Richard reached into his own inner jacket pocket with shaking, nervous fingers.
His hand brushed against the cool metal of his broad silver timepiece.
He pulled the platinum watch out into plain sight, turning bright red with shame.
Richard: Oh... it appears I misplaced it during the opening speech.
Elena: You didn't misplace it, you falsely blamed an eight-year-old girl!
The crowd of high society guests began whispering loudly among themselves in disgust.
Guest 1: How disgraceful for a wealthy man to act so cruelly!
Guest 2: He frightened that poor little girl for no reason at all!
Security Officer: Mr. Sterling, you smashed property and endangered a child tonight.
Richard: It was an honest mistake, I will pay for the broken plate!
Elena: A simple payment will not fix the fear you put in my daughter.
The head director of the charity foundation stepped forward through the crowd.
She held a microphone in her hand and looked at Richard with deep anger.
Director: Richard Sterling, your company's sponsorship is officially terminated tonight.
Richard: You can't do that, my foundation provides half your event funds!
Director: We do not accept money from bullies who intimidate women and children.
Richard looked around the room, but every single guest turned their backs on him.
His reputation as a respectable civic leader was destroyed in a matter of minutes.
Security Officer: Please step outside the hotel venue immediately, Mr. Sterling.
Richard: This is ridiculous, my lawyer will hear about this whole farce!
The guards escorted Richard out the side doors while the guests applauded softly.
Elena knelt down once more to adjust Maya's yellow dress and calm her down.
Elena: You see, sweetie? Truth always comes out in the end.
Maya: You were super brave, Mommy, like a superhero!