Chapter 418: Monday morning assault
Monday morning came like a damn sledgehammer into Andrew’s plans.
Maxwell and Andrew had been so busy that when they got home, they didn’t have the energy to act on any of their plans. More specifically, any of the plans that Andrew had that Maxwell was just along for a ride on.
They had both taken a shower together, gotten dressed for bed after the busy weekend they had, and collapsed. They had work on Monday, so Andrew had been focused on that.
Then, Maxwell’s phone went off. Then Andrew’s, and then both men had to get up when Richard knocked on their bedroom door.
Andrew got up while Maxwell checked his phone, and then answered it when it rang again in his hands. Richard was all big eyes, confusion, and held his own phone in his hand. He was dressed already, clearly moving about at a much faster speed then Maxwell and Andrew were given they had a stressful weekend.
"T-The house is swarmed." Richard told him, and then showed Andrew a photo he had taken of the back yard. The back yard! The security team was trying to chase away reporters, but it was overwhelming for even them.
Maxwell made a loud tsk noise from the bed. He was wearing one of Andrew’s shirts that swallowed him, and he looked pissed. Beyond angry.
"Dad was calling. He was asking permission to send more people, but the reality is that they were already on their way. When we’re heading to work today, feel free to hit a few, Andy." Maxwell said and Andrew felt his eyes widen. Hit a few what?
"I don’t want to be in the car if you two are planning to get in a hit and run, and an obvious one at that." Richard countered and Maxwell grumbled, rubbing a hand over his face as the phone rang in his hand. He answered it, in a foul mood.
"All of this over me getting engaged?" Maxwell muttered and then everything clicked for Andrew.
He was a Beckett, and technically, since the news hadn’t broken yet, the last one to get engaged. There was also the fact that there was a very real possibility that his father’s side of the family might try to claim him in this moment as well.
Andrew turned away from Richard, going for his own phone to find that Kim was calling him. He picked up.
"Oh thank goodness. Are you three okay over there? Do you need help? I’m sure your father-in-law is on it, but I just want to offer my services." Kim sounded nervous, worried, and Andrew looked over at Maxwell who he was pretty sure was on the phone with his Mom.
"I think more help would be appreciated. Thank you, Kim. We’re doing okay, if not a little shaken. Has...Have they made any statements yet?" Andrew asked. He had it in his mind that they were going to say something, and from the pregnant pause on Kim’s side, that wasn’t a no.
Richard had stepped more into the room, an arm wrapped around his waist as he scrolled on his phone, his expression tense. It was clear he didn’t know what to do in this situation, and that he was nervous.
He knew damn well that without others knowing the situation that he looked like a third in their new engagement. Andrew was going to have to work on nipping a few things in the bud right away.
"They...announced that one of their sons got engaged recently. People are connecting the dots." Kim said finally, slowly, like she was trying not to hurt Andrew. Andrew let out a slow chuckle. While he appreciated that Kim was trying to think about his feelings, she should be more worried about what Cass was about to do.
He’d almost been waiting for this moment his whole life.
"Kim, do you have a reporter that you trust?" He asked, and felt both Richard and Maxwell pause.
"What? Why are you-Andy, you aren’t media trained." Kim protested.
"What are you thinking, Andy?" Maxwell asked, and it felt like Maxwell could hear the conversation that Andrew was having with Kim. "Hold on Mom. Andrew is saying something insane." Maxwell said, and Andrew chuckled.
"Is it so crazy that I would want to counterattack? I’ve been waiting my whole life for these idiots to try something. Mom has been waiting her whole life, and longer, for these fools to try something. Now that they have, you want me to let them spread whatever news that they want? Absolutely not. Find me a reporter, explain I am not media trained, and tell them why. That would be a hook for someone if I’ve ever heard it." Andrew said and watched as Maxwell’s expression went through several emotions.
He was clearly conflicted. Pain, worry, anxiety, before he finally settled on pride. Maxwell crawled across the bed, before shuffling over the edge and standing in front of Andrew in just his shirt. Thankfully it was long enough to protect Maxwell’s modesty but Richard made sure to look away.
"Andy, Baby, I want you to stand up for yourself. I have no problems with that, but the camera lens that is going to follow you after this is going to be completely different from Maxwell Beckett’s fiancé. You understand that, right?" Maxwell asked softly, making sure that Andrew was sure.
