Take Me Away novel Chapter 108

Fiona picked up the artwork and couldn't help but frown after examining it carefully. Was it just a coincidence? How come the maple leaf in the artwork looked like the one she drew? The style and the lines seemed very similar.

She was looking at the design carefully, when the office door swung open all of a sudden.

In stepped Celine, who was surprised to see her holding the draft in her hands. She walked up to her and asked sarcastically, "Why are you looking at my work? Are you studying my design? Or... do you want to copy it and pass it off as your own?"

"I'm not stupid enough to do anything that would ruin my reputation. I'm just helping you clear out your table. Since you asked me to assist you, it's the first thing I do when I come here every morning." Instead of putting the paper down, Fiona held up the design for Celine to see. "May I ask about the inspiration behind this necklace design?"

Celine raised an eyebrow. "What about it? And why are you interrogating me? The inspiration, you say. Am I obligated to tell you?"

Fiona bit her lip before replying, "I have a design that looks very similar."

"Your design? Did I hear you correctly?" With a mocking smile, Celine continued, "You're just a student, Fiona. And right now, you're just an assistant to an actual designer. Does any of your work even qualify as a professional design? If we both produced the same work, whose work do you think would pass off as the original?"

"But I didn't plagiarize anything. I designed the necklace myself," she explained as her hands tightened into fists. It was supposed to be a gift for Spencer, although his birthday had already passed.

"Your words won't convince anyone," Celine declared proudly.

"I don't think it's a coincidence," Fiona muttered. But instead of staring back at Celine, she withdrew with a shrug and said, "I'm just going to finish cleaning up."

"It's not a coincidence," Celine blurted out of nowhere.

Fiona froze and asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"

"I mean..." Celine snatched the draft from Fiona's hand and arrogantly declared, "I have seen your design. The drawing's good! The lines on the leaf were so lifelike, I had a hard time copying the exact look."

There was a trace of anger on Fiona's face as soon as Celine finished her words. Restraining her temper, she called out, "Celine! How could you... You've stolen my idea! Don't you understand that this is plagiarism? It's illegal and professionally unethical!"

"Don't say that. Plagiarism is such an ugly word." A smirk played on Celine's lips. "Let's just say I thought your design needed a little improvement and I helped you correct it. I'd be happy to share some of the profit with you."

Fiona had always known that Celine was not the kindest person, but she never thought that she would steal another person's design so shamelessly.

"If I sue you for plagiarism, you will be convicted for it," Fiona said firmly. "You should know the consequences of this unethical behavior. Not only will you lose your job, but your reputation in the industry will also be ruined."

Celine snorted, "Are you kidding me? Do you think I'm afraid of you just because you have Spencer to back you up?"

"That's not the problem." Fiona tried to persuade her. "You've studied abroad and won many awards. Why do you have to copy my design? Do you really believe that this is the right thing to do? And after all the money Grandpa spent to give you a proper education abroad? You..."

"Stop talking about my studies! You have no right to mention my life abroad!" Celine burst out laughing like a mad woman. "Ha-ha! Do you think that I studied abroad because of Grandpa's kindness? Is that what you believe? When in fact, it's just you that old man's looking out for! He banished me and forbade me from coming back. He didn't care about me! All he cared about was the reputation of the Cheng family! He wanted to separate me and Spencer! So don't pretend you speak from a higher ground. If anything, you should feel honored that I copied your work!"

Fiona lowered her eyes and kept her mouth shut. Although Celine had been terrible to her since day one, she felt that she was just a victim of her relationship with Spencer.

"You took the man I love away from me. So what if I want to use your design?" Celine shrugged.

What started as a conversation about design had drifted off to the topic of Spencer.

Fiona could only sigh, but she didn't dare betray her own emotions. Without backing down, she argued, "I won't give in to you. If you pass this design as your own, I will sue you."

Celine was about to rage, but she was interrupted by a knock on the door.

Suppressing her sentiments, she called out, "Come in!"

"Miss Cheng, Mr. Wen is asking for the files regarding last month's jewelry collection," the secretary said sweetly.

"Ah, yes. I'll have them brought to his office," Celine casually replied, dismissing her with a wave.

"Okay." The secretary left with a gloomy face. The female star had been staying with Charles these last few days. And she could only give way to her.

Celine went behind her desk and rummaged the drawer for three thick folders. Handing them to Fiona, she instructed, "Take these to Mr. Wen's office."

"Okay." Fiona took the files and stepped out of the office.

As soon as she left, she ran into Sophia who was also carrying a stack of papers. It looked like she was heading out.

