Chapter 9: The Judge Who Betrayed Everyone
We returned to the competition venue shortly after noon.
Daniel Foster had frozen Northstar's acquisition.
He also promised to cooperate with the investigation.
But Maya's confession had changed everything.
Marcus Bennett had been the face of the competition.
He had stood on stage and praised my design.
He had held the evidence envelope.
He had publicly defended me against Vanessa.
If Maya was telling the truth, then the person I trusted most that night might have been involved in the entire scheme.
Helena walked beside me.
"Don't jump to conclusions.""
"I heard what she said.""
"I know. But we need proof.""
Thomas nodded.
"Marcus could have been contacted without accepting anything.""
I looked at him.
"Then why did Vanessa say she had paid him?""
"That's what we need to find out.""
When we entered the venue, a staff member hurried toward us.
"Mr. Bennett is in his office.""
Helena nodded.
"Thank you.""
We found Marcus standing beside his desk.
He looked surprised.
"Nia. I wasn't expecting you.""
I didn't sit.
"Did Vanessa pay you?""
His expression changed.
"What?""
"Maya says she heard her mother discussing a payment to you.""
Marcus slowly placed his phone on the desk.
"That's a serious accusation.""
"Is it false?""
He looked at Helena.
Then at Thomas.
Finally, he sighed.
"Please sit down.""
Nobody moved.
Marcus walked toward the window.
"Vanessa contacted me several months ago.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What did she want?""
"Information about the competition.""
"What information?""
"The scoring criteria. The judges' preferences. The order of presentations.""
"Why?""
"She said Maya wanted to prepare properly.""
I stared at him.
"And you gave her the information?""
He looked down.
"Yes.""
Helena's voice sharpened.
"Marcus.""
He raised his hand.
"I know how that sounds.""
"It sounds like corruption.""
He nodded.
"I accepted money.""
The words hit me like a slap.
I took a step backward.
"How much?""
"Five thousand dollars.""
I couldn't speak.
Marcus continued.
"I told myself it was consulting work. Vanessa said she wanted general advice about the fashion industry. I didn't know she planned to destroy Nia's dress.""
Thomas crossed his arms.
"Did you know Maya had submitted stolen designs?""
Marcus shook his head.
"No.""
"Did you know Vanessa had arranged access to the dressing room?""
"No.""
"Did you know about the company acquisition?""
Marcus hesitated.
That hesitation was enough.
Helena leaned forward.
"Marcus?""
He finally spoke.
"Vanessa told me she had legal control over Evelyn Carter Designs. She said she was planning to launch a new fashion label with Northstar.""
I looked at him.
"And you helped her?""
"I didn't understand the ownership dispute.""
"But you knew she was paying you to influence a competition.""
He closed his eyes.
"Yes.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Do you know what you did?""
He looked at me.
"I know.""
"No, you don't. You sat there while I walked onto that stage thinking I had finally earned a chance. You knew Maya had been given information. You knew my work was being used against me.""
Marcus lowered his head.
"I should have refused.""
"That's not an apology.""
He nodded.
"You're right.""
He opened a drawer and removed a small folder.
"There's something else.""
Inside were printed messages.
The first was from Vanessa.
Make sure Maya's presentation goes before Nia's. We need enough time to get the other dress out of the room.
The second read:
The judges need to see Maya as the strongest candidate. The contract is worth more than the prize money.
I read the messages.
Then I reached the final one.
It had been sent the night before the competition.
If Nia makes it onto the stage, make sure she doesn't win.
I looked up.
"Did you respond?""
Marcus nodded.
"What did you say?""
He turned the page.
His response was visible.
I'll handle it.
My throat tightened.
He had betrayed me.
But something else caught my attention.
A timestamp.
The message had been sent at 11:47 p.m.
At 11:52 p.m., another message had arrived.
The documents are ready. Once the sale is completed, nobody can challenge us.
I pointed at the screen.
"Who sent that?""
Marcus shook his head.
"I don't know. The number was registered through an encrypted service.""
Thomas examined the message.
"Can you retrieve the original metadata?""
Marcus nodded.
"I've already given everything to the competition's compliance officer.""
Helena looked relieved.
"Then we need to notify the police.""
Marcus nodded.
"I will.""
I stared at him.
"Why are you telling us this now?""
He looked at me for a long moment.
"Because I saw your design.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"On the runway. When you walked out wearing that reconstructed gown, I realized something.""
He opened a drawer and removed a photograph.
It showed my dress.
The image had been taken from the audience.
"You created something extraordinary after someone tried to take everything from you. And I knew I couldn't keep pretending I hadn't helped.""
I looked at the photograph.
"I don't need your admiration.""
"I know.""
He handed me a document.
"This is my written confession. I've included the payments, messages, and every piece of information Vanessa gave me.""
Helena took it.
"Your position in the competition is finished.""
Marcus nodded.
"I understand.""
A knock interrupted us.
A young assistant entered.
"Marcus, the board is here.""
He turned.
"All right.""
He looked at me one last time.
"Whatever happens, Nia, I hope you keep designing.""
I didn't answer.
He walked out.
For a few moments, the room was quiet.
Then Thomas's phone rang.
He listened.
His expression darkened.
"What's wrong?"" Helena asked.
Thomas ended the call.
"Northstar's legal department found another transfer attempt.""
"From Vanessa?""
"Yes. But this time, she wasn't trying to sell the company.""
He placed his phone on the desk.
"She tried to transfer the rights to Evelyn's original collection to a private company registered in Delaware.""
I frowned.
"Why would she do that after the acquisition was frozen?""
Thomas looked at me.
"Because someone is helping her move the assets before the authorities can freeze them.""
"Who?""
Thomas turned the phone toward me.
The company registration displayed a director's name.
I read it twice.
Then I felt the blood drain from my face.
The director wasn't Vanessa.
It wasn't Maya.
May you like
It wasn't Marcus.
It was my father.
