Chapter 170 A liability
Liliana tilted her head and said, “Since the hosts of the banquet want me to provide my opinion so badly, I can only comply to show my respect.”
Alice felt hope surge within her.
Mariana had to bite the inside of her mouth to keep herself from laughing.
Liliana looked at Alice and asked, “Miss Alice, did you design this yourself or did you get anyone’s help?”
Alice thought Liliana was being vengeful since she could not fault her design, so she puffed up, “Of course, I designed it completely by myself.”
Liliana probed again, “Are you sure? Maybe you took inspiration from the internet?”
Alice was irritated and shouted, “If you don’t like it, please just say so. You don’t have to humiliate me like this.”
Lydia sneered, “Are you looking for excuses because you could not find anything to justify your bad behavior?”
Liliana shook her head and added, “Miss Alice. I have given you several chances to stop putting yourself in the spotlight. I even gave you many outs, even suggested ways to save your dignity. I can no longer help you.”
She called the manager and asked for the computer which was hooked on the screen.
In front of everyone, she asked the manager to search for several specific pieces of dresses and asked him to project the results on the screen.
“Miss Alice, the front of your dress including the intricate embroidery is exactly like that of the 2nd runner-up of the 2017 Autumn competition.”
“The design in the bodice including usage of pearls to show the curves is an exact replica of the winner of the 2015 Spring competition.”
“The flare design with the gauze and the printed inside of the lower design is the same as the 1st runner up of the 2019 Summer competition.”NôvelDrama.Org © content.
“The overall concept and the back is the exact same as that of the 2018 Annual design competition winner.”
Alice paled.
Not only had Liliana accurately identified where she had copied everything from, which even Alice herself had forgotten, but also the former had named the specific time, date, design, and the piece name while showing it to everyone.
Alice’s career as a designer was finished even before it began.
Lydia was not happy, “So what? Everyone copies things from here and here. And people can have the same ideas. Since she is good, why can’t you help her? You could mentor her and guide her.”
Everyone, including Lester, was speechless.
How could Lydia be so dumb?
Liliana did not humor that idiocy with a reply.
Alice decided to grope that chance and beg.
“Mrs. Smith, please forgive me. I only wanted to impress you. I had seen all those designs before, but I swear I did not create them by copying. I must have mistakenly picked up everything subconsciously. Please give me a chance to prove myself.”
Liliana was impressed by her act and shamelessness.
She decided to end the farce once and for all.
“Miss Alice, if you wanted a chance, you could have submitted your resume along with your copyrighted original works via the recruiting portal of the L&L Designs. Why did you not do so?”
Liliana asked.
Alice could not say, she was rejected on the preliminary check itself. So, she decided to twist the truth.
“I don’t think L&L Design hires newbies who don’t already have a reputation. Please give me one chance.” Alice continued to cry.
Liliana was once again impressed. Alice was way craftier than Lydia.
“Alright!” Liliana agreed.
Alice heaved a sigh thinking it meant Liliana would hire her.
But Liliana’s next words doused all her hopes.
“Give this young lady a pair of scissors, a few rolls of threads of her choice of colors, and this tablecloth.”
Alice looked at her horrified.
“What do you mean?”
Liliana smiled, “Miss Alice, given L&L Design’s popularity and prestige, you must have guessed the caliber of our designers. I want you to produce an original work from these by the time this party is over. If I find it satisfactory, I will immediately hire you as an intern.”
Lydia could not believe her ears, “How can anyone create something from this tablecloth? Are you trying to find excuses for not hiring her?”
Liliana sneered, “I have no reasons to hire her. She is already a liability considering she tried to pass off her copied product as her original. I am only trying to show my respect to the host of the banquet since he intervened.
Miss Lydia, do you think anyone can become the designer of L&L? Are you naive or just plain stupid?”
Lydia bellowed, “Shut up, you bitch!”
Jonathan finally spoke, “Mind your language unless you don’t want your tongue anymore.”
Just then, the manager came with a pair of scissors, and a box full of thread rolls. He passed it to Alice along with a tablecloth and told her to get the waiter to bring her something if needed.
Alice could only thank him reluctantly.
She had never hated anyone as much as she hated Liliana at that moment.