Chapter 16

The awards ceremony was about to begin. The tension in the ballroom was palpable as the host approached the microphone, envelope in hand. Harper sat rigidly in her seat, unconsciously chewing her lower lip.

Just as the presenter was about to announce the winner, a staff member rushed onstage and whispered urgently in his ear. The host’s expression darkened instantly. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he announced, “I regret to inform you that we’ve encountered a serious issue. There appears to be a plagiarism case involving two of our finalists. To ensure the integrity of this competition, we need to address this before proceeding.”

The word “plagiarism” sent an immediate buzz through the crowd. In the design world, plagiarism wasn't just an ethical breach—it was career suicide. Though the organizers clearly wanted to handle the matter discreetly, the audience demanded transparency. Reluctantly, they displayed both contentious designs on the massive screen above the stage.

Harper’s stomach dropped. There, on the screen, were her collection and Ruby’s—nearly identical. She whipped around to find Ruby already staring at her, lips curled in a smug smile that made Harper’s blood run cold.

“Did you show your designs to anyone before submission?” Tyler whispered urgently. He trusted Harper completely; the only explanation in his mind was that her work had somehow been leaked.

Before Harper could even stand to defend herself, Ruby shot to her feet. “For the record,” she announced loudly, her voice dripping with fake indignation, “Harper Coulson copied my design.”

“That’s bull, and you know it,” Harper fired back, grabbing her portfolio. “You stole my concept!”

“I have the original sketches with dates right here,” Ruby declared triumphantly, handing her portfolio to a competition official with a theatrical flourish.

Backed into a corner, Harper submitted her own drawings. She had created this design herself—she would never steal someone else’s work. Tyler squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. “The truth will come out. I’ve got your back, no matter what.”

The room fell uncomfortably silent as everyone awaited the judges’ verdict.

Finally, after what felt like hours, the host cleared his throat. “After examining both submissions, the judges have determined that Ms. Itale’s preliminary sketches predate Ms. Coulson’s by approximately three months.”

The pronouncement hit Harper like a physical blow. Unable to accept it, she rushed to the judges’ table and grabbed both portfolios. The moment she saw Ruby’s “original” sketch, recognition slammed into her—it was her own work from the “Primavera” ring she’d designed for Dylan and left behind at Rodriguez Group.

The room erupted in whispered conversations as industry colleagues began discussing the scandal that would dominate design blogs by morning. In desperation, Harper locked eyes with Dylan across the room. He alone knew the truth. One word from him could clear her name. Dylan met her gaze but remained rooted in place, his expression unreadable.

“You gave her my original sketches, didn’t you?” Harper asked, her voice carrying across the now-silent room as she confronted him directly.

Something flickered across Dylan’s face—guilt, maybe?—before Ruby’s manicured hand tightened visibly on his arm. The judges and audience watched with rapt attention, waiting for his response.

“The design is Ruby’s,” he stated finally, his voice flat. With those five words, Harper felt the floor drop out from under her. She swayed slightly, suddenly lightheaded. Tyler was at her side instantly, steadying her with a protective arm.

After the ceremony ended with no winners declared, Ruby sauntered over, practically vibrating with triumph. “Breaking: Scott Industries Designer Caught in Plagiarism Scandal—wonder how your stock will open tomorrow?” she purred.

Dylan said nothing to restrain her, merely observing the confrontation with detached interest. Tyler ignored Ruby completely, addressing Dylan instead. “I knew you were a piece of work, Rodriguez, but hacking an obvious fraud? That’s a new low, even for you.”

Dylan barely glanced at Harper. “I’m supporting my girlfriend. Got a problem with that?”

Tyler’s fist clenched at his side, but Harper grabbed his wrist before he could do something stupid. Misunderstanding his rage, she whispered, “Tell him to resign immediately and take full responsibility. The company won’t suffer for this.”

“This isn’t about the damn company,” Tyler hissed. “It’s about what they’re doing to you.”

Dylan, clearly bored with the drama, turned to leave with Ruby when Harper’s voice cut through the tension. “Dylan,” she called, her voice suddenly steady, “I’m sorry for chasing after you all those years. That was on me. Pushing me into that pond, leaving me in the fire, and now this plagiarism… let’s call it even. We’re done. Forever.”

Dylan froze mid-stride, his back still turned to her. After a long moment, he responded with a single, ice-cold word: “Whatever.”