Chapter 484 - Collaboration

While Max and Liz danced on the rooftop terrace, at that time in the lounge of Bellagio…

One drink after another, Dr. Snow was drowning his sorrow and regret in alcohol.

He was sitting at the bar, and people would sit on the barstools next to him, some giving him curious glances, and some ignoring him completely. He didn't care about the people. He would stare blankly at the glass in front of him while trying to suppress his thoughts about Liz and the whole engagement business.

The only things which indicated he was not a mannequin were that occasionally he would take a sip from the glass, and when it became empty, he would ask the bartender for another one.

Dr. Snow knew that he will not give up. How can he give up hopes of winning over an amazing woman like Elizabeth? Even if she gets married, Max is bound to make a mistake. Sooner or later, Max will succumb to temptation and revert to his lecherous lifestyle and Liz will leave him. Dr. Snow only needed to be patient, and it will happen.

Of course, Dr. Snow didn't want Liz to suffer. He wished her all the happiness in the world, but he also firmly believed that Maximilian Anderson is not the person who can make Liz happy.

Dr. Snow didn't give up and he never will, but today's events caught him by surprise.

When Max asked Liz to marry him, Dr. Snow was flabbergasted. And when Liz said 'yes', Dr. Snow wanted to jump on that stage and tell her that she is making a huge mistake, but he knew that she will not listen, so he held himself back.

Dr. Snow didn't know how to cope with this blow to his heart other than to drown it in alcohol. Maybe he will experience a blackout and tomorrow he will wake up in his hotel room and none of this will be real. Maybe.

"Can I buy you a drink?", a sultry voice of a woman reached him.

Through the haze alcohol provided, Dr. Snow was aware that a woman sat on the barstool on his right, but he didn't care to look her way. He knew that was not Elizabeth, and any other woman was not important. He was buzzed, but not drunk enough to mistake some cheap woman for Liz.

"No need.", Dr. Snow responded.

"I insist…", the woman said and waved the waiter. "Give him another of whatever he is having and a glass of red wine for me, the best one you have…"

Dr. Snow ignored the woman. His behavior showed that he was not interested in whatever agenda she had, and if she insisted on sitting there, that will be her problem.

"You look troubled…", the woman drawled as their drinks arrived.

Dr. Snow exhaled. Yes, he was troubled, but he didn't want to talk about it.

She took a small sip from her glass and he knew that her eyes didn't leave him.

"Can I help you?"

Dr. Snow frowned. Why was she persistent? "No."

"Are you sure?"

He assumed that woman was hitting on him. It would not be the first time. Even without his identity as Dr. Snow, the young orthopedic surgeon with a bright future, women would flock around him because of his looks. "Whatever you are thinking, I am not interested."

"Don't reject until you hear what I have to say…"

Dr. Snow turned in slow motion and observed the woman. Her short blonde bob reached below her ears and framed her petite face. He could not see her eyes because of the sunglasses she wore. His sight moved lower, to her exposed cleavage and breasts which threatened to spill from her red mini dress which hugged her body tightly. Attractive? Yes. But… "Not interested."

She leaned closer and spoke in a half-whisper. "What if I can deliver you your dear Elizabeth?"

Dr. Snow stilled as her words hit him like a thunderbolt. "What did you say?"

The woman smiled smugly and inched away from Dr. Snow. "I thought you said that you are not interested. Did you change your mind already?"

Dr. Snow narrowed his eyes while focusing on her face. He had no idea who the woman was, but she acted as she knows him. "Excuse me, have we met before?"

"No. Not in person. But I know that you are Dr. Christian Snow and that you are interested in Elizabeth, the same woman who got engaged on the stage this afternoon during a live stream for the whole world to see."

Dr. Snow scrutinized the woman. How does she know him? "What do you know?"

She smiled smugly. "I know that you worked at the Franciscan Medical Center and that you ordered flowers for Elizabeth which she refused. The word in Seattle is that Max hit you during lunch while telling you to stay away from her. That was a long time ago, and I thought that you moved on, but seeing how you are celebrating her engagement like the world is coming to an end, is telling me that you are not over her." She inched closer. "Am I wrong?"

"Who are you?"

She shook her head, indicating that she will not respond. "It does not matter who I am. Let's focus on our collaboration and what we can achieve together."

"What do you want?"

"I told you. I can help you get Elizabeth."

"You can convince her to leave Max and come to me?", Dr. Snow asked in disbelief. He knew that it's impossible, but a small part of him hoped that the woman has a way.

