The Mckenzie patriarch was a somewhat mysterious and unapproachable figure. They were the few who could negotiate directly with him, since his assistant usually solved everything under his orders, or else his children to win the patriarch's favor and gain higher positions within the company.
— My grandfather started working in business soon after getting married, but he didn't let my father or uncle inherit everything. Then he made them work and start their own businesses. My uncle did the hotel chain and my father focused on creating a career in an advertising company. After they managed to thrive at work, my grandfather recognized them and put everything together under the name of the Mckenzie.
When Jake told him how the Mckenzie empire began, Nathaniel had the impression that that family was more influential than he imagined. The best known story was that of the hotel, after all it was linked to tourism in several cities across the country. But there was always more.
And all this under the watch of a lord who would have been around his seventy-eight years old.
A patriarch.
Grandfather of his boyfriend.
And that who wanted to see him.
Jake had managed to arrange a meeting with his grandfather. This is because he was in town to take care of a matter, which was not detailed in the connection with his assistant.
— Hm... I even understand that Nath has to go, but why do I have to go along?
Guilherme looked at the other three who were in silence inside the car.
— Because I want to put pressure on the old man — Jake smiled turning in the passenger seat to look at the two brothers in the back seat.
— Pressure? me? I don't think so.
— Your father is in the army, so I want to take advantage of that hehe.
Nathaniel looked at his brother calmly.
— Basically Jake means that we have contacts within the army, which would make it advantageous to negotiate with his grandfather. Probably the Mckenzie would be afraid to mess with us because of that.
— Aah... got it.
Jake knew how to take advantage of his allies and his contacts. Anyway, this would be the last step before him before revealing everything.
Their meeting would take place in a roadside restaurant. It was not like a truck stop, but rather a pretty and elegant place. After forty minutes of road, Matheus parked the car and everyone came down feeling anxious to meet the Mckenzie patriarch.
— I expected that we would go to some office or another place more reserved... This is kind of unexpected — commented Guilherme.
— Don't fall for that, these road restaurants belong to my grandfather.
— Why am I not surprised? — Nathaniel muttered looking around.
— Come on, I'm dying to see his face of disgust when he sees me.
— Hahaha me too!
Matheus and Jake seemed excited, which made the brothers seriously worried about that meeting.
Anyway, the four went inside the restaurant whose entrance had a man in a dress waiting for them.
— Young master, I was waiting for you.
— Take us — Jake said before he heard some small joke about being called a young master.
The man respectfully bowed his head and walked through the restaurant, which had little movement. At the back, passing through the door of access only to employees, they crossed a long and quiet corridor. The last door of this corridor was the administrative office where a gentleman with gray hair and serious physiognomy waited for them.
As soon as the master saw those four boys coming in, he frowned and snapped his tongue.
— What the hell is a Castilho doing here?
— Didn't I say it would be fun? — whispered Matheus with a smile on his face.
— What's up, grandpa!! — Jake nodded approaching — Thanks for coming.
Mr. grumbled and pointed to the couch in the middle of the room.
Nathaniel had the feeling that the lord's clear eyes were upon him. He even thought he knew something, considering how powerful he was. However, it was suffocating to have so much attention. Even Nathaniel, someone who was used to make others nervous with his presence, was feeling uncomfortable with that atmosphere.
— So, what did you want to talk about?
Jake got up from the couch and went to the table to deliver a folder. He still waited for his grandfather to open the folder and check the documents, as well as witness first hand his amazing reaction. The clear eyes of Joseph Mackenzie rose like a beast to his own grandson.
— What is the meaning of this?
— You must already know what my parents are doing, getting involved with politicians, talking at my wedding and blah blah.
Joseph looked at Nathaniel and then at Jake noticing the bite.
— Haa... An alpha tamed by an omega. That's really inconvenient. Is it your intention to use my grandson against me?
Nathaniel was not surprised by the spikes pointed at him. Remaining calm and inexpressive, the omega just crossed his arms as he answered.
— The Mckenzie who decided to get in my life just because I'm with your grandson. And I have warned your lawyer that I am prepared to destroy you if necessary. You must already know the reason for our coming.
— Grandpa, what is it? — Jake whispered — It's the second time my parents are meddling in my life just because I'm with a guy. This time I want to protect Nathaniel, but for that I will hurt my parents.
— Are you telling me that you intend to expose this scandal?! — Joseph shouted throwing the folder on his table. The shrill voice left the two brothers surprised.
Matheus got up from the couch getting behind Jake, and his pretentious smile angered the patriarch even more.
