Never Too Far Novel

Chapter 391

Felicia had just come out of the washroom when she heard the noise. At that, she asked with a frown, “Who are you guys?”

“I’m George Walden, the director of Savill Jewelry Atelier. We suspect your employee has stolen one of our designer’s work, and we have the right to pursue legal liability,” the guy said confidently as though it did happen, and it was even dire.

No doubt they were merely causing a ruckus since something like this was normal between rival companies. At that, Felicia sneered and asked, “Where’s your proof? Don’t slander our employees for no reason, or we’ll sue you for defamation.”

“We definitely have proof, or why do you think we’d dare come to you? You have a designer named Anastasia Tillman, working under your company, don’t you? She has submitted a sketch for next year’s spring jewelry show, hasn’t she? In reality, she stole my employee’s masterpiece and claimed it as her own. We have the right to pursue her legal liability, so if you’ll please have her come out.”

Felicia couldn’t help feeling shocked at that. Who knew that Anastasia would be caught up in a plagiarism scandal? How could this be, though?

“She’s on leave right now. I can deal with this.”

“Oh, we’re not just holding her accountable. We’re also suing Bourgeois for mismanagement,” George announced arrogantly.

Clearly, they weren’t going to quit until they heard the end of it.

“Alright, I’ll contact my designer and have her come forward to clarify the incident.” With that, Felicia went into her office and called Anastasia.

Anastasia happened to be at Tillman Constructions right then. The reports she was reading were giving her a headache, and she eased immediately upon hearing the ringtone. “Hey, Felicia.”

“A director of another jewelry atelier has come to us saying that you allegedly plagiarized their employee’s work, Anastasia. Are you free to come and deal with this?”

“What? Plagiarize? Me?” The news baffled Anastasia as there was no way she would ever do something like that!

“Yeah, they’re even claiming that the piece you stole is the one you submitted to the jewelry show.”

“Impossible! That’s my own design and my own inspiration.” Anastasia retorted.

“I believe you too. However, those guys won’t leave until you come and verify it yourself. Can you rush over?”

“Sure, I’ll be there in a second.”

With that, Anastasia dashed to Bourgeois.

Back at Bourgeois, gossipers began crowding together. Alice was among them as she listened to their whispers about the incident. More than that, it delighted her when most of them were evidently mocking Anastasia.

“Goodness! They’ve even paid to be on the trending page.”

At that, someone read out the headline, saying, “Designer of a famous jewelry atelier shamelessly steals other’s work after running out of ideas. Evidence to prove.”

“Designer, Anastasia Tillman, of Bourgeois by QR is guilty of plagiarizing.”

Alice smiled as she listened to all that. Looks like Savill really wants to make a big deal out of this! Will Anastasia still have the nerve to stay in this industry?

At this point, Felicia ushered the people from Savill to wait in the conference room. After coming out, she deliberated whether to call Elliot, but in the end, she decided to wait until Anastasia had arrived before doing so.

After all, it was an inglorious issue for Anastasia.

As she dashed toward the lobby, the receptionists all shot her nasty looks. Clearly, everyone at Bourgeois had heard about her incident.

When Anastasia showed up in the office, the gossip stopped immediately, leaving only a mocking gaze staring at her.

“Here, Anastasia,” Felicia called out to her.

At that, Anastasia went into Felicia’s office. As soon as the door closed, Felicia looked at her gravely. “Anastasia, they’re making a big deal out of this. They are clearly planning to ruin Bourgeois’ reputation.”

Of course, Anastasia could understand Felicia’s worries. At that, she raised her hand and swore, “I swear that I’ve never stolen anyone’s work.”

“Alright, I trust you. Also, I haven’t told President Presgrave about this yet. You decide whether to inform him.”

“I want to meet these guys first.” An exasperated Anastasia wanted to set the record straight. How dare they accuse her of plagiarizing for no apparent reason.

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“Take it easy. I have a feeling they’ve come prepared, so we’d better not fall into their trap.” Felicia patted Anastasia’s shoulder.

After entering the conference room, Anastasia looked toward the five people sitting there. There were two lawyers, two Savill staff, and the director.

“Are you Anastasia Tillman, the person who stole my designer’s work?” George sneered as soon as he saw Anastasia.

At that, Anastasia stared coldly at him. “On what basis do you say that?”

“We have proof, of course. In fact, you replicated nearly the whole of my designer’s piece and submitted it to the show.”

“I know well if I’ve done so.” Anastasia continued to stare coldly at George, not intimidated at all.

