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Novel Catalog
Chapter 27
“You’re saying she stole your concept?” President Sawyer asked, his frown deepening.
“That’s right. I have proof on my laptop. I’ve spent a tremendous amount of time and effort creating these designs, even starting the 2D sketches from scratch. I have the rough drafts with me as well,” Catherine replied, her voice firm but trembling with frustration.
“Show me,” President Sawyer demanded.
Catherine immediately reached for her laptop, but her heart sank as she realized that all the documents had disappeared. Panic set in as she frantically searched through her purse, but the initial sketches were gone as well.
Her gaze shot toward Henry, who was standing nearby. “Did you delete my documents?” she demanded, her voice rising with anger.
Henry, caught off guard, jumped to his feet in indignation. “What are you talking about? I’m your colleague!” he snapped.
Rebecca, who was still on the podium, spoke up in a calm but stern voice. “Cathy, that’s enough. We can solve our personal dispute later, but this is a crucial moment for Summit. Why do you have to accuse me in front of everyone and embarrass me like this?”
President Sawyer looked confused. “You two know each other?”
Before Catherine could speak, Rebecca smoothly replied, “She’s my younger sister. We’ve had some tension between us because of personal matters…”
James, unable to hold back any longer, slammed his fist on the table and stood up. “Rebecca, you don’t have to defend her. She’s just trying to ruin your reputation so she can inherit the Jones family business. This vicious woman must have stolen your design.”
“I didn’t steal anything!” Catherine’s anger flared, her voice thick with fury.
“Then prove it,” James retorted. “You can’t just accuse people without evidence. Rebecca has worked so hard on this project. How dare you blame her like that?”
Henry stood up, his tone mocking. “No wonder the sketches you showed us were better than mine. You copied someone else’s work, didn’t you? Looks like you’re still working for Summit. President Yates, this woman is trying to trick us.”
President Yates, visibly unsettled, turned to Catherine. “Is this true, Catherine? Are they telling the truth?”
The doubt in his eyes hurt, but Catherine tried to stay calm. “President Yates, can’t you see? Henry has been bribed!” she protested weakly.
Henry quickly defended himself. “I don’t know anyone from Summit. President Yates, you know me! We’ve worked together for years. You know what kind of person I am!”
President Yates, his patience thin, sighed deeply. “I’ve heard enough. I can’t afford to lose any more dignity here. We’re not qualified to participate in this bidding. Catherine Jones, you’re no longer an employee of our company.”
With that, he turned and walked away, Henry trailing behind him.
Catherine’s heart shattered as she heard the finality in his words. She had been thrown aside like nothing.
James sneered, his eyes full of mockery. “Even the people from your own company aren’t backing you up. Your reputation is in tatters.”
“James, Rebecca,” Catherine said through gritted teeth, “remember that what goes around comes around.”
Losing all control, she grabbed a bottle of water from the table and threw it at them, her anger erupting in an explosive moment.
President Sawyer’s patience was clearly exhausted. “Get her out of here. How did they even let someone like her into this year’s bidding?” he snapped.
Two security guards quickly moved in, grabbing Catherine by the arms and dragging her out of the hall.
The rain poured down in torrents as Catherine was thrown outside. The cold, relentless water soaked her through to the bone, leaving her drenched and shivering. Her body felt numb as the storm raged around her, and the fire of her anger slowly fizzled out, replaced by an overwhelming sense of grief.
She stood there in the downpour, lost in her thoughts. What had she done wrong? Had she wronged Rebecca in a past life?
She had worked so hard to build a new life, to start over again. Yet, Rebecca seemed determined to destroy her at every turn, even going so far as to ruin her reputation in the design world. What would she do now? Who would hire her in the future?
Tears mixed with the rain as Catherine realized the full weight of her misery. The feeling of defeat was all-encompassing. It felt like everything she had worked for had been swept away in an instant, leaving her with nothing but a cold, empty future ahead.