Page 131 of Dream Mates
“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?
“Katiequitbecause you encouraged her. Quit. My own childleftthe business because ofyou,” 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’ttreat her better?I have giveneverythingfor 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 wasin 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 wasverycareful 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.
