328 Accident 05

November 22

4:23 AM

Liz shifted in her sleep and groaned. Why is her phone ringing?

She hoped that it's not Max with his demands for them to talk. Mia and Brianna told her that Max is miserable and drinking. She does not want to talk to him. Or maybe it's not him. It could be Mia and Brianna checking up on her.

Whoever it is, Liz is upset because she cried herself to sleep and she slept less than half an hour ago while hugging a pillow that has Max's scent on it.

Liz took the call when she saw that it's an unfamiliar number. "Yes?"

"Is this Elizabeth Williams?" A female voice was heard.

"Yes."

"Ma'am, I'm sorry to disturb you at this hour, but you are listed as an emergency contact for Maximilian Anderson… He was admitted twenty minutes ago at the Tacoma General Hospital…"

Liz felt like a lightning struck her. "What? Why is Max in a hospital?"

"He had a car accident…"

Liz bolted into a seated position. "Is he OK?"

As soon as the words left her, Liz regretted the stupid question. Of course, he is not OK. If he is OK, he would not be in a hospital and a random nurse would not wake her up before dawn!

"It's early to tell. They are prepping him for surgery and…" Liz was not sure what else the woman said. She jumped out of her bed and dashed in the closet to dress up.

When Liz reached her apartment earlier that night, she wiggled out of her gown and plopped on the bed in her underwear. She remembered that she didn't remove makeup. Considering that she cried, she probably looks like a raccoon. 

~ Tacoma, the Tacoma General Hospital ~

5:47 AM

Liz is sitting in the waiting lounge and staring at her phone.

Max is still in surgery and they don't know anything yet.

The nurse asked Liz to contact any other Max's friends and family and left her with words that they will notify her as soon as there are any news.

Liz is not sure whom to call. They will ask how come Max ended up in a car accident, and even though she does not know the details, she knows that this happened because of her. If she stayed with him or allowed him to come with her, this would not happen.

Earlier that evening, Liz pushed Max away… and she pushed him into an accident.

They planned to end their night with friends and drinks, and when everyone leaves, Max and Liz were supposed to enjoy themselves in the suite at the back of the CEO's office. But instead of that, Max is in surgery and she is waiting to hear how bad it is and if he will survive.

Liz banged her head in the wall behind her. Why was she so stupid? Max was begging her to listen, he was telling her over and over again how it was a fluke and that it will not happen again and that the only woman that matters is her, Elizabeth Williams… but she didn't listen.

"Max… please, be OK and I promise to listen… I promise I will…" Liz said in a shaky voice, even though she knew that no one can hear her.

Liz called Mia. Mia can tell Hunter that Max is admitted to a hospital, and Hunter will determine who else will know that Max had an accident because Liz is afraid to call anyone from the Anderson family. She is afraid that they will blame her more than she is blaming herself.

Liz is not sure how long it took before Mia and Hunter arrived. Her senses were dulled, and she felt as if she is watching a movie. Quentin and Brianna were there, and they were talking, but Liz didn't understand what. Liz could see that Brianna is reaching with a napkin and rubbing Liz's cheeks and Liz wondered if she is crying. That would explain the blurry vision.

The doctor exited and asked who is here for Mr. Anderson. Liz bolted on her feet and struggled to stay focused. The doctor mentioned multiple fractures, internal injuries, high level of alcohol in blood, swelling under the skull…

"When can we see him?" Liz asked.

"He is being taken into an intensive unit. You can see him in a few minutes."

Liz watched the doctor walk away and she didn't move.

"What happened!?" Sabrina's almost-scream pierced through the waiting lounge.

Liz turned toward the voice and saw that Sabrina and Ashton are looking at her.

"Max had an accident, and he is out of the surgery. We can see him in a few minutes. We don't know more than that." Mia responded instead of Liz.

Sabrina looked at Liz top to bottom, noticing that Liz is unharmed. "How come Max had an accident at this hour?"

Liz didn't get to answer this question because the nurse came to tell them that they can go to Max's room. 

Sabrina and Hunter went right away with Ashton and Mia behind them, and Brianna hooked her arm around Liz. "Come on, Liz. Max needs you." Quentin followed the group silently.

Liz swallowed non-existent saliva and her legs moved as Brianna guided her.

When Liz reached Max's room, her eyes fell on a man who is barely recognizable under all the bandages. Parts of his face that are not bandaged are bruised.

Liz heard Sabrina asking a nurse: "When will he wake up?"

"He has a swelling under the skull. We had to put him into a medically induced coma to avoid brain damage." The nurse responded.

Sabrina looked at Liz. "What does that mean?"

Liz exhaled. "When the swelling subsides, they will take him off the medications. After that, he will wake up."

"You don't sound very convinced." Sabrina noticed.

"There is a chance that he will not wake up." Liz said in a whisper.

The door opened and Madeline and Nathan entered.

"Oh, my boy…" Madeline wept while going straight toward Max who is on the bed, covered in bandages, and hooked up to machines.

Nathan had an unreadable expression.

"What happened?" Nathan asked and just as expected, his question was directed at Liz.

Liz's eyes swept through the room and she saw that all eyes are on her. All, except for Max's.

Liz wanted to say that she does not know, but then she guessed that they will ask her how is that possible, and she will need to explain, and she thought that the best way is to go straight to the point.

"I am so sorry. This is all my fault. We had a fight and I told him to give me space. I went home and left him at his office."

Nathan had a feeling that this is related to Irene Brooks. Max told Nathan not to push it, and Madeline explained how it's easy to jump to conclusions because Irene is undeniably attractive. Nathan retorted that he hired Irene based on her resume and not her body and Madeline agreed how that is the right approach, however, she cautioned Nathan not to encourage Irene to interact with Max outside the office.

Nathan sighed. It seems that Madeline's warning came too late. "This is not your fault."

"It is, Mr. Anderson. I was insecure and I feared that he might be unfaithful and… I pushed him away. If I didn't do that, he would be with me, and not on the road in the middle of night…" Liz words were lost in sobs.

Nathan held Liz's shoulders at an arm's length while looking into her eyes.

"This is not your fault, Liz. Max told me that I am being too pushy and that it might cause misunderstandings between the two of you. At that time, I thought that he was being unreasonable. Now I know that I was supposed to ask for his opinion before hiring a director, no matter how good her resume is. I hoped that they can get to know each other before she starts working. Believe me, I was only thinking about the company. I forgot to consider possible impacts on your private life. When Max wakes up, I will apologize properly, to both of you."

Liz felt a knot in her throat which prevented her from speaking. She wanted to tell Nathan that he should not blame himself because his actions are within reason. If this new director is not Irene Brooks, everything would be fine... Max would not freeze, Liz would not be insecure and Max would not be in the hospital bed, nonresponsive and hooked up to machines.

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