Failed Negotiations

"So, how many alphas were you supposed to be meeting with?" Andrew asked, checking the mirror and Maxwell sighed. Maxwell leaned back in his seat, before glancing at the other man. 

"Two. Brothers." Andrew grunted, before opening his door, turning off the car, and taking the keys. Maxwell felt uneasy with Andrew's behaviour, and it only got worse when Andrew came around to the passenger side and opened the door for him. "Andrew, I'll be fine. Do you think I'm unable to take care of myself?" Andrew furrowed his brows, and Maxwell frowned. 

"It has nothing to do with you being unable to defend yourself. I believe you are more than capable. It's more about being on an even ground. If there are going to be at least two of them, why can't you have two on our side as well? I promise I'll stay out of your way. I just want to be there for support." He smiled at Maxwell, and Maxwell could feel himself folding. He frowned further, clearly displeased, and watched as Andrew's expression fell into one of sadness. Maxwell ran his hand over his face, already exhausted. 

"Fine, fine. You can come, but you sit in your seat and keep your mouth closed. You have to ask permission to speak." Andrew brightened immediately. 

"I will do so, unless there is a security threat. Are these acceptable terms?" He teased, and Maxwell narrowed his eyes. Andrew knew he was pushing his luck, but he couldn't help himself. Maxwell needed everything to be black and white. He hated when he didn't know where the situation was going, which was why Andrew was being so insistent. He would be kicking himself for days if he got hurt while on his watch. 

"I'll agree to your terms if you give me a warning that things are getting dangerous." Andrew held out his hand to shake on it, and with narrow, suspicious eyes, Maxwell took his hand. Andrew grinned, before helping the man to stand up with said hand. Maxwell dusted himself off as Andrew locked the car, and the two of them headed for the main entrance. 

Now that Andrew had managed to join Maxwell in his meeting, he took in his surroundings. This was a very swanky hotel. Probably a place Andrew would only spend an anniversary in if he was really trying to impress. It felt like the rooms probably cost $500 for the most basic room. 

Andrew glanced at Maxwell, whose profile was lit from the side by the lights of the lobby and took in his crisp dark blue suit, white dress shirt, and brighter blue tie. His hair wasn't out of place, and his eyes reflected the light of the lobby in a way that made him look lonely. He fit in here, oddly enough. Andrew could see him in this world easily, and it felt like miles away from Andrews. 

Andrew smiled secretly to himself, clenching one of his gloved hands tightly. It was a good thing that they became neighbours. Otherwise, Andrew wouldn't know Maxwell at all, and he was enjoying hanging out with his new friend. He also enjoyed being able to help out this way, and see a different world he wouldn't normally see. 

Upon entering the lavish lobby, Maxwell was treated like royalty. Andrew, who still had no idea what exactly it was that Maxwell did, kept his cool. Any time someone approached too quickly or too close for his comfort, he got in between them, checking with Maxwell, before allowing the person to approach. 

He did this with everyone, and since Maxwell wasn't chiding him, he kept doing it. Once the two of them had gotten all the information that Maxwell needed, they headed for the elevators. Inside, it was just the two of them, and Maxwell shot Andrew a strange, but calculating look. 

"Have you been a bodyguard before?" He asked the taller man, and Andrew grinned down at him. 

"No. I've never. I spent most of my time studying for university in my youth, and since I didn't need to work, I didn't have any part time jobs." Maxwell made a soft noise in his throat, staring up at the giant. Andrew, who had no idea why Maxwell was staring up at him, smiled. 

"Hmm. Well, you're unusually good at it. Almost enough to make me want to hire you for real." Andrew grinned.

"Awe, thanks Mr. Beckett!" Maxwell scowled at being called by his last name by Andrew. The elevator beeped, signaling they were nearing their floor and Andrew let his face fall again. Maxwell glanced at him, before turning his attention forward. This meeting was too important for him to worry about a beta. 

As soon as Andrew met the two alphas Maxwell was supposed to meet alone, he was glad he was so insistent. 

The restaurant was swanky, and a place that Andrew would never go on his own. Maxwell, however, was recognised by the hostess at the front of the restaurant immediately. She even seemed to be nervous, leading the two of them into a slightly private area of the restaurant. Every table that they passed, the people stared at Maxwell, and in turn, Andrew. 

