Chapter 51 Who Is Paying
Christina’s heart pounded in her chest as she looked at Gina, the tension in the room palpable. The accusation of plagiarism hung heavy in the air, and the weight of the situation settled in her stomach like a rock. She had never stolen anyone’s work, and she had no intention of letting this baseless claim tarnish her reputation.
“Ms. Tanner,” she began, her voice calm but firm, “I assure you, I did not plagiarize. That design is mine, and I can prove it.” She held Gina’s gaze, unwavering.
Gina’s eyes narrowed. “Prove it? How exactly are you going to do that?” Her tone was skeptical, but Christina could sense the hesitation behind it. Even Gina had to know that she wasn’t one to take shortcuts, especially with something as serious as plagiarism.
Christina didn’t back down. “I have all the sketches, drafts, and notes that led to this final design. They’ll prove the process I went through to create it. I’ll also show you the emails between me and the artist whose patterns I used. I followed proper channels. The gallery’s claim is mistaken.”
Gina scoffed. “If you’re so sure, why hasn’t this been cleared up already? The gallery isn’t going to issue an apology just because you say so.” She flipped the laptop around and pointed at the warning letter. “You think this will all just go away?”
“I know it will,” Christina replied calmly, not backing down. “I’ve been in touch with the artist before, and they’ll stand by me. This gallery is likely just confused about the pattern’s origin. Once I show them the original designs and our communications, this will be cleared up.”
For a moment, Gina didn’t speak, her lips pressed into a thin line. The atmosphere in the room was thick with tension, and Christina could tell that Gina was torn. She didn’t want to take sides too quickly, but at the same time, she had a reputation to maintain within the company.
“Fine,” Gina finally said, after a long silence. “You better be right about this. If not, this could cost us. I’ll give you the chance to prove it, but you need to move fast.”
Christina nodded. “I will. I’ll take care of this. Don’t worry, I’ll get everything sorted before it spirals out of control.” Her words were confident, but inside, she was already calculating how to go about contacting the artist and proving her innocence. Time was of the essence, and she couldn’t afford to let this drag on.
Gina looked at her with a mix of disbelief and cautious hope. “Make sure you do. And if you need anything, let me know. But don’t expect me to bail you out if things go south.”
Christina stood up, her resolve hardening. “I won’t let it come to that. I’ll handle it.”
As she left the office, Christina felt the weight of the eyes on her. Her colleagues were still buzzing with gossip, but now the topic was far more serious. The accusation of plagiarism had cast a shadow over her success, and if she didn’t clear her name, it could all come crashing down.
She immediately pulled out her phone as she walked down the hallway, her fingers tapping quickly on the screen. Nathaniel’s number appeared on her screen, and she hesitated for just a moment before dialing.
The call connected, and Nathaniel’s voice came through, calm and familiar. “Christina, everything okay?”
She exhaled a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “I need your help.”
“Anything,” Nathaniel said instantly, his voice full of assurance. “What’s going on?”
Christina glanced around before lowering her voice. “There’s an accusation against me for plagiarism. A design I made is being flagged by an art gallery, but I swear I didn’t steal it. I’ve got proof, but I need to act fast. I’m trying to clear my name, but I need support from the gallery to get this resolved.”
There was a brief pause on the other end, and she could almost hear Nathaniel thinking. “I’ll handle it,” he said with quiet confidence. “Give me the details. I’ll make sure they know you’re innocent.”
Christina’s heart lifted, her worry easing slightly. “Thank you. I knew I could count on you.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Nathaniel reiterated. “Don’t stress about it. I’ve got connections in the art world, and I’ll make sure they fix this misunderstanding. You focus on your work.”
She sighed in relief. “Okay, I’ll send you everything you need to know.”
“Good. I’ll get to it as soon as I can. Don’t worry. This will be cleared up.”
Christina smiled faintly. “Thank you, Nathaniel. Really.”
After they hung up, she felt a renewed sense of determination. With Nathaniel’s help, she knew this problem would be resolved. Now, she just needed to focus on proving her case.
The next few hours passed in a blur of emails and phone calls. Christina worked diligently, compiling all the necessary evidence to show that her design was legitimate. She carefully retrieved the sketches, drafts, and email exchanges with the artist, and sent them off to the gallery, explaining the situation clearly and professionally.
Just as she was preparing to send the final email, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Nathaniel.
Nathaniel: I’ve made a few calls. The gallery is going to retract the accusation and issue an apology by tomorrow. Everything is under control.
Christina exhaled in relief, a weight lifting off her shoulders. She quickly typed back.
Christina: Thank you so much. You really saved me. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.
Nathaniel: You would’ve handled it just fine. But I’m glad I could help. Let’s talk when I get home tonight. You deserve to relax after all this.
Christina smiled, feeling the stress of the day melt away. Can’t wait to see you. I’ll be waiting.
As she sat back in her chair, a sense of calm settled over her. The storm had passed, and her relationship with Nathaniel—along with her career—was secure once again.