(BL)Alpha Made
Chapter 204: A fragment of his former self

Chapter 204: A fragment of his former self

Andrew didn’t show up to work the next day. Or the day after that.

By the fourth day, it was clear to almost everyone in the building that something was very, dangerously wrong.

Maxwell wasn’t well.

He wasn’t himself in the slightest. He hadn’t been able to get a good night’s sleep since Andrew hadn’t come home that first night, and now on the fourth day, the lack of sleep was becoming apparent.

Maxwell was disoriented, barely able to pay attention to the work he had placed before him, let alone meetings he was supposed to attend. He spent most of his time listlessly staring into space, his eyes bloodshot and his expression one of great pain. Mr. Newman was worried for his health, worried about the company, and worried about the relationship between the two.

It all came to a head when Mr. Beckett, Maxwell’s father, stormed in on a meeting that Maxwell was supposed to be leading, but found that the meeting was a mess, Maxwell was staring out the window blinking, and Mr. Newman looked like he was going to have a panic attack.

Mr. Beckett flew into a rage, one of which should have woken Maxwell from his lifeless form, but Maxwell barely reacted. Mr. Beckett, who had no idea of the going ons between him and Andrew, had no clue as to why Maxwell was behaving this way.

Hardly anyone knew anything was wrong, and one of the people who did know wasn’t able to get ahold of Andrew anymore. Hadn’t been able to get through their phone since the second day, and by this point, worry was consuming them entirely.

Richard was at his wits end. He’d worried himself into a corner, and after consulting his parents, he found himself on the way to the CEO’s office. Maxwell Beckett was the only one who had been to Andrew’s possible current location, but given that Andrew wasn’t with him, and the rumours he’d heard through the grapevine, things had not gone well. He wasn’t the only one worried, and when he arrived at the head office, he was told that Mr. Beckett was currently busy...with the other Mr. Beckett.

Richard, who had only just been informed that Maxwell was busy was there when Mr. Beckett had begun his tirade. Already nervous, the large man had nearly jumped out of his skin when he’d heard the roaring voice of the alpha, but when no one responded, even Richard grew concerned.

Mr. Beckett...Maxwell...was not one to let any alpha speak to him that way. If he wasn’t responsive, something serious was going on. Richard had a feeling he knew what this serious thing was, but was also afraid to find out the truth.

Nervous, Richard approached the door, wincing when the alpha Mr. Beckett began yelling again. The secretaries outside of the CEO office clearly were warning him against it, but Richard, trying to be brave, knocked on the door.

Silence.

Then hurried, angry footsteps before the door was yanked open by an older gentleman, slightly shorter than Richard.

"Who the hell thinks that they have the right to interrupt a father scolding their son?" Richard glanced into the room, finding that it had been mostly cleared out except for a dazed, exhausted looking Maxwell, and a just as exhausted and scared looking Mr. Newman.

Richard gulped.

"Uh. Well. I think I might have an answer as to why Mr. Beckett is behaving this way Mr...Beckett." Richard felt his own voice falter, but remained where he was. Richard was not good at public speaking, and facing a man of Mr. Beckett’s strength really was taking the wind out of his sails.

Mr. Beckett scanned him, before a sense of recognition went off behind his eyes.

"You must be Dr. Gates, the one who knew Andrew from his childhood. Come in." Mr. Beckett’s tone took a 180, softening as he held open the door to Richard. Richard swallowed, hating how volatile all alphas were. Andrew was the lone exception, but he’d grown up with two alpha women.

He didn’t trust this man who had always been an alpha, and would always be an alpha.

Richard stepped into the room, taking in everything around him. The tossed papers, the smashed cups, the pushed out chairs as people had clearly scrambled to get out of the way of the angry man. It was typical alpha behaviour, and was also something that was rarely seen in this company.

Maxwell must be quite out of it for things to get this far.

"So what brings you up from the lower floors?" Mr. Beckett asked, his tone jovial, but Richard knew better. He was trying to get answers out of him. Slippery, like a damn snake. Andrew always fared better because for some reason, he’d always had an edge to him. Even if Richard was around the same height as the other man, they were always treated a bit differently.

Honestly, it was like Andrew was always going to manifest, and others sensed that there was something not quite right with Richard. Or, they sensed he was just a beta.

Richard cleared his throat, pulling on the neck of his shirt as he felt Mr. Beckett closes the door behind him. He glanced towards the other man in the room who had his wits about him, and found that the man was staring at him, pleading with him to have an answer.

"Well, it’s about...Andrew." Richard started slowly, and watched as Maxwell twitched. "Has...Have you heard anything from him?" Richard asked nervously, and Mr. Beckett wilted. He glanced towards Maxwell, and Mr. Newman, before he turned his befuddled gaze towards Richard.

"I haven’t heard anything about this. Is Andrew missing again?" Richard’s heart twisted as Mr. Beckett casually referred to what had happened to Andrew prior. Richard knew it wasn’t callous, but the way he said it made Richard feel he didn’t care as much. He knew that wasn’t the case. Not from the way the rest of his body tensed, and his brows furrowed.

