Chapter 39 – The Gamble

  Polvin stared at the slate in silence.

  Risk meant more than volatile figures and uncertain projections. It meant exposure, scrutiny and the wrong eyes lingering too long on his decisions. Reward promised advancement, influence and a seat in rooms where decisions were made instead of merely carried out. His career hung in the balance between those two forces: years of careful navigation, favors traded and reputations maintained. And ruin was the inverse of it all, quiet dismissal, influence gone and his name reduced to a cautionary tale within Lunecrest Bank.

  His fingers tapped lightly against the desk as he weighed the numbers again, not just the figures on the screen, but the invisible ones that mattered far more inside Lunecrest Bank. This loan had already drawn notice. If he misstepped again on the same account no less it would not be overlooked.

  One error might be explained, two would look like recklessness. And in a place like Lunecrest, that distinction could decide whether a man advanced or disappeared.

  Then, something outside the cubicle caught his eye.

  Through the glass partition, a young woman had just stepped into the main banking floor.

  She was around the same age as the two young men sitting in front of him, maybe younger but the moment Polvin saw her, his heartbeat skipped.

  She had stopped walking.

  Her gaze was fixed directly on Lucien, Dorian, and Theo, but only one of them truly held it, Lucien. The rest were simply in her line of sight.

  Shock flickered across her face, brief but unmistakable. Her eyes widened and she slowed, clearly unprepared for the sight of him there.

  A moment of surprise followed, then hesitation as she paused, unsure whether to approach or move on.

  Polvin stiffened internally.

  Why is she here?

  He didn’t see her often in the bank but when she did appear, everyone noticed. Not because of authority badges or rank… but because of who she was.

  At Lunecrest Bank, her word could make or break careers.

  Even Polvin’s.

  Anyone foolish enough to underestimate her because of her age never lasted long.

  Polvin kept his expression neutral, still wearing the face of a man deep in calculation but inside, his thoughts exploded into chaos.

  Does she know them?

  If she does, why are they even here negotiating? One word from her would solve everything.

  Then why does she look hesitant?

  Why is she shocked?

  Are they close? Friends? Something more?

  A flicker of doubt crossed his mind.

  Is one of them her boyfriend?

  The girl lingered for only a few seconds longer, visibly undecided then turned sharply and headed toward the elevators leading upstairs.

  Gone.

  Polvin’s mind was now racing faster than it ever had.

  This wasn’t coincidence.

  Whatever that was, it represented an opportunity.

  He made his decision instantly.

  Whether this gamble succeeds or not doesn’t matter, he told himself. What matters is that I don’t waste this chance.

  His expression shifted, just like earlier, the change coming too swiftly, the brightness arriving a moment too easily.

  Lucien noticed it immediately.

  Dorian noticed it even faster.

  Theo blinked.

  …Here we go again, all three of them thought.

  Polvin stood abruptly.

  “Just a moment, please.”

  Before any of them could respond, he stepped out of the cubicle.

  A minute later, he returned personally carrying a tray of refreshments laden with coffee, tea, water, and a selection of cookies laid out with unnecessary care.

  He placed them down carefully, smiling like a man who had just found religion.

  “Please,” Polvin said warmly. “Refresh yourselves. Thank you for your patience.”

  Lucien exchanged a glance with Dorian.

  He went to get these himself.

  The sudden enthusiasm was hard to miss and the eagerness was noticeable.

  Polvin turned fully toward Lucien, eyes shining.

  “Mr. Lucien,” he said sincerely, “you have a remarkable entrepreneurial spirit.”

  Lucien blinked.

  Polvin continued, voice almost passionate.

  “Most young people choose safety, stability and a quiet life. But you, you chose risk, vision and responsibility.”

  He shook his head in admiration.

  “I admire people like you more than anyone. Truly, because I’ve wanted to start my own business for years… and yet here I am, still an employee, choosing comfort over courage.”

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  Lucien opened his mouth, then stopped, unsure what to say.

  Dorian stared.

  Theo looked like he’d stepped into the wrong cubicle.

  Before any of them could respond, Polvin suddenly stepped forward, seized Lucien’s hand, and shook it vigorously.

