Chapter 9: The Last Person She Expected
Amara read the signature twice.
Then a third time.
*DEREK JOHNSON.*
Her older brother.
For several seconds, she couldn't move.
Jordan looked at the document.
"Is that...?""
"My brother.""
Rochelle's expression softened.
"Do you recognize the signature?""
Amara nodded slowly.
"Derek signs every business document that way.""
Denise placed the document on the table.
"We need to establish how this amendment entered the sponsor's records.""
Amara stared at the handwriting.
Derek had been the first person to encourage her to become a professional baker.
When their father died, he had taken extra shifts at a warehouse so Amara could attend culinary school.
He had helped her carry the first commercial oven into her bakery.
He had even designed the wooden sign above the front entrance.
*AMARA'S TABLE — MADE WITH LOVE, BUILT WITH COURAGE.*
He had always told her that her work deserved a bigger audience.
Why would he sign away her opportunity?
"Could it be a mistake?"" Jordan asked.
Amara shook her head.
"I don't know.""
Denise looked at the document again.
"There's a contact number attached to the amendment.""
She checked her phone.
"Would you like us to contact him?""
Amara hesitated.
Then she nodded.
"Please.""
Denise made the call and placed it on speaker.
The phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
A man's voice answered.
"Hello?""
"Derek Johnson?""
"Yes. Who's calling?""
"My name is Denise Walker. I'm representing the principal sponsor of the Chicago Art Cake Championship. I'm calling regarding an amendment submitted under your name.""
There was silence.
Then Derek asked:
"What amendment?""
Amara closed her eyes.
Denise looked at her.
"Your signature appears on a document recommending that Simone Carter replace your sister as the featured designer for the national exhibition.""
Another silence.
Then Derek spoke.
"That's impossible.""
Amara stepped closer to the phone.
"Derek?""
His voice changed immediately.
"Amara?""
She swallowed.
"Why is your name on this document?""
"I don't know.""
"Did you sign something for Patrice Williams?""
Derek didn't answer immediately.
Then he sighed.
"She told me it was a partnership proposal.""
Amara's stomach tightened.
"What partnership?""
"She said she wanted to help you expand your bakery. She said you were going to receive a national sponsorship.""
Amara stared at the document.
"Then why does it say Simone should replace me?""
Derek's voice became quieter.
"Because she told me you had agreed to step back.""
Amara felt tears gathering in her eyes.
"I never agreed to that.""
"I know.""
"Do you?""
"Amara, listen to me. I never wanted you to lose your place.""
Denise interrupted.
"Mr. Johnson, did you knowingly sign an amendment removing your sister from the national exhibition?""
"No.""
"Did you authorize anyone to submit that document?""
Derek hesitated.
"I signed a preliminary partnership acknowledgment. Patrice told me it was only to verify that I supported my sister's business.""
Amara gripped the edge of the table.
"What did you sign, Derek?""
"I don't have it in front of me.""
"Then tell me what happened.""
Derek exhaled.
"Patrice came to the bakery three weeks ago. You were out buying supplies. She told me she had investors interested in your work. She said she wanted to help you get a national contract.""
"And?""
"She gave me some papers. I signed one page. She said the rest was just an information release.""
Amara looked at Patrice.
The older woman had stopped pretending to be calm.
She was watching the phone.
Derek continued.
"After that, she called me twice. She asked whether you were planning to stay in Chicago or relocate for the exhibition.""
Amara frowned.
"Why would she ask you that?""
"She said the sponsor needed to know whether you could commit to a national schedule.""
"And what did you tell her?""
"That you'd never leave your bakery without a plan.""
Amara looked at the document again.
"Did you ever tell her I wanted Simone to replace me?""
"No!""
Derek's voice rose.
"Amara, I would never do that to you.""
Amara swallowed.
For the first time that evening, she felt a different kind of pain.
The betrayal from Simone had been obvious.
Patrice's manipulation had been exposed.
Marcus had admitted his involvement.
But Derek had been careless with something that belonged to her.
He had trusted someone who had never earned that trust.
"Why didn't you call me?"" she asked.
Derek's voice softened.
"Because I thought I was helping.""
Amara closed her eyes.
"I needed you to ask me first.""
"I know.""
"Did you keep a copy of the papers?""
"Yes. They're in my office.""
Denise immediately responded.
"Please preserve those documents. Do not alter or destroy anything. Our review team will contact you.""
"Of course.""
Derek paused.
"Amara?""
"Yes?""
"Are you okay?""
She looked at the white wedding cake.
Then at her chocolate sculpture.
"No.""
Her brother went quiet.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
Amara ended the call.
