Mia offered a slight nod in response.
Dulce signaled to Eloise, who promptly produced a tablet and handed it to Mia.
“Please take a moment to review this, Ms. Dury. It contains Stella’s design.”
Mia took the tablet from Dulce’s grasp, scrutinizing the screen intently.
A frown creased her forehead as she slammed the tablet down on the table.
“This is plagiarism!” she declared.
Although Stella had braced herself for this moment, her hands still clenched involuntarily, her knuckles whitening.
Feigning astonishment, Dulce retrieved the tablet.
“Plagiarism? That can’t be right. Stella assured me this was her original creation. I find the design impeccable. I truly admire it.”
Mia shifted her stern gaze to Stella.
Taking a measured breath, Stella averted her eyes and shook her head.
“I didn’t plagiarize.”
“This design is the legacy of the late designer Colby Turner,” Mia enunciated, her voice tinged with reproach.
“You, as a designer, ought to recognize that. So how do you explain this design if you didn’t copy it?”
Though Mia’s tone remained measured, Stella could sense the simmering anger behind her words.
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With a solemn expression, Stella began, “I did create that design, but…”
Her words were abruptly cut off by Dulce.
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“Stella, I had complete faith in you. How could you plagiarize? I intended to wear this dress to an awards ceremony. What will happen to my reputation in the industry if this is discovered?”
Stella frowned. Before she could muster a reply, the door to the private room burst open.
A throng of reporters flooded in, cameras and flashlights blindingly focused on her.
Microphones thrust in her face, the reporters fired off a series of piercing questions.
“Miss Anderson, is this yet another act of plagiarism? We heard rumors of your suspected plagiarism during the KlassicLuxe design competition. Are you making a habit of this?”
“We’ve also heard you were dismissed by Mr. Clark for plagiarism, and that you even attempted to seduce him, risking his marriage.”
“Are you planning to use the same tactics to catch Mia Dury’s eye now that she’s back? Miss Anderson, it seems you have no moral compass!”