Chapter 5: The Contract That Could Destroy My Father
Daniel arrived at Edward's hotel suite at seven that evening.
He carried two briefcases, a laptop, and a document sealed in a plastic evidence sleeve.
He looked exhausted.
"Nia, I'm sorry.""
I stood from the sofa.
"Why?""
"Because I should have protected you sooner.""
I shook my head.
"You tried to help Mom. You gave me the truth. That's more than anyone else did.""
Daniel placed the evidence sleeve on the table.
"Then we need to talk about this.""
Inside was a document dated eleven months before my mother's death.
At the top, in bold letters, were the words:
*EVELYN CARTER — IRREVOCABLE SUCCESSION AGREEMENT.*
Edward sat beside me.
"Read the final section.""
I scanned the pages.
The agreement described the transfer of intellectual property, voting rights, and ownership interests to a protected trust.
But one paragraph caught my attention.
Upon the beneficiary reaching the age of nineteen, all reserved rights shall become immediately enforceable. Any unauthorized transfer or exploitation of protected assets shall trigger an automatic review by the appointed trustees.
I looked at Daniel.
"What does that mean?""
"It means Richard was never supposed to own the original company outright.""
Edward nodded.
"Your mother allowed him to manage the business because she wanted you to have a stable childhood. But she protected the assets that mattered most.""
I continued reading.
Then I reached the final page.
There were three appointed trustees.
Edward Whitmore.
Daniel Hayes.
And someone whose name I recognized immediately.
Richard Carter.
I looked up.
"My father is one of the trustees?""
Daniel nodded.
"He was appointed under the condition that he act in the best interests of the beneficiary.""
"Then why would he steal from me?""
Edward answered quietly.
"Because he believed you would never discover the agreement.""
I turned another page.
A handwritten note had been attached to the back.
My mother's handwriting.
If Richard ever uses my work to build a future for someone else while denying my daughter her rightful place, the trustees must suspend his authority immediately.
I felt a strange mixture of anger and sadness.
My mother had anticipated this.
She had tried to protect me.
And somehow, I had still ended up outside her home, holding a ruined dress in the rain.
Daniel opened his laptop.
"There's another problem.""
He displayed a list of registered designs.
Several belonged to Evelyn Carter.
Others were registered under Carter Fashion House.
But the most recent entry showed a design filed six weeks earlier.
*THE ROSE OF EVELYN — BRIELLE CARTER COLLECTION.*
I stared.
"They registered Mom's design under Brielle's name?""
"Yes.""
"Can they do that?""
"Not legally. But someone approved the filing.""
Daniel enlarged the document.
The signature appeared at the bottom.
Richard Carter.
My father had personally certified that Brielle was the original creator.
I felt sick.
"He knew the design was Mom's.""
"Of course he did," Daniel said.
"He had access to the original archive for years.""
Edward stood and walked toward the window.
"Tomorrow, Richard intends to unveil the collection in front of international investors. If he succeeds, the company will sign several licensing agreements.""
"Then we stop him.""
Daniel looked at me.
"We need to be careful. The contracts are worth millions. If we interrupt the gala without presenting the evidence properly, Richard will claim we're trying to sabotage the company.""
I looked down at the ruined fabric inside my suitcase.
"What if I show them the original design?""
Daniel considered it.
"That would help.""
"What if I make the dress again?""
Edward turned.
"You don't have enough time.""
"I have the original sketch. I have the measurements. I know every stitch.""
"Nia, recreating a couture gown overnight is nearly impossible.""
I looked at him.
"Then I'll start now.""
At midnight, I was sitting in Daniel's temporary design studio.
A small industrial sewing machine stood beside a cutting table.
The room smelled of steam, fabric dye, and fresh coffee.
Daniel had arranged for several bolts of silk to be delivered.
Edward had found a collection of ruby crystals from an old archive.
I laid out the original sketch.
Then I began.
First, the corset.
I measured the fabric twice before cutting.
Then I reconstructed the floral shoulder pieces.
I worked until my fingertips hurt.
At two in the morning, Edward entered carrying a tray.
"Tea?""
