OFFICER MILLER: "I said step away."
MONICA: "You cannot seriously be taking her side!"
OFFICER BENNETT: "Miss, are you injured?"
JASMINE: "My face hurts. She grabbed my hair."
OFFICER BENNETT: "All right. Stay here for the moment, and please do not approach her."
Monica adjusted her dress and smoothed her hair. She appeared more concerned about the customers watching her than about the employee she had struck.
MONICA: "This is ridiculous. She has been disrespectful all afternoon, and now everyone is acting as if I have done something terrible."
OFFICER MILLER: "We have just witnessed the aftermath of a physical confrontation. We need to establish exactly what happened."
MONICA: "I already told you what happened. She refused to do her job."
OFFICER MILLER: "That does not explain why you struck her."
MONICA: "I was angry."
OFFICER MILLER: "That is not a justification for physical contact."
Monica's eyes widened. She had expected the officers to accept her account, remove Jasmine from the situation, and allow her to continue shopping. She had not expected them to question her actions.
She took a step toward Officer Miller, lowering her voice as though she were about to share something important.
MONICA: "I do not think you understand the consequences of embarrassing me."
OFFICER MILLER: "I understand that we need to deal with the incident in front of us."
MONICA: "My family has relationships with people you report to. I would advise you to remember that."
OFFICER MILLER: "We will follow the appropriate procedures, regardless of anyone's connections."
For the first time, Monica seemed uncertain.
She quickly concealed it behind an irritated laugh and turned toward the customers.
MONICA: "You are all seeing only one side of this. Nobody knows what she said to me before you arrived."
A young man standing near the entrance lowered his phone slightly.
YOUNG SHOPPER: "I saw what happened."
Monica turned toward him.
MONICA: "You were not part of the conversation."
YOUNG SHOPPER: "No, but I saw you slap her and pull her hair."
MONICA: "You have no idea what led up to it."
YOUNG SHOPPER: "I saw her standing behind the counter. She was not touching you."
Monica stared at him, furious that another person had chosen to speak. She looked around for someone who might support her account, but the customers seemed reluctant to become involved.
Jasmine was still standing beside Officer Bennett. Her cheek had reddened further, and her breathing remained uneven. She was trying to concentrate on the officer's questions rather than on Monica's accusations.
OFFICER BENNETT: "Can you tell me what happened before we arrived?"
JASMINE: "She wanted to buy a handbag that was already reserved. I explained the policy and offered to check other branches. She became angry and demanded that I release the item."
OFFICER BENNETT: "Did you threaten her?"
JASMINE: "No."
OFFICER BENNETT: "Did you touch her at any point?"
JASMINE: "No. I was trying to call my manager when she slapped me."
Monica immediately interrupted.
MONICA: "She is leaving out the way she spoke to me!"
OFFICER BENNETT: "You will have an opportunity to give your account. Please allow her to finish."
Jasmine continued, describing how Monica had threatened to complain about her and demanded an apology. She explained that the slap had happened without warning and that Monica had grabbed her hair before the officers could intervene.
Officer Bennett wrote down the details. Officer Miller asked the young shopper whether he would be willing to provide a witness statement. The man agreed, although he looked uncomfortable about the possibility of being drawn into a dispute with someone who appeared wealthy and influential.
MONICA: "This is becoming absurd. I came here to shop, and now I am being interrogated in front of strangers."
OFFICER MILLER: "You are being asked to explain a physical incident that has been reported and witnessed."
MONICA: "I have already explained it."
OFFICER MILLER: "Then answering the remaining questions should not be a problem."
Monica folded her arms tightly. She looked toward the back of the boutique, where a narrow corridor led to the manager's office.
MONICA: "Where is the manager? I want someone with actual authority to deal with this."
As if in response, hurried footsteps sounded from the corridor.
Robert Harris, the boutique's general manager, emerged carrying a tablet. He had been reviewing stock allocations in the office when the assistant supervisor informed him that a customer had become aggressive and police officers were now involved. He had expected to find an argument about a purchase or a complaint about service.
He had not expected to see Jasmine standing beside an officer with a red mark across her cheek.
Robert stopped briefly, taking in the scene. He noticed the customers gathered near the display, the officers positioned between the two women, and Monica standing with her chin raised as if she were waiting for everyone to apologize to her.
ROBERT: "What happened here?"
MONICA: "Finally. Someone responsible. Your employee has been completely unacceptable, and I expect you to deal with her immediately."
Robert did not answer her at once. His attention remained on Jasmine.
ROBERT: "Jasmine, are you hurt?"
JASMINE: "My cheek hurts, and she pulled my hair. I am all right to speak, though."
Robert's expression became more serious.