Chapter 7
Tasha Reed arrived at my attorney's office carrying a black backpack.
She looked exhausted.
Her hands trembled as she sat across from me.
Marcus remained beside me.
Daniel turned on a recording device with her permission.
Tasha stared at the table.
"I've wanted to tell you the truth for years."
I felt my throat tighten.
"Then tell me."
She opened the backpack.
Inside were three old laptops, printed emails, and a portable drive.
"I was Vanessa's executive assistant."
I nodded.
"I remember you."
She winced.
"I remember you too."
Her eyes filled.
"You were always kind to me."
I didn't respond.
Kindness hadn't protected me.
Tasha slid a folder across the table.
"Vanessa ordered me to change the dates on several design files."
I opened it.
There were screenshots of internal company records.
My name appeared repeatedly.
Original creator: Nia Johnson.
I stopped breathing.
Tasha continued.
"After you submitted your collection, Vanessa recognized similarities to Ruth Johnson's early sketches."
I stared at her.
"She knew my grandmother?"
"Yes."
"Did she know I was Ruth's granddaughter?"
Tasha nodded.
"From the day she hired you."
I felt cold.
Vanessa hadn't discovered my connection accidentally.
She'd known all along.
"She hired me because of Grandma Ruth?"
"She wanted to know whether you possessed the original drawings."
I leaned back.
Six years.
For six years, I'd believed I was simply unlucky.
I'd thought a powerful woman had stolen my work because she could.
Now I understood that Vanessa had been watching me from the beginning.
Tasha swallowed.
"When you began designing gowns inspired by your grandmother, Vanessa became frightened."
"Why?"
"Because the similarities could expose the licensing fraud."
I looked at Daniel.
He was taking notes.
Tasha continued.
"She told me to move your files into a restricted folder, replace the creation dates, and generate a report accusing you of copying her designs."
I felt tears rising.
"And the competitor?"
"That was invented."
My chest tightened.
"Vanessa made it up?"
Tasha nodded.
"Nobody bought your designs."
I covered my face.
All those rejected applications.
All those nights wondering whether I had any future.
All the shame I'd carried.
It had been manufactured.
Marcus put his arm around me.
I let myself cry.
Then I looked at Tasha.
"Why are you telling me now?"
Her face crumpled.
"Because Bianca came to Vanessa's house yesterday."
I went still.
"What happened?"
"I was helping Vanessa organize documents. I heard them arguing."
Tasha wiped her eyes.
"Bianca wanted Vanessa to destroy the old contracts. Vanessa refused because she thought the documents were her protection."
Daniel leaned forward.
"Protection against whom?"
"Raymond."
I frowned.
Tasha continued.
"Raymond kept copies of their financial agreements. Vanessa was afraid he'd use them to negotiate with prosecutors."
Everything connected.
The old licensing transactions.
The fraudulent foundation documents.
The wedding sabotage.
I looked at Marcus.
His face was dark with anger.
"Did Bianca mention me?" I asked.
Tasha nodded.
"She said she should have made sure you never married Marcus."
I closed my eyes.
Of course.
Bianca hadn't considered me a sister.
She'd considered me a threat.
Tasha reached into her backpack again.
"This is why I finally came."
She handed Daniel the portable drive.
"Before I left Bellamy Couture, I copied the original design database."
Daniel stared at it.
"Does it contain the audit history?"
"Yes."
"And the original creation dates?"
"Yes."
He looked at me.
"This could be extremely important."
For the first time in six years, I felt the possibility of real justice.
Not revenge.
Justice.
But Tasha wasn't finished.
"There's something else."
I looked at her.
She hesitated.
"Vanessa didn't just steal Ruth's designs."
My heart began pounding.
"What else?"
"She withheld licensing payments owed to Ruth under an earlier agreement."
I stared at her.
"How much?"
Tasha looked at Daniel.
"Based on what I saw, possibly millions."
Silence settled around the table.
Millions.
My grandmother had spent the final years of her life worrying about medical bills.
She had repaired neighbors' clothing to earn extra money.
She'd died believing her work hadn't mattered.
And somewhere, people might have been profiting from it.
I began shaking.
Marcus took my hand.
"Nia."
I looked at him.
"She deserved better."
His eyes filled.
"I know."
I turned back to Tasha.
"Will you testify?"
She didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
Daniel arranged for the documents to be preserved and reviewed by independent experts.
The evidence would need authentication.
The legal fight could take months.
But we finally had a witness.
That evening, Detective Foster met with us.
She listened to Tasha's account and collected copies through the proper process.
Then she gave us news.
"Raymond has agreed to cooperate."
Marcus sat forward.
"What did he say?"
"He admitted using forged documents in connection with the foundation guarantee."
I closed my eyes.
Detective Foster continued.
"He claims Bianca helped obtain the records."
"Claims?" I asked.
"We'll need independent proof."
I nodded.
She looked at Marcus.
"He also says your signature was copied from the earlier loan agreement."
Marcus exhaled shakily.
A small piece of the burden lifted from his shoulders.
But then the detective's expression hardened.
"Raymond alleges that Vanessa was involved in arranging the false financial documentation."
I felt my stomach twist.
Three people.
One scheme.
Years of deception.
"What happens now?" I asked.
"We follow the evidence."
Marcus leaned forward.
"And Bianca?"
"Her attorney has requested an interview."
I shook my head.
Of course she wanted to talk now.
The truth was catching up with her.
Detective Foster stood.
"There's one other matter."
I looked up.
"Bianca claims you threatened her before the wedding."
I almost laughed.
"Me?"
"She says you planned to publicly humiliate her."
I stared at the detective.
"She cut my dress."
"We have the footage."
I exhaled.
Then the detective added something unexpected.
"She's also claiming Marcus helped arrange the public screening."
Marcus looked stunned.
"What?"
"Her attorney is trying to shift responsibility."
I felt anger rise.
Bianca was still trying to use her brother.
Even now.
I reached for Marcus's hand.
He squeezed mine tightly.
And this time, I knew we were facing the same direction.
The next morning, a formal notice arrived.
Vanessa Bellamy wanted an emergency settlement meeting.
Her attorney offered to withdraw the lawsuit against me.
In exchange, I would agree not to pursue the historical design claims.
I read the offer twice.
Then handed it to Daniel.
He asked, "What would you like to do?"
I thought about Grandma Ruth.
Her worn sewing machine.
Her aching hands.
Her quiet pride.
Then I looked at the settlement offer.
"No."
Daniel nodded.
"I thought you'd say that."
I took a deep breath.
"I'm not selling my grandmother's name back to the woman who stole it."
May you like
And for the first time, I realized something.
I wasn't afraid of Vanessa anymore.
