Tessa's expression instantly changed. No wonder Matthew had been cold to her that morning when she helped pick up Lorraine. He was already involved with Rachel.

Seeing Matthew with two beautiful women caused a pang of discomfort in her heart. Elliott noticed Tessa looking at the entrance and turned to look as well. He recognized Matthew, a former regular client of the bank who had fallen from favor after imprisonment. Since then, Elliott had dealt with Tessa instead. Knowing Matthew had left his past behind, Elliott hadn't given it much thought until he saw the two women with him. When he recognized Rachel, president of Wealthwave Group—a woman he'd unsuccessfully tried to meet—his eyes lit up. She was there, with Matthew.

Elliott stood and approached Matthew. "Mr. Grant," he greeted, "it's been a while. I didn't expect to see you here."

Matthew smiled, shaking hands. "Mr. Robins, it's been a long time. What brings you here?"

Elliott hesitated. "Ms. Sanders invited me. When you were the boss, I always sought you out for deposits. Now, with a new boss, the loans have piled up—it's a bit much."

It was then that Matthew noticed Tessa. However, her issues were no longer his concern. "Let's not dwell on the past," he stated.

Elliott nodded, smiling. "Could you introduce me to your friends?"

Rachel proactively extended her hand. "Hello, I'm Rachel Carter. Nice to meet you." She felt compelled to be polite, since he was someone Matthew knew; otherwise, her nature wouldn't have allowed it.

Overwhelmed with excitement, Elliott shook Rachel's hand. "Oh, Ms. Carter! Your reputation precedes you. If there's anything our bank can assist you with, please don't hesitate to ask."

Tracy, uninterested, looked away; she wasn't keen on meeting Matthew's acquaintances.

After more pleasantries, Matthew excused himself. "We need to eat first. We can chat more later." The three of them went to find a table.

Watching Matthew leave, Elliott felt a bit reluctant. He wanted to chat more and build a deeper connection, but time was short. With a sense of regret, he returned to his seat.

With mixed emotions, Tessa watched Matthew leave. She used to think he'd have trouble finding a wife. Unexpectedly, he had two stunning beauties dining with him. She felt a bit jealous and wanted to greet him, but insecurity kept her back. She lacked the courage to approach him.

Seeing Elliott return, she composed herself and raised the loan issue again. "Mr. Robins," she said, "please help me. Can you reduce the interest by 20%?"

Elliott was tempted. After a moment, he proposed, "If Matthew returns as the boss, I'll give you the loan."

"What?" Tessa's expression changed slightly. "Do you think I'm not as good as Matthew?"

Elliott wore a regretful expression. "Yes, I have no confidence in you."

Tessa was indignant. "Since I took over, the company's scale has expanded tenfold. How am I not as good as him?"

Elliott responded, "Alright, I'll be honest. When Matthew was the boss, the company wasn't as large, but it was very profitable, and he deposited money. Since you became the boss, the company has grown, but you're always asking for loans. How can you compare to him?"

Tessa was shocked, frozen in place. She'd always believed her abilities were ten times better than Matthew's. She hadn't expected to be considered unqualified to even be compared to him. For a moment, she couldn't accept it.

Elliott stood. "I only came to see you out of respect for Matthew. I've pointed out the way; whether you take it is up to you."