âWill I ever get to see you walk down the aisle, kiddo? Cooped up in that office tower every day, whatâs the big deal about making money? Youâve made enough dough for several lifetimes over. Itâs high time you focused on your own life.â
Nolan methodically continued eating his dinner, having spent another day hustling at the company.
Finally home and able to enjoy a decent meal, he faced the familiar chorus of his eldersâ concerns.
But he didnât mind the nagging; he actually felt incredibly blessed to be amid it. Some people yearned for such attention and never got it.
âGrandpa, donât talk like that. Youâve gotta be around for the long haul.â
His mom Aline chimed in, âExactly, Preston. You canât just say things like that because you want to see Nolan settled. You and Mom need to stick around for many more years. As for Nolan, Iâm not in a rush to see him married off. I just wish heâd spend a little more time on himself rather than always wrestling with contracts. Is making money really that thrilling? Look at your father, content with a good book as his companion for the night. And you, just like him, could spend a whole day wrapped up in paperwork.
Itâs not healthy.â
Aline slyly tossed a jab at her husband.
âWe just want you to invest more time in yourself, honey. Moneyâs an endless pursuit, after all.â
Nolan nodded emphatically. âMom, thatâs enough. I get where youâre all coming from. Iâll make sure to enjoy life too, so donât worry.â
Pulling out a napkin to wipe his mouth, Prestonâs gaze sharpened again. âYouâre calling it quits after that tiny portion? When I was your age, I could put away three plates of food without breaking a sweat.â
His grandmother nodded in agreement, her way of saying her partner was spot on.
âGrandpa, that was a different era. If I downed three plates now, youâd be asking me what sort of trouble I got into to work up such an appetite. Alright, you all just relax at home. Iâve got some unfinished business at the office but Iâll try to wrap up early and come back.â
Aline got up to walk him to the door. âYou need to spend more time on yourself, thatâs the real deal. You havenât been around much lately, and your grandpa and grandma miss you.â
She whispered the last part, and Nolan nodded knowingly. Heâd been tied up with a few big projects recently, so he hadnât had much spare time. âThings will slow down soon, and Iâll come stay at home more.â
âI know youâre a dutiful son. Just drive safe, okay?â
âSure thing.â Nolan hugged his mother before leaving. Once seated in the driverâs seat, he let out a heavy sigh.
Sometimes he did feel quite lonely. After all these years of solo effort, it wasnât that he never longed for someone to share his life with. Unfortunately, the one he had wanted had betrayed him cruelly, and now he was done with love.
He couldnât understand those who went through hell and high water for love, often making a spectacle of themselves.
Better to keep a safe distance than to get burned.
But just as he was ready to let go, someone else was insistent on holding on.
âMr. Harris, thereâs been a snag with that contract in the suburbs. Someoneâs filed a complaint over the land we acquired, claiming we took it forcefully from their property.â
Back at the company, Nolan was immediately presented with a thorny issue. He furrowed his brow and flicked through the file. âDidnât we do a thorough investigation when we took over?â
The manager followed in step, briefing him as they walked.