"I can get Elizabeth to you and break the connection she and Max have. It will be up to you to make her stay. Comfort her and take advantage of the situation. Be a gentleman or force yourself of her. Do whatever you want. I'm sure you know of more than one way to make a woman submit. If your charms don't work, as a medical worker I'm sure you have a pill or two that can weaken her defenses."

Dr. Snow didn't like the idea of drugging Liz or forcing himself. He wanted Liz by his side, but to be of her own will and somehow he knew that Liz will not see any other man while Max is next to her, and that is where this woman might come in handy. Dr. Snow analyzed the woman's words and assumed that the woman wants to expose Max to Liz. The guy has so many skeletons in his past, that it would be difficult to pick a few. Whatever she wanted to do to Max was not his concern, but he had other questions.

"What's in it for you?", Dr. Snow asked suspiciously. He knew very well that nothing comes for free.

"Can I take this as… you are interested?"

Dr. Snow nodded slightly. "I am interested to find out more."

She smiled. "How about we move to a more private space?"

Dr. Snow saw that she gestured toward a sitting area in the corner where two empty sofa chairs were isolated from the rest, and they could talk without being overheard.

Dr. Snow took his drink and gestured with his hand for her to go first.

When they settled in the sofa chairs, Dr. Snow repeated his previous question: "You are offering me Elizabeth. I don't know you but I doubt that you are a person who will do things for free. What's in it for you?"

"That is my problem. Stop wasting our time on useless questions. Are you interested or not?"

Dr. Snow wondered about the identity of the mysterious woman.

He didn't miss the hatred in the woman's voice whenever she said Liz's name and based on the information related to him the woman revealed, it was obvious that she was close to Liz, or maybe watching her. How else would she know who he is, about flowers, and about Max hitting him?

Thanks to the numerous lunches Dr. Snow and Liz shared while working together, Dr. Snow was familiar with Liz, her friends, coworkers, and other staff from the Franciscan Medical Center, and this woman was a new face.

Dr. Snow also knew that other than her career, Liz had only Max who had numerous women in his past, and Dr. Snow's eyes flashed in realization why she approached him. As someone who is in love with Elizabeth, Dr. Snow is perfect to handle Liz while this woman will focus on the other party. "You are interested in Max."

She narrowed her eyes. "My motives are not your concern. We can work together, and you will get your Elizabeth. Do we have a deal?"

"But I need to know at least something about you if we are going to work together. You know so much about me and…"

"Fine!", she cut him off impatiently. "Yes, I am interested in Max. I want to split them up and make him suffer. I don't care what happens to Elizabeth, as long as she stays away from him, and that is where you come in. Is that enough?", she half-lied.

Of course, she was interested in Max, but she hated Liz as well and there was no way that she will let Liz go scot-free. But if she says that to Dr. Snow, he will not cooperate. For her plan, she needs to get her hands on Liz, and away from those pesky bodyguards, and none of that will happen without the help from Dr. Snow.

Dr. Snow downed his drink and turned to face the woman. "I am listening…"

Irene flashed a smile, knowing that she got him hooked up.

Irene spent a lot of time going through the information Suzy provided while trying to find a way to destroy Max. Unfortunately, Max turned his life around and he cared only about two things. One was the Alpha group where Irene already failed, and the other one was Elizabeth.

The only way for Irene to make Max suffer is to go through the wretched girlfriend who degraded her more than once. But Liz knows how Irene looks like, so Irene could not do anything personally without alerting them. On top of that, Irene was aware that Liz is surrounded by bodyguards, so in order to get her hands on Liz, Irene needs to collaborate with someone who is close to Liz and won't mind working against Max.

Everything fell into place when Irene read how a coworker pursued Liz to the point of causing a scene at work, on a different occasion Max punched him, and Liz is still friendly with the guy. Suzy's detailed files with gossip came in handy. 

Irene waited patiently for the right chance while keeping her eyes and ears open for any news related to Max and Liz, and when she saw that Liz will be one of the speakers at the symposium that Dr. Snow will likely attend, she knew that the right opportunity was right here. But she was not sure what to do to entice the man, and luckily, Max's proposal was the much-needed catalyst. Everything fell into place perfectly.

Now the only thing that Irene needs to do is tread carefully while reeling in this enamored guy (aka Dr. Snow) into her web, and he will do wonderfully.

Irene was confident that the attack on the Alpha group failed because she followed the plan set by Mr. Stone and his group of losers, likewise, her attack at the bachelor's party failed because she followed Suzy's plan. But this time, Irene is taking the lead and this time she will not fail.

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