A Perfect Trade. Anna Sugden

through those horrible hours without his help. His calm presence and steady support had been crucial. The doctors had been clear, too, that Tru’s fast action had meant Harry had minimal brain damage, improving his chances of recovery.

      She owed Tru a huge debt of gratitude. How she repaid him was another matter, especially without seeing or speaking to him. Perhaps Hallmark had a suitable card.

      Jenny rolled her eyes. Stress had clearly taken its toll on her sanity.

      Aware that time alone with Harry was limited—his children visited every day—she slid her chair closer to his bed. He looked surprisingly well, as if he was asleep. His color was bright, with none of the pallor she saw in other bedridden patients. She almost expected him to open his eyes and demand to know when his next appointment was.

      If only he would. The longer this went on, the more Jenny worried he would never regain consciousness. She couldn’t bear the thought.

      “Come on, Harry,” she pleaded softly. “Enough’s enough. Time to wake up.”

      Was that a hitch in his breathing?

      Jenny’s gaze flew to the monitors at the head of his bed.

      Nothing. Not even a tiny blip.

      She looked back at his barrel chest, covered in a blue hospital gown. The steady rise and fall continued unabated. Must have been her imagination.

      More like wishful thinking.

      “If you don’t stop playing possum, I’ll start taking advantage. Do you really want me to play online bingo on your dime?”

      Her mock threat didn’t have the desired effect. She hadn’t expected it to. Still... A shiver went through her as she wondered what would happen to her if he didn’t recover.

      Don’t borrow trouble. She could count on Harry. Unlike other men in her life, he’d never let her down.

      In a few days, she’d take her pregnancy test. He had to be awake for that—whichever way the result went.

      Looking at her flat belly, Jenny wondered for the millionth time whether the embryo was still in her womb. She kept waiting to feel different. Not that she knew what it felt like to be pregnant, but figured she should feel something. Feeling nothing couldn’t be a good sign.

      She swallowed hard and took Harry’s hand. “You can play hooky today, but tomorrow I expect to see you awake and giving the nurses a hard time.” Her voice cracked.

      Clearing her throat, she pulled a newspaper and some magazines out of her bag. “So, to update you on last night’s second round play-off games, Buffalo topped Detroit in Game 3, 4–2. The Wings still lead the series, though. St. Louis took Minnesota to overtime, then beat them 4–3. That puts them up by a game over the Wild.”

      Jenny read Harry the game reports, then told him the rest of the sports scores. When a twelfth inning Yankees win over the Red Sox didn’t elicit a response, she knew he wouldn’t be waking up today.

      She sighed and moved on to a supermarket scandal sheet. “Now, your favorite, the latest celebrity gossip.”

      Jenny had barely finished reading him the first article when a nurse warned that Harry’s children were on their way.

      “Thanks for the heads-up, Dana. I’ll come back later.”

      Jenny had avoided Felicia and Irving on her visits, thanks to the help of the nursing staff. She hadn’t been so lucky at work. Irving had become an almost permanent fixture, spending endless hours in Harry’s office. At least he pretty much ignored Jenny. Meanwhile, Felicia was so nervous about making even the smallest decisions for her father that she checked endlessly with Jenny about everything from which flowers to order for the house to which engagements to cancel.

      Jenny stuffed the magazines into her bag and rose. “I’ll drop by this evening.”

      She smoothed his covers then leaned over to stroke his hair. Lingering for a moment, she murmured, “Hurry up and get well. I have a feeling I’m going to need you.”

      “For God’s sake. Why don’t you climb into bed with him?”

      Anger shot through her; Irving’s crude comment scraped an already raw spot.

      She deliberately took her time straightening, knowing it would infuriate Harry’s son. When she finally turned to face Irving, his lips were pinched with irritation. Felicia hovered in the background, looking as if she’d rather be anywhere else.

      “This is a hospital. There are rules about that.” Jenny flicked her hair over her shoulder. “You might get turned on by a public sexual display, but I prefer privacy.”

      “You should watch how you speak to your boss.”

      “I don’t work for you.”

      “Actually, you do.” Triumph lit Irving’s eyes. “Felicia and I have been appointed as Father’s legal guardians and we’ve been granted power of attorney.”

      Felicia nodded quickly. “It was approved this morning. Irving will manage the business while I take care of the personal side of things.”

      A chill went through Jenny. So that’s what Irving had been up to.

      She tried to sound calm even as she tamped down the panic rushing through her. “I thought the doctors said there was nothing to indicate Harry’s coma would be permanent.”

      “They did,” Irving drawled. “But as there’s so much money at stake, I thought it better to make my temporary stewardship of the business more official.”

      Talk about putting the fox in charge of the henhouse. “I see. I guess you’ll want to set up a time to go through your requirements with me.”

      “That won’t be necessary. I don’t need your services.” Irving smiled smugly. “You’re fired. Effective immediately.”

      Jenny gasped. “You can’t do that.”

      “Actually, I can and I have the court documents to back me up. Clear any personal possessions out of the office by the end of the week.”

      What would she do? How would she support Lizzie? “What about notice and the salary I’m owed?”

      Irving’s smile turned feral as he drew an envelope from his inside jacket pocket and handed it to her. “According to this contract, you’re entitled to two weeks’ salary or payment in lieu. The money will be in your account by close of day tomorrow.”

      This couldn’t be happening.

      Jenny opened the envelope, took out the papers inside and flipped through them. Her stomach dropped when she saw the terms. “This contract is out-of-date. That’s not my current salary. It hasn’t been for years.”

      Irving shrugged. “That’s what we’re obliged to pay, unless you have written proof otherwise.”

      She cast her mind back, desperately trying to recall any formal letters about pay. “There must be something in my file about my raises.”

      “That’s all there was,” Felicia said apologetically. “I made them double-check because I was surprised Daddy hadn’t updated your contract over the years.”

      “And you seemed so important to him.” Irving shot his cuffs. “He may have given you all his attention, but he gave us what really mattered.”

      Light-headed with the news, Jenny couldn’t react to the snide envy in Irving’s tone.

      He continued, “Unless you can produce documents proving something different, we’ll fulfill the letter of your contract.”

      She fought to keep her expression neutral, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of seeing how badly his news had shaken her. If there was ever a time for Harry to open his eyes and rescue her, it was now. She didn’t need to check the monitors to know her wish hadn’t been granted.

      What