177 The FMC fundraiser 3

Andrea tilted her head slightly while her eyes inspected Liz's face. "Well… I see why you got Max's attention." She turned to Max. "I didn't realize that you changed your type."

"Maybe you don't know him how much you think you do."

Liz's unfriendly tone made Andrea turn to her.

A dazzling smile spread on Andrea's face. Few seconds into an eye-staring contest between Liz and Andrea in which none looked away, Andrea chuckled. "I will see you later."

Liz was not sure if Andrea said that to her or Max. Probably to both of them.

"Friend of yours?", Liz asked Max when Andrea walked away.

Max exhaled. "Nathan told a few of his friends that he will attend the fundraiser in person and asked them to do the same. The news spread that we will be here. That attracted people who are on good terms with us, who are trying to get on good terms with us, the ones who are curious, and the rivals."

Liz understood that Andrea is in the rivals category, at least business-wise.

Liz wondered if Max slept with Andrea. Probably. Andrea is undeniably attractive and the fact that Max didn't mention anything other than the business side, while Andrea mentioned his type of girls, confirms that he does not want to talk about the personal relationship between him and Andrea.

Even if she asks him about it, and he denies it, she will not believe him. And if he confirms, it will only make it worse.

Liz reminded herself not to go that way. She already knows about his past, and it needs to stay there (in the past) or she will go crazy or leave him or both. And he changed. For her.

Max observed Elizabeth intently and he noticed that her mood fell, and he knows that it's related to Andrea. Max wanted to comfort Liz, but he had a feeling that whatever he says it will only make it worse.

"You can go and talk to others if you wish. I'm sure that some of these people would love to talk to you but they are keeping their distance because of me. There is no need to watch over me.", Liz told Max stiffly.

"Are you sending me away? Is it because of Andrea?", Max voiced his thoughts.

"I like that you are with me. But I can't deny that I feel… insecure.", Liz admitted.

Max was surprised that she disclosed this. Most of the girls would try to downplay it or deny it completely, but this is his no-nonsense Elizabeth who will say things which are on her mind even if they make her uncomfortable. The only thing he wanted was to hold her tightly and melt all her concerns away.

"Will a hug increase your security level?"

Liz looked at Max with panic obvious on her face. "If you hug me here I will never forgive you."

Max smirked. "I can find the nearest broom closet. If we head that way thirty seconds apart, no one will notice that we left together."

Liz was not sure what to think of this. But she likes the idea of the two of them leaving together. "We are in a hotel, and your first thought is a broom closet?"

"Getting a room will take time, and it looks like you need a hug pronto." Max inched toward Liz. "If anyone asks, tell them that I hugged you in exchange for a donation."

Liz shook her head in disapproval. "Won't that make others line up to hug me?"

Max paused. "Good thinking. I will find a broom closet."

Liz stifled a laugh. She wondered, at what point during the last few seconds Max managed to dispel her worries and to relax her enough to laugh? He has that power over her.

"Elizabeth…", Max spoke only for Liz to hear. "I hope that whenever you feel insecure, you remind yourself of the fact that I am with you and there is no one else. You are the sole resident in my heart."

Liz looked at Max and her heart expanded together with her need to feel him close. "Max?"

"Hmm?"

"Did you find that broom closet yet?"

Max chuckled at the thought that now Liz is the one requesting privacy. "You are flirty, Dr. Williams. I assure you that waiting for my embrace is worth it."

"Will the wait time reduce if I make a donation to the Alpha group?", Liz asked playfully.

Max exhaled in relief at the sight of Liz's smile which returned on her face. "After this event is over, we are going home, and I will cuddle with you until you had enough and then some more, and you will not get out of my hold or the bed until Monday morning."

As Max spoke, images of them hugging and kissing and touching flashed in Liz's mind and she blushed. She will lie if she says that she is not looking forward to it.

Liz felt her heart thumping wildly. "I will take that as a promise…"

…

From the side door, chairman Lee peeked into the event hall. He is itchy to join the guests and mingle, but he still needs to follow up on a few things before his speech starts, and after that is dinner and then mingling. Rhonda is right next to him, helping him out as one of the main people in the event planning committee.

"We have a great turnout. Good… Good…", chairman Lee half-mumbled as his eyes swept over faces of the people in the hall.

"Yes.", Rhonda confirmed while looking at the tablet in her hand. "95% of our guests are here."

"Our top three?"

