CHAPTER 359: MR. DALTON RUNS THE SHOW

They didn’t go back to the same couches that Andrew had sat at before with the omegas who had wanted to catch up with him, instead going to a smaller, more secluded and tended to area that Andrew felt was made for people like Mr. Dalton. He was from a generation that was a little older, a little more secretive, and not as open as the people who were Andrew’s age.

Now that Andrew was looking, he realised that there were several of these ’closed off’ areas, but Andrew just hadn’t noticed because they had blended in with the interior design choices that Thomas and Luis had made.

Mr. Dalton, as Andrew had suspected he would, took over the scene. He was big, loud, all smiles and confident in a way that Andrew knew his Mom found charming. It had to be because there wasn’t any malice in his voice, he wasn’t trying to intimidate anyone. He just carried himself in a way that spoke that he had power, he knew how to use it, and he didn’t put others down without reason.

Mr. Dalton made sure to sit down next to his wife, made sure he had a drink in hand, a cocktail of some kind, and then made sure that Andrew was sitting next to him with Maxwell at his side. Next to his wife, he had May and Ford sit, and the other siblings remained on the other side, closing in the circle. A table sat in the center, which Mr. Dalton made sure one of the staff members brought over some snacks in case anyone got hungry, and he also made sure that everyone else had a drink in hand. He was all smiles, all sparkles in his eyes, and Andrew felt his shoulders relax slightly.

With Maxwell’s hand on his thigh, May and Ford across from him, and Rose, Jordan and Richard nearby, this felt...good.

"Andy, you said before that you knew May quite well, and I think now is the time to hear how good that relationship is. How deep it goes. And May, I can’t believe you never disclosed that you knew Andy. His Mom and I used to go way back. After all, I was the one who helped her start up the A & D firm." Mr. Dalton said, pride in his eyes as he turned to Andrew. He reached out, squeezing Andrew’s shoulder.

May didn’t seem surprised by that revelation. Nor did Maxwell, but Ford seemed a little surprised to hear that, as well as Richard. May glanced at Andrew, Maxwell, and then turned her attention back to Mr. Dalton. He was a big client to her, and Andrew could tell she was a little nervous from the way she was holding her wine glass. She wasn’t wearing a traditional dress like Jenny or Luis, and instead had opted for something similar to what Kim had worn. Formal wear that complimented her, but felt more formal, more covered.

Ford was wearing a soft dress shirt, a nice vest, and while he looked good, he wasn’t as dressed up as May was. A slight indication of their relationship, and honestly, Ford always looked a little too stiff in suit jackets. He liked vests. All types.

"Ah, well, I didn’t really think it was something I could bring up. I also wasn’t aware of how deep the tie between you and Andrew was, Mr. Dalton. Andrew and I...as well as his Mother and I...we didn’t advertise our relationship. Not out of embarrassment or anything of that nature, we just..." May swallowed, looking a little nervous as she said the next part. "We just didn’t think it was anyone else’s business, and honestly, all three of us worried that it would affect the kids negatively if some creeps started poking around us." May said, and everyone watched Mr. Dalton and his wife.

His wife seemed surprised by her words, his eyes widening slightly in surprise, while Mr. Dalton blinked a few times, before a big laugh left him.

"Ah! Forgive me for my words then. If the children were your main concern, I completely understand. Andrew was such a cutie as a child, and she was so fiercely protective of him..." Mr. Dalton turned his eyes towards Andrew, his gaze affectionate. "It makes sense. It does surprise me that you never mentioned Andy in the time I’ve worked with you though, May." It was a chastising tone, something that had May’s own ears turning pink as she glanced at Andrew.

"I...this is going to sound terrible, and I apologise Mr. Dalton, but Andrew’s father is...politely, a piece of shit. It wasn’t a mark against you, but against all true alphas that I kept any information about my third child secret. We’re as protective of him as we are our other children, and Diana was the same. She even helped Rose get into the program that she graduated from." That was new information for Andrew, but Rose didn’t seem surprised to hear that. She just seemed proud, happy, and she slid Andrew a look with a wink.

"Your...third child?" Mr. Dalton confirmed and May nodded. Ford reached for her hand, tightening his hold as he spoke up.

"Andy grew up alongside our two other children. We weren’t as financially stable when we first started out. Both Diana and us started out living in the same apartment complex originally, working hard to make ends meet. I worked odd hours so that May could take on more work, and when we realised she was a single parent and the kids went to the same school...it was a no brainer. The complicated parts? We didn’t care. Andy’s always been a good kid, and it broke us to think that something so awful was happening to him. Diana was in agreement that if anything happened to him, we would be his next legal guardians, but please don’t disclose that to the Proctor’s. I feel Diana might have told them, but I would rather not stir that pot. They are lovely people, but when we were making these decisions..." Ford trailed off, while Mr. Dalton’s expression was soft, thoughtful.

He raised a hand, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

"I remember what kind of situation Kim was in. She was still fighting with her grandparents at the time because Kim only wanted one wife. One omega. It was a big deal at the time, and Diana..." Mr. Dalton let out a soft sigh while Andrew sat, listening.

