Although Alvin had only started banking with Ozone Bank a few months earlier, he had quickly become one of the bank's most valued customers because of the substantial amount of money he regularly deposited.
As Josh approached the manager's office, he reached into his pocket to retrieve the check.
His heart skipped a beat.
The check was gone.
He frantically searched his pockets again, but it was nowhere to be found.
"Oh no!" he muttered under his breath.
Without wasting another second, Josh hurried back to the car, hoping he had somehow dropped it inside.
The chauffeur looked surprised when he saw him return.
"So soon?" he asked.
"I misplaced the check," Josh replied anxiously. "Did you happen to see it anywhere?"
The chauffeur frowned and glanced around the car.
"I'm not sure. But…"
His eyes suddenly landed on a piece of paper lying behind the passenger seat.
"Isn't that the check you've been looking for?"
He pointed toward it.
Josh followed his gaze and immediately recognized it.
"Yes! That's it!" he exclaimed with relief. "Thank goodness!"
He quickly picked up the check and let out a nervous sigh.
"Mr. Alvin would have my head if I lost that check."
Without wasting another moment, Josh rushed back into the bank, clutching the $1 million check tightly.
He was only a few steps away from the manager's office when a middle-aged woman suddenly brushed against his shoulder.
The impact caused the briefcase in his hand to slip and crash onto the floor.
Josh spun around furiously.
"Are you blind?" he snapped. "Didn't you see me coming?"
"Pardon my manners. I wasn't looking where I was going," she apologized, bending down to pick up the briefcase.
But before she could touch it, Josh quickly stopped her.
"Hey! Don't touch that," he snapped. "You have no permission to pick it up."
The woman immediately withdrew her hand, startled by his reaction.
"I was only trying to help," she explained apologetically.
"Thank you, sir."
The woman continued apologizing as she walked away.
Josh bent down, picked up the briefcase, and hurried toward the manager's office, still visibly irritated by what had just happened.
"Hey, Mr. Josh. Welcome to Ozone Bank," a warm voice greeted him. "Alvin already informed me about your arrival. Please, have a seat."
It was Connard May, the bank manager.
As Josh settled into the chair, Connard noticed the troubled expression on his face.
"What's wrong?" he asked curiously. "You don't seem yourself. Did someone offend you?"
"It was… Never mind," Josh replied dismissively. "It's already been sorted out. I just came to cash this check."
He reached into his pocket for the envelope.
Nothing.
Josh froze.
He checked the other pocket.
Still nothing.
His heart began pounding.
"What's wrong?" Connard asked, noticing his sudden change in expression.
"The envelope…" Josh stammered.
"What envelope?"
"The envelope containing the one-million-dollar check. It's gone!"
Connard's expression immediately changed.