‘What are you doing here, Joan?’ I asked, from my propped-up position on the sofa. ‘Not that it isn’t lovely to see you.’

‘Chris phoned and told your dad you were sick,’ she explained as she bustled in carrying a basket. ‘I know you’re like your father and you don’t do ill, so I wanted to check you were being sensible. I nabbed your dad’s key. I hope that’s okay?’

‘Of course,’ I said, remembering not to nod just in time. ‘But I’m annoyed with Chris for dobbing me in.’

I’d had no intention of telling Dad I wasn’t well. I knew he was working from home, so my absence from the office for a few hours could have gone completely unnoticed, had it not been for my deputy’s meddling.

‘I don’t think he rang to cause trouble,’ said Joan, who always strove to see the best in everyone. ‘Apparently, he had some query about an urgent contract that needs signing off and didn’t want to disturb you. Ring any bells?’

‘Oh yes,’ I groaned. ‘A whole belfry full.’

Chris was behaving exactly as I suspected he would. He was using my loss of balance to his advantage and had grabbed the opportunity to write himself into Dad’s good books. As the person who had taken him on and trained him up, I supposed I should have been proud of his ambition. Had I been in his position, I would have done exactly the same thing.

‘I thought I’d bring you some lunch,’ Joan kindly carried on. ‘Are you well enough to eat it?’

‘I’ll try,’ I said, knowing it would be pointless to say no.

Still reeling from the second bout of vertigo I’d had in the last three months I really didn’t fancy the chicken soup she had taken the trouble to make; however, after the first few sips my stomach began to unclench and it was gone in minutes.

‘Thank you,’ I said gratefully, as she cleared up after me. ‘That was delicious.’

‘I thought it would be just the thing,’ she smiled, ‘and that it would be easier in a cup.’

She was right, as usual.

‘So, what did Dad say about me being off work?’ I bravely asked.

‘Not much. When I told him I’d come here and check up on you, he said he’d call in at the office.’

I wasn’t sure I liked the sound of that.

‘He was muttering something about letting Chris oversee the contract as it needs to be dealt with quickly. The lad sounds like a very willing member of the team to me.’

‘Oh, yes, he’s that all right,’ I agreed, my mood deflating further.

‘Well, don’t you worry about it,’ said Joan.

‘I’m not worried,’ I shrugged. ‘Why would I be worried?’