(BL)Alpha Made-Chapter 314: A price Andrew can’t imagine

Andrew tried not to freak out as he used the credit card that Max and Kim made sure that he always left the house with. It wasn’t so much a credit card as it was a card with some of the funds his Mom had left him that Kim had kept an eye on and helped maintain and grow for him, and continued to do so.

He didn’t want to think about how much an anklet would cost, and he was the one who waved his hand and said it was fine when he saw that dainty little thing with all of its sparkly gems and thin chain. Amir’s eyes had sparkled at the sight of it. It was very pretty, Andrew would admit it, but over $20 000 for a damn anklet? Andrew had thought maybe like two grand, max, but 20 grand?

Andrew just made sure that his payment went through, masking his true feelings as the expensive gift sat all wrapped up and pretty in the box. The jeweler who had been helping them looked a little anxious.

"Are you sure?" They asked quietly and Andrew exhaled slowly. He was alone for the payment. Amir and Maria were getting on quite well. He hadn’t been able to stay long enough at the welcome party since he’d felt so ill, so he hadn’t really met Maria when they threw a small celebration for Andrew getting accepted into classes again.

Kailey had her gift already on her wrist, and Amir’s grandmother was busy telling her how pretty it was and what kind of diamonds they were and where you could get them in the world. It was a cute moment.

Andrew inhaled, nodding as they both waited for the payment to go through.

"I’m fine. Just...wrapping my head around how much money this is. I’m...relatively new to having so much." Andrew admitted quietly to the jeweler and his face softened slightly.

"Understood, sir." He hesitated. "If we are being slightly candid with each other, maybe I ask if your grandmother was serious with his offer?" His voice was also quiet and Andrew welcomed his words.

"He was. He doesn’t go out of his way to hand out cards to anyone, and we were all impressed with how you handled that. I am also thankful that you didn’t treat me poorly because of how your manager treated us. It’s one of the reasons I am buying this." Andrew gestured to the bag and box combo beside him while the machine took his money. The other man nodded, swallowing as he went through the motions of handing him his receipt.

"I, well...thank you. I will...probably reach out." He said quietly and Andrew felt a grin touch his lips.

"You should. They care about their employees, especially the ones that care." He told him, taking the receipt and shoving it in his pocket as he grabbed the handles of the bag that held a $20 000 anklet. He was going to have to wrap his head around this since the ring he was probably going to get Maxwell was going to cost more.

It was a slight...mindset shift. Before, he had thought he would get like, a $5 000 ring, save up a couple of months and be happy with that. Nope. He knew that Maxwell would probably be happy with anything he got him. He might be slightly disappointed if he got him something cheap, but he would probably be fine with it.

The problem came because Andrew wasn’t sure what Maxwell considered cheap. He felt like he was losing his mind. So, he just...came to a conclusion. He would just ask. It wouldn’t hurt. It wasn’t as if Maxwell didn’t know he was going to start shopping for rings. They weren’t going to hide that from each other.

Andrew sighed, said goodbye to the jeweler and turned to the others. They all perked up when Andrew turned around.

"All done?" Maria asked and Andrew nodded. Maria’s eyes creased as she reached out, squeezing his shoulder. "That must have been a lot for you. Don’t worry. It doesn’t get easier." She told him, teasing him and Andrew huffed.

"Shut up." He told her and Maria laughed. Amir and his grandmother chuckled. Andrew shuffled over, making his arms available to them again and they latched on, grateful and they left the store. Jennifer didn’t show her face again and Amir’s grandmother snorted.

"She’s going to start scrambling when we pull our diamonds. We supply most of her store." He said quietly and Andrew felt his lips twitch.

"I’m sure there are other people who are going to beg to have you in their shop." Andrew told him confidently and Amir nodded.

"I agree with Andy on this. I think you should absolutely pull out from there. I’m sure grandpa will agree. No, he’ll encourage it after I tell him how we were treated." Amir said. Andrew flinched as Zack opened the door and the cold air hit his face, as did everyone else.

"Woo! I swear it got colder while we were inside." Maria said, shivering. Kailey and Zack nodded in agreement.

"It certainly feels like that. Shall we head over to Kim and get some drinks from the cafe there before braving the cold again?" Andrew suggested and everyone agreed. They moved as one unit and when they were stopped while waiting to cross the road, Andrew shot Kim a text and let her know they were coming over to the cafe, and he had a few friends with him.

The light turned and they crossed. Andrew felt his phone vibrate in his hand and glanced down, before smiling. Kim had sent an emoji of a woman running. He assumed that meant that she was going to meet them downstairs.

