It was like something out of a movie. The exact moment when Julianna realized that it would not be another day. Or at least, she would realize it when she took the time to think back on this moment in the future.
The lobby of the bank was full of people. It was nearly midday, so that was unsurprising. Julianna wrapped up her current appointment. The young couple who wanted to open a gourmet donut shop was all smiles as they signed the last of the paperwork that would get them the loan they needed to buy a space they’d had their eye on for months. Julianna was pleased that she had been able to help them. Truthfully, she was at the mercy of the bank’s decision making. Or rather, stupid algorithms based on credit scores and extraneous risk factors that got to decide the worth of a person’s dreams. This, perhaps, was an oversimplification, but she made up for the corporate-run attempts at dream crushing by working the system in her favor.
She decided to reward herself with a long lunch. A big bowl of pho would really drive this victory home, she thought to herself. Standing, she shook hands with the couple and walked the short distance to see them out of her office. They left and a man entered simultaneously, turning his body just enough to avoid bumping into the woman.
Julianna watched him walk further into the bank. His height made it somewhat impossible for him to get lost in the mulling crowd. His dark baseball cap was fixture enough for her to track his movement. He looked suspicious. Or perhaps, he looked suspicious to her because she watched too many procedural law shows before bed. He removed his sunglasses, but there was something about the way he orientated himself that kept her standing in her office door, watching him with zero subtly.
He didn’t do anything. More specifically, he didn’t do anything that a person utilizing a bank’s services would do. He didn’t speak to a teller or another associate, he didn’t fill out a deposit or a withdrawal slip. He didn’t pull out his wallet. Julianna took a step forward, but stopped herself. Momentarily, she moved back into her office. Rounding her desk she picked up the phone, angling to call security, but the man was on the move again. Dropping the phone, it bounced off the receiver and rolled over onto her desk.
She didn’t know where her brain was when she darted out of her office. Didn’t know what she was thinking when she stepped in front of him. Her customer service smile spread across her lips, and she had to tilt her head to look up at him. He wasn’t dangerous, she suggested to herself. She was just paranoid. “Is there something I can help you with, sir?”
If he were dangerous, she could only hope he’d be scared off of whatever he was doing by being noticed by what appeared to be an overeager financial manager looking to snipe a commission.
If he was dangerous. She was an idiot.
The lobby of the bank was full of people. It was nearly midday, so that was unsurprising. Julianna wrapped up her current appointment. The young couple who wanted to open a gourmet donut shop was all smiles as they signed the last of the paperwork that would get them the loan they needed to buy a space they’d had their eye on for months. Julianna was pleased that she had been able to help them. Truthfully, she was at the mercy of the bank’s decision making. Or rather, stupid algorithms based on credit scores and extraneous risk factors that got to decide the worth of a person’s dreams. This, perhaps, was an oversimplification, but she made up for the corporate-run attempts at dream crushing by working the system in her favor.
She decided to reward herself with a long lunch. A big bowl of pho would really drive this victory home, she thought to herself. Standing, she shook hands with the couple and walked the short distance to see them out of her office. They left and a man entered simultaneously, turning his body just enough to avoid bumping into the woman.
Julianna watched him walk further into the bank. His height made it somewhat impossible for him to get lost in the mulling crowd. His dark baseball cap was fixture enough for her to track his movement. He looked suspicious. Or perhaps, he looked suspicious to her because she watched too many procedural law shows before bed. He removed his sunglasses, but there was something about the way he orientated himself that kept her standing in her office door, watching him with zero subtly.
He didn’t do anything. More specifically, he didn’t do anything that a person utilizing a bank’s services would do. He didn’t speak to a teller or another associate, he didn’t fill out a deposit or a withdrawal slip. He didn’t pull out his wallet. Julianna took a step forward, but stopped herself. Momentarily, she moved back into her office. Rounding her desk she picked up the phone, angling to call security, but the man was on the move again. Dropping the phone, it bounced off the receiver and rolled over onto her desk.
She didn’t know where her brain was when she darted out of her office. Didn’t know what she was thinking when she stepped in front of him. Her customer service smile spread across her lips, and she had to tilt her head to look up at him. He wasn’t dangerous, she suggested to herself. She was just paranoid. “Is there something I can help you with, sir?”
If he were dangerous, she could only hope he’d be scared off of whatever he was doing by being noticed by what appeared to be an overeager financial manager looking to snipe a commission.
