Art to fall in love with /// Lando Norris

Chapter 6: The Unexpected Twist

The following weeks were a whirlwind for Cassy. Back in Singapore, she balanced her day job and her work with McLaren, all while exchanging daily messages with Lando. Their bond grew stronger with each conversation, and she looked forward to their video calls, which often stretched late into the night.

One evening, as Cassy was putting the finishing touches on a new design, her phone buzzed. It was an email from Sarah, the head of McLaren's marketing department, requesting an urgent video call. Cassy's heart skipped a beat, her mind racing with possibilities. She quickly set up her laptop and joined the call.

"Hi Cassy," Sarah greeted her with a smile, but Cassy could detect a hint of tension in her voice. "I'm glad you could join on such short notice."

"Of course, Sarah," Cassy replied, trying to keep her voice steady. "What's going on?"

"We've got a bit of a situation," Sarah said, her expression serious. "One of our upcoming designs for the new merchandise line has leaked online. It's getting a lot of attention, and not all of it is positive. Some fans are accusing us of copying a design from another brand."

Cassy's heart sank. "Which design is it?"

Sarah pulled up an image on the screen. It was one of Cassy's latest designs, a hoodie with a unique, abstract pattern. Cassy's mind raced as she tried to recall where she might have seen something similar.

"I swear, I didn't copy this design," Cassy said, her voice shaky. "It was an original idea. I don't know how this could have happened."

"I believe you, Cassy," Sarah said reassuringly. "But we need to address this quickly. We've already reached out to our legal team and started an internal investigation. In the meantime, I need you to look through your drafts and any inspiration boards you used to make sure there's no unintentional similarity."

Cassy nodded, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on her. "I'll get right on it."

After the call ended, Cassy spent the next several hours combing through her sketches and reference images. The more she searched, the more frustrated she became. She couldn't find any clear link between her design and the one they were accused of copying. Exhausted and disheartened, she decided to take a break and reached out to Lando.

Hey, can we talk? Something's come up.

Lando responded almost immediately.

Of course, Cassy. What's going on?

They connected on a video call, and Cassy poured out her worries. Lando listened intently, his face showing concern and sympathy.

"I'm so sorry you're going through this, Cassy," Lando said after she finished explaining. "I know you'd never intentionally copy someone's work. Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Just talking to you helps," Cassy said, managing a small smile. "I feel so overwhelmed. I've been working so hard, and now this happens."

"Don't worry, we'll figure this out," Lando said reassuringly. "I've got your back, and so does the team. We'll get to the bottom of this."

Over the next few days, the situation escalated. Social media was abuzz with speculation and accusations, and Cassy felt the pressure mounting. She spent hours trying to defend her work, but it seemed like the more she tried, the worse things got. She started to doubt herself, questioning her own creativity and integrity.

One afternoon, as Cassy was about to leave for work, her phone rang. It was Tom, the McLaren staff member who had initially introduced her to Lando.

"Hey Cassy," Tom's voice was calm, but she could sense the urgency. "We've discovered something that might clear things up. Can you come to the McLaren office in Singapore? We need to discuss this in person."