Accident Prone

The hall is grand, but generic. There are crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, a marble floor has intricate designs, tables are set up with snacks and beverages which are expertly complemented by elaborate flowery arrangements. A long bar is staffed with three bartenders who are ready to shake up anything from an extensive list of cocktails and they take custom orders as well. A small stage is enough to host a band of five members.

If there is no sign at the entry that says: "The Alpha Group – private event", no one would know what the gathering is about.

Max told Foxy not to go over the top with organization and decorations. For him, this is just a formality.

Nathan wanted this to be a party with dinner and various performers, but Max refused.

"Dad, I don't want to celebrate with more than 200 people who don't mean anything…"

"I wanted to make this announcement during our company meeting, for everyone to know. We already scaled down significantly because you requested it to be separate." Nathan said grumpily.

"Everyone who matters knows that I will take over as the CEO. There is no need to make a spectacle out of it."

"This is also my retirement." Nathan retorted.

"No. This is you announcing your replacement as the CEO. You will own your stocks and the only thing I am getting is the right to vote in your place. You can return to the boardroom anytime. Also it's not your last day as the CEO and it's not my first either." Max reminded Nathan that the party is on Wednesday, and official change of authority is on next Monday. "How many of those people care about your retirement or you?"

Max does not have an opinion about business parties and normally, he would tell Nathan to do whatever he wants; however, Max is busy at work and his precious time with Liz is constantly being reduced. He does not want to have a meaningless event that will last half a day because preparations will take several times more than that.

They went back and forth for a few days and in the end, Nathan gave in. "Fine. What do you suggest…?"

They compromised on a big event that will last two hours. Here, Nathan can invite whomever he wants, and the condition is that this will not be an event with a meal. Next, they will have dinner in a restaurant with selected people where Max set a limit for under 50 people out of which Max will invite 15, and Nathan can have the rest. After that, Max and Nathan will part ways and Max will have an after-party at the CEO's office with seven people who are closest to him: Liz, Hunter, Mia, Quentin, Brianna, Sabrina, and Ashton. 

Max is not sure if Sabrina and Ashton will stay for the after-party, considering that she is pregnant and it will be late. Also, they plan to drink alcohol.

Back to the present...

"Nervous?" Mia asked Liz.

"Yeah. I don't know why. I attended hundreds of events like this one."

"That's normal. You are nervous for Max." Mia said and grabbed two glasses of champagne from the tray of the nearby waiter. "Here, this will help…" Mia offered one glass to Liz.

Liz took the glass and downed it. "I will need more than this."

Mia giggled. "The night has just begun. Let's get wasted."

Liz shook her head. "Not here. But we can start now and work our way up."

Mia winked playfully and got another glass for Liz. "Don't worry. I've got your back."

"Started without us?" Brianna said as she approached Liz and Mia with Quentin by her side.

Mia grinned and spoke to Liz while her eyes didn't leave Brianna. "Did you hear that? She started talking about her as 'us'. Bri, are you pregnant, or are you officially including Quentin into your life?"

Brianna's eyes widened. "Bite your tongue, Mia. What pregnancy? I want to enjoy this hunk here to the fullest."

Liz leaned closer and spoke in a half-whisper. "Pregnancy causes increased sensitivity and your orgasms get more intense. So, if you are talking about maximizing your enjoyment, you should get pregnant."

Brianna started coughing violently. "What is wrong with you?" It is one thing to tease her when it's just girls, but Quentin is right next to her and he definitely heard everything! What if he gets some crazy ideas? Quentin managed to persuade Brianna into a relationship and into moving in with him. She does not want to risk giving him more ideas.

Liz and Mia burst into laughter. Brianna turns into a bashful and panicky girl when Quentin is around, and Liz and Mia have a blast pushing her buttons.

Brianna glared at Quentin who had trouble suppressing the laughter which bubbled inside him. Does he want babies? Not now, but when the time is right, he will have them with his fiery Goddess. Until then, they will practice.

"I see the mood is right here…" Andrea said while wrapping her arms around Liz.

"Nice to see you, Andrea. You look amazing. How come you are wearing a skirt?" Liz spoke while returning Andrea's hug.

Everyone agreed that Andrea's legs look amazing in a knee-length pencil skirt which matches her tight-fitting gray blazer with red details.

"I had to put a skirt on because my pant-suits are not working on you." Andrea said and winked at Liz. "Light purple fits you perfectly. You look like a royal and your gown makes your boobs a cup larger."

Liz stifled a laugh. "That is because it's too tight in the waist and everything got pushed up."

Andrea greeted Mia, Brianna, and Quentin and they started chatting.

Andrea is now officially the next CEO of Novabank, thanks to the deals that Liz helped her with.

Liz and Andrea meet for a coffee at least two times a month, and sometimes Mia and Brianna join them. Max's hostility toward Andrea reduced a bit, but he will never forget that Andrea kissed Liz on the lips. Liz said how Andrea did that only to spite Max, but Max is not so sure.

"Hello, beautiful…" Max spoke close to Liz's ear from the back.

"Hi, handsome…" Liz responded as she turned to face him. "We would come and say 'hi', but we saw that you are busy and didn't want to interrupt."

"Yeah. Sorry. It can be crazy. Everyone wants to talk to me, but it will be over soon."

"Don't worry about it and do your thing. I am here to support you."

"I wish that you are by my side." Max said while giving Liz's hand a gentle squeeze.

"I can be if you wish. I will hold your hand and smile." Liz said with an exaggerated grin.

They spoke about this, and Liz told him that she will support him, but that she is not a vase. They attended a number of events with his business partners where she was practically ignored while standing next to Max.

Liz wants to be next to Max, but most of these people are interested in Max and business, and Liz would be bored and probably insulted in this bastion of male chauvinism where women are decorations and a symbol of success. This is one of the reasons why Liz admires Andrea who is a successful woman in the men's world. It takes a lot of tenacity not to give up.

If this is any other event, Liz would stand her ground and teach a few of those men a lesson, but this is Max's big night and Liz chose to blend in with the crowd and not to distract anyone from the spotlight which is on Max. It's only for two hours. Once they move to the restaurant for dinner, it will be a different atmosphere.

"Yes. Don't worry about Liz. I will keep her company." Andrea said and wiggled her eyebrows.

Max narrowed his eyes at Andrea. "Keep your distance from MY Elizabeth, and we will be fine."

"Since you are keeping your distance from the most dazzling woman in the city, I get my chance to be close to her. Don't blame me if she realizes that I can give her much more than you." Andrea's eyes flashed with pleasure when she saw that Max's expression darkened.

"Come on, Max…" Liz put on her best smile with the hope to defuse the situation. If Max and Andrea start bickering, it can last for hours. "You know that Andrea loves provoking you. This is your big day, and we are all here to cheer. When your father makes the announcement, the loudest claps will come from me…"

Max did his best to tune out Andrea and everyone else other than Liz.

"I still wish to hold your hand."

"And you can. Whenever you escape those men who talk about business, I will be right here."

"Save a few dances for me." Max sounded like a child.

Liz smiled. "All my dances are for you."

Max reluctantly let Liz's hand and walked toward Hunter. He didn't reach his destination when several men caught up with him.

"You are doing too much for him." Andrea said. "With me, you would never take a back seat."

Liz knows that Andrea says such things to provoke Max, but when Max is not around, it's a bit… uncomfortable. Liz was confident that Andrea is joking. Right?

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