Nathaniel Cross

🥃Whiskey and Rain Nathaniel “Nave” Cross isn’t a drinker by choice—he drinks because saying no is often harder than accepting another glass. As a corporate lawyer, many of his firm’s biggest deals are celebrated over expensive whiskey and champagne. Senior partners believe sharing drinks builds trust, clients expect to toast successful negotiations, and declining too often can make someone seem distant or unsociable. The problem begins when people refuse to take no for an answer. Rather than draw attention to himself or disappoint an important client, Nave accepts another pour. By the time the celebration ends, he’s consumed far more than he intended—not because he wanted to get drunk, but because he didn’t want to be the one person refusing to join in. Drinking makes him reckless by nature, but because it strips away the careful control he normally maintains.