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Novel Catalog
Chapter 26
“Yup, this is my sketch. Let me know what you think.”
Catherine opened her laptop and handed it over to Shaun.
A mysterious dark blue hue crossed Shaun’s gaze, and for a moment, it felt as though he was traveling through a tunnel of stars. The depth and detail of the design captured him completely.
She began explaining the concept behind the design. “This sketch is called ‘Cosmic Eye.’ Do you see how the nebulae here resemble pairs of twinkling eyes? I believe the future of our exploration lies in the universe. Over here is the Fourth Dimensional World, designed in the style of Escher…”
Shaun listened intently as she explained, her voice filled with confidence. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, yet his expression remained calm, even though he was secretly in awe.
This creative blend of space and exploration was perfect for the interior of a technology center. He realized that he had underestimated her. The young woman, who appeared so delicate, was a powerhouse in design.
She was even better than many renowned designers he had worked with before.
Her passion for her work had an undeniable charm.
“What do you think?” she asked eagerly, looking at him with an expectant sparkle in her eyes.
“Satisfactory,” Shaun replied simply, his tone casual, though he couldn’t suppress a faint smile from playing at his lips. He pretended not to notice her excitement.
Catherine pouted, disappointed at his underwhelming response. She thought her idea was brilliant. “Do you think I stand a chance?” she asked.
“Don’t be so full of yourself. There’s always someone more talented,” he said, his words deliberately dampening her enthusiasm.
“…” Catherine was frustrated. It seemed like the conversation had ended there.
But with a defiant gleam in her eyes, she snapped the laptop shut. “I’ll definitely win this,” she declared with an affirmative nod, turning around and walking off, her ponytail swaying proudly behind her.
Unbeknownst to her, Shaun watched her with a faint, amused smile.
The next day, Catherine showed her sketch to President Yates, and he was so impressed that he immediately decided to proceed with her design.
Henry, however, was livid with anger. He lowered his head, trying to conceal his frustration.
The day of the bidding arrived. Catherine rushed to the location, her heart racing with anticipation. As she arrived, she saw Rebecca and her team stepping out of the company car.
A lump formed in Catherine’s throat as she saw the familiar faces following Rebecca now, their expressions full of disdain and mockery.
“Hey, look, it’s the great designer, Catherine Jones. You’ve been fired but still show up for the bidding? What nerve,” James sneered.
“I’m here as a representative of the company I’m currently working for,” Catherine replied coolly, holding her ground. “Laugh all you want, but you should know my ability.”
“Ability?” James scoffed. “You only got the chance to bid because of President Yates. You’re nobody after leaving Summit.”
Rebecca interjected with mock sweetness, “Cathy, which company are you representing today? We might be rivals, then.”
Catherine blinked in disbelief. Rebecca? The one who had barely started learning design less than half a year ago? How could she be so sure of her work?
“That’s right. I designed the whole thing myself,” Rebecca said, flashing a knowing smile.
Catherine’s heart sank. She could tell from Rebecca’s smile that something wasn’t right. Her suspicion grew — Rebecca had likely taken credit for someone else’s work.
“I don’t have faith in your moral standing,” Catherine retorted coldly.
“Oh, Cathy, I know you’re jealous that Ethan and I got together, but you shouldn’t humiliate me like this,” Rebecca said, feigning innocence.
“You’re vile to the core,” James spat at Catherine.
“Save your breath,” Catherine muttered, turning away to leave. She couldn’t stand the hypocrisy. Rebecca would have done well in the entertainment industry with her talent for acting.
As Catherine made her way upstairs to join President Yates and the others, she overheard them drawing lots. “Our slot is right after Summit Group,” President Yates noted.
Catherine frowned at the coincidence but quickly shook it off. She had complete confidence in her abilities.
The bidding began. The first presentation was by a representative from a furniture company, followed by five other design companies. Their presentations were competent but lacked the spark that would set them apart.
When Rebecca’s turn finally came, she stepped onto the stage, dressed in a polished brown business suit. She was by far the youngest designer presenting. The audience initially showed signs of skepticism due to her age, but once she began to present her design, everyone was stunned.
Catherine jumped to her feet, unable to contain her shock. This was her design — her work after weeks of sleepless nights.
How had Rebecca gotten her hands on it?
Her fists clenched, her body rigid with fury. The room around her faded as her eyes burned with anger.
“Hey, can you sit down? You’re blocking the view,” someone from another company called out, annoyed.
But Catherine couldn’t hear them. She was too focused on Rebecca, her glare fierce as she stared at the woman.
Rebecca, sensing her gaze, flashed a smug smile in her direction, before continuing to explain her design. “This is the Fourth Dimensional World that I created. It’s a mysterious, undiscovered realm…”
President Sawyer and others in the audience were visibly impressed. “This young designer from Summit is quite impressive. Not bad,” someone murmured.
“I heard she’s Jeffery Jones’ daughter. The young lady of Summit Group,” another person added.
Catherine could barely hold herself back any longer. “Are you going to mention Cosmic Eye and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea? And the academic research areas, artistic exchange spaces with high-tech features like photoelectric curtain walls, cool river water, and LED systems?” she shouted.
The entire room fell silent. Rebecca paused mid-sentence, her face a mask of shock.
“How do you know the details of my concept?” Rebecca asked, clearly rattled.
Catherine’s voice dripped with contempt. “These are my designs, my concepts. You’ve literally stolen every detail of my work. Is this how Summit stays on top? By stealing from others?”