Chapter 30: The presentation

When Elowen opened her eyes again, it was already the next morning. She sat up. The first thing she did was look toward the other side of the bed.

It was empty. There was no sign of Soren.

’He probably left for the office.’

She reached out to the side table for her phone, but her hand froze. Something else caught her attention.

There was a small note beside her phone.

Curious, she picked it up and unfolded it.

’Good morning, wifey. I’m heading to the office early. You were sleeping peacefully, so I didn’t wake you up.

I’m dropping Sera off at school. Don’t worry about her.

Bye...’

The handwriting was neat and unmistakably his. Every word was written neatly.

But Elowen read the note again and again. She stared at it as if she couldn’t understand a word.

This was nothing new to her.

Soren had left early for the office countless times.

She had woken up to an empty bed more mornings than she could remember. But he had never left her a note. He had never bothered to tell her where he was going. He might have never thought it mattered whether she knew.

Yet, this morning, he had taken the time to write to her.

It was such a small thing.

But after seven years of being left alone in the dark, this small gesture felt significant.

A confusing warmth spread through her chest.

She had thought his change was nothing but an act, that it wouldn’t last long. But every day, there seemed to be another little change that tugged at her heart.

Elowen pressed her lips together. Part of her genuinely started to believe that Soren wanted to give this marriage a chance.

A smile appeared on her lips. She folded the note and put it back on the table before going into the bathroom.

~~~~~~~~

The conference room was filled with senior executives, architects, designers, and project managers.

Theron sat at the head of the table.

Today’s appointment was important. The Eden District project was the biggest project the company was undertaking. Everyone wanted to make an impression.

Daphne was the first to begin. She stood confidently in front of the giant screen and started presenting her design.

The drawing displayed behind her was the one she had stolen from Elowen.

It was incomplete when she had taken it. But she had patched it up, adding details and making adjustments so it would appear to be her complete work.

She delivered the presentation with full confidence. There was no trace of hesitation or guilt in her voice.

Elowen sat frozen in her seat. She gawked at the screen in complete shock.

’That’s my design.’

She had never thought Daphne would stoop so low as to steal her entire design.

Vera sensed her tension. She leaned toward her and asked in a low voice, "Elowen, are you okay? You look as if you have seen a ghost. What’s wrong?"

"That presentation..." Elowen murmured. "She stole my design."

"What?" Vera exclaimed, her shocked voice ringing loudly inside the conference room.

All eyes turned toward her.

Theron threw a displeased look at her.

Vera’s face paled immediately when she realized everyone was staring at her. "I-I didn’t mean to disturb the presentation," she stuttered. "I was just shocked."

Theron cocked his head slightly. "A serious presentation is going on here. What made you react like that?"

Vera nervously looked at Elowen. She was scared under Theron’s cutting gaze. Her knees were shaking. But she couldn’t stay silent either. She couldn’t watch Daphne steal her friend’s design.

"She stole that design," she said shakily.

"Vera, you disgraceful woman," Daphne snapped. "Haven’t you embarrassed yourself enough? Keep your mouth shut."

Theron raised a hand. "Let her speak."

Daphne sank her teeth into her lower lip. Nervous and anxious, she fidgeted with her fingers.

Theron looked back at Vera. "What were you saying?" He pointed at the screen. "You are claiming she stole that design."

Vera swallowed. "Yes, it’s not hers."

"I worked on it day and night," Daphne yelled. "How dare you accuse me of stealing?"

"Vera is not lying," Elowen chimed in. She stood, drawing everyone’s attention. "That design is mine. You stole it."

Theron curled his fingers under the table. His face went unnervingly still.

"You are lying," Daphne said, raising her voice. "This is my design. Mr. Knox, please..." Tears gathered in her eyes. "You have to believe me. I didn’t steal anyone’s work."

"Really? Then why is your design so similar to mine?"

"I don’t know," Daphne fired back. "You must have copied my design."

"It’s you who copied it," Vera interjected. "Yesterday, you went to Elowen’s desk when she was not around. I saw you."

Daphne’s confidence cracked. Tears slipped down her cheek before she could stop them. For the first time, she didn’t know how to respond.

"I told you why I was there." Her voice trembled with outrage. "I only wanted to know why Elowen left the office in a hurry. I didn’t take anything from her desk."

Vera frowned. She had not seen her take anything.

"You and Elowen are trying to frame me, humiliate me, and make me look like a thief," Daphne continued. "In reality, you don’t have anything to present today. That’s why you are creating a fuss here."

Daphne regained her confidence. She believed she could turn the situation around. After all, she was more qualified and experienced than anyone else in that room.

She had once been the chief designer. No one would believe she would steal from someone less experienced than herself.

"Silence..." Theron’s voice thundered through the room.

Everyone quieted down.

Theron turned to Elowen. "Show your design."

"Right away, sir." Elowen connected her laptop to the giant screen. A moment later, her design appeared.

A gasp rippled through the room.

"This is the same as Daphne’s," someone said.

"Oh, my God. What is going on?"

Whispers spread around the table.

"This is plagiarism," Daphne cried out. "She plagiarized my work. Mr. Knox, you should fire her instantly."

"I didn’t plagiarize," Elowen snapped back. "You copied my design."

Daphne laughed dryly. "Why would I need to copy your work? I used to be the chief designer. I am more qualified and experienced than you. You are the one who is jealous of me. And today, you created the scene to humiliate me."

"The chief designer?" Elowen scoffed. "Everyone here knows how qualified and experienced you are."

Her gaze was unwavering as she stared at Daphne.

"This isn’t the first time you’ve taken credit for my work. For years, you have done the same. You’ve forced me to do your work. Whenever I refused, you threatened to get me fired."

"Yes, she did the same thing to me," Vera spoke up.

"Elowen is telling the truth," another young designer said. "Daphne often forced me to do her work."

"Yes, Daphne took my work too."

One by one, voices rose around the table.

"No, you all ganged up against me," Daphne spat. Hot tears spilling out. "Elowen, why are you doing this to me? It’s clearly you who plagiarized my work. Yet you are blaming me. Have you no shame?"

"That’s enough," Theron roared, slapping the table.

Daphne flinched and lowered her head instantly.

Theron swept his glare around the table.

No one dared to look at him.

"I don’t want to hear any more excuses or accusations." His tone was full of warning. "I’ll find out who the thief is."

His eyes settled on Elowen. "Can you prove she stole your work?"

"Yes," Elowen replied without hesitation. "I can prove it."