Luna had been dying to hear that question.
She sneered at Natalie and took out her tablet from her backpack.
After tapping the screen, she said to everyone present, “I designed a series of colorful spring styles last year, but the design department of the Klein Silk Fabric didn’t select it, so none of the designs were made into a finished product.But I was shocked to see Natalie’s works on stage just now.They are very similar to mine.I’’m a hundred percent sure that she got her hands on my designs and decided to pass them off as her own.She’s a thiefl”
The entire show was halted because of this sudden accusation.
The audience’s attention was on them.
One of the attendees who saw Luna’s designs said in a hushed tone, “Wow! Their works are indeed similar.I think she actually stole the designs.”
“Yes, the similarities are too obvious to overlook. The colors and styles are very much like,” another one concurred.
“Shush! Don’t jump to conclusions just yet.Let’s hear what Miss Quinn has to say about the accusation. It’s unwise to judge only by listening to one side!”
A guest disagreed vehemently.
Unfazed by all that Luna said, Natalie swiped and zoomed in on the drawings on the PC tablet.She observed them dosely for a while.She then said, “Yeah, they are similar, but that doesn’t make them the game.Are you calling me a plagiarist because of these similarities? Besides, no one knows when you made these design drafts!”
Luna had prepared well for this confrontation, so she had expected Natalie to say such a thing.She retorted fearlessly.
“As I said earlier, I made these designs some time back.I decided to put the entire collection on a fashion design exchange platform since it wasn’t selected by the design team.It was a way of putting my work out there and building my portfolio.From the website, you can see that it was uploaded a year ago. Have a look, everyone!”
As Luna spoke, she opened the fashion design exchange platform where she claimed to have uploaded her designs.
The date stamp indeed showed that the collection of designs was uploaded on the platform a year ago.
A slight frown appeared on the organizer’s face after Luna pointed out the date stamp.
“Miss Quinn, what do you have to say about that?”
The tempo of the uproar also increased, Natalie saw that some of the attendees were looking at her with disdainful expressions.
Many dignified designers were also coming over.
Tiffany’s mind-blowing introduction of Natalie before the show began painted her in a good light.
Most of them had good first impressions of her, so they were supportive of her.
“People often get similar inspirations.It’s possible that both women have similar interests and saw the same set of past designs that inspired them.After all, even experienced designers like us occasionally have such problems.”
“It’s true that people can take inspiration from the same things, but it is impossible for two creative minds to come up with the same designs.Similarities can happen.However, the styles and colors of Natalie’s designs are exactly the same as mine.Even a blind man could see that the resemblance is uncanny.How is it possible that she made these designs without looking at mine?”
Luna insisted confidently.
The other designers were forced to admit that she had a point.
Both designs had the slip style and silk fabric, among other similarities.
From their experience, they knew that such coincidences hardly ever happened.
This seemed to be enough evidence.
As a result, the organizers and designers couldn’t speak for Natalie anymore.
One of them eventually spoke for the rest, “Miss Quinn, you have to explain why your work is the same as hers. It’s best that you own up to it if you indeed plagiarized her work.Otherwise, you would make matters worse for yourself.”
This statement indicated that they were convinced that this was a clear case of plagiarism.
Despite being on the hot seat with little or no support, Natalie was hell-bent on sticking to her truth.She wasn’t intimidated by their lack of trust.She said calmly, “You said that even a blind man could see that I plagiarized your work.Now tell me, how is it possible that I blatantly plagiarized without changing any detail? I am a smart woman.if 1 wanted to copy someone’s work, I would make plenty of changes so that the owner won’t notice the similarities.Do you think I’m a fool that would just copy and paste without tweaking anything? Which intellectual property thief would want others to find out about his or her shady business?”
There was no trace of shame or fear on Natalie’s face.
It didn’t matter to her that no one supported her now.She was just ready to prove her innocence.
Folding her arms over her chest, Luna fired back, “Spare me that crap, Natalie.Now is not the time to flatter yourself.Only a thief would know how a thief thinks.I’m not a plagiarist, so there’s na way I would know how people like you think.I have brought out evidence that you stole my work.Everyone has seen it.As a designer, I can’t just stand by and watch someone else take credit for my hard work.With my designs, Natalie successfully entered the fashion show of Seacisco Fashion Week.I demand that all of her works be withdrawn and that she apologizes to me publicly.”
Natalie frowned deeply. She couldn’t take the insults, let alone apologize to her.
“You are making a baseless claim.I didn’t plagiarize your work.I have never logged on to the fashion design sharing platform you spoke about.More so, I have never seen any designs that are similar to mine anywhere before. You just want to tarnish my image!”
Luna held her chest and pretended to be hurt by Natalie’s words.
“How could you say that I’m making a baseless claim? You are just being a big bully.I’ve never seen anyone as shameless and wicked as you. The evidence is right here. Why are you still denying it? Anyway, let’s wait and see!”
The news eventually reached the person in charge of the Seacisco Fashion Week. It was a popular event, after all, with the entire country paying attention to its highlights.
Of course, the big shots in the fashion industry were always in attendance.
Ever since Natalie’s plagiarism issue had gone viral on the Internet, people began to discuss the matter in various online forums.
There were those who even posted video comments combing through how the incident unfolded. It didn’t take long until the names Natalie Quinn and Larson Group became a hot search topic.
Needless to say, it all blew up and became a sensation overnight.
In the end, Tiffany asked Natalie to go home and get some rest.
“But why should I go back, Ms.Fisher? I didn’t do anything wrong.I was framed and slandered—I am the victim here.”
Loath as she was to admit it, Natalie could sense that Tiffany didn’t exactly believe her at the moment.
In truth, the other woman only thought that Natalie was currently too flustered and excited to think straight.She might wind up making the situation worse.
“You should take a couple of days off and calm down, Quinn.”
“I don’t need to calm down, because none of this is my fault. Why should I be the one to run and hide?” Natalie couldn’t help raising her voice.
She wasn’t the one in the wrong, so why was she being treated as if she were?
“I need to find out who set me up.”
At that same moment, everyone back in the Larson Group were talking about the controversy as well, especially the designers.
They used to think highly of Natalie and admired her potential, but their opinions were swiftly shifting to the other side.
Gerda kept to herself and ignored her colleagues.She had faith in Natalie.
As for the senior designers who had always hated Natalie, they were naturally overjoyed at her misfortune.
They could finally talk shit about her out in the open.
“I told you, didn’t 1? That woman must be sleeping with some senior executive. You know how it works.”
“How disgusting.I never thought such a vulgar thing also happens behind the doors of the Larson Group.”
“Oh, please.I’m sure there are plenty of things going on around here that we know nothing about.”
The next day, one of the fashion week’s organizers called Natalie over to his office.He spoke to her in a curt and businesslike tone.