Chapter 5: The Portfolio in the Locked Cabinet
The competition director called for a fifteen-minute recess.
Guests remained in their seats, whispering about the accusations. Photographers crowded near the stage, hoping to capture another confrontation.
Nia stepped backstage.
The moment she reached the dressing area, she finally allowed herself to breathe.
Her ruby skirt was too large for the narrow corridor. A stage assistant helped gather the train while Nia carefully removed a few loose crystals from the hem.
Eleanor followed her.
“Are you all right?””
Nia shook her head.
“I'm not sure.””
“That's understandable.””
Nia looked down at the letter.
“Why did my mother wait so long to tell me?””
“She didn't want you growing up believing your life was a battle against Vanessa. She wanted you to have a childhood.””
“But Vanessa took everything.””
Eleanor sat beside her.
“Your mother knew she was ambitious. She didn't know how far she would go.””
Nia stared toward the curtain.
“Did my father know about their business?””
“He knew they had been partners. He believed they had settled their differences before Olivia died.””
“Why didn't he protect me?””
Eleanor paused.
“Grief can make people trust the wrong person. That doesn't excuse what happened, but it may help explain it.””
Nia lowered her head.
“I kept waiting for him to notice.””
Eleanor's expression softened.
“Then perhaps it's time he did.””
Before Nia could respond, someone knocked on the dressing-room door.
Brianna stepped inside.
Her blue ballgown was no longer arranged perfectly. One layer of the skirt had twisted around her ankle, and her mascara was beginning to run.
“Can I talk to you?””
Nia looked at Eleanor.
The older woman stood.
“I'll be outside.””
When the door closed, Brianna remained near the entrance.
For once, she didn't look like the girl who had everything.
She looked frightened.
“I need to tell you something,” she said.
Nia folded her mother's letter.
“Then tell me.””
Brianna glanced at the floor.
“The portfolio is in Mom's office. In the cabinet behind the framed photographs.””
“How do you know?””
“Because I found it last week.””
Nia stood up.
“What was inside?””
“Sketches. Old contracts. Photographs. Some receipts.””
“Did you look at them?””
“Yes.””
“And?””
Brianna's eyes filled.
“Every single drawing looked like yours.””
Nia didn't answer.
Brianna continued.
“I wanted to believe Mom had created them. I wanted to believe you were copying her. But there were dates.
Your handwriting. Your name on the back of almost everything.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
“Of losing everything.””
Nia gave a bitter laugh.
“You mean losing what you stole from me?””
Brianna flinched.
“Yes.””
The honesty surprised Nia.
Brianna sat on a small chair.
“Mom told me I was the only one in this family who had a future. She said you were difficult and ungrateful. She said Dad couldn't afford to support both of us.””
Nia shook her head.
“So you let her erase me.””
“I know.””
“You wore my dress.””
“I know.””
“You stood on that runway and told everyone you made it.””
Brianna covered her face.
“I know, Nia!””
Her voice broke.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Brianna lowered her hands.
“I don't expect you to forgive me. But I can prove what happened.””
Nia looked at her.
“What do you have?””
Brianna pulled out her phone.
“I took pictures of the portfolio.””
She opened a gallery.
The first image showed a collection of sketches on a desk.
The second showed a handwritten inventory.
The third showed a document bearing Olivia's signature.
Nia leaned closer.
Her heart began pounding.
There were twenty-three original designs.
Some were old sketches she remembered making as a child. Others were completed patterns from the months before her mother's death.
Then she saw a photograph of herself.
It had been taken in her old bedroom.
She was sitting on the floor, surrounded by fabric.
The date was visible.
Three years earlier.
“What is this?””
Brianna looked down.
“I think Mom photographed your work.””
Nia's face hardened.
“Why?””
“I don't know.””
“Did she take photographs of everything?””
“Almost everything.””
Nia swiped to the next image.
A handwritten note appeared.
*Transfer the Carter collection to Vale Creative before the trust beneficiary turns eighteen.*
Nia read it again.
“What's Vale Creative?””
Brianna hesitated.
“Mom's company.””
Nia's stomach tightened.
“She's been using my mother's designs through her own company?””
“I think so.””
The room seemed to grow smaller.
“How long?””
“I don't know.””
Nia looked at the image again.
The note was dated six months earlier.