"Well, uh...I would say it’s more that he’s gone dark." Richard said tentatively, and watched Maxwell’s body twitch again. "I haven’t been able to contact him for two days. I had hoped...that Maxwell would know where he was. He was the last to see him, I think." Richard said, and Mr. Beckett, now able to piece together some of the pieces he’d been given, turned a grim face towards his son.

"What did you do?" He asked and Maxwell flinched as if he had been hit. It was those words that woke him from his slumber, and he turned bloodshot blue eyes towards the men at the end of the room.

"You...spoke to him?" He asked, his voice raspy, his gaze focused on Richard. Richard swallowed.

"Briefly, and then I received no responses to any texts or calls after." Richard hesitated. "What...exactly happened on Monday? Andrew was nervous to go with you, but he clearly didn’t think anything like...this would happen." Mr. Beckett opened his mouth, but closed it as he waited for his son to reply.

They had expected bluster. They had expected rage. They had even expected that Maxwell would laugh it all off. What they didn’t expect was the man to fold in on himself, pressing his hands into his eyes as he cried.

"I don’t know where it went wrong!" Maxwell sobbed, and everyone in the room jerked. It was so unlike the other man that Mr. Beckett’s face went slack.

"Maxwell? W-What happened?" The older man rushed to his son’s side, any anger he had washed away by the unlike him response. Richard approached slower, watching Maxwell as he spoke.

"I-I just got a little angry, and then...I don’t want to break up with him." Maxwell sobbed. "I can’t break up with him. Andrew means everything to me. I put in so much work behind the scenes to be with him. I waited 8 fucking months, and was prepared to wait more if he didn’t break up with her. I was ready to accept just being his friend if they never broke up! He said he didn’t think my house was ever his home. It never felt like a home until he was there! I don’t know what to do." Maxwell sobbed and Mr. Beckett stared at his son in bewilderment, before he placed his hand on his shoulder. Maxwell flinched from the gentle touch, but relaxed after a moment.

Mr. Beckett’s face softened, staring at his son who had never relied on anyone before. He glanced back at Richard.

"What did Andrew say?" He asked and Richard swallowed.

"Andrew said that they got into an argument over something Andrew had done, I think. He also mentioned saying that he wasn’t like other alphas and that Maxwell didn’t stop him when he left." Maxwell caved in on himself more.

"What was I supposed to say? I know Andrew isn’t like other alphas, I was just confused! I felt like he had betrayed me, but after I had some time to think I realised I was being ridiculous. I waited for him to come home. He never did. And then he didn’t come home the next night. I just-I panicked! I just panicked! God, I tried to speak like I normally do but it felt like everything I said hurt him. He told me..." Maxwell inhaled deeply, his whole body shaking. Mr. Newman plugged his nose suddenly. "He told me that Richard would come pick up his things." He sobbed into his hands and his Father made a soft, understanding sound.

"Ah. Is this the first time you two have argued?" Maxwell nodded.

"This feels like too much though. Too big. Andrew was really upset. I couldn’t get my words out properly and I’m sure I hurt him deeply." Richard winced at how heartbroken the other man sounded. This was serious.

"Did you beg for him to forgive you?" Richard asked and Maxwell froze. He turned his head up towards Richard, his beautiful face stained with tears, his expression hopeful.

"Would that have worked?" He asked, desperation in his tone. Richard winced.

"Probably not, but I thought I’d ask." Maxwell deflated at Richard’s words. He dropped his face back down to his hands.

"Fuck." He sounded pitiful. Desperate. Devastated.

Richard was sure that Andrew wasn’t faring any better. He opened his mouth, hesitating for a moment before he spoke.

"The time...you shouldn’t have given it to him." Richard said and Maxwell flinched. "Andrew is...Andy is an overthinker. He probably imagined all kinds of things. If there is a next time like this, don’t hesitate. Don’t let him get into his head. He’s probably already thought that you hate him and twisted it enough in his head to make it seem like you always wanted to break up with him, or that you were dating him out of pity or something." It seemed that Richard had struck a chord, as Maxwell sobbed. Mr. Beckett sighed.

"Where is he staying, Maxwell? Did you visit him?" Mr. Beckett’s voice was soft, warm and Maxwell sniffed.

"He’s at the Grand near the hospital. Room 2051. If he hasn’t changed locations since I visited. He’s..." Maxwell raised his gaze, looking up at the two men beside him. "Oh no. I was so upset I forgot. He’s been drinking. I’ve never seen him like that. It was..." Maxwell’s eyes welled over again. "I’m such a fucking idiot." He sobbed, burying his head into his hands. Mr. Beckett glanced back at Richard, but Richard was already on it.

"I’ll go check on him. Mr. Beckett, why don’t you get Maxwell to write Andrew a letter. If it’s a letter, I feel like Andrew might be able to sense his sincerity." Richard told him, and watched as Maxwell perked up.

It wasn’t a full lie. Andrew probably would sense the sincerity. Whether he believed it, well, that was another story.

Andrew wasn’t a forgiving person.