Ana’s POV

    “Who in the hell said I was going to lose? You do know that Sasha can’t create or design anything. She paid to use someone else’s design. That’s how she won her award. Not off her talent, but off someone else’s. You bought her lies. nning a wonderful life for your son, based on what she told you. That she was carrying Roger’s baby, and she could elevate hispany. More so than I could. So, how’s that n of yours working out for you? Because from what I heard, you lost your husband and son, over Sasha’s lies,” I asked.

    Charlie had said nothing; he was just watching it all y out. He had texted someone, probably the gate guard, Randy. But I wasn’t worried or afraid of these people. They were all bark and no bite. They didn’t concern me, not like Tiffany and Gretchen did.

    “Even if you came up with them, Elizabeth. You created them while working for Roger. So, they belong to thepany, not you,” Joyce proudly stated.

    “I actually created them at home and at thepany. But you’re wrong, Joyce. You seem a bit confused, so let me rify it for everyone. I was not an employee of thepany. I was the co–owner. There is a big difference right there. I didn’t have to work if I didn’t want to; Roger sure as hell didn’t. But I did work. I worked my butt off working twelve and sixteen–hour days. Building hispany from the ground up. Using my contacts to be investors. I used my own money because I wanted to help support him by bringing his vision to life. All while he sat in his office, letting me work myself into the ground,” I answered her.

    “Lies, all of it. Thatpany bears his name. He is the boss. He makes the decisions. He’s in charge,” Joyce angrily rebutted.

    “Yes, because I left it, and him. Thepany was sessful until I found out what he had done. I backed out, sold my shares. I informed the investors that I was no longer with thepany when you had me arrested. That’s the reason why it’s crashing and burning. My designs don’t belong to hispany; they belong to me. He would only be allowed to use them if I allowed it, and I don’t. In fact, I won’t be allowing it ever again. I don’t want to muddy the water or cause confusion. It would be best for Roger to use the money I paid him from canceling all the remaining contracts between us. If you want to push me, Joyce. I can go ahead and have him fined for sending my designs to be produced after the contracts had expired on them. I have the numbers, I know exactly how much money that will be,” I replied.

    “Mom, stay out of this. You are just making it worse. Ana was the reason mypany has done so well. I need her help, and all you are doing is causing her to attack. She won’te back if you keep this up. I need her!” Roger cried out.

    “Too bad you didn’t realize that sooner, Roger,” I replied, ncing over at him.

    “I’m d he did what he did, love. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have met you. I wouldn’t change a thing,” Charlie said as he wrapped an arm around me and then kissed me when I looked up at him. I hadpletely forgotten about the people at the gate until Regina started another tantrum.

    “See, Roger. I told you. They were probably together before you married Sasha. She was probably cheating on you this whole time,” Regina snapped out.

    “I agree, something was always off about her. She always thought she was too good, better than the rest of us. She might be a Caldwell, but she is also a thief and a slut. I wouldn’t have put it past her to have set her sights on your father if she hadn’t gotten you to propose. They always got along too well, too close, both he and your younger brother. It’s absolutely disgusting behavior. That’s why I wanted her gone. You can’t keep a woman like that around. I wasn’t going to allow it,” Joyce stated. She seemed to genuinely believe she was right. She would do anything to nder me.

    “Wrong again, Joyce. You should get used to hearing that, maybe put it on a t–shirt as you’re wrong quite often,” I told her. I looked over to the two men recording this debacle. “I’m going to need a copy of today’s events. I’m going to add thatst statement to the nder charges that areing. Perhaps losing all the money you have will remind you not to say things that you know aren’t true. Oh, and by the way, Joyce. I had specific contracts written up, ones that allowed him to use my designs on a yearly basis. My designs are the very reason ourpany flourished, but they always belonged to me. Now they belong to Fashion Forward.”

    One of the cameramen nodded at me, but I already knew they would have to give me the footage. Now that my identity has been exposed, they know awyer’s letter will being to them quickly if they refuse. I could take them to court and drag this out. I know that would be messing with their livelihood, but they are making money off the nderous words of vicious women. They might want to rethink their jobs.

