Chapter212TheStormofPublicOpinionExclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    SomeonedugupprettydetailedinfoonHNStudio’testproducunch,withpicturesoftheirnewstuffandscreenshotsoftendesigndrafts.


    “Man,whatHN’spullingoffisjustnotcool,andthisdesigner,Lowe,thinksthey’reuntouchablebecausetheywonsomebigdesigncontest,right?Like,really?They’regoingaroundsayingallthesedesignsaretheirfreshcreations.But,guyseon,checkthisout.What’sallthis?!”


    “Thosescreenshotsofthetendesigndraftswithwatermarks?Fouryearsago,theywerepostedonlineonthissupernichedesignersitebysomeonenamed Warm.Soyeah,thecat’s outofthebag–these‘original‘designsbyLowe?They’rethespittingimageofWarm’swork!”


    “Dotheyhonestlythinkthatjustbecauseit’sanichesite,noonewouldnoticeiftheyliftedsomeone’shardworkandpasseditoffastheirown?IsLoweunawarethatnoonekeepstabsontheselesser–knownsites?”


    It’sprettywildthinkingbackonhowI’vebeenafanofWarmforthstfouryears,onlyforthemtosuddenlystoppostingupdatesandvanishinto thinairforthenextfouryears.Like,theybasicallybecameghosts.


    Buthey,justbecauseWarmwentMIAdoesn’tmeanwe,the fans,justdisappearedtoo!Seriously,thisisstraight–upgiarism.Thereisnowayaroundit.@Kate,doyouevendeservethetitleofdesignerwiththisgoingon?


    Thepostwasprettydirectandusedsomeintensewords,evengoingasfarastotagKate’sTwitterountrightattheend.


    YoucouldalmostpictureSimon’sreactionwhenthatmessagehitKate’sTwitterwithadirecttag.Thesightofthetweethadhiughinglikeaviintothisoneyourself.Ican’tythevictimcardnow.”


    inamovie:“Ha!Kate,youkindofwalked


    Usingeverymoment,Simondoveintothisold–schooldesignsite.Itdidn’ttakehimlongtostumble uponatreasuretroveofWarm’sdesignsfromfouryearsago.


    Pleaselookatthis.Simonhadthisglintofruthlessdeterminationinhiseyesashegottowork.


    Hewasonhiputer,fingersflyingoverthekeyboard.Thewebsitewasessential,andhemanagedtosneakintoWarm’sbackendwithouttrouble,snaggingtheountandswitchingupthepasswordlikeitwasnothing.


    Innotimeatall,Warm’sountwasunderSimon’scontrol.


    Withamischievoussmirk,SimonhoppedontoTwitter.Hestartedtoshelloutforsomebotfollowerstokickstartarepostfrenzy.Suddenly,theintewasazewithtalk.PostsusingKateofrippingoffWarm’sdesigndraftswereeverywhere,andthedesigmunitywasalloverit,throwingquestionsleftandright.


    Andthen–boom–Warmhitbackwithathread!


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    Chapter212TheStormofPublicOpinion


    Finished


    Thingshadgottenprettyheated,andshefigureditwashightimeshesteppedintoshareherside.SheguidedeveryoneovertoTwitterforthefullscoop.


    Sohere’sthetea:thisfreshTwitterountisnamedWarm,right?Rockingthesameprofilepictureassomeotherlesser–knowntformhas.Thepageisaboutimingalltheseartisticsketchesasherown,clearlystatingsheneversoldthemtoanyone.


    Now,picturethis:HNStudio’testcollection?Lookslikeit’sstraight–upcopiedfromhersketches.Andthere’sKate,confidentlysayingthoseareherbrainchildren.Talkaboutaudacity,right?


    Fastforwardabit,andboom,HNStudioisnowthetalkofthetownonline.


    Meanwhile,atSummerEstate,you’vegotEricgluedtohiputerscreen,notmissingasinglmentfloodinginduringthelivestreamofHNStudio’sproducunch.Trustme,thmentsweren’tsingingpraise.


    Withthetemperaturedroppingintheroomfromhisicystare,Ericdidn’twasteamoment.HehopsontoTwitter,eyesscanningthroughthestormofpostscallingoutKateforrippingoffdesignsandtellinghertofindanewcareerpath.AndEric?He’sjustthere,smirkinglikeheknowssomethingtheydon’t,hislookgettingsharperbythesecond.


    Man,somepeopleneverlearn.