Chapter 7: The Brother Who Wanted Everything
For several seconds, nobody in the auditorium spoke.
Nia stared at the photograph in Margaret's hands.
The man standing behind her mother and Victoria looked remarkably similar to the older photographs of the Cole family displayed in the competition's promotional materials.
But there was something unsettling about his expression.
He wasn't smiling.
He was watching Evelyn.
As though she were someone he had already decided to destroy.
"Richard Cole," Nia repeated.
"Who was he?""
Daniel Whitmore pulled out a chair.
"Richard was the older brother of Brianna's grandfather, William Cole. He was a businessman with considerable influence in the fashion industry during the late nineties.""
"Was he involved in the collection?"" Judge Harris asked.
"More than involved," Margaret answered.
"He arranged the financing, negotiated with the manufacturers, and controlled the distribution contracts.""
Victoria rubbed her forehead.
"Richard had nothing to do with the creative work.""
Margaret looked at her.
"That's precisely the problem.""
She placed the photograph beside the original ownership agreement.
"Richard wanted to acquire Evelyn's designs permanently. William believed they should remain under the original five-year licensing arrangement. The brothers disagreed.""
Brianna frowned.
"Why would my grandfather disagree with someone who was helping the business?""
"Because William knew your grandmother's collection was becoming successful," Margaret explained.
"He understood that taking the designs permanently could destroy Evelyn's career.""
Victoria shook her head.
"My father wasn't a saint.""
"Neither was Richard," Daniel replied.
He opened another section of his folder.
"Richard believed that intellectual property was only valuable when controlled by someone powerful enough to commercialize it. Evelyn had extraordinary talent, but she had no money, no influential connections, and no legal team.""
Nia felt a familiar anger rising.
"So he thought she was easy to exploit.""
"Exactly.""
Daniel showed them a photocopy of an old business memorandum.
It contained several handwritten notes.
One sentence had been underlined twice.
The designer must be removed from the ownership structure before the collection reaches national distribution.
Nia read it again.
"Removed?""
Margaret nodded.
"Richard wasn't interested in buying a few sketches. He wanted complete control over Evelyn's creative work.""
Victoria suddenly stood.
"This is ridiculous. Richard was a businessman. He made difficult decisions.""
Margaret turned toward her.
"Did he threaten Evelyn?""
Victoria looked away.
"Not directly.""
"Did he threaten her family?""
"That's not what happened.""
"Then why does Evelyn's letter mention a threat involving her daughter?""
Nia looked up.
"What?""
Margaret opened the original letter.
"There is a paragraph that wasn't included in the copy Daniel read earlier.""
She placed her finger beneath the lines.
"Evelyn wrote that Richard had warned her that continuing the ownership dispute could result in her losing the right to see her daughter.""
Nia went cold.
"What does that mean?""
Margaret hesitated.
"At the time, Richard had connections with a family lawyer who was advising the Coles. He suggested that Evelyn's financial instability could be used against her in a custody dispute.""
Nia felt as though someone had struck her.
"My mother was raising me alone.""
"Yes.""
"And he threatened to take me away?""
Margaret nodded.
Nia turned toward Victoria.
"Did you know?""
Victoria's lips parted.
"I was there.""
Brianna stared at her mother.
"You knew about this?""
Victoria looked at the floor.
"I knew Richard was angry. I didn't know he would go that far.""
Nia's voice trembled.
"Did you tell my mother to give up her designs or risk losing her child?""
Victoria began crying.
"I never wanted that to happen.""
"But did you?""
Victoria couldn't answer.
Margaret spoke quietly.
"According to Evelyn's notes, Victoria told her that signing the agreement was the only way to protect Nia.""
Nia stepped away from the table.
Her mother had spent decades telling her that some sacrifices were necessary.
She had never explained what she had sacrificed.
The scholarship.
Her collection.
Her name.
And perhaps the chance to raise her daughter without fear.
Judge Harris looked at Margaret.
"Where is Richard Cole now?""
Margaret closed the folder.
"He's alive.""
Daniel nodded.
"He's living in Connecticut. He retired from business several years ago.""
Victoria suddenly looked up.
"Why would you contact him?""
Margaret gave her a cold stare.
"Because he's the only person who can explain the second agreement.""
Forty minutes later, the competition organizers had arranged a secure video conference.
Richard Cole appeared on the large screen at the front of the auditorium.
He was in his late eighties, with neatly combed white hair and a dark sweater. Behind him was a luxurious study filled with books, framed photographs, and expensive furniture.
He looked irritated.
"I was told this was an emergency.""
Margaret stood.
"It is, Richard.""
He squinted at the screen.
"Margaret Ellis. I haven't heard that name in years.""
"You remember Evelyn Bennett?""
Richard leaned back.
"Of course.""
Nia stepped forward.
"I'm her daughter.""
Richard studied her.
For a moment, his expression changed.
Then he smiled faintly.
"You look like her.""
Nia didn't return the smile.
"Did you threaten to take me away from my mother?""
Richard's expression hardened.
"That is a serious accusation.""
"Did you?""
"I don't remember every conversation I had twenty-eight years ago.""
Margaret placed the old memorandum in front of the camera.
