Page 50 of Dream Mates (Into The Parallel Omegaverse #2)

Chapter Thirty-One

Brennan

“ T hank you. It’s a pleasure doing business with you.” I shook hands with the man who’d been at odds with my mother for months over selling his building.

A building I’d put an offer on a couple days ago and was now closing on.

“Thank you. Are you sure you want to forgo the usual inspections and closing?” The alpha frowned.

“I’m sure. This will make a great building for my foundation,” I told him. I wanted to close quickly so my mother couldn’t find a way to stop the sale.

He picked up his briefcase. “You know, I nearly didn’t call you back, based on your last name.

But my pack and I stayed at one of your hotels last year and it was incredible.

It’s not that I have an issue with her project.

It wasn’t me being precious about this building–it’s more of a pain than a legacy anyway.

I won’t be sad if you tear it down or even use it as leverage.

I just detest bullies and well, I needed to sell it at a certain price, and I won’t be called selfish for looking out for my pack. Not all of us own lots of buildings.”

“It’s never selfish to look out for your pack, and I’m so sorry she did that.

” I shook his hand again and left his office.

The building had been in his family for a long time.

His pack was aging, and they were selling things off both so that they could retire and to put away some money for their children and grandchildren.

That part of State Street was historic enough that my mom could rally people around ‘bringing community back to State Street’ but not so historic that she couldn’t rip nearly everything down and offer lowball prices.

The project took up two city blocks, and was going to be a mixed office, retail, entertainment, and housing complex with green space and gardens–a live, work, and play project and her most ambitious development yet.

Now I owned the last building that she needed. While I would absolutely make it the Thanukos Foundation Building, put our office at the top, and rent out what wasn’t being leased already, this building was really a chess piece.

But she didn’t need to know that.

I got on my motorcycle to go back to my office. The investigator that Terrance had originally referred me to when I’d wanted to research Grace was now researching Ian Murphy. We also had some very interesting information on him that was sent to the lawyer licensing board.

Our pack lawyer had already sent Ian several letters which had been ignored. The next step was to take legal action. Not against my mother, but him. It probably wouldn’t end well for his career, and I felt bad about it. But what he was helping her do was wrong.

Wes had also found my accounts and changed all the passwords so that my mother couldn’t try to hide anything from me. We’d also filed a lien against what she’d acquired to make my inheritances less liquid. I’m sure Wes had done some other things as well.

I came back to my office. Terrance immediately came in and sat down.

“You bought it.” His brow furrowed.

“My pack bought it, not the company. I’m having the sign at the top changed tomorrow.” I grinned.

“How can something be funny and terrifying at the same time?” Terrance rubbed his chin.

“You’ve met my family. How is everything going with the estate project? We got a new team in there, right?” I asked, checking my email.

“Yep. Someone already tried to threaten the garden team and were run out with shovels,” he laughed.

We’d ended up flying in a team from one of our hotels to do the gardens, and we were bringing in a restoration crew from out of state. Sure, it was a little extra money but knowing that these people couldn’t be bought or threatened by my mother was worth it.

“We’ve also checked everything backward and forward; and shored up our suppliers, we’re good,” I added.

“I’m sorry, you can’t go in there,” my assistant said to someone.

“Like fuck I can’t. Brennan Brannigan Morris, how dare you?” My mother strode into my office, brushing past her.

“You are going to have to be more specific, Mother. Also, I have asked you to make an appointment.” I made my tone bored as I looked through my emails. Should I ban her from the building?

“Terrance, leave,” my mother demanded.

Terence’s look grew bored. “It really depends on what this is about. I have a right to be here if it involves our company. Also, what would people think if they knew that you were threatening single mothers with getting their children kicked out of daycare unless they gave our project issues?”

“What? As a working mom, I would never.” Her look was pure innocence.

Yeah, that was a common ploy of hers. I’d already taken measures to make sure she couldn't get Riley kicked out of Hadley Hall.

“Government phone lines are recorded, Siobhan, and the historical office is part of the government.” His look growing fierce, he played the recording.

Wow, I didn’t know he had that. This was why he was my business partner. It’s not like a lifetime of associating with my family hadn’t shown him a lot of her tricks.

She remained unfussed. “You probably got that from those hackers in my son’s pack of deviants. No one will believe it’s real.”

“I obtained it legally. Look, Siobhan, if you have issues with your son, that’s one thing. But if you continue to go after this company, you won’t be happy with the results.” Terrance stood and met her gaze.

My mother bristled at the challenge. “Are you threatening me?”

“Stop the corporate espionage. Your petty grievances with your son have no place in business,” he snapped, the room filling with alpha dominance.

