At nine in the morning, sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows into the reception hall of Carter Automotive. The hall was bustling with people, and dozens of media cameras were aimed at the signing table draped with a red carpet.
On the signing table lay the gilded cooperation agreement, and two Montblanc pens glinted coldly under the lights.
Evan Palmer stood in front of the microphone, his expression somber.
"Dear media friends, regarding the recent design scandal at Carter Automotive, I express sincere apologies on behalf of the board."
His voice was low, as if each word had been carefully thought out,
"Upon verification, this was entirely due to certain individuals deceiving and concealing, involving the theft of works from foreign designers."
The crowd below immediately erupted in an uproar, and flashes flickered like torrential rain.
The journalists whispered among themselves:
