Chapter 430 - Unlikely Partners

Max and Liz made love in the jacuzzi tub and then they moved to the bed, and between their lovemaking and cuddles, the day trickled away.

A few hours later…

"I can't get enough of you…", Max murmured into Liz's ear as his sweaty body arched above hers.

Liz was too dazed to respond with words and she only smiled goofily.

Max moved to the side and collapsed on the bed next to her.

Liz heard his heavy breathing and he looked drained, but she knew that this is only for a few minutes before he regains his strength and starts another round. He is amazing like that.

Max and Liz freshened up and returned to bed. They didn't have any other plans for the day, and it was perfect.

Liz snuggled close to him and placed a kiss on his chest before covering that spot with her palm.

Max ran his fingers through her hair and kissed her forehead occasionally.

They held each other until the silence was broken by the alarm from Max's phone.

Liz looked at him questionably as he smacked his phone to dismiss the buzzing.

"It's time for a snack…", he said with a mysterious smile and she didn't object because she could use some energy.

Liz wrapped herself in a bedsheet, making it look like a toga and Max put his underwear on before they left the bedroom.

Max told her to sit on the sofa in the living room and he was back a minute later from the kitchen with two mason jars that were filled with colorful layers. Liz remembered that those are mason jars with the salad from the deli which is located in the Alpha group HQ building. They ate those last time when they were at this place, and she said that it was delicious.

"You remember how to eat these?", Max asked, and he smiled when he saw her flipping the jar so that the dressing mixes with all the layers of veggie goodness.

Liz crunched the delicious salad and thought how life at that moment was perfect. Her sight gravitated toward Max's bare torso and she didn't know that a man can be so seductive while chewing finely chopped cabbage and carrots. Everything about Max was sexy and even though his lopsided smirk told her that he caught her gaping at him, she was unable to look away.

She squinted when the sudden light assaulted her eyes. It took her a few seconds to realize that it was the sun peeking under the clouds before disappearing into the ocean at the horizon. The explosion of oranges and reds covering the gray clouds was magical and Liz realized that Max timed it perfectly so that they don't miss this majestic show of nature. That is why his alarm was set, and that is why he told her to sit on this sofa which is facing the window. It might appear to be random, but she was aware that Max is so good at planning that he makes it look like he is not even trying.

Liz turned to Max and met his gaze. Her heart fluttered at the thought that this amazing man is hers.

"Thank you, Max. All this is wonderful. I wish there is a way for me to thank you properly with more than words."

He chewed slowly as a sly smile appeared on his face. "Well… there is a way to show your... sincerity…"

His scorching gaze didn't leave hers, and she knew that he wants her to go down on him.

Liz kept the nearly empty mason jar on the table and slid off the sofa to kneel between his legs.

Her palms glided from his knees higher, and the tips of her fingers touched his boxer shorts which strained to contain his erection when he stopped her. "Wait…"

Max undid the knot on the bedsheet that was above her breasts and the flimsy fabric slid on the floor, revealing her naked body.

Max hummed in approval and leaned back on the sofa.

Liz felt her cheeks warming and she was not sure why she is blushing. They made love many times before and he saw her naked, but this situation of her kneeling in front of him and his searing gaze burning her skin was different. He was like an emperor who owns the world, and she was his concubine, eager to please her master.

…

While Max and Liz were lovey-dovey, alone in the house where Max's grandmother used to live, the lively atmosphere in a packed coffee shop close to downtown Seattle was different.

Suzy was sitting and rapping her manicured nails on the round table for two while checking the time every ten seconds.

"Suzanne Gorman?", a female voice from above got Suzy's attention.

She looked up at the woman who wore jeans and a flowy tunic that reached her thighs before glancing over medium-length black hair that ended below the woman's ears and trying to decipher facial features that are hidden behind oversized sunglasses.

"Yes. And you are?", Suzy responded after a few seconds.

"That is not important.", the woman said and took a seat opposite Suzy.

Suzy was not happy with this response. "You called me here for a business transaction, and you don't want to reveal your name. That is not a good way to start the deal."

There is no way that she will reveal her name. Ever since Max fired her, Irene knows that people are looking for her. Unfortunately, all her plans to get back at Max failed, and to come up with new ones she needs information. That his why Irene met with Suzy in this busy coffee shop.

Irene shrugged. "I am honest. Or would you rather that I give you a fake name?"

This stunned Suzy. She didn't think about this possibility.

"What do you want?"

Irene smirked, taking this question as Suzy's agreement for cooperation.

"I hear that you are a resourceful woman and that if someone wants to find out about the Anderson family, you are the right person."

Suzy frowned. "So?"

"I am interested to find out about that family.", Irene said with annoyance in her voice.

"Why?"

"That is none of your concern."

"I know a lot. What if you want to harm them?"

Irene chuckled and spoke sarcastically: "I am confident that you are gathering information on them out of the goodness of your heart."

"Touché.", Suzy said to what Irene responded with a nod.

"The information I have is not free."

"I understand that. I will pay you in cash."

"What do you want to know?"

"Everything.", Irene said before adding: "With a special focus on Maximilian and his girlfriend."

Suzy's eyes flashed and she was relieved that Irene's target is Max. If it were Hunter, Suzy would be looking at the competitor, but since that is not the case, Suzy does not care much.

Suzy immediately put Irene into a bucket of Max's exes who got discarded after he used them.

"You either keep your grudges for a long time or you are a piece of big news yourself."

Irene's insides jolted at this statement. How much does Suzy know? Did she recognize her? Impossible. She changed her clothing, hairstyle, and the way she applies makeup. No one would recognize her, especially not with those sunglasses on.

Irene reminded herself to keep her cool. "What made you say that?"

Suzy tilted her head, and she knew that she hit a nerve. "There is only one reason why a woman would want to know about Max and his girlfriend. He rejected you. But how much I know, he is with her for almost a year, and he is not a player anymore. So, either he dumped you more than a year ago, or he fooled around with you recently and you managed to hide it which means that he is not faithful... or maybe he rejected you and you didn't get a chance to touch him at all."

Irene released the breath she was holding when she realized that Suzy was off the mark. Well, if Suzy believes that Irene is one of Max's hookups, that will only help to hide Irene's true identity.

"I will not comment on that.", Irene said with a smirk, knowing that the ambiguous answer will only stir up Suzy's imagination.

"Alright. How do you want the information? Text? Email? I can put it in the cloud for you to download."

Irene shook her head, rejecting the offer. "No electronic traces. I want you printouts of whatever you have. How much time you need?"

"Uhm…", Suzy paused while thinking. "It's a lot of things. I will need a day at least."

"Alright. I will contact you in two days to set up another meeting where you will give me the information."

"I assume that you will bring the money."

Irene nodded. "Correct. How much is that information worth?"

Suzy leaned into her chair and observed Irene's expression keenly. "I have information on Max and his hookups, work schedule, employees who are close to him, where he spends in his free time…"

Irene gritted her teeth. "What about his girlfriend?"

"Same thing. Her work and private life is an open book. Friends, family, suitors…"

"Suitors?"

Suzy flashed a smile when she realized that he hit a jackpot. Instead of clarifying the 'suitors' point, Suzy stirred the topic back to money. "Now, about the value of the information. The real question is how much it's worth to you."

Irene gritted her teeth. She wanted to slap Suzy and yank her hair off, but she needed Suzy and the information she holds. Only by knowing details about Max and Liz, she can come up with a plan and exploit their weaknesses.

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