Brianna whispered, “There was another document. I couldn't photograph it because Mom came in.””
“What document?””
“A letter from a lawyer. It said the trust would become fully accessible to you on your eighteenth birthday. Mom was trying to arrange something before that happened.””
Nia remembered her mother's letter.
Until then, Eleanor and Mr. Hayes will protect everything I have left you.
She looked up.
“Who's Mr. Hayes?””
“The lawyer who handled your mother's estate.””
“Did you find his letter?””
Brianna nodded.
“It's in the portfolio.””
A knock came at the door.
Eleanor entered.
“Nia, there's someone here to see you.””
An older man stood behind her, holding a brown leather briefcase.
He wore a charcoal suit and thin-framed glasses.
“Miss Carter,” he said.
“My name is Martin Hayes.””
Nia stood.
“You were my mother's lawyer?””
“For many years.””
He set the briefcase on a table.
“Eleanor contacted me after learning what happened at the competition. She also informed me about the declaration submitted in your mother's name.””
Nia showed him Brianna's photographs.
Martin examined them carefully.
His expression changed.
“I see.””
“Can you tell me what all this means?””
He opened his briefcase.
“Your mother created a protected archive of her original designs. She intended you to inherit the entire collection, including the commercial rights. She appointed Eleanor and me as joint custodians until you reached adulthood.””
“Did Vanessa have access to it?””
“Temporarily. Your mother allowed her to collect certain personal items from the studio after her death. Nothing more.””
“Then how did she get the sketches?””
Martin looked at the photographs.
“That is precisely what we need to establish.””
Brianna stepped forward.
“I can tell you.””
Everyone looked at her.
Brianna swallowed.
“My mother took the portfolio from the storage room. She told me it was a collection of forgotten designs that Olivia had abandoned. She said she could use them because the original owner was dead.””
Martin's face hardened.
“Did she tell you that in writing?””
Brianna nodded.
“I have messages.””
She unlocked her phone and opened a conversation.
One message from Vanessa read:
The Carter designs are too valuable to waste. Once you're established, we will transfer the collection to Vale Creative. Nia doesn't need to know anything about the old paperwork.
Another message followed:
The blue gown is the strongest one. Once you win, no one will question who designed it.
Nia felt sick.
Martin photographed the messages.
“Keep the original conversation intact. Do not delete anything.””
Brianna nodded.
Then a voice came from the doorway.
“What is happening here?””
Nia turned.
Her father stood there.
Daniel Carter looked exhausted. His tie was loose, and his jacket was draped over one arm. He hadn't attended the competition because Vanessa had told him the event was an industry presentation for Brianna's school.
He looked at Nia's dress.
Then the lawyer.
Then the documents.
“Nia?””
She stared at him.
“Dad.””
He approached slowly.
“I just received a call from Eleanor. She said there was a problem.””
Nia looked toward Vanessa's daughter.
“There's a problem?””
Daniel frowned.
“What happened?””
Nia handed him the photograph of the original Carter & Vale studio.
He studied it.
Then his face changed.
“I remember this place.””
Martin spoke.
“Mr. Carter, your late wife made specific arrangements regarding her creative property.””
Daniel looked at him.
“I thought Vanessa was managing the studio.””
“She was given limited access to certain records. She was never made the owner.””
Daniel's eyes moved toward Nia.
“Why didn't anyone tell me?””
Martin replied calmly.
“Your wife left instructions with us. She also requested that any transfer or sale involving her designs be brought to our attention.””
Daniel looked confused.
“Vanessa told me Olivia had left everything to her business partner.””
“Vanessa was never Olivia's business partner when the estate was finalized.””
Daniel took a step backward.
Then he remembered something.
“The signature on the competition document…”
Martin nodded.
“It appears to have been submitted after Olivia's death.””
Daniel's face went pale.
“Vanessa told me that document was only an old authorization.””
Nia stared at him.
“You signed something too, didn't you?””
Daniel looked away.
“What?””
“The papers Vanessa gave you after Mom died.””
He swallowed.
“She said they were necessary to keep the family finances organized.””
“What did you sign?””
“I don't remember every page.””
“Did you sign away my mother's designs?””
Daniel's expression crumpled.
“I never intended to give anything away.””
Nia's voice trembled.
“You never asked me what happened to my sketches. You never asked why I was sleeping in the storage room. You never noticed when she took my sewing machine.””
