28. Katy
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
katy
SHOWDOWN
Declan and I come down the stairs looking like we’re headed to court.
We’ve been summoned by my parents’ lawyers.
Well, technically I have. But there was no universe in which Declan would allow me to walk into that meeting alone.
Grandma Patty looks up from the kitchen counter and immediately clocks the vibe. “What happened?”
“Mom and Dad want me to come in today to sign some papers for my trust.” I hand her the letter.
She reads it in silence, glasses low on her nose. When she finishes, she folds the paper neatly and sets it on the counter.
“Well,” she says calmly. “That explains a few things.”
That’s it. She’s not outraged, or shocked. Like, at all.
I stare at her. “You’re not surprised?”
Grandma Patty meets my gaze, expression soft but certain. “No, sweetheart. I was hoping they wouldn’t go this route.” She sighs. “But I’m not surprised. Don’t worry, I’m ready.” She reaches for her purse. “I’ll handle it.”
“I don’t want you to—”
“Yes,” she says calmly, “You do.” She heads toward the hallway. “Give me two minutes. I need to grab a few papers.”
Declan watches her go, then looks at me and nods once like he understands exactly what kind of day this is going to be.
The Montgomery Corporation occupies an entire building. My parents’ offices are on the top floor.
Declan and Grandma flank me as we walk through the lobby like a small, determined army. Neither of them leaves my side, and I’ve never been more grateful for the quiet solidarity.
The conference room upstairs is immaculate. It has a long glass table, leather chairs, and floor-to-ceiling windows.
My parents sit at one end with folders neatly arranged in front of them. Two lawyers sit beside them like accessories.
My mother smiles tightly when she sees me.
“Kather—”
Grandma ignores them and takes the seat at the head of the table.
Everyone goes still.
She opens her bag and sets her own folder down.
“I’ve reviewed the letter you sent to my granddaughter,” she says calmly. “And before we go any further, I’d like to clarify something.”
My father clears his throat. “Mother—”
“You froze a trust I created,” Grandma continues, unbothered. “With money that belongs to me.” She tilts her head slightly. “You cited discretionary authority.” A small pause. “Which would be fine… if the assets were actually yours.”
Silence stretches across the table.
“The trusts were created by my husband and me,” she continues. “The assets are mine. You manage them.” Her voice stays calm. “You do not control them.”
My mother straightens.
“As her parents, we were acting in Katy’s best interest.”
Grandma finally turns to look at her. “No,” she says evenly. “You were acting in yours.” She slides a single page across the table. “I restored Katherine’s access this morning.”
My heart stutters.
Full access restored.
My father’s jaw tightens. “You can’t just—”
“I can.” Grandma’s voice is calm but lethal. “Because, again, it’s mine.” She folds her hands. “Managing my money does not make it yours.”
Declan squeezes my hand under the table.
“And since you chose to weaponize my assets against my granddaughter, I’ve decided we should address the larger issue.”
The lawyers exchange glances.
“The board has already been notified.”
Now both of my parents go still.
Her gaze settles on my father. “I spent years giving you the benefit of the doubt because you were family. That courtesy has expired.”
“Mother—”
“This isn’t a discussion,” she says calmly.
The room goes silent.
“Tomorrow morning the board will formally vote on leadership changes.”
My father’s face darkens. “You’re removing us?”
“I’m recommending your removal,” she corrects. “And given my ownership position, I’m very comfortable with how that vote is likely to go.”
My father stands. “This is insane.”
“You will retain your shares,” Grandma continues as if he hasn’t spoken. “You will not retain authority.”
My mother’s composure finally cracks. “You can’t seriously endorse this behavior. It’s beneath Montgomery values.”
Heat rushes to my face. “Beneath—Mom, it was one mistake.”
“I heard it was five mistakes, apparently.” Mom’s voice cuts.
I flinch.
Declan steps forward so fast the table rattles. “You do not talk to her like that.”
Dad’s expression hardens. “This doesn’t concern you, Declan.”
“The hell it doesn’t.”
Mom folds her arms. “Actions have consequences.”
