326 The new CEO of the Alpha Group 8

"Don't worry, Liz…" Sabrina said. "Max will get the hang of his new role, and he will keep his employees busy so that he can come home to you. That is why he has all those directors. They will work like a well-oiled machine in no time."

Liz exhaled and forced a smile. "Thank you for comforting me."

Max was hovering around Liz, more than normally. Liz didn't reject him, but she didn't initiate anything either.

Max would pass things to Liz before she asked for them, he cut her steak into bite-sized pieces and made sure that her wine glass is never less than half-filled, and whenever he didn't need both hands, his left arm rested on the back of her chair, and he would touch her shoulder with the tips of his fingers.

Liz answered when someone asked her a question while most of her mental energy went on suppressing her heartache which was impossible to ignore, but she hoped that it will not show. 

Liz thought that it will be easy to give Max a chance to prove himself. Isn't that what she is doing since they met? After all, they are together for months and she needs to continue doing what she did, but she found that her heart is not into it. Irene's presence hovered above Liz and Liz was unable to shake it off.

She needed time to think and her current environment was not suitable for that.

Several people made toasts. They congratulated Max on his new position, wished Nathan a happy retirement and there was a toast to welcome the new director of marketing, Irene Brooks.

Irene tried catching glimpses of Max, but their two tables were furthest away, and the lighting was dimmed so she could not see much.

"You are Foxy, right?" Irene asked Foxy who was silently observing her.

"Nicole Foxwell. Friends call me Foxy. You can call me Miss Foxwell."

Irene understood the meaning behind Foxy's words. Foxy does not see Irene as a friend and… "You are Max's friend?"

"Currently, I am his secretary, and I'm working with him since he started as an intern nine years ago. And who are you to call him by his nickname?"

Irene paused. "I apologize. I heard people calling him like that and I thought that it would be appropriate. There is nothing more to it."

"His friends call him Max. Since you are new, I suggest that you don't create ambiguous situations. You should start addressing him as CEO Anderson, until he personally tells you that you can call him by his name. Or his nickname. And I hope that you are sensible enough to address him as CEO Anderson in the work setting no matter how he tells you to call him."

"Go ahead."

"Who is the woman by his side? The one in the purple dress? As his secretary, you should know. Right?"

Foxy glanced toward the table where Max and Liz are before returning her gaze to Irene in slow motion. "Max is sitting at the table with his friends and family. Out of everyone seated there, why are you curious about her?"

Irene shifted in her seat. "I see that CEO Anderson is giving her more attention compared to the other people at his table. As a good employee, I should be aware of the relationships my boss has."

"That is true, for business relationships. Why do you want to know about his personal life? Are you interested in him?" Foxy chuckled and waved her hand. "I'm sorry… of course, you are interested. Any woman with good eyesight would be interested. But let me warn you that Max does not mix business and pleasure. If you accepted the position as the director of marketing only to get close to him, I can assure you that you made a big mistake."

Irene was stunned by Foxy's blunt approach. Shouldn't Foxy be more respectable? She is just a secretary and Irene is a director! But Irene is an outsider here and she needs to stay calm. She needs to get to know people before deciding who is the ally and who is the pawn. Foxy is not friendly, but maybe she is only cautious. As Max's secretary, Foxy will definitely be useful.

Irene smiled. "I apologize if I gave you the wrong impression. This is the position of the director of marketing in a big company. I have years of education and stellar results to show that I am capable. How can you say that I accepted it only so that I can get close to a man?"

"Oh, I've seen women do worse, Miss Brooks. Over the years by Max's side, I got to know that he is many things, but he deserved my respect by being a sharp businessman. Many women tried to use work environment to climb into his bed, but they failed miserably. Max's partner needs to be his equal and at the Alpha group we are all his subordinates. If you say that you joined the Alpha group to work, I can only welcome you. I look forward to seeing your stellar results." Foxy said with a smile and raised her glass for an air-clink before taking a sip.

…

After dinner, they parted ways from the rest of the people and headed to the Alpha group HQ building.

Sabrina and Ashton excused themselves when they reached the parking lot. They had no intention of going to Max's office.

"I am tired, and Ash needs to work in the morning…" Sabrina explained. "On top of that, I can't drink so… you kids enjoy without us."

When Mia, Brianna, Liz, Hunter, Quentin, and Max left the elevator on the top floor of the Alpha group HQ building, Liz decided…

"Max, can we talk?"

Max gestured to Hunter and Quentin to go ahead. "You know where to go… Drinks are in the visible range, we will join you in a minute."

Mia and Brianna looked at Liz, wondering what is Liz up to. Liz gave them a nod that it will be fine, and they understood that Liz has a plan. Mia and Brianna followed after Hunter and Quentin.

Max held Liz's hand in his and caressed the back of her palm with his thumb. "Tell me, love… what is on your mind."

"You know what is on my mind." Liz said. "All this is suffocating, and I need to think."

"Do you want us to go on my boat?" Max offered right away.

"No, Max. I want to think on my own."

Max panicked. Is she leaving? "I will not bother you. I can be quiet."

"Your presence bothers me right now, Max. I need a break."

Max sucked in a shaky breath. "Liz, don't do this."

"What do you suggest, Max? I know that you can do many things, but you don't have a magic wand that can fix an aching heart. And my head feels like it's about to explode. Too many things happened, and I don't understand the half of it. I need to think. On my own. Give me space."

Max's heart dropped. Liz and he faced many challenges so far, but they were together. She never asked Max to give her space from him. Is she seeing him as an enemy? He needs to explain. "Elizabeth… I really didn't know that my father hired her. If I knew, I would stop it. I don't know why she decided to come to the Alpha group. Nathan does not know who she was, and I will find a way to get her out of the company and out of our lives."

Liz understood the meaning of his words. "You will fire her?"

Max saw her question as a ray of hope. "Yes. I know that you will not be comfortable with Irene nearby no matter what her intentions are. I will find some dirt or get her to make a mistake so that she is forced to leave without giving her ammunition to start a lawsuit against the Alpha group."

---

If you are not reading this at 'W e b n o v e l . c o m', then the content you're reading is stolen! Please support the author by reading this novel from the original source.