Andrew was all smiles when they entered into the A & D Firm. Maria and Zack whisked Kailey away quickly to get her to a bathroom since she had to go, while Amir’s eyes zeroed in on his favourite drink that had been keeping him alive through this pregnancy.

"Go on, Amir. Kim already said you got a free pass when you were here. We’ll join you in a second." Amir nodded, swallowing the saliva forming in his mouth as he shuffled away, hand absently on his belly. Amir’s grandmother sighed, watching him.

"I worry about him. All he drinks is that drink. He barely eats anything else. He takes his vitamins, since Ben forces him, but I am worried nonetheless." He said quietly and Andrew nodded. He waved at the receptionist who was smiling at him, and she waved back.

"I know. But, if he needs to drink 10 of those drinks to keep his body running, I’m fine letting him do it. He’s just past the point of concern, and so...we just let him do what he needs to. That’s all we can do." Andrew said and he sighed next to him.

"I would have him on bedrest if I didn’t think it would drive him crazy. Not that he isn’t basically doing it when he’s at home. His nest is huge, Andy." His grandmother complained. "Ben spoils him almost too much." It was the mutterings of a man who cared deeply about Amir, and Andrew only felt a smile touch his lips.

"I am sure that Ben just wants to make sure his partner is happy, content, and not stressed. Their first pregnancy probably scarred both of them." Andrew said carefully, thoughtfully and heard another sigh from the man holding onto his arm.

"It scarred everyone around them. Myself and his grandpa as well. I just...I know I can’t control him, but I just want him safe. I want to shake the baby growing inside of him and tell them that they need to allow their Mommy to eat more. It will only benefit them." Andrew chuckled lightly, watching as the elevator doors opened and Kim and Jenny brightened when they saw him. He waved.

"I know. It’s a hard thing to understand sometimes. I...worry for if Maxwell and I ever have children what they will do to him." Andrew said. "I know that each person is affected by pregnancies differently, but I just..." Andrew sighed. "I see what Amir is going through, I am sure my Mom went through her own struggles, and then I have my own issues to take into consideration. I..." Amir’s grandmother squeezed Andrew’s arm.

"Andy, sweetheart. I know what your concern is." He said firmly. "You are not like your father. You can’t. You are, quite frankly, nothing like him if he is who I think he is. You haven’t been tainted by his damn family, and even then, some families just have bad apples. No matter how hard you try." There was a pang in Andrew’s chest, hearing the words from Amir’s grandmother.

Andrew knew that he meant those words for him, but he felt a nagging sense tug at him. Like there was something more to the words that he had said. Andrew was reminded that Amir’s parents weren’t around for his wedding. It had just been Amir’s grandparents. Andrew hadn’t thought anything of it, especially since he had so much on his own plate.

He had kind of, tragically, assumed that they had passed which was why Amir had his grandparents by his side. But...what if that wasn’t the case? What if...something even more tragic had happened?

Andrew squeezed raised his free hand, touching his arm and giving it a squeeze. The same comfort that they had been giving him all day.

"You also are a good parent, a good grandmother, and a great role model. It was an honour to be called your grandchild. I would be proud to have you as a grandmother, and I’m sure Amir thinks the same. You’ve stepped up, and you’ve supported him through both the good and the bad." Andrew told him quietly as Kim approached with her better hearing. "So please, we both shouldn’t beat ourselves up over the choices of others. Especially not today, right?" Andrew said, smiling.

He turned his head, meeting Andrew’s gaze before he sighed, closing his eyes and when he opened them, he reached for Andrew’s neck and pulled him down, kissing his cheek.

"And you worry about how good of a father you’ll be? Pah! You can comfort an old man with ease, boy. You’ll be fine." Andrew felt his cheeks crease with a smile as Amir’s grandmother smiled at him warmly.

Kim arrived right around then, all smiles and Andrew released Amir’s grandmother to give her a hug, along with Jenny.

"What’s in that bag there, Andy?" Kim asked, her eyes sparkling. Andrew sighed.

"Not what you’re thinking." Andrew warned her and a wide, cat-like grin crossed her lips.

"Oh? And what would I think it is?" She teased and Jenny laughed.

"Come on. Let’s go get some drinks and join Amir." She suggested just as Maria, Zack and Kailey left the bathroom. Andrew nodded, waving them over when Maria caught his gaze and she smiled. Andrew’s heart felt full being surrounded by so many people after so long. It was...nice.