CHAPTER 358: A FAMILIAR VOICE

It was shortly after that that Maxwell’s parents showed up, having greeted the last of the arriving guests. Andrew could tell that they were making their way through the crowd because it rippled wherever they went. Maxwell noticed as well, but he just turned up his lips slightly and asked Andrew if he could get him another drink. Andrew did it with ease, and watched as the other alphas stared at him like they had never seen anyone like him before.

Andrew was laughing to himself as he scanned the crowd, seeing Richard with his parents, Rose and Jordan nearby. Rose was holding onto Jordan tightly, her eyes going between him and her brother and Andrew felt a twinge.

She was a possessive person by nature, but that...Andrew had a feeling that they might get some good news in the new year. He was happy to hear it.

Andrew was waiting in line to grab something for him and Maxwell when he heard someone clear their throat from behind him. It was a polite, careful sound, and when Andrew turned he found he was face to face with a gentleman that was just shy of his height. He was black, with dark eyes that tended to cast downwards before going back up, and curly hair that was kept cropped close to his head. It was well maintained, and despite his nervousness, he was in an impeccable, respectable suit. He was younger, probably around Andrew’s age but he couldn’t quite tell.

Andrew had never seen him before in his life.

"Hello." Andrew said carefully, trying to understand why he was speaking to him. The man seemed even more nervous.

"Uh, hello, Dr. Knox. W-We haven’t formally ever met, but...we have spoken." The man said carefully, and a light went off in the back of Andrew’s mind. He was one of the men from his support group.

Andrew’s smile split his face and he offered him a hand, happiness in his actions. The man offered his own hand, a little nervous while Andrew laughed.

"Ah. So we have. May I hear your name?" Andrew asked, excited to meet a fellow true alpha who was having a hard time adjusting. The other man took Andrew’s hand, a little less enthusiastically but Andrew didn’t take it to heart. This was his lover’s family’s party. He was on home base, while this man was nowhere comfortable.

"Noah Williams." He said carefully, quietly, as if that name should scare him. Andrew just grinned and leaned in.

"I learned early on in my childhood not to care much for names. It wouldn’t serve me well." Andrew whispered, before pulling back. "Besides, my Mom is a big deal too." He said, cocky, and that seemed to surprise Noah, before a smile reached his lips.

His shoulders relaxed, and he let out a soft laugh.

"Is she? I’m glad to hear it. Can I buy you a drink?" He asked and Andrew gave him a knowing smile. He looked immediately embarrassed, but before he could get nervous, Andrew spoke up.

"Well, I’m not drinking right now, but I’ll take something non alcoholic. I’m also on a mission for my lover." Andrew said with a smile and Noah nodded.

"Oh, of course. I didn’t mean to-" Andrew waved a hand dismissively.

"You aren’t interrupting me. It’s okay. I just have to drop off the drink before we speak more." Andrew said, and Noah nodded. They moved up the line, Noah ordering something for Andrew that Andrew accepted easily while Andrew ordered another whiskey for Maxwell.

Then, Andrew forced Noah to come with him as he ran Maxwell’s drink over. He knew that Noah was nervous, because it was obvious that Maxwell would know who Noah was, but Andrew didn’t care.

Maxwell saw the two men approaching from a distance and Andrew could see his smile waver. Andrew wondered what that meant, before he brushed it off. Didn’t matter. When they got close enough, Maxwell excused himself for a moment from the new group he was talking to to greet Andrew and Noah.

"Maxy, this is Noah. We’ve spoken before." He told him, hoping Maxwell would get it. He did, only taking a second to register what Andrew said before his eyes widened slightly. Then he offered his hand to Noah, who took it with trembling hands.

"Congratulations, I am assuming? That’s a good thing, yes?" Maxwell asked softly, and Noah jerked, before dropping his gaze to his feet.

"It...is supposed to be." He said quietly, and Andrew couldn’t pretend as if he knew all of the struggles that the others faced. They still lived with their toxic families for the most part. Even if they were ’just betas’. Andrew had gotten out, so he was a bit of a success story to them. He didn’t think Noah had gotten out of his toxic family from the way he reacted.

Maxwell examined him for a long, silent moment before he held his hand out for his drink. Andrew handed it over easily.

"Well, Mr. Williams, since you’ve come forward, if you need any help, I am sure we, or Andrew’s maternal aunt would be happy to help." He said and watched as Noah slowly raised his head, a small look of confusion on his face.

"Maternal aunt?" He questioned and Andrew nodded.

"Yeah. I believe I spoke of her before? She’s Kim Proctor." Andrew said easily, and Noah blinked a few times before he gulped.

