Page 24 of Ansel

I clicked again. Another slide. Another miscalculation. Then another. And another. In total, I had six slides—pulled from various presentations, all based on data from Vanessa’s team. Each time, I had caught and corrected the errors before presenting.

But today, I showed the unedited versions, which exposed Vanessa's actions.

“Now, I’d like to show you the data that I finally presented—slides that I had to make changes to because of the errors that you were all kind enough to point out.”

As I flicked through the slides, everyone nodded, and some commented that the data was now correct.

Vanessa went pale.

"Ansel, what is the meaning of this?"

I didn’t answer, and instead, turned to Eleanor Monroe.

She smiled coolly and straightened in her seat. When she spoke, the entire room shifted its attention to her—because when HR took control of a meeting, it was never good forsomeonein the audience.

"I’ll be happy to explain themeaningof this," Eleanor drawled smoothly in her Georgia accent. "I was asked to look into some concerns raised about the accuracy of data coming from Vanessa Keller’s team. In the process, I interviewed Jimmy Jones, an analyst under Vanessa, and several others from Vanessa’s team and others’ teams, and what I found was frankly,appalling."

Vanessa stiffened. "I still don’t know what any of thismeans.”

Eleanor didn’t blink at the interruption and continued as if Vanessa hadn’t spoken. "Jimmy confirmed that the reports given to Ansel had been altered—afterhe delivered them correctly to his boss. This means that someone deliberately modified critical data before it was passed alongonlyto Ansel. No one else that we talked to has experienced thissabotage." She turned to Vanessa, her expression flat. "Care to explain how that is possible?”

The temperature in the room dropped.

Vanessa let out a breathless laugh, the kind people give when they’re trying to pretend they aren’t unraveling. "Well, Ansel is known to change numbers to suit?—"

“That’s not the correct answer, Vanessa.”

“Eleanor, I have no idea why Ansel has been messing up the data we have been sending him. That’s a questionheneeds to answer.” Vanessa sat up and folded her arms, defiance written all over her.

Eleanor simply lifted a manicured hand. "Since you’re not interested in giving us facts, it’s a good thing, I already have them. Vanessa, you use a company laptop to do your work—including screwing around with analyses sent to Ansel—which means IT can track everything you do. I’m sure you understand what that means.”

Vanessa was about to say something but Eleanor cut her off. “As of this moment, Vanessa, you are no longer an employee of Sterling & Co. Investments."

The words landed like a death sentence.

Vanessa gasped. She wasn’t the only one. As a high-profile executive who was seen as a rising star, this kind of nefarious behavior was not expected from her.

Eleanor cut her off. "Security is currently packing up your office. Someone from HR is waiting for you outside this conference room. They will escort you out of the building. I suggest you leave now."

The room was as silent as a tomb.

I didn’t move. I didn’t gloat. I simply watched as Vanessa’s perfectly composed mask fractured.

Patrick let out a slow breath, shaking his head in obvious disappointment. Charlie lounged back, arms folded, smug as hell.

Vanessa finally looked at me. And for the first time, there was no arrogance, no calculating glint in her eyes. Just the look of someone who had lost. She stood, straightened her blazer with shaky hands, and walked out.

Eleanor turned back to the room, her voice composed as she addressed the rest of the executives. "Let this serve as a reminder—integrity is not optional at Sterling. And we will not tolerate sabotage, deception, or unethical behavior. Not from anyone."

Message delivered.

I exhaled, tension leaving my shoulders as I clicked off the presentation. I had thought this moment would feel triumphant, that I’d feel vindicated, but all I felt was relief.

I had done the right thing, but I hadn’t done it alone.

Eleanor had helped. Neha had helped. Jimmy had helped. Charlie had helped. Even Joanna had helped.

It took a village, and I was lucky I had so many people behind me. It was a life lesson I wished I’d learned earlier on before I fucked it up with Neha.

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