204 Spying and security talks on a Friday morning (1/2)

~ Seattle, the Continental Views building ~

Friday

7:47 AM

Max and Liz are having their morning coffee while relaxing on the sofa in the living area.

As usually, they are chatting about the day ahead.

Max will go to work around 8:30 AM, and today Liz plans to attend the farewell lunch for Dr. Snow.

This morning's hot topic is McKenzie.

As the party at the Andersons family villa is approaching, Liz and Max are preparing for taking on McKenzie. Well, Liz mostly because Max is only assisting Liz.

Jackson will be there as well (probably), but for him, Max is still gathering information related to Jackson's epilepsy and until they have that ready, Liz will observe Jackson while trying not to arouse any suspicion.

However, McKenzie is a different story.

McKenzie made a move against Liz, and if she thinks that she can get away with it, she is gravely mistaken because Liz is ready to retaliate.

Per Liz's request, Max arranged some of his men to follow McKenzie and to report about anything she is doing.

”She withdrew five thousand dollars in cash yesterday.”, Max said while reading the report from his tablet.

Liz's eyebrow arched questionably. ”That is a lot of money. Did she buy anything?”

”Not yet. Do you think this is related to the upcoming party at my parent's house?”

Liz shrugged. ”We can't be sure until we see what she will buy with that. I assume that she will pay for the dress with a card.”

”Since Hawaii, McKenzie is more-less acting normal. I thought that it's unusual that she is spending most of her time shopping, but then I saw her history of spending, and realized that it's normal.” Max looked at Liz. ”How come you don't shop so much?”

Liz snorted and took the tablet from his hands. ”Why do you sound like that is a bad thing?”

”I don't know. I thought that most of the girls are into shopping and spas and girly things.”

Liz threw him a side glance and didn't respond. She decided to read the report herself instead of relying on Max's summary. There is so much in it, and Max only mentioned one cash withdrawal and McKenzie's shopping.

Max was amused by Liz's reaction. He concluded that Liz does not like to be compared with other women. Or maybe just not with McKenzie. Well, Liz can't be compared with any woman because she is so much better than all of them, but that does not mean that Max can't tease her a bit and enjoy the variety of her expressions.

Max thought how since he met Liz, he is aware that she went only once for a spa treatment, and that was with Rina and Mia. And also, related to shopping, she also went once, before going to meet with him at the Alpha group. He remembered that when they went on a date and he got her an outfit, she returned it. Based on Isaac's status and her job, Max knows that Liz can buy many things, but she doesn't.

He observed her face which focused on the information from the tablet and smiled at the realization that Liz does not care about materialistic things. Sure, her closet is full of good quality dresses that are fashionable, pleasing to the eye, and fit her well, but she is not the one to hoard them.

Max's deduction led him in the direction that as a wife, Liz will not be wasteful. She will buy good things that they need and use money efficiently and he will not mind giving her access to his bank accounts. And this is important because no one ever had access to his accounts.

Max paused his thoughts. Is he thinking about marrying Liz? He reminded himself to keep his poker face on. What if she notices? Just recently she told Isaac how the two of them only started dating and that it's too early to plan for the future. Is he thinking about proposing rashly like how Hunter proposed to Mia? Oh, no… if he blurts out his thoughts it will be even worse because he does not have a ring! Hunter at least had that.

Max wondered, should he buy a ring? His gaze moved to Liz's left hand. Her fingers are long and slender and… she is not wearing any rings, must be a surgeon thing.

Max took a mental note to find a way to measure sneakily Liz's ring finger. There is nothing worse than popping the question, and she says 'yes' and then the ring does not fit. Ah, he is thinking about proposing!

”This is interesting…”, Liz mumbled without moving her gaze from the tablet, and Max swallowed hard. Can she read his thoughts? Does 'interesting' mean that she is interested in his proposal?