Chapter 5: The Woman Who Knew My Secret
I didn't leave the foundation immediately.
I couldn't.
The name Victoria Hale had dragged me back to a part of my life I had spent two years trying to forget.
Maya noticed my expression.
"What's wrong?""
I showed her the message.
She read it twice.
"Victoria?""
I nodded.
"Your old mentor?""
"Yes.""
"Didn't she accuse you of stealing her collection?""
"She did.""
Maya lowered her voice.
"Why is she involved now?""
I looked across the room.
My mother was speaking quietly with Brianna near the doorway. Neither of them seemed interested in the gown anymore.
Adrian was discussing the missing authentication tag with his archival team.
I turned toward him.
"Can I see the complaint?""
He handed me the document.
It was a formal letter submitted to the foundation three days earlier.
Victoria claimed that the floral construction technique in my grandmother's collection had been developed by her studio.
She alleged that Eleanor Carter had copied several of her experimental patterns decades earlier.
The complaint included photographs, sketches, and a declaration from a former employee.
I read the document slowly.
Then I noticed something.
The photographs weren't old.
They were taken recently.
I looked at Adrian.
"These images are from my studio.""
He nodded.
"That's what our investigator suspects.""
My fingers tightened around the pages.
Someone had photographed my grandmother's sketches.
Someone had accessed my worktable.
Someone had taken pictures of the designs before submitting them to the foundation.
And that person knew exactly where I kept everything.
Maya whispered, "Who had access to your studio?""
I didn't answer.
Because there were only three possibilities.
Me.
My mother.
And Brianna.
My mother approached.
"Are we finished here?""
I turned toward her.
"Did you give Victoria photographs of Grandma's designs?""
Her face changed.
"Why would you ask that?""
"Because she has pictures from my studio.""
My mother glanced toward Brianna.
Then she looked at me.
"Victoria was a friend.""
"That's not what I asked.""
"She wanted to see the collection.""
"Why?""
"Because she's experienced in the industry.""
I stared at her.
"You knew she was claiming Grandma copied her work?""
My mother sighed.
"She said there were similarities.""
"Mom, Victoria accused me of stealing her designs two years ago.""
"That was a long time ago.""
"She destroyed my first professional opportunity.""
My mother looked impatient.
"You're exaggerating.""
I remembered that day clearly.
I had been twenty-four.
Victoria had invited me to present a capsule collection at her private studio. I had spent months preparing six garments, including a jacket with intricate floral embroidery inspired by my grandmother.
Two days before the presentation, Victoria announced that the collection was based on designs stolen from her private archive.
She showed the industry representatives photographs of sketches that looked remarkably similar to mine.
I had been humiliated.
My invitation was withdrawn.
Several suppliers stopped answering my calls.
And Victoria had publicly described me as an inexperienced designer who didn't understand intellectual property.
I had never been able to prove that she had taken the sketches from my original notebook.
Now she was back.
And she was claiming ownership of my grandmother's work.
I looked at my mother.
"Why would you help her?""
My mother folded her arms.
"Because she offered to help Brianna.""
Silence.
I stared at her.
"What?""
"Victoria has connections. She offered to introduce your sister to several important people.""
"So you gave her Grandma's designs?""
"I didn't give her anything.""
"Then how did she get those photographs?""
My mother looked away.
Brianna stepped forward.
"Mom, tell her.""
My mother snapped.
"Stay out of this.""
But Brianna continued.
"I saw Victoria at the house last month. She had a folder with pictures of Nia's sketches.""
My heart began pounding.
"Where?""
"In the dining room. Mom told me not to worry about it.""
I looked at my mother.
She said nothing.
Brianna rubbed her forehead.
"She said Victoria was helping me create a professional portfolio.""
I turned toward her.
"Did you give Victoria access to my studio?""
Brianna's silence was answer enough.
I felt dizzy.
"When?""
"Last month.""
I stared at her.
"How?""
"Mom had a spare key.""
My mother finally spoke.
"You left the key at the house. I didn't break into anything.""
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"You let her into my studio?""
"She only wanted to look at your work.""
"That's my private workspace!""
My mother raised her voice.
"Stop shouting!""
I took a step back.
