?Chapter 27:


    The department head stared at Katelyn, her eyes filled with dissatisfaction.


    “I acknowledge that your design has its merits, yet my work is equallymendable. Why should your design lead this newunch?” she challenged.


    This collection marked Adams Group’s initial venture into the jewelry sector. Vincent had ced significant emphasis on the project, knowing that a sessful campaign would grant the chief designer extensive exposure and resources. She had been waiting for this opportunity for years and was determined not to let Katelyn take it from her.


    Katelyn nced at their designparisons and, with a light tap, erged the relevant image on the screen.


    The design showcased a clever moon motif ented with stars at its base.


    A flicker of realization crossed Katelyn’s face, and her tone turned detached.


    “Correct me if I’m mistaken, but did your design draw inspiration from Hake, the foreign designer?” she asked, her wordsced with quiet respect for the department head.


    Designs bearing such resemnce would typically be seen as giaristic. In this field, giarism was a cardinal sin.


    Should her sketch be selected andter mass-produced, such usations would damage both Adams Group and Vincent’s reputation.


    Vincent’s gaze turned icy.


    The department head, her eyes betraying a flicker of guilt, persisted, “This design is entirely my own. You cannot disparage my work as inferior.” She clung to a thread of hope.


    Rake, a little-known designer, was a recent discovery for her. Pressed by Vincent’s tight deadline, she had been unable to craft a superior design but was determined to secure the prestige and resources meant for the lead designer.


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    Katelyn narrowed her eyes slowly, her expression turning cold.


    “It seems you won’t give up until you see the evidence.”


    With that, she lowered her head and resumed navigating the screen. Soon, she located the star motif designed by Hake.


    She aligned the two images and zoomed in simultaneously.


    Theparison was striking. Everyone could clearly see the resemnce between the two.


    The department head was visibly shaken, disbelief etched across her face.


    “How did Katelyn discover this designer?”


    Unruffled, Katelyn spoke calmly. “I gave you a chance, which you did not value. giarism is an offense in this field. Must we go over this again?”


    The others were stunned. No one had expected the department head to engage in such misconduct. The department head’s body trembled involuntarily. After regaining herposure, she eximed, “I refuse to ept this! I don’t believe you coulde up with such a wless design so quickly. If you’re truly skilled, prove it. Let’s have a contest right here, right now.”


    Vincent, seated to the side, observed Katelyn with intense eyes.


    “Sure,” Katelyn replied evenly. After a brief pause, she looked up and frowned slightly. “However, I didn’t bring myptop.”


    Vincent straightened and signaled to Samuel, who promptly retrieved Vincent’sptop and ced it before Katelyn.


    “Miss Bailey, this is Mr. Adams’sptop,” Samuel announced.


    Surprised, Katelyn turned to Vincent and offered a faint smile. “Thank you.”


    She then focused entirely on her work, not looking up again.


    They were given two hours to create a design themed around spring.


    Katelyn was wholly engrossed in her work, her hair yfully falling over her forehead.


    The sunlight filtered through the window, illuminating her. From Vincent’s angle, he could see the fine hairs on her face.


    The vast conference room was mostly silent, punctuated only by the asional tapping of keyboards as they worked.


    Two hours flew by. Katelyn’s ne design, themed around a peach blossom, immediately enchanted the audience, drawing gasps of amazement and admiration.


    No one could have predicted that such an exquisite and intricately designed ne could emerge in just two hours, right before their eyes.


    Even in its sketch form, the design was alreadypelling. Transformed into a finished product, it promised to be even more breathtaking.


    In contrast, the department head’s creation, while decent, seemed overly familiar and uninspired.


    The result was unmistakable—there was no need to announce a victor.


    The department head slumped in her chair, whispering, “I admit it.”


    With a trace of sympathy in her gaze, Katelyn addressed her, “You have a knack for design, but you’re too focused on quick wins.”


    At that instant,prehension dawned on everyone.


    Unsurprisingly, future designs would likely be modeled after Katelyn’s. The session concluded.


    Katelyn returned theptop and was on her way out of the conference room when a voice halted her.


    “Miss Bailey.”


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