355 Max returns to work again 2

"Director Brooks, we meet again…", Liz said and saw that Irene gave a small nod in response.

It's not that Irene didn't want to respond, but she was still shocked by the sudden turn of events. A second ago, Irene was confident that Max is still in love with her and that he made this 'stop by at noon' as an opportunity for them to share a meal in the privacy of his office and this… just what is this?

"I wish that I can say that it's nice to see you…" Liz narrowed her eyes at Irene for a moment before turning to Max completely. "Important and urgent are not the same things. It's not like you have a bleeding patient that can die if you don't take care of him immediately. I said that you can return to work if you take it easy, and how is this taking it easy? Max, you are still recuperating, and you need to watch your health and that means not only resting but balanced and regular meals as well."

"Yes, doctor.", Max responded submissively. "It will not happen again. But since Director Brooks is already here, I can hear her out, right?"

Liz shrugged and made her way toward the table that Max set up previously.

Max dashed after Liz and pulled the chair for her to sit.

Max was relieved how this went so far, yet still nervous because he is treating this as a trial. He knows that facing Irene is nerve-wracking for Liz, probably more than it is for him. Mostly because it will take some time for them to regain their confidence after the fiasco of their first meeting.

"It will be no more than two minutes…", Max told Liz and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before returning his attention to Irene.

His smile faded and his voice lost warmth. "Director Brooks, I can give you two minutes, and they started ten seconds ago…"

Irene thought that the whole room was spinning. She assumed that the second seat at the table is for her and that Max is either ready to cheat on his girlfriend or that maybe they broke up. But she didn't think that the girlfriend is here. Irene didn't see it coming.

Irene didn't miss hostility in Liz's voice, or the distance Max put in-between them. It was obvious that Max moved on, but Irene was not willing to accept that.

Irene's mind was a mess. The flip was too sudden for her bruised ego to accommodate the reality, and Liz's mocking smirk was driving her insane, but Irene knew that if she acts on an impulse, it will not end well.

Irene managed to pull herself together and plaster a smile on her face.

"Yes, CEO Anderson. Thank you for your time. I wanted to give you my progress report and to hear your thoughts on it." Irene extended her hand with the purple folder toward Max.

"Anything else?"

Irene looked at the folder awkwardly and then at Max. It was obvious that he has no intention of looking at it now. "Uhm… not at this moment."

Max's expression showed that he is irritated. "Director Brooks, going forward, please email me your reports. It will save both of us time and also the paper. I will review it and respond once I'm done and if an in-person discussion is needed, I will let you know. Did my father ask you to print out your reports?"

"No.", Irene admitted. "But I thought that since it's your first day back, I can use this opportunity to bring it in person and to sync up on the strategy for marketing."

Irene was happy that she thought of this. As the new CEO, he should be interested in her strategy. It would be irresponsible to push her away.

Irene was almost-confident that she has this figured out, and she was glad that she regained her senses. She made several contingency plans, as usually. The only thing out of her expectations was that the girlfriend (aka Liz) is present.

Irene's recuperating confidence took another blow a second later when Max rejected her.

"Sync up is more than a few minutes and since marketing touches almost every department, other directors should be present as well."

"I am aware of that, but I wanted to share my vision with you and get feedback before including others."

"That is a good strategy, director Brooks, and I would approve it wholeheartedly if I had enough time to meet individually with each of my directors as they are progressing with their deliverables. I read the marketing plan you provided two weeks ago to my father. I am aware that my father shared his feedback. Once I get to it, I will include mine as well. If an in-person discussion is needed, my assistant will also be present because he keeps my notes. You have ten seconds left. Is there anything else?"

Irene could not believe that he is timing her. She swallowed all the curses that were threatening to come out of her mouth before responding: "Nothing else."

Max gestured toward the door, for Irene to exit. "If you excuse me, I will have lunch now…"

Irene walked out robotically, without bothering with pleasantries. She was angry and confused but thanks to years of practice, her poker face didn't crack.

"What do you think?", Max asked Liz when the door closed behind Irene.

Max released the breath he was holding when he assessed that Liz is not angry. Not at him, at least. And that means he did well. His shoulders relaxed and his smile reflected the warm feeling that overwhelmed him.

Max was happy that Liz filled up his plate and that he can start eating right away, because he was hungry.

"I don't know what to think.", Liz admitted. "Between the two of us, you are the people person, so you tell me. Is every director desperate for some one-on-one time with you, or is she an exception?"

Max swallowed food from his mouth before doing his best to give an objective answer while at the same time not sounding ambiguous. He does not want Liz to doubt his intentions.

"It is normal that they would want to leave a good impression, maybe even to suck up to me by using any means available. Some have a good track record, some use their mind, and some their looks. It's in human nature. In the Alpha group hierarchy, I am above them. Their corporate life and in extension, their private life as well depend on me. Getting on my good side can help them achieve a higher salary, bigger bonus, larger office, and of course, positive references if they decide to move on. All that impacts the quality of their lifestyle. To be honest, if not for my history with Irene, I would not consider her behavior unusual, especially because she is a new hire and young. I would classify it as eager to prove herself."

Liz agreed with Max's thoughts. However… "If this is normal, how do you identify if she crosses the line?"

"Irene is a proud woman who is used to get her way. Her report shows that sometimes she would put extra effort into achieving things worth only bragging rights without any other benefits. Nathan told me that in the first few days she tried to get close to him, but after a few warnings, she yielded. He also told her not to come in person to deliver reports.", Max said while gesturing with his fork toward the executive desk where the purple folder is. "It seems that Irene will attempt the same things with me. If she is here only for work, she will not repeat her offenses. However, if she has other motives, like getting close to me, she will keep on pushing her luck because anything underhanded can't be achieved in regular meetings."

"I don't want to rain on your parade, but…", Liz paused while carefully picking her words so that she does not sound like a jealous girlfriend. "You said that if she is scheming, you might catch her. And if she is not, then nothing. Is this something you plan on letting it drag, or do you have any deadlines set?"

"Current plan is to reject Irene's requests while not hindering her regular work. I will not allow her to approach me without witnesses because a desperate woman might try something underhanded when I'm not looking, and I will not give her that chance. Foxy and Hunter are the only two people in the company who have direct access to me, and both of them are refusing to cooperate with her. Based on Irene's personality, she will not give up and her behavior will escalate. We hope that she will make a mistake and we catch her red-handed."

Liz was obviously not pleased, but she didn't say anything.

"Elizabeth, do you trust me?"

"Of course, I do. But I don't trust her. Maybe you see her as a super-spy who came here to jeopardize your company, but I see her as an enemy who is targeting someone who belongs to me."

Max's smile widened as the emotions swelled inside him. He dropped his fork and pulled Liz to sit in his lap. Liz said he belongs to her, and that means she is finally selfishly claiming him as hers, just how he is claiming her as his. He was overwhelmed by happiness because Elizabeth he met more than half a year ago changed to the point of giving romance a chance and letting him into her heart.

"Elizabeth…", he murmured against her lips. "I still can't believe that an amazing woman like you is mine. I am yours. Completely."

Liz wanted to say something, but she forgot what because his lips were smooth and warm, and she became soft in his arms as their hot breaths mixed.

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