Chapter 41 Proving Innocence (continued)
The crowd nodded in agreement with Lauren's suggestion. Given the current situation, it seemed like a good way to determine the true author.
But Linda was ruffled, "Why should I agree to your proposal when I already told you I'm the author?"
Lauren saw Linda's insecurity and smiled gracefully. "Are you scared? Are you conceding defeat before we've even begun?"
Linda knew Lauren was provoking her, but she felt cornered. She had already been fired, and if she gained a reputation for plagiarism, she would be unable to find work in City A again, especially after being dismissed for that reason by the Robinson Conglomerate.
"Scared of you? Don't make me laugh. Let's do this."
Noah's interest was piqued by Lauren's words, surprised to see how 'tough' she was. It was possible she might truly tame the wild Lu Linyuan.
"Great, since you both agree, let's begin," Noah said with a laugh, always enjoying a good showdown.
Linda hung her head, clearly unprepared to explain the proposal. Lauren, on the other hand, needed no preparation; she didn't have to because she had personally crafted every single word of that proposal. Furthermore, every little suggestion was a culmination of her on-the-job experience. She knew the proposal inside out.
Of course, Lauren was taking a gamble that Linda hadn't actually scrutinized the content of the document she'd plagiarized. She had merely snatched the fruits of Lauren's labor, so she shouldn't know the step-by-step process that shaped the proposal, given her lack of involvement.
Lauren's main concern was that Linda might have diligently dived into the proposal and fully grasped it. If that were the case, Lauren would have no way to prove her own authorship.
However, as soon as Lauren saw Linda's current demeanor, she was completely reassured. She had won the bet effortlessly.
"Who wants to go first?" Noah sat up straight and glanced toward Quentin.
The Department Head appeared anxious as he urged Linda, "Linda, why don't you start?"
Linda looked at him helplessly, not stepping forward, "I still need to prepare."
"Amelia, do you need to prepare as well?" Noah asked this on purpose.
Lauren answered with a smile, "I'm ready to go, Mr. Martin. Since Linda's not prepared, let's start with me. If you don't mind, I'd like to use your laptop."
She stood up, took the laptop Noah offered, and opened the proposal Linda had handed in.
"The crux of this proposal came from what Mr. Martin shared with me on my first day in the sales district. He pointed out that modern women's expectations for kitchen amenities are increasingly high because our quality of life is continually improving, and the kitchen, an essential part of our daily lives, deserves this attention," Lauren explained with confidence. She was unaware of how captivating she looked at that moment as Quentin watched her, unblinking.
Noticing the intensity in Quentin's gaze, Lauren blushed and averted her eyes, moving on to her next point.
"So, I thought of a promotional strategy—invoke love to awaken sweethearts or boyfriends' care for their wives or girlfriends. Love makes a home, and one way to show it is through everyday life. We could make a short video where sweethearts express their love for their wives, then share it on social media, encouraging organic distribution and engagement. Finally, we'd select a few from those who engaged to win a set of premium kitchen utensils, thus broadening our reach."
This tactic, not mentioned in the proposal, captivated everyone as Lauren concluded.
"Way to go, Amelia, I think with a bit of tweaking, your approach could definitely be put into practice," the Department Head exclaimed with excitement.
"Good job, Amelia, you really put your heart into this." Noah's praise was intended for Lauren, but his gaze shifted toward Quentin.
Quentin's eyes gleamed as he watched. Though he was reluctant to admit that Lauren had grown up, the woman before him was indeed maturing.
Linda was so angry she could strangle Lauren on the spot. Seeing everyone shower her with compliments nearly drove her insane.
The Department Head's face turned dark. Through Lauren's explanation, it was clear that Lauren seemed like the one who had crafted the proposal, but he was unwilling to acknowledge it.
"Linda, you start your presentation," the Department Head urged impatiently.
With a resentful glance at the others in the office, Linda walked up to the computer, staring at the screen without beginning her talk.
Impatience filled the room. "Linda, come on, speak up!" the Department Head urged.
Unconsciously, Linda's eyes drifted toward Lauren. Flushed from Quentin's attention, Lauren appeared to Linda to be reveling in the aftermath of her triumph, exuding a sense of satisfaction from her successful deception.
"Everything Amelia just said... those were the things I'd told her before..." Linda's voice broke with self-pity, and tears started falling again.
Lauren stood up abruptly, appalled that Linda had resorted to such excuses at this juncture.
"Linda, you claim Amelia stole your proposal, but if that were true, how come she knows it so well? On the other hand, you claim to be the real creator, yet given the chance to prove yourself, you can't produce a single convincing argument. Your behavior just isn't credible," the Department Head stated with fairness.
"I... I meant to say it, but all those things Amelia talked about were really what I had told her before..." Linda continued to deflect blame.
The Department Head couldn't bear to listen anymore. He looked sternly at Linda and said, "Earlier, we gave you the chance to speak first, but you said you needed to prepare. Now after Amelia's finished, you claim it was your words she spoke. Don't you see the contradiction in your story? Regardless of your explanations, I believe Amelia, and that this proposal was hers all along."
Grateful, Lauren nodded at the Department Head. His support brought her significant affirmation.
"I..."
"Enough, time to wrap this scene up," Quentin declared, cutting off Linda's attempt at a rebuttal. He was fed up with listening, but the ordeal had allowed him to witness Lauren's alluring professionalism—a pleasant surprise.
"Quentin, whose proposal do you think this is?" Noah asked, feigning ignorance, pushing Quentin to admit it himself.
Quentin glanced at Noah nonchalantly, "Linda's fired. Notify HR to add her to the Robinson Conglomerate blacklist—she's banned for life."
Upon hearing this, Linda fell apart. "Quentin, please, don't blacklist me. If I'm on that list, I'll never be able to get a legitimate job. I beg you..."
Quentin ignored her pleas and strode out of Noah's office without another word.
