Chapter 3: The Gala Invitation That Changed Everything
Two days later, I received an invitation to the Carter Legacy Fashion Gala.
It was printed on thick ivory paper with gold lettering.
My name appeared beneath the heading.
*SPECIAL GUEST: NIA CARTER.*
I stared at it across Daniel's desk.
"Why would they invite me?""
Daniel adjusted his glasses.
"Because your father wants something.""
"What?""
"I suspect he wants to know how much you know.""
He opened his laptop and turned the screen toward me.
A fashion magazine article appeared.
*BRIELLE CARTER NAMED HEIR TO AMERICA'S MOST INFLUENTIAL FASHION HOUSE.*
There was a photograph of Brielle standing beside my father.
She wore a black-and-gold gown.
Her hair was styled in perfect waves.
A diamond necklace rested against her collarbone.
My mother's necklace.
The one she had given me when I was twelve.
The one Vanessa had taken from my bedroom after her funeral.
I felt my jaw tighten.
Daniel noticed.
"Something wrong?""
"She's wearing my mother's necklace.""
He examined the photograph.
"That necklace belonged to Evelyn?""
"Yes.""
"Then add it to the list.""
"What list?""
Daniel smiled faintly.
"The things we're going to get back.""
I looked at the invitation again.
"Do you think I should go?""
"Absolutely.""
"Won't they humiliate me?""
"Probably.""
He said it so calmly that I almost laughed.
"But there's something you need to understand," he continued.
"You don't have to prove you're better than them. You need to prove what belongs to you.""
He opened another document.
It was a copy of the trust's activation notice.
"Your mother's trust has been legally activated. However, we need to complete the verification process and establish your position before the gala.""
"How?""
"With your signature, the original ownership documents, and the archive.""
I frowned.
"What archive?""
Daniel stood and walked to a locked cabinet.
He entered a code.
Inside were several black boxes.
He removed one and placed it on the desk.
"Your mother's original designs. Contracts. Correspondence. Everything she preserved before Richard took control of the company.""
I opened the box.
The first thing I saw was a collection of handwritten sketches.
The second was a photograph of my mother with a group of women.
The third was a letter addressed to Daniel.
I unfolded it.
If Nia ever recreates The Rose of Evelyn without seeing the original sketch, make sure she understands that the talent was always hers. I only hope she never has to suffer to prove it.
I covered my mouth.
My mother had known.
Somehow, she had believed I would create the same dress.
And I had.
Daniel placed a hand on the box.
"There's one more thing you should know. Your father announced that Brielle will unveil a new signature collection at the gala.""
I looked up.
"What collection?""
"He's calling it The Rose Legacy.""
My stomach dropped.
"That's my mother's collection.""
"Yes.""
I stared at the sketches.
"He's using her designs?""
"Several of them. And I suspect he's using yours, too.""
I pulled out the page showing The Rose of Evelyn.
There was a tiny handwritten note beneath the drawing.
*Do not release until the rightful heir is ready.*
My mother had planned for this.
Not every detail.
Not every betrayal.
But she had prepared something for the day I would finally be old enough to stand on my own.
I looked at Daniel.
"Can we stop them?""
"Not by shouting in the showroom. We need evidence.""
I nodded.
"Then let's get it.""
The following afternoon, I went to the Carter Fashion House headquarters.
I wore a simple black dress borrowed from Daniel's assistant.
My hair was tied back.
I carried my mother's sketchbook in a leather bag.
The security guard at the entrance recognized me immediately.
"Miss Carter?""
"Yes.""
He hesitated.
"Your father said you weren't allowed inside.""
I looked at him.
"Then call him.""
The guard made the call.
Three minutes later, the enormous glass doors opened.
Vanessa appeared in the lobby.
She wore a cream suit and carried a tablet.
Her expression changed when she saw me.
"What are you doing here?""
"I came to see my father.""
"He's busy.""
"I'll wait.""
She looked at the bag on my shoulder.
"What's that?""
"None of your business.""
Her eyes narrowed.
"You really haven't learned anything, have you?""
I remained silent.
Vanessa stepped closer.
"Listen carefully. Brielle is presenting her collection tomorrow. The press will be here.
Investors will be here. Important people will be here.""
"I know.""
"Then stay away from the event.""
"Why?""
"Because nobody wants to see you embarrassing yourself.""
Before I could answer, Brielle walked out of the elevator.
She wore an ivory silk dress.
The design was familiar.
Too familiar.
The sculpted shoulders.
The ruby-red roses.
The flowing train.
My breath caught.
It was my dress.
Or what remained of it, transformed into something new.
Brielle stopped in front of me.
"Well, look who's back.""
I stared at her gown.
"Where did you get that design?""
She glanced down.
"Oh, this?""
She slowly turned, allowing the train to spread across the marble.
"It's from my new collection.""
"You stole it.""
Brielle laughed.
"Don't be ridiculous.""
"I made that dress.""
"You made a cheap imitation. This is professionally reconstructed.""
