Chapter 401: A very busy two weeks
The New Years party went off without a hitch.
When Richard and Andrew rejoined the party, it had already started and Andrew was glad to be able to step in and help Maxwell run it. As much as it was Andrew and Maxwell hosting, it really felt like everyone had a hand in it.
Jenny and May stayed mostly making sure that the food was flowing, and Luis and Thomas made sure the liquor was flowing. Kim and Ford were quietly making sure everyone was okay, so it felt like Andrew and Maxwell didn’t have much to do.
Well, Andrew felt like he didn’t have much to do.
Maxwell always was able to find something to fill his cup when it came to events.
When the countdown came, Andrew made sure that he was by Maxwell’s side so that they could ring in the new year with a kiss, and it seemed that Maxwell was mildly surprised when Andrew pulled him in and planted a kiss on his lips. He didn’t seem to mind though, since he held on a little bit longer before allowing Andrew to escape.
Overall, it was a great way to ring in the new year, and a year that was going to be full of warmth, love, and excitement. It was going to be a much better year compared to the one before, and Andrew was all for it.
~
Going into work felt strange after being off for so long, but Andrew was excited to see Dr. Cox and Dr. Piper and see how their holidays were. Richard wasn’t with him simply because he had a few tests that he had to run for his new manifestation, but he was going to be coming in tomorrow with him.
Everyone was happy about that.
Andrew’s department wasn’t flooded with work from the time off, but Andrew could tell that the rest of the company was bursting at the seams. That meant that when Andrew went to visit Maxwell for lunch, he was in boss mode. Telling people what to do, where to go, giving advice.
They barely had any time with each other, but that was okay. Andrew liked watching him work.
A strange side effect from the party that Luis and Thomas hosted was that people were requesting time with Andrew. Obviously not any good people, but people who wanted something from him after learning who his father was.
It was foolish of them, especially since they couldn’t get to him through any normal channels. It was for that reason that Andrew was glad he was working under a fake name. There was no Dr. Andrew Knox working at Maxwell’s company, and for that reason alone even when they saw him walking around in the building, they couldn’t get to him. Dr. Cox seemed very happy about that, since she had heard about what had happened from Andrew in their morning debrief.
Of course Andrew was going to tell her about it, and he was also sure that she had heard some version of the story from Maria. They were getting close since Maria was still watching Bella.
Speaking of, with the new year meant that construction and contracting crews were beginning to work on the new layouts for the building next door. Andrew hadn’t even realised that Maxwell and his group of executives had made that decision and had purchased it, but it was exciting nonetheless.
Maxwell told him in the car on the way home after work, a smile on his lips.
"Surprise. I wanted it to be a nice surprise for the new year. I have a few plans that I want you to look through and see if you like them. Obviously I’m also going to have some experts do the same, but I will take your opinion into consideration." Maxwell said, and Andrew gave him a curious look.
"You don’t need to do that. I trust experts." Andrew said and Maxwell chuckled.
"Right, but I have this strange feeling that even if you trust them, you are going to be poking your nose into everything and making sly Andy comments. I have a feeling you won’t outright say that you don’t like the layout, but there will be ways I can tell." Maxwell told him from his spot in the passenger seat.
Andrew felt his face warm at the implications that Maxwell knew him so well. It wasn’t a bad feeling, just slightly embarrassing. There was a world where that happened, and probably would happen when it came to the cafeteria. And if he was honest with himself, probably the daycare as well.
Andrew let out a soft, hopeless sigh, his hands tightening on the steering wheel.
"I assume we’re going to look them over when we get home?" Andrew asked and Maxwell grinned. He leaned back in his seat, a smug smile on his face. He did like being right, and Andrew liked seeing him like this.
"Of course. After dinner, though. I don’t want to get into a fight over dinner." Maxwell said, teasing him, and Andrew was counting down the days that the ring was supposed to arrive.
Being with him like this was really making Andrew anxious. He wanted this man to be attached to him, and honestly, he was more worried that he wouldn’t even like the ring. He’d been told by others that he would like it, but it was a fear he had.