I didn't look up.
"Thank you.""
He placed the cup beside me.
"Your mother used to work like this.""
I smiled.
"She taught me.""
He watched my hands.
"May I ask you something?""
"Of course.""
"Why do you want to save the Carter name?""
My needle stopped.
I considered the question.
"Because Mom built it.""
Edward nodded.
"But Richard has used that name to hurt you. Vanessa has used it to make you feel small. Brielle has used it to steal from you.""
I looked at the unfinished dress.
"I don't want them to decide what my mother's name means.""
Edward sat down.
"Then what does it mean to you?""
I threaded the needle again.
"That something beautiful can survive even when people try to destroy it.""
He didn't speak.
He simply watched me work.
At four thirty, I had completed the corset.
At six, the first ruby roses were attached.
At eight, the gown finally began to resemble the drawing.
Daniel came in carrying his phone.
"Nia, we have a problem.""
I looked up.
"What happened?""
He turned the screen toward me.
A video had been uploaded to Brielle's social media account.
The caption read:
*Tomorrow night, I reveal the collection that will define my family's future. Some people steal dreams. Others are born to create them.*
The video showed Brielle standing in the showroom.
Behind her were several assistants carrying dresses.
One of them was holding a garment bag.
I recognized the shape immediately.
The Rose of Evelyn.
Brielle smiled into the camera.
"And to anyone who thinks they can challenge my place in this industry, I have a message.""
She lifted a glass of champagne.
"Stay in your lane.""
The video ended.
I placed my phone on the table.
Daniel sighed.
"She's provoking you.""
"No.""
I returned to the dress.
"She's celebrating too early.""
Edward smiled faintly.
Then Daniel received another notification.
His face changed.
"What is it?"" I asked.
He turned the phone toward us.
An official email had arrived from the Carter Fashion House board.
*EMERGENCY BOARD MEETING — 8:00 A.M.*
The agenda contained one item.
*Review of Evelyn Carter Trust and potential suspension of Richard Carter's fiduciary authority.*
Edward read it twice.
"They're moving faster than I expected.""
I looked at the clock.
"Is that good?""
"Very good," Daniel replied.
Then another email appeared.
This one came from my father's personal attorney.
Daniel opened it.
His expression hardened.
"Richard has filed an emergency motion challenging the trust.""
"What does that mean?""
"It means he's trying to freeze your rights before tomorrow's gala.""
I stepped away from the sewing machine.
"Can he do that?""
"He can try.""
Edward picked up his cane.
"Then we will answer him.""
Daniel looked at me.
"There's something else.""
He enlarged the attached legal filing.
At the bottom was a witness declaration.
The document claimed that Evelyn Carter had voluntarily transferred her entire company to Richard before her death.
The witness signature was dated eight years earlier.
I recognized the name.
My father's former personal attorney.
But the signature looked different.
"That's fake," I whispered.
Daniel nodded.
"We believe so.""
"Can we prove it?""
He looked at me.
"Possibly. But the original document has to be found.""
Edward's expression turned grave.
"Where would Richard keep it?""
I thought about the mansion.
The locked office.
The old cabinets.
The room where my mother used to work before Vanessa had everything removed.
Then I remembered something.
When I was twelve, my mother had shown me a small hidden compartment beneath her sewing table.
She had told me it was a place where important things could stay safe.
The sewing table had disappeared after she died.
But I remembered the label on its underside.
*E.C. — ORIGINALS ONLY.*
I looked at Daniel.
"I know where we can find the real document.""
He leaned forward.
"Where?""
"In my father's house.""
Edward stood immediately.
"Then we need to get there before he destroys it.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from Brielle appeared.
It contained a photograph.
She was standing in front of the runway, wearing my mother's necklace.
Behind her, on the enormous screen, was a photograph of my mother.
The caption beneath it read:
*BRIELLE CARTER — THE NEW FACE OF EVELYN'S LEGACY.*
Then came another message.
*Brielle:* I hope you enjoy watching me become everything you failed to be.
I stared at the screen.
May you like
Then I typed one sentence.
*Nia:* Enjoy your last night believing that.
