Chapter 8: Five Million Dollars for a Stolen Dream
I barely slept that night.
Thomas drove us back to my father's house after making copies of the documents.
Helena stayed with me.
My father returned just before sunrise.
He looked exhausted.
His shirt was wrinkled, and his eyes were red.
When he saw the papers spread across the dining table, he stopped.
"Where did you get those?""
"From Mom's storage unit," I answered.
He sat down slowly.
"Thomas?""
"He's alive," I said.
Dad closed his eyes.
"I should have known.""
I stared at him.
"You knew he was alive?""
"No. But I knew Vanessa had been trying to find him.""
"Why?""
Dad rubbed his face.
"She said he had taken money from the company.""
Thomas shook his head.
"That's a lie.""
Dad looked up.
"How can you be sure?""
"Because I kept the original financial records.""
He placed a folder on the table.
"Every payment. Every contract. Every design license. Everything.""
I examined the papers.
The company had been profitable before my mother's death.
It had generated more than a million dollars in licensing revenue over several years.
But after she died, the income had dropped.
Then the payments had begun moving into Carter Luxury Events.
"Why didn't you report this?"" I asked my father.
He looked miserable.
"I trusted Vanessa.""
I let out a quiet breath.
"That's not an answer.""
"I know.""
He looked at me.
"After your mother died, I was lost. Vanessa told me she could help manage everything. She said she knew how to keep the company alive.""
"And you let her?""
"I thought I was protecting you.""
"By hiding everything?""
He didn't answer.
Thomas opened another folder.
"There's a more immediate problem. The buyer is scheduled to meet Vanessa at ten this morning.""
Helena checked the clock.
"It's seven.""
"Who is the buyer?"" I asked.
"Northstar Retail Group.""
I recognized the name.
Northstar owned several national fashion chains.
They had sponsored the Atlanta competition for years.
"Can they really buy the company?""
"Not without valid ownership rights," Thomas replied.
"But Vanessa appears to have prepared a transfer agreement claiming she controls the intellectual property.""
Helena examined the document.
"She cannot legally sell what she doesn't own.""
"Exactly," Thomas said.
I stood.
"Then we stop the sale.""
Thomas nodded.
"We'll need to notify Northstar's legal department immediately.""
Helena picked up her phone.
"I'll contact Marcus. He knows the sponsor's representatives.""
I looked at my father.
"Are you coming?""
He hesitated.
"Of course.""
I studied his face.
For years, I had wanted him to stand beside me.
Now I wasn't sure whether I could trust him to stay there.
But I nodded.
At nine thirty, we arrived at Northstar's Atlanta headquarters.
The building was a glass tower overlooking a busy intersection.
Vanessa's SUV was already parked outside.
We entered the lobby.
A receptionist looked up.
"Can I help you?""
Thomas introduced himself.
"We're here regarding the proposed acquisition of Evelyn Carter Designs.""
The receptionist checked her screen.
"Mrs. Carter is already upstairs.""
I stepped forward.
"Then please tell her the rightful owner has arrived.""
The receptionist hesitated.
A moment later, an elevator opened.
A man in a charcoal suit stepped out.
He was in his early forties.
"Thomas Reed?""
Thomas nodded.
"I'm Daniel Foster, Northstar's general counsel.""
He looked at the documents.
"What's this about?""
Helena handed him the original ownership agreement.
"Your company is preparing to purchase intellectual property that Vanessa Carter does not own.""
Daniel's expression changed.
"That is a serious allegation.""
"It is also supported by the original records.""
He examined the documents.
Then he looked at me.
"You're Nia Carter?""
"Yes.""
"Mrs. Carter told us she was the sole authorized representative of the company.""
"She lied.""
Daniel looked toward the elevator.
"Please come with me.""
We followed him into a conference room.
Vanessa was already seated at the far end of the table.
Maya sat beside her.
When she saw me, she nearly dropped her phone.
"What is she doing here?""
Daniel closed the door.
"Apparently, we have a significant ownership dispute.""
Vanessa stood.
"This is ridiculous. These people have no authority.""
Thomas placed the original agreement on the table.
"Would you like to explain this signature?""
Vanessa glanced down.
Her face went pale.
Daniel examined the document.
"Mrs. Carter, did you disclose the existence of this agreement?""
"It was superseded.""
"By what?""
She handed him the amended document from the previous night.
He read it.
Then he frowned.
"This document appears to contain a signature from an attorney who died three years before its stated date.""
Vanessa stiffened.
"That's a clerical error.""
Daniel looked at her.
"A clerical error involving a deceased attorney's signature?""
"Yes.""
He turned toward his assistant.
"Stop the acquisition process.""
Vanessa slammed her hand onto the table.
"You cannot do that!""
"I can, and I just did.""
"You promised me five million dollars!""
The room went silent.
Daniel slowly looked up.
"Five million dollars?""
Vanessa realized her mistake.
She sat down.
Maya stared at her mother.
"Mom, you told me the money was going to be used for the company.""
Vanessa ignored her.
She leaned toward Daniel.
"This is a misunderstanding. I have been managing the business for years.""
Thomas opened his folder.
"Then explain these payments.""
He placed the bank records on the table.
"More than fifty-five thousand dollars was transferred from company royalty accounts to private accounts.""
Daniel examined the statements.
His expression became colder.
"Mrs. Carter, I think this meeting is over.""
Vanessa turned toward me.
"You've ruined everything.""
I stood.
"No. I stopped you from selling something that never belonged to you.""
She pointed at me.
"You have no idea what it takes to build a business.""
I looked at the documents.
"Neither did you. You just knew how to steal one.""
Maya stood suddenly.
"Mom, let's go.""
Vanessa turned.
"Sit down.""
"No.""
The word was quiet, but it carried through the room.
Maya looked at me.
"I want to tell the truth.""
Vanessa's face hardened.
"Don't you dare.""
Maya took a breath.
"I knew she was going to destroy Nia's dress.""
My heart stopped.
"Why?""
Maya looked down.
"Because Mom told me the company would belong to us once Nia was disqualified.""
Thomas leaned forward.
"Who told you that?""
"My mother.""
"Did you know about the fake amendment?""
Maya shook her head.
"No. But I heard her talking to someone on the phone.""
"When?""
"Last week.""
"What did she say?""
Maya's eyes filled with tears.
"She said the original ownership papers were still missing, but she had another way to get the company.""
Daniel looked at her.
"Who was she speaking to?""
Maya hesitated.
Then she whispered a name.
"Marcus Bennett.""
My stomach dropped.
The room went silent.
Marcus.
The man who had defended me at the competition.
The man who had found the evidence envelope.
The man who had praised my design.
I stared at Maya.
"Are you sure?""
She nodded.
"I heard Mom say she had already paid him.""
Thomas slowly closed the folder.
Helena's face turned pale.
May you like
And I realized the scandal might be much bigger than Vanessa.
Because someone inside the competition might have been helping her all along.
