Chapter 5 - The War for Sterling Designs
A week after the wedding scandal, Ethan was released on a hefty bail paid for by his wealthy uncle, pending his federal trial.
Instead of hiding in shame, Ethan chose to double down.
He launched a desperate PR campaign through a tabloid news show, claiming that I was a bitter ex-fiancée who had conspired with Alexander Vance to execute a hostile takeover of his wealth management firm and ruin his reputation.
Even worse, Ethan attempted to copyright the entire visual branding and intellectual property portfolio of my firm, Sterling Design Studio, claiming it was created under the employment of Hayes Wealth Management.
I sat in Alexander’s executive office at Vance Global, looking at the legal notice Ethan’s lawyer had served me.
"He's trying to starve you out, Olivia," Sarah Miller said, sitting across from us. "He knows your personal capital is tied up until the SEC finishes its audit. By claiming ownership of your design portfolio, he prevents you from taking on new corporate clients."
"It's a desperate move," Alexander said, leaning back in his leather chair, his jaw set in a hard line. "He wants to force you into a settlement where you agree to testify in his favor during the SEC trial in exchange for your intellectual property back."
I looked at the legal documents. Anger—sharp, clean, and energizing—coursed through my veins.
"He thinks I’m still the quiet girl who sits in the background and lets him take credit for my work," I said, setting the papers down firmly on the desk. "For three years, I designed every logo, every brand package, and every marketing campaign for his firm. I kept the original raw files, timestamps, and design drafts on my private encrypted cloud server."
Alexander looked at me, a proud spark igniting in his grey eyes. "Timestamps?"
"Every single file was saved under my personal registered business domain before Ethan ever saw them," I revealed. "I never signed an employment contract with Hayes Wealth Management. I was a third-party independent contractor who was never paid for her services."
Sarah let out a whistle. "If you were an unpaid independent contractor, then Ethan’s firm owes you three years of back pay for brand licensing."
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"Exactly," I smiled coldly. "And if he uses my copyrighted assets on his firm's website right now while out on bail, he is committing willful intellectual property theft under federal law."
Alexander picked up his phone and pressed speaker. "Get our chief intellectual property counsel in here immediately. It's time we file a counter-suit that will put Ethan Hayes under the pavement."
