Chapter 21 #3
Madison helped Becky into the dress. In the end, the hidden pocket at the waist hadn’t worked like Madison wanted.
She had changed the design to include two invisible pockets in the side of the dress and she had figured out how to do a hidden pocket in one of the folds of the dress that wouldn’t mess with the look when not empty.
What was the use of a hidden pocket if you couldn’t use it or it changed the look of your dress.
Becky looked amazing. Madison made some final last touches, and then they went over to the runway for her turn to walk.
She hadn’t gotten a chance to see Sabrina’s design, but her other competitors’ designs were ahead of her.
They were going in reverse order, from bottom to the top.
As the other two designs went to walk, Sabrina’s design came off.
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.”
“I see. Can we see your sketches?”
“Of course. I keep them all together to show the evolution of the design as I work on it.”
“Yes, it’s all here.”
“I’m curious as to how Sabrina got your design.”
“Well, we were friends outside the competition. At least on my part, we were. She came to my place several times, but I think how she got that earlier version was through my brother who passed away.”
“Oh, and how is that? Since he’s not here to corroborate.”
“They were seeing each other and he has—had a key to my place. I believe Sabrina used that to get in and take a copy of my original design.”
“Why didn’t she just steal your dress?”
“I was keeping it at my, uh, boyfriend’s place as I was spending more time there.”
“Ok, well that makes sense to me. Sabrina, what about you? Why do you think we should believe that it was Madison that stole your design?”
“My designs are good, maybe not as well executed as if Madison had done them, but the concepts are there and out of the box.”
“That is true, your ideas are what helped you make it to the finals.”
“But my ideas are just as good. It’s not like execution is the only reason I’m in first place.”
“That is also true.”
“Well, Madison has a history of stealing from me.”
“What? That’s a lie.”
“No it isn’t. She took the headliner position at a strip club that we work at.”
“Is that true, Madison?”
“No. The boss caught my set when I subbed for Sabrina and asked me to work there. I didn’t know he was going to give me the headliner position.”
“Yeah, because she was sleeping with him to get the position.”
“That’s not true. We were seeing each other after I started working there.”
“Well, this is all getting kind of messy. We can’t tell who is lying. Unfortunately, we will have to stick with our original decision to disqualify you both. I don’t know if another fashion house will be willing to touch either of you.
Sabrina lunged for Madison. “You bitch. Why did you have to get away?”
Madison hadn’t been expecting Sabrina’s outburst and wasn’t prepared for Sabrina to put her hands around Madison’s neck.
“You ruined everything. I hate you.”
Madison tried to push Sabrina off of her.
“Oh dear, someone get security.”
Two security officers stood nearby and headed over to pull Sabrina off of Madison. Sabrina yelled as she was dragged out kicking and screaming. “This isn’t over. I’m going to get you.”
“We wish we could make an offer letter for you to look over and accept.”
“I understand.” Madison teared up, but she held her emotions and her tears back. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to compete and to have been able to intern at Anastazia’s House of Fashion. I’m grateful for all the knowledge and the exposure to a real fashion house.”
“You’re welcome. I’m sorry things had to end this way.
Thank you for your work, and sharing your creativity with us.
Your skills speak for themselves. Enjoy the rest of your day.
” And she walked out leaving Madison and Becky alone.
Sabrina’s model had followed her out, knowing she wouldn’t be getting the coveted magazine spread.
Madison turned to Becky. “Sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize to me. You did nothing wrong. I’m sorry it had to end this way. What are you going to do now?”
“I think I’m going to go home and rest. You?”
“I’m going to go out with my family to celebrate. Even though I didn’t get the cover position, I made it to the finals and lots of people were there to see me walk, so I should get some agency calls.”
“Oh, that’s great.” Madison wasn’t even sure if anyone had come for her. Dante had been out when she left, so she wasn’t sure if he made it. She had seen her parents, but she doubted her mom had stayed.
Madison helped get Becky out of the garment and packed it up along with her things ready to leave.
“Sir, you’re not allowed back here,” a guard said.
“That’s my wife.”
Madison looked up to see Dante trying to get to her. “Dante, you made it.”
“Of course I did. I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”
She looked at the security guard. “It’s ok. I’m ready to leave.” She picked up her things and walked over to Dante.
“What happened?”
“Sabrina stole my design. I’m ready to go home.”
“Oh, baby, I’m sorry.”
“It sucks. In the end, I couldn’t prove it was mine, and I lost the job. Not only that, but no other fashion house will touch me, since it wasn’t proven who stole from who.”
“That’s terrible.” He hugged her and kissed her forehead. “Do you want to go out and take your mind off things?”
“No, I don’t think so. Not right now anyway. It’s been a stressful few hours. Are my parents still here?”
“I’m not sure. They were out there when I came back here. They were headed in this direction.”
Madison and Dante walked out from the back to see her mom and dad waiting.
“Mom, Dad, you guys stayed.” Madison gave her father a hug.
“I wish I hadn’t. I told people my daughter was going to be a famous designer, and it turns out she copied someone else’s work. I’m going to be a laughingstock.”
“Mom, I didn’t cheat. Sabrina copied my work.”
“Either way, dear, you’re not famous now, are you?”
“No.”
“Milford, let’s go home.”
Madison watched her parents walk away.
Dante had a protective arm around her and squeezed her tight. “She’s not worth it. Let’s go home.”