"Sophia, where are you going?" Fiona asked.

"Hi, Fiona! I'm going out to meet a super important client with the chief designer. The client has commissioned the company for a set of wedding jewelry. Now, we have to take her measurements," Sophia explained as she pointed to Jason who was waiting for her by the elevator.

"Come on!" Jason shouted.

"How about you?"

"I'm just going to bring these to the boss."

"Charles?" Sophia's eyes widened. She reminded her friend, "Be careful, Fiona. Remember to be on your guard when you..."

"Sophia, get over here now!" Jason shouted from the elevator. He had already gone inside but was holding open the doors for her. "If you'd rather stay there, it's fine! I'll just leave you there!"

"Yes, yes! I'm coming!" Sophia called out from across the room. Grabbing Friona's arm, she repeated, "Be careful! I have to go now!"

"Okay, go ahead." Fiona nodded. She watched Sophia run away before turning around and going upstairs to the CEO's office. 'Charles may be a dangerous man, but I don't think he'd do anything to me,' Fiona thought. 'He's Ryan's brother after all. And he already has so many girls fawning over him. It's impossible for someone like him to fall in love with me.' But Fiona couldn't help but recall the business trip with him and the text message she got on New Year's Day.

She was so lost in thought that she didn't even realize she had already arrived in front of Charles' office.

Fiona knocked on the door but there was no answer.

Knocking again, she called out,

"Mr. Wen? Miss Cheng asked me to bring you some files. Are you..."

Before she could finish her question, the door opened from the inside.

"Hi, Mr. Wen..." Fiona was about to greet him but stopped when she saw Charles standing by the door. He was naked from the waist up, with only a bath towel to cover his lower half. Although the office was warm, Fiona wondered why he was barely clothed in the middle of winter.

Seeing Charles' figure, she couldn't help but make a mental comparison of his body and Spencer's. Although Charles had a good physique, she couldn't help but think that Spencer looked more manly.

'What are you thinking, Fiona?!' she caught herself in between fantasies. 'Since when did you start entertaining lewd thoughts of Spencer's figure? Are you crazy?'

Just then, a woman's voice from inside the room snapped her back to reality. "Who's there? Why are you interrupting my date?"

Looking up, Fiona saw the woman she had seen earlier in the elevator. She was only wearing a bathrobe and her face looked flushed like she'd just had sex.

It was then that Fiona realized what the two people were doing before she knocked at the door. Her face turned bright red and she felt awkward. She merely froze by the door, unable to decide whether to leave or stay.

"What are you doing here?" Charles asked in a raspy voice. Seeing Fiona's embarrassed flush, he felt his mood lift. He stepped closer to her to watch her reaction.

"Mr. Wen, I... I'm here to bring you these files." But instead of handing him the folders, Fiona took a step back before meeting Charles' gaze.

"Where are you going?" With a frown on his face, Charles reached out to grab her by the arm.

Fiona was surprised by his sudden gesture that she dropped the files on the floor. But neither of them bent down to pick them up.

Out of the corner of her eye, Fiona could see the other woman glaring at her. Embarrassed, she felt anger as she turned to look at Charles. She didn't care anymore that he was her boss. She struggled to break free from his hold and shouted, "Let go of me!"

"After disturbing my private pleasure, you want to run away just like that?" Charles closed the gap between him and Fiona and pressed her against the door. "How about staying here with me?"

"Charles! What are you...?" Even the other woman was shocked.

A shiver ran down Fiona's spine. Just minutes before, she had complete trust in her boss, thinking that he wouldn't do anything to harm her. Now she knew she was wrong. How could he insult her like that?

Fiona's face darkened. "Let go of me, Charles Wen! You jerk! Let me go!"

Charles chuckled and said with a smile, "This is the first time you called me by my name. I like it."

"Are you crazy? What are you saying?" She looked at him in disbelief.

"Why are you doing this?" With sincerity in his eyes, Charles said, "I want you here with me."

"I don't want any of this! I'm not staying here with you!" Fiona protested. "I'm married. I'm not the sort of woman who hangs out with other men! Please don't insult me!"

"You're worried about Spencer, right? You don't want to lose him?" Charles squinted and looked at her with murderous rage. Letting go of Fiona, he threatened, "I always get what I want, Fiona."

Fiona could only shook in fright. "I... I don't want to continue my internship here. I quit!" With that, she dashed to the elevator, not daring to look back.

'You will come back to me.'

Charles watched as she ran away.

"Darling..." His attention was called by the woman who had stepped out of the room to join him.

"Fuck off!" he cursed as he turned back, leaving the woman dumbfounded.