“What did you think of the process?”
“It was a lot like a card game, not quite as
interesting but—I could see the appeal.”
Henrietta laughed. “You’re right—a good
negotiation is always a bit of a game.”
Derian paused, noting an extra IV pole. “Is
it my imagination, or is there more equipment in here today than yesterday?”
“Oh, just some extra medication they added.”
“Why?”
“Nothing serious, just a little blood clot.
The medicine will take care of it.”
Derian grew very still. “Blood clot? Where?”
“My right leg,” Henrietta said with a huff of
disgust. “Apparently it happens when you don’t get up and move around enough.
Although how I’m supposed to do that—”
“Okay, I got it.” Derian kept her voice calm.
“How come no one called me about it?”
“It’s not like there was anything you needed
to do,” Henrietta said. “It was far more important that you take care of business
and not be distracted. I’m perfectly capable of making my own medical decisions
now.”
“I want to talk to the doctor.” Derian turned
to go.
Henrietta caught her arm. “He’s not going to
tell you anything that I haven’t already told you. I need a course of
anticoagulants—heparin—and then some oral medication after I get home. It’s not
a major setback.”
“Are you telling me the whole story?”
Henrietta was perfectly capable of downplaying the seriousness of the
complication, but going head-to-head with her was not something she wanted to
do.
“Absolutely.”
“Okay, but I’m still going to talk to him
tomorrow.”
“Of course you are,” Henrietta said fondly.
“So tell me all about today.”
Derian recounted everything she could
remember about the meetings with the foreign rights agents. “Emily is writing
everything up for you because she knows you’d want to know. But you have to
promise to let us handle it.”
“How is that going? The two of you at the
agency?”
“I’m surviving, but I’m pretty much useless.”
Derian hadn’t told her about Donatella and didn’t intend to.
“I doubt that. You’re quick when you put your
mind to it. And Emily knows what she’s about. The two of you should be able to
handle anything.”
“Emily could handle anything without me,”
Derian said.
“Everyone needs a sounding board, Derian. And
given the circumstances, Emily needs your support.”
“She has it,” Derian said. “And the sooner we
get things straightened out, the better.”
“As soon as I’m up and around—”
Derian shook her head. “No deal. You’re not
going back to work, HW. Not until the doctors say, and until then, I’m in
charge.”
Henrietta’s brows shot up, and the old fire
kindled in her eyes. “Really? A coup, is it?”