The room shifted. Not much. Enough. Daniel placed the tablet on the table and opened the security recording. No one spoke while it played.
Brooke blocking Maya. The water cup knocked aside. Brooke grabbing Maya's jacket. Maya removing the hand. Stepping back.
Evan moving in. The shove. Maya hitting the table. Richard's face stayed unreadable. Then came Evan grabbing Maya again.
Maya redirecting him. Releasing him. Brooke lunging. Maya stopping her wrist. Releasing her.
Evan rushing. Maya taking his balance and lowering him to the floor. Open hands. Distance. No punch.
No retaliation. Daniel stopped the video. Richard remained silent. Brooke spoke quickly. That doesn't show everything.
Walter leaned back. It shows enough. Brooke looked at her father. She embarrassed us. The words came out before she seemed to realize how they sounded.
Richard's eyes moved toward her. Not angry. Not yet. Just sharper. Daniel pulled up Aaron's phone video.
This one had sound. The boardroom heard Maya say, "I'm eating." Then "I'm not doing this." Then move. Let go.
Don't touch me again. Every warning. Every retreat. Every attempt to end the confrontation. Then Evans shove.
Then silence. Brooke's face changed as the recording played. The confidence she had carried from the commons began to drain away. Richard watched the entire clip. When it ended, he folded his hands on the table.
Is that all? Karen answered. There is also prior footage. Maya noticed how reluctantly she said it. Daniel opened the archived cafeteria recording from the week before.
The tray fell. Milk splashed. Brooke stepped on Maya's notes. Maya knelt. The room watched.
Richard's jaw tightened. Not when the tray hit the floor. When Brooke nudged the notebook away with her shoe. He looked at his daughter. Did you do that?
Brooke stared at him. It was a joke. No one moved. Richard asked again. Did you do that?
Brooke's shoulders dropped slightly. Yes. The word was barely audible. Walter glanced toward Maya. Maya's eyes remained on the table.
She did not feel victorious. She felt tired. Richard looked at Karen. Was this reported? Maya answered before Karen could.
I reported the pattern after it continued. Richard turned toward her. And? Maya looked at Karen. She told me Brooke's family had supported Crown Bridge for a long time.
Karen stiffened. That is not a fair summary. Daniel placed another file on the screen. The audio from outside Karen's office. The room heard Karen's own voice.
"Your scholarship gives you more to lose." Richard's expression changed. Karen leaned forward. That statement was taken out of context. Walter said.
Then give us the context. Karen looked at him. I was advising Maya to avoid escalation because disciplinary reviews can affect financial aid. Richard's eyes narrowed. And did you give my daughter the same warning?
Karen did not answer. Richard looked at Brooke. Were you told to avoid Maya? Brooke shook her head. No.