One Night With A Mysterious Billionaire (The Heiress's Revenge)-Chapter 45: Plagiarism is a punishable offence

Raymond

I watched as she climbed the stage with full confidence, I noticed all eyes were locked on her, I noticed her attire, the way her skirt accentuated her shape.

She didn’t need bold colors or flashy accessories. Everything about her attire was calm, expensive, and intentional, the kind of woman whose presence alone could silence a room, I nodded in approval. Our eyes locked, and I smiled at her.

"I want to thank Hyacinth Hove for giving me this opportunity, and to everyone present I want to thank you as you listen to my presentation"

I watched her with rapt attention,

Slide One: The concept me and my team decided to take on this project is the shape of the banana.

Everybody became interested

"This is Banana Island," she began.

On the screen was an aerial view of a man-made island, gently curved, smooth and deliberate. From above, the shape was unmistakable, a banana resting on deep blue water.

"The island itself is designed in a banana shape," she explained. "Not for playfulness, but for identity. When anyone sees this from the air, they will recognize it immediately. Banana Island is meant to be memorable."

She paused, letting the image settle.

"This is a luxury island. Every curve was planned."

She press the remote and the next slide came up.

"This is a practical view of the Land and how to a ccess the island."

The image changed to show layers beneath the island.

"Banana Island will be sand-filled and fully engineered," she said. "The foundation will be reinforced to support heavy structures and constant vehicle movement." The slide changed to show a wide road that ran along the curve of the island.

"The estate is completely car-accessible. Residents can drive directly to their homes. There are no restrictions, no compromises. Luxury means comfort."

She pointed to hidden sections beneath the homes.

"Parking is integrated into the design, keeping the surface clean and elegant."

She went on to explain the third slide: The Master Plan she called it.

The next slide revealed the full layout of the complete project.

"Houses are arranged along the curve of the island," she said. "This placement ensures that every home has a direct ocean view."

No buildings faced each other. There was space. Distance. Privacy.

"The banana shape allows us to avoid visual obstruction. No resident looks into another resident’s space. This is intentional."

"This slide is shows the buildings and their uniqueness"

The screen zoomed into the homes.

"These are upscale residences," she explained. "High-end materials, modern finishes, and clean architectural lines."

Glass walls reflected the ocean. Stone and wood blended into the sand.

"The design is expensive, but not loud. The luxury is quiet, controlled, and refined."

Each house had an infinity pool, wide terraces, and private entrances.

"This is not mass housing," she added. "Each unit is a statement of status."

The next slide focused on roads and movement around the island.

"The main road follows the banana curve," she said. "It creates a smooth driving experience and emphasizes the island’s shape."

Palm trees lined the road, evenly spaced.

"The roads are wide, clean, and designed for luxury vehicles. Nothing feels tight or crowded."

Her next slide shows the aesthetics of the island- Waterfront and Lifestyle

The screen shifted to the outer edge of the island.

"Each home connects to the water," she said.

"Private docks are placed along the curve, allowing yacht access."

Small walkways connected docks to homes.

"This creates a lifestyle that is private, secure, and exclusive.

The final slide showed Banana Island at night.

Soft lights traced the curve of the island, glowing gently against the dark water.

"At night, Banana Island becomes a symbol," she said. "From the sky, the banana shape lights up. It becomes an icon."

She looked around the room.

"This is not just a housing estate. It is a destination. A name people will remember."

She stepped back from the screen.

"Banana Island represents luxury, access, privacy, and design working together."

And with that, the presentation ended. The room erupted with clapping. Shock evident in a lot of people’s faces including the judges and directors.

I have never been this proud of someone in my life. My smile was evident as I watched her stand on that stage. She was about to step down when someone suddenly leaned in to whisper something to the organizer’s ear. His expression changed instantly. Panic flickered across his face as he hurried toward the directors and judges, speaking in hushed tones before all hell broke loose.

"Your work is impeccable, and I was almost carried away," one of the directors said, his voice cutting sharply through the hall. "But this design is not yours, is it?"

I noticed the smile drain from Lena’s face, and my eyes darkened.

