Chapter 428: A receptionist lookout
Andrew came back with Maxwell in hand. How long had they been gone? Well, the office was cleaned up, and all three women had a knowing look on their faces. It didn’t help that Andrew’s clothes were askew, but Maxwell looked completely put together.
If Maxwell could have worn lipstick, he would have. Just to leave marks on Andrew. Just to make sure everyone knew, without knowing, what Maxwell had done to the man. It didn’t help that Andrew was grinning like an idiot. Just happy to be at the mercy of the man that he loved.
They didn’t hang out long at the firm, mainly because Maxwell needed to get back to work, and Andrew needed to go to work, period. Richard had stayed home, working from home so as not to add fuel to the fire.
Andrew had spoken to the reporter about Richard and who he was, but without revealing his identity so that part was going to be cleared up once the interview went public. Richard was probably resigning himself to working from home until the interview went out.
Kim seemed to be under the impression that that was going to be soon, given how she had spoken to the reporters as they were leaving. Andrew was putting at least a week on the interview being done and wrapped up, but Maxwell and the others were a little less lenient. Either way, Richard was at home, doing his best to not be spotted by the reporters surrounding their home.
The security teams were helping, but they were fast. They should have been track stars, not reporters.
Andrew and Maxwell left the firm together, Luis with them, but heading to her own car. Maxwell had driven their car to work on his own after Andrew had left, and now Andrew slid into the driver’s side as they waved at the others.
Kim and Jenny had come downstairs to say goodbye to them. Everyone was doing things to show the now giant spotlight that was on his, their back, that they were good. Attached in some kind of way, but Andrew also knew that they were doing it because they wanted to. Their eyes told him as much.
Maxwell was silent in the car, keeping mostly to himself, answering things on his phone while Andrew drove back to their company. Andrew was a little worried about how everyone was going to react now that they knew something was up about Andrew.
He was feeling raw from some parts of the interview. Especially the off the record stuff. It really brought up the feelings he had been working hard to ignore. Like how shocked he had been when the people he had trusted for years looked at him like he was a monster. Like he would do something so out of character of the person he had shown them.
He knew it was silly, and that was why he didn’t bring it up to Maxwell. They were his people, he was going to get defensive, or he was going to get angry on his behalf. He would fly off the handle before they even knew what reactions they would give Andrew.
So, he kept that to himself, sitting with his own anxiety while Maxwell worked away beside him.
When they pulled into the company parking lot and into their spot, there were reporters waiting for them. Andrew put on his best smile, and told Maxwell to wait and let him get out of the car. Maxwell gave him a look, but didn’t argue with him. He let Andrew show off, giving Maxwell a sweet kiss and, for Andrew’s part, making sure his ring was damn obvious. He made sure it caught the light as he gripped onto the car door as he kissed his CEO fiancé.
Maxwell didn’t seem aware of what Andrew was doing, or if he was, he wasn’t making a comment on it. Maxwell slid his right hand into Andrew’s pushing his hair out of his face with his left hand. It was then that Andrew was aware he was also showing off the ring that Andrew had gotten him, and Andrew’s chest warmed.
He was feeling that the little bit of a moment they had earlier wasn’t enough. He wanted more. Andrew smiled at the other man as they stepped into the lobby, happy to have that as a distraction as they did so.
Andrew swallowed thickly, the anxiety at the back of his throat as he scanned the lobby. It was normal, with an actual reduced amount of people loitering inside. Andrew had a feeling that had to do with the fact that there were reporters around and the employees didn’t want to be harassed by them.
The receptionist was smiling as they entered, so big and wide that Andrew wondered what happened.
"Congratulations!" She told them excitedly and Andrew jerked as Maxwell chuckled next to him.
"You already wished me that when I entered earlier, Shirley." Maxwell teased and Shirley, the receptionist, grinned.
"Well, I didn’t congratulate Mr. future CEO’s husband, so I only thought it was appropriate." Andrew felt the anxiety leave him quickly, trickling out and down past his chest and to his feet. He had been foolish to think that they were going to treat him poorly. This was the company that Maxwell had built.
They would have never treated Andrew strangely or in a mean way. They cared about him, about Maxwell. He had forgotten that several people when Maxwell and Andrew were fighting had been worried about what that would do to Maxwell.