Andrew pulled every trick in the book he knew to keep himself looking every bit of his father. That cold, expressionless face that was burned into his mind, he made sure he looked over everyone like they didn't mean shit to him. Anyone who was about to attempt to speak to Maxwell, sat down immediately. And Maxwell?

He had the smallest smirk on his face as he passed them. 

The hostess eventually stopped at a table set for three, clearly uncomfortable as the two men who were obviously brothers got to their feet. Each was blond haired, blue eyed gods, and reeked of alpha pheromones. Andrew didn't need to be able to smell them to understand that. 

They didn't outwardly show that they were displeased that Maxwell had brought a guest, especially one who was so…not omega, but Andrew didn't give a damn. He could tell they were upset by the tenseness of their jaws, and how their perfect smiles twisted slightly when Maxwell hung behind Andrew slightly. Andrew didn't smile, even though he wanted to. 

"Mr. Beckett. It's wonderful that we were finally able to arrange this meeting. If you had told us you were going to bring a guest, we would have made sure the reservation was up to date." The one who was slightly taller spoke, his words and voice deep and warm. Andrew wanted to flip him off. 

"Ah, it wasn't Maxwell's doing. Unfortunately, as such an important person, the company didn't feel comfortable sending him alone with alphas, even alphas of your pedigree." Andrew offered warmly, his smile remaining flat. One of the alphas laughed lightly, but Andrew watched as his eyes hardened. 

"Why would he be concerned when we're in an open space, where plenty could come to his rescue if something awful happened?" Andrew didn't like that he even asked that question, and he didn't have to glance back at Maxwell to find out that he didn't like it either. 

"Oh, I'm sure you wouldn't do anything that would hurt Mr. Beckett's honour. I've heard nothing but glowing praise about you. I won't even join you while you dine. Just think of me as a giant statue that is sitting next to Mr. Beckett." Andrew did smile then, and it seemed to catch the brothers off guard. His whole expression changed from a brooding male, to a warm, goofy man. 

Maxwell slid a glance towards Andrew, and Andrew was ready to get chastised in public, but instead he watched as Maxwell stepped in front of him and offered his hand.

"Now that all of the miscommunications have been cleared up, hello Mr. And Mr. Fulton." 

Maxwell easily took charge of the meeting now that the air had been cleared. Honestly, as time went on, Andrew worried he was overreacting. The brothers seemed a little too nice for his liking, but he knew Maxwell was attractive, and single, and they were two alphas in their prime. Who wouldn't try to hit on Maxwell?

Maxwell, however, was a brick wall that the men could not climb. And it only got worse when Andrew insisted on drinking everything that Maxwell ordered. At first, the men were understanding. Andrew was taking his bodyguard role very seriously. But when it came to food being delivered and Maxwell was tasting everything? They put their foot down. 

The younger of the brother's was the one to react when Andrew took the fork from Maxwell to test his food. 

"This is outrageous! Do you really think we would sit idly by when you insult us so openly?" Glasses clattered, the table shook, and Andrew widened his eyes. 

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I wasn't intending to insult you. Mr. Beckett is just so popular, and the company has so many enemies, that it would be the perfect time for someone to try to make it look like you two were planning something nefarious. Could you imagine what that would do to both of the companies?" Andrew was talking out of his ass. He just didn't trust these brothers, but when Maxwell placed his hand on Andrew's shoulder, he froze. 

"My bodyguard is correct to be worried. We don't run this hotel, so there is a chance someone could slip something into my food. I appreciate his concern, and his thoroughness. I hope his behaviour isn't going to upset you further." The two brothers were clearly upset about Andrew's behaviour, but couldn't risk angering Maxwell. 

From what Andrew was able to understand, Maxwell and his company held the upper hand in the negotiations. The brothers were trying to get into his good books. And they were doing a piss poor job at it too. Andrew was intentionally not listening into what they were speaking about, but from tone alone, things weren't going well for the brothers. They were conceited, full of themselves, and clearly not used to not getting their way. 

This whole thing with Andrew testing the food? That might be the nail in the coffin. 

At least the older brother seemed to sense that something was wrong. He was quick to jump in after his brother had put his foot in his mouth. 

"Uh, Mr. Beckett, please understand. We just don't want you to think that we would harm you. It insults our pride when your bodyguard treats us like…" Andrew had thought he was going to save this, but it appeared that instead of saving himself, he was digging himself a deeper hole. Andrew glanced at Maxwell, who was raising one thin eyebrow. 

