Andrew was a little surprised that Luis was in the car when he'd gotten in. She, however, looked as if she belonged there. Big sunglasses, a nice, warm fur coat, and black heels with red bottoms on.
She was calm, collected, and now smiling at Andrew as he slid inside.
"I-I was just-" She waved a hand dismissively at Andrew's attempt to defend himself. She was all smiles as the car began to back out, avoiding the reporters, probably to Maxwell's annoyance.
"I'm teasing, Andy. I know that you're not an alpha like that." Andrew blinked. The fact that she had so much confidence in him while Andrew still wasn't fully sure…Andrew wasn't sure how to feel about that. He was happy, but also…
"I think you should worry about that a little more." Andrew said and she blinked, before her expression softened. She scanned him, taking in his whole body before she shook her head softly.
"Andrew, sweetheart, you don't have a true alpha bone in your body." Andrew jerked at her soft tone and smiling face. Andrew couldn't agree with that. He opened his mouth to complain, and she continued speaking. "While you are a true alpha, and that can never be taken away from you now, you were never raised like one. It's known the true alphas and the way that they behave isn't a part of being a true alpha. That was taught to them. The worst parts of being a true alpha are something that you, Andrew, can never be. That's what I mean when I say it." Luis told him.
There was still a part of Andrew that whispered to him, warning him that she was wrong. He could still turn out like his father. Luis, for her part, seemed to be able to see that. Andrew probably wasn't hiding it well.
She sighed, reaching over and placing her hand on top of his, patting it.
"No entrenched true alpha that I know Andrew would go up against the family that he was supposed to be a part of. None of them. Even the ones who managed to escape the brainwashing wouldn't. You aren't going to turn out like your shitty father. Not on my watch, and certainly not on Maxwell's." She said and Andrew found those words, while mildly threatening, soothing.
Andrew's shoulders dropped and he let out a heavy sigh.
"I'm sorry that you have to comfort me right now. I'm also sorry for being so sensitive when you were just making a joke." Andrew told her, glancing up at her and Luis let out a soft sigh of her own.
"Andrew, this stays between us, but you aren't the first fiance of my sons who I had to be gentle with." Luis was candid and Andrew felt his eyes widen. Honestly, that could apply to both Rue and Amir. Luis' eyes were warm as she continued to speak. "It turns out, my sons tend to find the softer ones. The ones who are a little damaged, but still good people. It brings me joy to know that. With that being said, it means that I have to be tougher, even to them." Her jaw tensed, and now Andrew knew she was speaking about Will.
"Have you…spoken to Rue?" Andrew asked tentatively, happy to get the attention off of himself for a moment. Luis blinked.
"Oh, I speak to Rue everyday." She said it so casually that it took Andrew a moment to register it.
"What? You do?" Andrew was a little shocked. Luis shifted in her spot next to him as they moved through the town, heading towards the A & D Firm.
"Andy, sweetheart, I have always heard more from Rue than from Will. Even when Will was dating others, I always heard from his partners more. The boy…I don't know what hurt him, but he's always been like this. We've tolerated it up until now, but I think it's time we put our foot down. He needs not just an attitude adjustment, but an everything adjustment." Luis' voice was tense, pained. Andrew immediately felt sympathy for her.
It could not be easy to have an outwardly successful son who was so fucked up inside. Andrew blinked, before he felt a snort leave him. Luis glanced at him, curious.
"It seems that Will and I should have switched places. He would have done wonderfully in a true alpha family." Luis' eyes widened, before she covered her mouth as a snort left her as well.
"We cannot be putting any more ideas into his head. That stays between us." Luis declared, and Andrew chuckled.
"Of course. Who else would I tell beyond Max?" Andrew said and Luis groaned.
"Fine. You can tell him." Luis muttered, before she looked towards him with sparkling eyes. "Now, let's discuss what you plan to say, so that I can get a feel of what I should put you in, and also offer some suggestions."
~
By the time that the car rolled into the reserved parking spot for Andrew outside the front doors, Andrew felt like he'd gotten a crash course in media speaking, and the dos and don'ts. Andrew felt like his head was spinning a little as the car parked, and Andrew could tell that there was more foot traffic outside of a cafe/accounting firm than was normal.