"I couldn’t ask Mrs. Proctor for anything. She doesn’t know me." He protested, whatever mask he had for social situations completely slipping the face of the shocking offer. Andrew snorted.

"Max said you could, and I agree. I’ll let her know as well. Honestly, it’d be pretty funny to see if they could even move against us." Andrew said. "We probably save too many of their families a lot of money." Andrew wasn’t even ashamed to say it. Maxwell’s eyes curled up at the corners as he smiled.

"You do. You never check your reports, do you?" Andrew shook his head and Maxwell shook his head in disbelief. "Thank goodness she sent them to me. Though, I am a little bit nosy so she probably sends them to me to keep me in the loop." He said with a wink, being playful. Maxwell turned to Noah, including him in the conversation. "Andy here has a sizable fortune that he inherited when his Mom passed. His Aunt helped his Mom establish the fortune, and has continued working on it in her memory. The A & D Firm. You’ve heard of it?" Maxwell was bragging at this point.

Noah looked at Andrew with new eyes, clearly surprised.

"I...I’m sorry for your loss." Noah said, and Andrew knew that the guy was a good one. If he took in all of the information that he had just been given and that was the first thing he said? He was good. When Andrew shared a look with Maxwell, he found that they had both come to the same conclusion.

"It was years ago." Andrew told him, a smile in his eyes. "But thank you for your kind words. Now, shall we catch up, or-"

"Andy!" An exuberant older voice shouted, and Andrew turned, finding a rather happy-looking Mr. Dalton coming towards him with a pretty man at his side, May and Ford in tow. Rose, Jordan and Richard were in the distance, looking mildly concerned. May had her best work face on, not overly polite, but not overly welcoming either.

Andrew felt a smile split his face.

"Ah! Mr. Dalton! You said we would see each other again here, didn’t you?" Andrew called as the man came in, sweeping Andrew up and giving him a tight hug. He didn’t even go in for a handshake like everyone else was doing, his sharp canines flashing in the glittering lights around them and the smaller man next to him smiled.

Now that Andrew could see them up close, Andrew could tell that they were older, but took good care of their looks. He was well maintained, his dainty, pretty features timeless as Mr. Dalton turned Andrew towards him.

"Andy, my boy, this is my lovely wife, the better part of me, Aster Dalton. I wished I could give more to him than just my last name and my heart, but alas, here we are." Mr. Dalton said with a loud, boisterous laugh. Aster’s eyes curled at the corners, showing off the wrinkles that he wasn’t able to hide.

He smiled often, and that made Andrew smile. He reached out, taking both of his hands in Andrew’s and gave a squeeze.

"It’s very nice to meet you, Aster. While I haven’t heard much about you, I can tell you had a great impact on him." Andrew said with a knowing smile, gesturing to Mr. Dalton with his head. Aster’s eyes widened slightly, before he chuckled and pulled him in for a hug.

"A charmer, just like your Mother. It’s nice to meet you when you’re a young man, Andy." He said with affection and Andrew knew that if this was a test, he probably passed.

He pulled away, turning to Maxwell.

"Mr. Dalton, I am sure you are familiar, but this is who my heart beats for, Maxwell Beckett." Andrew said proudly, puffing up his chest. He turned to Mr. Dalton, his eyes sparkling. "Did you know he runs his own business? And he’s very successful at it." Andrew said, bragging openly and loudly to anyone who could hear.

Mr. Dalton’s expression shifted for a second, before he threw his head back and laughed while Maxwell’s ears turned so pink Andrew expected the fist in his side before it arrived.

"Andrew Knox!" Maxwell hissed. "Of course he knows that!" Maxwell glared up at the man, his hit cushioned, and there wasn’t any true heat in his eyes. Andrew grinned.

"Am I not allowed to brag? It’s incredible what you’ve done, and I don’t think you give yourself enough credit." Andrew stage whispered and Mr. Dalton laughed again.

"Andy’s right, Max. It is remarkable what you’ve been able to accomplish in the time that you have been a CEO. While I know your family had a part to play in that with the connections you had at the start, what have you done after that? Remarkable. If only our son had an ounce of your dedication..." Mr. Dalton said with a heavy sigh and Andrew gave him a kind look.

"Kids are kids, Mr. Dalton. There is only so much you can do. Sometimes they take after you, sometimes they don’t." Andrew said and Mr. Dalton stared at him for a long moment, before he reached out, squeezing Andrew’s shoulder.

"You of all people would know that, wouldn’t you, Andy? Shall we all have a chat at the chairs?" Mr. Dalton said, and Andrew turned, ready to include Noah, but he was shaking his head, smiling. He mouthed ’later’ and Andrew nodded. He was going to hold him to that.

Andrew turned and followed Mr. Dalton and company, heading for a clear area where they could all speak to each other.