Joanna Neil - Sheltered by Her Top-Notch Boss

‘Good. I’m sorry I had to bring bad news.’

She nodded. ‘I suppose we all have troubles to bear.’ She glanced at him. ‘I hear that things aren’t so good for you back home. I know you said your father was unwell, but it’s quite serious, isn’t it?’

‘His heart is failing, so life is difficult for him.’ He braced his shoulders. ‘It’s not as bad as it sounds—as you know, people can live for years with heart failure. It’s more a matter of quality of life that needs to be addressed.’

‘Yes.’ When someone’s heart began to fail, it meant that the heart couldn’t cope with pumping blood around the body, resulting in breathlessness, discomfort and fatigue.

‘Still,’ she said, ‘he must be glad to have you back home. Are you living at the manor house?’

‘I am.’

‘And is that working out all right? You get on well with him, don’t you?’

‘Yes, I do.’ He gave a wry smile. ‘I’m his only son and he’s relying on me to take care of things and secure the family’s heritage.’

She thought about that. ‘I suppose you’ve had your career to keep you busy up till now. Becoming a consultant is a huge step.’

‘It is.’ He might have said something more, except that a small sound alerted them to the fact that they were no longer alone in the kitchen. They turned round.

Jayden stood in the doorway, clutching his teddy bear in the crook of his arm and rubbing his eye sleepily with his free hand. ‘You putted the light out,’ he said accusingly, looking at Ellie. ‘I has to have the light on.’

Ellie hurried over to him and crouched down, bringing herself to his level. ‘Oh, Jayden, sweetheart, I’m sorry.’

She’d turned the lamp out in case the light disturbed him. ‘Let me take you back to bed. I’ll leave your bedroom door open a little and put the hall light on. Will that be all right?’

The little boy nodded, and Ellie took hold of his hand to gently lead him back upstairs. She glanced back at James. ‘I won’t be long.’

‘That’s okay.’ He said it slowly and she saw that he was staring at Jayden in some kind of shock, his eyes wide, and a small frown creased his brow. Then he seemed to get himself together. ‘Actually, uh … no need to rush. I should go. I have to go on to a dinner party.’

‘Oh, I see. Of course … if you must.’

Jayden looked up at him. ‘Who that?’ he asked, holding onto Ellie’s leg for protection as she stood up.

‘I work with him at the hospital,’ she told him quietly.

James made an effort to relax and said with a smile, ‘Hello, Jayden.’

Jayden didn’t answer, but gave him a cautious look from under his lashes.

‘Come on,’ Ellie murmured. ‘Let’s take you back to bed. You have to get up for school in the morning.’ She glanced at James once more. ‘Give me a minute and I’ll see you out.’

‘That’s all right. I can see myself out. You go ahead.’ He walked towards the door. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’

‘All right, then. Bye.’ She couldn’t quite understand the expression on his face, a mixture of disbelief and conjecture, and it was only after James had gone that it finally dawned on her … he thought Jayden was her child. But he’d gone, without giving her a chance to explain.

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