Claiming His Wedding Night. Lee Wilkinson

still a long way to go.

      ‘However, while the negotiations are under way, as a gesture of goodwill, Salingers will put in place a financial package that will pay wages, hold off your creditors and keep things ticking over.’

      Had the offer been made by anyone other than Jared she would have regarded it as a lifeline, but, as it was, she strongly suspected that in reality it was a carefully baited trap.

      She was even more convinced when, looking at her from beneath long thick lashes, he added, ‘It might be as well to keep my name out of it and let your father think that you’re dealing with Calhoun.’

      ‘But that would give him a totally false picture,’ she protested.

      Jared lifted broad shoulders in a slight shrug. ‘It’s up to you, of course. If you think he can stand the additional stress and worry, tell him the truth by all means…’

      As she reached for her phone, he added casually, ‘There’s just one more thing. Tell him that I have to be in the States for the next ten days or so, and that I’ve invited you to join me there while further discussions take place—’

      ‘I don’t know what you expect to gain by this,’ she burst out, ‘but if you think for one minute that I’d go anywhere with you, you’re mad!’

      He sighed theatrically.

      ‘Oh, yes, I know,’ she cried, her voice bitter, ‘I don’t have much option.’

      ‘In view of the fact that we’re already over the Atlantic, you don’t have any option.’

      As she bit her lip, he added, ‘Now, as time is flying, your father must be getting anxious to hear from you…’

      He would be, she knew, and over the past weeks his hypertension and the amount of stress he was under had proved to be a big concern for his doctors.

      But what was she to say to him?

      A few seconds’ thought convinced her that it would be far too risky to tell him the truth. He was bound to find out sooner or later, of course. But for the moment at least, she would go along with Jared’s scenario, while she tried to put in place some kind of damage limitation.

      Taking a deep breath, she strove to steady herself. Her father knew her well and, as the news she was about to give him would appear to be as good as anyone had dared hope, she mustn’t allow him to pick up any signs of distress.

      As she brought up the number of the nursing home, Jared rose to his feet and, showing the kind of supreme confidence that made her grit her teeth, said, ‘I’ll leave you to it,’ and disappeared into the forward cabin.

      At the first ring, her father’s voice asked eagerly, ‘Perdita?’

      ‘Yes.’

      ‘I was just starting to get worried. How are things going? Any hope of saving the company?’

      Trying to sound positive, she said, ‘Yes, I think there might be.’

      ‘So what does Calhoun want?’

      She hesitated, then went along with it. ‘He started off by asking for fifty-one per cent of the shares.’

      ‘Just as I thought,’ John said grimly.

      ‘But when I told him you wouldn’t agree to that, he said he might be willing to negotiate.’

      ‘The trouble is, negotiations like that could take weeks, and we just don’t have the money to keep going in the meantime.’

      ‘He’s offered us a way round the problem.’ Perdita explained about the immediate injection of cash.

      She heard her father’s sigh of relief before he remarked, ‘In the circumstances, that’s extremely generous. I mean, Salingers must know they have us right where they want us.’

      ‘Yes,’ she agreed. ‘But of course it could well prove to be a two-edged sword, as it will effectively put us in debt to them.’

      As soon as the words were spoken, she bit her lip, realizing just how worried and despondent she must have sounded.

      ‘Well, in the circumstances, we haven’t much choice,’ John said practically. ‘And I’m only too relieved and thankful that you’ve done so well. I always knew I could rely on you.’

      When, pierced to the heart by such undeserved praise, she remained silent, he added, ‘Look at it this way; we’ve got a stay of execution while the negotiations take place, so there’s still a chance.’

      Trying to sound cheerful, she agreed, ‘Of course.’