Page 45 of Dream Mates (Into The Parallel Omegaverse #2)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Brennan

I sat in my office, working. Things had been busy, and not the good kind.

Terrance came in, looking frazzled, tie askew. “We have a problem.”

My stomach dropped. “Now what?”

“Reg and his team quit the estate project. He claimed that he was overbooked, and the job was better suited to restoration specialists.” Terrance sat down in the chair opposite the desk.

That was bullshit. “Well, we’ll call other places. What about Wes’ dad?”

“We are, but…” Anxiousness crossed his face.

“Oh. It’s because of my mother, isn’t it.” My chest tightened. I knew something was coming–and this was uncalled for.

“That’s my guess. Though Wes’ dad’s company did land a big contract.

Look, I’m having people shore up all our local supply contracts, and everyone we deal with that she might be able to influence, but…

” He rubbed his forehead, wedding ring gleaming.

“This is going to cost us. Especially since the landscapers quit last week, too, for the same reason. But for right now we’ve found someone else. ”

“Shit. I’ll make some calls. No, I will not let her destroy this business.” I hit my desk with my fist. This wasn’t a coincidence.

“Maybe it’s time to get Wes to help?” Terrance said quietly.

“I think so.” Actually, Wes had been a huge help, identifying my company’s security gaps, and making sure everything was encrypted. But there were other things he could do besides assist us with defense.

Since Spencer and Grace left for their conference today and would be gone all week, it might be good to have something to work on in case he needed to be kept busy.

Riley had a terrifying plan, but I wasn’t ready to do that. Yet.

“Bren?” Katie’s voice came from my partially open office door, as she knocked softly.

“Come in.” My heart sped. Hopefully, she wasn’t acting as a messenger for my mother. I worked in a different building than my family, so the only reason she’d be here was to see me.

Terrance stood. “I’ll keep you posted.”

“Thanks.”

Katie closed the door behind him. Her red hair was up in a neat bun, her dark suit crisp and impeccable.

“I know you fired the housekeeper, and you said that your pack was starting a foundation to cover the scholarships for the omega schools, but what is going on between you and Mom?” Her look turned serious as she paced my office.

“I’m not sure, since I haven’t actually heard from her in a while.” The last time was that phone call I didn’t answer when I was in Spencer’s office with the foundation lawyer. I didn’t call back.

“Oh fuck.” She stopped pacing and faced me, face stricken.

“I… I may have had my pack’s lawyer talk to Ian Murphy about getting my trust,” I admitted quietly. I hadn’t heard back from him, either. However, the PI I’d hired, and our pack lawyer had been busy. So had Wes.

Her blue eyes blinked. “What are you talking about? You got it after you formed your pack and mated with Evan, right?”

“Full access like you? No. Just a small bump in monthly distributions–and that’s just Grandma’s. I have zero access to the others. I’ve been trying on and off for years. But this is the first time I’ve really pushed.”

Katie plopped down in the chair Terrance had vacated. “She has zero legal right to keep that from you now that you meet all the qualifications.”

“I know. I’m done with her games, Katie.” Frustration leaked out of my voice.

“Why didn’t you tell me? I thought you’d gotten it. I…” Hurt crossed her face.

“Because I’m an asshole. I also don’t want to drag you into things. Which is why I warned you that things might get ugly–and I think they just have.” I raked my hand through my hair, well aware that I still held an unfair grudge against my twin.

How dare my mother meddle in my company? Having to change contractors would cost the estate project time and money–which she knew. Not being able to find one could ruin it. Not the company, but the project–and Evan’s dream of marrying Grace there next May.

“What if I want to get dragged into it?” she challenged me.

“You have a good relationship with Mother. Keeping it will make you and your pack set for life.” There was no place in my mother’s empire for me–she’d made that clear, and I’d come to peace with that.

I didn’t want her money. I just wanted what was legally mine.

“We’re already set.” She frowned. “What else is going on? Bren, talk to me. I know she’s unfair to you, how can I help?”

“Like I said, I don’t want to drag you into this. You know what she can do.” My voice went rough.

“I know. Still. Please? I didn’t agree when she and Troy cut scholarships for the omegas. I know she did it out of spite, not just because Caroline’s family withdrew their support. Rami’s refusing to go to any functions out of solidarity,” she said.

It was only a matter of time before I was kicked off the foundation board. That stung, since my being allowed the freedom to fund projects like the scholarships for omegas was one thing that made me feel like a part of the family.

But now I could make a difference without them.

“I’m tired of her bullshit. We’re no longer attending anything. Also, we’re taking a pack last name. And getting tattoos.” I met her gaze.

“Nice. Again, not something she can legally stop.” Katie nodded.

“But she can and will get pissed,” I replied.