He felt his lips curl into a smile and Andrew bowed his head, a little embarrassed at his reaction, and relief was a fluttering butterfly in his chest.
"Thank you. I take my role as future CEO’s husband very seriously, but I also take my role as CEO’s fiancé very seriously as well." Andrew told Shirley with a wink and she laughed.
"Good. We couldn’t have you slacking off. And, I wouldn’t worry too much about the reporters, Dr. Nice. They usually leave in a few days, especially after some ’encouraging words’ from our security." Andrew’s smile reached his eyes at her reassurance. They were all looking out for him.
Andrew felt Maxwell look up at him, a knowing smile on his lips. Andrew had thought he had hidden his thoughts and worries from him, but obviously that wasn’t true. Andrew was caught, and he wasn’t even upset about it.
"Thank you for saying that. I was worried, since they showed up at our house. Poor Dr. Gates who is staying with us, has to stay at home and work from there." Andrew told her and Shirley frowned.
"Oh no. He’d hate that, especially since he was only recently back in the building after his manifestation. I’ll make sure to encourage the security guards extra, and make the reporters feel very unwelcome." She said and Andrew chuckled.
"Thanks, Shirley."
Maxwell and Andrew headed to their own elevators, and Maxwell tugged Andrew close one last time before going their separate ways and gave him a quick smooch. It wasn’t anything serious, just a quick peck, but it warmed something inside of Andrew.
"You’ll let me know if something else comes up?" He asked softly, his hand on his chest as he peered up into Andrew’s face. Andrew felt better just having the man touching him, caring for him, looking out for him.
Andrew placed his hand on top of Maxwell’s over his chest, giving it a squeeze as he smiled warmly down at the other man.
"Of course, but having you care about me, looking out for me? That’s enough, honestly. I feel loved." Andrew told him proudly, and watched as Maxwell’s ears turned pink and he nodded.
"Understood. Do you want another kiss?" Maxwell asked and Andrew wasn’t an idiot. He leaned in and got a softer, more thorough kiss that made Andrew want to forgo work and find a closet, like Maxwell always teased him about.
Maxwell seemed to be able to tell where Andrew’s brain was going as he smirked up at the man. He curled his fingers up, holding onto his chest before gently pushing him away.
"I have meetings, Andy." He muttered quietly. Andrew knew that. Andrew also knew that he had a lot of things he needed to do as well. But damn, if he wasn’t tempted to forget about it all.
Was it relief? Now that Maxwell had a ring on his finger, did he feel more secure about their relationship? Or were Maxwell’s bad habits rubbing off on him? Andrew wasn’t sure, but he let Maxwell push him away no matter what.
He was drawing the line, and Andrew would respect it. Didn’t mean he’d play fair.
Andrew raised his hand, pressing it against the mark that Maxwell had left on his throat. Maxwell’s gaze immediately jerked up, staring as Andrew gently rubbed it.
"Hmm. Alright. I’ll let you get to your meetings." He purposefully sounded a little sad, and watched as Maxwell swallowed and narrowed his gaze.
"Are you...attempting to tempt me?" Maxwell asked as his gaze watched Andrew’s hand intently. The mark was still covered, especially since he had been around Luis and Kim. Jenny? Andrew would have no problem with her knowing, but the other two?
He felt he would either get into trouble, or they would make a big deal about it. Either option was something he wanted to avoid.
"Maybe?" Andrew suggested, but was slightly surprised when Maxwell shoved on his chest with a little more force.
"Don’t you dare. I held back this weekend. Don’t make that all for naught. Get to work, Dr. Nice, before I put you on leave." Maxwell warned, and Andrew felt his cock harden. He wasn’t sure what that meant in this context, but he had a feeling he would like it. Probably too much.
"Understood, Mr. Beckett." Andrew replied, and watched as Maxwell’s face warmed. He glared at Andrew, and spun, turning to and heading for his elevators. Andrew chuckled before he realised that they had an audience. Shirley, and whatever reporter caught on to what they were doing. He flushed, then turned and shuffled towards his own elevators.
Yeah, he had given them a lot of fodder to work with, but Andrew wasn’t repenting. Not when he had so completely forgotten his worries thanks to Maxwell’s kindness and care.