Park Avenue (Book Six in the Fifth Avenue Series) (45 page)

“I didn’t say you
disappointed me, just that you surprised me.”

“There’s a fine line
there.”

“Maybe.
 
But look—if doing this will get it
out of your system, maybe it’s a positive thing.
 
You want him to see what you’re capable
of.
 
I get it.
 
What concerns me is the potential loss
of your own momentum if he ropes you in.”

“Who says he will?”

“I know your father.”

“Even if he does, it will
be on my terms.”

“Is that how you see it?”

“It is.”

“Leana, I’m not telling
you anything you don’t know.
 
But if
you pull this off for him and clean up Pepper’s mess—which you
will—George will throw diamonds at you.
 
You’ll have your pick of high-profile
projects.
 
Those will be difficult
to turn down.
 
And don’t think for a
moment that your father won’t be running the show.
 
It’s who he is.
 
As tense as my relationship with him is,
I still admire him, even if I don’t exactly trust him.
 
Neither should you.”
 
He squeezed her shoulder.
 
“Relax.
 
I’m just offering friendly advice.
 
What I want for you is probably
immaterial, but working for him will consume more and more of your time, which
could be spent on your own projects.”

“I understand that.
 
I’ve promised nothing, Anastassios.
 
I’ve given this plenty of thought.
 
When I’ve cleaned up what Pepper
couldn’t finish, part of me just wants to rub it in his face, and then go
forward with my own work.
 
Another
part of me wants the relationship Celina had with him.
 
It’s complicated.”

“We make our lives as
complicated as we want to make them.”

“So, now you’re a Greek
fortune cookie?”

“Very funny.”

“To a point, I suppose we
do.
 
But I hear you and I hear
Mario.
 
And Harold.
 
Especially Harold.
 
I hear him loudest of all.
 
He’s in my head every day.”

“Then listen to him.
 
He had a lot of faith in you.
 
We all do.
 
We just want what’s best for you.”

“I appreciate that.
 
And I appreciate all that you’ve done
for me.
 
Sean is amazing.
 
He and his team have been terrific through
all of this.
 
Sean has protected
me.
 
Now one of his men is protecting
my brother.
 
What I haven’t told you
is something my father did without my knowledge.”

“What’s that?”

“He hired one of Sean’s
men to tail me.
 
He did it after the
shooting.
 
He wanted another set of
eyes to watch over me.”

“And you were touched by
the gesture?”

“Of course, I was.”

“When did he reveal this
to you?”

“Just the other day.”

“What happened between
you and him during that day?”

“What do you mean?”

“Were there any
arguments?
 
Any signs that you might
leave after this project is finished?”

They stopped walking and
Leana looked up at him.

“How did you know that?”

“Because I’ve known your
father longer than you have.
 
I know
how he thinks and how he works.”

“You’re saying that
revealing that information was strategic on his part?”

“I’m not saying
anything.
 
I’m just pointing out
that he did make a decision about when to tell you.”

Leana felt suddenly
embarrassed and angry.
 
Why
didn’t I see this myself?
 
How could
I be so naive?
 

“Look, Leana, he very
well might have been doing the right thing.
 
I just want your eyes open as you go
forward.
 
That’s all.
 
I probably shouldn’t have said anything,
but when you mentioned it, that’s where my head went.
 
You mean a lot to me.
 
I feel that if I don’t share my thoughts
with someone I consider family, I’m doing them a disservice.
 
But I’ve upset you.
 
I can see that.
 
I apologize.
 
I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“I’m glad you said
something.”

Behind them came a
voice:
 
“I’m sorry I’m late.”

Both turned.
 
It was Pepper.
 
She was coming through a set of doors.
 
Leana noticed that she was in a new
Chanel suit, that her hair was shorter and a deeper shade of red, and she
wondered again just how much her father paid her.
 
She knew how much that suit cost, and
she knew how much her apartment at Redman Place cost.
 

Who is my father really
favoring?

“Pepper,” Leana
said.
 
“This is Anastassios
Fondaras.
 
Anastassios, meet Pepper
Redman, my cousin from Arkansas.”

To her surprise, Pepper
didn’t correct her.
 

“Mr. Fondaras,” she
said.
 
“It’s a pleasure.
 
I’ve heard so much about you.”

“Really?
 
From whom?”

For an instant, Pepper
wavered.
 
But Anastassios, ever the
gentleman, didn’t let her hang there long.

“It doesn’t matter.
 
It’s also nice to meet you, Pepper.
 
I’ve only just heard about you, but I
have a feeling I’ll be hearing more in one way or another.
 
You know, you’re fortunate.
 
Leana will guide you into what you want
to become.
 
She’s talented in ways
that I hope you will come to appreciate.”

Pepper absorbed that with
a tight “I already do.”

“You’re still so young,”
Anastassios said.
 
