198 The story about Rina and Jack 2 (1/2)

Sabrina would be foolish to believe that Liz is asking randomly about her relationship with Jack.

Sabrina frowned. ”Did he do something?”

Liz nodded slightly.

”Stupid bastard…”, Sabrina said under her breath and looked at Liz. ”What did he do?”

Liz fidgeted nervously. ”When we were in Hawaii… He didn't know that I'm Max's girlfriend and I didn't know that he is your boyfriend. He kind of made a move on me…”

Sabrina's mouth was half open when she heard Liz's words. She closed her eyes and asked in a half-whisper: ”Does Max know?”

”Yes.”, Liz responded.

Sabrina exhaled and rested her forehead in her palm. The fact that Max knows and that he didn't rip Jack into pieces means that Jack was not successful in seducing Elizabeth. But that does not make it better because: Max knows that her relationship with Jackson is a charade, or he believes that Sabrina is engaged to a man who is not faithful to her.

”I'm sorry, Rina.”

Sabrina looked at Liz. ”What are you sorry for?”

Liz observed Sabrina's expression which proved that she knows that Jackson is a cheater.

”You don't look surprised.”, Liz voiced her thoughts.

Sabrina shook her head, indicating that she is not.

Liz could not understand. ”You know? Why are you with him?”

”It's complicated...”

”I know that it's personal, but… I can't understand, why would a woman like you tolerate such a guy? You are smart and beautiful, and you can have any guy you want. Are you in love with Jack?”

”No.”, Sabrina denied immediately.

”Then, why are you with him? Is he blackmailing you? Or did he inject you with some poison and he is giving you small doses of antidote? Or do you have a child out of wedlock?”

Sabrina smiled sadly and shook her head. ”No, no, and no… it was my decision.”

Liz didn't believe it. It does not make sense. She summarized: ”You are engaged to Jackson for more than six years and you know that he is fooling around, and you don't love him… and it's your decision? Please, tell me that there is a good reason for that.”

As much as Sabrina wants to keep this a secret, the fact is that Jackson tried seducing Liz and that Liz is curious. Who wouldn't be? Well, Liz knows what is going on, so Sabrina decided to tell her why…

”It was so long ago that it does not matter if it's a good reason or not anymore. You said that Max knows? That… I was hoping that they will not find out.”

”Who are 'they'?”, Liz continued probing, emboldened by the fact that Sabrina is answering her questions.

”My family. You see… about eight years ago I went skiing in Aspen with my friends, like every year. Jackson was part of our group, someone else brought him in, we were not close before that. We were the first group of skiers after heavy snow. It happened quickly, but I remembered a loose buckle and losing control while going straight for the trees. Jackson showed up out of nowhere and saved me by placing himself between the tree trunk and me. He spent a few days in the hospital, and I was by his side. He invited me for drinks, and I accepted. At that time, my mind was on starting my business because I didn't want to work for others, and there was no time for dating. However, Jackson saved me, so how can I reject his invitation for dinner? We went out a few times, but it didn't work out and during one dinner which I thought it's our last one, he showed me a diagnosis that he has epilepsy.”

Liz listened carefully and nodded in understanding. ”You are with him because you believe that when he saved you, he hit his head and that caused epilepsy.”

Sabrina confirmed. ”He never asked for much, just to have the title of my boyfriend, and later my fiancé. And he didn't interfere in my life, so I never thought it's a problem. I have no plans for romance, so the fact that Jackson is my fiancé is keeping my parents off my back and I can focus on my business. Whenever they ask me about marriage, I tell them that I'm already engaged, and that marriage is just about obtaining a piece of paper which we can do anytime, and eventually, they stopped asking.”

Liz could not believe what she just heard. She assumed that Max is outrageous to fake a relationship in order to appease his parents, but it seems that Sabrina is doing the same. Liz needed a moment for this information to sink in.

Liz wanted to fill up the gaps in this story, so she asked: ”You are doing it for your parents, but why would Jackson want to pretend to be in a loving relationship with you?”

”His father has a company which was on the verge of filing for bankruptcy. When Jackson mentioned that he is in a relationship with me, few people accepted to work with them.”