Vanessa touched the fabric.
"Every stitch was supervised by the Carter design team.""
I stepped closer.
"Those roses are mine.""
Brielle's smile widened.
"Then perhaps you should have protected them.""
I looked at her hands.
She was wearing my mother's ring.
A small gold rose with a ruby center.
I recognized the tiny scratch near its edge.
My mother had received it from her grandmother.
"Take that off," I said.
Brielle raised her hand.
"Excuse me?""
"That ring belongs to me.""
Vanessa laughed sharply.
"Everything in this building belongs to Richard.""
I turned toward her.
"Not everything.""
For the first time, her expression faltered.
Before she could respond, the elevator doors opened again.
My father stepped out.
Richard looked at me, then at the sketchbook in my bag.
His face hardened.
"What did I tell you about bringing that here?""
I didn't answer.
He approached and held out his hand.
"Give it to me.""
"No.""
His voice dropped.
"Nia, don't make this difficult.""
I looked directly at him.
"You've had eight years to tell me the truth.""
His expression changed.
Vanessa glanced between us.
Brielle stopped smiling.
My father lowered his voice.
"You have no idea what you're playing with.""
"Then explain it.""
He looked around the lobby.
Several employees had stopped working.
Two assistants were pretending to examine a display rack while listening.
Richard leaned closer.
"Come to my office.""
I followed him.
Inside, he closed the door.
Vanessa and Brielle remained outside.
My father walked behind his desk.
"How much did Daniel tell you?""
I said nothing.
He exhaled.
"So he finally decided to interfere.""
"Did you steal Mom's company?""
Richard's face tightened.
"Your mother was not capable of running a business.""
"She founded it.""
"She designed clothes. I built an empire.""
"With her money.""
He slammed his hand against the desk.
"Enough!""
A glass paperweight jumped.
For a moment, I was twelve again, standing in front of him after Vanessa had thrown away my mother's sewing patterns.
But I was no longer twelve.
I placed the sketchbook on his desk.
"These designs belong to Mom.""
He stared at it.
Then he opened the cover.
His face went pale.
"Where did you get this?""
"From the person you couldn't silence.""
Richard quickly closed the book.
"You need to understand something. Whatever your mother told you, whatever Daniel showed you, none of it changes the fact that I run this company.""
"Not according to the trust.""
Silence.
A long, terrible silence.
His eyes lifted.
"What trust?""
I held his gaze.
"The Evelyn Carter Trust.""
For the first time in my life, I saw my father look genuinely frightened.
He moved around the desk.
"Who gave you those documents?""
"They belong to me.""
"You're nineteen. You don't understand the legal implications.""
"Then why are you so worried?""
He stopped.
I had never spoken to him that way before.
He looked at the sketchbook again.
Then he reached for the office telephone.
"Security.""
I stepped back.
"What are you doing?""
"Having you escorted out.""
I picked up my bag.
"You can escort me out. You can't erase the truth.""
He lifted the receiver.
Then his office computer chimed.
An email notification appeared on the screen.
Richard glanced at it.
His face changed.
I couldn't read the message from where I stood, but I could see the sender.
*HAYES & MORGAN LEGAL PARTNERS.*
The subject line was visible.
*FORMAL NOTICE: ACTIVATION OF EVELYN CARTER TRUST — CONTROLLING OWNERSHIP VERIFICATION.*
My father slowly put down the telephone.
I walked toward the door.
Then he spoke.
"Nia.""
I stopped.
His voice was no longer angry.
It was almost desperate.
"Whatever Daniel promised you, don't believe him.""
I turned around.
"Why?""
Richard looked at me for several seconds.
Then he said something I never expected.
"Because your mother didn't leave you the company.""
My heart pounded.
"What are you talking about?""
He swallowed.
"She left you something much bigger.""
Before I could ask another question, the office door flew open.
Vanessa stood there holding her tablet.
"Richard! We have a problem!""
He turned sharply.
"What now?""
She held up the screen.
A photograph of my mother appeared beside a breaking news headline.
*MYSTERY REVEALED: THE ORIGINAL CARTER FASHION HOUSE FOUNDER MAY HAVE A SECRET HEIR.*
Beneath the headline was a picture of me.
And beside my photograph was another name.
A name I had never heard before.
*EVELYN CARTER'S PRIVATE DESIGN COMPANY — ROSELINE INTERNATIONAL.*
Vanessa's face had gone white.
Brielle appeared behind her.
"Mom, what is Roseline International?""
My father didn't answer.
He simply stared at me.
Then he whispered:
"How much did Daniel tell you about your grandfather?""
I froze.
"My grandfather?""
Richard closed his eyes.
And from the hallway came the sound of another elevator opening.
A man stepped out.
He was wearing a charcoal suit and carrying a silver walking cane.
He looked directly at me.
Then he smiled.
May you like
"Hello, Nia," he said.
"I've been waiting nineteen years to meet my granddaughter.""
