The Unseen Value of Time

Travis Kelce stepped into Highland Crest Bank, the cool air conditioning washing over him as he entered. The lobby exuded an air of modern luxury, with mahogany desks and sleek glass partitions that spoke of wealth and prestige. Dressed in a tailored blazer, he felt confident, knowing he had earned his place in any room. His meeting with Linda Kramer was scheduled for 11:00 a.m., and he expected nothing less than professionalism.

As he approached the front desk, the receptionist, Melissa, greeted him with a clipped, automatic tone. “Welcome to Highland Crest Bank. Do you have an appointment?”

“Travis Kelce,” he replied, placing his leather portfolio on the counter. “I have a meeting with Linda Kramer at 11.”

Melissa tapped at her keyboard, confirming his appointment but offering no further acknowledgment. “You can have a seat. She’ll be with you soon.”

Travis nodded and took a seat near the floor-to-ceiling windows, where the morning sun illuminated the polished floor. He watched as a stream of sharply dressed professionals moved about, discussing market trends and investment strategies. Time ticked by, and as the minutes passed, he began to feel the weight of the delay.

At 11:30 a.m., he noticed that several people who had arrived after him were ushered into the executive offices, while he remained waiting. His fingers drummed lightly on his briefcase, frustration building. He had confirmed his appointment twice, yet here he was, still sitting in the same chair.

Deciding to address the situation, he approached Melissa again. “Excuse me, has Linda Kramer been told that I’m waiting?”

Melissa barely glanced up. “She’s finishing up with another client,” she replied, her tone indifferent.

Travis felt a flicker of irritation. “Do you have an estimate on when she’ll be available?”

Melissa shrugged, offering a vague, “It shouldn’t be much longer.”

He returned to his seat, trying to remain composed. But as he observed the lobby, he realized that every person who had walked in after him had been attended to, while he was left waiting. The dismissals felt personal, as if his time didn’t matter.

Finally, he stood up, walking past Melissa and toward the frosted glass doors that led to the executive offices. “Sir,” she called after him, but he didn’t stop. He pushed open the door and stepped inside.

Linda Kramer was sitting at her desk, typing away. Her expression shifted from surprise to irritation as she saw him. “Mr. Kelce, you should have waited to be called.”

“I did wait,” he replied, meeting her gaze without flinching.

Linda’s irritation was palpable as she forced a smile. “I apologize for the delay. We’ve been extremely busy today.”

“Busy?” Travis echoed, letting the word hang in the air. “Because I counted several walk-ins who were brought straight in.”

Linda’s mouth tightened, and she attempted to brush off his concerns. “There must have been a miscommunication.”

Before the conversation could continue, the door swung open, and three men in tailored suits entered the office. Leading them was Richard Langford, the CEO of Highland Crest Bank. His eyes lit up with recognition as he spotted Travis. “Travis! What are you doing here?”

Travis stood, offering a firm handshake. “Hey, Richard. Just here for a meeting.”

Richard turned to Linda, his expression shifting. “How long has Travis been waiting?”

Linda hesitated, and Travis let the question linger. “About an hour and a half,” he finally said.

Richard’s demeanor changed. “You had Travis Kelce waiting for an hour and a half?”

Linda scrambled for words, but Richard didn’t look at her. “You should have called me directly. I would have made sure you were taken care of.”

Travis felt a sense of validation as Richard’s focus remained on him. “This isn’t how we do things here,” Richard said, his voice steady but firm.

Travis leaned back slightly, “Seems like it is.”

Richard nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. He turned to one of the executives, instructing him to ensure Linda was off the floor immediately.

As the executives listened, Richard asked Travis to explain what had happened. Travis recounted the entire experience—the wait, the dismissals, and the indifference he faced. Richard listened intently, his expression serious.

“I appreciate you telling me,” Richard said finally. “And I’ll be honest, I’m pissed. This is exactly the kind of thing that wrecks reputations.”

Travis nodded, understanding the stakes. Richard instructed the remaining executive to fast-track Travis’s loan application, ensuring it would be approved by the end of the day.

As Travis left the office, he glanced back at Melissa, who no longer appeared confident. The summer heat pressed against him as he stepped outside, feeling a sense of