“Why are you here, Mother?” I added. Yes, I should just get her blocked completely from the building. I shouldn’t meet her at her office or home, either–neutral locations only.

“You cost me a lawyer,” she snapped.

Did I dare ask her to be more specific?

“Katie quit because you encouraged her. Quit. My own child left the business because of you, ” she yelled, knocking a bunch of things off my desk.

Ah, so this was about my sister. My mom had torn up her letter of resignation, which included a generous two weeks’ notice. So, Katie cleaned out her office, went down to HR with a new letter, turned in her credentials and laptop, and quit on the spot.

“Katie quit because she got a great opportunity, not because of me,” I retorted, grabbing my laptop. “She’s very talented and has a right to change jobs.”

“I don’t believe you.” My mother knocked over a chair.

“Mother, you need to stop before I call security.” I put my hand near the button under the desk that summoned security. Also, I could see my assistant hovering in the doorway, on the phone.

“I’m guessing that you were the one who told her to withhold my grandbaby from me if I don’t treat her better? I have given everything for you four, and now I’m being punished. I’m the victim here, not the villain.” She reached out and slapped me.

I growled. “Don’t.”

Fuck. While she’d hit me before, it was always in private. Terrance was in the room. Usually, she was more careful. I pushed the security button.

Or had Katie threatening to withhold her child sent her to her breaking point?

“Mother, you need to leave. Katie is an adult. She can change jobs. It’s her right to keep her baby from you if she wants.

Terrance is correct, the corporate espionage stops.

Wes found the bugs you had hidden, by the way.

” Which I’m sure she knew. They hadn’t been in my office but they were around.

Wes had scoured our offices with his bug-finding device yesterday.

“Again with the wild accusations. And you’ve been terrorizing Ian, too. He’s been like an uncle to you,” she yelled.

“Terrorizing? I’m tired of you keeping what belongs to me away from me as punishment.

Not to mention taking scholarships from omegas was absolutely retribution for me going to the hospital with an injured packmate instead of staying at the gala.

I’m tired of it. I’m an adult with my own pack and I just want to be left alone.

” As much as I wanted to yell or shake her, I kept my voice low and remained seated.

“If you act like an adult then you’ll get treated like one!” She took a step forward.

“How has anything I’ve done been less than adult?” I pointed out.

Her nostrils flared. “How about this temper tantrum your pack is having?”

“You mean choosing a pack name? That’s pretty normal, Mother. Katie and Liam have both chosen names for their packs. Yes, I fired the housekeeper because we didn’t like how she cleans. Also, very normal,” I told her.

“Ma’am, you need to leave.” Security flooded my office.

“This is my son’s office. I can be here,” she snapped.

The Morris company didn’t own this building. I was very careful about that.

“Mother, I think it’s best for you to go,” I told her.

She slapped the hand of one of the guards. “Don’t touch me.” My mother turned to me. “You won’t get away with this. Why are you punishing me?”

They crowded her out of my office.

“Well, that was unusual.” Terrance frowned. “Trap? Or did Katie threatening to keep away her baby make her go off?”

“Both are possible.” I texted our pack lawyer about what happened.

“I didn’t know Katie was pregnant–or got a new job. Good for her.” Terrance nodded. “I’m going to make sure that your mother leaves.”

“Thank you.” I went out to the reception area. My assistant was trembling.

“Sorry, I tried to stop her, I really did.” Shayla was a beta a couple of years out of university.

“I know. Hey, none of this was your fault. I’m sorry if she scared you,” I apologized.

“I got it recorded. I sent it to you. It’s not nice when parents hit their kids. Or make a mess.” She eyed the items strewn across the floor of my office.

“No, it’s not. And thank you for that.” So that’s what she was doing.

Going back into my office, I cleaned everything up, then filled out the paperwork to have my mother banned from the building.

I let Katie know what had happened.

“Sorry about that,” Katie told me. “Yeah, as soon as I mentioned going no-contact and not letting her see the baby, she went unhinged. Even though a moment before that she told me I was irresponsible for getting pregnant and was going to ruin my career. Hey, sorry to cut this short, but I’ve got to go. ”

“Okay, oh, and thanks for the tip,” I added.

“Who me?” She laughed. “Oh, when she figures that one out.”

I ended the call. A sigh escaped my lips. Jett wasn’t working today, and I didn’t have any meetings. I texted him.

Me

Still at the gym?

Jett

On my way home. Why?

Me

I’m going to cut out for the day. Want to go do something?

Jett

That sounds great. Want to go to the market and pick up stuff to make something for dinner?

Me

That sounds good to me.

Grabbing my laptop and things, I left my office.

“I’m leaving for the day. Feel free to leave early,” I told Shayla.

Going down to the parking garage, I got on my motorcycle, ready to leave this day behind.