Just then, one of them took out an iPad and opened the sketch before handing it to Anastasia. “Miss Tillman, why don’t you take a look at these two pieces first? One of them is our designer’s drawing and the other one is yours. They’re practically identical.”

Anastasia took the iPad with a frown and couldn’t help being stupefied upon seeing the sketches. They were indeed identical with only differences in a few details.

“This is my work. You guys stole it!” Anastasia retorted as she put the iPad down.

“We get that you’re not talented enough, Miss Tillman, and that you want to establish your reputation as a designer by plagiarizing my designer’s work,” George said with utter sympathy.

At that, Felicia stood up for Anastasia. “That’s where you’re wrong. Miss Tillman is our most talented designer, and she will never steal somebody’s work.”

“Naturally, we would gather all the evidence before coming to look for you. Firstly, this piece is from our chief designer, Jacqueline Sherman. Secondly, she released it earlier than you did. What’s more, the finished product was placed in our company’s display case last month. However, Miss Tillman submitted her sketch on the twelfth of this month. According to the timeline, she could’ve plagiarized the piece.”

“Impossible!” Anastasia held her breath, shocked that Savill had moved so quickly.

Felicia’s face turned slightly grim as well. She remembered that Anastasia had keyed her piece into the company’s system on the second of this month and submitted the sketch to the show a week ago. Hence, the timing was very unfavorable for Anastasia.

Nonetheless, she still trusted that Anastasia wouldn’t do something like this.

“Miss Tillman, Savill will not tolerate such behavior. You have two options—take down your piece, apologize to Savill publicly on behalf of Bourgeois, and compensate for our loss. Otherwise, we will pursue your legal liability for plagiarizing our work and demand compensation. Of course, you’d still have to apologize to us.”

George pressed on, and he even concluded that Anastasia was the thief.

At that, Felicia said, “We need to dig into this before giving you an answer. Why don’t you guys head back first?”

“Alright, seeing that we’re fellow traders, I’ll give you until 3.00PM tomorrow.” George added disdainfully, “How unfortunate for something like this to happen within the jewelry design industry.”

Anastasia was still baffled when the door closed behind her. How did Savill manage to display her work in advance?!

She was certain that was her design, for she had sketched it out with her own hands. In fact, that piece came to her when she sat alone until late at night under the starry sky.

How did she become the plagiarist?!

The true thief was Jacqueline!

Anastasia heard people gossiping about her the entire way back to her office. Some who long had a problem with her couldn’t care less about offending her anymore.

“I thought she really was capable, but it turns out she got to her position by stealing other people’s work.”

“Well, isn’t that the truth? Thanks to her, our company’s reputation will be ruined.”

“I swear, one rotten apple spoils the whole barrel.”

Meanwhile, Alice entered Anastasia’s office with a cup of coffee, gloating. “I thought you were something! Who knew that you only rose to fame with such shortcuts?!”

Chapter 393

Anastasia remained silent in her seat.

“I think it’s best if you don’t ask President Presgrave to save you, for it’ll only make things worse. You’d better quickly apologize and compensate Savill to save our company from further losses,” Alice reminded her.

Of course, she didn’t want Elliot to be involved in this. Though she was confident that they wouldn’t have anything on her, she didn’t want to be panicky either.

“Why should I apologize when I never plagiarized in the first place? The one who should be apologizing is Savill.” Anastasia looked up and stared coldly at Alice.

Alice hit the roof at that. “Are you going to keep acting stubborn, Anastasia? You’ve already become a joke in the jewelry design industry. Are you only going to apologize after you’ve ruined all of Bourgeois’ reputation? I will not let you destroy the company’s future!”

Anastasia’s only option was to apologize.

Anastasia stood up in response and said firmly, “I will not apologize before I get to the bottom of this.”

Alice couldn’t help choking and snapped, “Just because President Presgrave likes you doesn’t mean you can act lawlessly, you know. It’s already embarrassing that you’ve plagiarized. Are you going to make a bigger deal out of this?!”

“I didn’t plagiarize, so I won’t apologize.” One could tell from Anastasia’s beautiful face that she wasn’t about to compromise.

Alice was taken aback, for she had never seen someone as stubborn as Anastasia.

At that, she glared at Anastasia and uttered, “Well, I can’t wait to see what your fate will be!”

Meanwhile, Felicia pondered over something as she stood in her office. Savill was coming at Anastasia with full force, putting her at a disadvantage. With that, she decided to give Elliot a call.

“Hello?” Elliot’s voice came from the other end of the line.

“President, there’s something you need to know.”

