Chapter 45

Chapter 45
The room fell silent when White's name came up.

"White? The reclusive design legend? The same man who's turned down every major firm in the industry?" one colleague whispered, eyes wide. "How would someone like Avery even know him?"

"Exactly," another chimed in. "His standards are impossibly high. Why would he even look twice at her designs?"

"Remember last year's flagship project? Mr. Ferrari personally tried to get White on board," someone added. "Even he couldn't secure a meeting."

Avery watched the tide turning against her again. With remarkable composure, she pulled out her phone.

"Let's settle this right now," she said, her voice steady. "I'll video call White and we'll know for sure."

"Oh, give me a break," Jason sneered, his confidence faltering slightly. "You probably hired some actor to pretend. That amateur trick won't fool anyone."

Ignoring him completely, Avery dialed the number. Within seconds, the call connected.

On screen appeared a distinguished elderly gentleman with piercing eyes and an energy that defied his years. There wasn't a trace of the burnout that typically plagued designers who'd left the spotlight.

"Avery? What can I do for you?" White's deep, authoritative voice resonated through the conference room speakers.

The stunned silence was deafening. Every person in the room stared at the screen in disbelief. Even Matteo, who had been quietly observing the drama unfold, couldn't hide his surprise.

Jason's face drained of color. "That's impossible," he muttered, blinking rapidly as if the image might disappear.

"White, I need your help," Avery explained, a hint of sarcasm curling her lips. "Someone's claiming I plagiarized a design. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I need you to confirm I'm the original creator."

White's cold laugh sent chills through the room. "Ridiculous indeed."

Even his smile had an icy edge to it—a reminder of his notoriously exacting standards.

"I'm stunned that someone of your caliber would even be questioned," he continued, his voice hardening. "Tell me, who had the audacity to steal your work and then accuse you?"

Everyone present could hear the protective anger simmering beneath his words. Clearly, their relationship was far from ordinary.

"This gentleman right here," Avery said, gesturing toward Jason. "Jason, since you believe White is the ultimate authority in design, why don't you come say hello? Verify it's really him." Her smile was razor-sharp. "After all, you just claimed no one could get him to show up."

Jason remained frozen, still processing the fact that this rookie designer somehow had direct access to the industry legend he'd revered for years.

"H-hello, White," he finally stammered, his mind racing for something—anything—to say next.

"Save it," White cut him off, disgust evident on his face. "I don't waste time with thieves."

His penetrating gaze seemed to reach through the screen. "Avery's design is entirely her own work. We have email correspondence and chat logs documenting her process. Anyone requiring proof can contact me directly."

He paused, his expression grave. "I stake my professional reputation on this: Avery is the original creator. She is incapable of plagiarism."

Jaws dropped around the table. The design world's most renowned recluse was personally vouching for a supposed newcomer!

Everyone knew White's reputation for brutal honesty. If he said it, it must be true. The real story was becoming clearer by the second.

"Forget about Jason—how does Ms. Vaughn even know White?" someone whispered.

"They seem so comfortable together!"

"I've never seen White defend anyone like this. He's practically unapproachable!"

As conversations buzzed around her, Avery's voice softened. "I'm sorry to drag you into this. Rain check on dinner sometime soon?"

"Absolutely," she added. "And thank you for today."

White's stern expression melted into a genuine smile. "This is nothing," he dismissed. "If you really want to thank me, come teach at my academy instead."

There was unmistakable regret in his voice. "You were my most brilliant student, with so much potential, and yet..."

He sighed deeply. Everyone could read between the lines—since Avery's marriage three years ago, she'd stepped back from her career. Seeing her reconnect with design clearly pleased him.

His words sent another shock wave through the room.

Jason's eyes bulged. "Wait—you were his student?" he blurted out. "But I thought you weren't taking students anymore."

This revelation stunned everyone. White was famously solitary, having stopped teaching after leaving the industry. Avery looked so young, and yet...how extraordinary must her talent be to earn such praise?

White beamed with unmistakable pride. "Of course I stopped taking students after Avery. When you find someone of her caliber, everyone else pales in comparison."

"If she hadn't declined, she would have been my successor!"

The regret in his voice was palpable. It was clear White saw Avery not just as a student but almost as a daughter. Though he clearly understood her personality well enough to know she wouldn't accept his lecturer offer.

"Well, I'll settle for that dinner, then," he concluded warmly. "And Avery—call me if you need anything else."

"I will," she promised before ending the call.

Though their final exchanges were quieter, everyone had caught every word. The successive revelations had left the room reeling.

"Did I hear that right? White wanted Ms. Vaughn as his successor?"

"And she turned it down!"

"He basically offered her his unconditional support. That's like having design royalty in your corner."

To be valued so highly by someone who found most designers mediocre was telling. Avery must be extraordinary—the first person in years to earn White's wholehearted praise.

"Feel free to verify any evidence you need," Avery said calmly as she pocketed her phone.

She turned to face Jason, her eyes suddenly sharp as flint. "I've known you were trying to steal my work for weeks."

"That's ridiculous—" Jason attempted, but Avery cut him off.

"Security footage shows you loitering around my desk, repeatedly glancing at my screen while I was designing." She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a dangerous pitch. "I was prepared. I documented everything with White and gathered all the necessary evidence."

Her lips curved into a devastating smile. "But honestly? I thought you'd at least try to disguise the theft. I never expected you'd be stupid enough to copy it verbatim."

Jason's heart hammered against his ribs. No. Impossible.

He desperately tried to convince himself that this was all a bluff, that this bitch was trying to trap him.

But Avery's next words hit him like a freight train.

"What you never realized was that I deliberately left my computer unlocked with that design on the desktop. I wanted to see if you'd take the bait."

She actually laughed then, the sound light and triumphant.

"And you walked right into my trap."