Chapter 4: The Man Who Knew My Mother
I didn't sleep that night.
Julian Cross's final words kept replaying in my head.
Your father helped her do it.
At six thirty the following morning, I was sitting at the kitchen table with my mother's silver flash drive hidden inside my jacket.
My father walked in wearing yesterday's shirt.
He looked exhausted.
"Maya? You're up early.""
"I have somewhere to go.""
He opened the refrigerator and poured himself a glass of orange juice.
"About last night...""
I waited.
He sighed.
"I shouldn't have questioned you in front of Eleanor.""
I looked at him.
"That's what you're apologizing for?""
Richard placed the glass on the counter.
"Vanessa told me you went into your mother's sewing room.""
My stomach tightened.
"She told you?""
"She said you were looking through old business documents.""
"She also told you not to believe me, didn't she?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Maya, please. I don't want another argument.""
"Then answer one question.""
He turned.
"Did you know Mom left me sixty percent of Silverwing?""
The glass slipped slightly in his hand.
For a second, the kitchen seemed to stop moving.
Then he placed it carefully on the counter.
"Where did you hear that?""
"Her documents.""
Richard stared at me.
"Those papers are complicated.""
"That's not an answer.""
He walked toward the window.
"Your mother made arrangements before she died. Some of them were never finalized.""
"They were notarized.""
His shoulders stiffened.
"Who told you that?""
I stepped closer.
"Why are you more interested in who told me than whether it's true?""
Before he could answer, Vanessa entered the kitchen.
She was wearing a pale pink blouse and carrying a cup of coffee.
"Richard, the car is waiting.""
Her eyes landed on me.
"Good morning, Maya.""
I didn't respond.
She looked at the jacket I was wearing.
"Going somewhere?""
"Yes.""
"Where?""
"Out.""
Vanessa smiled.
"Your father and I were hoping you could help Brielle today. She's preparing for another showcase.""
I almost laughed.
"After yesterday?""
"Family should support each other.""
"Interesting. You didn't seem to believe that when you poured silver dye over my head.""
Richard turned sharply.
"Vanessa, what is she talking about?""
Vanessa's expression changed instantly.
"Richard, please. She slipped. There was a misunderstanding.""
I stared at her.
"You brought the bucket.""
"Enough," Richard said.
I looked at him.
"Did you know?""
He didn't answer.
That silence told me more than Vanessa's lies ever could.
I grabbed my bag.
"I'm meeting Julian Cross.""
The coffee cup stopped halfway to Vanessa's mouth.
Richard's face drained of color.
"You're not.""
I turned.
"Why?""
"Because I said so.""
"Who is he, Dad?""
Richard looked at Vanessa.
She placed her cup on the counter.
"Julian is a dangerous man. Your mother trusted him, and look where that got her.""
I felt my pulse quicken.
"You knew him?""
Vanessa smiled.
"Everyone in the fashion industry knew Julian.""
Richard moved toward me.
"Maya, listen to me. Don't meet him alone.""
"Then come with me.""
He hesitated.
I almost thought he would agree.
But Vanessa touched his arm.
"Richard, we have a meeting with the accountants.""
He looked away.
And just like that, I understood.
I was on my own.
At nine fifteen, I arrived at a small coffee shop near the old financial district.
Julian Cross was sitting at a table beside the window.
He was in his late fifties, with silver hair, a dark overcoat, and a thin scar running along his left eyebrow.
He stood when he saw me.
"You look like your mother.""
I sat down without returning the greeting.
"Show me the contract.""
He studied me.
"Straight to business. Eleanor would have liked that.""
"You knew my mother?""
"Very well.""
"Then tell me what happened.""
Julian opened his leather briefcase.
He placed three documents on the table.
The first was a company registration certificate.
The second was a partnership agreement.
The third was a transfer document dated eight years earlier.
I recognized my mother's signature.
But something about it looked wrong.
"She didn't sign this," I whispered.
Julian nodded.
"You're right.""
He pointed to the bottom of the page.
"Look at the witness.""
I leaned closer.
The witness was Richard Carter.
My father.
My fingers went cold.
"Why would Dad sign something like this?""
"Because he was told it was a temporary restructuring agreement.""
Julian took a breath.
"Your mother and I founded Silverwing together. She was the creative mind. I handled the business side. We agreed that if anything happened to either of us, the other would protect the company and the people who depended on it.""
"Then why did the documents say Mom was the sole founder?""
"Because she bought out my shares after I left the company.""
"Why did you leave?""
Julian looked out the window.
"Vanessa.""
I frowned.
He continued.
"She came into your father's life while your mother was still alive. At first, she presented herself as a business consultant. She convinced Richard that Silverwing needed outside investment. Then she began introducing him to people who offered loans.""
"Cross Creative Holdings?""
Julian nodded.
"That company was created to move money out of Silverwing. Your mother discovered the transfers and confronted Richard.""
"Did he know?""
"Not at first.""
Julian slid another document toward me.
"Then he signed this.""
I stared at the signature.
It was definitely my father's.
"What does it mean?""
"It gave Vanessa temporary control over certain company accounts.""
"Why?""
"Richard believed he was preventing the business from collapsing. Vanessa told him the money was being used to pay creditors.""
"And it wasn't?""
Julian shook his head.
"Some of it went to acquire competing design studios. Some went into private accounts. And a considerable amount went toward building Brielle's fashion career.""
I thought about the expensive workshops, the photography sessions, and the designer clothes.
All those years, I had been told there wasn't enough money for my fabric.
I felt sick.
"Why didn't you stop her?""
"I tried.""
He opened his briefcase again.
"I hired an attorney. Your mother began gathering evidence. But before we could file anything, she died.""
I stared at him.
"What happened to her?""
Julian looked at me for a long moment.
"That's the question I've been trying to answer.""
He pushed a photograph across the table.
It showed Vanessa entering a private medical building two days before my mother's death.
Beside her was a man I didn't recognize.
"Who is he?""
"Dr. Samuel Reed. He was your mother's private physician.""
I looked up.
"Why was Vanessa meeting him?""
Julian's expression darkened.
"That's what I want to know.""
My hands began shaking.
He leaned forward.
"Your mother left something else with me. She told me to give it to you only if Vanessa ever tried to take control of Silverwing again.""
He reached into his briefcase and removed a small velvet box.
Inside was a gold necklace.
A tiny silver feather hung from the chain.
I recognized it immediately.
My mother had worn it every day.
I lifted it carefully.
There was a small compartment on the back.
Inside was a folded piece of paper.
Three words were written in my mother's handwriting.
*Trust the original.*
I looked at Julian.
"What original?""
He didn't answer.
Instead, he checked his phone.
His expression changed.
"Someone knows we're here.""
I turned toward the window.
A black SUV was parked across the street.
The passenger window lowered.
A camera lens pointed directly at us.
Julian stood.
"We need to leave.""
"Who is that?""
He grabbed the documents.
"Someone who doesn't want you to see the original contract.""
Before we reached the door, my phone rang.
Dad.
I answered.
"Maya, where are you?""
"With Julian.""
His voice rose.
"Get away from him immediately!""
"Why?""
"Because he lied to your mother!""
I looked at Julian.
He had gone completely still.
Dad continued.
"He's the reason she lost everything!""
May you like
Then he said something that made me stop breathing.
"Maya, Julian was the last person to see your mother alive.""
