180 The FMC Fundraiser 6 (1/2)
Max joined Nathan at the bar.
”Done?”, Max asked.
Nathan's eyebrow arched. ”Are you doubting me? Any more tasks? Or am I free for the evening?”
Max chuckled. Why is his father asking for permission? That is new. ”No more tasks.”
”Foxy left about half an hour ago.”, Nathan informed Max.
”I saw her leaving.”
Nathan didn't miss that Andrea initiated a conversation with Max two times. ”Why is Halek girl approaching you? Is she angry that we decided to work with their competitors on our last two projects?”
”I don't know why she is approaching me. Other than asking about me and Liz, she didn't say anything else.”, Max honestly responded and added to brighten up the mood: ”I guess she has nothing better to do.”
Nathan sighed. ”She is not a regular scheming girl. Be careful.”
”I know.”, Max responded.
Just like any other major company, Alpha has a number of departments which are dealing with business in the gray area, and so far they collaborated with Novabank for making their money trail clean. However, due to a dispute between the CEO of Novabank and Nathan, Nathan decided for their last two big projects to work with Finch investments, a competitor of Novabank and that caused some friction between them.
…
In the lounge room where the model of the Franciscan Medical Center is displayed…
Liz is talking with four men who are interested to find out more about the hospital, neurosurgery, and what the hospital will do with their donation (if they decide to donate).
Liz is tired and her mouth is dry, despite the wine glass she is holding in her hand. She is talking so much that she is barely finding the breather to take a sip of her beverage.
It's almost two hours how Liz left Max's side, and she wants to go back to him at least for a little bit, but people are taking turns endlessly and she can't find the right opportunity to disengage.
Liz told herself to keep talking because chairman Lee is watching her, and it can't be much longer. The event will be done in one hour. Then she can stop talking and she can join Max and the two of them will go home and he promised to stick to her until Monday morning. She looks forward to it.
One more hour to go. Liz does not remember the last time she was looking forward to her free time. With Max.
Images of her and Max flashed from the morning on Max's boat, when he said that they should spend half an hour in the bed. She thought that he is joking or crazy. Who wastes so much time lazing in the bed? But now she realizes that half an hour is not enough.
Liz was relieved when three men thanked her, collected flyers with the information on how to donate and left.
”Do you have any other questions?”, Liz asked the last man who is standing by her side.
He glanced around before leaning closer and talking only for Liz to hear: ”I have a room upstairs. Are you interested in talking about my donation in private?”
Liz's brows furrowed. The event is almost done and now she bumped into a creep. Just her luck.
The man is in his late fifties, about the same height as Liz, with a small belly. He is not attractive, but not an ugly one either. With his money and looks, Liz is sure that he can find himself a woman. Is there a need to be despicable?
”Mister Hoyt, if you have anything that should be discussed in private, please talk to chairman Lee. I'm sure that he would be willing to arrange a meeting and answer any questions you might have.”, Liz responded with a professional smile while handing him chairman Lee's business card from the table.
Mr. Hoyt glanced at the card. ”Dr. Williams, this is an offer I am willing to extend only for you.”
Liz shook her head in disbelief. ”Should I be honored?”
”Many women would be.”
”Then, I suggest you go and find one of those women.”, Liz said dryly.
Mr. Hoyt was smirked. ”You would not cause a scene here, would you? It's a fundraiser with many influential people present. And you are just a doctor. Do you want to offend me and dissuade me from donating to your hospital?”
Liz was irritated. ”Would YOU like to cause a scene with all these influential people present? I can just slap you right now and scream that you groped me.”
”You would not dare.”
Liz sneered. ”Try me.”
Max cleared his throat from the side, to announce his presence. ”Is everything alright?”
Liz felt relief at the sound of Max's voice, but at the same time, she was tense as well. She does not want Max to cause a scene. There is a number of reporters mixed in with the guests and the morning paper with a headline that Max was involved in a squabble at a fundraiser, does not sound good.
Liz narrowed her eyes at the man in front of her. ”Yes. Mr. Hoyt was just about to take chairman Lee's business card and to leave. Right?”
Mr. Hoyt glanced at Max and pursed his lips, unable to hide his dissatisfaction. Max showing up is something he didn't plan. But now that he has a witness, he can't act out of line. Especially because the witness is the one from the Alpha group.
He took the business card which Liz offered and forced a smile. ”Nice talking to you.”
”I'm sure it was.”, Liz responded mockingly.