Chapter 5

Two identical creative works.

In terms of probability, such a coincidence was virtually impossible.

The appreciative glow on Simon’s face vanished, instantly replaced by volcanic fury.

BAM!

He slammed his open palm onto the mahogany conference table with deafening force.

"What the hell is this?!"

His trembling finger pointed at the screen, his roar rattling everyone’s eardrums.

"You couldn't even bother to tweak a single brush stroke before stealing it?!"

"Claire, you are stomping all over my last shred of patience!"

"Do you think I'm blind, or do you think this company is a dumpster for plagiarized trash?!"

Gordon’s face was as dark as thunder, glaring with disgust at the mirrored artwork.

"Is this your idea of work ethic? Presenting someone else's finished deliverables as your own?"

At that exact second, Chloe let out a sharp, choked gasp.

Clapping her hands over her mouth, tears cascaded down her cheeks like a broken dam.

Her wide, horrified gaze made it look like she was witnessing the most traumatizing atrocity on earth.

"Th-that... that's my design!"

She turned toward Simon, weeping hysterically, her voice shattering with every word.

"Claire... how could you do this to me?"

"I used that old desktop before. I might have left some local project cache on it by mistake..."

"How could you just take it and slap your own name on it?!"

With one clean, calculated swoop, she scrubbed herself entirely clean.

Richard jumped up, his finger almost poking my nose, spitting words of outrage.

"Claire! I knew you were rotten to the core!"

"You sat quietly in that corner plotting this shady stunt the whole time!"

"Blatantly stealing your coworker’s pitch! I have never been more disgusted!"

"A disgrace with zero moral integrity doesn't deserve to step foot in this firm!"

Gordon pulled his smartphone out of his suit pocket with an icy scowl.

"Save the lecture."

"This is felony intellectual property theft. The breach is catastrophic."

"Call the police. Now."

He punched 911 into his dialer without hesitation.

The boardroom exploded into chaos.

"Unbelievable... I had no idea Claire was this shameless."

"Stealing without even changing a detail? That's insane arrogance."

"If this goes on her record, she's permanently blacklisted in design."

Accusations, insults, and mocking laughter crashed over me like a tidal wave.

BAM!

The heavy boardroom doors were shoved open.

Two burly building security guards rushed into the room.

"Who called for security?!"

Gordon pointed directly at me.

"Restrain her. Law enforcement is on their way. Make sure she doesn't destroy any physical evidence."

The guards advanced in heavy, thunderous strides.

A rough, heavy hand clamped tightly down onto my shoulder.

A dull ache flared up, but I didn't struggle.

I looked at Richard's smug, twisted grin.

I looked at Chloe crying behind her trembling hands.

I looked at Simon’s look of absolute disgust.

Suddenly, a laugh escaped my throat.

It was sharp, clear, and utterly deafening in the dead silence of the room.

Even the guard pinning my shoulder hesitated, his grip loosening slightly in bewilderment.

"What the hell are you laughing at?" Simon barked, scowling with deep irritation.

I tore my shoulder out of the guard's grip with a sudden, vicious jerk.

Striding straight to the front of the conference table, I pulled a matte-black thumb drive from my blazer pocket.

I raised my arm and slammed the flash drive hard onto the table surface with a resounding CRACK.

The violent impact cut off every whisper in the room.

"You want to call the cops? Perfect."

"I second that motion."

"But before the police arrive, you all need to look at this—"

"And see for yourselves who the real thief in this room actually is!"