"How is my bodyguard looking out for my safety an insult to you? Does your family own this hotel? I wasn't aware that this was under Fulton control." He went white, and Andrew looked away. He had no idea what had happened, but it appeared that Maxwell had gotten the upper hand. 

"Uh, no, Mr. Beckett. We do not own nor run this hotel." He answered, sweating, and Maxwell flicked his napkin out with a flourish. 

"Good. That would have been a breach of contract if that was true, and our conversation would have ended here." The brother's shared a look, and Andrew tried not to actively tense. The air shifted, and Andrew watched as a server disappeared from sight after making eye contact with the youngest brother. Maxwell seemed distracted, back into the heat of it with the older sibling. 

Andrew knew something was wrong when the next course came out and the server who delivered Maxwell's food smirked. Andrew's concern only grew more as drinks also arrived. Overwhelmed by everything he had to taste, he halted Maxwell from tasting the bottle that was being poured. The server seemed annoyed, along with the brothers. Even Maxwell gave Andrew a strange look, but he always knew to trust his gut. 

As soon as his lips touched the glass, Andrew knew something was wrong. 

The motherfuckers had put something on the glass. Not in the bottle, not in the food, on the glass. 

It was the oldest trick in the book, and unfortunately for them, Andrew was the kind of scientist who got down and dirty with his subject matter. 

Andrew finished tasting the wine, nodded, and turned to Maxwell. 

"There are drugs on the glass. What kind, I do not know, but I can taste them." Maxwell's face betrayed nothing, but from that moment on he stopped drinking, and stopped eating the food. Andrew didn't even need to taste for him anymore. If their roles had been reversed, Andrew would have left the restaurant in a rage, but Maxwell was a better man than him. 

He waited to fly into a rage once the idiots thought they were safe. 

"While I did enjoy our chat, I am afraid that our business cannot go any further than this. Whether it was you, or another, I do not make deals with those who try to take advantage of me. Have a good evening Mr. and Mr. Fulton." Maxwell got up, adjusted his suit, and Andrew followed him. 

"Wait! Mr. Beckett, there must have been a misunderstanding!" The oldest raced after Maxwell as he quickly made his way through the restaurant. Most of the guests were still inside, able to witness this display. Andrew kept himself in between the two, making sure that the alpha didn't touch Maxwell. 

"A misunderstanding? A misunderstanding is spilling wine on me. A misunderstanding is me bringing my bodyguard with me. A misunderstanding is a lapse in communication. It is not drugging my wine glass after asking me to be the first to taste the new bottle, Mr. Fulton. That is intentional harm. If my bodyguard hadn't been so insistent on tasting everything, who knows what could have happened to me, or what state I would be in right now?" He scoffed. He turned, halting everyone suddenly as he stared coldly at the older brother. "You know, I thought he was being ridiculous when he was being so insistent about joining me. It is clear that I need to become a better judge of character." Mr. Fulton went white. 

"W-Wait, Mr. Beckett! I promise I had nothing to do with this!" Andrew glared at him. 

"Only you, huh? How disappointing." He murmured and the older brother flushed. He clenched his hands into fists, and Andrew knew he was going to lunge. He had underestimated that he was going to lunge at him, not at Maxwell. So he took the right hook with great surprise, but missed the second hit. The two scuffled for a few more minutes before eventually, Andrew ended up with the older man on his front, Andrew holding his hands behind his back. 

Even Andrew was surprised he had overpowered an alpha. Maxwell, in a rare display of emotions, was pissed. 

"Mr. Fulton, is this how you treat my people? How dare you attack my bodyguard?!" Mr. Fulton spat on the ground. 

"He's just a fucking beta! He should know his place!" Andrew, who knew he had a bruised lip coming in, chuckled. 

"That's Dr. Fucking Beta to you, Mr. Fulton." Maxwell let out an exasperated noise. 

"Let him go. I'll deal with him and his family later. Now? I'm tired, and I have to have a long conversation with my father." None of this spelled out anything good for the brothers, and finally, it seemed like they had given up. When Andrew released the eldest, the youngest came into the main restaurant and was shocked to see his brother on the ground, defeated. Maxwell and Andrew left the building.