Bud was always a cold man.
On the car ride to the range, Nate's mind thinks back to childhood memories with his grandfather. They were never close, but he remembers spending a whole month every summer with him in Lake Tahoe.
He remembers Bennet, his younger brother, crying every night for their first week there. He was a total momma's boy and got nervous sleeping out of home. His Grandma used to go out of her way to cook him his favourite foods or buy him Superman bed sheets in hopes of winning him over, but it was to no avail.
Grandad was less accommodating.
"If you don't stop crying-" He would always warn. "I'll give you something to really cry about."
His hand would bang loudly on the table to reinforce his threat, which normally resulted in more tears from the youngest Jacobs.
"I don't think you're helping." He had rebutted once, trying to defend his brother from Bud's threats. He remembers Aaron kicking him under the table to shut up, while Bud's blue eyes would pierce through him.
"Are you the man of this house, Nathaniel?" He would ask him with a stern voice. "You think you're brave for talking back to me?"
"No, sir." He responded quietly, head down.
They would sit through dinner mostly in silence, except for Bennet's little sniffles and Bev's attempts at making conversation. He remembers his brother waking him up in the middle of the night because he would wet the bed and Nate would swap their bed sheets over, knowing Bud would check the young boy's bed but not his.
"Come here, Nathaniel." Bud had once called from his armchair one evening after dinner. He would always sit in his recliner reading a book or newspaper. He remembers him handing over the book he was reading at the time, Machiavelli's Prince. "He says it is much safer for a leader to be feared than loved, because people are less worried to offend someone who is loved than feared."
Nate recalls the feel of the paper under his fingers, the rough edges and folded pages, as his Grandad's heavy hand gripped his small shoulder.
"I see many strong qualities in you, Nathaniel, but for as long as you try to be loved and not feared, you will never succeed. Your brother is weak-"
"He's only a kid." Nate had argued, earning himself a stern warning from the older man.
"He will never be a man if you keep protecting him, and protecting him will only make you weak. Do you want to be seen as weak, Nathaniel?" Nate thought at the time that was a big question to be asking a 9 year old boy who just wanted to be excused so he could ride his bicycle, but he kept his thoughts private and told his Grandfather what he wanted to hear.
And he didn't let his brother swap sheets with him the next time he peed the bed.
No wonder his family is so fucked up, he thought breaking out of his reverie.
Nate is not completely surprised when his grandfather pulls him aside for a quick chat.
"I can't say I'm impressed with this situation, Nathaniel." He starts, his hand resting heavily on Nate's shoulder. "Your father told me you refused his offer, are you sure this is what you want?"
He realises in that moment that his father's attempt at piloting his future was most likely orchestrated by the most senior Jacobs.
"Most people go to college to find out what they want to do with their life- I already know what I want."
"What makes you think people will want to do business with an 18 year old kid? I worked my whole life to build this for our family- I am not going to let anyone run it to the ground."
"I don't think it's me you should be worrying about." He responds with a hidden smirk. "I have the best intentions for our business and my future."
"That's what you think now, but you have a long road ahead of you." Before Nate had a chance to rebut, Bud continued. "A child is forever, Nathaniel. You're young and I'm worried you are being driven by attraction over reason. She's a gorgeous young woman, sure, but are you sure she is who you want next to you?"
Bud had spent the last few weeks since Cal informed him of Nate's desire to step into the family business and not pursue a Duke education like his father worried about the young man's decision. He was concerned his grandson's choices were being influenced by a want to defy his father and driven by a certain part of his body.
Nate took a few seconds to respond. He angled his body to be face to face with the older man and looked directly into his eyes.
"You once told me I could achieve greatness-" He began, placing his hand on his grandfather's shoulder reassuringly. " and I am certain I will. This is the path I should be on and the woman I want with me."
"Don't disappoint me, Nathaniel." Bud had warned with a final squeeze of the young man's shoulder.
After that, their morning at the range is mainly filled with Sports talk and discussions about recent property developments.
He smiles at Cassie's text message and saves the selfie she sends of her underwear clad self highlighting the tiniest increase of her belly.
He returns home on a high and is greeted by the smell of roast lamb and potatoes. Cassie is setting up the table for lunch and he pulls her in his arms for a quick kiss, taking her by surprise.
"How was your morning?" She asks in his arms, but before he has time to share tidbits of his outing, Marsha interrupts their intimate moment asking Cassie to put out another two place setting.
"Who else is coming?" He asks his mum, surprised.
"Oh, I invited Cassie's mother and sister for lunch." She says nonchalantly, readjusting the floral centrepiece on the table.
Had she looked up, she would have noticed the happiness the young couple shared moments prior completely wiped off their faces.
You could touch the sky but you ain't got shit on me 'cause I'm on top of the world.