Chapter 111 Nathaniel Doesn't Believe Chelsea Would Do That
Nathaniel tossed and turned in bed for a while, finally realizing that he had insomnia.
He took a sleeping pill before heading to the study to sleep for the night.
The next day, he was awakened by a phone call.
"Mr. Heilbronn, something is wrong."
Zack sounded nervous on the phone.
Nathaniel asked, "What happened?"
Zack replied, "Last night, Swan Company contacted me. Our new quarterly flagship product, the Eternal Heart necklace, is almost identical to a piece that Swan Company's designer, Lolly, is about to unveil. Fortunately, Swan hasn't released their product yet, but they have the manuscript and prototype. I have compared them, and it's indeed challenging to prove our originality."
Lolly was a legendary figure in the design industry. Matching her style was almost absurd; no one would suspect Lolly of plagiarism, only to assume others copied her work.
Zack didn't dare to mention the word "plagiarism."
The explosive news shocked Nathaniel. Initially, Chelsea had received praise from the top management of the Heilbronn Group for presenting the Eternal Heart necklace design manuscript upon joining the company. The group had high expectations for her and this quarter's flagship product. Nathaniel never doubted that Chelsea would resort to plagiarism.
In his memory, she was a girl who would cry when she couldn't solve a math problem. He didn't believe she would jeopardize her career by passing off someone else's work as her own; that would be self-sabotage.
He couldn't believe she would do such a thing.
"Inform the senior executives to convene for a morning meeting immediately."
He put his phone on speaker and quickly dressed.
"Mr. Heilbronn, should we also inform Chelsea?" Zack asked.
Nathaniel paused for a moment. "Let's discuss it at the company."
Zack could sense Nathaniel's trust in Chelsea over the phone.
"Mr. Heilbronn, this is a serious matter. Swan made a formal announcement last night demanding that we pull the product off, or they will pursue legal action against us."
If the reputation of plagiarism stuck, the financial loss was a minor concern. The century-old reputation of the Heilbronn Group could be tarnished in an instant. They would no longer be able to operate in the luxury goods industry.
No wealthy woman would want to buy a necklace that was found to be a designer's copy.
Zack was now anxious. He had received the notification late at night and had been trying to reach Nathaniel without success until dawn.
He had been waiting outside the Bloom Villa.
Nathaniel quickly got ready and went downstairs to the car. Zack handed him a printed copy of the design prototype, which bore Lolly's signature.
As he sat in the car, Nathaniel repeatedly pondered what kind of person Chelsea was. He couldn't believe that the girl, who had jumped into the water without hesitation to save him when he fell in, would resort to plagiarism.
After much hesitation, he called Chelsea and asked her to come to the meeting room immediately.
The Heilbronn Group's top-floor meeting room was filled with senior executives, most of whom had received some information about the situation. While plagiarism was not uncommon in the design industry, it was usually associated with smaller brands. An international brand like the Heilbronn Group was not expected to engage in such a foolish act. Everyone was waiting for the CEO's decision.
Nathaniel entered the meeting room with Zack, and the previously noisy and argumentative atmosphere immediately quieted down.
He glanced at his watch; it wasn't yet the time for clocking in. Chelsea hadn't arrived yet.
"Let's hear everyone's opinions first. Did you all watch Swan's press conference last night? Do you think Lolly's design prototype has a significant resemblance to our product?" Nathaniel asked.
This question prompted everyone to speak up. Everyone in the room had stakes in the company and was concerned about their stocks losing value and reduced dividends. They all hoped the best for the Heilbronn Group.
"Mr. Heilbronn, it's not just a resemblance. I think it's the same product!" one executive said.
"Mr. Heilbronn, Lolly is not the type to copy others. There's only one conclusion: we copied their design. We need to call our designer in to clarify the situation," another added.
"Mr. Heilbronn, we cannot condone this kind of plagiarism. The Heilbronn Group has achieved its current status through outstanding products and the hard work of our designers. We have never had such a scandal in all these years," another executive expressed.
The more Nathaniel listened, the angrier he became. Plagiarism was absolutely intolerable to him; it had crossed every line.
However, these people were quick to jump to conclusions without hearing the designer's explanation, which left him feeling somewhat disheartened. They had no trust in the designer he had hired at a high salary.
The discussions continued, with everyone sharing their opinions until a voice silenced the room.
"Mr. Heilbronn, the Heilbronn Group's stock price has fallen more than ten percent."
The shareholders looked as if their hearts were bleeding.
The Heilbronn Group's stock was priced at over a hundred dollars per share. When it fell more than ten percent at the opening, given the amount of stock they held, they had lost tens of thousands to millions of dollars.
Moreover, if this issue wasn't resolved properly, the stock would continue to fall, and they wouldn't be able to sell even if they wanted to.
This way, half of their assets could be wiped out.
"Mr. Heilbronn, please make a decision."
The largest shareholder, Maverick Baker, was almost on the verge of tears. He had planned to retire in a year and cash out all his shares, leaving half to his children and using the other half to travel the world with his wife. Now, he felt he might never get the chance to travel the world and would have to settle for strolling in his backyard.
Amidst the restlessness, Chelsea entered the room wearing 2.4-inch high heels.
"Good morning, Mr. Heilbronn."
She greeted Nathaniel but ignored all the others.
"Take a seat."
Chelsea sat down next to Nathaniel on the nearest empty seat, which was usually left vacant because the others didn't want to sit too close to the CEO and risk being called upon.
Chelsea sat down confidently, dressed in a striking fiery red dress, with her lipstick matching the color of her outfit. She clearly had taken the time to dress up before coming.
"Chelsea, take a look at this manuscript."
Nathaniel handed her the printout Zack had given him, eager to hear her explanation firsthand.
Upon seeing the manuscript, Chelsea was momentarily stunned. Her mind quickly processed the information, and her expression turned serious. She assured everyone emotionally,
"Hello, everyone, I have been studying design for over ten years and would never stoop to plagiarism. I can make my work stand out, and I will provide evidence that the Eternal Heart pendant is my creation. I urge you to wait and see. I will not tolerate baseless accusations and will pursue legal action against those who spread rumors."
Her passionate declaration convinced half of the shareholders present. They found it hard to believe that a young girl like Chelsea would dare to deceive so many shareholders of the Heilbronn Group.
Maverick, who had suffered the most from the stock drop, couldn't help but speak up, "Ms. Thompson, please clarify the situation and prevent the Heilbronn Group from suffering unjustly."
He could accept it, but the stock had to stop falling, and there was no time to waste!
Chelsea reassured them, "No problem. I will clarify the situation right away."
The meeting ended there, with everyone waiting for Chelsea to present the so-called evidence of her original creation. Of course, everyone hoped she was indeed the original designer, as it was in everyone's best interest.
Although some remained skeptical, there was a glimmer of hope in their hearts.
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