Lost Me, Gained Regret (Jane and Bryant Ferguson) novel Chapter 145

Grateful, I glanced at him before stepping into the room with a poised demeanor. "Good morning, everyone. I'm Jane Webster. I'm here today to explain everything clearly and thoroughly."

Margaret followed closely behind, challenging. "You want to prove your innocence, don’t you? Start then."

Her confidence seemed unshakeable. Had I not always been one to keep an ace up my sleeve, I would have been at a loss for words, following her script.

"First, I'd like everyone to listen to a recording." I took out my phone and played the conversation between me and Linda the day before.

The room's atmosphere shifted as faces registered surprise and skepticism. Seemingly prepared, Margaret dismissively said, "And what's that supposed to prove? Linda is your assistant, isn't she? How do we know you didn't stage this whole thing?"

"That's a fair point," I conceded and nodded, pulling out my design drafts from my bag. "Take a look at these. You can tell from these revisions that Margaret has submitted my second version of the design draft, not the final one."

Having some knowledge of design, Margaret was quick to counter. "Are you trying to fool us? Who copies something without making changes? Making changes is to be expected."

I stood up and smiled, pointing out the details in the second draft. "Then, may I ask if you are secretly in love with me? Why else would you leave my initials on the design draft?"

"What?" Margaret tensed up, hastily standing to see where I was pointing, only to scoff, "It's just a few minor finishing touches..."

"JW," I said firmly, meeting her gaze. "you mean your minor finishing touch is my initials?"

It was a habit I developed in college, discreetly adding my initials in an inconspicuous spot on my drafts before the final submission. I would have them erased before I turned in the final version.

"Impossible!" Margaret's face drained of color. When she wanted a closer look, the drafts were already being passed around, and the glances thrown her way were full of doubt.

Yet, no one dared to speak up against her due to her status as "Mrs. Ferguson" except for one outspoken individual who couldn't help but laugh. "Look who's calling the thief! Mrs. Ferguson herself, the esteemed wife of the Ferguson Group's CEO, stooping to plagiarize her designer and then playing the victim? Talk about a scandal reaching the Atlantic."

"Shut up!" Furious and embarrassed, Margaret stood up. "Knowing that I'm Mrs. Ferguson, you still have the guts to talk like that. Do you not want to work in RiverCity anymore?"

With that, she shot me a malicious look and stormed out.