a big ego and Irene stomped over it. But there is another question… "Why is Irene here?"

Max shook his head. "I don't know. I never introduced her to my parents, Nathan does not know who she was. He probably interviewed her as any other candidate."

Quentin does not think that this is simple. "Maybe Nathan doesn't know about your past with Irene, but unless she suffers from selective amnesia, she does. Why is she here?"

"I don't know, Q. But she ruined my life once, and I will not let her ruin it again."

"That is a lot of 'I don't know', M. What is your plan?"

"I will start by talking to Nathan and see where it goes."

"You will need to talk to Irene."

Max exhaled. "Probably…"

"The only thing that will give Liz confidence that you are over Irene is if you talk to Liz. Tell her everything."

"That's not a good idea. Who wants to hear about exes?"

"When an ex shows up in your life like that, you need to talk about it. Everything you hide from Liz, it can and will be used against you. Even if Irene has no bad intentions, it will create misunderstandings. Like it or not, Nathan hired her as a director in your company and unless you fire her ass, she is here to stay."

Max knows that Quentin is right, but he needs to focus on Liz who is drifting away, and it feels like someone is ripping the heart out of his chest.

…

Liz was drinking wine in silence and processing the events from that evening.

She thought how it's ironic that it took her so long to believe that Max loves her and that he changed, and when she finally got the confidence how everything will be great, Irene happened and now she can't believe that everything collapsed in a matter of minutes.

Andrea came to chat, and she noticed that the mood is off. "What's going on? Did Max mess up something?"

Brianna likes how Andrea's mind works. "What makes you think that he messed up?"

"Because Liz is dejected, you and Mia look pissed, and Max is… Max."

Mia and Brianna exchanged glances and they saw that Liz is staring vacantly at her wine glass. 

Mia and Brianna shared an understanding that the more people know, the fewer chances Irene will have to create trouble, and the fewer chances Max will have to fool around. Also, they like Andrea. Andrea has spunk and she obviously likes Liz.

"The new director…" Mia started.

"The boobilicious blonde?"

Brianna was interested to find out more about the nickname. "The 'what' blonde?"

Andrea gestured to the chest area, like she is holding two big watermelons, and repeated: "Boobilicious."

Mia waved her hand, indicating to Brianna to let go of the big boobs topic. That is not important. "Yeah, that one. She is Max's ex."

"And she will work with him… as his report…" Andrea said robotically while observing Liz. Andrea saw this as a great chance to throw a jab at Max, but she saw that Liz is out of it. "Max is known not to go for seconds, except with Liz. That's what makes her special."

"Yeah but this one is also…" Mia paused and decided to change her next word. "…different. She dated Max for a few years while they were in school. And she dumped him."

Andrea blinked. "Is she the reason that he turned from a golden boy into trash?"

Brianna and Mia nodded.

Andrea made a face. "That was ages ago and he is with Liz now. I don't like Max, but I can't deny that he is treating Liz like she is the only woman on the planet. Why does his high-school sweetheart matter?"

"Because when she showed…"

'BANG!'

Brianna stopped talking when Liz slapped the table. The sound was unusually loud.

"I am right here, and I will appreciate it if you don't talk about it." Liz almost growled.

Andrea reached for Liz's hand and patted it. "Sorry, honey. I am just worried about you. If you need to talk, you know how to reach me."

Liz exhaled. "Thanks, Andrea. I am disappointed and confused and I don't know what to think. But I appreciate your kindness."

Andrea walked around the table and gave Liz a side-hug before disappearing into the crowd again.

Brianna, Mia, and Liz continued sitting in silence.

"Can I have the honor of dancing with you?"

Liz turned toward the voice and met Max's hand which was extended toward her, palm up.

"I don't feel like dancing."

"You promised me a dance, and we didn't dance tonight." Max persisted.

"I didn't promise. I said that all my dances are for you, but I don't have any to give."

"Elizabeth… please…"

Elizabeth exhaled, kept her glass on the nearby table, and placed her hand into Max's.

As soon as Max and Liz left, Quentin sat next to Brianna.

"How is the situation?" Quentin asked while gauging Brianna's reaction. The last time they spoke, she was angry.

Brianna was not sure how to respond. "When someone hurts you, it's difficult to trust how it will not happen again. Liz is a kind person who gives second chances to everyone. About six months ago, Liz came to New York because she ended up on some sleazy website with Max. She was hurt and she cried. And she gave him another chance. This is not the first time that he messed up, and not the second time either. I don't think that he has done it on purpose, but that does not change the fact that Liz is hurt because Max is accident prone. One day, Max will run out of chances."

Quentin's finger glided slowly over the back of Brianna's palm. "Bri, are we OK?"

Brianna half-smiled. "Yes, Q. We are OK. I am sad because of Liz, but the two of us are OK."

Quentin visibly relaxed. "Don't worry, Max will fix this."

"I'm sorry for calling you... pig."

Quentin scrunched his nose and made pig-sounds.

Brianna burst into laughter and Mia rolled her eyes.

"God, the two of you make me queesy."

"Go to your fiancé and leave me and my boyfriend alone." Brianna responded to Mia.

"Maybe I will..." Mia stood up and went toward Hunter.

On the dancefloor…

Max held Liz close to him and they moved slowly with the beat of the music. He placed her palm on his chest and covered it with his.

"This here… beats for you…" Max whispered close to her ear. "You are my everything… If you leave me, take my heart with you because I don't need it. I will never love anyone else… and before you correct me how the heart is a muscle that pumps blood and it has nothing to do with feelings which are a product of chemistry and electrical impulses in my brain, I will tell you that I don't need my heart for pumping blood either because without you I don't feel alive… You are the life of my love… You are my everything… There is no one else than you…"

Max chanted sweet words into Liz's ear, and she closed her eyes.

Liz was enveloped with his scent and she melted into him and she wished to believe him. She really did.

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