308 Isaacs birthday weekend 6 (1/2)
As soon as Liz closed the door behind them, Max punched the air and exhaled loudly.
”Ah, how lucky that wimp is because this is your father's party.” Max voiced his grief.
If this is not a Liz-related party, Max would rearrange Patrick's facial features with his fists, or drag him outside and then serve him a generous knuckle-sandwich.
Liz smirked. ”Is he lucky?”
”Of course, not. But he avoided physical beating. For now.” Max said and got his phone. ”What is the name of his company?” Patrick said it, but Max was so enraged that he forgot, and Max has no idea how he managed to control himself from hitting that smug face (aka Patrick).
”E-Sand.” Liz responded.
Max quickly did a search and found the website. He sent the link to Ian before making the phone call. ”Hi, Ian… I know it's Saturday evening and I also know that you don't have a life… Yes, I need you to do something for me… No, you will not get more money because I already overpay you… Listen… I sent you a link. I need any dirt you can find related to that company… Yes, now… If it can wait for Monday, I would not call you on a Saturday evening... Thanks…”
Max ended the call and made another one.
”Q… I need you to do something for me…”
Liz listened to a two-minute long conversation between Max and Quentin and she appreciated how the two of them spoke, like a well-rehearsed team.
”Q can blacklist E-Sand as a company?” Liz asked when Max ended the call. She is not aware of Quentin's capabilities. She knows Quentin as Max's party-buddy (at first she thought they are gays), and that he is into publishing and chasing models, but then he fell for Brianna and... that's it.
Max confirmed. ”The Alpha group has a stronghold in Seattle, and my influence is in the North-West. As a total opposite from me, Q does not have a base. He has connections everywhere and because he represents a big publishing company, people want to stay on his good side. He needs to drop a hint or two that a company is non-desirable, and that will spread like wildfire…”
Liz looked at Max with admiration. Provoking Max is a bad idea. She remembers how smugly Patrick looked at Max, but that was only because Patrick had no clue of what is coming his way… and that he was poking a tiger. And the tiger is angry.
Max exhaled and his arms wrapped around Liz.
Liz hugged him back and she could feel that he is tense. They stood in silence and she was happy that her proximity is enough to calm his nerves. At least partially.
”Thank you, Max.”
Max was irked by the possibility that Liz is thankful because he spared Patrick from beating. She wouldn't do that, right? He needed confirmation. ”For?”
Max was relieved to hear that Liz was only concerned about protecting Isaac's good name, and hers. ”Patrick drank too much of illusion that he can win you over.”
”What? That is not happening.” Liz wanted to assure Max that he is the only one for her. Because he is.
”That is why I said that it's an illusion. I saw how he is looking at you.”
”You are saying that he was provoking you because he wanted you to look bad in front of me?” Liz asked even though she knew the answer. She is always happy when they come to the same conclusions. ”That is stupid because no matter what people say, I know who you are, and they can't change my opinion.”
Max looked at Liz with eyes full of emotions. ”Please, don't forget that. No matter how people see me and what they think of me, believe in what you know. Believe in this Max who loves you more than anything.”
Liz was moved by this sudden confession. She smiled. ”I will.”
…
Liz and Max returned to the event hall in time to hear Isaac's speech. Or to be more precise, Isaac waited for them to return so that he can start his speech.
Isaac stood on the stage where the band is and called for everyone's attention.