Accident Prone

As soon as Liz closed the door behind them, Max punched the air and exhaled loudly.

"Ah, how lucky that wimp is because this is your father's party." Max voiced his grief.

If this is not a Liz-related party, Max would rearrange Patrick's facial features with his fists, or drag him outside and then serve him a generous knuckle-sandwich.

Liz smirked. "Is he lucky?"

"Of course, not. But he avoided physical beating. For now." Max said and got his phone. "What is the name of his company?" Patrick said it, but Max was so enraged that he forgot, and Max has no idea how he managed to control himself from hitting that smug face (aka Patrick).

"E-Sand." Liz responded.

Max quickly did a search and found the website. He sent the link to Ian before making the phone call. "Hi, Ian… I know it's Saturday evening and I also know that you don't have a life… Yes, I need you to do something for me… No, you will not get more money because I already overpay you… Listen… I sent you a link. I need any dirt you can find related to that company… Yes, now… If it can wait for Monday, I would not call you on a Saturday evening... Thanks…"

Max ended the call and made another one.

"Q… I need you to do something for me…"

Liz listened to a two-minute long conversation between Max and Quentin and she appreciated how the two of them spoke, like a well-rehearsed team.

"Q can blacklist E-Sand as a company?" Liz asked when Max ended the call. She is not aware of Quentin's capabilities. She knows Quentin as Max's party-buddy (at first she thought they are gays), and that he is into publishing and chasing models, but then he fell for Brianna and... that's it.

Max confirmed. "The Alpha group has a stronghold in Seattle, and my influence is in the North-West. As a total opposite from me, Q does not have a base. He has connections everywhere and because he represents a big publishing company, people want to stay on his good side. He needs to drop a hint or two that a company is non-desirable, and that will spread like wildfire…"

Liz looked at Max with admiration. Provoking Max is a bad idea. She remembers how smugly Patrick looked at Max, but that was only because Patrick had no clue of what is coming his way… and that he was poking a tiger. And the tiger is angry.

Max exhaled and his arms wrapped around Liz.

Liz hugged him back and she could feel that he is tense. They stood in silence and she was happy that her proximity is enough to calm his nerves. At least partially.

"Thank you, Max."

Max was irked by the possibility that Liz is thankful because he spared Patrick from beating. She wouldn't do that, right? He needed confirmation. "For?" 

Max was relieved to hear that Liz was only concerned about protecting Isaac's good name, and hers. "Patrick drank too much of illusion that he can win you over."

"What? That is not happening." Liz wanted to assure Max that he is the only one for her. Because he is.

"That is why I said that it's an illusion. I saw how he is looking at you."

"You are saying that he was provoking you because he wanted you to look bad in front of me?" Liz asked even though she knew the answer. She is always happy when they come to the same conclusions. "That is stupid because no matter what people say, I know who you are, and they can't change my opinion."

Max looked at Liz with eyes full of emotions. "Please, don't forget that. No matter how people see me and what they think of me, believe in what you know. Believe in this Max who loves you more than anything."

Liz was moved by this sudden confession. She smiled. "I will."

…

Liz and Max returned to the event hall in time to hear Isaac's speech. Or to be more precise, Isaac waited for them to return so that he can start his speech.

Isaac stood on the stage where the band is and called for everyone's attention.

"I want to thank everyone for coming here tonight. This event would not be this grand without your presence. I don't usually celebrate my birthday, but this is special because of two people… other than me." Isaac gestured to the main table where Liz and Max are sitting, and a spotlight was directed at them. "Elizabeth is here visiting from Seattle with her boyfriend, Maximilian Anderson. I hope that everyone will be courteous and welcome Max into our little community… Please, enjoy your dinner…"

When Isaac finished his little speech, the guests clapped, and clamor filled the space as the band resumed their playing and the staff was serving dinner.

Everyone present knew who Liz is, a few knew Max and others wanted to know more about him. Isaac Williams introduced him publicly, which means that it's serious. That is probably Isaac's son-in-law!

