(BL)Alpha Made
Chapter 71: You guys are embarrassing me

Chapter 71: You guys are embarrassing me

"Thank you for the flowers. They look gorgeous. I’m sure you can tell, but we like hydrangeas here." Mrs. Proctor gestured to her little pocket square that upon closer inspection was pressed pink hydrangeas. Maxwell nodded, his smile softening. Andrew wondered how old those flowers were, and had a feeling he knew the answer already.

"Yes. Andrew got the same flowers for my Mother, so it only seemed fitting." Mrs. Proctor whipped her head in Andrew’s direction, who for some reason, felt like he had to look away before she laughed some more.

"Ah. Quietly sneaky, I see. Just like your Mother." Andrew felt his cheeks flush in happiness and embarrassment. Not many said he was like his Mother, and it made his stomach and heart warm to hear it. Maxwell’s expression grew confused as she accepted the flowers from him.

"Is there something I’m missing here?" Maxwell asked, confused, glancing between them and Andrew coughed. Mrs. Proctor’s eyes were bright, light, happy. It was in stark contrast to why they were meeting up in the first place.

"Mr. Beckett, do you know much about the language of flowers?" She asked, and Maxwell shook his head.

"No. I know nothing about them. I just like the ones that look pretty." He admitted easily and she shook her head with a smile, glancing at Andrew who still wouldn’t make eye contact with her. Andrew didn’t want to make eye contact with anyone. His face felt too red as the truth behind the flowers he’d given was partially revealed.

"Well, let’s just say, if your Mother knows the language of flowers, she probably should have chased Andrew out of the house. If she didn’t, she probably was going to accept him from the beginning." Andrew coughed as Maxwell turned and shot Andrew a look.

"Andrew Knox, what on earth did you say?" Maxwell demanded, and Andrew chuckled nervously. Mrs. Proctor shook her head, patting Maxwell on the shoulder.

"I would cut the man some slack. Not many take interest in flowers the same way Andy and his Mom did. His Mother used to run a flower shop before she met his father." She told them. It was something Andrew had known, but it was something new to Maxwell.

"Oh. Well, that explains it then." He said, his tone neutral. He was dropping the topic for now, but Andrew had a feeling he wasn’t going to hear the end of this when they got home. Oops.

"Give the receptionist your car keys when we get inside, Andy. They’ll park it for you. You have one of the spots out front reserved for you and your family. I’ll let the Beckett’s know that they can use it when they next come by." Mrs. Proctor told them, a glint in her eyes as Maxwell glanced back at Andrew, smirking, and Andrew felt embarrassment fill him. He wasn’t aware that was a perk he could even provide. Maxwell’s family felt too...big to be a group that he could give anything to.

"That’s very kind of you to extend it to our family, Mrs. Proctor." Maxwell said warmly, meaning every work. She shook her head at his antics, glancing between the pair.

"You can call me Kim, Mr. Beckett. And of course I would. Given everything I’ve seen so far, I don’t imagine it’ll be long before you two are wed. Correct?" She asked, and it was her sparkling eyes that gave away her teasing. Andrew started coughing while Maxwell threw his head back and laughed.

"You can’t say that so loud! I’ve been easing him into it." Maxwell stage whispered, his grin wicked and Mrs. Proctor laughed. They were still standing outside of the front doors, but Andrew could tell they were beginning to draw attention. That made him wonder if she greeted others like this. He hoped so, otherwise rumours would spread throughout the company.

"Stop embarrassing me, you two." Andrew groaned. He was pretty sure he couldn’t get any more red in the face. It was also probably not good for his heart. Maxwell laughed, leaning back and taking one of Andrew’s hands in his own.

"Awe. Don’t be too embarrassed. I think it’s cute when you get so self conscious of it." Mrs. Proctor watched them with a smile before she began to lead them into the office proper. Andrew braced himself, and Maxwell gave his hand a squeeze.

"So? How did you two meet?" She asked warmly, waving to a few employees who noticed her. Andrew had to take a second to process what he was seeing.

It didn’t feel like he was stepping into a business, but instead a rather elaborate, fancy home. The open space was shaped into a T, with the top against the entrance, and the length of the T going away from them.

In this space, at the center, was a giant glass chandelier in the shape of hydrangea flowers. It was incredibly elaborate and the glass was stretched so that some of the petals were a deep, royal purple, while others were clear glass. It must have cost a fortune.

To the left was a cute little meeting spot, or a place for clients to rest. There were several sofas and chairs set up in solo configurations, as well as group ones. A beautifully carved wooden bar sat against one of the walls and it had a variety of refreshments, along with an almost invisible fridge that was filled with drinks. The fridge had wood paneling on it, making it blend into the furniture around it.

