Sabrina had been standing on the other side of the runway waiting for her model. She gave Madison a smug look. Madison was taken aback at the fact that Sabrina’s model wore a substandard version of Madison’s design. Sabrina had somehow stolen a copy of Madison’s design.
But there was nothing she could do. It was time for Becky to walk. There were gasps as Becky took to the runway and the murmurs of this being like the first dress to walk, only better.
Sabrina’s smug smile faltered, and she shot daggers at Madison. Becky was at the end of the stage and showed off the pockets which got a round of applause. By the time Becky had finished walking, Kristy from HR was behind the stage. They were supposed to pick the winner during the show, but Anastazia made an announcement that they would do it at the end of the fashion show tomorrow.
“Madison and Sabrina. I’d like to see you and your models over here.”
Madison and Becky followed her, along with Sabrina and her model. When they got to the room, Anastazia was coming in.
“It seems someone copied someone else’s design. Since there is no way to prove whose original design it was, you both have been disqualified.”
Madison’s heart dropped. She had lost the thing she most wanted due to Sabrina. Madison doubted Sabrina had expected her to show, if Sabrina’s plan had worked. So disqualification hadn’t been her end goal. She had wanted to win the position at the fashion house.
“She stole my design,” Madison and Sabrina said at the same time.
“That is a strong accusation coming from both of you. It’s a ‘she said, she said’ with no actual proof.”
“It’s also the truth,” Madison said. “I can prove it’s mine.”
“I’m not sure how you will prove this,” Kristy said.
“I have the sketches, and my model will back me up.”
“That all could have been faked after you looked at my design. Your model would lie too because she would get the top spot in the magazine spread,” Sabrina said with a smug look on her face.
“She has a point.”
“I can prove it’s mine because I put a hidden pocket in my design. I did it for all my designs as it’s my signature. If you look at my previous designs, you will find the hidden pockets. I can tell you where to find them along with the one in this design.”
“All right then. Sabrina, where is the hidden pocket?”
“There isn’t one; she is making up excuses.”
“Show me where the pocket is.”
Madison walked over to the design and showed Kristy the hidden pocket in the bottom fold of the dress.
“It looks like she is right; there is a hidden pocket.”
“She could have added it after she took my design.” Sabrina spoke up.
“That could be true, but I’m having one of the interns bring in the work Madison’s done for us during her internship.”
Madison’s shoulders relaxed. It seemed Kristy believed her or at least was open to the idea that this was Madison’s design.
She showed the hidden pockets in all of the items that she had made.
“It looks like the hidden pockets is in fact Madison’s signature. Unfortunately, there is nothing that says Sabrina’s wasn’t the original and Madison added a pocket on to it.” Kristy looked between the two of them.
“Stealing someone else’s work is unethical and won’t be tolerated. There was a chance that the other designers could be picked up by other fashion houses, but no one will touch either of you now, knowing that one of you stole another competitor’s design and tried to pass it off as your own.”
“Even when comparing the design execution, Madison’s is still superior to Sabrina’s and has better features. Madison, I’m curious if she stole your design, why doesn’t hers have the pockets?”
“On my sketches I sign my initials where the pocket would be. Let’s look at the sketches.”
“It looks like here in Sabrina’s that is on the waist.”
“Yes, that was my original idea, but I like the pocket to be functional and able to hold credit cards and cash without bulking out the design and I just couldn’t get it to work so I went with the invisible pockets on the side and the hidden pocket in the fold.”