It was probably because of him.
He knew that was for sure the case when he stepped out of the car and he could hear audible gasps from the people going into the building.
"Did you want a drink, Andy?" Luis asked calmly, like he wasn't being reacted to like others had seen a celebrity. She was well versed in this. She grew up in this, and then raised her sons in this. She was able to navigate this a lot easier than Andrew could.
"Uh, is it safe for me to get one?" Andrew asked and Luis smirked.
"Where else would be safe for you, Andy? Your Aunt is the CEO here." The nosy reporters and civilians nearby clearly were shocked to hear that, and Andrew felt his face warm.
"Ah, well, that's a good point. Did you want something?" Andrew asked, and that was how he found himself being stared at like he was a rare animal as he stood in line waiting to order a drink. Luis did the same, and then went to go pay for them but Andrew shook his head. The barista obviously knew the protocol, and smiled at Luis.
"Dr. Knox doesn't have to pay for drinks, Ma'am." Luis blinked, before she snorted and nodded, tucking her card away.
"Oh how silly of me. Of course he doesn't. I guess I am nervous." She said, smiling. She reached up, patting Andrew's cheek warmly. "Thank you for the treat, Andy." She was being rather affectionate, in and out of the car. Andrew thought that maybe she was doing it for show, given how she had first treated him when he was introduced, but maybe Andrew was wrong.
Maybe she was just stiff up until a certain point with the people she cared about, and then she opened up? Like Maxwell?
It surprised him to realise how much Maxwell was like his Mom. It was…sweet.
~
Drinks in hand, Andrew, Luis and their driver turned and headed for Kim's office. That was where Andrew was assuming he had to go, especially since Kim nor Jenny had come to greet them. Then again, Andrew hadn't told them that he had arrived, but he also had a feeling that they were probably busy getting ready for what he'd just thrust into their lap.
Andrew was right.
When he arrived at Kim's office floor, the whole floor was buzzing with activity. Jenny was in the middle of it, directing people with a calm authority that only someone who was used to chaos could do. When she saw Andrew, and the tray of drinks that he carried, her expression softened.
"Andy. Congratulations. Sorry that everything is so hectic." Jenny said, wanting to hug him but Andrew had his hands full of hot liquid, so that wasn't really advisable. They stood there awkwardly for a moment, before Jenny had to answer a question that she was asked by an anxious-looking staff member.
Andrew was about to suggest that he and Luis go to Kim's office when Kim herself came running by. She had her arms full of…things. Andrew couldn't even tell what they were, but her hair was up, out of her face, and she looked about as anxious as the staff member who had spoken to Jenny.
"Hey Andy! Almost got a room ready for the interview! Just head to my office and hang tight. Also, hi Luis! Your stuff is also in my office!" Kim called as she raced by and Luis smiled. Andrew was a bit worried about how Kim was doing, but then Andrew processed her words. Her stuff?
Andrew looked at Maxwell's Mom and found a similar, calculating smile on her face.
"Why don't you show me where this office is, hmm? That way we can get you ready in earnest. Have you messaged Max to let him know you've arrived safely?" She asked and Andrew shook his head. Andrew could feel her trying to direct his attention elsewhere, but Andrew wasn't going to budge.
"What did you bring over, Luis?" Andrew asked and Luis just smiled warmly. She waved her hand dismissively.
"Oh, just a few things. Nothing to worry about." She told him dismissively, and Andrew didn't buy it for a second. This was Maxwell's Mom after all, and Andrew couldn't believe that for a second he'd forgotten that.
"I am…going to be myself, right?" Andrew asked and Luis froze, before she gave him a concerned look.
"Of course you are. I would never attempt to hide or change you, Andy. I just…want to make sure that the rest of the world knows not to mess with you. You're ours." She said, and Andrew calmed down immediately. If that was how she was approaching this, Andrew had nothing to worry about.
Andrew led her to Kim's office, nodding to Jenny as they left. She waved warmly, her face smiling, but her eyes hard. Andrew knew that wasn't directed towards him. They must be pissed that Andrew's father was attempting this.