Too Late for Regret novel Chapter 105

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The Bitter Truth

Chapter 105

Ana’s POV

Sasha was really pissed off, and she wasn’t even trying to hide it. I suppose she thought ignoring the official letters and emails would work in her favor. She did the same thing with them as she did with me. She couldn’t prove that the design was hers. This started because after the first time they challenged me, when I was arrested. I asked Rodney to send his investigator to look into who actually did create the design. The process was quick because a week after Sasha left, the designer came forward and admitted to what she had done.

There is nothing that Sasha can do to stop this. It clearly shows a pattern, and one that was not going to work in her favor. That video was the ultimate proof. She had admitted what she wanted to do herself, so I don’t feel bad for her at all. After seeing that video play out, I remembered just how angry I was over this whole thing. I knew that Roger was feeling guilty.

I didn’t have to turn around to know that. There was no mistake or confusion about it. I

glanced over at the jury, and I could almost read their minds. Once was an accident. Twice, well, that was a pattern.

I heard his father speak to Roger from the second row, telling him, “You changed a diamond for a piece of glass.”

We watched as they were sworn in, and it was clear that this interview was being held inside a courtroom. I could see the judge in the background. I didn’t know why he was helping us out here, but it did make it clear that they were taking this just as seriously on their end as we were. Rodney immediately started with his easy questions.

“Could you both state your names and occupations for us, please?” he asked.

“Ingrid Allard, designer at Benoit Jewelers. I’ve worked there for eight years,” she advised.

“Jerald Anderson, I work for IAA, the International Awards Associate. I can send you my qualifications if needed. I gave them to the judge here with us after we arrived. It details how we work closely with several other committees, including Francéclat and Comité Vendôme, We all made every effort to thoroughly investigate this allegation. We take plagiarism very seriously as it has no place in our field. It’s very disheartening that this has happened,” he answered.

“I want to thank you both for being willing to do this, as I know it is after work hours where you are. The fact that you are willing to help us get to the bottom of all this is greatly appreciated,” Rodney started out. They nodded when they heard his response.

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“Jerald, how did you come to find out about this allegation?” Rodney asked.

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“Ms. Allard came to us three months ago. She told us that she had been approached by Mrs. Sasha Elliott two years ago. She said that Sasha offered her $100,000 to create an award–winning design. Ms. Allard didn’t want to make the design, but Mrs. Cook hadn’t been alone. She had brought her boyfriend, Jerrod Bellamy, with her. Ms. Allard was justified in being concerned about her well–being. Mr. Bellamy is known to be involved in some very shady dealings. Although he was never convicted, as the people testifying against him always seemed to end up disappearing. So she made the design and sent it to Sasha. She had no further contact after that. After finding out that Sasha had left Paris a few months

ago. Ingrid found out that Sasha and Jerrod had broken up. Ingrid came to us after that. I will let her tell you that part herself,” Jerald replied.

“Can you tell us in your own words why you came forward after all this time, Ms. Allard?” Rodney asked.

“I kept quiet because it doesn’t pay to cross Jerrod Bellamy. They had chosen me for a reason. My parents are dead, and I’m an only child. I have no one to protect me, and I’m an excellent designer. I had won second place in the two previous years of the contest. Plus, I

already knew if I crossed Ms. Elliott, Sasha. Jerrod would end up coming after me. It wasn’t worth testing that theory. I accepted their money. I felt bad about it from the start, but the threat of crossing them was even greater than my guilt. Everyone knew that they were together. I knew coming forward would be dangerous. But with Jerrod finding a new love, and Sasha leaving Paris, I knew the time was right,” Ingrid stated.

“You liar! He still loves me, I’m carrying his child,” Sasha cried out. She was standing, chest

heaving, and absolutely furious. “His new girlfriend is only temporary. He does this all the time, but he always comes back to me. I was with him the longest. He loves me, not her. He

will come around once his son is born. He will want him to follow in his footsteps, and he will be happy to take me back.”

“Mrs. Cook, this is your last warning. Any more interruptions, and you will be held in contempt,” the judge spoke. His voice revealed his anger at her continued interruptions throughout the trial.

“So, Ms. Allard, you said that you stayed quiet due to concerns for your well–being?” Ana’s

attorney went on, like I hadn’t just spoken.

“Yes, it was finally safe to come forward. I waited until he acknowledged his girlfriend as his fiancée. Once that happened, I came forward. I figured it would be safe to report it,” Ingrid

replied.

