Chapter 5 Well Done

“Gentlemen,” he said, and the room immediately settled. “This is Nerissa Sullivan, my lead data analyst. She oversees our European analytics and has been working directly with the Zenith data. She'll explain what the current proposal is missing.”

I glanced at him. Lead data analyst?

That wasn't my official title. He knew it, and I knew it, but he had given me the title without hesitation, placing more authority behind my name than I technically carried. There was no time to question him about it, so I walked toward the screen, connected my laptop, and brought up the first slide.

Harrington, seated at the center of the table, looked from me to the presentation.

“We're short on time,” he said. “We've already reviewed the cost projections, and they're too high.”

“I know,” I said, turning toward the screen. “That's because they're based almost entirely on the North American models.”

I brought up the comparison with the results recorded in Oslo.

“Zenith's core technology has been operating there for two years. Their published figures show a seventy-two percent improvement in efficiency. I cross-referenced those numbers against energy consumption, maintenance costs, and operating hours. Even after adjusting for the differences here, the results are significantly better than our current projections.”

The man with the glasses leaned back. “Published figures can be manipulated.”

“They can,” I agreed. “That's why I didn't use the headline numbers.”

I clicked to the final slide.

“The current proposal estimates a seven-year payback period. Based on the adjusted data, it's approximately eighteen months. After that, the operating savings continue to accumulate.”

Harrington leaned forward, studying the graph. “What makes you confident the Oslo results can be replicated here?”

“The conditions aren't identical,” I said. “That's why I adjusted for the differences in operating hours, energy costs, and maintenance requirements. The revised projection still puts the five-year operating cost substantially below the current proposal.”

The man with the glasses leaned forward again. “What about the supplier?”

My stomach tightened. I hadn't prepared that page for the presentation. The information was in another file on my laptop.

I opened my mouth, trying to decide how to answer.

“Page seventeen,” Vance said from near the window.

I turned toward him.

“The supplier plan is included in the packet in front of you, Mr. Harrington. Ms. Sullivan flagged it during her initial analysis. It's one of the reasons we brought this meeting forward.”

I stared at him for half a second. I hadn't flagged it to Harrington. But Vance had apparently anticipated that I might need the information.

Harrington turned to page seventeen. Several sections had been highlighted in yellow. “You aren't afraid of the size of the initial investment, are you, Ms. Sullivan?”

I shook my head. “No, sir. I'm more concerned with making a decision based on the wrong timeline. The initial investment is high, but waiting two years would cost more than proceeding now.”

I brought up the five-year comparison. “The higher investment is recovered within eighteen months. After that, the reduction in operating costs continues to accumulate.”

The room went quiet. Harrington studied the numbers for several seconds before closing the packet. “You were right about the timeline.”

I let out a quiet breath.

He looked toward Vance. “The initial investment isn't the problem. The way we've been calculating the return is.”

Vance gave a small nod.

Harrington turned back to me. “The board meets Monday. I want you on the call.”

I blinked. “Me?”

“Yes. You understand the numbers, and you've built the revised model. If we're going to move forward with this, I want the person who worked through the data explaining it.”

“Of course.”

“Make sure the revised projection is ready by Friday.”

“I will.”

Harrington gave me a final nod before turning back to the documents in front of him. The other executives began gathering their papers, and the meeting slowly came to an end.

I remained beside the screen for another moment, staring at the final graph.

An hour ago, I had been sitting in the back of a taxi trying not to fall apart because my husband had chosen another woman.

Now I was standing in a boardroom with my name attached to a decision worth millions. The pain hadn't disappeared. Neither had the questions waiting for me at home. But for the first time that morning, I wasn't thinking about Zane or Jovi.

I closed my laptop. “Thank you, Mr. Harrington.”

He nodded before turning toward Vance.

Vance was already watching me. “Ms. Sullivan. My office.”

I gathered my things and followed him out.

Neither of us spoke as we walked down the corridor. The silence wasn't uncomfortable, but I was unusually aware of him beside me. The last time we'd been alone together, I had been drunk enough to kiss him and sober enough the next morning to regret it.

When we reached his office, Vance walked behind his desk while I remained near the door.

“That was well done.”

Coming from him, the simple acknowledgment meant more than I expected. A small smile touched my lips before I could stop it. “Thank you.”

His gaze remained on me.

“And thank you for the additional packet.”

“It was necessary.”

“You prepared it after I left the elevator?”

“I had Lydia pull the supplier information while you were on your way up.”

I nodded.

He glanced at the documents on his desk. “Harrington wants the Zenith proposal moved forward. There will be another meeting before the final decision.”

I looked at him. “Do you want me to attend?”

“I do.”

“As the project lead?”

“As the person who understands the numbers.”

I held his gaze for a moment, then nodded. “All right.”

He picked up a document from his desk and glanced through it before looking back at me.

“You'll be representing the project. That means the board won't be the last room you'll have to convince.”

I understood what he meant. Once the merger was announced, the industry and the press would be watching the project, and my name would be attached to it.

Why are you giving me this opportunity?”

Vance set the document down and met my eyes. “Because you earned it. You knew the numbers better than anyone in that room, and when they challenged you, you had an answer for every question they asked. I wouldn't have put you in front of them if I didn't think you could handle it.”

A small smile touched my lips. “Then I'll make sure I don't disappoint you.”

Vance watched me for a moment before saying, “I don't think you will.”

I looked up at him, and for a second, I thought the conversation was over. Then he added, “And because I'm tired of losing good people to bad choices.”