Chapter 9 - THE FASHION EMPIRE BUILT ON MY WORK
My designs had earned millions.
That was the first thing Rebecca Shaw told me after investigators recovered the warehouse records.
Not thousands.
Millions.
Every gown.
Every embroidered jacket.
Every luxury collection built around my mother's rose-lock technique.
All of it had been sold under another designer's name.
Valerie Whitmore.
Daniel's daughter.
The woman fashion magazines called Chicago's brightest creative genius.
I remembered seeing her on television.
Smiling beside celebrities.
Accepting awards.
Talking about how she'd built her career through hard work.
And all that time, she'd been wearing my future like a designer coat.
Lucas sat across from me in his office.
His expression was dark.
“I approved those collections.”
I looked at him.
“You didn't know.”
“I should have.”
I didn't answer.
Part of me wanted to blame him.
Another part understood that he was discovering the same betrayal I was.
Rebecca spread the documents across the table.
“Valerie's design submissions contain sketches originally included in Elena's college portfolio.”
She pointed toward a date.
“These files were created before Valerie claimed authorship.”
My heart raced.
“So we can prove it?”
“We have strong evidence.”
Lucas leaned forward.
“Then remove Valerie from the design department.”
Rebecca shook her head.
“Not until the evidence is secured and the company follows proper procedures. We don't want to compromise the investigation.”
Lucas nodded reluctantly.
I looked toward the purple gown lying carefully inside a protective garment bag.
The dress that had started everything.
“My mother always told me talent couldn't be stolen.”
Lucas looked at me.
“She was right.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Really? Because it looks like someone did a pretty good job.”
He shook his head.
“They stole your designs. Not your ability to create.”
I looked at him.
For the first time, his words reached something inside me that had been silent for years.
Then Sophie entered the room.
Her face was pale.
But she was smiling.
“Elena.”
I ran into her arms.
We held each other tightly.
“I was so scared,” I whispered.
“So was I.”
She pulled back.
“But I found something.”
My heart tightened.
“What?”
“While Daniel was holding me, I overheard him arguing with Margaret.”
Lucas stood.
“About what?”
Sophie swallowed.
“They kept talking about a second collection.”
I frowned.
“What collection?”
“The one they planned to release after the gala.”
Rebecca looked concerned.
“Under whose name?”
Sophie stared at me.
“Yours.”
I froze.
“Mine?”
She nodded.
“They were going to announce you as the designer.”
Lucas frowned.
“That doesn't make sense.”
Sophie continued.
“They wanted you to sign something first.”
“What?”
“A confession.”
My stomach dropped.
Sophie began trembling.
“They planned to make you admit you'd stolen the designs from Valerie.”
I stared at Lucas.
May you like
And suddenly I understood why Margaret had left the damaged purple gown where I could find it.
Someone had wanted me to repair that dress—and walk straight into their trap.
