Chapter 7: The Company That Bought My Life
Gloria stared at the document as if the words might rearrange themselves if she looked long enough.
“Whitmore Creative Holdings,” she repeated.
“That company has nothing to do with Vanessa's fashion business.””
Richard placed the document on the table.
“According to the production records, the company acquired commercial rights to five designs submitted through A.C. Atelier.””
Gloria shook her head.
“I never authorized that.””
Adrian, who had been preparing to leave, stopped near the exit.
“Richard, this is a private investment matter. It has nothing to do with the competition.””
Evelyn looked at him.
“Then why is a company connected to the rights holder appearing in the production records of a disputed collection?””
Adrian adjusted his jacket.
“Because the company invested in the project.””
Gloria turned toward him.
“What investment?””
He didn't answer.
“What investment, Adrian?””
“Mrs. Whitmore, please. This isn't the time.””
Gloria stepped closer.
“You used my company?””
Adrian sighed.
“Your company was an investment vehicle. It was part of the arrangement Vanessa and I discussed.””
Vanessa looked up sharply.
“You told me the company was only holding the manufacturing funds.””
“It was.””
“You said Mom's name was included because the bank required another signatory.””
Adrian's face tightened.
“Vanessa, stop discussing business in public.””
Gloria looked between them.
“Someone explain what happened to my company.””
I stood quietly.
I had spent months believing Vanessa and Adrian had stolen my designs to build their own careers.
Now I was discovering that the theft had reached into another woman's finances, another woman's reputation, and possibly another woman's future.
Evelyn gestured toward a chair.
“Mrs. Whitmore, please sit down. We need to understand exactly what was authorized.””
Gloria sat.
“I started Whitmore Creative Holdings five years ago,” she explained.
“It was supposed to support small creative businesses. I invested in local artists and independent designers. I gave Vanessa access to some administrative accounts when she started her business.””
“Did you give her authority to purchase designs?”” Daniel asked.
“No. I gave her permission to use the company's meeting room and submit ordinary operating expenses.””
Richard opened another folder.
“There's a transfer of $185,000 listed against the five designs.””
Gloria's face drained of color.
“That's impossible.””
Adrian interrupted.
“The amount includes production, licensing, and development expenses.””
Gloria turned toward him.
“Where did that money come from?””
“The company's investment account.””
“Who approved it?””
Adrian didn't answer.
Gloria's voice became louder.
“Who approved it?””
He finally looked at her.
“The authorization was processed through your office.””
Gloria shook her head.
“I haven't been inside that office in three months.””
Vanessa began crying again.
“Adrian told me everything was approved.””
I turned toward her.
“You keep saying that.””
She wiped her face.
“Because it's true.””
“Then show us the approval.””
She looked at Adrian.
He looked away.
I understood something then.
Vanessa might have believed she was getting away with stealing my designs, but she had also allowed Adrian to handle everything around her.
She had trusted him with documents she never read.
She had accepted money she couldn't explain.
And now she was discovering that the man who helped her take my work might have been using her, too.
Richard asked Gloria whether she had access to the company's banking records.
“Yes,” she replied.
“But I need my accountant.””
“Can you contact him?””
Gloria took out her phone.
Her fingers trembled as she dialed.
“Marcus? It's Gloria. I need you to come to the Grand Meridian immediately. Bring the Whitmore Holdings authorization records and the original board approvals.””
She paused.
“No, it's not a routine review. I think someone has been using my company without my knowledge.””
She ended the call.
Adrian looked furious.
“This is unnecessary.””
Gloria placed her phone on the table.
“You don't get to decide that anymore.””
For several minutes, the judges reviewed the documents already available.
I remained beside my black dress, watching the ballroom slowly change.
Some guests had left.
Others were still filming.
The event director had announced a temporary pause in the competition, but nobody seemed interested in the remaining runway presentations.
All eyes were on the dispute.
A young woman approached me.
She wore a silver evening dress and held a small notebook against her chest.
“Excuse me,” she said.
“Are you Nia Carter?””
“Yes.””
“My name is Sophie. I'm an assistant designer.””
I nodded.
She looked at my black dress.
“I saw your collection online before your studio closed. I used to save your photographs because I wanted to learn how you constructed your sleeves.””
I didn't know what to say.
Sophie continued.
“I'm sorry this happened to you.””
