第3章

I went to Miss Katherine's office.

To my surprise, Miss Katherine was not inside; she was waiting at the door.

The moment she saw me, she came over quickly and pulled me into a corner.

"Was it you who reported Venetia for stealing the work?

"And you brought the competition director to our school?"

I closed my hand around my phone.

The moment I realized Miss Katherine would not help me, I had messaged the organizers of the design competition.

They had been very efficient.

I asked her, "Didn't you say the Heart of the Ocean was Venetia's design?

"Even if I reported it, as long as the design really is hers, the only one who gets punished is me. So what are you worried about?

"Or did you know from the beginning that it was mine?"

That stopped her.

She recovered quickly. Her voice sharpened, and a warning flashed in her eyes. "That design can only be Venetia's.

"You cannot afford to cross her parents. One word from them and you disappear off the face of the earth.

"Stop trying to get yourself killed. Go in there and tell the director that you falsely accused Venetia out of jealousy.

"I will do what I can to bury this. You withdraw from the school as soon as possible and go as far away as you can."

I pulled my arm out of her hand and smiled.

"I know what to say now."

Inside the office, the competition director looked me up and down before asking, "You're Audrey? You filed a report under your own name that Venetia, our first-place winner, plagiarized your design?

"I am Hera, director of the International Design Competition. You say the Heart of the Ocean is your design. What evidence do you have?"

Miss Katherine's eyes went to me at once, tense.

I paid no attention to the look.

I took out the flash drive I had ready and put it into the computer.

My sketches came up on the screen one after another.

Miss Katherine's expression changed sharply, and she lunged for the flash drive.

Hera was not someone to be pushed around either.

One look from her, and the two staff members behind her seized Miss Katherine by the arms and marched her outside.

Hera went through my sketches and my design notes and nodded.

"Audrey, I can confirm the Heart of the Ocean is your work. We are going to the principal's office now, and I will have the school answer for this."

A flicker of warmth stirred in my chest.

"Thank you."

Hera took me to Headmistress Helena's office.

At first, Helena assumed I had come with Hera and was very courteous to us both.

Once Hera explained why we were there, Helena's face hardened.

"This is an internal school matter. It does not require an investigation."

Hera pushed my flash drive across the desk to her.

"Audrey's evidence is conclusive. It proves that she is the designer of the Heart of the Ocean.

"Both the organizers and the school failed here. We need to correct the credit immediately and take responsibility for the mistake."

Helena flicked the drive aside.

"Miss Hera, you're new to this industry, aren't you? For the sake of your own future, think a little before you act."

Her tone was even, but the words carried a veiled threat.

Then she turned to me.

"Audrey, I remember now. You are in Venetia's class.

"That child has excellent grades and a good character, and she is captain of the cheer squad. It is perfectly normal for you to be jealous of her.

"Minor friction between students is nothing the school concerns itself with, but falsely accusing Venetia of plagiarism is a stain on your character.

"Nothing is settled yet. Tell the director now that you made a false accusation and I will not hold you responsible."

Hearing how plainly the headmistress had taken Venetia's side, Hera's face went cold.

"What does any of this have to do with whether I am new?

"The evidence is right here. All we need to do is..."

Before Hera could finish, Helena threw the drive on the floor and crushed it under her heel.

"What evidence?

"All I see is an idle, badly behaved student who bought off a competition director in order to frame one of our finest.

"Miss Hera, I will inform your company that you accepted a bribe. You can expect to be fired."

Then she turned back to me.

"Audrey, your jealousy has gone too far, and this school has no room for you. I will issue your expulsion notice as soon as possible."

Hera flushed with anger at the sight of the crushed drive and started forward.

"Are you insane? Do you have any idea what a piece of work means to its creator?

"How can you rob a child of work she poured her heart and soul into?"

For all Hera's agitation, Helena looked entirely unbothered.

That composure clearly came from more than her own confidence.

It came from the powerful backers behind her.

But she did not know who I was.

And she had no idea that, in my eyes, her backers were beneath notice.

I took Hera's arm and shook my head at her.

I signaled that everything was all right.

Hera steadied herself and gave my hand a reassuring pat.

"Audrey, don't worry. My superiors have always been fair. They will not let Venetia get away with this."

Before I could answer, Helena laughed coldly. "Audrey, you have no idea who you have offended.

"Venetia's parents have businesses all over the world. Even this school's board defers to them."

Before I could speak, Hera leaped to my defense. "Audrey, don't be afraid. My superiors have backing of their own. They don't bow easily.

"Headmistress Helena, have you looked closely at our funders?

"The first of them is Prince Lucas's company. However powerful Venetia's parents may be, can they take on Prince Lucas?"