Within two minutes, the general manager of the Dallas hotel arrived alongside two uniformed police officers who had just entered the main lobby. The manager looked at the chaos, the shattered table, and the prominent CEO sitting bruised on the floor. Sarah stood tall in her dark purple dress, holding Lily safely in her arms with absolute calm authority.
Police Officer: What happened here? Who called the police department?
Richard: I did! She attacked me! And her daughter stole my diamond ring! Arrest them both right now!
Sarah: Officer, do not listen to a word he says. Look at the ceiling security camera above this wall. Pull up the footage on the main screen right now.
Hotel Manager: We can access the live server room feed immediately from my tablet. Give me ten seconds.
The hotel manager quickly tapped his screen, connecting his system to the security feed above the ballroom display. He tapped the playback button for the last ten minutes and cast the video directly onto the huge electronic projector screens mounted around the grand ballroom for all the guests to see.
The entire room held its breath as the clear video played out on the giant screens. The camera showed Richard Sterling walking up behind young Lily while Sarah was away. On the clear screen, everyone watched in horror as Richard pulled the velvet ring box from his own inner jacket pocket, slipped it quickly into Lily's open silver purse, and then grabbed the seven-year-old girl's arm roughly when she tried to step away.
Guest One: Look at the screen! He planted the ring himself!
Guest Two: He shoved that poor little girl into the glass table on purpose! What a sickening monster!
The video clearly showed Richard pushing Lily down, causing her head to hit the glass tabletop before he pretended to find the ring in her bag. The crowd instantly turned on Richard, shouting in anger and disgust at his cruel action. The wealthy guests who had been chatting with him minutes ago moved far away from him, shaking their heads in utter shame.
Police Officer: Mr. Sterling, get off the floor and put your hands behind your back right now.
Richard: You cannot arrest me! Do you know how many lawyers I have on retainer? Do you know who I am?
Police Officer: You are under arrest for felony assault on a minor, child endangerment, and filing a false police report.