Among the older generation, Elizabeth has a reputation of a young woman who is a dream daughter-in-law, but unreachable, like a fairy, and people present understood that Max must be someone extraordinary because he didn't only conquer Elizabeth, but Isaac approves of him as well.

At one table toward the back, Dr. Schmitz was in a state of shock. That man is Elizabeth's boyfriend! And Max heard him badmouthing Elizabeth! Dr. Schmitz felt like crying. Or leaving. Yes! He will leave! But everyone is seated for dinner, and if he leaves now, people will notice. Dr. Schmitz made a plan: when dinner is over, and people stand up to mingle and dance, he will silently slip out and never come back.

Several tables to the right from Dr. Scmitz...

Mona and Helen exchanged confused glances. Isn't that Max, the playboy? How come Isaac Williams introduced him as his almost son-in-law? There is only one explanation: Isaac does not know who Max is. How else would someone so prim and proper allow a playboy to get near his precious daughter (aka Elizabeth)? They are not seated at the same table, but Mona and Helen shared an understanding that as soon as dinner is over, they will meet and discuss this.

"Heh… and we were talking recently who would be Elizabeth's match. We didn't think it would be someone from outside our circle." Mona's mother said to the posh lady who was seated at the same table.

"True. We have so many wonderful boys here." The posh lady responded. "He must be someone with a good background in Seattle. I wonder what is he? A doctor? A scientist? It is probably something outstanding, and his character seems good."

Mona stifled a laugh at this comment.

Mona's mother shot a side glance at Mona. What's with that uncultured reaction? "Do you know something we don't?"

Mona pursed her lips and paused. Should she say something? She remembered her deal with Helen, to take Max from Liz. Suddenly, an idea came to her mind. What if Liz finds out that the handsome man by her side is only there to seduce her and move on? What would Isaac say if he finds out that a lecherous man is with his precious princess? How Mona sees it, if the always perfect Isaac and Elizabeth knew who Max is, they would never associate themselves with him. And the more people know about this, the more glorious Elizabeth's fall from grace will be.

She decided to speak up. "That is Max Anderson, from Seattle. Some call him the King of the night, but he is mostly known as the biggest playboy on the West Coast."

Mona's mother was interested to hear more, but there was one thing that concerned her… "How do you know that?"

Mona's eyes darted nervously. "Uhm… I heard about him. I told you, he is famous, I read articles online. There are betting pools about his next date, and they keep track of how many women fell under his charms. He slept with hundreds, maybe thousands of women."

The posh lady had difficulty believing it, but she was curious. "If that is true, why is Isaac talking about him with pride? Why is he allowing that man to get close to Elizabeth?"

Mona shrugged. "Max is from the West Coast, and the despicable rumors are from there. Maybe Isaac does not know."

"Lower your voice." Mona's mother warned her daughter. "Without evidence, this is malicious gossip."

The posh lady nodded in agreement. "I'm sure that Isaac checked the boy. Unless there is evidence, we should not talk about it."

Mona wanted to say that she is THE evidence, but her parents are there, and her date as well so she had to smile and nod in agreement. She will talk to Helen after dinner and come up with a strategy to deal with Max and Liz. Mona thought of using these older women to start the gossip, but keeping it contained can work as well. For now. Maybe she can blackmail them? No matter if Liz knows about Max being a playboy or not, Liz would do anything to stop that information from spreading, right?

What Mona didn't know, was that someone from the neighboring table was eavesdropping on their conversation, and little by little, people started whispering about the playboy from Seattle who slept with thousands of women and now is dating Isaac's daughter.

The gossip spread through the event hall like an invisible wave.

With every next jump of the story from one ear to another, people would add something juicy, and gradually, the story became unbelievable. No matter how twisted the story became, that didn't stop people from spreading it; after all, they are all hungry for gossip and this was the first time they had something on impeccable Isaac Williams. It was irresistible.

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