Chapter 7 - The Live Reckoning
Forty-eight hours later.
Bloomberg Technology Live was broadcasting from their main studio in New York.
The host, a formidable journalist named Marcus Thorne, sat across from me at the anchor desk. Millions of viewers were tuned in, eager to see how Stewart Global’s new star executive would address the plagiarism allegations that had been trending on social media for two days.
In a dingy, rented apartment in suburban Boston, Nicholas was undoubtedly watching the screen, waiting for my public execution.
“Jenna Vance,” Marcus Thorne began, leaning into the camera. “Two days ago, documents leaked suggesting that the viral summit speech you wrote for CEO Emmett Stewart was plagiarized. How do you respond to these serious claims?”
I didn't look nervous. I wore a sharp white silk suit, my hair styled impeccably, looking every bit the high-powered executive I was.
“Marcus,” I began, my voice clear and confident, “I’m glad you asked. Because today, I brought the full digital paper trail.”
I tapped my tablet, casting a live document feed directly onto the studio’s main broadcast screen.
“What the tabloid published were early, unedited brainstorming notes,” I explained smoothly. “What they conveniently omitted was that six months before that summit, I personally co-authored the original academic paper with Professor Aris at Columbia University. My name is listed on the copyright patent registered with the Library of Congress.”
The studio went dead silent as the official government copyright registration popped up on screen, bearing my name: Jenna Vance, Lead Author.
Marcus Thorne’s eyes widened in genuine surprise. “You wrote the academic paper too?”
“I did,” I smiled. “And as for the individual who leaked those stolen cloud files to the press...”
I clicked the tablet again, displaying a certified forensic IT report verified by a top cybersecurity firm.
“...the leak was traced directly to an IP address belonging to my brother, Nicholas Vance, who was recently terminated from his employment for gross misconduct. It appears he attempted to launch a smear campaign out of personal bitterness.”
The host looked utterly stunned. “Your own brother?”
“Regrettably, yes,” I said smoothly, looking straight into the camera lens—looking straight at Nicholas through the screen. “Some people spend their lives trying to tear down the tables others build. But at Stewart Global, we focus on results. And our European expansion launches tomorrow, fully funded and entirely original.”
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The interview was a masterclass in crisis management. Within an hour, the tabloid pulled the article, published a massive retraction, and apologized publicly.
My brother’s reputation, already hanging by a thread, was completely incinerated. He was now publicly exposed not just as a failure, but as a bitter, malicious thief who had tried to destroy his own sister on national television.
