She wondered how many had been quietly discouraged before reaching the stage where their application would be recorded.
Then she turned back.
"Until we establish whether Project Meridian complies with approved policies and applicable requirements, suspend its use for new intake decisions. Follow the ordinary published criteria instead."
Keller looked up sharply.
"That will hurt our conversion numbers."
Amelia stared.
For a moment, she thought she'd misheard him.
Then she asked, "What exactly are you converting?"
He hesitated.
"Prospects into valuable clients."
She nodded slowly.
"And customers who don't meet your preferred revenue expectations?"
He looked toward Hargrove.
The executive remained silent.
Amelia leaned forward.
"Do they stop being people entitled to truthful information about our services?"
Keller didn't answer.
That silence gave her more information than another confident speech would have.
At 9:26, Amelia requested a short recess.
She didn't want the discussion to become a confrontation in which frightened employees simply repeated whatever they believed senior management wanted to hear.
The branch manager and his immediate management team were temporarily removed from front-counter decisions while Human Resources and Compliance assessed the situation. Routine banking operations continued under a qualified acting manager from another branch, and staff were instructed to follow existing published account procedures.
Amelia also asked that employees be able to provide information confidentially through appropriate channels.
She knew that an investigation could fail before it began if witnesses believed the person they were reporting would control their next performance review.
As the meeting broke up, Sofia appeared near the conference-room entrance carrying a tray of water.
She placed the glasses on the side table.
Then hesitated.
Amelia noticed.
"Miss Morales?"
The receptionist turned.
"Yes, ma'am?"
"Would you like to speak with someone from the independent review team?"
Sofia's face changed.
For a moment, she looked toward the hallway.
Then whispered, "Can it be private?"
Amelia nodded.
"Yes. You can speak with Compliance or Human Resources outside your management chain. We will also explain the protections and limits of the process."
The young woman swallowed.
"I have notes."
Amelia remained still.
"What kind?"
"Instructions. Dates. Things I've been told to do."
For a moment, her voice trembled.
Then she added, "I tried to report some of it before."
Amelia felt a tightness in her chest.
She wanted to ask a hundred questions.
But she understood that personally interviewing Sofia in an improvised conversation could complicate the evidence and place unnecessary pressure on an employee who already looked terrified.
Instead, she spoke gently.