Thankfully, the countdown said only a few more days, and Amir’s grandmother was on it. He was giving him play by plays, and everyday was sending him one word texts. He was also sending Andrew the countdown, which Andrew appreciated, especially since he was doing the delivery personally.
No one wanted Andrew’s engagement ring for Maxwell to get lost in transit, or heaven forbid, stolen.
So, Andrew laughed, his nerves shaking as he and Maxwell spoke. He made dinner, looked over the floorplans and equipment that was going to be in both of the new developments for the new building that Maxwell’s company had acquired, and then kissed Maxwell silent when he was about to tease him.
The week continued like that, Andrew getting more nervous as the countdown got lower and lower, until during lunch on the next Monday, he got a text.
I’m here. Come get the package.
It was Amir’s grandmother, and Andrew wasn’t expecting it. From what he knew the ring was supposed to be another three days out. He was anticipating a Thursday delivery, not a Monday, and Andrew scrambled to get himself together.
Richard was in the office that day, only working three of the five days in person since he still found it a little too much. Richard watched Andrew as he suddenly pushed his chair back, scrambling to make sure he still had his credentials to get back into the department.
Richard was staring at him like he had two heads because he was wearing the lanyard that had his scan card. He was just panicking because of the text.
"Andy, what the fuck? Did something happen?" Richard asked, concern in his voice. "You just looked at your phone and then freaked out. Is something wrong?" Richard asked, and Dr. Cox and Dr. Piper looked over. Andrew, who was flustered from the whole situation. He stood up, his hands shaking as he looked around the room.
He felt his mouth open, but closed it shortly after before he closed his eyes and forced himself to take a deep breath.
"Y-Yeah. Everything’s...fine. Where’s Max?" Andrew asked, then kicked himself. Richard furrowed his brows.
"How the hell would I know?" He asked, before his cheeks flushed. "He’s offsite at a meeting." Richard confirmed and Andrew almost let out a hysterical laugh.
"Oh good. Keep it that way." Andrew said before he fled, not wanting to leave Amir’s grandmother waiting for too long. At this point, he was basically Andrew’s. He couldn’t think of anyone who would do this much for another without being blood related.
Andrew knew that in his speech he would be referring to him as such.
~
Andrew made it up to the lobby and knew he probably looked like someone who was going to pick up drugs and had never done it before. He was jumpy, nervous, so thank goodness Amir’s grandparents were there, wide smiles on their faces, a huge bag in their hands.
"Andy." They said warmly, greeting him. Andrew accepted both hugs in the lobby, staring into their smiling faces.
"You look good, son." Amir’s grandfather told him, giving his arm a squeeze. "We are sorry we weren’t able to attend outside of the party Luis and Thomas held. Next year, we will make time." Amir’s grandfather told him and Andrew felt his body relax. He nodded.
"It’s okay. You have a big family, I assume. Max and I are just appreciative that you made time for us at all." Andrew told them, and watched as they both stared at him with a knowing sparkle in their eyes. Amir’s grandmother stepped closer, handing the bag over.
"We got you two a few things. Nothing big. There was a nice little discrete bracelet that I saw while doing my rounds that I thought Max would like, and...have you considered piercing your ears, Andy? If not, I can get them modified, but I found some earrings that I thought would look good on you. They are also in the bag, along with a blanket our granddaughter made. She’s in a phase of making pretty things, and when she heard that you had manifested, she wanted to make you a little present." Andrew’s heart warmed.
He hadn’t really gotten a manifestation present. Well, besides Maxwell.
Andrew’s lips curled upward.
"That’s kind of her. I will appreciate it." Andrew told them. They both squeezed his arms, one on either side of him.
"Get her a letter. She’d like that." Amir’s grandfather said. "Well, we can’t stay long. Amir asked us to stop by the cafe and bring him a few drinks. He is out of the dangerous period, but he is still craving those damn things. We’re also going to pick up a few pastries as well, make sure he can feed him at the same time." They said and Andrew nodded.
"Of course. Thanks for coming by." Andrew said and they nodded, made sure Andrew had the bag, before they left after getting some hugs from him.
Andrew floated back to his office.
Now he just needed to get his plans sorted before he approached Maxwell with the week timeline. Oh, and look at the ring.