"This design bears the exact markings of the mysterious designer in Vegas City," the director continued. "The colors are her signature palette, and she is the only one capable of embedding invisible write-ups into patterns to distinguish her work from others. Tell me, how did you convince her to do this work for you? If you cannot answer, you will be disqualified for plagiarism and arrested once we confirm the work was stolen."

The hall erupted into gasps, shock spreading like wildfire as voices rose in condemnation.

"And to think I was mesmerized when the project ended, only to find out she plagiarized. What a waste."

"I always knew she got in through her good looks, but good looks can’t give you everything. Hyacinth Hove is very thorough and strict."

Their comments piled up one after another, sharp and merciless, and I couldn’t take it anymore.

I saw the disappointment etched clearly on Lena’s face. My instincts screamed at me to stand up and defend her, but I couldn’t, not without sounding biased. I wanted her to win this contract on her own, to solidify her position and her company. I didn’t want people accusing her of gaining success through luck or uncouth means. So I stayed seated, watching helplessly, hoping she would find a way out herself.

"Who said this project is not mine?" Lena asked, her voice steady despite the storm around her.

"We did!" voices rang out from the crowd.

At that moment, Mr. Smith, Ashley, Selena, and Evans walked in. Ashley’s face was still heavily bandaged; she looked like someone who had survived a major incident. Lena’s brows furrowed in confusion, how did they know she was here, and what had happened to Ashley?

Earlier that day, Ashley, Evan, Selena, and Mr. Smith had been in the hospital, discussing their next move, when the news began to broadcast the ongoing presentation. Lena appeared on the screen, confidently unveiling her project. They were shocked. Almost immediately, they decided to go there and create a scene, especially since the venue was close to the hospital.

They hailed a taxi and rushed over. Ashley insisted on coming along, ignoring Selena’s pleas for her to sit this one out because of her injuries. She refused to stay behind.

When they arrived, they began crying loudly, telling the receptionist they were there to save their daughter because they didn’t want her to go to jail for plagiarism. The receptionist was stunned. The directors had already spoke on this issue,and classified it as a serious crime if caught. Alarmed, she hurried to inform the organizers, who then relayed the information to the judges. That was how the applause meant for Lena turned into disgust.

"Lena, I know you mean well," Mr. Smith said solemnly, "but you need to stop using plagiarized work to try and secure a contract. I know you’re trying to help, but your mother would not be proud of you. Come back home and focus on the company."

Lena said nothing. She only stared at them with clear disdain. To Mr. Smith, however, it felt like he was hitting the nail on the head.

The hall erupted again.

"So she really plagiarized? Wow, I was about to applaud her. I take it back."

"If her father said she did, then she did. No father would lie against his own daughter."

"Lena, why do you always have to disgrace your family like this?" Evans chimed in, looking smug.

"We both know that when I worked at the company, I was the one responsible for the projects. So why not stop this now while there’s still time? Plagiarizing someone this big will only land you in jail."

Lena stood there, silent, rage simmering beneath her calm exterior.

Then she made a move that shocked everyone.

"Who said I have to pay anyone to do a project for me? I know this might occur, so I came with both the rough work and practice work. The pattern you see inside my own design is different from that of the mysterious famous designer. Lena went ahead and showed a slide of the famous love triangle and began to explain the differences between her

designs and that of the other designer."

The hall became silent again. When she was done explaining, she dropped a closing remark.

"I’m a graduate of Oakland College of Architecture and Structural Design. To accuse me of plagiarism is to accuse the integrity of my school." The hall went silent. Who doesn’t know about such a prestigious design school? For one to get in, one has to be very good. If anyone dared to make any false claim, they would be blacklisted for life. So everyone present decided to keep quiet."

"My name can be found on their website if you are looking for confirmation. I graduated as the overall best student in my set. My work can also be submitted and scanned among all designs; if it is flagged as plagiarized work, then I would take whatever punishment. And please forgive my father, he is too old and has begun to have dementia, forgetting things about his daughter and letting others deceive him."

The directors were stunned after she mentioned Oakland and decided to watch the way they spoke, so they carried out the investigation swiftly.