Chapter 8: Storm Clouds Gather
By Wednesday of the following week, the legal maneuvers began in earnest. The local court issued a temporary injunction preventing either party from altering the property or disposing of assets until a preliminary hearing could be held. Richard received the paperwork via certified mail while sitting at his desk at the regional logistics firm where he worked as an operations manager.
His supervisor, a pragmatic man named Miller—no relation—called him into his office mid-afternoon.
"Richard, I got a call from a lawyer's office today asking about your employment status, your salary history, and whether you've had any disciplinary actions involving anger management," Miller said, sliding a pair of reading glasses down his nose. "I told them to pound sand because your record here is spotless. But you've got trouble knocking on your door."
"It's a family dispute, Tom," Richard said, rubbing the back of his neck. "My mother is trying to contest a property deed."
"Well, family disputes have a way of bleeding into professional life if you let them," Miller warned quietly. "Take whatever time you need to sort it out, but keep your head down. Vance & Sterling are bulldogs. They don't just want to win; they want to humiliate the other side into a settlement."
When Richard picked Arthur up from school that afternoon, the rain had returned, slicking the asphalt and turning the autumn leaves into a soggy carpet. Arthur climbed into the passenger seat, shaking out his umbrella before buckling his seatbelt.
"Mr. Henderson asked me to stay after class today," Arthur said as Richard pulled away from the curb.
Richard kept his eyes on the road, though his grip on the steering wheel tightened. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah. He just asked how I was doing with my hand. And whether my family situation was stable," Arthur said, looking out the rain-streaked window. "I told him we're moving out if we have to. Is that true, Dad? Are we going to lose the house?"
Richard pulled the car over to the side of the quiet residential street, shifting into park. He turned to look directly at his son, ensuring his voice was steady and reassuring.
"We are not losing anything, Arthur. Even if the walls of this house come down, we still have each other. But I promise you, I am not going to let your grandmother take our home or our dignity. We have the legal documents now. Uncle David is helping us build an ironclad defense."
May you like
Arthur nodded, though a shadow of worry remained in his eyes. "Grandma called the house phone twice today while I was at school. I didn't answer."
Richard felt a cold spike of anger, but he forced himself to breathe evenly. "You did the right thing. From now on, we don't answer her calls at all. Let her talk to our lawyer."
