"Thank you, Harrison. I appreciate you coming." They knew each other, board dinners, annual shareholder meetings, a handwritten card Harrison had sent when Theodore passed. Sylvia kept it in a drawer at home next to Theodore's cufflinks. Harrison released her hand and turned toward the counter.
Gerald stood exactly where he had been told to stand. His arms hung at his sides. His face was the color of old cement. "Gerald."
"Mr. Cole, I can explain. There were protocols, security concerns. The amount was unusual, and I..."
"Stop." Gerald stopped. Harrison looked around the lobby. Every pair of eyes was fixed on him. Amanda at her station, Mitchell with his notebook, Daniels with his hands clasped.
Rick Tanner by the corridor standing at parade rest. Victoria Lane near the window, phone down, arms folded tight. The remaining customers frozen. "Everyone in this room is going to hear this," Harrison said. "Because everyone in this room witnessed what happened."
He turned back to Gerald.
"You refused a lawful transaction from a verified account holder. You insulted a client, a shareholder, based on her appearance. You called security on an 80-year-old woman. You called the police. You threatened officers with personal connections to their superiors. And you did all of this in full view of customers and staff."
Gerald's mouth trembled. "Sir, I was trying to protect the bank from..." "You were protecting your ego. And it cost you everything." Harrison straightened his cuffs.
The gesture mirrored Gerald's own habit in the cruelest possible way. "Gerald Crawford, your employment with Piedmont National Banking Group is terminated effective immediately. Your credentials will be deactivated within the hour. Security will escort you to collect personal belongings. You are not to contact any staff member, client, or associate of this bank."
Gerald's knees buckled. Not all the way, just enough that Rick Tanner took a half step forward then stopped. Gerald caught himself on the counter.
"Please," his voice cracked. "I have a mortgage, two kids in private school. I..." "You should have thought about that before you told a woman to go back to a garbage dump." The lobby was silent.
Amanda's pen slipped from fingers. It hit the marble floor with a sound like a small bone breaking. Harrison turned to her. "Miss Pierce, you are suspended without pay pending a full internal investigation. You will receive formal notification by end of business."
Amanda's eyes filled. She nodded once and stared at the floor. Harrison faced Sylvia. "Mrs. Bennett, I'd like to process your withdrawal personally, right now."
"I'd appreciate that." Harrison walked behind the counter. He sat at Amanda's terminal. His fingers moved across the keyboard. In 9 minutes, the transaction was complete.