Chapter 4 - The Co-Signed Car
I stared at Mason as he slammed the document onto the boardroom table.
For years, Mason had played the role of the quiet, neutral middle child who stayed out of family drama.
Now, he was standing beside Kenneth, showing his true colors.
Aunt Gertrude crossed her arms, looking entirely too pleased with the chaos unfolding.
"What is this, Mason?" I asked, refusing to break eye contact.
"That is a legal injunction," Mason said proudly.
"I filed it this morning on behalf of Aunt Gertrude's estate."
Abernathy picked up the document and adjusted his glasses to read the fine print.
"They are claiming that your late husband stole the initial patent for the company's core product from Gertrude's late husband," Abernathy explained.
Kenneth began to laugh, his confidence suddenly returning.
"That's right, Mom!" Kenneth cheered.
"If the patent was stolen, the trust is invalid, and you have no legal right to fire me or take my house!"
Gertrude stepped forward, her eyes filled with decades of bitter jealousy.
"Your husband was a thief, and now I am taking back exactly what belongs to my side of the family," she spat.
I felt a brief flicker of sadness that my own sister hated me this much.
But the sadness vanished, replaced instantly by cold, calculated resolve.
"You think a baseless lawsuit is going to save you?" I asked them.
"It will tie up your assets in court for years," Mason threatened.
"You won't be able to sell Kenneth's house or freeze his accounts until the judge rules."
Brenda suddenly burst into the boardroom, her mascara running down her face in dark streaks.
"Kenneth, they towed the SUV right out of the country club parking lot in front of everyone!" she wailed.
She looked at me with pure venom in her eyes.
"You are a monster!" Brenda screamed.
I calmly picked up my purse and turned to Mr. Abernathy.
"Let them have their little injunction for the weekend," I said smoothly.
"They have no idea what is waiting for them on Monday morning."
May you like
As I walked toward the exit, Mason blocked the double doors.
"You aren't leaving until you sign the company back over to Kenneth," Mason threatened, stepping dangerously close to me.
