Anna Sugden - A Perfect Trade

“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 “This contract is out-of-date.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 would she do? She had to find a way to get through this nightmare until Harry woke up and fixed this mess. One thing was sure, she couldn’t stay here.

Jenny moved toward the door.

“One more thing.”

She stopped and turned. Her heart lurched as Irving pulled a familiar, crumpled cocktail napkin out of his pocket. A terrible roaring filled her head. She grabbed the back of a chair to steady herself.

“It seems you owe our father a substantial sum of money. Expect a letter from our lawyers.”

“Not right away, of course.” Felicia’s smile was overly bright, her tone eager to please.

Irving shot his sister an irritated look. “But we will call in the debt.”

Unable to force a word past her tight throat, Jenny walked out of the hospital room, holding her chin high. She managed to hold herself together, until she reached the parking garage and sank into her red Audi TT. Lowering her head to the steering wheel, she swore.

How could she have let this happen? How could she have left herself so vulnerable?

Surviving without her paycheck would be tough enough. No way could she afford to pay back that IOU. Three-quarters of the money had already gone to the IVF clinic, with the rest due any day. There was just enough left of her savings to scrape together the payment due soon for Lizzie’s tuition and board. Otherwise, she was flat broke.

Jenny drove home in a daze; half her brain on the traffic, half on what she could do to make ends meet. Get another job. Sell her car. Sell stuff on eBay. Rob a bank.

As she pulled into her driveway and parked, she was no closer to a solution. Though, obviously, robbing a bank wasn’t a viable option. She didn’t have a gun or a stocking mask.

Getting out of her car, Jenny felt a slight tug in her womb.

She froze.

The tug came again. Her breath caught. Please no. Not this, too.

Her body trembled as she waited anxiously to see if it happened again. After a few minutes, she released her breath in a hiccuping sob.

Must have been a false alarm. A warning that she couldn’t take any more stress.

The phone was ringing as Jenny walked into the house. She was tempted to ignore it, but changed her mind when she saw who was calling.

She’d barely said hello before Lizzie demanded to know what was wrong. “Is it Harry? Is he worse?”

Jenny closed her eyes for a moment and tried to sound normal. “No. He’s the same.” She explained about Felicia and Irving being appointed Harry’s guardians. “But I’ve been fired.”

“How dare they? You’re Harry’s girl Friday.”

“I should’ve seen this coming when Irving brought his secretary with him.” Lizzie’s fury on her behalf soothed Jenny’s battered soul, but it didn’t solve her problems. “I can get another job, but not one that’ll pay even half what I earn now. I’m hardly well-qualified, with only a GED. I shouldn’t think Irving will give me references, either.”

“There has to be something you can do. It’s an unfair dismissal. Talk to Maggie or her sister—they must know a lawyer you can talk to.”

“I can’t afford a lawyer.” Jenny bit her lip. “Don’t worry. I’ll figure something out. Besides, once Harry gets better, this will all be fixed.”

Assuming he got better. She couldn’t bear to think about the alternative.

“Why don’t you do something hockey-related? Maybe something in the media. You have incredible knowledge of the sport and you’re familiar with the teams and rinks. Players, coaching staff and commentators already respect your insights. I’m sure readers would, too.”

Lizzie’s words made Jenny pause and consider. People in the game did feel comfortable around her. She was often asked advice about shots or plays or her opinion of the opposition.

A tiny bubble of excitement bounced in her stomach. “That’s a good idea. I know the sports editor at The Journal. Maybe he could find a slot for me. Though, technically, there’s only a few weeks left in the season.”

“There’s still all the stuff over the summer—the draft, free agency. It’s worth a shot.”

By the time Jenny hung up, she felt a little less panicked. She had a few options she could pursue. She sank onto the couch and leaned her head back against a cushion as she made a mental list of who she could approach.

She’d got half a dozen names on the list when the tug in her lower belly returned.

This time, it didn’t stop, but turned sharp and stabbing, like a period cramp.

Even though she’d given up believing in God years ago, she sent a quick plea heavenward. Don’t let me lose the baby.

Jenny sat motionless on the couch, delaying. She knew what she had to do, but once she did that, all hope would be gone. Sure, she’d have to wait a few more days to take the pregnancy test to confirm it, but the evidence would be there.