Anya’s heart hammered a frantic rhythm against her ribs. Julian’s words echoed, a chilling premonition. “An internal investigation will be launched.” His gaze, devoid of warmth, promised nothing but scrutiny. She spent the weekend in a blur of anxiety. Sleep offered no escape, dreams filled with spreadsheets and flashing red numbers. Every creak of the floorboards, every distant siren, sent a jolt of adrenaline through her veins. Monday morning arrived with a leaden sky. Rain lashed against her office window, mirroring the storm brewing inside her. Anya gripped her mug, the ceramic warm against her cold fingers. Minutes later, a ping from her inbox. Julian's name flashed, a summons to his office at nine. She swallowed, a dry rasp in her throat. This was it. Stepping into Julian’s expansive office felt like entering a pressure chamber. Sunlight struggled to penetrate the tall windows, casting long, severe shadows across the polished floor. Julian sat behind his massive desk, a silent sentinel. His dark eyes met hers, utterly unreadable. A flicker of something, perhaps anticipation, crossed his face before settling back into a mask of professional detachment. Anya’s palms began to sweat. “Anya,” he stated, his voice even, “I’ve decided on the structure for the Azure Holdings Inc. internal audit.” She nodded, her posture rigid. Every nerve ending screamed for her to run, to confess, to do anything but stand there under his unwavering gaze. “Considering your extensive experience with the subsidiary, and your proven track record in financial analysis,” he continued, leaning back slightly, “I’ve decided you’re the most qualified to lead it.” The air left Anya’s lungs in a silent gasp. Lead it? The words felt like a physical blow, stripping her of all color. Her mind reeled, grasping for a coherent thought. Julian watched her, an almost imperceptible tilt of his head. He gave nothing away. Was this a test? A trap? Or did he truly not suspect her? “Excuse me?” Anya managed, her voice barely a whisper. She forced herself to maintain eye contact, a desperate act of defiance. “You heard me, Anya.” His tone was firm, brooking no argument. “You’ll assemble a small team, two junior analysts from finance, and report directly to me. I expect a preliminary report by the end of next week.” Every fiber of her being screamed in protest. This was an interrogation by proxy, a cruel twist of fate. She would be forced to dissect her own carefully constructed deception, to expose her own tracks. “But… wouldn’t that present a conflict of interest?” she asked, trying to sound genuinely concerned, not panicked. Her brain worked overtime, searching for an escape route. Julian’s lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. It didn’t reach his eyes. “On the contrary. Your deep understanding of Azure Holdings Inc.’s operations will expedite the process. No one knows their intricacies better than you.” The double meaning hung heavy in the air. *No one knows their intricacies better than you because you created them.* The unspoken accusation felt like a knife twisting in her gut. Resignation settled over her, cold and heavy. Arguing further would only raise suspicions. She had to play along, to navigate this treacherous path with absolute precision. “Understood,” Anya replied, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. She clasped them behind her back, hoping he wouldn’t notice the slight shake. “Good.” He pushed a slim file across the desk. “These are the preliminary findings. Dig deep, Anya. I want to know everything about this ‘unusual activity,’ especially the outflow to the Geneva charity.” Receiving the file, her fingers brushed against the cool cardstock. Inside, she knew, lay the very breadcrumbs she had so meticulously laid. Now, she had to pretend to follow them, to track herself. Leaving Julian’s office, Anya felt like a puppet whose strings had been cut, then reattached by a malevolent hand. Her steps were mechanical, her mind a whirlwind of strategies and fear. She spent the rest of the day in a haze, setting up her audit team. Liam, a bright but inexperienced analyst, and Sarah, meticulous but easily swayed, were her assigned companions. Perfect. They wouldn't question her too deeply, not yet. “We’re focusing on all transactions involving Azure Holdings Inc. for the past six months,” Anya instructed, trying to sound authoritative. “Specifically, any large transfers or newly established accounts.” Liam nodded eagerly, already pulling up the company’s general ledger. Sarah began requesting bank statements and subsidiary records. Anya watched them, a grim satisfaction warring with profound dread. Hours later, her office was a war room of financial documents. Printouts of ledgers, transaction records, and corporate filings littered her desk. Her gaze was drawn repeatedly to the line items involving ‘Azure Holdings Inc.’ and the corresponding outbound transfers. She requested the full financial statements of Azure Holdings Inc., specifically focusing on the period when Maya’s surgery funds were transferred. Every document she touched felt like a live wire, threatening to shock her. Carefully, she began to cross-reference entries, tracing the flow of funds. The initial three million dollar injection from Sterling Corp. to Azure Holdings Inc. was clean, legitimate. Her manipulation began after that. Then came the outbound transfer, the three million wired to the shell corporation, 'Orion Solutions SA', before its final destination in Geneva. Her stomach churned as she saw the familiar figures. She had meticulously crafted the paper trail, creating fake invoices for

Chapter 16: Interrogation by Proxy