Rochelle waited until she had composed herself.
"Amara, this may have been an unauthorized use of a signed acknowledgment rather than an intentional endorsement of the substitution. We need to examine the original paperwork before drawing conclusions.""
Amara nodded.
"I understand.""
Denise looked toward Patrice.
"Ms. Williams, do you have an explanation for this amendment?""
Patrice's jaw tightened.
"Derek Johnson signed a document voluntarily.""
"He says he was told it was an information release.""
"He's an adult. He should have read what he signed.""
Amara turned toward her.
"You told him I had agreed to step back.""
Patrice lifted her chin.
"I explained the proposed arrangement.""
"You lied to my brother.""
"I presented a business opportunity.""
"You used his trust to take my place.""
Patrice looked at her.
"You're making this personal.""
Amara stared.
"It was personal the moment you walked into my life pretending to be my mentor.""
For a moment, Patrice had no answer.
Then Simone spoke.
"Patrice, did you tell Derek that Amara wanted me to take over the exhibition?""
Patrice turned.
"Don't start.""
"Did you?""
Patrice said nothing.
Simone's face crumpled.
"You told me Derek supported the arrangement.""
"He did.""
"He thought he was helping Amara!""
Patrice's voice became sharp.
"Simone, you wanted the opportunity. Don't pretend you were innocent.""
Simone looked down.
"I know.""
Amara watched her.
"Then why did you do it?""
Simone wiped her cheek.
"Because I thought if I won this one competition, everything would finally change.""
"What would change?""
"People would stop comparing me to you.""
Amara shook her head.
"You could have become better at your craft.""
"I tried.""
"You could have created something of your own.""
Simone looked toward the wedding cake.
"I didn't think I could make anything that good.""
Amara's voice softened, but only slightly.
"Then you should have worked harder. You shouldn't have stolen mine.""
Simone nodded.
"I know.""
Rochelle approached the two women.
"Amara, the competition committee has reached a preliminary decision.""
Everyone turned.
"The original wedding cake will not be considered Simone's work. The entry will be held for formal authorship review. The chocolate sculpture remains eligible for independent judging.""
Simone lowered her head.
Patrice immediately objected.
"You cannot separate the entries like that!""
Rochelle looked at her.
"We can, and we will.""
Denise added:
"The sponsor has also withdrawn its provisional licensing proposal pending the investigation.""
Patrice's face went pale.
That proposal had been the foundation of her entire plan.
Without it, there would be no national contract.
No licensing revenue.
No commercial partnership.
And no easy way to turn Amara's work into her company's next major product.
But Rochelle wasn't finished.
She turned toward Amara.
"There's something else.""
Amara looked at her.
"The sponsor has agreed to consider your chocolate sculpture separately for the national exhibition.""
Amara blinked.
"Even after all this?""
"Especially after all this. The judges have seen what you can create under extraordinary circumstances.""
Jordan smiled.
"That's incredible.""
Amara looked at her sculpture.
She thought about the scraps of chocolate.
The broken decorations.
The empty ingredient shelves.
She had built something beautiful from what remained.
But before she could respond, Denise's phone rang.
She answered, listened, and slowly frowned.
"Are you certain?""
A pause.
"Send it to me immediately.""
She ended the call.
Rochelle noticed her expression.
"What happened?""
Denise looked toward Amara.
"The sponsor has just received a second recording from the storage area.""
"Another security video?"" Rochelle asked.
Denise nodded.
"Yes.""
"What does it show?""
Denise hesitated.
"It shows Simone returning to the storage cabinet alone, after Marcus and Patrice had already removed the wedding cake.""
Simone's head snapped up.
"That's not possible.""
Denise looked at her.
"The recording was taken at 11:36 p.m.""
Simone backed away.
Amara frowned.
"What was she doing there?""
Denise opened the video on her phone.
The screen showed Simone entering the corridor.
She was carrying a small metal container.
She stopped outside Amara's cabinet.
Then she removed something from her jacket.
A key.
But it wasn't the key to the storage cabinet.
It was the key to Amara's bakery.
Simone unlocked the cabinet.
Placed the metal container inside.
And left.
Rochelle leaned closer.
"What was in the container?""
Denise enlarged the final frame.
Inside the open cabinet was a small white box.
Amara recognized it immediately.
It was the box containing her original five-petaled purple flower prototype.
The one she had made during the preliminary round.
The flower that had inspired the entire wedding cake.
Amara slowly turned toward Simone.
"What did you put in that box?""
Simone began crying.
Patrice looked at her with disbelief.
May you like
And Simone finally whispered:
"The thing that could have ruined everything.""
