By My Side - Sam/Aomaris Fanfiction

58) Anderson Family Toys

It seemed like minutes before it was Thursday and Sam had to go back to work. We'd spent the majority of Wednesday enjoying each other's closeness, along with Sam playing more Twilight Princess and cooking together in the kitchen. Sam was significantly more affectionate than normal for the whole day, and I could only assume it was because he was making up for the lack of it while I had the cuff. He spent the day planting random kisses on my face and neck, always giving an adorable little chuckle when he did so. I made sure to ring James at a decent time, and he was able to get me booked for an official appointment on Thursday. And so Sam and I retired to bed early on Wednesday night, both of us having been exhausted from the events of the day. We roused at the same time on Thursday morning, Sam whining playfully that he wanted to stay in bed with me.

Sam reluctantly departed for work at 8 in the morning like normal, while I had a few hours to wait before I had to be at the company building. I spent the morning playing with Leon and scrolling mindlessly on my phone. Fortunately, I remembered to set an alarm for the time I'd have to leave, otherwise, I likely would've missed my appointment. I made sure to fill Leon's food and water bowls before I left, then took my motorbike past the forest, past my old high school, then finally through town before I got to the huge glass skyscraper that was the Anderson Family Toys building. I couldn't help but stare around the parking lot in apprehension, both wanting to and terrified of seeing my father's car. I recognised James' car immediately, a smart black Audi parked in the spot that was always reserved for the CEO. I entered the automatic glass doors and stared around nervously. I hadn't been in this building since I was maybe seven years old, but somehow it hadn't even changed a bit. Not even a decorative plant pot had been moved from its spot. The only thing I didn't recognise was the staff that were busily striding around the building. I wondered briefly if I'd run into Ronnie's father while I was here, who was the head of IT for the company, but I had to shake that thought aside as I approached the front desk to check in for my appointment. At least it was only James, I knew the man pretty well.

"Hi... I've got an appointment with the CEO for half past one?" The receptionist nodded, looking bored out of her mind.
"Name? Wait... Aren't you David's kid? The mental one?" I barely suppressed an eye-roll and the urge to punch her for being so insensitive. Of course, everyone who worked here would know who I was.
"Not anymore, no. My name is Phoenix Starglass." Apparently, I didn't hide my anger as well as I thought, as she looked taken aback and clicked through her system.
"Yeah, I can see you. You can head on up." She hesitated for a moment, then beckoned me towards her. I leant forwards and she eyed the lobby before speaking in hushed tones.
"I didn't mean to insult you. Between you and me, a lot of the younger staff here think your dad's a prick." She sat back and gestured to the lifts on my left, returning to her normal volume. James is on the top floor, right at the end of the corridor. He's already expecting you. I'd avoid the office next door to his if I were you." She winked and I almost laughed.
"Thank you." I headed off towards the lifts, somehow managing to snag an empty one and began messing anxiously with my hands as the lift began its ascent. I knew I didn't really have any reason to be nervous; I knew James on a personal level and even if he didn't like my idea, he'd still be incredibly polite about it. It was then that I realised that it probably wasn't James I was nervous about seeing.

The lift dinged as it reached the top floor and I stepped out. It was unsettlingly quiet, aside from my own footsteps and the occasional shuffle of someone moving around in their office. The entire atmosphere made me uncomfortable. This was a lot of the reason I could never work in an office job. Too much pressure, too many expectations, too dull. I reached the end of the corridor and knocked on the door that was simply marked 'CEO'.
"Come in." I entered the office to find James standing by the huge glass windows with a mug of what I assumed to be coffee in his hand. "Ah, Mx. I was wondering when you'd arrive. Did Lauren check you in?"
"Lauren?"
"The receptionist."
"Oh... Yeah. At least, she should've done."
"Hm. I must have missed the alert. Can I get you a drink, Mx? Tea, coffee?"
"Oh, no thank you. I don't drink either of them."
"Ah, of course. I forgot, my apologies." He sat down at his desk and gestured to the chair on the other side of it. I sat, observing his desk, neatly organised with piles of official papers and a decorative succulent off to one side. Facing the chair I was sitting in laid a brass plaque that read 'James Anderson, CEO'. I furrowed my brows slightly.
"How did my dad react to you having that last name?" James coughed.
"Well, I told him the truth. Or at least, as close to the truth as I could. I told him that my brothers and I had been orphaned as teenagers, so your grandfather took us in. In your father's eyes, my brothers and I are your grandfather's adopted sons." I grimaced slightly.
"Ugh. I hate to think how he reacted when he realised I'm basically married to my uncle." James tried and failed to suppress his smile, then cleared his throat and changed the subject.