(BL)Alpha Made Chapter 292: An investor with a backstory

"I wasn’t expecting to see you again so soon." Andrew told him warmly, smiling as they held hands more than shook. His handso looks, sharp, amber eyes and almost equal height told Andrew that the other man was also a true alpha. With the way his wrinkles were, Andrew could tell the man smiled and laughed a lot.

Probably the reason his Mom had accepted his money, and why Kim had wanted to introduce him.

"See so soon? It’s been at least a month since the Beckett wedding, my boy! If we were going by my standards, I would have seen you at a coffee shop before now." He chuckled and Andrew laughed as well.

"Ah, you’ll forgive . So other things ca to pass that occupied my ti." Andrew said, hoping the man caught his drift. His eyes crinkled at the corners, his smile reaching them as he continued to hold Andrew’s hands.

"Of course, of course. My my, I didn’t get to say it at the wedding, but it’s so good to finally see you as an adult. I t you once when you were a kid, you know? Your Mom had to pick you up from school because you weren’t feeling well, a common flu, so you ca with us to the eting and my secretaries were fawning over you, giving you snacks and tea. Your Mom had been so nervous that you being there would affect my decision. In a way, it did." His smile widened. "Seeing her work so hard, knowing what she was working for, told that she wasn’t going to give up easily. I signed the papers that day." He said proudly, aning it, and Andrew let out a soft exhale.

He squeezed the other man’s hands, his heart feeling full. That was a good story, and he could vaguely rember that ti too, now that he ntioned it.

"I rember so of that, but only vaguely. Everyone was so nice. I think I had a sugar high after that." He tossed his head back and laughed at that, giving Andrew’s hand another squeeze before he finally let go.

"Ha! I would imagine so. I did feel a little bad sending you back with her after letting them do what they wanted, but you seed like a good kid even back then. Never causing a fuss, never throwing a fit. I only heard good stories when I asked about you at our etings. How you were excelling in school. Tragic she didn’t get to see the kind of alpha you were turning into. I’m sure she’d be proud." It was the first ti that Andrew had ever heard those words together. Proud? Of the alpha he had beco?

Andrew felt himself beco overwheld with the emotions that statent filled him with. He hadn’t even considered that fact. He knew his Mom was proud of him, Andrew, the person, but as the alpha?

It was hard to speak for a mont, and he fought back tears. It wouldn’t be appropriate to cry in front of these n. He didn’t think they would view him well if he did that. Worry filled him that they would think less of him, but he didn’t have to worry long.

The investor slamd his hand on Andrew’s shoulders, pulling him in close and turning them to face Mr. Kensington properly. His grin was damn near infectious, and Mr. Kensington was smiling as well, even if he looked a little confused.

"Kensington! Have you t Andy before?" His voice echoed on the walls, and Andrew knew that the whole company would know who he was in a matter of minutes, even if there were several floors. Mr. Kensington shifted, glancing at Andrew in mild confusion.

"I believe I just did, Mr. Dalton. Is there sothing else I should know about Dr. Knox?" Mr. Kensington asked and Mr. Dalton snorted, before chuckling.

"Sothing you should know? Well, Dr. Knox is, as you probably overheard, soone I know quite well. The reason being his Mom started the A & D Firm. In fact, the A in the na stands for Andrew." Mr. Kensington’s jaw dropped, shock filling his expression as Andrew felt his face heat with embarrassnt. Mr. Dalton laughed loudly. "And, not only that, our dear boy is dating the youngest son of the Beckett family! Has been for quite so ti, or so I hear! They soft launched at the recent wedding, but I think they’ve been together for far longer than that." Mr. Dalton winked at Andrew and Andrew laughed nervously.

"Not...too long before the wedding. We were friends, just friends, for a while before that." Andrew told him and Mr. Dalton smirked.

"Oh yes. Just friends." He replied with a wink and Andrew knew that as soon as Maxwell heard about this, he wasn’t going to live it down. He wasn’t going to forget this.

"We were. I was dating soone else when we first t." Andrew insisted. "Max doesn’t poach. He has more honour than that." Andrew was never going to let anyone speak ill of him and Mr. Dalton’s smile was wide.

"I understand, Andy. So how long did he wait after you two broke up?" Andrew’s mouth opened to answer, before he felt his face heat.

"Uh, well, he uh-" Mr. Dalton smacked his shoulders, laughing loudly.

"I’d say a day at most? Maxwell’s a good kid, but he’s stubborn. I like him, which is why I’ve been trying to support his company in any way I can. He’s got a good head on his shoulders. He sees sothing he wants, and he gets it. Through good ans, of course. He isn’t like his grandfather." Mr. Dalton said and Andrew nodded.

