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.Once again, she was in a Chanel suit, this one navy blue with white piping.Her red hair, in sharp contrast to the suit, looked as hot as the tension between them.“You’re smiling,” Leana said.“It’s nice to see you smile.Are you thinking of the day you left Arkansas?”“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Leana.I was raised in Atlanta.You know that.Oh, and by the way, nice eyepatch.I hear everything is going to be fine for you.What a relief.For a moment, I thought we were going to have to deal with another felled Redman.”“‘Another felled Redman.’ I’ll let my father know you said that.He misses Celina as much as we all do.I don’t think he’ll take kindly to you referring to her as a ‘felled Redman.’”“That’s not what I meant.”“Of course that’s what you meant.”“Sorry.It wasn’t.”“Then what did you mean, Pepper?”“Certainly not that.We all miss Celina.” Pepper refused to go further.She looked at Sean.“Who’s he?”“Sean Scott.My head of security.”“You need a head of security?”“Look at my face, Pepper.What do you think?”“It must be awful to be targeted like that,” Pepper said.“Isn’t it you who said you wanted fame?”“Not your kind of fame.Nearly gunned down at a Best Buy, of all places.Imagine how that would have played in a Times obituary if the unthinkable had happened.Assuming, of course, that they decided to print it.If they had, it would have been awful.It would have spoiled the Redman name.”“Because I went to a Best Buy?”“Of course.Don’t you have an assistant?”“I don’t need an assistant.”“Then you have too much time on your hands.I have no idea what that’s like anymore.What a luxury.”“Pepper,” Leana said, “you and I are on equal ground here.I’m sure you’ve heard that from my father.”“What I’ve heard from Uncle George is that you’re being tested.”“What you and I need to do now is debrief,” Leana said.“Then you can leave and let me carry on with my morning.”“Great.Here’s what you need to know, Leana.” And Pepper Redman let loose with a litany of details that were so specific, they were meant to throw Leana’s head into a fog.Pepper spoke for almost ten minutes, speaking quickly and gesticulating around the lobby.She barely stopped to take a breath until she had no choice but to do so.When she finished, she cocked her head at Leana.“So, that’s where we stand.I hope you got all that, because I need to leave.”Leana held up her new iPhone and hit “Play.” She secretly had recorded the conversation.Pepper listened to her own rushed voice spilling its misleading maze of rapid-fire information.Realizing that she’d lost this round, her face fell for a moment before she caught herself and looked coolly at her cousin.“That’s so clever,” she said.“Look at you.Your own personal assistant.”Leana leaned so close to Pepper, she could smell her perfume and the coffee on her breath.“Can I share something with you, Pepper? Something just between us cousins?”“I don’t think—”“I’m going to kick your ass.I’m going to crush you like one of those big Arkansas bugs that used to freak you out when we were kids, and then I’m going to wipe up the floor with you.What you just tried to pull a moment ago? That’s exactly what I’d expect from you.So, watch your back, Wharton, because you don’t know who you’re dealing with.”“You’re so common, Leana.So cheap.What makes you think I don’t plan to do the same to you?”“Planning isn’t doing, Pepper.I just proved that, and that’s where you’ve already failed.” She smiled before walking away with Sean.“Have a nice day.”“I will,” Pepper said with steel in her voice.“And because it’s so difficult for you to see, try not to trip over anything.We’d hate to have a casualty onsite when we’re so close to opening.”“The only casualty,” Leana said, “is going to be your career.”* * *When they were far enough away from her, Sean Scott asked Leana if they could go somewhere private and talk.They went to the far end of the lobby, took a left and disappeared from Pepper’s sight.“What is it?” she asked.“How would you feel if I investigated Miss Redman back there?”“You mean, dig up some dirt on her?” Leana said.“If there is any there.”Leana put her arm on his shoulder and they started back into the lobby.Soon, the real estate firm would arrive and she needed to be ready for them
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