Evelyn trudged into the office, exhausted from the short commute. A hectic week had taken its toll, and she was counting down the days until the weekend. As she settled at her desk, she rubbed her tired eyes, still feeling the effects of a late night spent working on a crucial project that could make or break her chances of becoming assistant manager. Just as she was about to relax, her manager appeared behind her, calling out her name. Evelyn quickly turned to face him.
"What progress have you made on the project?" he asked, his gaze piercing despite Evelyn's evident exhaustion.
"I've made significant headway, sir," she replied hesitantly. His raised eyebrow prompted further explanation. "I'm finalising the details, sir. It's complex, but I'm confident in my abilities."
Her manager's expression remained sceptical, his eyes narrowing slightly as he assessed Evelyn's confidence. "I'm sure you do," he said finally, his voice firm but not unkind. "This project is crucial for the company's future, and I expect nothing but perfection."
Evelyn nodded, feeling a surge of determination. "I understand, sir. I'll make sure it's done to the highest standard." She paused, gathering her thoughts before speaking again. "May I ask, sir, when is the deadline for completion?"
Her manager's gaze lingered on her for a moment before he responded. "You have till Monday, Evelyn. I expect to see the final product on my desk by then." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Evelyn to focus on completing the project.
As Evelyn took a deep breath, she acknowledged the current stress at work, but her love for her job as a loan officer shone through. Evaluating loans, making decisions, and meeting clients were tasks she handled regularly, and despite the present pressure, her passion for her role remained strong.
As Evelyn softly opened her laptop and waited for it to start up, George, a charming but flirtatious coworker from customer care, strolled over to chat. He often visited Evelyn's desk, drawn by her charm and beauty.
George ambled over, grinning. "Hey, future assistant manager!" he teased. Evelyn smiled politely, her expression a mix of amusement and courtesy.
George's comment was lighthearted, but Evelyn's smile seemed to be more of a polite reflex than genuine enthusiasm. As he approached her desk, she wondered what he wanted this time.
George settled into the chair beside her desk, a familiar gesture that hinted he'd be staying for a bit.
"Need a loan, maybe?" George joked, winking at Evelyn. "Sixty grand should cover it, my girlfriend's been eyeing a designer purse." Evelyn laughed, shaking her head good-naturedly.
"As soon as my laptop boots up, we'll get that loan processed," Evelyn said with a smile. George gave a triumphant fist pump, clearly joking around.
Evelyn chuckled at George's antics. "So you really would take out a $60,000 loan for a purse?" she asked, amused.
George grinned. "Hey, I'm romantic. And let's face it, nice guys finish last."
Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "Who told you that?" As her laptop finally powered up, she began checking for pending loan approvals.
"No one did, I've just noticed it in my past relationships," George said. "Good girls always seem drawn to the bad boys." Evelyn turned away from her laptop, her gaze lingering on George with mild curiosity.
"That might be true for high school romances, but adults are different; women appreciate guys with good hearts."
"Really?"
"Of course."
"So if I asked you out for dinner, you would say yes?" George asked, catching Evelyn off guard and leaving her torn
With a smile, Evelyn said,
"Go to your desk, George."
"Ha! Told you, good girls aren't into good guys," George said with a grin.
Evelyn rolled her eyes,
"We're colleagues, George. It's not that simple."
"Really?"
Evelyn nodded. "Exactly, working with someone you're dating can be weird. It would probably be weird for you, too."
George's face lit up with a mischievous grin. "So, if I quit my job here, will you go out with me?"
Evelyn's face lit up with a warm smile as she leaned her head on her hand. "You're willing to quit your job because of me?"
George's reply was matter-of-fact: "Romantics do crazy things." Evelyn laughed, shaking her head. "Go back to your desk, George."
As George stood up to leave, he turned back with a grin. "By the way, cancel that loan request no $60,000 purse for you," he said, chuckling to himself as he headed back to his desk.
"Oh, I've approved the loan, you'll be swimming in cash in five short minutes," Evelyn said with a playful smile.
George's grin faltered for a moment as Evelyn's words caught up to him. He spun around, eyes wide with mock horror. "You didn't!"
Evelyn's workday was quiet, a typical lull since loan inquiries were sporadic. With some free time, she dove back into her project. Just as she settled in, a tall, muscular man emerged from the crowd. His black hair was perfectly styled, and his tailored black suit accentuated his physique. Though his chiselled features made him attractive, his piercing gaze conveyed an air of intensity, as if he were a man with a purpose.
Evelyn's professional demeanour kicked in as she greeted the man with a warm smile, despite sensing something guarded about him. "Welcome to Citibank," she said, her tone friendly and inviting. The man sat down without a word, his silence intriguing. Evelyn's curiosity piqued, she asked, "How can I assist you today, sir?"
"I'm interested in getting a loan," he stated, his expression unreadable. "A significant amount."
Evelyn's response was warm and professional: "I'd be delighted to walk you through our loan options. Can you tell me what type of loan you're looking for and what you plan to use it for?"
"I need a loan that would deposit $100,000 into my account within five minutes," he said icily. "The purpose of the loan is none of your business."
Though taken aback by his rudeness, Evelyn maintained her composure, her smile unwavering. "Okay sir, I can't promise you it would get into your account in five minutes but let's discuss the options," she said. "We offer personal loans with higher interest and strict terms, bridge loans for immediate needs with high interest, and cash advance loans with significant fees. Which would you prefer?"
After a brief pause, Daymian responded curtly, "The second one."
"So, the bridge loan," Evelyn confirmed, her eyes meeting his. "May I see your ID, please?"
