CEO’s Regret After I Divorced (Serena and Ryan) novel Chapter 363

Chapter 363: Chapter 363 The Security Footage

Author’s POV

The Elegant Realm studio buzzed with deceptively normal activity the morning after the hurricane. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating workstations where designers bent over sketches and fabric samples. But beneath the surface productivity, tension crackled like electricity in the air.

Vivi had called an emergency meeting at precisely 9 AM, her face a mask of barely controlled fury as she surveyed the conference room. Twenty-three employees filed in with varying degrees of anxiety, none quite sure what they were walking into but all sensing the gravity of the situation.

Claire entered last, her usual nervous energy amplified tenfold. She clutched a coffee cup like a lifeline, her eyes darting around the room before settling on her hands.

"Sit," Vivi commanded, not bothering with pleasantries.

The silence that followed was suffocating. Through the glass walls, other employees pretended to work while straining to catch glimpses of the unfolding drama inside.

"Who did it?" Vivi’s voice cut through the quiet like a scalpel. Her gaze swept the room methodically, cataloguing every micro-expression, every nervous fidget. "I want to know who leaked our designs to ARt, and I want to know now."

The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees. Emma, a senior designer with three years at the company, shifted uncomfortably in her chair. Marcus, the newest hire, went pale. But it was Claire who drew the most attention—her coffee cup trembling slightly in her grip, a tell-tale flush creeping up her neck.

Nobody spoke. The silence stretched on, heavy with accusation and fear.

"Fine," Vivi continued, her tone shifting to something dangerously soft. "Let me be clear about what we’re dealing with here. If the person responsible comes forward voluntarily, you’ll lose your job and we’ll part ways quietly. But if I have to identify you myself..."

She paused, letting the threat hang in the air like smoke.

"This becomes a criminal matter. Corporate espionage. Theft of intellectual property. Your career in fashion will be over before it begins, and prison time is a very real possibility."

Claire’s reaction was immediate and visceral—her entire body went rigid, the color draining from her face so quickly that Marcus instinctively leaned forward, concerned she might faint.

"I’ve already requested security footage from yesterday," Vivi announced, watching for reactions like a hawk studying prey. "Whatever you did, wherever you went, it’s all recorded. Every movement, every action."

The psychological pressure was masterful. Claire’s hands had started trembling so violently she had to set down her coffee cup. Emma looked indignant at the implication. Marcus appeared confused, as if he couldn’t quite process how his dream job had turned into a nightmare.

"Everyone, phones on the table. Now." Vivi’s command cracked through the room like a whip.

"Vivi," Emma protested, finding her voice, "what’s checking our phones going to accomplish? Anyone smart enough to orchestrate a leak would be smart enough to cover their tracks. Shouldn’t we review the security footage first?"

Vivi’s eyes narrowed dangerously. "Something to hide, Emma?"

The accusation stung. Emma’s jaw tightened, but she slid her phone across the polished conference table with deliberate calm. "My password is 000000. I’ve been with Elegant Realm for three years. I wouldn’t sabotage everything I’ve worked for."

After a cursory examination of Emma’s device revealed nothing suspicious, Vivi’s attention pivoted to her primary suspect with laser focus.

"Your phone, Claire."

The request might as well have been a death sentence, given Claire’s reaction. Her hands shook as she fumbled with the device, nearly dropping it twice before successfully unlocking the screen.

"Here, Vivi," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

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