Accident Prone 193 An open talk with Dr. Snow

Monday

11:48 AM

Liz just finished seeing her last patient for the morning and is in good spirits. Actually, 'good spirits' is not enough to explain how she feels because she is high on love, like an enamored teenager.

Liz can't recognize herself. Yesterday, the whole day, from morning to evening, she didn't think about her work at all! That never happened! The only thing on her mind was Max and how good he makes her feel and how his touch is just right and… she can't wait for this workday to be over so that she can see him again.

She had some guesses that making love with Max will be incredible, but this is beyond anything she imagined. He is beyond amazing. Powerful. Caring. And she realized that her lack of stamina is not a problem, because whenever she gets tired, Max does most of the work.

Liz enjoys when she is in charge of the lovemaking because she can set the pace and the angle and… she made a silent vow to exercise because she wants them to be equals. In everything. Lovemaking included.

A knock on the door pulled Liz out of her thoughts.

"Come in…", Liz called.

Rhonda opened the door and walked in with a big bouquet of red roses speckled with white mini-carnations. "It's from your handsome boyfriend."

Liz narrowed her eyes. "Did you read the card?"

Rhonda paused and responded awkwardly: "No. I just assumed that it's from Max and he is your boyfriend… and handsome."

Liz made a face and grabbed the card. She opened it:

"To: my wonderful girlfriend

From: your handsome boyfriend."

Liz's smile turned into a scowl when she heard Rhonda giggling while peeking over Liz's shoulder to read the card. "I swear, I didn't read it."

"I've got the vase and filled it with water since I guessed that you want to keep this one…", Rhonda said while gesturing toward the large vase on Liz's desk.

"Thanks, Rhonda."

Rhonda saw that Liz is lost in some pleasant thoughts while gazing at the flowers and she made her exit.

"Liz…", Rhonda called from the door. "I am glad to see that you and Max are getting along."

Rhonda closed the door without waiting for Liz to respond.

"I am glad as well…", Liz murmured while her gaze didn't leave the flowers. Somehow she could imagine Max's smug smile and eyes full of love when he placed the order. Ah! She is missing him again!

She took her phone and texted him: "Thank you for the flowers. They are wonderful."

Five seconds later, she got a response: "I'm glad you like them, even though their beauty pales in comparison to you."

Liz smiled while reading his response. He is a sweet talker. And he responded right away even though he is super-busy. He is awesome like that.

As much as Liz supports Max's career and all the wonderful progress he is making, she would be lying if she says that she is not happy every time when he responds to her text within seconds of receiving hers.

Liz heard a knock on the door and assumed that it's Rhonda. She probably forgot something or maybe she wants to tease Liz some more.

"Come in…", Liz called.

Liz was surprised to see Dr. Snow enter her office. Shouldn't he be on the lunch break? She straightened her back.

"How can I help you, Dr. Snow?", Liz asked stiffly.

Dr. Snow exhaled and gestured to the chair on the opposite side of Liz's desk. "Can I sit?"

Liz nodded in response.

He took a seat and fidgeted for a few seconds while his eyes darted toward the flowers on Liz's desk.

"I apologize.", Dr. Snow said after some time.

"For?"

"I spent most of my morning with chairman Lee. He told me that he misjudged you and accused you wrongly. He assumed that you are not taking your job seriously. And that was my fault."

Liz remembered that at the fundraiser Dr. Snow told her that he will tell chairman Lee how he is the one who ordered that ocean of flowers which disrupted the hospital, and Liz ended up being sent home for that. "Is this related to the flowers you sent me?"

"Yes."

Liz smiled. "Thank you for telling him that it was you."

Dr. Snow pursed his lips. He is happy to see Liz's smile directed at him, but he knows that he does not deserve it. "It was not me. As we spoke on Saturday, I wanted to tell him, but someone beat me to it. Now chairman Lee assumes that I hid it on purpose while allowing you to take the blame, and I guess that I deserve that. I just hope that you know how I didn't have any bad intentions."

Liz remembered that fiasco lunch and then Dr. Snow sending her one bouquet which she gave away and the next day she was flooded with flowers, and she could not help but wonder, how does his brain work? She rejected one, why did he send many? "What was your intention?"

