Harry's elderly but wiry and astonishing strong doctor hauled a disbelieving Harry out of bed. When Harry's legs almost gave out on him, he agreed to stay in bed until Saturday, with a probable return to work on Monday.
"It's a virus laddie and there's little we can do about it. It just has to take its course," Doc Macdonald said with his persuasive tongue. "Now from memory you stock Scotch; don't disappoint me laddie."
"You'll find a selection in the living room cabinet Dr McIntosh.
Harry deduced the only advantage of this illness was Sierra had the opportunity to show her father she had at least a little of what it takes to run the newspaper operation, which was entirely separate from commercial printing activities and other publishing wings of the enterprise.
The Sentinel was the company flagship and the best profit center after commercial printing.
During the afternoon Harry called an old acquaintance. He'd had an affair with her when her husband was overseas on a United Nations posting for a year. It had been Harry's only adulterous affair to his knowledge, as he occasionally reminded himself when vowing never to do it again.
"Pru, it's Sebbi O'Hern (his middle name was Sebastian).
"Well, well it's my beautiful tall darling in from the cold."
Incorrectly why he was calling the highly respected litigation attorney said, "While Himself is living at home at the moment I have to say I've really become too refined these days to indulge in that sort of thing you'll have in mind," she giggled.
"That applied to me too," he chuckled. "Listen, I need a favor - I'm home in bed recovering from the flu and my assistant is in charge. It was she who released that mining disaster story to our readers in this morning's newspaper."
"Your assistant - do you mean Sierra Bycroft?"
"Yes."
"Oh Harry she wouldn't have a clue about litigation dangers if they slipped between her legs."
"I think she's easing back Pru. She's not pregnant to my knowledge but seems to be wearing her reformation conversion that still in progress with a sort of serenity."
"I'd have to see that to believe it Sebbi. If she has an interest in you it's only for your dick. I'm not meaning to be unnecessarily offensive love but really you're way out of her league as socially she's considered very top shelf."
Harry laughed defensively and turned the conversation back to business.
"Pru can you help me, a quick opinion about our vulnerability over that article, if any, to settle my nerves?"
"Yes darling. Give me your number and I'll call back within the hour. Your newspaper should be around here somewhere."
Pru called and gave Harry/Sebbi the relief he wanted, saying in her opinion the article appeared bullet-proof.
"I see money in a couple of instances and with the right Judge my arguments could be productive although any awards would rate as chicken-shit. I think everyone in our legal and political fraternities will be alarmed reading your disclosure that Black Gold International is involved in this and perhaps sinisterly as your article says, as a dodge to get mining done on the cheap because regulators act somewhat light-handedly with small operators."
"I'm picking if any legal action is threatened against your company, it won't make court because if it advanced that far Black Gold International would come under a Government-driven investigation."
"Thanks baby."
"Oooh Sebbi, no one sweet talks to me these days like that. I am pleased to reward you for all that effort you put into me."
They laughed and Harry said he would be sending her a trinket in appreciation. He called to instruct his PA to buy a tasteful single strand 18k gold necklace and paying no more than $1200, giving her the address of Prudence White, of Goldstein, Lacoboni, White, Attorneys at Law.
Liz the PA suggested matinee length and Harry agreed, having confidence in the knowledge and good taste of his assistant who was forty, a couple of years younger than the recipient. England-born Prudence White was a dear younger friend of his mother's. Harry had run into her - if you can call it that - during his final year at university.
At 5:30 Harry climbed into the shower, still feeling weak but improving, shaved and brushed his hair and applied an after-shave gifted by his mother called 'It's Irresistible Darling'. It wasn't Christmas or his birthday so he assumed it was a gift to his father that his mother deemed an inappropriately named product for her husband. Where that placed Harry in her esteem remained unclear.
Smiling, he drizzled some on to his chest and it soaked into his t-shirt when he put that on.
Harry attempted to sprawl in a tragic pose when he heard 'the girls' arriving late at 6:20.
"Oh look at the poor darling," Jenni said, sounding as she was almost sobbing.
While she rushed forward, Sierra hung back.
"Your face mask - where's your face mask," Harry said 'weakly', but Jenni said fuck the face mask and rained kisses on his brow while resting one hand on his belly, which Harry assumed would not have gone unnoticed by her girlfriend standing nearby.
Well was that classy or competitive? Harry wondered as Jenni stepped aside and he braced himself in case Sierra flew at him to out-do Jenni.
"Hi Harry, I'll go out and find a vase for these flowers," Sierra smiled.
"Don't I rate a kiss?"
He was appalled his tone sounded almost like a whine.
"Oh, I didn't think you were interested."
At that he clamped his teeth into his tongue to prevent a reply, knowing whatever he said would please no one. Fortunately his hound dog look came bounding to his face.
"You are so cute looking like that. You deserve a reward."
"Not on the lips," he croaked gallantly.
She moved queenly forward and dropped a delicate kiss under his chin, then almost spoilt the magic of the moment by yelling, "Holly shit, what have you splashed yourself with - it ought to be a banned substance?"
She leaned forward again and licked his neck.
Harry was horrified; what if flu germs were splattered down there, awaiting their next victim?
"What is it?" Jenni said excitedly, pushing in.
"His cologne, it's..."
