Chapter 5: The Girl They Tried to Keep Behind the Curtain
The Bellamy International Fashion Showcase occupied an enormous glass convention center overlooking the city.
By the time Nia arrived, the entrance was crowded with photographers, fashion editors, models, and invited guests.
A massive digital screen displayed the event's featured designers.
Brianna's photograph appeared near the center.
*BRIANNA CARTER — EMERGING DESIGNER OF THE YEAR.*
Nia stood beneath the screen.
Her lavender sweater and dark skirt looked simple among the designer suits and expensive dresses.
She held her father's leather portfolio case against her side.
A security guard approached.
"Invitation?""
Nia showed him her email.
He checked the screen.
"You're listed as a technical assistant.""
Nia frowned.
"That's incorrect. I'm the original designer.""
He looked uncomfortable.
"That's what the system says.""
"Who changed it?""
"I don't know, ma'am.""
Nia took a breath.
"Can you contact Daniel Reed?""
The guard made a call.
A minute later, Daniel appeared from the lobby.
He was a tall man in his early forties, wearing a charcoal suit and a blue tie.
"Nia.""
"Daniel.""
He shook her hand.
"Come with me.""
As they entered the building, Nia noticed several people looking at her.
Some whispered.
Others openly stared.
A woman holding a camera leaned toward her colleague.
"Is that the sister?""
"I think so.""
"Didn't she get removed from the design panel?""
Nia kept walking.
Daniel led her into a private conference room.
Inside sat three members of the showcase committee.
A woman with short gray hair introduced herself as Margaret Ellis, the head of design verification.
Beside her sat Harold Whitmore.
Nia recognized him immediately.
He was the man who had signed as witness on Vanessa's fraudulent statement.
He wore a navy suit, a gold watch, and a small silver pin bearing the Bellamy logo.
He smiled politely.
"Ms. Carter. We've heard quite a bit about you.""
Nia placed her portfolio on the table.
"Then you've probably heard quite a bit of misinformation.""
Margaret raised a hand.
"Let's remain professional.""
Nia nodded.
Margaret opened a file.
"Your sister claims that the turquoise gown was developed under her creative direction, with your assistance in technical execution.""
"That's false.""
"She has submitted photographs of early development.""
"I have the original sketches.""
"She has also submitted a signed statement from your mother.""
Nia looked directly at Harold.
"And you witnessed it?""
Harold adjusted his cuff.
"I did.""
"Did you verify any of the information?""
"Ms. Vanessa Carter is a respected member of our community. I had no reason to doubt her.""
Nia opened her leather case.
"Then you should have asked to see the original registration.""
She placed the documents on the table.
Margaret leaned forward.
"What is this?""
"My father's original design archive. I'm the registered rights holder.""
Harold's smile faded.
Daniel took the documents.
"We've independently verified the registration number. It's authentic.""
Margaret examined the certificate.
"Mr. Whitmore, are you familiar with the Carter Signature Stitch?""
Harold cleared his throat.
"I've heard of it.""
"Then you should know that no one can claim ownership of a design created using that registered technique without authorization.""
Harold looked at Nia.
"That depends on whether the technique was actually used.""
Nia opened her laptop.
She displayed photographs of the gown's construction.
"This is the original pattern. This is the first bodice sample. These are the crystal placement records. And this is the embroidery sequence.""
She enlarged the image.
Three short stitches.
One long stitch.
Two crossing loops.
Margaret studied the screen.
"That's consistent with the registered pattern.""
Harold leaned back.
"Photographs can be manipulated.""
Nia looked at him.
"Would you like to examine the physical garment?""
Margaret nodded.
"Where is it?""
Daniel answered.
"In the backstage dressing area. We secured it after receiving the ownership dispute.""
Nia exhaled.
"Good.""
Harold stood.
"There's no need to turn this into a spectacle. Brianna is already scheduled to present the gown.""
"Then she should have no problem allowing an independent examination.""