Dr. Snow thought about how to answer this. He was never good at lying or sweet-talking or coming up with schemes. He was always straightforward to the point of being rude which he identified as a lack of social skills, and it put him in trouble more than once, but he never cared about it.

He cares about it now because this is Elizabeth Williams, a woman who got his attention and captured his heart, but the only thing he can give her is his true self. He wondered if she would be fine with that. "Can I speak openly?"

"I will appreciate that."

Dr. Snow repeated to himself that there is no reason to hide anything because, between Max and Isaac, those two know everything. And if he does not admit to what he did, it will only put him in the position of Liz thinking that he was hiding things from her on purpose (when she eventually finds out), and it might even give those two men leverage to blackmail him. He does not want any of those to happen.

Dr. Snow took a deep breath and braced himself for what is coming after his confession… "I had multiple job offers and I picked the Franciscan Medical Center because of you. I heard amazing stories about a young neurosurgeon, and I felt that we have some things in common and I hoped to get close to you and possibly confirm that. On my first day here, I sat next to you at lunch and I admired you while doing my best not to stare rudely, because you are so much more beautiful in person than on the photos your father showed me. During our talks, I got to know you and before I realized, I started my day while looking forward to our lunch. Over time, I confirmed that you are extremely professional and that you would not start anything romantic in a work setting, and that is why I wanted to have lunch with you outside work. I was curious if you are so focused and amazing in private and you dazzled me. I sent you flowers with the hope that you will accept my apology and give me a chance to be more than coworkers."

Liz took a deep breath and did her best to compose her thoughts. She knew the most of it, and the rest she guessed, so other than Dr. Snow coming to the Franciscan Medical Center because of her, the only thing surprising was that he told her all this.

"I am thankful for your honesty. As much as it's uncomfortable, I need to say it: we can't be more than coworkers."

"Is this because of Max?", Dr. Snow gestured toward flowers.

"No. Did you forget why I came to Seattle? Why would I work as an entry-level employee in this small hospital when I can rule as a chief neurosurgeon at all locations under Williams Medical corp.?"

Dr. Snow paused and his brows furrowed.

Liz observed him for some time and concluded that he does not know what she is talking about. "I'm not sure if you remember, so I will repeat… I came here because I wanted to prove to myself that I can succeed without the boost which my father provides me on the East Coast. I am here because I want a challenge that will show me how high I can go on my own. Dr. Snow, you are a famous surgeon and if I get into a relationship with you, it would overshadow my professional achievements, just how the name of Isaac Williams does. Do you understand what I am saying?"

"What if you fall in love? You can't control that."

"I don't believe in love at first sight. And honestly, until recently I didn't believe in love at all."

Dr. Snow nodded knowingly. "We are back to Max."

Liz didn't deny it. "Yes. But my feelings for him grew over time. He was there for me, providing his support when needed without overwhelming me with his presence. He showed me that he can be part of my life while not impacting my path. Like two people walking next to each other. Equals."

"So, I don't have a chance with you?" Dr. Snow saw Liz shake her head and he immediately rephrased his question: "If Max does not exist, would I have a chance?"

Liz puffed her cheeks while thinking about how to answer this. "At this rate, no. As long as we are working together, no."

Dr. Snow's eyes lit up. "If you are not dating Max and we are not working in the same workplace, you would give me a chance?"

Liz could not lie. Not after he openly laid out his dirty laundry. "I would be more open to talking. I would be more willing to find out who you are as a person, because it would not stir up gossip at my workplace. As for anything more than talking, I would need a confirmation that you are sensible enough not to jeopardize my achievements and my career by becoming part of my life."

Dr. Snow stared at the non-existent spot on Liz's desk for a few seconds before he stood up. He smiled and offered his hand for a handshake.

Liz stood up as well and shook his hand.

"Thank you for your honesty.", Dr. Snow said before he turned her hand and planted a quick kiss at the back of her palm.

"I will see you around, Dr. Williams…"

Liz looked at the closed door of her office and wondered what was that about. She thought that everything went rather well. An open talk can only be good. But then this ending was a bit off.

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Chapter end