“So, I’m not sure
that you do.
 
At least not yet.
 
But it might come in time.
 
Here’s my best advice.
 
Soak in what she’s learned by watching
her father and Celina, because Leana began watching them when she was a child.
 
She may not have been the active
participant her sister was because she wasn’t given the chance Celina was
given, but I can assure you that Leana has been studying everything the entire
time.
 
And she’s learned.
 
Her hotel is proof.
 
So is her work here.
 
If she wasn’t working for herself and
for her father now, I’d hire her in a minute for one of my own projects.
 
She’s that good—and you are that
lucky.
 
Stop looking so surprised,
Pepper.
 
It’s the truth.”

He turned to Leana and
kissed her on each cheek.
 
“Meetings,”
he said.
 
“The day is filled with
them.
 
I’m glad that we could see
each other.
 
I have to say I was
curious to have a look around, and I’m especially happy to say that I’m
thrilled for you and your father.
 
You’ll do well here.”
 
He
grasped her hands, held them, and looked at her eyepatch.
 
“When does that come off?”

“If all goes well, I lose
it in a week.”

“Just in time for the
opening of The Park.
 
I’m hearing
it’s going to be a star-studded event.”

“Michael is helping to
that end.”

“As are you.
 
People adore you—you know
that.”
 
He looked at Pepper.
 
“The Hotel Fifth is opening on the same
date, isn’t it?”

“It is.”

“Oh, my dear,” he
said.
 
“What can anyone say to
that?”
 

And without another word,
Anastassios Fondaras walked across the lobby, moved through the doors, and
disappeared from sight.

CHAPTER
SIXTY-FIVE

Leana looked at Pepper’s
new suit, then at her hair.
 
“Where
were you this morning?
 
Shopping?
 
The salon?
 
Both?
 
I thought you were sick?”

“I was.
 
I went to my doctor.
 
I told you I didn’t feel well, and I
still don’t, though I’m better than I was.”

“You look fine.”

“Chanel does that for a
person.
 
You should try it.”

She watched her cousin,
who seemed strangely uncomfortable.
 
“Is something wrong, Pepper?
 
You’re fidgeting.”

“I’m not fidgeting.”

“You can barely stand
still.”

“Maybe I have to use the
restroom.
 
I told you I don’t feel
well.”

“Too much information.”

“Whatever, Leana.”

“Don’t give me attitude,
Pepper.”

“Why don’t I just get to
work?
 
How about that?
 
How about if I be
productive
?
 
Hugo Morel is coming this afternoon,
isn’t he?”

“You know he is.
 
What you don’t know is that the
penthouse installation needs to be finished by this evening.
 
You’ll need to stay until he leaves.
 
Sorry about that.
 
I’ll be at The Park, but call me if he
needs anything—not that I expect that he will.
 
I’ve also commissioned him to do two
other units, so he’ll need access to them at some point.
 
Be aware of that.
 
He’ll need to move quickly on them, but
he said he could do it, and I have no reason to doubt him.
 
Just make sure that the units are clean
and ready for him when he needs access to them.”

“Which apartments?”

Leana told her.

“I’ll have the cleaning
crew on them within the hour.
 
Anything else?”

“There’s a list in your
office.
 
You’ll be busy.”

“I’m always busy.
 
Good luck today.”

“With what?”

She shrugged.
 
“Your hotel.
 
What else?”

Pepper turned and walked
away from Leana, and as she did, she passed Sean Scott, who watched her go
until she was out of sight.
 
When
she was, he came over to Leana.
 
“Have a moment?”

“Only if I can borrow
your gun.”

“Denied.”

“What’s up?”

“Maybe nothing.
 
Maybe something.
 
Do you remember when I asked you if
you’d like me to do a little research into Pepper?”

“You said you’d like to
get some dirt on her.”

“Actually, you said
that.
 
I asked if you’d like me to
investigate her for you, and I have been.
 
I’ve had her followed.”

“Really?
 
What is Pepper’s life like?”

“Mostly dull.
 
But she was rattled by something this
morning.”

“How do you mean?”

He reached into his
pocket and removed his iPhone.
 
“She
visited someone today.”

“She told me she went to
see her doctor.”

“She may have.
 
I need to find out who the building’s
tenants are.
 
But I received these
photos from one of my men about thirty minutes ago.
 
Have a look.
 
Blow them up.
 
Tell me what you see and don’t see.
 
Then focus on Pepper’s face.”

Leana took the phone and
flipped through the photos.
 
Pepper
going into the building, briefcase in hand.
 
Pepper coming out of the building, no
briefcase in hand.
 
She gave Sean a
questioning look, but he nodded at the phone.
 

“Keep going.”

She did, and what she saw
in the next series of seven photos could only be described as a look of fear or
terror on Pepper’s face.

“What’s wrong with
her?
 
And where’s the briefcase?”