He looked irritated.
Margaret closed the file.
"Bring the gown into the verification room.""
A few minutes later, two assistants wheeled in a garment rack.
The turquoise gown hung beneath a protective cover.
Nia stood immediately.
She recognized every detail.
The sculpted bodice.
The crystal-covered waist.
The sweeping train.
But something was wrong.
The back hem had been altered.
A section of silver embroidery was missing.
Nia stepped forward.
"Who did this?""
One assistant looked nervous.
"It arrived like that from the hotel.""
Nia examined the stitching.
Someone had cut the hidden silver thread and attempted to repair the fabric with a different pattern.
She touched the damaged section.
"They removed part of the signature.""
Harold folded his arms.
"Perhaps the signature was never part of the original design.""
Nia turned toward him.
"You're looking at a garment that I personally constructed. I know every stitch.""
"That is your claim.""
Nia lifted the hem carefully.
"Look here.""
She pointed to the inside seam.
A tiny silver loop remained intact.
Then another.
And another.
"The signature doesn't stop at the visible embroidery. It continues beneath the lining.""
Margaret leaned closer.
"Can you demonstrate?""
Nia looked at Daniel.
He nodded.
She opened her portfolio and removed a small ultraviolet inspection lamp.
The room darkened.
She switched it on.
At first, nothing happened.
Then the hidden silver thread began to glow.
A pattern appeared beneath the fabric.
Three short lines.
One long line.
Two crossing loops.
And then, stretching across the back hem, a sequence of letters slowly emerged.
*NIA CARTER.*
Margaret gasped.
Daniel stepped closer.
Harold's face tightened.
Nia switched off the lamp.
The room remained silent.
Then Margaret spoke.
"That is a remarkable verification mark.""
Nia nodded.
"My father taught me how to construct it.""
Harold cleared his throat.
"Even if the signature is genuine, that doesn't establish who designed the overall silhouette.""
Nia opened another page.
"Then examine the pattern.""
She spread the original technical drawing across the table.
The dress had an unusual internal structure.
A double-layered waist panel.
An asymmetrical shoulder seam.
A hidden support system designed to keep the train suspended while the model walked.
Nia explained each construction decision.
She described the weight distribution, the crystal placement, and the specific method used to prevent the fabric from twisting under runway lights.
Margaret listened carefully.
Then she asked a question about the back fastening.
Nia answered immediately.
Harold asked about the original inspiration.
Nia told him about her father's workshop and the first turquoise dress he had made for her when she was eight.
She explained how the phoenix motif represented a person rebuilding herself after loss.
When she finished, Margaret looked at Daniel.
"I've heard enough to establish that Ms. Carter has substantial original design knowledge.""
Harold shook his head.
"You're moving too quickly.""
Margaret turned.
"Then perhaps we should hear from the other claimant.""
A voice came from the doorway.
"Gladly.""
Brianna entered wearing an ivory designer suit.
Vanessa followed in her vivid magenta satin dress.
Brianna's eyes immediately landed on the gown.
Then she looked at Nia.
Her smile was perfectly rehearsed.
"Well, this is awkward.""
Nia said nothing.
Brianna approached the table.
"Mom, are they still asking questions?""
Margaret gestured toward a chair.
"Ms. Carter, please explain your role in developing this design.""
Brianna sat.
"I created the concept. Nia helped with construction.""
"Did you create the original sketches?""
"Yes.""
"Do you have the original drawings?""
Brianna opened her handbag.
"Of course.""
She removed a folder.
Nia watched her carefully.
Brianna placed several sketches on the table.
They were copies of Nia's original drawings.
But the dates had been altered.
The initials in the corner read B.C.
Margaret examined them.
"These are dated six weeks before the final garment was completed.""
"Exactly," Brianna said.
"That's when I developed the design.""
Nia leaned forward.
"May I see the bottom corner?""
Margaret passed her the page.
Nia examined the pencil marks.
Then she noticed something.
