OLDER GENTLEMAN: "I think we have heard enough to understand that serious irregularities occurred."
He turned toward the organizer.
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "I want the independent review committee assembled immediately. Every electronic record, every written instruction, and every communication involving these changes must be preserved."
ORGANIZER: "Understood, sir."
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "The current judging results will be suspended until the review is complete. Nobody is to announce a winner tonight based on a process that may have been compromised."
The audience applauded.
The man in the suit appeared increasingly nervous.
MAN IN SUIT: "Sir, I strongly recommend that we discuss this matter privately. The sponsors have invested considerable resources in this event. A public dispute could damage the reputation of the entire organization."
The elderly gentleman looked at him calmly.
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "The reputation of an organization is not protected by hiding its mistakes."
He paused.
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "It is protected by correcting them."
The applause became louder.
The woman in black suddenly stepped forward.
WOMAN IN BLACK: "I want to make a statement."
The elderly gentleman turned toward her.
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "Please do."
She looked at the audience.
For the first time that evening, her voice sounded less confident.
WOMAN IN BLACK: "I understand that several documents have created the impression that I was involved in an attempt to influence the competition. However, I want to clarify that my responsibility was limited to evaluating the presentations."
The middle-aged woman looked at her.
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN: "Then why was your official account used to request the removal of the photographs?"
WOMAN IN BLACK: "I have already explained that I did not personally authorize that action."
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN: "And the message concerning the final award?"
WOMAN IN BLACK: "I did not write that message."
The elderly gentleman raised his hand.
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "We will not settle this by exchanging accusations. The electronic records will establish who submitted the instructions."
The woman in black nodded, but her expression remained tense.
The technical director stepped forward.
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR: "Sir, there is something else I should report."
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "Go ahead."
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR: "We have completed a preliminary review of the account activity. The account used to submit the presentation changes was accessed from an authorized administrative terminal."
The man in the suit looked toward him.
MAN IN SUIT: "That does not prove who was using it."
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR: "Correct. However, we also have the authorization timestamps and the confirmation messages."
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "Can you identify the person who approved the changes?"
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR: "We can identify the account holder and the device used. The remaining verification requires a review of the access records."
The elderly gentleman nodded.
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "Proceed with that review."
The technical director opened another report.
He examined the information carefully.
Then he looked toward the elderly gentleman.
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR: "Sir, the first instruction was approved through the office of the senior event coordinator."
The man in the suit stiffened.
The organizer looked at him.
ORGANIZER: "That is your office."
MAN IN SUIT: "I am aware."
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR: "The second instruction was also approved through the same office."
The woman in green turned toward the man.
WOMAN IN GREEN: "You told us earlier that several people participated in the decision."
MAN IN SUIT: "They did."
WOMAN IN GREEN: "But the official approvals came from your office."
MAN IN SUIT: "That does not mean I personally approved every detail."
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "Then who did?"
The man hesitated.
MAN IN SUIT: "I would need to review the internal communications."
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "You have had several opportunities to provide an explanation. I suggest you use the next one carefully."
The man lowered his head.
For several seconds, the ballroom remained silent.
Then the designer of the black gown stepped forward.
BLACK-GOWN DESIGNER: "Sir, may I say something?"
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "Of course."
She looked toward the young woman in blue.
BLACK-GOWN DESIGNER: "I want everyone to understand that I had no knowledge of these changes. I entered this competition because I wanted my work to be evaluated fairly. I never asked anyone to remove another contestant's photographs or change her registration."
The elderly gentleman nodded.
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "We understand."
BLACK-GOWN DESIGNER: "I respect her work. I saw the dress before tonight, and I thought it was beautiful. I would never want to receive an award because someone else had been denied a fair opportunity."
The young woman in blue looked at her.
BLUE-GOWN CONTESTANT: "Thank you. I never thought you were responsible."
BLACK-GOWN DESIGNER: "I am sorry that you had to experience this."
BLUE-GOWN CONTESTANT: "You don't need to apologize for something you didn't do."
The two women exchanged a sincere smile.
The audience applauded their response.
The elderly gentleman watched them for a moment.
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "This is the kind of professional attitude that should represent the fashion industry."
He then turned toward the man in the suit.
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "Now, I want to know why you believed these changes were necessary."
The man slowly removed his glasses.
He rubbed the bridge of his nose before speaking.
MAN IN SUIT: "There was pressure from the sponsors."
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "What kind of pressure?"