The commander nodded.
SECURITY COMMANDER: "I'll make sure the request is documented."
Victoria turned toward the general.
VICTORIA HAYES: "Sir, I believe we should suspend the ceremony until the incident has been properly documented."
GENERAL ROBERT MITCHELL: "I agree."
He looked toward the master of ceremonies.
GENERAL ROBERT MITCHELL: "Please announce a temporary recess."
The master of ceremonies approached the microphone.
MASTER OF CEREMONIES: "Ladies and gentlemen, we will pause the ceremony briefly while the security team completes its procedures. Please remain seated until further instructions."
The audience began speaking quietly among themselves.
Some guests looked toward Alexander.
Others looked at Victoria.
A few officers were already discussing what they had witnessed.
Daniel approached the podium again.
DANIEL FOSTER: "General, I spoke with the officers near the front row. They are willing to provide statements."
VICTORIA HAYES: "Thank you."
DANIEL FOSTER: "There are also several civilian witnesses."
VICTORIA HAYES: "Make sure their contact information is recorded."
DANIEL FOSTER: "Already done."
He hesitated.
DANIEL FOSTER: "Ma'am, can I ask you something?"
VICTORIA HAYES: "Go ahead."
DANIEL FOSTER: "Did you know he was going to approach you?"
Victoria looked toward Alexander.
VICTORIA HAYES: "I knew he was angry about the contract."
DANIEL FOSTER: "But did you expect him to do that?"
VICTORIA HAYES: "No."
Daniel shook his head.
DANIEL FOSTER: "He really thought he could intimidate you."
VICTORIA HAYES: "He thought the room would make me hesitate."
DANIEL FOSTER: "And it didn't."
Victoria looked at him.
VICTORIA HAYES: "I was not going to let him hurt me."
The medical team arrived and approached Alexander.
MEDICAL OFFICER: "Sir, we need to check your condition."
ALEXANDER GRANT: "I'm fine."
MEDICAL OFFICER: "We still need to assess you."
ALEXANDER GRANT: "I don't need medical attention."
MEDICAL OFFICER: "You fell onto a hard floor. We need to make sure you haven't injured your head or neck."
Alexander looked toward his attorney, who had just entered the hall.
His attorney, Michael Turner, hurried toward him.
MICHAEL TURNER: "Alexander, what happened?"
ALEXANDER GRANT: "She attacked me."
Michael looked at the medical officer.
MICHAEL TURNER: "Has he been examined?"
MEDICAL OFFICER: "We're attempting to complete an assessment."
MICHAEL TURNER: "Please give us a moment."
The medical officer stepped back.
Michael crouched beside Alexander.
MICHAEL TURNER: "Tell me exactly what happened."
ALEXANDER GRANT: "She threw me to the floor."
MICHAEL TURNER: "Why?"
ALEXANDER GRANT: "I was speaking to her about the contract."
MICHAEL TURNER: "Did you touch her?"
Alexander hesitated.
ALEXANDER GRANT: "I was trying to get her attention."
MICHAEL TURNER: "Did you grab her?"
ALEXANDER GRANT: "I put my hand on her shoulder."
Michael closed his eyes briefly.
MICHAEL TURNER: "Alexander, there are cameras everywhere."
ALEXANDER GRANT: "I know."
MICHAEL TURNER: "Then you need to be honest with me."
ALEXANDER GRANT: "I am being honest."
MICHAEL TURNER: "Did she tell you to stop?"
Alexander looked away.
ALEXANDER GRANT: "She told me not to touch her."
Michael slowly stood.
MICHAEL TURNER: "And you continued?"
Alexander did not answer.
Michael glanced toward the stage.
Victoria was standing beside General Mitchell, speaking with the security commander.
MICHAEL TURNER: "We need to see the recording before making any public statement."
ALEXANDER GRANT: "I want her charged."
MICHAEL TURNER: "We can discuss your options after we understand the evidence."
ALEXANDER GRANT: "I want this handled today."
MICHAEL TURNER: "That may not be possible."
Alexander looked at him angrily.
ALEXANDER GRANT: "You don't understand how much influence I have."
Michael lowered his voice.
MICHAEL TURNER: "Influence will not change what the cameras recorded."
Alexander fell silent.
For the first time, the possibility that the evidence might completely contradict his account began to sink in.
At the podium, Victoria was examining the incident report prepared by the security commander.
She read the first page carefully.
The timeline listed Alexander's approach, the verbal exchange, the repeated instructions to step back, and the moment he made physical contact.
VICTORIA HAYES: "The report needs to include the exact words used before the contact."
SECURITY COMMANDER: "We'll include the witness accounts and audio transcript."
VICTORIA HAYES: "And the position of every camera."
SECURITY COMMANDER: "Yes, ma'am."
VICTORIA HAYES: "I want the report to distinguish between what people directly witnessed and what they heard from someone else."
SECURITY COMMANDER: "Understood."
General Mitchell approached.
GENERAL ROBERT MITCHELL: "Victoria, the command office has been notified."
VICTORIA HAYES: "Thank you, sir."
GENERAL ROBERT MITCHELL: "They are asking whether you intend to make a formal complaint."
Victoria looked at him.
VICTORIA HAYES: "I intend to provide a complete statement. The appropriate authorities can determine the next steps."
GENERAL ROBERT MITCHELL: "That's reasonable."
He paused.
GENERAL ROBERT MITCHELL: "I also want you to know that I will provide my own witness statement."
VICTORIA HAYES: "I appreciate that."
GENERAL ROBERT MITCHELL: "I was standing only a few feet away. I saw him approach you. I heard you tell him to step back. And I saw him grab your uniform."
Victoria nodded.
GENERAL ROBERT MITCHELL: "There will be no confusion about what happened."