Then at the folder.
Then back at him.
She wasn't sure whether he was joking.
"Excuse me?"
Samuel repeated calmly.
"My agricultural credit facility."
"How much?"
"Approximately fifteen million."
Emily stared.
"Fifteen..."
She couldn't finish the sentence.
Samuel nodded.
"That's what I said."
She looked uncomfortable.
"I'm going to get Mr. Reynolds."
Finally.
She picked up the phone.
Samuel stepped aside.
He didn't know it yet, but someone else had been watching the entire conversation.
Behind a glass wall near the executive offices stood Daniel Reynolds, the branch manager.
He had recognized Samuel the moment the old farmer walked through the door.
And when he saw Emily speaking to him that way, his expression changed.
Because Daniel knew something Emily didn't.
Samuel Carter wasn't just a farmer.
He was one of the bank's most important clients.
And the account inside that worn leather folder was worth more than the entire branch could afford to lose.
Daniel Reynolds had worked at First National Millstone for nineteen years.
He knew the bank's customers.
At least, he thought he did.
But there were some clients whose names carried weight far beyond the lobby.
Samuel Carter was one of them.
Daniel remembered the first time Samuel had walked into his office.
It had been twelve years earlier.
At that time, Carter Farms was struggling.
A severe drought had destroyed nearly half the soybean crop.
Samuel needed financing to survive.
He had arrived in the same old pickup truck.
Worn boots.
Old jacket.
Leather folder.
Daniel had approved the loan.
Samuel repaid it early.
Then came another expansion.
Then another.
Eventually, Carter Farms became one of the largest privately owned agricultural operations in the region.
Samuel had diversified.
Soybeans.
Corn.
Wheat.
Cattle.
Storage facilities.
Agricultural equipment.
He had also invested in irrigation systems and grain processing.
But Samuel never changed.
He still drove the same pickup.
Still wore old boots.
Still ate lunch at the same roadside diner.
And still hated wasting money on things he considered unnecessary.
Daniel had once joked that Samuel could probably buy the bank and still complain about the price.
Samuel had laughed.
"I'd rather buy another tractor."
Now Daniel watched from behind the glass as Samuel stood beside the reception desk.
He saw Emily holding the phone.
He saw the confusion on her face.
Daniel immediately stepped out.
"Mr. Carter."
Samuel turned.
"Daniel."
They shook hands.
Daniel smiled.
"I'm sorry you had to wait."
"I wasn't waiting long."
Daniel glanced at Emily.
She looked nervous.
"Come to my office."
Samuel picked up his folder.
As they walked away, Emily stood frozen behind the desk.
Daniel closed his office door.
"Coffee?"
"No, thank you."
"You look like you've been working since dawn."
"I have."
Daniel smiled.
"Of course you have."
Samuel sat down.
He opened the leather folder.
Inside were financial statements, production reports, land records, equipment valuations, insurance documents and several contracts.
Daniel looked through them.
"This is the renewal?"
"Yes."
"Fifteen million?"
"That's the current requirement."
Daniel whistled softly.
"Your operation keeps growing."
Samuel shrugged.
"The farm grows."
"No," Daniel said. "You grow."
Samuel smiled.
Then his expression became serious.
"I need the credit line renewed before planting season."
Daniel nodded.
"We'll take care of it."
There was a pause.
Then Samuel asked:
"Is there a problem?"
Daniel looked at him.
"What makes you ask?"
"I've been coming here for years."
Samuel glanced toward the lobby.
"Something felt different."
Daniel hesitated.
Then he decided to be honest.
"Did Emily say something?"
Samuel didn't answer immediately.
"She thought I was asking for a personal loan."
Daniel's face tightened.
"She did?"
"Then she suggested I come back dressed more appropriately."