No jewelry.
No assistant.
No security.
No expensive watch.
She didn't look like someone who had millions.
So when she placed a $4.8 million check in front of him, Andrew's mind couldn't accept what his eyes were seeing.
There had to be an explanation.
A mistake.
Fraud.
Maybe someone had stolen the check.
Maybe she was attempting some kind of scam.
Or maybe—
She had simply found it.
Andrew hated admitting that possibility.
So he laughed.
Now he wished he hadn't.
He walked toward the manager's office carrying Elena's documents.
Inside, Richard Cole, the bank's senior vice president, was reviewing reports with Marcus Grant, the institution's regional director.
Richard was sixty-one.
Marcus was fifty-four.
Both men had spent decades in finance.
Both had learned that money did not always arrive wearing an expensive suit.
But neither man expected what Andrew was about to tell them.
"Mr. Cole?"
Richard looked up.
"What is it?"
"There's a customer at Counter Seven."
"Problem?"
"Potentially."
Richard frowned.
"Fraud?"
"I'm not sure."
Marcus closed the folder in front of him.
"What happened?"
Andrew placed the check on the desk.
Richard glanced at it.
His eyes widened.
Then he looked at Andrew.
"Where did you get this?"
"Customer."
"Who is the customer?"
"A woman."
Marcus gave him an irritated look.
"Her name, Andrew."
"Elena Brooks."
Richard stared at the check again.
"Elena Brooks?"
"Yes."
Marcus stood.
"Did you verify the issuing institution?"
"Not yet."
"Then why are you standing here?"
Andrew hesitated.
"Because... she doesn't exactly look like—"
Richard's eyes sharpened.
"Like what?"
Andrew immediately regretted his words.
"Nothing."
Marcus walked around the desk.
"Let's go."
They headed toward the lobby.
As they approached Counter Seven, Richard saw Elena.
She stood calmly with her hands resting on the counter.
Andrew was beside her.
Richard noticed the folder.
Then he noticed the check.
Then he noticed Elena's expression.
She wasn't angry.
That somehow made him more uncomfortable.
Richard stepped forward.
"Ms. Brooks?"
Elena turned.
"Yes?"
"I'm Richard Cole. Senior Vice President."
She nodded.
"Nice to meet you."
Richard extended his hand.
Elena shook it.
His eyes moved briefly toward Andrew.
"May I ask what brings you to Harrington & Cole today?"
Elena looked down at the check.
"I'd like to deposit it."
Richard glanced at the amount.
"Yes."
He looked at Andrew.
"Have you verified the issuing bank?"
"No, sir."
"Why not?"
Andrew opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Richard turned back to Elena.
"I apologize for the delay."
Elena studied him.
"You weren't responsible for the delay."
Richard understood the meaning immediately.
His eyes shifted toward Andrew again.
Andrew looked down.
Marcus stepped forward.
"Ms. Brooks, we'd like to take you to a private office so we can complete the verification properly."
Elena smiled faintly.
"That's fine."
As they walked away from the counter, Andrew remained frozen behind his desk.
He had laughed at her.
Now the bank's senior executives were personally escorting her upstairs.
But Andrew still didn't understand something.
This wasn't merely a large deposit.
It was the beginning of a transaction that could change the future of Harrington & Cole.
And Elena Brooks had not come there simply to put money into an account.
She had come to decide whether the bank deserved to keep her business.
The private conference room overlooked the city.
Elena sat on one side of the table.
Richard Cole and Marcus Grant sat across from her.
A lawyer from the bank joined them.
For nearly forty minutes, nobody spoke about anything except documents.
The check was authentic.
The issuing institution confirmed it.
The signatures were valid.
The funds were legitimate.
The transaction was completely legal.
And the money belonged to Elena.
Richard leaned back.