— Look, Mr. Mckenzie, it seems you had no idea that your son and your daughter-in-law did something like this with a famous fighter. We can control this scoop so that your name is not tarnished.
— Is this a threat?
— Or you'd rather your precious granddaughter be exposed too, although Jake said she doesn't seem to know anything about it.
Joseph blinked furiously. Matheus knew how to annoy him, but his words had a point. Jake's cousin had no idea what happened, even though she was involved. Even if her name was omitted, everyone would know that the only girl in the family was her.
A sixteen-year-old girl being treated as a prostitute by her own family, this kind of reporting would end the Mckenzie name.
The patriarch clenched his fists containing his anger, Nathaniel just did not know whether it was because of the threat or if it was to find out what his son had done. Finally, Joseph sighed.
— What do you intend to do?
Jake and Matheus were relieved and sat back down. Now it was Nathaniel's turn to negotiate. He had to be careful in convincing the patriarch to agree with his plan.
— There will be a report in honor of Ares, as a documentary. I intend to expose this event and prove the innocence of Ares about his scandal.
— Ha! And you intend to do this by exposing my family? And as far as I know, Ares was known precisely for the scandals in which you are involved. If you want to prove his innocence, then you are the one who should come out.
— I do not intend to keep my relationship with Ares secret, and have already asked the boys to prepare the evidence for me. The point is that when this is proven, I will be able to sue the Mckenzie for defamation, since your daughter-in-law threatened me with private photos of myself and Ares.
Nathaniel tilted by tapping his finger slightly on the folder, and Joseph opened it again finding at the end of the envelope with the photos that the lawyer had delivered.
— Either you can sue them or you will expose. I can not allow you to do both — Raising his eyes clear, the patriarch looked at the omega coldly — So what do you want?
— I want you to take Jake back as your heir.
— Hahahaha! What does this have to do with my silly grandson?
Jake then explained to his grandfather in detail about the investigations that Rapoxia managed to do on the Callegari, and the fact that Ares would be involved in protecting Nathaniel in the inheritance dispute. Joseph read the documents carefully and attentively, even if it took a while.
The explanation was understood as Nathaniel being someone influential who would bring benefit to the Mckenzie now that he bit Jake. Basically they were giving the knife and cheese in hand to the patriarch.
— And you want me to take your parents out of the family when all this is exposed?
— People will ask for a position of yours, grandpa. Either you will clear the bar of my parents or protect me.
— And if I protect you, are you telling me that you will succeed me?
— As long as I accept my relationship with Nathaniel.
Joseph leaned against the chair and massaged his temple.
— This is big dog fight.
— Considering that I am also supporting the joker, and even Major Mantovani is on his back, it would be more advantageous for you to stay on our side — Smiled Matheus hugging Guilherme's shoulder — Right, fox?
— Huh? A-Ah, yes! My father always gets help when we have problems with journalists.
Joseph narrowed his eyes at the closeness between them. And the way Matheus stroked the neck of Guilherme, Nathaniel saw something that scared him at first.
Was that... tooth mark?
— What's that behind your ear, Gui? — Asked the omega.
Quickly Guilherme covered the mark and opened a nervous smile.
— I-That, ha... is actually...
A slap was made on the head of Nathaniel, who turned furiously to Matheus grabbing his collar.
— You bitted my brother?!
Matheus swallowed dry before the furious look that Nathaniel had. The joker could be an omega, but he was still extremely scary. Especially when he lowered the mask showing the horrible scar.
— Calm down, we can talk right?
— Who gave you permission to touch my brother? Do you want to die?!
— Oh, Nathaniel, c-calm down, I swear I didn't mean any harm — Matheus looked at Jake who was leaning on his grandfather's table, arms crossed — J-Jake, my Patch, help here.
At the table, Joseph raised his eyebrow for that scene — looking even interested in Nathaniel's posture. Already Jake seemed completely hypnotized.
— No way, I'm busy.
— Jake!!
— Look at me, Matheus — grumbled Nathaniel angry — Or did you bite my brother just because you didn't control yourself in your heat?
— Is that...
— Nath, it's all right — Guilherme smiled holding his brother's hand — Matheus is a good person and won't hurt me.
— Because if he tries, Nath kills him first — Mocking Jake, then turning to his grandfather — You see where I tied my donkey? He is too fucking.
Joseph just rolled his eyes.
— Do not make a racket in other people's office. Fall out of here.
— Hey, grandpa, calm down, we haven't finished talking...
— I'll call you when I make a decision.
And that was his answer before the four were practically kicked out of the office. Which for Matheus was a good one, since he could run to save his own life.