She looked toward his tablet.
"Preserve the authorization logs."
"Already requested."
"And the surveillance footage."
He glanced toward the receptionist.
Then back at the CEO.
"Yes."
The receptionist stood frozen behind the counter.
Her lips parted slightly.
She looked from the director to the CEO, then toward the documents lying on the marble floor.
The director turned to the security officer.
"Please secure this area and ensure the documents are collected without unnecessary handling."
The officer nodded.
The CEO looked toward him.
"Thank you."
He bent down and carefully gathered the papers.
Several clients watched silently.
The older woman in the cream-colored coat approached.
She looked toward the CEO.
"I'm sorry about what happened."
The CEO nodded.
"Thank you."
The receptionist seemed about to speak.
Then the glass office door opened.
The branch manager emerged.
He wore a pale-gray suit, expensive watch, and an expression of practiced concern.
For a moment, he looked toward the compliance director.
Then toward the CEO.
He smiled.
"Well, this appears to be a misunderstanding."
The CEO turned fully toward him.
Her long silver strands moved gently across the marble.
"Does it?"
The manager's smile remained.
"Of course. I'm sure we can resolve this privately."
She studied his face.
Then asked.
"Did you authorize the transfer?"
His smile tightened.
He looked toward the compliance director.
"That depends on which transaction you're referring to."
The director lowered his tablet.
"Eighty-six million dollars. Harborlight Children's Foundation. New beneficiary. Branch authorization exception."
The manager's eyes flickered.
For a fraction of a second, he looked toward his office.
Then he answered.
"I believe the paperwork is in order."
The CEO held his gaze.
"Then you'll have no problem explaining how I signed documents during a meeting I never attended."
The manager stopped smiling.
And the real confrontation began.
The branch manager's first instinct was to lower his voice.
He glanced toward the waiting clients, then toward the security guard gathering the fallen documents, as though the most urgent problem was that people might overhear the conversation.
"Perhaps we should discuss this upstairs."
The CEO remained beside the counter.
"After you answer the question."
His expression tightened.
The compliance director stepped forward.
"The transaction is suspended. We need to review the authorization records, including the branch override."
The manager gave a short, impatient sigh.
"I handled the approval according to procedure."
The director looked toward him.
"Which procedure?"
For a moment, the manager appeared irritated that another executive was questioning him in front of his staff.