"Miss Bennett?"
Diana stepped inside.
"Miss Kramer."
Linda removed her glasses.
"You weren't called in."
Diana closed the door behind her.
"No. I wasn't."
Linda frowned.
"Then I don't understand why you're here."
Diana stared at her.
"I think you do."
The room became tense.
Linda leaned back.
"Miss Bennett, if this is about the wait time, I apologize. As Melissa explained, I had other responsibilities."
Diana shook her head.
"Four hours?"
Linda said nothing.
"Four hours while other clients arrived after me and were immediately brought inside."
Linda's expression tightened.
"Miss Bennett, you need to understand that some clients have urgent matters."
Diana nodded.
"I understand."
She paused.
"What I do not understand is why those urgent matters only seemed to belong to certain people."
Linda's face changed.
"What exactly are you implying?"
Diana stepped closer.
"I am saying that I watched your receptionist treat clients differently today."
Linda's eyes narrowed.
"Highland Crest Bank treats everyone equally."
Diana almost smiled.
Not because it was funny.
Because she had heard that sentence many times.
"Then explain what happened today."
Linda remained silent.
Diana continued.
"I arrived before my appointment time."
She held up one finger.
"I checked in properly."
Another finger.
"I waited four hours."
Another.
"And during those four hours, multiple clients who arrived after me were given immediate access to your office."
Linda looked away.
"It was a scheduling issue."
"No."
Diana's voice became sharper.
"It was a choice."
The silence that followed was heavy.
Linda looked uncomfortable.
"Miss Bennett, I think emotions are affecting your interpretation."
Diana stared at her.
"My emotions?"
The words came quietly.
"Do you know what is interesting, Miss Kramer?"
Linda said nothing.
"I have spent my entire career entering rooms where I was not expected."
Diana looked around the office.
"Boardrooms."
"Investment meetings."
"Executive offices."
"I know what it feels like when someone underestimates you."
Her voice softened.
"But today wasn't about business."
"It was about respect."
Linda shifted in her chair.
Diana continued.
"I came here believing Highland Crest Bank valued every client equally."
She placed her hand on her briefcase.
"After today, I am no longer sure."
Linda opened her mouth.
But before she could respond, the office door suddenly opened.
A man stood there.
Richard Langford.
CEO of Highland Crest Bank.
Behind him were two senior executives.
Richard had been walking through the executive floor when he noticed the unusual tension.
But the moment he saw Diana, his expression changed completely.
"Diana?"
His face lit with genuine surprise.
He immediately stepped forward.
"Diana Bennett?"
Diana turned.
A small smile appeared.