It was sweet of him to care.
"I agree with Max." Kim said quietly. Clearly, she had been able to hear Maxwell. "It’s a bigger deal, Andrew. I want you to be prepared. Your Mom built her empire the way that she did so that you could remain anonymous even if they pulled shit like this. If nothing is confirmed, they have nothing to hold onto." Kim’s point was needed, but Andrew had hid himself enough.
He himself had run away. He was tired.
Andrew reached for Maxwell’s hand and Maxwell offered it willingly. Andrew took it, raising his left hand up to his lips, pressing a kiss against the ring he’d placed there. Maxwell sucked in a breath.
"I don’t want to hide for my sake. Really, I don’t. I’m also petty enough to admit that I want them to squirm. See how they aren’t able to control me. See what they missed out on, and what they created. I want them called out for their behaviour, and I have a big enough support system that I can. They can try to claim me, but I don’t even have their last name." Andrew said firmly, and watched as Maxwell’s eyes softened. Kim sighed on the other side.
"I...I understand. I’ll get a team ready. I have a few people, and one article isn’t going to be enough. Do you want me to send them to Maxy’s, or are you going to come to the company?" She asked. Either way, they were going to have to leave the house. Andrew looked at Maxwell thoughtfully.
"I’ll ask Maxy." Andrew said and watched as Maxwell perked up. "Should I do an interview at Mom’s company, or yours?" Andrew asked and watched Maxwell take a second to think before he sighed.
"Selfishly, I want it where I can be, but I think the bigger impact will be at your Mom’s company." He paused, his Mom speaking to him on the other line and he smiled softly. "Mom said she’ll send a car for just Andy. She’ll get him camera ready." Andrew knew he was in good hands if the supermodel Luis Beckett was going to take a personal interest in this moment. Andrew let out a soft chuckle.
"See? They have no idea who they are messing with." Andrew said and Kim let out a soft exhale on the other side.
"I heard Maxy, so I’ll get a spot ready. Sending over some guards as well, Andy. Stay safe." Kim’s words felt like a warning and Andrew nodded.
"Will do. See ya soon." Andrew said, hanging up, only to have May’s name appear on his phone. He let out a soft sigh. This was going to be a great morning.
~
Andrew and Maxwell had decided to do two different kinds of interviews at the same time, on the same day. Maxwell was going to break the news that yes, he was engaged, and what that meant for the company while Andrew was going to do a tell all about himself and who he was.
Richard was just going to go to work as normally as he could. The man was sweating buckets, but Andrew was going to make sure that the world knew that Andrew was a good brother, and not a damn freak of a true alpha like the rest of them.
Or most of them. Not all true alphas, Andrew. That was part of the reason you were going to go to therapy after this.
Andrew didn’t get too dressed up, putting on a comfy big sweater that Maxwell had been stealing for his nest recently and a nice pair of pants. Maxwell seemed genuinely upset that it wasn’t in his nest, but then seemed appeased because it meant that it would have Andrew’s scent on it.
It was cute, and he got a few kisses for his mumbling complaints.
Maxwell was dressed to impress. Wearing his suit like a damn suit of armor. He was all put together, calm, composed, and there was a thin veneer of rage underneath everything. He was pissed that reporters thought that they could get away with this kind of treatment of him and his family?
Maxwell was pissed.
He didn’t yell at the reporters outside of his home, but he sent out more guards. From both his family, and from Kim’s. Andrew was sure there was a way to figure out who the guards were from, and Maxwell wasn’t hiding that either.
Like Luis had said, a car pulled up at one point, into the driveway, waiting for Andrew. Maxwell followed Andrew out onto the porch and proudly yanked the man down and kissed him for all the cameras to see. They ate it up, and Andrew smiled warmly at the man before pulling him in and kissed him again.
Maxwell was surprised, but the slightly annoyed look he gave Andrew made him chuckle.
"Have a good day, Angel." Andrew told him and Maxwell sighed. Andrew knew he was safe since his ears were a little pink. Andrew then got into the car, smiling broadly at the reporters.
They ate it up, and Andrew tried not to flinch at the bright cameras. Once inside the car, he found that he wasn’t alone. Luis was there, and she was smirking at him.
"Making sure the whole country knows, hmm?" She teased and Andrew flushed. She wasn’t wrong.