Page 115 of Dream Mates
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 whatisgoing 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 tookMorris. 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 hadmet 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.
