The Bank Client

Chapter 16 - Marry me

"Officer override, please!" The teller hollered. Ana remembered how she was just like these tellers before. She performs transaction overrides as a supervisor, but an officer's override is much broader and riskier in scope.

It was her first day on hands-on training. She was standing behind the tellers inside the counter, monitoring their procedures at the same time, stealing  glances at the lobby to check the volume of clients inside.

This branch is not too busy on customers coming in. But since they are more on corporate accounts, the tellers' transactions were teeming with checks and humungous cash deposits.

There are two supervisors in this branch. One is in charge of the cash and checks transactions, while the other is in charge of the files and documents as corporate clients' activities, especially like that of Ryan's, involved incoming and outgoing remittances to and from their suppliers or business partners, be it local or abroad.

In one way, Ana was grateful that she was assigned here. This would hone her capability in handling more delicate clients.

Time has passed by quickly that Ana haven't noticed that it was way past lunchtime already. She was sitting on her desk examining some documents pertaining to a newly-opened account when she heard some commotions at the lobby of the branch.

Ana looked up and saw Ryan strutting inside the branch followed by Dessa, who was carrying some documents on her arms and updating Ryan of his afternoon appoinments; Cece, who was holding a big insulated lunch box; Elias, Ryan's driver-cum-bodyguard; Carlos, Ana's driver; and two security details. The bank manager and operations officer stood up and immediately attended to Ryan's entourage.

Oh my God! What is he doing here? Of course, which bank officer would not scurry when the bank's major shareholder arrives, with his face void of emotions.

"Ana, inside the pantry now." Ryan imperatively said. When the officers heard it, they hurried ahead to the pantry together with Cece. The drivers and bodyguards stayed behind at the middle of the lobby.

I bet they'll lick the pantry neat and clean for him. Ana smirked at the thought. She stood up and walked beside him. "Good morning too, Mr. Villareal! What's with all the fuss?"

His jaw tensed, but he reached for her hand and intertwined their fingers as he towed her towards the pantry. "Ana, you can't appease me with your cute antics," he said without looking at her. What have I done wrong?

Ana did not say a thing anymore until they reached the pantry. The table has been laden with plates and utensils. Cece was busy opening various food containers and placing them on serving dishes. The two officers were moving the chairs in place as if there's something to move them into.

Ana stood bewildered. "What's all these?!" She hissed at him with her fingers pointing at the table, careful not to show her irritation to her officers. "Is this going to happen everyday?"

"Not until you eat your lunch on time, Ana." He held her arm and pulled a chair for her and he sat adjacent to her. He gave instructions to Dessa before the latter left, while Cece served their plates with food. Oh, so her late lunch is the culprit!

"I can do it, Cece." She looked up at her housekeeper and took the serving spoon from her hand. Cece sat down on a chair at the corner. "Pardon me, but would you like to join us?" She ackwardly said to her officers.