  “Congratulations, Mr. Lucien!” Polvin declared. “I am approving this refinancing.”

  Lucien nearly lost his balance.

  “I will personally ensure everything is completed within the hour,” Polvin continued rapidly. “You don’t need to worry about anything. I will take full responsibility for this process.”

  Silence.

  Pure, stunned silence.

  Lucien nodded slowly.

  “Thank you… Mr. Polvin.”

  Dorian nodded as well.

  “Much appreciated.”

  Theo nodded too, mostly because everyone else was nodding.

  After a moment, Theo hesitated, then quietly asked,

  “Mr. Polvin… if you don’t mind me asking, why the sudden change of mind?”

  Polvin waved a hand dismissively.

  “No, no, no. You misunderstand, Mr. Theo. When did I ever say I wouldn’t approve it?”

  Theo frowned. “You said it was too risky…”

  “Yes! Risky,” Polvin interrupted cheerfully. “But risk is not rejection. Risk is opportunity.”

  He leaned back, smiling as if he’d just done them a great favor.

  “I am simply choosing to bet on you gentlemen.”

  His expression clearly said: See? Am I not generous?

  Theo slowly nodded, genuinely unsure whether he had misunderstood everything earlier.

  Dorian, however, remained silent.

  His eyes followed Polvin carefully.

  Something changed, Dorian thought. And it wasn’t the numbers.

  Whatever the reason was it worked in their favor.

  And for now… that was enough.

  Polvin moved fast after that.

  He initiated the internal workflow, flagged the refinancing request, pulled up document templates, and perhaps a little too enthusiastically returned with even more refreshments, placing them neatly beside Lucien, Dorian, and Theo as if they were VIP clients instead of a risk-laden anomaly.

  “Please,” he said cheerfully. “Let me know if you need anything more.”

  Lucien nodded politely.

  Dorian watched him with quiet interest.

  Theo accepted the tea with clear hesitation.

  Polvin had just begun filling in the next set of approvals when—

  Knock. Knock.

  His head snapped up instantly.

  For a fraction of a second, his heart leapt.

  …Could it be?

  He stood up quickly and straightened his suit.

  “Come in.”

  The door opened, and Polvin’s breath caught.

  Standing there was the personal assistant to the chairman.

  Someone who, under normal circumstances, would never knock on his door.

  She was far above him in the office hierarchy. Different reporting lines and different pay scale. Different world entirely.

  Polvin felt a jolt of adrenaline surge through him.

  I was right, he thought, pulse quickening. This can’t be a coincidence.

  The timing, the look on her face and the sudden appearance of someone this senior.

  Outwardly, Polvin looked shocked—but instantly respectful, bowing his head slightly.

  “Good morning” he said quickly. “How may I help you?”

  The assistant stepped inside, her gaze calm and assessing. She let her eyes drift across the room.

  Theo, Dorian. And then—Lucien.

  Her gaze lingered on him a moment longer than necessary.

  Then she turned back to Polvin.

  “What is the status of their loan?” she asked calmly.

  Polvin didn’t hesitate for even a second.

  “It’s already in progress,” he replied smoothly. “We’re processing the refinancing now. It will be completed shortly.”

  The assistant paused.

  “In progress?” she repeated, clearly surprised.

  This wasn’t normal.

  Deals like this especially ones carrying this level of risk without any guarantee were usually stalled, escalated, reviewed endlessly, or outright rejected. At the very least, they were discussed with senior management.

  But Polvin had done none of that.

  He had moved alone.

  Before coming here, she had checked his file out of habit more than concern and remembered exactly what she’d seen, a slashed quarterly bonus, a downgraded assessment rating, and the very same loan now under review flagged for scrutiny.

  Someone at his level shouldn’t even have been on her radar.

  And yet here he was confident, decisive, already pushing the deal forward again, as if the earlier red flags had never existed.

  Either he was exceptionally bold or too reckless.

  Her eyes flicked down briefly taking in the expensive refreshments laid out on the desk. Proper service, the kind usually reserved for major clients.

  Interesting.

  She looked back at Polvin.

  “It seems you value these clients highly, Mr. Sarett,” she said mildly.

  Polvin smiled immediately, the practiced smile of a career banker.