"You’re right. He’s great at his job, and smart, and-" Andrew was ready to sing his praises and Mr. Dalton laughed again.

"You don’t need to convince , Andy. I’m already in the Maxwell camp. Though, I would gladly listen to you ramble about your partner any other ti. Unfortunately, I do have a eting. Have you t Mrs. Gates before? She’s a great saleswoman. I would love to introduce you two if you have a second." Andrew froze, Mr. Kensington froze, and then Mr. Dalton narrowed his gaze. "Why? What’s wrong? Is she not in? We had a eting planned weeks ago. This isn’t like her if she’s absent without notice." He was getting a little icy, a little concerned and Andrew just knew that Mr. Kensington would handle this, but Andrew wanted to instead.

"Actually, Mr. Dalton, May and I go back quite a bit. I’m good friends with her son, and daughter, and we grew up together. Unfortunately, a sudden family ergency happened, which was the whole reason I ca to speak to Mr. Kensington today. May is going to be indisposed for about a week. No one’s dying, I promise. It is, basically, happy news, but a huge adjustnt." He said and Mr. Dalton gave him a confused look.

"A family ergency? You’re not lying when you say soone isn’t dying?" He asked, and Andrew nodded.

"No. I’m not. I was, good or bad, there when it happened." Mr. Dalton relaxed slightly.

"Oh. Thank goodness. Tell her she can take her ti getting back to . If it’s as serious as you say, it probably will take so ti to handle." He was a kind man, Andrew would give him that. Andrew smiled at his concern, sighing.

"Well, I am more worried about a certain family mber, but yes, it will take so adjustnt. I’ll make sure that she knows you’re wishing her well. Thankfully, it’s an area I have so experience with. Caring for others while they aren’t feeling well is a specialty I have inherited." Andrew said and Mr. Dalton looked like he didn’t know what to say to that. Andrew thought he was joking, but it was clear that he’d shocked the other man instead. "I was joking. Was that-"

"It was a bit far, Andy. Especially since Kim let know you cared for your Mother until the end." Andrew winced at Mr. Dalton’s gentle, but firm tone.

"I apologise. I use humour quite a bit when it cos to my Mom." Andrew told him and Mr. Dalton looked him over, examining him before a smile touched his lips.

"Then I suppose I’ll just have to get used to it, hmm? Tell , are you going to the Beckett’s Christmas party?" He asked and Andrew nodded without hesitation.

"Yes. Apparently my ti is being divided between Kim and Jenny, and Luis and Thomas. I can’t rember who won, but soone got Christmas Eve, and the other got Christmas day. I think they’re going to rotate from now on." Mr. Dalton let out a snort at Andrew’s dry way of saying it.

"I imagine you don’t like being treated that way?" He asked, smiling and Andrew shrugged.

"I’ve never had enough family to fight over like this before, so it’s just a strange feeling. Max was ready to put his foot down if it was too much for , but I think I’ll be fine if he’s there." Andrew said, happy, and Mr. Dalton laughed.

"He has you wrapped around his finger, doesn’t he?" Mr. Dalton teased and Andrew felt a wide, boyish grin cross his face.

"It’s mutual, Max is just better at hiding it." Andrew told him smugly and Mr. Dalton laughed loudly.

"Good. Diane would be devastated if her son was being taken advantage of by a handso oga. Truly. I doubt she’d be able to recover." He teased, winking at Andrew and Andrew’s smile didn’t fade. "I ask, because my husband and I were planning to attend and it would be good to speak with you there again. We weren’t able to speak much at the wedding, and my husband was absent due to a cold, so I would love it if you two were able to speak so more. He’s only seen pictures of you since you were a kid. We have a son as well, but he’s off playing world domination with Daddy’s money abroad, so I doubt he’ll be back for a party." Mr. Dalton rolled his eyes as if he hadn’t just said sothing ludicrous.

Andrew chuckled.

"I would love to speak to your husband, and I’m sure Max would love to speak with you as well. I’ll make sure we carve out a chunk of ti for you. I’m sure Max will be excited once I tell him you asked about him. He’s currently in a eting. Well, pretty much everyone is in a eting right now." Andrew said with a smile and Mr. Dalton smiled.

"Well, I shouldn’t keep you anymore now that I’ve gotten what I wanted. It was a delight to see you, Andy." Mr. Dalton said before he released Andrew after another squeeze and headed towards Mr. Kensington. "Kensington! Delight to see you, as always! How is your golf swing these days?"