    I heard someone approaching us a few minutes earlier. She probably came out and stuck to the sidewalk so they wouldn’t see hering. I didn’t turn around to look. I already suspected it was Gwen. She was my Maid of Honor, but they weren’t allowed into the venue. They also didn’t know that we were close friends. Since I wasn’t going to y along with them, they changed tactics.

    “Ms. Simpson, I’m sorry toe here, but you need to know about your employee. Not only did she take designs from ourpany when she left, but she also refuses to return them. This is going to reflect very badly on not just her, but yourpany, too, if this goes to court. You need to talk some sense into her. Thereis no need for her to go this far. She needs to just return them to us, and I’ll nevere back. Please think of the negative publicity that this is going to bring,” Sasha pleaded.

    I see that she’s back to her innocent act. I’m sure that if I were to hand those designs over, she would be iming them as hers within the hour. She would try to tell the world that they were hers all along. She obviously didn’t mind iming someone else’s work.

    “Well, I think we can withstand it. Ourpany was built on transparency. We know our worth, and wpletely stand behind Ana. I know her and her talent. I believe that you’re scared to go to court, Mrs. Cook.

    Rest assured, we don’t need to do anything further for the truth to be exposed. Ana’s one of the most talented designers I’ve ever met. It’s been a pleasure to work with her. I believe her name will be cleared very quickly

    once this goes to court. She can withstand this storm, can you?” Gwen replied.

    “Wait a minute. Weren’t you with her at the auction?” Joyce suddenly asked, her voiceced with suspicion.

    “I was,” Gwen replied.

    “Did you ask her to steal those designs from my son?” Joyce shouted. It was clear that she was trying to drag thepany down along with me. They were grasping at straws now, and I could tell this was the new spin they were going with.

    “Thispany has been up and running for nine years. Almost twice as long as your son’spany. We’ve had no scandals or issues this entire time. We have high standards, not just as professionals, but as apany as well. I can assure you that we always operate with integrity. I won’t allow anyone to nder Ana,

    thepany, or me. I thought you had enough going on that you would realize that you can’t just use someone of what you just did. Especially hot on the heels of your own son admitting that those designs were Ana’s, but I was wrong. You will have to answer for what you just said,” Gwen coldly stated.

    “I’m not scared of you or yourpany. The fact remains that the designs that belonged to my son’spany ended up here. If you don’t want to be used of something like this, then you should never have instructed her to steal someone else’s work. I believe Sasha, when she said that Ana stole her designs. That’s good enough for me. People need to know what you did. They need to buy from thepany that owns the designs. You shouldn’t have stepped into this. No matter who Ana is, she can’t change what she did. She is a liar and a thief. You’re backing the wrong person in this. You need to cut her loose and return the designs back to us before she ends up destroying yourpany, too,” Joyce assured her.

    Gwen was always happy. She was vocal and bold. She was never scared to go toe–to–toe with anyone. But when she was calm, she was done. She knew the truth, but she wasn’t going to stand here and let them continue to nder me or thepany. She knew when to push and when to step back. She considered thispany to be as much hers as it was mine. She wasn’t going to allow Joyce to try to ruin our reputation.

    Gwen pulled out her phone and made a call. “Hey, I need you to save the footage from both sides of the gate for the time frame before anyone arrived until they leave the premises. So want you to call the police and report trespassers at our gate. I want whoever is here when they arrive to be arrested. Burn three copies and send two of them to Rodney Briggs and have him add Joyce Cook to the giarism trial. The third copy can be ced on my desk.” There was a short pause before Gwen said, “Thanks.”

    “Joyce, you’re about to learn a hard lesson, but it’s one that you need to learn. You’re not nearly as smart as you think you are. After thest incident. I had cameras installed while Ana was on her honeymoon. Audio and video, she didn’t even know that they were there. We have five cameras in total, as I didn’t want any allegations of edited videos. I already know people will do anything for money. Since you love being in the public eye, I’m going to help make you famous. The whole city is about to find out what a shrew you really are. You act like ady, but say vile things about others. Ignoring the vile things that your own family does,”Gwen told her.

    “I’m not signing a release for you to use my likeness,” Joyce replied.

    “You don’t have to. We will use them in court. I don’t need your permission to release them. I just won’t do so until the verdict is in, and your shame isplete. Don’te back here again. I would suggest leaving quickly. The police are on their way now. I’m not ying with any of you,” Gwen replied.