A small crescent-shaped smudge near the left edge.
She smiled faintly.
Brianna frowned.
"What?""
Nia held the sketch up.
"Do you remember the afternoon you came into my sewing room and asked to borrow a phone charger?""
Brianna's expression changed.
"What does that have to do with anything?""
"These drawings were in my sketchbook that afternoon.""
"That's ridiculous.""
Nia pointed to the smudge.
"This is graphite from the binding of my original sketchbook. I accidentally marked the page when I was transferring the design. The same mark appears in the photograph I submitted three months ago.""
Margaret looked at the digital evidence.
Then back at Brianna's sketch.
The smudge matched.
Brianna's face tightened.
"That proves nothing.""
"It proves the drawing came from my sketchbook.""
"You could have copied mine.""
Nia looked at her.
"Then explain why the original digital file was created three months before your document.""
Brianna stopped speaking.
Daniel placed a printed record on the table.
"The metadata confirms Ms. Carter's original submission date.""
Harold stood.
"This hearing is becoming unnecessarily hostile.""
Margaret looked at him.
"Mr. Whitmore, please sit down.""
For the first time, his expression showed genuine anger.
Vanessa finally spoke.
"Nia, sweetheart, can we please discuss this privately?""
Nia turned toward her mother.
"Why?""
"Because we're family.""
Nia looked at the gown.
Then at the documents.
Then at the woman who had slapped her for refusing to surrender her work.
"You remembered we were family when I started asking questions. You forgot when I needed you to protect me.""
Vanessa's face reddened.
"Nia, I did what I thought was best.""
"For whom?""
Vanessa had no answer.
Margaret closed the folder.
"We will temporarily suspend the ownership decision until the final ultraviolet inspection can be conducted under controlled lighting.""
Brianna immediately stood.
"That's not fair!""
Margaret remained calm.
"You will have the opportunity to present your case at the showcase tonight.""
Brianna looked at Nia.
Then she smiled.
"Fine. Let's see what happens when the entire audience is watching.""
She walked toward the door.
Vanessa followed.
But before leaving, she turned back.
"Nia, you have no idea what you're getting yourself into.""
Nia held her mother's gaze.
"Maybe not.""
Then she looked at the damaged gown.
"But I know who made it.""
After the meeting, Daniel escorted Nia backstage.
The venue was beginning to fill.
Models hurried between dressing rooms. Stylists adjusted garments. Technicians tested lights.
Nia stood beside the turquoise gown.
A young assistant approached.
"Are you the designer?""
Nia hesitated.
Then she answered.
"Yes.""
The assistant smiled.
"It's beautiful.""
Nia touched the sleeve.
"Thank you.""
Daniel handed her a visitor pass.
"There's one more thing.""
"What?""
"The committee has decided that the gown will be presented tonight.""
Nia nodded.
"By whom?""
Daniel looked toward the stage.
"That's still being decided.""
Nia turned.
Across the backstage corridor, Brianna was speaking to a model.
She pointed toward the turquoise gown.
The model nodded.
Then Brianna looked directly at Nia.
And smiled.
Daniel followed her gaze.
"Something tells me your sister isn't planning to give up.""
Nia watched Brianna disappear behind the curtain.
"No," she whispered.
"She's not.""
Then her phone vibrated.
A message from Evelyn.
I found another document in your father's archive. You need to see it before the showcase begins.
Nia opened the attachment.
It was a photograph of a sealed legal envelope.
The label read:
*FINAL BENEFICIARY AGREEMENT — TO BE OPENED ONLY IN THE EVENT OF A DISPUTE.*
Underneath it was a second line.
The rights holder is entitled to reclaim the original Carter Custom Designs trademark.
Nia stared at the screen.
Her father hadn't merely protected one gown.
May you like
He had protected the entire family business.
And if the agreement was valid, the name Vanessa had spent years using to build Brianna's career might soon belong to the daughter she had tried to erase.
