Chapter 4: The Signature of a Dead Man
I didn't sleep that night.
At 1:30 a.m., I was still sitting in the gala headquarters with Daniel Foster and two forensic document specialists.
The forged certificate was displayed across a large monitor.
Every detail looked convincing at first glance.
The paper texture.
The embossed seal.
The signature.
Even the language resembled the formal documents my father had used during his business dealings.
But there was one mistake.
A small one.
The kind only someone familiar with his records would notice.
My father had stopped using the title of chairman of Bennett Holdings eighteen months before his death.
The forged document identified him as chairman.
It was dated six months after he died.
Daniel pointed at the screen.
“Whoever prepared this had access to an old company template.””
I nodded.
“Vanessa.””
“Possibly.””
He zoomed in on the signature.
“But we cannot establish who physically created it without further investigation.””
I stared at the document.
“Can we establish that it was submitted from Brielle's account?””
“Yes.””
“Then preserve everything.””
“Already done.””
Marcus entered the conference room carrying three coffees.
“You should go home.””
I looked at him.
“That's funny.””
He put a coffee in front of me.
“I'm serious.””
“My family has been using my father's name to steal my work.””
“And you're going to confront them tomorrow.””
“Tonight.””
Marcus shook his head.
“Camille, don't let them drag you into a fight before the event.””
I looked at the monitor.
“It's already happening.””
Daniel closed the folder.
“There's something else you should know.””
I turned.
“What?””
“The trust.””
My father's estate trust had been established when I was twenty-one.
I knew its general terms.
My father had left me the controlling interest in Bennett Holdings, along with ownership of his personal creative archive and several properties.
Vanessa had been appointed temporary administrator of the household assets.
She had not been given ownership of anything.
Daniel placed a document in front of me.
“Your father included a clause requiring independent verification for any transfer of intellectual property or personal creative assets.””
I read the paragraph.
Then I looked up.
“What does that mean?””
“It means Vanessa had no authority to give Brielle your gown. She couldn't legally transfer ownership, even if she wanted to.””
“And the forged document?””
“Could constitute fraud.””
I looked at the clock.
2:04 a.m.
“Send the legal notice.””
Daniel nodded.
“Tonight?””
“Tonight.””
At 8:15 a.m., Vanessa received the first letter.
I know because she called me less than ten minutes later.
“Camille Bennett!””
Her voice was so loud I had to move the phone away from my ear.
“Good morning, Vanessa.””
“Don't you dare speak to me like that!””
“What's wrong?””
“What's wrong? You sent lawyers to my house!””
“It's my father's house.””
“Don't play games!””
I sat at my desk.
“What does the letter say?””
“You know exactly what it says. You're demanding that Brielle return the gown immediately.””
“Correct.””
Vanessa let out a bitter laugh.
“You have lost your mind.””
“Actually, the legal team seems to disagree.””
“You think you can threaten us?””
“No. I think you should return something that doesn't belong to you.””
She lowered her voice.
“You have no idea what you're doing.””
I looked at the forged document on my screen.
“I think I do.””
There was a pause.
Then she said something that made my blood run cold.
“Your father would be ashamed of you.””
I closed my eyes.
“Don't use him.””
“He wanted this family to stay together.””
“He wanted you to protect me.””
“I have protected you!””
“By stealing from me?””
“By giving you a home!””
I stood.
“Vanessa, you have until noon to return the gown.””
“And if I don't?””
“Then the gala's legal department will handle it.””
She laughed.
“You think those people will believe you? You're nobody, Camille.””
I looked at the certificate.
Then at the portrait of my father beside my desk.
“No,” I said quietly.
“I'm not nobody.””
I ended the call.
At 11:45 a.m., Brielle posted another photograph.
She was standing in the mansion's grand staircase wearing the gown.
This time, she had added a silver crown.
The caption read:
Tomorrow night, dreams become reality. Thank you to the incredible people who believed in me.
The comments were full of congratulations.
One comment caught my attention.
It came from an account belonging to a prominent fashion editor.
Can't wait to see what Asteria has planned for you.
Brielle replied:
She has something very special prepared.
I stared at the screen.
Then I opened the gala's official social media account.
For the first time in three years, I approved a public statement.
It was short.
Professional.
And devastating.
*The Midnight Masquerade confirms that no performer, ambassador, or guest has been authorized to represent Asteria without direct confirmation from the creative director. Any claims of official selection are false.*
Within minutes, the statement began circulating.
Brielle deleted her photograph.
But screenshots were already everywhere.
At 12:17 p.m., Vanessa arrived at headquarters.
She stormed past reception.
Marcus tried to stop her.
“Ma'am, you need an appointment.””
“I'm here to see Asteria.””
“She isn't available.””
“I know she's here!””
I stepped out of the conference room.
“Vanessa.””
She turned.