He reached for her.
She stepped away.
“Nia, sweetheart…”
“Don't call me that.””
Daniel lowered his hand.
“I thought Vanessa was helping you.””
“She told me I wasn't talented enough to have my own bedroom.””
“I didn't know.””
“You didn't ask.””
The silence that followed was painful.
Brianna stood near the door, crying quietly.
Martin closed his briefcase.
“Mr. Carter, I strongly recommend you retrieve the original portfolio immediately. We also need to secure the financial records of Vale Creative and notify the appropriate authorities regarding the potentially forged declaration.””
Daniel nodded.
“I'll do whatever is necessary.””
Nia looked at him.
“Even if it means confronting your wife?””
He closed his eyes.
“Especially then.””
Before anyone could move, a stage assistant hurried into the room.
“Mr. Hayes? Miss Carter? The competition director needs you back onstage.””
“What happened?”” Eleanor asked.
The assistant glanced toward the corridor.
“Mrs. Vale has requested to withdraw Brianna from the competition.””
Brianna stared at her.
“What?””
The assistant looked uncomfortable.
“She says she's taking her daughter home.””
Brianna shook her head.
“I haven't agreed to withdraw.””
“Your mother is already arguing with the director.””
Nia straightened the front of her ruby gown.
Martin picked up his briefcase.
“Then we'd better return.””
When they entered the ballroom, Vanessa was standing beside the competition director.
She had changed her expression completely.
Her smile was back.
Her voice was soft and composed.
“My daughter is overwhelmed,” she explained.
“This entire situation has been deeply upsetting. We would like to withdraw gracefully.””
The director checked his tablet.
“Contestant eight's presentation is currently under review.””
“Then there is no reason for her to remain.””
Vanessa reached for Brianna's hand.
“Come along, darling.””
Brianna didn't move.
“I'm not leaving.””
Vanessa turned slowly.
“Excuse me?””
“I said I'm not leaving.””
“Brianna, don't make this worse.””
Brianna took the microphone from the director's assistant.
Her hands trembled.
But she spoke clearly.
“I want to make a statement.””
The room fell silent.
She turned toward the audience.
“The sapphire-blue gown I presented tonight was not designed by me.””
Vanessa's expression collapsed.
Brianna looked at Nia.
“It was designed by my stepsister, Nia Carter.””
A gasp swept through the ballroom.
Brianna continued.
“I knew she had designed it. I knew she had spent months working on it. I let my mother tell me it belonged to our family, and I accepted the credit because I wanted to win.””
Her voice cracked.
“I am sorry.””
Vanessa lunged for the microphone.
“That's enough!””
But Brianna stepped out of reach.
“No, Mom. It isn't.””
She looked at the audience again.
“I am withdrawing my claim to the design. I will not accept an award for something I didn't create.””
Nia stared at her.
Brianna lowered the microphone.
Vanessa's face had become almost unrecognizable.
She turned toward the judges.
“You cannot seriously believe this performance!””
Martin stepped forward.
“Mrs. Vale, we have documentary evidence that the design belongs to Nia Carter. We will be pursuing a full review of the transfer and registration records.””
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
Then she turned toward Daniel.
“You're allowing this?””
Daniel looked at his wife.
“No more.””
“Daniel, think carefully.””
“I have.””
“You owe me everything!””
He looked at Nia.
“No. I owe my daughter the truth.””
Vanessa stared at him.
Then she turned toward the ballroom doors.
But before she could leave, the competition director addressed the audience.
“Following the contestant's admission and the documents presented, Brianna Vale's entry will be removed from the judging process. Contestant seventeen, Nia Carter, remains eligible for the final award.””
The ballroom erupted in applause.
Nia stood beneath the spotlight.
Her mother was gone.
Her childhood could not be returned.
And no competition could give her back the years she had spent believing she wasn't good enough.
But for the first time, the truth had her name attached to it.
Then the judges returned to their table.
The host raised the microphone.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are ready to announce tonight's winner.””
Nia's heart stopped.
But the head judge stood before the microphone and said something unexpected.
“Before we reveal the winner, we have one final surprise for Miss Carter.””
Eleanor walked onto the stage carrying a small black box.
Nia recognized the gold lettering immediately.
May you like
It was the name of her mother's old studio.
*CARTER & VALE.*