If he was dangerous. She was an idiot.
The following 1 user Likes megs's post: saronym
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Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 12-24-2016, 05:11 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 12-24-2016, 05:12 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 12-26-2016, 01:35 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 12-26-2016, 04:02 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 12-26-2016, 04:54 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 12-26-2016, 05:27 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 12-26-2016, 06:13 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 12-26-2016, 06:41 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 12-26-2016, 07:42 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 12-26-2016, 08:10 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 12-26-2016, 08:43 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 12-26-2016, 09:04 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 12-26-2016, 10:26 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 12-26-2016, 10:42 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 12-26-2016, 11:28 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 12-27-2016, 08:34 AM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 12-27-2016, 08:46 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 12-27-2016, 09:29 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 12-28-2016, 08:10 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 12-28-2016, 08:28 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 12-28-2016, 08:57 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 12-28-2016, 09:22 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 01-01-2017, 04:49 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 01-02-2017, 12:39 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 01-09-2017, 04:29 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 01-10-2017, 04:45 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 01-18-2017, 08:39 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 01-19-2017, 10:10 AM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 02-07-2017, 08:36 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 02-11-2017, 12:22 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 02-16-2017, 09:25 AM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 02-17-2017, 01:38 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 03-01-2017, 10:46 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 03-04-2017, 10:52 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 04-10-2017, 08:06 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 04-18-2017, 12:22 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 04-22-2017, 09:26 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 05-15-2017, 05:52 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 05-22-2017, 08:52 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 05-23-2017, 10:19 AM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 05-23-2017, 08:22 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 05-24-2017, 04:23 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 05-24-2017, 07:19 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 05-24-2017, 10:16 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 05-26-2017, 01:39 AM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 05-26-2017, 10:24 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 05-31-2017, 12:27 AM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 06-01-2017, 01:47 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 06-01-2017, 07:39 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 06-01-2017, 09:45 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 06-03-2017, 12:37 AM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 06-11-2017, 12:41 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 06-15-2017, 11:14 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 06-16-2017, 05:15 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 06-17-2017, 11:15 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 06-21-2017, 06:57 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 06-23-2017, 07:04 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 06-23-2017, 09:19 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 06-24-2017, 04:22 AM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 06-24-2017, 08:20 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 06-24-2017, 10:19 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 06-25-2017, 09:08 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 06-25-2017, 09:41 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 06-26-2017, 09:50 AM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 06-26-2017, 07:32 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 06-27-2017, 10:47 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 06-28-2017, 11:04 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 06-30-2017, 06:28 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 07-11-2017, 01:43 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 07-13-2017, 04:33 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 07-24-2017, 11:30 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 07-26-2017, 11:14 AM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 07-27-2017, 02:27 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 07-27-2017, 04:08 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 08-05-2017, 08:03 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 08-11-2017, 09:40 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 08-23-2017, 12:13 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 08-27-2017, 02:40 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 08-30-2017, 06:06 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 09-03-2017, 02:58 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 09-09-2017, 09:59 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 09-10-2017, 02:42 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 09-10-2017, 08:26 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 09-14-2017, 01:11 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 09-25-2017, 08:25 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 09-29-2017, 05:05 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 10-17-2017, 04:34 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 11-02-2017, 07:32 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 11-16-2017, 12:20 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 12-31-2017, 01:30 AM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 12-28-2017, 11:55 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 01-05-2018, 05:36 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 01-07-2018, 02:28 AM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 01-07-2018, 02:23 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 01-09-2018, 11:40 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 01-14-2018, 06:25 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 01-22-2018, 12:30 AM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 01-30-2018, 07:57 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 02-19-2018, 02:23 AM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 03-11-2018, 03:20 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 03-13-2018, 01:51 AM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 03-25-2018, 08:30 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 04-02-2018, 12:36 AM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 05-17-2018, 02:32 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 05-22-2018, 07:52 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 05-29-2018, 04:45 AM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 07-01-2018, 10:30 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 07-04-2018, 09:19 AM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 07-22-2018, 08:03 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 07-28-2018, 04:46 AM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 11-13-2018, 03:20 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 11-18-2018, 05:09 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by saronym - 09-18-2019, 12:19 PM
RE: Dangerous Attraction [Closed] - by megs - 10-05-2019, 02:03 PM