“Yeah,” Declan fires back. “They do.” He leans forward slightly. “Like maybe losing access to your grandkids one day if you keep acting like this.”
Mom’s lips part, scandalized. Dad turns red.
“Enough,” Grandma says.
The room freezes.
She points a manicured finger toward my father. “Your father built this company from the ground up.” Her voice drops. “And you’ve clearly forgotten what kind of man he was.”
Mom opens her mouth. “Patricia—”
Grandma leans forward slightly. “The man I married would have protected his granddaughter. No matter what. He would have been ashamed to know that his only son became a man who stood by while his wife treated his children like this.”
The words land like a blow.
My father goes pale.
“And you,” she says, turning to my mother, “have spent so long protecting appearances that you’ve forgotten how to love people. That is what’s beneath Montgomery values.”
For the first time in my life, my mother looks rattled.
But my grandma keeps going. “You’ve spent years telling yourself your children held you back. But the only one responsible for your professional failures is you.”
Grandma straightens and turns to me. Her expression softens instantly. “Oh, sweetheart,” she murmurs, cupping my cheek. “You’re not the one who made a terrible mistake here.”
Something inside me cracks open. It was never about the money. What hurt was knowing they were willing to use it to hurt me.
No one had ever chosen me over them before. Not the way Grandma and Declan just did.
Grandma studies my face for a moment longer, something knowing in her expression. “You’ve always been more capable than they gave you credit for,” she says quietly. Her lips curve faintly. “Your books proved that.”
I blink.
“You knew?”
Grandma pats my cheek gently. “Of course I did. I’ve always seen you, Katherine.” She turns back toward the table. “I’ll appoint an interim CEO. Jack Winters.”
Declan exhales sharply.
“I trust him,” Grandma adds. “And unlike you, he understands family loyalty.” She stands and gathers her bag. “This meeting is over.”
Just like that.
I pause at the door and look back. “Thank you,” I say quietly.
My parents look confused.
“For what?” my mother asks.
I hold her gaze. “For teaching me exactly how not to love my own kids.” I take a breath. “And Declan’s right, by the way.”
My father frowns.
I meet their eyes one last time. “You’re not going anywhere near my baby.”
I turn and walk out before they can respond.
My legs feel strangely unsteady as we walk down the hallway.
Grandma slips her arm through mine like we’re heading to lunch instead of dismantling my parents’ power.
“No one gets to hurt you,” she says quietly. “Not even my own son.”
I swallow hard. “Thank you, Grandma.”
She pats my hand. “Anytime, sweetheart.”
Grandma doesn’t give us time to process anything. “Come on, kids,” she says briskly, grabbing her keys. “Let’s go see Jack.”
Jack Winters’s office is quiet. It’s also impressive, but somehow it feels warmer than my parents’ offices ever did.
Jack looks up when we walk in.
“Well.” He straightens. “This feels ominous.”
Grandma smiles thinly.
“I need that favor we discussed.”
Jack studies her for half a second, then sighs. “So they actually did it.”
“They did.”
He nods once. “That’s unfortunate.”
Grandma fills him in quickly.
When she finishes, Jack folds his arms. “Okay.”
Declan blinks. “That’s it?”
“What did you expect?” Jack asks. “She had a contingency plan. I had one too.”
My eyebrows rise.
Jack shrugs. “I already have candidates lined up.”
“Candidates?” I ask.
“Permanent CEO candidates.” He leans back.
Grandma nods approvingly.
“But don’t worry, I’ll hold the seat until we find the right person.”
Declan studies him. “Are you sure?”
“Of course.” Jack looks at me. “That company belongs to you and your brother. And one day it’ll belong to your children. I’ll make sure it’s stronger when I hand it over than when I received it.”
Grandma smiles. “That’s why I asked you.”
Jack smirks.
Declan claps his shoulder. “Thank you.”
Jack shrugs. “Anything that lets me stick it to the people who never really welcomed my daughter.”
Grandma smiles faintly. “Motivation is a very complex thing.”
Jack grins. “Indeed it is.”