Rhonda understood that he is asking if the representatives of the top three companies on their guest list (in terms of profits) are here.

"Yes, chairman Lee. Representatives of Alpha group, Novabank, and Coreworks inc. checked in, and we confirmed their identities. So far, seventy-two percent of people present are not proxies, but CEOs, COOs, vice presidents and CFOs are here representing their companies."

Chairman Lee stopped peeking and gave Rhonda a meaningful look. "Normally, if we get a third of guests to be the real decision-makers, that is a success. But even then, those people are from smaller companies. I'm telling you, Rhonda: this is the effect of hiring young and promising staff."

Rhonda didn't respond. She knows that 'young and promising' refers to Dr. Elizabeth Williams and Dr. Christian Snow.

Rhonda does not want to say to chairman Lee that he is wrong, because she has no proof one way or the other, but her instinct is telling her that there is more to it. She attended (and organized) many fundraisers, and exceptional health professionals come and go, but they never attracted much attention from the business world, regardless of how famous they are in the medical circle. Her hunch is telling her that she is missing some information, and that if she is patient and observant, she will figure it out (as usually).

"Let's go to the kitchen next and make sure that everything is on track there…", chairman Lee's words snapped Rhonda out of her daze.

…

In the event hall…

Max checked the time. "It's almost 6:30, let's go and take our seats…"

At Max's words, Liz plunged into panic. This is the moment when she needs to warn him that she is seated with Dr. Snow at the table and not with him. Liz wondered, which one of those two should she mention first?

Max got his invitation out of his inner jacket pocket. "I am at table number five. Will you guide me to it?"

Liz exhaled. She will walk with Max to his table. That will give her at least ten extra seconds to figure out how to tell him. But they reached table number five too soon and she still didn't know how to say it.

Liz was surprised when Max pulled a chair and gestured for Liz to sit.

"Uhm… I am at table number three.", she said awkwardly.

"Are you sure?", Max smiled and glanced at the nametag on the table in front of the chair.

Liz frowned in disbelief. That is her name. "How?"

Liz lifted her gaze to table number three and smiled when she saw a familiar face look her way. "You got Foxy to switch seats with me?"

"She will not stay long. She has other plans for tonight.", Max said smugly and explained: "On our invitations we can see who is seated at our table, so I knew that I need someone to swap places for my beautiful girlfriend to sit by my side. If Foxy refused, Nathan would go there."

He leaned closer and spoke only for Liz to hear: "You are gorgeous. There is no way I'm letting any man other than me sit next to you."

Liz was speechless. She remembered that Foxy asked her at what table she is seated, and Liz didn't understand the reason behind that question then, but now she got it: Max is shameless. And she loves it.

When Liz realized that she would be at the same table as Dr. Snow, Liz contemplated requesting to swap seats with someone, anyone; as long as she is not with Dr. Snow at the table, it will be fine. But this is work-related, and Liz didn't want to attract attention and to appear childish, so she steeled herself for an evening close to Dr. Snow and far away from Max. And here is Max, resolving her issue without her needing to say anything.

Liz watched Max scoot closer to her, and she was confident that he has the solution to every problem, big or small. He is amazing.

Nathan joined them at the table, and one of his friends was there as well: Stefano Lisowski, CEO of Scuderia. Scuderia is a chain of stores that sells high-end motorcycles.

Liz noticed Stefano's tan, and based on that, she guessed that he is a motorcycle enthusiast and that he enjoys trying out his merchandise personally.

Everyone at the table introduced themselves, and they finished before chairman Lee's speech started.

Liz straightened her back and did her best to focus on the stage and the speech, but it was impossible to ignore Max's proximity. He possesses some energy which is pulling her closer and making her glance his way at least once with every breath. It's impossible to explain.

Less than a minute into the chairman Lee's speech, Liz felt Max's hand covering hers under the table.

The two of them held hands with their fingers interlaced, Max's thumb caressed the back of Liz's palm, and Liz was giddy like a teenager who is hiding mischief.

Liz closed her eyes and a smile sneaked on her lips as everything disappeared: people, tables with elaborate flower arrangements, crystal glasses, silverware, chandeliers, chairman Lee's voice… The only thing left as real was Max and the feeling of his hand against hers, and their knees touching slightly. She knew that he is there for her, to support her every need and want, even if she is not asking for it. And by the way his hand held hers firmly yet gently at the same time, she knew that he will not let go.

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