He wasn’t as surprised as he should have been hearing all of the lives his Mom had touched, everything she had done. For someone who had passed away the way that she had, she made sure that she had every finger in every pie she could. Andrew felt his pride for her swell inside of him. She was such a wonderful woman.

"Well, I’m sorry to hear that Andrew’s father has ruined true alphas for you. I hope I have proven that we aren’t all like him." Mr. Dalton sounded sincere and May waved a hand in front of her, her eyes wide.

"Oh, Mr. Dalton, I apologise for this being how you found out. I hope you didn’t feel I treated you any differently. I’m not one to make judgement calls like this, but I wanted to respect Diana’s wishes. Had I known that she knew you, I probably would have been more forthright with you. We are all aware now of how many people she had relationships with, but kept secret from the other. For our own safety, I’m sure she would say." May said, her eyes warm as she slid her gaze across the people sitting around. She chuckled. "Andy does follow in his Mom’s footsteps too much sometimes." She teased and Andrew felt his face warm.

"I...I’m a little offended you said it that way." Andrew mumbled, and Maxwell chuckled. He squeezed Andrew’s thigh, causing Andrew to look in his direction.

"She’s talking about the fact that you have a tendency to hide things away from others, like how you fled after she passed?" Maxwell suggested and Andrew grumbled, but took the hit. He was right, May was right, and he was a big enough person he could own up to that.

"Alright. I’ll...agree to that." Andrew muttered and May smiled.

"I appreciate that, though I do think that was probably one thing she didn’t want you to become skilled in." May said, and Ford nodded. Mr. Dalton grinned, shifting to wrap an arm around his wife.

"You’re good at hiding things from others, Andy?" He asked and Maxwell snorted.

"Too good at it. There’s a constant nagging feeling that he might just up and leave at some point. Not wanting to burden us with any of his issues." Maxwell said it like a joke, and Andrew could tell that the others took it at face value. Andrew could tell there was the very real concern that Maxwell had hidden under his words.

Andrew reached over, squeezing Maxwell’s thigh in the same way the other man was doing the same for him.

"I would never. I have too much to lose now. Too much invested. I wouldn’t do that. Not again." Andrew told him solemnly, and Maxwell stared at him. His blue eyes were warm, a little dilated from the amount of liquor he’d been drinking. He’d been pacing himself, not going too hard so he could keep his awareness, and Maxwell let out a shaky breath.

"Hmm. I wish I was the one who could mark you." Maxwell muttered, not quiet enough that the others weren’t able to hear him. Combined with the tender way that Maxwell reached for Andrew’s cheek, holding it gently, his touch soft and warm, Andrew’s face was burning.

Mr. Dalton’s booming laughter probably had several people looking in their direction.

"Said like any full blood Beckett I’ve ever met. Max my dear, that’s what rings are for." Mr. Dalton told him, his expression light. "Though, Andy could grace you with his bite, and then at least he has that comfort." Mr. Dalton teased, before his expression softened slightly. "It’s a rather unfortunate truth for true alphas. While we are loyal, and can be lovers to only one person for the rest of our lives, there are some bottom of the barrel true alphas out there that like to ’spread their seed’ as they put so crudely. I’ve never been in agreement with that mentality, and like Kim Proctor, I made sure that no one could question me when I declared I was only taking one wife." Mr. Dalton’s love story probably had shaken the whole upper class when it came out.

Andrew smiled, his gaze warm as he looked down at Maxwell, before he turned to stare at Mr. Dalton, his hand covering Maxwell’s on his cheek.

"I think that was the reason why Mom approached you, since you had a similar start to what Kim was trying to do, so you would hopefully be sympathetic to not only her, but Kim as well." Andrew said, and watched as Mr. Dalton’s eyes warmed from inside and he smiled wider.

"She was a smart woman. A shame such a monster sunk his claws into her. If that idiot was even an 8th of a man that you are now, he would have groveled at her feet to get even another second to be with her. Ah. She’s gone too soon, but she lives on in the rest of us." Mr. Dalton said with a sigh, giving everyone a moment to sit with that, before he chuckled. "Now, when are you two going to tie the knot? And May, I thought you had a beta and an alpha as children? What’s this with an alpha, a true alpha, and an omega?" Mr. Dalton asked, and both May and Andrew grew a little flustered.

"W-Well, Ricky only manifested recently, as did I, so-" And the conversation continued, Mr. Dalton controlled the whole thing while drinks and food flowed smoothly. Andrew felt Maxwell relax next to him, all soft smiles and touches, while Andrew got to hear stories about his Mom’s past that he didn’t know, or hadn’t seen the full picture of. It was...a great gathering, and Andrew was glad that he came, and glad that they had come as well.

Watching how his family, which he had thought had been so damn small, had grown so much made Andrew’s heart swell, and he knew that his Mom saw it. Heard it, and he hoped that she interjected whenever she could.

A pulse beneath his skin, he felt her love for him like a brand, and hoped that the others could feel the same.