Chapter 148 The Plagiarism Case
Nathaniel looked up, his dark eyes burning with anger once again.
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“He should consider himself unlucky for setting his eles on you.” His tone was cold and resolute, but there was a hint of concern. It struck a chord within Christina, stirring her emotions.
She dipped a cotton ball in disinfectant and gently cleaned his wound before speaking. “You don’t have to worry about others because I have no interest in them.”
The girl leaned in closer, and her pleasant scent wafted into his nose, subtly diminishing the sharp smell of the disinfectant.
A corner of Nathaniel’s lips quirked up. He extended his manly palm, wrapped it around her delicate waist, and narrowed his eyes. “Is that so?”
Christina’s understanding of his part, particularly the experience of his father’s remarriage when he was young, gave her some insights into his inner struggles.
That was why Christina could understand Nathaniel’s intense animosity toward Francis. His reaction just reflects his vulnerability.
She understood him well, but she would never say it out.
She raised her delicate fingertip and gently stroked Nathaniel’s cheek before speaking with a mix of tenderness and determination. “Of course, I’m not blind. There is no one in the world more outstanding than you, isn’t it?
As she cradled his handsome face in her hands, her affectionate gaze locked onto his. “You look handsome even in casual attire. That’s how my boyfriend should look.”
While others might perceive him as a mature and authoritative figure, to Christina, he was just a grown-up boy yearning for love.
In that fleeting moment, her words thawed the ice in his gaze. He delicately lifted her chin and tenderly pressed his lips against hers.
His searing breath swept into Christina’s lungs, and the heat that permeated her body ignited her blood like a sudden flame. Her rationality and thoughts were all consumed by the intoxicating
sensation.
As the indoor lights gradually dimmed, the intertwined figures of the two moved from the couch to the large bed. As the lights went out, the air between them grew thick with an escalating sense of intimacy.
As the morning light poured into Radiant Corporation, Christina stepped into the office. A cluster of colleagues had gathered, engrossed in gossip.
Their conversation abruptly ceased when they heard footsteps coming in. They all dispersed after casting peculiar glances at her.
As Christina walked past the entrance, she was promptly summoned into Gina’s oflice.
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Chapter 148 The Plagiarism Case
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Gina wore a grim expression. The last time Christina had seen that expression was during the clothing factory incident. Concern washed over Christina as she could not help but feel worried.
“Did something happen, Ms. Tanner?” she asked.
Gina turned on her tablet and showed her the headline of a news story. “Take a look at this.”
Christina picked it up and read the story about the red carpet event during Bazaar Charity Night.
Two female celebrities wore the same dress but still looked beautiful in their own ways.
Christina’s eyes immediately fell upon Henrietta’s dress, the one-and-only creation she had meticulously crafted for the star when she visited Radiant Corporation.
She only handed the dress to Henrietta three days age so it was impossible for someone to replicate the dress in such a short period.
In other words, there was a traitor among the three of them!
The leaked design could be attributed to either Anna or Xenia. Otherwise, this would not have happened.
Celebrities were willing to pay a hefty price for bespoke dresses to avoid the nightmare of wearing the same outfits as others on the red carpet.
Just as they were contemplating how to address the situation, Gina’s a**istant rushed into the room, her voice filled with anxiety. “Ms. Tanner, Henrietta is throwing a fit in the conference room. She insists on seeing both of you!”
Gina and Christina exchanged glances. They had no choice but to meet her, even though they did not
have a solution.
The atmosphere inside the conference room was tense.
Henrietta crossed her hands, her eyes burning with fury. “What is the matter with you two? Running a big company like this and resorting to plagiarism?”
She had always harbored doubts about the competence of companies like that. Just when I thought I was impressed by their design, this happened. In the end, the dress isn’t even their original idea! What a bunch of copycats!
Gina’s expression darkened, but she would not want anyone to falsely accuse Christina before getting to the bottom of the matter. “Ms. Lane, we have yet to conduct an investigation, and I a**ure you that our designer will never engage in plagiarism.”
Seething with anger, Henrietta stood up. “Never? Then why did Gwyneth Lawson wear the exact same dress as mine on the red carpet?”
Christina was at a loss for words, as she had no idea how her design was stolen. “Please calm down, Ms. Lane. I’ll investigate the matter thoroughly and give you a proper explanation.”
“What do I need a proper explanation for? I wanted you to customize a dress for me for the red carpet, but you ruined it!” Henrietta grew increasingly agitated as she spoke.
She walked up to Christina and questioned her. “I was willing to spend a fortune just to stand out from
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Chapter 148 The Plagiarism Case
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the crowd. And now, I’m being constantly compared to Gwyneth Lawson by netizens. They even dare to accuse me of wearing a counterfeit dress! It’s driving me insane!”
Christina could not refute it because what she said made sense. She had no choice but to accept the blame for the design theft as it was her responsibility. We actually made this dress to complement your poise. No one in this world would carry it better than you.”
Hearing that did not uplift Henrietta’s spirit, as she was already in a foul mood. Does she expect me to believe her words?
“I don’t care. I demand a full refund. And I also want a public apology from you, admitting that you plagiarized and deceived me by making me wear a counterfeit product,” she demanded.
Christina’s eyes widened. What? A public apology and admitting I plagiarize? If I were to do that, it would be the end of my career as a designer! No one would dare to hire a designer who openly admits to engaging in plagiarism. No, I can’t do that!
She had worked so hard to realize her dream and would not allow this obstacle to get in her way.
With determination, Christina said, “Please give me a few days to prove I didn’t plagiarize anyone’s work, Ms. Lane. And I’m willing to refund you the money you paid for the dress as compensation for my mistake.”
Henrietta’s discontent was evident, but when she observed the unwavering resolve on Christina’s face, she hesitated briefly before reluctantly saying, “Fine. Three days.”
“All right. I’ll give you an explanation in three days,” Christina a**ured her.
With a disdainful snort, Henrietta put on her sungla**es and stormed out of the conference room.
The atmosphere at that moment hung heavy like the aftermath of a fierce battle, with the scent of smoke and gunpowder lingering in the air.
Gina had complete trust in Christina’s integrity and knew she would never resort to plagiarism. Moreover, she had personally reviewed all the original drafts and was confident that they reflected Christina’s distinct style.
She approached Christina with a worried expression Christina, besides us, did any of your a**istants ever get a chance to see your drafts?”
Christina’s eyes darkened. “They must have seen it since we work together, but…” she replied while nodding. If the leak originated from within the company, Nenia and Anna are the likely suspects.