For years, I had allowed my mother to dismiss my boundaries because I wanted to believe she would eventually treat me like a daughter instead of an inconvenience.
But now she had opened my studio to someone who had already tried to destroy my career.
I turned to Adrian.
"I want a formal record of this disclosure.""
He nodded immediately.
"We'll document it.""
Maya stepped closer.
"And we'll preserve the security footage from the studio.""
I looked at Brianna.
"Did you know Victoria was claiming ownership of Grandma's collection?""
Brianna shook her head.
"No.""
"Did you know she was trying to get the designs registered under her studio?""
"No.""
I studied her face.
For the first time, I couldn't tell whether she was lying.
Then my phone rang.
The screen showed an unfamiliar number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A woman's voice came through.
Smooth.
Confident.
Unmistakable.
"Nia. It's been a long time.""
My entire body went rigid.
Victoria Hale.
Maya mouthed her name.
I turned away from the group.
"What do you want?""
Victoria laughed softly.
"I hear you've been making quite a scene at the Bellamy Foundation.""
"Did you submit the complaint?""
"Which complaint?""
"The one claiming my grandmother stole your designs.""
There was a pause.
Then Victoria said, "Your grandmother was a lovely woman. But talent doesn't make someone original.""
My jaw tightened.
"She created those designs decades before you opened your studio.""
"Do you have proof?""
"Yes.""
"Then I suggest you bring it.""
I glanced at Adrian.
He was listening.
Victoria continued.
"I'd hate for you to repeat the mistakes you made two years ago.""
I lowered my voice.
"You ruined my first collection.""
"No, Nia. You ruined it yourself by refusing to understand how this industry works.""
"What does that mean?""
"It means you should have stayed where you belonged.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"Behind the scenes?""
Victoria laughed.
"Your mother understands that, at least.""
I looked toward Denise.
She was watching me.
Victoria continued.
"Now, listen carefully. I have no interest in fighting with you. Your sister is lovely.
She has potential. I would be happy to help her build a career.""
"By stealing my grandmother's work?""
"By giving her opportunities she wouldn't otherwise have.""
I closed my eyes.
Then Victoria said something that made my blood run cold.
"Besides, Nia, there is one little detail your grandmother never told you.""
I opened my eyes.
"What detail?""
"That collection wasn't entirely hers.""
My heart skipped.
"What are you talking about?""
Victoria's voice became quieter.
"Your grandmother had a business partner. A very talented designer. They worked together for years.""
I looked at the archival folder.
"Who?""
Victoria laughed.
"Someone your mother knows very well.""
I turned toward Denise.
My mother had gone pale.
Victoria continued.
"Ask her who really designed the original floral patterns. Ask her why Eleanor left the partnership so suddenly. And most importantly, ask her why your mother has been keeping a particular photograph hidden for twenty-six years.""
The call ended.
I stood frozen.
Maya touched my arm.
"Nia?""
I looked at my mother.
"What's she talking about?""
Denise didn't move.
Brianna looked between us.
"Mom?""
I stepped closer.
"Who was Grandma's business partner?""
My mother swallowed.
Then she whispered, "Victoria is lying.""
"Then why are you afraid?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
For a moment, I thought she might finally tell me the truth.
Instead, she reached into her handbag and pulled out a small, worn photograph.
She stared at it.
Then she placed it on the table.
My breath caught.
It showed my grandmother standing beside a young woman in a sewing studio.
The young woman had copper-red hair.
Gold earrings.
And a face I recognized immediately.
My mother.
But that wasn't the shocking part.
On the back of the photograph, beneath my grandmother's handwriting, were three words.
Our first daughter.
I looked up.
My mother was crying now.
Brianna whispered, "What does that mean?""
I stared at the photograph again.
Then I looked at Denise.
"Mom...""
She wiped her cheek.
"There is something I've never told either of you.""
Adrian quietly closed the examination-room door.
My mother took a shaky breath.
"Your grandmother didn't just leave you a collection, Nia.""
She looked directly at me.
"She left you the truth about who created it.""
And before she could say another word, Victoria sent me a photograph.
It showed my grandmother's original design notebook.
Open to a page I had never seen.
May you like
At the top was a handwritten name.
*Victoria Hale.*