The tone for that side of the T was warm wood tones, with splashes of turquoise, gold and cream. It was a pretty combination.

The other half of the top of the T was set up as a cafe. It was bright and welcoming, with a matching aesthetic to the other half of the T. The difference was that the table tops were done in turquoise fishbone tile, with the chairs being comfy-looking brown leather seats. It didn’t look like a chain, and when Mrs. Proctor noticed that Andrew was staring, she chimed in easily.

"That is our own cafe. We started a small business on the side and now we have 5 locations throughout town." She told Andrew proudly, and he nodded.

The rest of the space was elevators and more seating. To the right was a huge wooden desk with gold accents and a few splashes of turquoise, as well as rich purple shades. Mrs. Proctor chuckled.

"You’ll have to forgive us. We’re in the middle of a concept change. Soon, everything will have the purple accents. The chandelier has been a project in the works for two years, and it was installed two weeks ago. Our suppliers for our furniture are a little behind, but soon everything will match." She told them happily, clearly happy to tell them about the company. Andrew swallowed.

This was...way more than his Mom struggling to get desks into her offices.

Maxwell, sensing that Andrew was getting overwhelmed, smiled at Mrs. Proctor.

"The piece is stunning, Kim. What company are you using to do the work?" He asked and she smiled.

"Oh, you know, one of our clients. They gave us quite a good deal, so we aren’t too worried that it’s delayed. The artist we have lined up to paint this area is ready to go as soon as the furniture arrives. I’m excited for you two to see it when the new concept is finished." Her eyes sparkled as she glanced back at Andrew. "I think Andy would look good in purple." She told him, and Maxwell nodded.

"He would. A deep purple." Maxwell agreed and they shared a smile.

They stopped at the reception desk where Andrew handed over the keys. When Mrs. Proctor introduced Andrew and Mr. Knox, and Maxwell quietly corrected her, several of the receptionists weren’t able to control their shocked expressions. Mrs. Proctor seemed smug. When they were heading to the elevators, she explained why.

"Everyone thought that the Knox that I spoke of was a cover for my wife’s family. Now it’s nice to prove to them that they are wrong." She puffed her chest out slightly. "That includes the investors and other higher ups in the company. Thankfully, most won’t approach you, but just be aware. Let Mr. Beckett handle them, since I can already tell you’re getting overwhelmed." Mrs. Proctor smiled at Andrew, who gave a small smile in return.

"Sorry. I’m just...having a hard time wrapping my head around this." Mrs. Proctor laughed.

"I can imagine. I checked on the accounts you have, and found you haven’t touched them at all. Did you not even know you had them?" She asked, and Andrew flushed.

"I...I had completely forgotten." He muttered weakly, and she bent over, laughing.

"I swear, in the weirdest ways you are just like your Mother. If I didn’t write out her schedule for her and tape it to her wrist, she wouldn’t remember a damn thing! But, given that it was a stressful time for you, you must have just glanced over that kind of stuff. At the time, they weren’t worth much, but I promise I worked hard to make it up to her." That made Andrew pause. Make it up to her?

Glancing at Mrs. Proctor, she smiled when she met Andrew’s confused gaze.

"Your Mother was the reason I was able to marry my current wife, Andy. See, we’re actually cousins, but she’s from a distant branch family, while I was from the main family. My family, unlike Mr. Beckett’s, is very focused on pedigree. I had to either marry someone with a good background that they found suitable, or make a big enough name for myself that it didn’t matter. With your Mother’s help, and insight, here we are years later." She smiled, as if she was able to bury the pain and anger that must have caused her.

"That’s a wonderful thing she did then." Maxwell said, and Mrs. Proctor turned her gaze to him, her eyes sparkling.

"Yes. She used the fact that she had a true alpha’s son as a bargaining chip against her own family, and I think she came out on top. Regretfully, she isn’t with us anymore, but I’m sure Andy growing up strong and healthy is going to be a slap to the face of both sides of his family. Especially the main family." Her grin grew cheeky as a hopeful spark grew in Andrew’s chest.

"We’re...related?" Andrew asked slowly, and her eyes when she looked at him were sad, pained.

"You wouldn’t have gotten it from your Mom’s side, I’m afraid Andy. Unfortunately, true alphas aren’t known for being recessive in that way." Andrew bit his lip, dropping his head and Maxwell squeezed his hand. A hope that was dashed so soon, but at least it didn’t linger for too long.

He was his father’s son after all.

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