Female Novel
Chapter 75
Bailey left the headquarters under the accusations of everyone in the hall.
When she finally came to the alfresco fountain, she ran into Edmund, who seemed to have come in arush.
“Are you okay, Bay? Did they do anything to you?” he asked.
Bailey's heart warmed seeing the man, and she wiped the sweat on his forehead with her sleeve. “I'mokay. You don't have to worry. I can handle this.”
Edmund smiled at her in resignation. “I don't know why I just can't seem to keep my cool wheneversomething happens to you. Everyone says I'm calm and composed, but I'm really not when I'm withyou. I'll go crazy if anything happens to you,” he said. novelbin
Bailey moved closer and held his arm. “Let's go home. The children haven't had lunch.”
“Sure.”
Back in the CEO's office, Artemis finally looked away from the screen he had been staring at when thevideo stopped at the retreating figures of a man and a woman.
Suddenly, the door swung open, and Dwayne entered.
“Ms. Jefferson refused to admit to anything. Neither did she agree to destroy the design. She even saidthat she is willing to face legal consequences. Mrs. Luther is incensed and is very insistent. She wentto the public relations department when I came up. I suppose she went to ask Quentin to contact
Snowflake to press charges against Ms. Jefferson.”
Artemis rubbed his brows in annoyance. “Stop Snowflake from returning to Hallsbay at all costs. I wantyou to call Quentin. Ask him to give me the designer's contact. I'll talk to her on my own,” he said lightly.
“Snowflake is very low-profile. She has only submitted one design over the past four years. No one hasever seen her. She didn't even attend the prize-giving ceremony. She said she was not interested inattending because she wanted to sleep in when the organizer called her. Given her attitude, I doubt it'seasy talking to her,” Dwayne replied with a sigh, but Artemis just waved his hand dismissively in return.
“Just get in touch with her first. She's never appeared in person over the years, so we might not evenfind her. I'm just worried that she might suddenly come to Hallsbay. It'll be too late to help Bailey ifSnowflake sues her.”
“All right. I'll call Quentin right away to get Snowflake's number.”
“Good.”
Over in the car, Edmund was driving when he said, “Bay, your design looks a lot like Snowflake's fromfour years ago. What is going on exactly? I don't think you're so ambitious as to copy someone else'sdesign, though.”
Bailey was resting with her eyes closed in the passenger seat when she heard his question. “I've beengoing through her work a lot recently, so maybe I drew something similar to hers unknowingly, but thereare actually differences if you take a closer look. I just didn't expect things to take such a turn. I guess Ican't hide forever.”
Edmund sensed there was something unusual about her answer, and a thought budded in his mind.
“Okay. I know you're not a rash person, so I trust you to do what is best. You must have your reason fordoing so, but Aunt Felicity is not letting you off the hook this easily. I'm partially at fault for what ishappening. Aunt Felicity wouldn't have hated you so much if I cared less about your performance.”
Bailey shrugged in nonchalance. “Don't let it bother you. She loves you. That's why she's so workedup. I know what I'm doing, so you don't have to worry. I won't let you end up in a difficult position.”
Edmund narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean by 'I won't let you end up in a difficult position?' Doesthis mean you'll keep a distance from me?”
“You're overthinking,” Bailey answered with a faint smile. “She's just your aunt. What she thinks aboutme will not affect my decision to accept you or not.”
Edmund heaved a sigh of relief when he could finally rest at ease. “I'm sorry. I shouldn't have second-guessed you.”
Bailey smiled at him and said no more.
To her, life would always be quiet and peaceful whenever she was with Edmund.
She had always wanted this kind of life, but somehow, she felt something was lacking in that tranquility.
In the following two days, the news about Bailey plagiarizing a renowned designer's work circulatedworldwide, becoming a lightning rod for criticism.
Since neither party came out to clarify the controversy, the issue snowballed.
Over in the CEO office of Luther Group, Quentin was sitting on the couch, looking at Artemis approvingsome documents at his office table. “You don't have to feel anxious, Mr. Luther. Mrs. Luther can't findSnowflake either. No one can file a lawsuit without her. Things will die down in a few days,” the directorsaid.
Artemis flicked off the fountain pen in his hand and sat back in his chair in lethargy. “But she insists thatshe did not plagiarize, so she's not admitting to it. She doesn't even want to destroy her work.”
Quentin could not help but laugh.
Bailey was indeed a riddle to him. Well, if Mr. Luther can't understand what she's thinking, there's noway I can.
“What should we do now? Do we continue looking for Snowflake so she can clear the air? But thelawyers have already said that Ms. Bailey's work constitutes plagiarism, so even if Snowflake explainseverything, people will only think Luther Group coerces her into doing it. Things will only get worse,”Quentin analyzed.
A subtle smile curved on Artemis' lips. “You overlooked the most critical part. That's why you think thisissue is thorny. To me, Snowflake showing up is an opportunity for us to gain the upper hand. Bailey'skeeping a huge secret, judging from how fearless she is. Although I have no idea what bargaining chipshe has in her hand, I'm positive she'll survive unscathed.”
Quentin was even more confused hearing Artemis, but the latter just waved his hand and smiled.
“We'll see how things play out. I'm sure Ms. Bailey has a big surprise for us,” Artemis assured.
Quentin wanted to ask what surprise it was, but he was interrupted when Dwayne made his way in.
The assistant was about to say something when he glanced at Quentin and swallowed back his words.
Quentin smiled and got up from the couch. “All right. That's my cue. I'll go and continue my search forSnowflake.”
After he left, Dwayne informed, “I found out where Zayron sent his and Simon's DNA test to.”
“Where?” Artemis blurted, his eyes narrowed.
“He sent it to Kai Sheldon, a medical prodigy in Malarnor. I even found the IP address of that person'smedical system. The blood sample arrived three days ago. This means the result will be out soon. Youcan just hack the system now if you want to know if Zayron's Simon's son.”
Artemis' gaze froze. “Give me the IP address,” he pronounced after a pause.