For a moment, her eyes moved over my clothes.
Black trousers.
White blouse.
No jewelry.
No designer labels.
She looked almost disappointed.
“You.””
“Yes.””
“Where is Asteria?””
I folded my arms.
“What do you need?””
She laughed.
“Don't be ridiculous. I know you work here, but I need to speak to someone important.””
Marcus looked at me.
I gave him a small nod.
Vanessa stepped closer.
“Your little announcement has embarrassed Brielle.””
“Your daughter made false claims.””
“She was excited!””
“She submitted a forged ownership document.””
Vanessa's face changed.
“What?””
I opened the folder.
“Would you like to explain this?””
She stared at the scanned certificate.
Then she looked at me.
“I don't know what that is.””
“It's a document submitted under Brielle's account.””
“She didn't know anything about it.””
“Then why was it submitted?””
Vanessa's mouth tightened.
“You're trying to frame her.””
I shook my head.
“No. I'm asking you to explain why someone forged my father's signature.””
She glanced toward Marcus.
Then back at me.
“This is a family issue.””
“No. The moment you used the gala's intellectual property, it became the gala's issue.””
She stepped closer.
“You need to understand something, Camille. Brielle has a future. You have nothing.””
I looked at her.
“Then why are you so desperate to steal what I made?””
For the first time, she had no answer.
A security officer approached.
“Ma'am, I'm going to have to ask you to leave.””
Vanessa pointed at me.
“This isn't over!””
I nodded.
“I know.””
She turned sharply and walked away.
Marcus watched her disappear.
“She's going to make trouble tonight.””
“I expect she will.””
He hesitated.
“Do you think she'll bring the gown?””
I looked at the security camera feed.
A black SUV had just pulled up outside.
Brielle stepped out carrying a garment bag.
“Yes,” I said.
“I think she will.””
At 3:40 p.m., the final rehearsal began.
The main ballroom had been transformed into an enchanted forest.
Artificial trees rose from the floor.
Thousands of tiny lights glittered overhead.
A massive silver moon hung above the central stage.
The orchestra rehearsed beneath it.
I walked through the room checking every detail.
The lighting.
The sound.
The performers.
The costume department.
Everything had to be perfect.
Because tonight wasn't just about revenge.
It was about the children who would benefit from the money raised by the event.
I refused to let my family's behavior ruin that.
A young costume assistant approached me.
“Ms. Bennett?””
“Yes?””
“There's someone asking for you.””
“Who?””
She hesitated.
“Mr. Harrington.””
I turned.
Richard Harrington stood near the entrance.
He looked furious.
“Camille,” he said.
“Mr. Harrington.””
“I need to speak with you.””
“Of course.””
He glanced around the ballroom.
“Privately.””
I led him into a nearby office.
He closed the door.
Then he placed a document on the table.
“My son tells me you're involved in this situation.””
“I'm involved in the gala.””
He frowned.
“I'm talking about Brielle.””
I said nothing.
Richard loosened his tie.
“Vanessa told me that you were deliberately trying to sabotage her daughter.””
“Is that what she told you?””
“She says you've been spreading lies about the gown.””
I opened my laptop.
“Would you like to see the ownership certificate?””
He hesitated.
I turned the screen toward him.
He read the document.
Then he looked at the photograph of the forged signature.
His expression hardened.
“Where did you get this?””
“From a document submitted under Brielle's account.””
Richard sat down.
“This is serious.””
“Yes.””
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then he said:
“I think you should know that Vanessa offered my family something else.””
“What?””
“Your father's controlling interest in Bennett Holdings.””
I went completely still.
Richard opened his briefcase.
“She claimed that the estate had already approved a transfer. She said the deal would be announced after the gala.””
I stared at him.
“That is impossible.””
“That's what I thought.””
He pushed another document across the table.
It was a proposed acquisition agreement.
And on the final page, there was a list of assets.
One of them was the estate itself.
My father's house.
The company.
And the trust that controlled my creative portfolio.
I looked up.
“Did you sign this?””
“No.””
“Why not?””
Richard gave me a strange look.
“Because I know Daniel Bennett.””
I swallowed.
“He was a good man,” Richard continued.
“And he told me something before he died.””
“What?””
Richard looked directly at me.
“He said that if anyone ever tried to take his daughter's future away from her, I was to make sure she knew the truth.””
My hands went cold.
“What truth?””
Richard opened another folder.
Inside was a letter bearing my father's handwriting.
He placed it in front of me.
“Your father asked me to keep this until you were ready.””
I stared at the envelope.
My name was written across the front.
*Camille.*
I slowly opened it.
The first sentence made my heart stop.
My darling girl, if you're reading this, Vanessa has probably told you that everything I built belongs to her.
I looked up.
Richard's expression was solemn.
May you like
Then he said:
“Your father knew what she was planning.””