  “Of course,” he replied. “I always ensure our clients are well taken care of. It’s how Lunecrest Bank operates. I’ve always followed that principle to the best of my ability.”

  The assistant studied him again just a second longer this time.

  He talks well, she thought. Perhaps a little too well.

  Her gaze remained steady on Polvin, but her mind was already working.

  Did he figure something out? Or did he already know?

  That seemed unlikely.

  She herself had only learned about this just now and the girl didn’t come to the bank too often recently. Someone at Polvin’s level wouldn’t normally have access to that kind of information ahead of time.

  Which meant only one thing.

  He must have guessed.

  The timing, her reaction, the people sitting in front of him.

  He hadn’t known for certain but he had sensed that something about this situation wasn’t ordinary.

  And instead of hesitating… he had acted.

  She weighed that carefully.

  If he took this risk without confirmation, she thought, then he isn’t reckless. He’s instinctive.

  That kind of decision-making spotting opportunity when it briefly surfaced, and committing before it vanished was rare.

  Most people waited for certainty, waited for permission, let opportunity pass, even when it was placed directly in their hands.

  Polvin hadn’t, he’d stepped forward.

  Whether by intuition or courage, he had chosen to bet on something he wasn’t fully sure about and that alone set him apart from the many careful, timid officers scattered throughout the bank.

  This one, she decided quietly, has potential.

  He had taken responsibility, initiative and risk.

  And now, he would also bear the consequences, whether good or bad.

  Her lips curved almost imperceptibly.

  Yes, this Polvin could be given more responsibility and more opportunities maybe.

  He had already proven one thing, when opportunity appeared…he didn’t let it go.

  She straightened slightly, her expression returning to neutral professionalism, and she gave a small, approving nod.

  “You’ve done well, Mr. Sarett.”

  Polvin straightened instantly.

  “Thank you,” he replied humbly. “I was only doing what’s expected of me.”

  Outwardly, he looked calm, composed and professional.

  Inside, he was dancing with joy.

  I caught her attention.

  That alone was enough to fast-track promotions, unlock opportunities, and push someone several levels up the hierarchy. A better pay check, a better office and a better future.

  This was how careers changed.

  The assistant had already turned away from him, her attention shifting to the three men specifically on Lucien.

  “I apologize for the interruption, Mr. Lucien,” she said politely.

  Lucien shook his head immediately.

  “No, no. You’re not interrupting anything at all. Please don’t worry.”

  She inclined her head slightly.

  “Would you please follow me upstairs?”

  Lucien blinked. “Upstairs… where?”

  “The chairman’s office.”

  That caught all three of them off guard.

  For a moment, no one spoke.

  The chairman? Why the chairman?

  Lucien’s didn’t respond right away. Theo instinctively leaned closer and poked him lightly in the side, snapping him out of it.

  Lucien cleared his throat.

  “May I ask why?” he said carefully. “Is this because of the loan? It’s… not that large an amount to require the chairman’s personal attention.”

  She smiled faintly.

  “Yes. Under normal circumstances, that would be the case.”

  Lucien frowned slightly. “Then… what’s going on?”

  “The chairman will explain himself,” she replied calmly. “Please follow me, if you don’t mind.”

  Lucien hesitated for half a second, then nodded.

  “Of course.”

  He glanced at Dorian and Theo. “Can they come along?”

  “If they wish,” she said, stepping aside.

  Lucien looked at them, and without a moment’s hesitation, they moved

  As they moved toward the door, Polvin remained standing behind his desk, heart pounding.

  Is this it? Is this where I get left behind?

  If he wasn’t included now, the opportunity might be lost forever.

  He stood there, painfully aware of the distance between himself and the door.

  Then just before leaving the assistant paused and glanced back at him.

  A slight smile curved her lips.

  “What are you waiting for, Mr. Sarett?” she asked. “Standing there?”

  Polvin’s eyes widened.

  “Yes, yes, of course!” he said instantly. “Coming, ma’am.”

  He practically bounded out from behind his desk, straightening his jacket as he followed them trying, and failing, to contain the excitement building in his chest.

  The doors closed behind them and what had begun as a simple refinancing request had now turned into something else entirely.