Daymian handed it over without a word. After verifying his identity, Evelyn's expression turned professional but concerned as she reviewed his account. "Mr. Daymian, it appears you have an outstanding loan that's overdue," she said gently.
Daymian's response was curt: "And?"
Evelyn's tone remained firm. "Unfortunately, bank policy prohibits approving new loans when previous ones are still pending, especially if they're overdue."
He's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing. "That's unacceptable," he said, his voice low and even. "I need the loan now. Can't you make an exception?"
Evelyn's professional demeanour remained firm. "I understand your situation, sir, but bank policies are clear. You'd need to settle the outstanding loan before we can consider another."
Daymian's demeanour shifted, a sinister smile spreading across his face. "I want to speak to your manager," he said, his voice dripping with menace.
Evelyn's eyes narrowed slightly as she asked, "May I know why?" But Daymian's response was a low, deliberate growl: "Get. Me. Your. Manager." The words hung in the air like a threat.
When Evelyn hesitated, citing her manager's busyness, Daymian's anger boiled over. "Get me the fucking manager!" he bellowed, slamming his fist on the desk. The sound echoed through the bank, drawing curious glances. The manager emerged from his office, striding over to Evelyn's desk to investigate the commotion.
As Mr. William approached, Evelyn filled him in on the situation. "This man wants a loan, sir, but he has an overdue loan. I've tried to explain that we can't approve another loan, but he's refusing to listen."
However, when Mr. William locked eyes with Daymian, his bravado faltered. The infamous mafian's presence seemed to drain the colour from his face. "Evelyn, let's take this discussion to my office," he said abruptly, his voice tight with tension.
Once inside, he shut the door and turned to face her, his eyes betraying a mixture of fear and anxiety.
"Evelyn, I need you to approve that man's loan," Mr. William said, his voice low and urgent.
Evelyn's curiosity got the better of her. "Why?" she asked.
Mr. William's expression turned grave. "You don't know who he is, do you?" Evelyn shook her head, intrigued.
"That's Daymian Ethan, a notorious figure with a reputation that extends far beyond these walls. The police don't dare cross him, he owns the street."
Evelyn's eyes widened as fear crept in.
"But what about his outstanding loan, we haven't even worked the process."
Mr. William's tone turned stern. "Just approve it, whatever it takes to get the money into his account right now, do it, If you don't, he would come back for us, now go, attend to him quickly so he could leave, we can't afford to upset him. He's not a man to be kept waiting."
Evelyn returned to her desk, her eyes locking onto Daymian's with a mix of fear and resignation.
"Your loan will be processed within five minutes sir," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Her face betrayed her inner turmoil, the weight of compromising her professional integrity settling heavily on her shoulders. She knew that approving a loan to an overdue customer like Daymian could tarnish her reputation within Citibank and potentially derail her aspirations of becoming an assistant manager.
As the transaction was finalised, Daymian received the funds without delay. A smile spread across his face, and he nodded at Evelyn. "Thanks," he said, his tone dripping with satisfaction. However, Evelyn's response was a stark contrast; her expression remained sombre, her lips pressed into a thin line. She couldn't muster the faintest hint of a smile.
Daymian's eyes lingered on Evelyn's tense face, and for a moment, he seemed to study her reaction. Then, with a slight nod, he stood up, turned and walked away, leaving Evelyn to breathe a sigh of relief.
As the door swung shut behind Daymian, Evelyn let out a slow breath, her shoulders sagging in relief. She couldn't shake the feeling that she'd just dodged a bullet, but the weight of her compromised professional integrity lingered. Her eyes drifted to her computer screen, the loan approval still fresh on her monitor.
Just as she was about to process her emotions, her phone rang, shrill in the silence. "Evelyn, my office," Mr. William's voice was curt, devoid of warmth. Evelyn's heart sank. Was this about Daymian? She stood up, smoothing her clothes, and made her way to her boss's office, her mind racing with possibilities.
The door creaked open, and she stepped inside, her eyes locking onto Mr. William's expectant gaze. "Close the door," he said, his tone firm. Evelyn's instincts screamed a warning. What was coming next?
Mr. William's expression softened slightly as he observed Evelyn's unease. He knew she'd been coerced into approving the loan, and a pang of sympathy stirred within him. "Evelyn, I want you to know that I understand the circumstances surrounding Mr. Ethan's loan," he said gently.
Evelyn's eyes widened slightly, hope flickering to life within them. "Sir?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Your integrity and competence haven't gone unnoticed, Evelyn," Mr. William continued. "And I truly believe you have the potential to excel in this role. Becoming assistant general manager is still within reach."
A small smile played on Evelyn's lips, gratitude mingling with relief. "Thank you, sir," she said, her voice filled with sincerity.
Mr. William leaned forward, his voice taking on a reassuring tone. "Just remember, sometimes difficult decisions are necessary. But it's how we navigate those challenges that defines us."
Evelyn felt a weight lift off her shoulders as Mr. William's words reassured her. She realised that she wasn't alone in this situation and that her boss understood the complexities involved. "Thank you, sir," she repeated, her voice filled with genuine appreciation.
Mr. William nodded, a hint of a smile on his face. "Now, let's focus on moving forward. I want you to continue doing what you do best making sound financial decisions and representing our bank with integrity."
As the tension in the room dissipated, Evelyn felt a sense of determination rising within her. She was grateful for Mr. William's guidance and support. "I won't let you down, sir," she said, her voice filled with conviction.
With renewed confidence, Evelyn left Mr. William's office, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. But little did she know, Daymian's influence extended further than she could have ever imagined.
As Evelyn walked back to her desk, she couldn't shake off the feeling that Daymian's presence still lingered in the bank.