Most of Katie’s pack took Morris . A few, like Lexi, used their other names professionally.

They weren’t called the Morris pack, though, they were named after Lana’s bar.

Katie and Lexi had met Lana at university as she struggled to save her grandfather’s bar while studying business.

With their help, she’d turned it around and now it was thriving.

That bar was also where Katie met Rami on trivia night.

Katie sighed. “True. What last name are you using? Please tell me it’s Grace’s.”

I frowned. Did I tell her?

“I promise that I won’t tell. You can trust me. What do I have to do to prove it to you?” she pleaded.

All sorts of ideas ran through my head. But I wasn't about to ask her to sabotage our mother. Our family.

“Spencer’s.”

She laughed. “That is amazing. She’ll be pissed. But at that same time, she really can’t be, because who wouldn’t?”

“Why are you here?” I asked.

Anxiousness crossed her face. “Do you remember the lawyer from the firm I interned at, the one that took your case against the car company?”

“Of course.” I ran into him from time to time. He was a good lawyer and sometimes I sent him business.

“He and a couple of others are forming their own firm and asked me to be part of it. I’m tired of working for the family.

I like doing transactional documents, but I never wanted to be a corporate lawyer.

It’s why I interned with the types of firms I did in law school.

With this new firm, I’d get a chance to actually help people. ” Her look went earnest.

“You’re leaving the Morris Company?” That surprised me.

She nodded. “It’s time. I actually admire the fact that you’ve been brave enough to be on your own from the very beginning.”

“After the accident, Mother never allowed me to work for the family. Not that I wanted to.” Which my brothers resented me for. Why wouldn’t I want to work for the family?

“Dad allowed you to not work for the family,” Katie countered.

“Dad’s in your corner as much as he can be.

He’s proud that you have such a thriving international business, and a great pack.

I know you think Mom makes you come to things for punishment, which, well, she sort of does, but Dad likes having you at things so he can show you off. He’s proud of you.”

I frowned. “He has a funny way of showing it.”

With his teasing and jokes. Calling me Sport.

“He always has, and he’s not going to change.

But that is him showing it. So…” Her spruce scent grew sour with anxiety.

“Will you back me? Because if she’s at war with you and grouchy at not being able to close that building for her new project, and I leave?

” She whistled. “It’s shit timing, but I can’t miss another opportunity simply because my leaving doesn’t work for her schedule. ”

It hit me. “She’s been stringing you along.”

This whole time I thought Katie liked working for the family.

“She has. While I have no issue helping with the foundation legal stuff, my job with the business was supposed to be temporary . Also, I found out recently that she’s been sabotaging me so I can’t leave.” Katie rolled her eyes. “I can still be a part of this family and do my own thing.”

That wasn’t how it worked. But she didn’t want to hear that right now.

“I’m proud of you for wanting to strike out on your own,” I told her, meaning it. While I didn’t like it when Katie was forced to be our lawyer, she was a good lawyer.

My twin beamed. “You are? So, we’ll back each other? Twin power?”

Katie held out her pinky.

I linked my pinky with hers. “Twin power.”

“Good.” She looked relieved. “Now to give my notice. I was all set to do it this morning, only to find her riled up about you and this whole thing with the State Street project.” Katie’s eyes sparkled. “I told her not to lowball them or use fear, because that’s not going to work on this seller.”

There was something about the way she said it, the curve of her lips.

“Are you giving me a tip?” I asked.

“Who me?” She feigned innocence. “It would be such a pity if someone met the price and bought such a key property before she worked things out. It could ruin the entire State Street project.”

Huh.

“Also, what Ian is doing to you could be against the legal association code and could cause him to lose his license,” she stated.

“I’d need proof beside him just saying I have to talk to your mother.” I’d looked into it. Though the PI was working on that.

“Hmmm.” Her look went coy. “Hey, secret? Though it won’t be a secret for long.”

“Always.”

“I’m pregnant. Mom’s going to be pissed. She always says it will impact my career, but I’m in my thirties . The longer I wait… and I want more than one.” She chewed on her lower lip.

I wrapped my arms around my twin. “Congratulations.”

Nope, I didn't smell it yet.

She grinned. “Lexi and Lana are trying too. We’re going to have a pack full of babies and we’re going to bring them over to your place all the time.”

The idea of small children making a mess made me freeze.

My sister laughed. “So, when are you going to catch up?”

I shrugged. Children were never that important to me. Though I wasn’t averse to having them.

“It’s Evan and Grace’s call. I think Grace wanted to get a little more established in her career,” I explained.

“Makes sense.” Katie hugged me again. “This has been fun, but I have a notice letter to draft.” She left.

Yes, and I had a building to buy. I picked up my phone. “Hey, I’m going to need some information on the Morris Company’s State Street project.”

Our foundation needed a building, too.