The CEO seemed to understand exactly that.
After instructing the regional director to preserve the evidence, she looked toward the young teller.
“Would you come with us, please?”
The teller froze.
“Me?”
“Yes.”
She swallowed.
“Am I in trouble?”
The CEO studied her.
Then answered gently.
“I want to hear what happened before I arrived, and what you tried to do.”
The teller's eyes filled.
For a moment, she couldn't speak.
Then she nodded.
“Yes, ma'am.”
The regional director led them toward a private conference room.
The bank manager followed several steps behind, her face pale.
The security officer remained near the lobby to help keep the area calm.
Before entering the room, the CEO turned toward the manager.
“Please wait outside for the moment.”
The manager blinked.
“Madam, I'd really like to explain—”
“You'll have an opportunity to provide your account through the review process.”
Her voice remained calm.
“But I want to speak with the employee who was handling the transaction before you intervened.”
The manager's expression tightened.
For a second, she looked as though she might argue.
Then she glanced toward the regional director.
He didn't intervene.
She lowered her eyes.
And stepped away.
Inside the conference room, the CEO sat at the end of a polished table.
Her extraordinary lime-green skirt spread across the chair and floor like a pool of silk.
The regional director took a seat beside her.
The teller sat opposite.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then the CEO looked toward the young woman.
“Tell me what you did when I first approached the counter.”
The teller took a shaky breath.
“I greeted you. You gave me the appointment details. I verified the information available to me and began the procedure for a large deposit.”
The CEO nodded.
“Did the account documentation match?”