CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY SIX – UNDERHANDED TACTICS

"What? N-No, those claims are blatantly false!" she stammered, aghast. "We've never committed any intellectual property theft whatsoever!" The investor's expression remained troubled as he carefully set his tablet down. "I have to take this very seriously, Ms. Hardy. Exploitation and appropriation are untenable ethical violations for our fund." "Please, let me refute this!" Karina pleaded desperately. "It's a malicious lie clearly manufactured by our bitter rivals at Drastik to sabotage us!" But the damage was already done. Suspicion had been planted squarely in the investors' minds. One by one, her Fenrir team was pulled from their other pitches as the social media firestorm raged. Soon, a cluster of reporters mobbed Karina in the convention hall, thrusting microphones and cameras in her ashen face. "Ms. Hardy, can you confirm or deny these allegations of intellectual property theft from emerging designers?" "What is Fenrir's official response to the growing outrage demanding yo