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.

Chapter 392

“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?

already happened when she came

a place in the industry

stolen her

and out of her office, and she needed more time

the next day. They

were also being ruthless, dragging Bourgeois’

in the market and also garnered a high approval rate. Hence, no doubt fellow

she heard someone pushing the door open. At that, she looked

Elliot had come!

the desk and asked when he saw her searching for

Chapter 394

on her desk and said, “This is my first draft, but it can’t be used as evidence to prove I

were based on when the piece was

looked at

smiled wryly. “Do

when I don’t even believe in my woman?”

her a little stump, and she evaded his gaze. Nonetheless, his words had given

to get to the bottom of this and see who leaked my sketch to Savill.”

favorite sketches, but now, Savill claimed it as their own and

and I’ll teach them a lesson for you.” Elliot’s face turned grim. That person probably had a death wish since they

will have

rendered at a

feeling Savill would be facing their

Anastasia decided to check the office’s surveillance footage

of said time to her laptop. With that, Elliot and Felicia kept

couldn’t help but begin to panic in her office. She hadn’t expected Elliot to actually step in, and it got her seriously

he had a bunch of formidable lawyers. Even if Anastasia was sued, his lawyers would be able to win the

then, she sat in front of her laptop while

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

toward her. However, she couldn’t rule out the possibility of someone using her sketch to make money, or that Savill had planted a spy

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

a chair over and sat next to Anastasia. He decidedly ignored the important work in Presgrave Group, choosing to

handle this myself.” Anastasia didn’t want to

you.” Elliot wasn’t going anywhere. After all, nothing was more important than clearing

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

call him.” With that, Elliot

number one nanny, and more than that, he was among the only few Anastasia

by Anastasia’s side with peace of mind, watching the surveillance footage with her. Meanwhile, Anastasia had been recording the time and

relax for a moment since she didn’t want to falsely accuse the innocent, nor would

answer by the following afternoon, she had to look through all the footage and find the culprit

she could focus on work. Sometime later, Grace brought her a little pick-me-up.

Chapter 395

to help you out?”

had to inspect it

should

but she

wear your eyes out.” Elliot’s heart broke as he

a break. While she rubbed her temples, she suddenly felt a big,

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

had clearly underestimated Anastasia and Elliot’s relationship. More than that, she feared that they’d

returning to her office, she unlocked her phone and grew nervous upon seeing the five hundred thousand transferred into her account

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

her progress, but it didn’t mean he didn’t

laptop screen. However, her brows suddenly locked into a deep furrow upon seeing someone coming out of

in her office for less than two minutes before coming out. However, when she left, she looked

Anastasia rewound and scrutinized Alice’s expression. Then, she saved this portion of the footage

to 7.00PM, and Anastasia already had two cups of coffee at this point. Meanwhile, Elliot never looked away from her this whole time

and you can continue your search

don’t want to eat.” She was stressed out

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

eat at the restaurant across here,” Anastasia said, brushing her

leaving Anastasia’s office hand in hand, Elliot had his bodyguards come up

she stayed as well. Right then, she was texting Jacqueline

you’ll win the lawsuit, right? You

boss is

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

time, Alice had a creeping sense of panic that Savill

snuck a peek at the two bodyguards stationed in front of Anastasia’s office, and it

Anastasia didn’t have much appetite despite the table of good

stuff. If anything, I’ll support you.” With that, Elliot put some food on

independent women were the most

pushed a bowl of bird’s nest soup to her.

being force-fed by this man. However, she still did

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. It was transferred from Savill Jewelry Atelier’s public

response to that, he replied, ‘Keep an eye

Chapter 396

grabbed her bag

for Elliot to stay anyway. With that, they paid the bill and headed back to Bourgeois. When they arrived back in the office, those who

lazily. Meanwhile, she removed her jacket, finding it a bother. The khaki-colored bodycon dress beneath it

sat across from

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

grew more infatuated with her the

woman who matches my aesthetics so perfectly in this

formed according to his preferences, and

only to find a certain someone

lights, his eyes were like vortexes that sucked her in, and his pursed lips were laced with temptation beneath his tall

curled his lips and smiled.

back and raised her

I help you find the culprit?”

on relying on him. However, since he had suggested it, she agreed jokingly and

“That’s a yes?”

you a reward if you can find this culprit.” I’ve watched the surveillance footage for hours, and I still haven’t gotten anything. As if

“Alright. It’s a deal.” With that, he closed her laptop.

got Anastasia

let’s go home!” It pained Elliot to

is!” Anastasia shot up

Rey to retrieve all of Bourgeois’ employees’ recent bank transactions and found

that. It was just as she had suspected! She thought Alice had been acting rather

her.” Anastasia slapped her desk in anger.

send you home now and deal with this tomorrow.” Malice shot from Elliot’s cold gaze as he swore, “I’ll make them pay for what they did to you.” These guys really had a death

surveillance footage at this point, certain

Bourgeois. Just then, a gust of cold wind blew past, leading Anastasia to hug herself since she was feeling

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

pleasant

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

for some tea?” Elliot’s true intentions were evident

Anastasia rejected as she

to drink some tea. I won’t do anything else,” he

Presgrave, do you not realize you have lost all

defeatedly at her. “You

to her apartment. Just then, what

3.00AM, Alice arrived at the international airport in a taxi, entering hurriedly with her suitcase. Meanwhile, one of

Chapter 397

able to leave the country anyway.” Rey’s voice came from

a wanted fugitive, so there was no way would she be able

waiting in line. She had prepared to hide abroad with the five hundred thousand until all of this was

trouble, for she had

documents, only to find them glancing at her. With that, she asked anxiously, “Is everything alright,

sorry, miss,

upon hearing their words.

the country. As for the reason, I’m pretty sure you know it well!” The customs officer glanced impatiently at

was genuinely freaking out now, but all she could do was leave the airport with her luggage. Am I still not able to escape when I’ve

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

day before, her colleagues looked at her with mocking gazes

you find anything?”

account. I also have a clip of her coming in and out

response. “She’s the mole?

at 3.00PM, but what came was even bigger news. Savill had been sued for bribing a Bourgeois employee, stealing a design

trending pages the day before were all about Savill prosecuting Bourgeois, but

it was commercial

fell silent for a few seconds after answering it. Then, she looked toward Anastasia. “Alice has

Elliot moved so quickly, for he had

stay up all night to deal with this? Anastasia

at one point, causing it to be on the verge of bankruptcy. In other words, its several-billion worth of

mistake to cost them everything after taking legal action against a designer, and for that, they pissed off the mystery business

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

the live stream, and when they heard the compensation amount, they all turned into green-eyed

was different having Elliot’s

office. Of course, she was happy to get

all, it seriously polluted the industry’s

took a trip to the pantry later on, everyone fawned

We all know you were

would Anastasia need to steal their work when she’s so

Chapter 398

is just jealous of

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

to her office, her phone

tonight.” Elliot’s voice came from the other end of the

had to

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

babysit Jared. I’ll be just us tonight,” Elliot

make the reservation.” She didn’t

a special thanks tonight,” he