Chapter 3 - The Interrogation Room Confession
The sterile white walls of the foundation’s private security office felt a million miles away from the glittering ballroom upstairs.
I sat at a heavy oak table, the financial audit files spread out before me, tracing the digital footprints that Beverly had so carefully tried to erase.
My father paced the small room, his hands clasped behind his back, the heavy gold signet ring on his finger catching the harsh fluorescent light.
"You took a massive risk infiltrating the gala tonight, Maya," Julian said softly, the stern founder melting away to reveal a tired father looking at his estranged child.
"I couldn't just sit back and watch you lose your life’s work to someone who only cares about luxury, Dad," I replied, my voice steady despite the adrenaline still humming through my veins.
There was a sharp knock at the heavy steel door, and head of security Marcus Vance stepped inside, holding a confiscated smartphone.
"We unlocked Beverly’s personal device," Marcus reported, placing the phone flat on the table.
"She wasn't working alone. The offshore shell company received a secondary transfer just twenty minutes ago, routed through an account belonging to someone else on the executive board."
Julian stopped pacing, leaning over the table to inspect the screen as the sender's identity loaded.
My heart pounded against my ribs as I read the name flashing on the display.
It wasn't just Beverly; the second collaborator was none other than Arthur Sterling, the foundation’s chief legal counsel and my father’s oldest, most trusted confidant.
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Before my father could process the betrayal, the office lights flickered violently and died, plunging us into total darkness accompanied by a sharp click at the door.
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