After hearing the whole story from Felicia, he asked concerningly, “What did she say?”

“Anastasia is sure that she didn’t plagiarize.”

“Alright, I’ll come over now.” With that, Elliot ended the call.

Bourgeois was still in the process of moving; since Elliot was at the Presgrave Group, he needed some time to get there.

Meanwhile, Grace brought a cup of tea for Anastasia while she sat in her office. “Anastasia, I believe you didn’t plagiarize. No matter what everyone else says, I believe you,” said Grace as she comforted her, feeling bad for the woman.

“Thanks, Grace.” Anastasia was grateful to have an assistant like Grace.

After Grace left, Anastasia propped her forehead, trying to figure out how the whole thing came to be.

She had finished her first draft on the tenth of last month, and Savill had already put the piece on their display by the end of last month. In other words, they had about twenty days in between amending and coming up with the finished product. If their workshop worked overtime on this piece of jewelry, it was indeed possible for them to launch it in about a fortnight at best.

However, the sketch had always been with her, so who could’ve handed it to Savill?

evidently leaked it, and it had already happened when she came up with

have a place in the industry if they were branded for plagiarizing. After

that someone had stolen her sketch between

of her office, and she needed more time

next day. They clearly

were also being ruthless, dragging Bourgeois’ reputation down

the market and also garnered a high approval rate. Hence, no doubt fellow traders would want to bring down this

for her first draft when she heard someone pushing the door open. At that, she looked up and was

Elliot had come!

desk and asked when

Chapter 394

“This is my first draft, but

and date the company assessed were based on when the piece was

Elliot looked at

choked at that, and she smiled wryly. “Do you really have that

suppose to believe when I don’t even believe in my woman?” Elliot’s gaze was filled

a little stump, and she evaded his gaze. Nonetheless, his

the bottom of this and see who leaked my sketch to Savill.” With that, she looked

claimed it as their

lesson for you.” Elliot’s face turned grim. That person probably

continued, “Also, Savill will have

rendered at

feeling Savill

to check the office’s surveillance

to her laptop. With that, Elliot and Felicia kept her company as they looked

Alice couldn’t help but begin to panic in her office. She hadn’t expected Elliot to

a bunch of formidable lawyers. Even if Anastasia was sued, his

in

the screen with her brows locked into a deep furrow, non-blinking. “Do you have any enemies in the office? Alternatively,

These two were openly hostile toward her. However, she couldn’t rule out the possibility of someone using her sketch to make money, or

on. We’ll talk after I’m done watching the footage.” Anastasia watched the surveillance footage frame by frame, fast-forwarding and

don’t you get back to work, Director Evans? I’ll keep her company.” Elliot pulled a chair over and sat next to Anastasia. He decidedly ignored the important work in Presgrave Group, choosing to solve the incident with her

too! I can handle this myself.”

After all, nothing

time to pick Jared up, she turned to Elliot. “I might have to stay and watch the footage tonight. Can you please ask Nigel to pick

I’ll call him.” With that, Elliot

one nanny, and more than that, he

watching the surveillance footage with her. Meanwhile, Anastasia had been

didn’t want to falsely accuse the innocent, nor would she spare

had to look through all the footage and find

her a little

Chapter 395

want me to help you out?”

thanks.” She had to

case, you should take a short

good.” Anastasia’s eyes were a little bloodshot, but she wasn’t in the

out.” Elliot’s heart broke

break. While she rubbed her

peek outside to find Elliot massaging Anastasia’s neck, causing her to

Anastasia and Elliot’s relationship. More than that, she feared

she unlocked her phone and grew nervous upon seeing the five hundred

after taking a short break. Meanwhile, Elliot took a sip from her coffee and suddenly thought of something. With that, he took his phone and headed

didn’t mean he didn’t have other ways

on the laptop screen. However,

her office for less than two minutes before coming

expression. Then, she saved this portion

already had two cups of coffee at this point. Meanwhile, Elliot never looked away from her this

first, and you can continue

She was stressed out since she was being

to. If you’re worried that Savill won’t let you off the hook, then there’s no reason for you to

at the restaurant across here,” Anastasia said,

bodyguards come up and guard the space, forbidding

stayed as well. Right then, she was

are sure you’ll win the lawsuit, right? You can’t drag me down with

boss is confident. Rest

with Elliot. Savill only knew that Anastasia was one of Bourgeois’ designers. What they didn’t know was that she was also

sense of panic that Savill

out, she snuck a peek at the two bodyguards stationed in front of Anastasia’s office, and it affirmed her decision to leave

