RICHARD STERLING: "What happened?"
VICTORIA STERLING: "An employee refused to sell me a handbag and became disrespectful. I tried to explain that I was a regular customer, but she kept arguing with me. Now the police are involved, and the manager is acting as though I am the problem."
Richard remained silent for a moment.
RICHARD STERLING: "Why are the police involved?"
VICTORIA STERLING: "Because everything has been blown out of proportion. The employee made me angry, and now everyone is taking her side."
RICHARD STERLING: "Victoria, I asked why the police are involved."
Victoria looked toward the officers before answering.
VICTORIA STERLING: "There was an argument. I lost my temper. She was incredibly rude to me."
RICHARD STERLING: "Did you touch her?"
VICTORIA STERLING: "I slapped her, but she provoked me."
The admission came more easily than she expected. In Victoria's mind, the explanation still made the action sound understandable. She had not planned to hurt anyone, she told herself. She had simply reacted to an employee who had refused to show her the respect she believed she deserved.
Richard did not respond immediately.
RICHARD STERLING: "You slapped an employee because she would not sell you a handbag?"
VICTORIA STERLING: "That is not how it happened. She was talking to me as if I were nobody."
RICHARD STERLING: "And what happened after you slapped her?"
Victoria glanced at Amara, who was speaking with Sophie near the staff area.
VICTORIA STERLING: "She fell. I pushed her when she tried to move away, but I was angry. I did not intend for this to become such a big deal."
Richard's voice became more serious.
RICHARD STERLING: "Did you hurt her?"
VICTORIA STERLING: "I do not know. The police helped her up. Dad, I need you to call the manager and explain who I am. This is getting out of control."
RICHARD STERLING: "I am not calling anyone until I understand exactly what happened."
VICTORIA STERLING: "You are supposed to help me!"
RICHARD STERLING: "Helping you does not mean pretending that you did nothing wrong."
Victoria stared at the phone, stunned by the response.
RICHARD STERLING: "Did the officers see what happened?"
VICTORIA STERLING: "They arrived during the argument. The store has cameras, and apparently the manager has already reviewed the footage."
RICHARD STERLING: "Then you need to cooperate with the officers and tell the truth. Do not ask anyone to alter a recording or pressure a witness."
VICTORIA STERLING: "I was not going to ask anyone to do that."
RICHARD STERLING: "Good. Then there should be no reason for you to be afraid of the evidence."
VICTORIA STERLING: "You do not understand how these people are treating me."
RICHARD STERLING: "I understand that you are upset. I also understand that you have admitted striking someone because she refused to give you what you wanted. Those are two different things."
Victoria felt a rush of anger. She had called her father expecting support, not a lecture. She had assumed that once he understood the situation, he would recognize the importance of protecting the family name.
Instead, he was asking her to take responsibility for her own actions.
VICTORIA STERLING: "So you are taking her side too?"
RICHARD STERLING: "I am not taking anyone's side without understanding the facts. But I will not use my name to make a problem disappear simply because you do not like the consequences."
VICTORIA STERLING: "You cannot be serious."
RICHARD STERLING: "I am entirely serious. Cooperate with the officers. If you need legal advice, speak to a qualified lawyer. Do not make threats, and do not contact the employee to pressure her."
Victoria's fingers tightened around the phone.
VICTORIA STERLING: "I cannot believe you are speaking to me like this."
RICHARD STERLING: "I am speaking to you as your father. I expect you to behave responsibly, even when you are angry."
He ended the call after reminding her to contact him if she needed practical assistance. Victoria remained still for several seconds, staring at the screen as though she expected him to call back and change his mind.
He did not.
For years, she had relied on the certainty that her father would intervene whenever a situation threatened to damage her comfort or reputation. His refusal to intervene felt like a betrayal, even though he had not promised to defend her version of events.