Their attorney had to keep his hand on Sasha’s shoulder to remind her to stay silent. But we

all saw the fury coming off of her in waves. She needed to calm down, as stress wasn’t good

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for her baby. I don;t feel sympathy for her. She was the one who wanted to do this. The one who kept pushing me into a corner. Now she’s acting as if she’s surprised by what happened. We just gave her what she asked for.

“Did you do this to get recognition for your award–winning design?” Rodney asked.

“No, I didn’t. I came forward because it was the right thing to do. I’ve been carrying this for over two years. A friend showed me the viral videos of what Sasha was doing to Mrs. Billingsley. I saw that Sasha was doing it again. Someone needed to stop her. I’ve felt much better since I came forward. I don’t want the award. Whether I wanted to or not, I helped her cheat the system. I’ve asked that the person in second place be given the award. They earned it. Neither Sasha nor I deserved it for what we did. It should go to someone who deserves it,” Ingrid replied.

“So you got off with no penalties?” Rodney asked.

“No, that isn’t correct. Coming forward landed me not just on the news, but it also hurt my reputation. Although people understood why I was too scared to turn them down. I helped her win through underhanded means. That was wrong on my part. I’ve been banned from participating in future competitions for the next few years. I got lucky. After they investigated the incident, they decided to cut my time in half. It is normally ten years, and I got five. They credited me with the last two years. I faced an actual threat. I’m very thankful for their consideration. I only have three more years to go before I can compete again,” Ingrid admitted.

Sasha wanted to say something so badly, but her attorney stayed by her side. A hand on her shoulder, reminding her to stay quiet.

“We felt that since she had been faced with an actual threat. Especially one in which she could have come to serious harm, she had suffered enough. She’s a very talented designer. Talent should be promoted, not punished. We gave her the credited time as she had missed the last two contests. She felt guilty for what she had done and was already punishing

herself. We knew that was true because she had participated in the previous five years of contests, until the year Sasha won. Ingrid didn’t apply that year, so we didn’t count it to her credit. Most people in her position would have done the same and bowed to that kind of pressure. She accepted payment for her design, but she donated it to a children’s fund for

aspiring artists and designers. She has missed three years, and she will miss the next three as well. We felt that she’s been punished enough,” Jerald advised.

“So the award has been taken away from Mrs. Cook at this time?” Rodney asked.

“It has. We sent her an email about it, but she refused to respond. It was award to the person who won second place. That information has been promoted on television and in the papers. We also had every branch of the committee post a statement about it on their official page.

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We’re now ensuring that this type of incident will not happen again. We have paperwork to be submitted to prove who designed it, as well as their proof of process. We will also require the designers to sign a document stating that, if this were to happen again, they will be formally barred from any future contests and sanctioned with a stiff penalty. We also have a tipline up where designers can call and report something like this in the future. It protects both their reputation and ours,” Jerald replied.

“Just one more question, Mr. Anderson. In these contests, do the designers have to provide other designs, or proof that their a designer? What I’m getting at is that we couldn’t find any other designs by Mrs. Cook. Not from former employers, or anywhere else. Her tablet was advised as broken. Yet she can’t provide any proof of any designs she has ever made. Did she happen to submit any other designs when she applied for the contest?” Rodeny asked.

This was the first time that Jerald looked uncomfortable. “We do have two of them, but I’m

afraid their not very good,” he replied.

“Could you share them with us?” Rodney asked.

Jerald nodded and said, “My assistant just sent them to you and the judge.”

The screen split in two, and you could see them seated on the left–hand side, and two

drawings submitted by Sasha on the right. The winning design was impressive. It was on the whiteboard, and I could see why she had won. It was a lovely bracelet, delicate and whimsical. It was a piece worthy of winning. It’s a shame that it was embroiled in a scandal.

The other two designs were bad. Really, really bad. I believe that this was exactly what she was capable of. No wonder she wanted my designs so badly. It now made perfect sense. They were childish and ostentatious. They made a strong impression, but not a favorable one. They were thick, and the design was not impressive. It was like a child had done it, and there was nothing redeeming about it.

“In

your expert opinion, Mr. Anderson, did it look like these designs were done by the same person? Because even with my untrained eye, I’m not impressed by any of them, except the one that won the contest. How could these other two designs be taken seriously? They are worlds apart from the winning design,” Rodney stated. He was trying to get Sasha to speak, and he did.

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