“Thank you.””
She hesitated.
“Can I ask something?””
“Of course.””
“Are you going to keep designing?””
The question caught me off guard.
I looked at the wings folded against my sides.
“I don't know.””
Sophie nodded slowly.
“I hope you do.””
She walked away.
Her words stayed with me.
I hadn't thought about designing another collection.
For months, my only goal had been to survive.
I had taken temporary sewing jobs, repaired curtains, altered wedding dresses, and made costumes for a local theater group.
I had stopped drawing.
Not because I had run out of ideas.
Because every time I opened a sketchbook, I remembered what happened.
Then a man entered the ballroom carrying a leather briefcase.
He approached Gloria.
“I'm Marcus Hill, her accountant.””
Gloria stood.
“Thank you for coming.””
Marcus greeted Richard and the judges before opening his briefcase.
“I've reviewed the company records on my way here. There are several transactions that require immediate attention.””
Adrian crossed his arms.
“Marcus, I hope you're not suggesting anything improper.””
Marcus looked at him.
“I haven't suggested anything. I've brought the records.””
He placed several printed statements on the table.
The first showed the $185,000 transfer.
The second showed payments to A.C. Atelier.
The third showed a separate transfer to a company called Reed Collection Group.
Vanessa stared at the page.
“That was my company.””
Marcus nodded.
“Yes. The payment was made two weeks before the showcase.””
Gloria looked at her daughter.
“What did you use the money for?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“Production costs.””
“Which production costs?””
“Fabric, labor, suppliers.””
Marcus turned another page.
“The records show that only a fraction of the funds went to manufacturing.””
Gloria's voice became almost inaudible.
“Where did the rest go?””
Marcus pointed to several transfers.
“Consulting fees. Intellectual property acquisition. Private account reimbursements.””
He turned toward Adrian.
“Most of those payments were authorized through your consultant account.””
Adrian's expression hardened.
“You're misinterpreting the entries.””
Marcus remained calm.
“Then you can explain them during the audit.””
Evelyn looked toward Richard.
“I think we have enough reason to suspend the disputed entries pending a full review.””
Richard nodded.
Vanessa suddenly stepped toward the table.
“Wait. You're freezing the collection?””
Gloria looked at her.
“I'm protecting my company.””
“But my investors—”
“Your investors can speak to the accountant.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“You're destroying everything!””
Gloria's eyes filled with tears.
“No, Vanessa. I'm finally refusing to let you destroy anyone else.””
Adrian grabbed his briefcase.
“I won't participate in this circus.””
Richard stepped forward.
“You're welcome to leave, but the committee will retain copies of all documents submitted tonight.””
Adrian looked at me.
His expression was different now.
No polite smile.
No carefully rehearsed concern.
“You think you've won something, Nia?””
I held his gaze.
“I think I finally know who helped you.””
He leaned closer.
“You still don't understand what you have uncovered.””
Before I could respond, he turned and walked toward the exit.
Vanessa remained beside the table.
She looked at the financial statements, then at her mother.
“Mom, please. I can explain.””
Gloria shook her head.
“Not tonight.””
I thought the evening was finally reaching its end.
Then Marcus removed one last document from his briefcase.
“There's something else,” he said.
Gloria looked at him.
“What?””
Marcus placed a printed contract in front of her.
“This document transfers the commercial rights to all five designs to a private holding company. It was executed three weeks ago.””
Gloria read the first page.
Then she stopped.
“Who signed this?””
Marcus pointed to the bottom.
A signature appeared beside the words Authorized Director.
Gloria's name.
But the signature was not hers.
And the date was the same day she had been sitting beside me at a hospital bedside, helping me after my studio had been forced to close.
Gloria looked up slowly.
“Adrian.””
He was already at the ballroom doors.
“Come back here!””
He didn't turn.
Richard immediately instructed security to preserve the event records and prevent any submitted materials from being removed.
Adrian disappeared into the corridor.
Vanessa stared after him.
Then she looked at her mother.
“Mom, I think he used both of us.””
Gloria didn't answer.
I looked down at the contract.
Five stolen designs.
One false signature.
And a company I had once believed was helping young artists.
I had come to the showcase hoping to prove that one dress was mine.
May you like
Now I was beginning to understand that the champagne gown was only the beginning.
And the person who had planned the entire operation was no longer standing in the room.
