People on nearby boats had begun watching.
A young dock attendant paused beside a supply cart.
Two passengers on a smaller yacht turned toward the argument.
Victoria became conscious of the audience.
Instead of feeling embarrassed by her behavior, she felt compelled to demonstrate control.
"You people think you can walk wherever you want," she snapped.
Daniel's face grew serious.
"What exactly do you mean by 'you people'?"
Victoria waved a dismissive hand.
"Don't start that nonsense."
"Then stop treating me like I don't belong here."
Blake stepped between them.
"Just walk away, man."
Daniel looked past him toward the yacht.
"I intend to."
He moved toward the ladder leading down to a lower floating section of the dock, where he could safely pass around the two of them.
But Victoria moved again.
Her handbag swung sharply as she planted herself in his path.
"You will leave when I say you can leave!"
Daniel raised his hands slightly.
"I'm not going to argue with you."
Victoria suddenly shoved him with both hands.
It happened so quickly that even Blake seemed surprised.
Daniel staggered backward.
His heel caught the edge of a loose dock board near the ladder.
He reached instinctively for the railing.
His fingers brushed the metal.
For one second, he fought to regain his balance.
Then he fell backward into the water.
The splash was enormous.
Saltwater surged over the edge of the dock, soaking Victoria's expensive shoes.
Blake stepped back.
A dock attendant shouted.
And Victoria laughed.
The cold shock of the harbor water stole Daniel's breath.
For a few seconds, everything around him became confused sound and movement.
He had fallen awkwardly, striking the water hard enough to leave his shoulder aching.
His boots pulled downward.
His jacket became heavy.
He kicked toward the surface, fighting the instinct to panic.
When his head finally broke through the water, he heard laughter above him.
Victoria was pointing.
Blake stood beside her, wearing a strained grin.
Daniel stared upward in disbelief.
He had been insulted before.
He had been underestimated.
He had endured humiliating business meetings and subtle acts of discrimination.
But he had never been physically shoved into a harbor by a stranger who believed he had no right to stand on a private dock.
He reached for the ladder.
Before he could climb, a commanding voice rang out.
"Mr. Carter!"
Captain Michael Reynolds was running down the yacht's boarding ramp.
Michael was fifty-four, a former Coast Guard officer with a reputation for calm judgment under pressure.
He had served aboard the Grace Evelyn for nearly four years.
He knew Daniel well.
He knew the man's habits, his concern for the crew, and the serious responsibility he felt toward the people employed by his companies.
Seeing Daniel struggling in the water filled Michael with alarm.
He dropped to one knee beside the ladder.
"Give me your hand, sir!"
Daniel grasped the railing.
"I'm all right."
"Let me help you."
Michael reached down.
A second crew member hurried forward with a rescue hook and flotation ring.
Victoria looked offended.
"Why are you making such a fuss?"
Michael barely acknowledged her.
He focused on getting Daniel safely onto the dock.
Daniel climbed slowly, gripping the metal ladder with both hands.
Water poured from his clothes.
His boots made heavy, hollow sounds against the wooden surface.
When he reached the top, Michael steadied him.
"Are you injured?"
"My shoulder's sore. Otherwise, I think I'm okay."
Michael removed his uniform jacket and offered it to him.
Daniel shook his head.
"Keep it. I'm already soaked."
The captain glanced toward Victoria.
"What happened?"
Before Daniel could answer, Victoria spoke.
"He was trespassing. I told him to leave, and he became aggressive."
Michael looked at her.
Then at Daniel.
Then back at her.
"Did you push him?"
Victoria lifted her chin.
"He stumbled."
Blake nodded quickly.
"That's right. He slipped."
The dock attendant, still standing near the supply cart, stared at them in disbelief.
Daniel slowly stood upright.
Water streamed from the hem of his jacket.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Victoria adjusted her handbag.
"Honestly, Captain, your staff should do a better job keeping unauthorized people away from these expensive vessels."
Michael looked at her with an expression she could not interpret.
"Unauthorized people?"
"Exactly."
Michael turned toward Daniel.
"Mr. Carter, would you like me to contact harbor security?"