"How's the new porter getting on Mac?" Zoe was asking Big Mac, she wanted information on Max, she knew Mac would have sussed him out by now.
"Max? He's alright, seems to be getting the hang of it, nice guy. He's Robyn's brother you know?"
Mac replied.
"Really? I don't see the resemblance?" Zoe said.
"Oh, well, step brother really." Mac explained.
"I see. Well as long as you think he's doing a good job then I'm happy." Zoe told him subtly.
Zoe turned around and bumped straight into Max, her files flying around the corridor.
"Dr Hanna, I'm so sorry! It's not your day is it?" Max laughed.
"Apparently not." Zoe stated.
"Listen, a few of us are going to the pub after work, a celebration for lasting a day here I guess, if you fancy it?" Max asked.
"Erm..." Zoe stumbled, "er, yeah maybe."
"Great, I'll see you then!" Max said as they went their separate ways.
Zoe smiled. Perfect. This would be her chance to get to know him better.
The shift lasted another couple of hours before the team were ready to head over to the pub.
"Coming Zoe?" Tess asked.
"Yeah I'll catch up, just got to put these files away." Zoe told her. She was delaying, she didn't want to seem too keen, especially to Max.
She hadn't been able to stop thinking about him, how gorgeous he was, that cheeky grin, what was she doing?
"You need to stop chasing inappropriate men." She said out loud. Max had already told her he had a girlfriend, that wouldn't stop her, if Zoe Hanna wanted something, she generally got it, at all costs.
Zoe gave it another ten minutes before heading to the pub.
"Hey Zoe! Saved you a seat!" Tess called.
"Thanks Tess, I'll just get a drink." Zoe replied, ordering a large glass of red wine from the bar.
Zoe took her seat in between Tess and Cal, opposite Max.
"So Max, you survived your first day, how was it?" Zoe asked giving him a smile.
"A bit early to say really, my degree didn't prepare me for pushing trolleys!" Max replied.
The team laughed at his comment.
"What exactly did it prepare you for?!" Cal asked.
"Oh you know, travelling the world, working abroad, just hasn't worked out." Max told them.
"Yeah he met Laura and she put an end to his dreams!" Robyn told her colleagues.
"Laura? You kept that quiet Max!" Cal laughed.
"Didn't want to dent his reputation by having a girlfriend, eh Max?" Robyn nudged him.
Max glared at Robyn. "I'm off to the toilet."
"What was that about?" Zoe asked Robyn.
"Laura is crazy. Don't tell Max I said that but she's quite possessive of him, wanting to know where he is all the time. Max is too nice to say anything to her, he just wants her to be happy."
Zoe saw Max heading towards the table, "right, who's for another, my round?"
Zoe made a mental list of everyone's drinks before going to the bar.
"Hey, drink?" She asked Max as she approached him, "I'm buying?"
"I'd better not turn that down then boss." Max said.
"Zoe. Please. I hate the term boss." Zoe told him.
"Sorry. Zoe. My mum always taught me to respect..."
"Elders?!" Zoe interrupted, "I'm offended!"
"If you let me finish, I was going to say authority!" Max nudged her. "You're hardly old are you?"
"Older than you'd think, come on, give me a hand." Zoe instructed.
They leaned against the bar as Zoe ordered the drinks.
"So how old is older than I'd think?" Max asked.
"Your mother told you to respect authority but never to ask a woman her age?!" Zoe laughed.
"Clearly not! Anyway, you look alright to me, no matter how old you are." Max told her.
"Are you flirting with me?!" Zoe asked.
"Oh, no sorry Zoe. I didn't mean it to come across like that, please don't think any less of me, I'm not trying to work my way up or anything. Besides, Laura would have my balls as earrings if she thought I was flirting with other women." Max said.
"Good to know." Zoe was embarrassed. She'd hoped he had been flirting. She ordered a bottle of wine instead of a glass. She needed to stop making a fool of herself with this man.
As the night went on, the team were getting quite drunk, Zoe had worked her way through two bottles of red wine, there was no way she'd be able to drive home.
"I'm going for a cigarette." Zoe announced.
"Can I join you?" Max asked.
Zoe nodded.
They went outside, Zoe didn't know what to say, she felt nervous in his presence.
"Are you cold?" Max asked noticing Zoe was shaking.
"A bit." Zoe replied.
"Here." Max took off his coat and wrapped it around her shoulders. As he got closer to her Zoe could smell his aftershave, she inhaled his aroma. He had good taste.
Zoe didn't know what came over her but she leant into kiss him.
"Woah, Zoe, what are you doing?!" Max exclaimed.
Zoe didn't have chance to explain as she threw up all over his trainers.
"Oh god." Max sighed. "We need to get you home."
Max went to get his phone out of his pocket when he heard the voice.
It was Laura.
"Max, what the hell do you think you're doing?! Kissing another woman, I saw everything!" Laura cried.
"Laura it wasn't like that!" Max tried to explain.
"Save it Max!" Laura ran off.
Zoe was slumped against the wall.
What was he supposed to do now?
He couldn't leave either women by themselves.