A Fake Heiress’s Guide to Love and Power novel Chapter 364

“Absolutely not! Just look at what you’ve brought me. Now, compare this to the Zen Collection from Awe Studios last season–do you think I’m an idiot? You really believe Awe Studios would use this for an exhibition?”

The moment Sienna spoke, any doubt about plagiarism pretty much evaporated.

Her face flushed red, then pale, shifting colors as if she might faint–but there was nowhere for her to go. She could only stand there, frozen, enduring the judging stares of everyone in the room.

“Well… this was actually just an early draft from the Awe Studios Evergreen Collection. It’s not that bad, is it?” The woman’s protest was barely audible, her confidence clearly shaken.

“An early draft?” Sienna’s voice rose, sharp and incredulous.

“You think you can fob me off with a rough draft?” The sound of papers scattering echoed on the recording.

“I didn’t mean-” the woman muttered, her words trailing off.

“A draft. You’re a designer–don’t tell me you don’t know how many revisions happen between the first sketch and the final piece! Are you really unaware of how much a design evolves? Look at what you’re holding right now. Forget about being The Winston Group’s lead designer–I’m starting to wonder if you’re even fit to be Queenie’s assistant!”

“I-” The woman barely got a word out before Sienna cut her off.

“The Winston Group is about to open a boutique custom jewelry studio overseas. Here’s the deal: you give me the final version, and I’ll make you head of the studio. Isn’t becoming lead designer your dream? One finished design in exchange for your dream job–sounds like a fair trade, doesn’t it?”

Her tone softened, coaxing and sweet, like a stepmother offering Snow White that fateful apple.

“But… isn’t that plagiarism?”

“Plagiarism? If you don’t say anything and I don’t say anything, who’s going to find out? Who could prove it?” Sienna replied, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Besides, handing me a draft instead of the final version doesn’t make it any less plagiarism, does it?”

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08:03. C

The woman fell silent, as if her silence was agreement.

“So, do you know what to do now? Tomorrow, I don’t want to see this garbage anymore. I want a new design on my desk. Understood?”

Still, the woman said nothing, but Sienna’s voice turned light, almost cheery, as if she’d already won.

“No need to look so glum. Once you hand over the design, I’ll have you sent abroad to be The Winston Group’s chief. Wait a couple of years for things to blow over, and then you come back–money, prestige, everything you want will be yours.”

“…I understand.”

There was a long, heavy silence before the woman finally gave in. The recording ended, and the screen faded to black.

Suddenly, the exhibit lights snapped on, flooding the room with a brightness that made everyone squint. Only after their eyes adjusted did they look around, taking it

all in.

“Miss Winston, is there anything you’d like to say for yourself?”

Alessia looked down at her from the dais, her presence alone enough to make Sienna feel small. Stella had somehow appeared behind Alessia, giving Queenie a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

Queenie shot Stella a discreet thumbs–up, which made Stella beam with pride.

“How do you know that wasn’t some Al–generated voice trying to frame me?” Sienna fixed her gaze on Alessia, clinging to denial as if it were a lifeline. As long as she refused to admit it, she could insist she wasn’t guilty.

But Stella wasn’t about to let her off the hook. She pressed her palms together, applauding enthusiastically, a hint of admiration on her face.

“Incredible, absolutely brilliant!” Stella said, shaking her head in mock wonder. She sauntered over to Sienna, and before Sienna could back away, Stella threw an arm around her shoulders.

“Tell me, Miss Winston, I’ve always been shy and a little thin–skinned. You have to teach me how do you get to be as shameless as you?”

Stella spoke with such sincerity and a straight face that Sienna’s complexion shifted from red to black, like a paint–mixing palette–spectacular and impossible to look away from.