Chapter 8: The Confession Behind the Curtain
Vanessa snatched her phone from the floor.
"Who is this?"" she demanded.
The call had disconnected.
She immediately dialed the number back, but nobody answered.
Margaret watched her carefully.
"Is something wrong, Vanessa?""
Vanessa turned toward her.
"You have no right to interfere in this family.""
Margaret didn't blink.
"Claire gave me every right.""
Brittany appeared from backstage.
"Mom, they're calling me!""
Vanessa turned sharply.
"Not now!""
"But the judges are waiting.""
"Then go!""
Brittany stared at her mother.
For the first time, I noticed how frightened she looked.
"Mom, what's happening?""
Vanessa grabbed her daughter's shoulders.
"Listen carefully. You're going on that stage, and you're going to win. Do you understand?""
Brittany glanced at me.
"What about the recorder?""
Vanessa's jaw tightened.
"Forget the recorder.""
"But—"
"BRITTANY!""
The hallway fell silent.
Vanessa took a breath and lowered her voice.
"Your entire future depends on what happens in the next thirty minutes.""
Brittany nodded reluctantly.
Then she disappeared behind the curtain.
I turned toward Margaret.
"Can we play the recording now?""
Margaret nodded.
We approached the sound technician, a young man named Caleb, who was checking the microphones.
I showed him the recorder.
"I need to play an audio file during the presentation.""
He looked uncertain.
"Do you have permission from the organizers?""
"I have evidence of intellectual property theft and a forged competition withdrawal.""
He glanced toward the stage.
"That's serious.""
"Please. I only need two minutes.""
Before he could answer, Jonathan Reed approached.
"What's going on?""
I explained everything.
He listened without interrupting, then examined the documents Margaret had provided.
His expression changed.
"Miss Carter, I take these allegations seriously. But I cannot interrupt the competition based solely on accusations.""
"I have recordings.""
"Then let me hear them.""
I handed him the recorder.
He connected his headphones.
The first recording played.
His eyebrows drew together.
The second played.
His face hardened.
When the third ended, he removed the headphones.
"Where did you obtain this?""
"It was hidden inside my gown. I installed it myself while working.""
He looked at Margaret.
"Are these documents authentic?""
Margaret handed him the signed trust agreement.
"I can provide the original notarized copies and the independent registration records.""
Jonathan read the first page.
Then he looked toward the judges' table.
"Caleb, prepare the main sound system.""
My heart started racing.
"You're going to let me play it?""
"I'm going to give you an opportunity to present your evidence after the preliminary runway segment. If the recording is genuine, we will suspend the judging process.""
I nodded.
"Thank you.""
He held up one finger.
"But understand something. If the evidence implicates members of this competition's administration, the matter may go beyond our authority.""
"I understand.""
A few minutes later, the opening ceremony began.
The audience applauded as the contestants walked onto the runway.
I stood near the curtain, watching Brittany prepare.
She wore my gown.
Her hair fell in perfect waves. Her makeup shimmered beneath the backstage lights.
She looked like the designer she'd always wanted everyone to believe she was.
A stage assistant handed her a microphone.
"You're next, Miss Miller.""
Brittany looked at me.
Then she approached.
"Emily, please.""
I turned.
She was no longer smiling.
"What?""
"I need to talk to you.""
"About what?""
She glanced around.
"Mom doesn't know I'm telling you this.""
I folded my arms.
"That's a first.""
Brittany swallowed.
"I didn't want to steal your dress.""
I stared at her.
"Then why did you take it?""
"Because Mom said the competition was already arranged. She told me you'd eventually get over it.""
"You knew I made it.""
"Yes.""
"You knew it contained my mother's silk.""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
I stepped closer.
"Did you know she was selling Mom's designs?""
Brittany looked down.
"I heard them talking about a buyer.""
My stomach tightened.
"Who?""
"Mr. Harrison.""
I thought about the sponsor standing in the front row.
"How much did they offer?""
"I don't know.""
"You're lying.""
Her eyes filled.
"Mom said it was enough to get me into a fashion school in London. She promised we'd have our own studio.""
I stared at her.
"And you were willing to let me lose my scholarship for that?""
Brittany started crying.
"I thought you'd still have your father.""
I laughed bitterly.
"I don't even know who my father is anymore.""
She reached for my hand.
"Emily, please don't play the recording.""
I pulled away.
"Why?""
"Because there's something on it about me.""
"What?""
She looked toward the stage.
Then she whispered:
"Mom told me she had another recording. One that proves I knew about the forged signature before the dress was stolen.""
I felt cold.
"Did you?""
Brittany nodded.
"I signed a statement saying you had given me permission to use the design.""
"When?""
"Three days ago.""
I stared at her.
"Why?""
"Mom said it was just paperwork.""
A stage assistant called her name.
"Miss Miller, you're on!""
Brittany wiped her tears and stepped toward the runway.
Before she disappeared, she turned around.
"Emily, there's something else. Mom didn't just forge your signature.""
I waited.
"She forged mine, too.""
Then Brittany walked onto the stage.
The audience erupted in applause.
I looked down at the recorder.
A small red light was blinking.
The device had automatically saved a new audio file.
I pressed play.
Brittany's voice emerged from the tiny speaker.
"Mom, I don't want to sign another document. Emily is going to find out.""
Vanessa answered:
"Then we'll make sure she has nobody left to believe her.""
My blood ran cold.
But the recording continued.
And the next voice wasn't Vanessa's.
It was my father's.
"That's enough. If you touch another one of Claire's documents, I'll tell Emily everything.""
There was a loud crash.
Then Vanessa whispered:
"Richard, you should have thought about that before you helped me move the money.""
I stopped the recording.
My father hadn't simply discovered the fraud.
May you like
He had been part of it.
And Vanessa had something she could use against him.
