Undying Love

‘I’ve been trying to get this deal together with Rick for months, and when he came over to England two weeks ago it was an ideal opportunity to further the talks. We finalised the deal on Friday, that’s partly what the party was about last night.’

‘Yes?’ Shanna was very wary now, Henry deliberately avoiding her gaze.

‘Well, that’s it,’ he shrugged.

‘No, that isn’t it at all, Henry,’ she refuted softly. ‘You haven’t told me anything I didn’t already know. What’s the deal you’ve made with Rick Dalmont? Has he come in as your partner or just with a financial loan?’

‘Neither.’ Henry wetted his lips nervously.

Shanna’s unease began to deepen. It wasn’t like Henry to be so evasive. ‘Then what is the deal?’

‘Look, when Dad died he left all the publishing business to me. Maybe he shouldn’t have done, but you were happily married to Perry at the time, and Dad did leave you financially secure.’

‘I never wanted any of the business, Henry, you know that,’ she dismissed. ‘You’re entitled to make whatever deals you want. I just want to know where I come into it, because I do, don’t I?’

‘Yes,’ her brother sighed heavily. ‘It’s Fashion Lady.’

‘What about it?’ she gasped.

Henry shrugged. ‘As of Friday it belongs to Rick Dalmont. You now work for him.’

CHAPTER TWO

SHANNA’s breath left her in a hiss. Fashion Lady now belonged to Rick Dalmont! She couldn’t believe it. Fashion Lady had become her lifeline the last year, had given her something worthwhile to do after Perry’s death six months ago. And Fashion Lady had continued to thrive under her control, her natural flair for what was fashionable and what would interest the fashion-conscious woman of today increasing the magazine’s circulation considerably.

And now it all belonged to Rick Dalmont. ‘I’ll have to leave,’ she said dully.

‘Er——’

‘Yes?’ Her tone was sharp at her brother’s hesitation, sensing there was more to come.

Henry looked anxious. ‘Part of the deal was that you would stay on for at least a transition period.’

‘And how long is that?’ she frowned.

‘Six months,’ he revealed reluctantly.

Shanna rose slowly to her feet. ‘No, Henry,’ she told him coldly. ‘You had no right to sign a deal like that without consulting me. Or were you asked not to?’ she realised sharply.

Henry looked sheepish. ‘I knew you’d never go for it——’

‘You knew?’ she accused.

‘All right, both Rick and I knew.’

‘Then you were both right,’ she snapped. ‘I could never work for him.’

‘But I’ve signed the contracts now!’

‘But I haven’t,’ she pointed out stiffly. ‘You knew I would never agree to it, Henry,’ she shook her head. ‘And your signature can’t commit me to anyone.’

‘You’re contracted to Fashion Lady, regardless of who owns it.’

‘Then I resign,’ she snapped.

‘Your contract requires three months’ notice,’ he reminded her.

‘I rescind all right to the money owed me,’ Shanna told him. ‘Just give me my references.’

‘I can’t do that,’ Henry shook his head. ‘I’m no longer your employer. And if you leave now Rick would sue you and me for breach of contract.’

‘Then let him!’ Her eyes flashed in challenge.

‘Shanna, I signed my part of the bargain in good faith.’ Henry’s voice lowered pleadingly. ‘One breach of the contract could ruin the whole deal.’

She glared at her brother. ‘Then it will have to ruin it!’

‘And the Chronicle could go under!’

She frowned, searching her brother’s face, seeing the lines of worry there, the strain he had been hiding from her. ‘That bad?’ she said softly.

‘That bad,’ he nodded grimly.

‘Rick Dalmont wouldn’t call off the whole deal just because I won’t work for him!’

‘He will,’ Henry said with certainty.

‘He—will?’

Her brother nodded. ‘He refused to even consider signing the contract until you were included in it.’

‘God,’ she said shakily.

‘It’s normal practice for senior staff to stay on after such a negotiation,’ Henry pushed his point as he sensed her confusion.

‘Nothing about Rick Dalmont is normal,’ she flashed. ‘You know why he’s done this, Henry. I won’t go out with him, so he’s forcing me to relate to him from a work point of view.’

‘That’s rubbish,’ he dismissed abruptly. ‘I told you, we’ve been discussing the deal for months.’

‘And when did I enter into it?’

‘About—Well, I——’ Henry broke off, frowning.

‘About two weeks ago, right? Before that I’m sure he had no interest in the staff of Fashion Lady,’ she scorned. ‘That he didn’t give a damn if they stayed or went.’

‘That isn’t true,’ her brother blustered. ‘The future of the staff of Fashion Lady has always been high on my list of priorities.’

‘Your priorities, Henry,’ she pounced triumphantly. ‘Rick Dalmont doesn’t give a damn about the little people who get in his way. He told me so himself.’