Mr Larry was quiet.
He wants to see to what extent this super celebrity will remain shameless. If he hadn’t seen the painting himself, he would have doubted Selen. But he did, all the top managerial staff did too.
Some were in the audience while many others were watching the livestream. Was Lola George responsible for what happened? Only now, did he realise that she had just secured a higher position in the company that Jason Rose is signed with.
Selen nodded but Jason Rose shrugged. They will see the truth there. They already swapped the painting and labelled the inferior one as Selen’s and she took the original as hers.
"We would appreciate it if the audience could bear with us. We want a transparent contest and we won’t leave any stone unturned to achieve that transparency. We want absolute silence" the chairman announced.
A member of the screening committee was invited and a middle aged woman walked over and stood before the audience and the panel of judges. She beckoned to two men and they brought another painting forward, partially covered.
"Thank you for inviting me over. I am the head of the screening committee. We are honest people from different fields of discipline and we are men and women of integrity and honesty.
This committee screened the various paintings submitted by different artists representing their companies. We found out that Selen Williams’ painting was a plagiarized one. We disqualified her company by sending an email to them before the contest began.
And here is the evidence to that effect" she explained and unveiled the other painting. It was an inferior painting of the one Jason Rose was holding. It looks shabby and the name "Selen Williams" was engraved boldly on it.
There was a thunderous applause that rang the ends of the auditorium. People were yelling that Selen Williams should be arrested. She’s a liar and a cheat. She’s the real plagiarist and dares to be shameless?
"You’re a bitch, Selen Williams," someone yelled from the audience.
"You’re a whore, a shithole" another voice from another end cursed.
"Throw her out already and have her rot in jail for defaming our Idol" another voice came.
For a moment, Selen’s confidence flickered. How is it that this was well manipulated? She needed all the evidence in the world to prove herself right. This shabby dirty painting isn’t hers at all.
When she’s painting for leisure, she doesn’t do something shabby and show it to anyone let alone submitting it for a contest? When did she become so narrow minded to do something senseless?
And her name, that’s the first flaw. Who puts their names so bold on a painting that would be auctioned later? It was supposed to be done faintly and underneath the painting. How can Jason Rose be this stupid to do that?
The other contestants exchanged glances. This is indeed the painting that Jason Rose created in two days. She was right to say it took her two days to create the painting.
But she needs to prove her wrong.
"Selen Williams, you are the plagiarist and was disqualified. How did you wriggle your way into the contest again?" Jason Rose thundered. She’s proud of her fans. They didn’t fail her at all.
"I am not through yet. Miss Selen Williams’ company obtained a last minute ticket and here she is. As far as the screening committee was concerned, we already ruled Miss Williams painting as an inferior one of Miss Jason" the older woman paused again and glanced at the two paintings.
Selen was thinking fast. How possible was it that her painting was copied? She did it in a closed studio before submitting it to the company. How was Jason Rose able to access it?
"Secondly, Miss Jason submitted her work on the 18th of June and Miss Williams submitted hers on the 20th. It only means she wasn’t the original owner of the idea and draft. This is our conclusion" she explained and submitted the receipt of submission to the panel of judges.
Selen was alarmed. She turned and glanced at Mr Larry. He smiled and said "Be calm Selen. I’m sure you’re thinking what I am thinking, right?"
Selen nodded.
Lola George sold them out freely without a price tag.
"The panel of judges went through the receipt. They compared the two paintings and turned to Selen "Miss Selen, we are disappointed in you. How dare you try to disrupt this contest?" The chief among the panel of judges frowned.
"I expected you to give me a chance to defend myself,sir!" She stated and the man squinted. He nodded and said "Yes, go ahead. Make things more complicated than before" he shrugged.
Selen walked over and placed her hand on the inferior painting "This shabby thing, done by an amateur, is not my painting!" she declared and chuckled. She glanced at the older woman "Do you decide the authenticity of a painting by the time it was submitted?"
"Young woman, are you questioning our integrity and character?" The screening committee representative asked. None of her team played a foul act on the screening. She is sure of that with absolute certainty.
"No, your character and integrity is not questioned. Your method of assumption is epileptic" she snorted and everyone was taken aback.
Selen saw everyone surprised and she continued "I expected you to do a thorough check. First, ask the both companies to submit the real draft from which the painting was made. And then ask them to resubmit the painting to check the authenticity of it.
You don’t have to let them know that you are double checking an improper act. I have three copies of this painting at the moment and I would have just resubmitted it.
Secondly, see how shabby this painting is? Which artist will submit something like this for an international award?" She asked and the woman seemed calmer. She glanced at the two paintings and went mute.
The judges exchanged glances and we’re more keen on listening to Selen. This woman is speaking like a sensible woman. Perhaps, they shouldn’t come to a conclusion yet.
"But most importantly, take a look at the other works by other contestants and tell me if you see their name engraved on it boldly like this one was" pointing to the works of the other contestants.
Everyone’s attention was attracted to the others. None of it was showing their names. The screening committee representative squinted. Why didn’t they take notes of these lapses?
The judges were quiet as well. The other contestants were staring at Selen now. Could it be that she really owns the painting? Can there be a woman so skilled like Miss Jason Rose or even better than her.