173 Scheming Elizabeth (1/2)
During dinner, Max wanted to know about Liz's interaction with Tyler.
She told him that in the morning Tyler was docile, almost in a daze like he can't remember things. However, in the afternoon when it was just the two of them in the room, he was alert.
”I'm not sure if in the morning he was putting on an act because his parents were present, but in the afternoon he was back to his usual behavior. He tried provoking me in order to record me. I took the device from him. You can hear the exchange if you want.”, Liz summarized at the end of her talk.
”That scumbag still didn't learn his lesson.”, Max said while squeezing the fork in his hand angrily.
Liz agreed with Max. ”He didn't. I don't think that people like Tyler ever learn their lesson. He is used to getting a free pass and slithering his way out of trouble.”
”You are calm about this.”, Max observed.
Liz flashed a confident smile. ”I have a plan…” She saw that Max's attention is on her and explained: ”I was there when the fruit basket you sent him arrived, and thanks to that I got a chance to observe few things. I don't like him, but I must admit that Tyler has a specific set of skills and connections which we can use…”
Max listened to Liz and frowned in disapproval. If it's up to him, he would buy a one-way ticket for Tyler to go into outer space so that they never see him again, and Liz wants to do the opposite. ”You want him to work for us? That will not end well. By allowing him close, he will gain access to the information he craves for. He does not know about loyalty. Even throwing money at him will not ensure that he will not sell details on us to the highest bidder.”
It's not that Liz disagrees with this, but… ”We will not let him get close. And if we ever interact with him in person, we can give him any image we want. I agree that he is loyal only to himself and that is where his mother comes in.”
Max doesn't see where Liz is going with this. ”How does Tyler's mom fit into this?”
”Tyler only cares about his interests. In the Wilson family, Tyler's mother is in charge and she probably controls his finances. That is the only explanation why he listens to her. Actually, my conclusion is that Tyler fears his mother. At the same time, Mrs. Wilson is focused on her business, just how you told me, and she admires your family. We can use that to get close to her. I got her an invitation for the fundraiser on Saturday. I'm not saying that we should manipulate her, but when Tyler sees us being friendly with her, he will suspect that we can do that. The threat alone will be enough to keep him in check.”
Max listened to Liz's explanation and he agrees with her, but he thinks that is too complicated. Also, Max does not believe that Tyler is worth their time. ”Why would we go to all that trouble? What is his use? He already showed that he is not listening, there are ways to deal with him cleanly. Let me handle this.”
”Max, I believe that you can take care of him, but Tyler came to MY work twice to mess with me. And he provoked my handsome boyfriend to the point of snapping. He is the one who is meddling with our lives, and he is not the only one. Remember Suzy who told him where to find me? Even if Tyler has no use, I want to meddle with his life in return and making him bow his head to us will be the fitting retribution. Imagine that we get the people who are in our way and pit them against each other. We can grab popcorn and enjoy the show.”
Max understood that Tyler crossed Liz's bottom line and that she is angry. Max is aware that Elizabeth is a smart woman and that right now she put her mind into getting back at Tyler (and Suzy). This scheming Liz is… scary. He likes it.
Max is amazed how the more he finds out about Liz, the more he is falling for her. At first he thought that she is outrageous. What woman gets into a man's car and says that she is his girlfriend in order to hitch a ride with an ambulance van? Then he wanted to seduce her, and he saw that she is clever and honest and determined, and sometimes shy and… absolutely fantastic.
Max wondered, what triggered Liz to shift her priority to anything other than her career? It must be important. Is it possible that their relationship is her bottom line? But he didn't dare ask her that. In Max's opinion, the line which Tyler crossed is probably that he approached Liz at her work and if she clarifies that, the last spec possibility that she is doing this for him will vanish.
”What's wrong? You don't approve?”, Liz noticed that Max's mood dropped.
”Nothing, nothing.”, Max lied, and Liz saw through him.
”It can't be nothing. Do you think that we should deal with Tyler in some other way? Or is this not good enough? Maybe I should come up with something else…”
”Liz, please stop. It's nothing like that.” Max paused and decided to say what is on his mind: ”I was wondering why are you doing this? Is it because he came to your work?”
”Yes. And because he wants to use me to get to you. I don't like the idea that someone wants to use me, and I will not allow myself to be your weakness. After all the beatings, he tried recording me and his persistence is infuriating.” Liz put her hand over Max's and gave it a gentle squeeze. ”I know that you changed a lot in the last few weeks, and I dare to think that I am at least part of the reasons behind those changes. I will not allow a guy like Tyler to spoil your hard work.”
Max looked at Liz while she spoke and a big smile bloomed on his face, reflecting the warm and fuzzy feeling which swelled inside him. ”You are doing this for me?”
Liz observed Max's elated expression and she was not sure how to respond. ”Uhm… It's not a big deal. Didn't we agree that we are a team? If he is after you, he is after me as well. We have each other's backs…”
Liz's next words were muffled with Max's kiss.
His arms cradled her firmly and she didn't understand from where his intensity is coming from, and the butterflies going crazy in her stomach told her that it's not important because the only thing that matters is for her to return his kiss and enjoy.
”A ten…”, Liz breathed in Max's lips.
”Are you talking about the day, or…?”
”The kiss.”, Liz responded. ”The day is still a nine.”
Max smiled slyly. ”How can we make it a ten?”
Elizabeth stood up, took his hand, and led the way into the bedroom.