Anastasia didn’t have much appetite despite the

some food on her plate,

independent women were the most confident,

bowl of bird’s nest soup to

had a feeling she was being force-fed by this man. However, she still

then, and he checked it to find a text from Rey. ‘President, I discovered that half a million was transferred to Alice Thompson’s account at 2.00PM today.

to that, he replied, ‘Keep an eye

Chapter 396

nest soup, Anastasia grabbed her

that, they paid the bill and headed back to Bourgeois. When they arrived back in the

a bother. The khaki-colored bodycon dress beneath it made her curves especially alluring underneath the

sat across

lighting made the pair of eyes underneath her thick, long lashes as clear as crystals, and her delicate facial features made her

more infatuated with

can there be a woman who matches my

his preferences, and she

look away from her laptop only to find a certain

eyes were like vortexes that sucked

then, Elliot curled his lips and

Anastasia leaned back and raised her head a

you find the culprit?” He asked out of the blue, seemingly

never planned on relying on him. However, since he had suggested

“That’s a yes?”

you a reward if you can find this culprit.” I’ve watched the surveillance footage for hours, and I

that, he closed her laptop.

got Anastasia stumped. “Who is

home!” It pained Elliot to see

is!” Anastasia shot up from her seat,

retrieve all of Bourgeois’ employees’ recent bank transactions and found half a million transferred into Alice’s account. The

that. It was just as she had suspected! She thought Alice had been acting rather suspicious in the clip she had saved

Anastasia slapped her desk in anger.

make them pay for

surveillance footage at this point, certain that the

they came out of Bourgeois. Just then, a gust of cold wind blew past, leading Anastasia to hug herself

pulled her into his arms and wrapped her up in his suit jacket, causing her

pleasant scent which invaded her

home to find it was already 9.30PM, so she gave up on picking up Jared. However, someone began devising his schemes when she was

tea?” Elliot’s true intentions were

Anastasia rejected as she

tea. I won’t do anything else,” he

do you not

somewhat defeatedly at her. “You

heading up to her apartment. Just then, what Alice had done to defame her popped into her head. She would have to solve this issue

a taxi, entering hurriedly with her suitcase. Meanwhile, one of Elliot’s bodyguards received a call as

Chapter 397

She won’t be able to leave the country anyway.” Rey’s voice came from the other end

had now become a wanted fugitive, so there was no way would she be able to

Alice was waiting in line. She had prepared to hide abroad with the

would give her trouble, for she had brought them

it was Alice’s turn. She handed the customs officer her documents, only to find them glancing

miss, but you’ve been

hearing their words. “What?! How? What for?

been banned from leaving the country. As for the reason, I’m pretty sure you know it

was genuinely freaking out now, but all she could do was leave the airport with her

friends and asked if she had committed some sort of crime. However, she still

before, her colleagues looked at

you find anything?” Felicia

half a million into her bank account. I also have a clip

“She’s the mole?

the people from Savill to show up at 3.00PM, but what came was even bigger news. Savill had been sued for bribing a Bourgeois employee, stealing a design sketch, being involved in violating Bourgeois’ trade

day before were all about Savill prosecuting Bourgeois, but it was the other way around

was

just then, and she fell silent for a few seconds after answering it. Then, she looked toward Anastasia.

surprised at how Elliot moved so quickly, for

night to deal with

more shocking piece of news came. Savill’s stock market crashed and even hit the limit at one point, causing it to be on the verge of bankruptcy. In other words, its several-billion

their one mistake to cost them everything after taking legal action against a designer, and for that, they pissed

the issue came to an end by that afternoon. Savill would be withdrawing from the jewelry-making industry, and their CEO even held a press conference himself to apologize to Anastasia, admitting they had stolen her sketch

the live stream, and when they heard the compensation amount, they all turned into green-eyed monsters. Not only had Anastasia recovered her reputation, but she would also be getting 1.8

different

also watching the press conference in her office. Of course, she was happy to get a whopping amount

it seriously polluted

pantry later on,

Anasatasia! We all know you

to steal their work when she’s

Chapter 398

is just

coming, and Savill brought their ending upon themselves. Though Elliot’s move left them bankrupt, they didn’t deserve any

she returned to her office, her phone rang.

from the other end of the

My treat.” Anastasia had to give

the jewelry-making industry and returning to help her father’s business, he had retained her reputation for her. This would retain her footing if she ever

he’d babysit Jared. I’ll be

I’ll make the reservation.” She didn’t have a

a special thanks tonight,”