"Do you remember this?""
Richard adjusted his glasses.
He examined the document.
Then he shrugged.
"Looks like an internal business note.""
"Written under your authority.""
"Perhaps.""
Judge Harris interrupted.
"Mr. Cole, we are investigating the ownership of a collection designed by Evelyn Bennett. We have evidence that her work was transferred without her consent.""
Richard laughed softly.
"That collection was financed by my family. We invested in the materials, the studio, and the distribution. Without us, there would have been no collection.""
Nia stepped closer.
"Without my mother, there would have been nothing to distribute.""
Richard ignored her.
"Young lady, business isn't a sewing circle. People invest money. They assume risks. They acquire rights.""
Margaret placed the original agreement in front of the camera.
"Then you should have no difficulty explaining why the agreement explicitly limited the license to five years.""
Richard's smile disappeared.
He stared at the document.
"Where did you get that?""
"From Evelyn's legal archive.""
"That document should have been destroyed.""
The auditorium went silent.
Judge Harris slowly leaned toward the microphone.
"Why?""
Richard realized what he had said.
He adjusted his glasses.
"I meant that it should have been replaced by the later agreement.""
Margaret nodded.
"Which later agreement?""
Richard looked toward Victoria.
She lowered her head.
Nia noticed the exchange.
"What later agreement?""
Richard sighed.
"Ask your mother. She was involved.""
"My mother is Evelyn Bennett.""
Richard's expression became uncomfortable.
"I know exactly who your mother is.""
"Then answer the question.""
Richard leaned closer to the camera.
"Your mother signed a separate agreement transferring her future design rights to a company controlled by my family.""
Margaret immediately shook her head.
"That document has never been produced.""
"Because it was handled privately.""
"Who witnessed it?""
Richard didn't answer.
Margaret continued.
"Was it notarized?""
"Yes.""
"By whom?""
Richard looked away.
"I don't remember.""
Margaret placed the photograph on the table.
"Was this the signing?""
Richard stared at it.
His face changed.
"Where did you get that?""
"From Evelyn's archive.""
Richard leaned forward.
Then he spoke a sentence that made Daniel Whitmore close his eyes.
"That isn't the signing photograph.""
Nia frowned.
"What?""
Richard pointed at the photograph.
"The woman beside Evelyn is not Victoria.""
Everyone looked again.
The woman had dark hair, a similar face, and was wearing a black jacket.
But it wasn't Victoria.
It was someone else.
Margaret slowly turned toward Daniel.
"Do you recognize her?""
Daniel examined the photograph.
Then his face drained of color.
"Yes.""
"Who?""
Daniel took a breath.
"That is Elizabeth Cole.""
Brianna looked confused.
"Who is Elizabeth?""
Victoria finally spoke.
"My aunt.""
Richard nodded.
"Elizabeth was the person who handled the legal paperwork.""
Margaret frowned.
"Why would she sign on behalf of Victoria?""
Richard looked directly at the camera.
"Because Victoria wasn't there.""
Nia felt her stomach tighten.
"Then who signed the agreement?""
Richard hesitated.
And in that moment, Margaret understood something.
The entire ownership transfer might have been built on a forged signature.
Richard finally answered.
"Elizabeth signed the document using Victoria's authorization.""
Victoria jumped to her feet.
"That's a lie!""
Richard looked at her.
"Your aunt told me she had permission.""
"She never had permission!""
Brianna stared at her mother.
"Then what happened?""
Victoria's voice broke.
"My aunt handled the business paperwork. I didn't know what she was signing.""
Margaret quickly intervened.
"Richard, are you confirming that Elizabeth Cole signed the second agreement?""
Richard looked uncomfortable.
"I am confirming that she handled the transaction.""
"Was Evelyn present?""
"No.""
"Did Evelyn authorize Elizabeth to sign on her behalf?""
Richard was silent.
Margaret repeated the question.
"Did she?""
Richard looked away from the camera.
"No.""
The room erupted.
Judge Harris demanded silence.
Margaret gathered the papers.
"That means the second agreement may never have been legally valid.""
Richard suddenly leaned toward the screen.
"Wait.""
His voice had changed.
"There's something you need to understand.""
Nia looked up.
"What?""
Richard swallowed.
"Elizabeth didn't just sign the agreement.""
He paused.
"She also kept the original.""
Margaret froze.
"Where?""
Richard stared at the photograph.
"She gave it to someone.""
"Who?""
Richard looked directly at Brianna.
"Your father.""
Brianna stepped backward.
"My father?""
Richard nodded.
"Yes. He was the one who asked Elizabeth to keep the original document.""
Nia looked at Brianna.
"Why would your father have it?""
Brianna shook her head.
"I don't know.""
Richard's voice became almost a whisper.
"Because your father knew the agreement was fraudulent.""
The screen suddenly went black.
The video conference had disconnected.
Nobody moved.
Then Brianna slowly turned toward the empty space where her mother stood.
"Mom?""
Victoria was crying.
"Please don't ask me.""
But Brianna had already understood.
The secret hadn't died with her grandfather.
It had been passed down.
May you like
And the person who held the original evidence was still alive.
Brianna's father.
