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way.   He probably wanted me to let him off the hook.”   She went into their bedroom and reached
for the phone on one of the side tables.   “In this case, I’m more than happy to help him out.”

 
 
    *   *   *

 
 
    When
they were dressing, Leana stood in front of the mirror in her dressing room and
appraised herself.   She was going
for a kind of retro thirties look and, as she turned and twinkled in the light,
she decided she kind of dug it, even though some would probably say that the
dress was too short and too gaudy for such an event.
    Not that
that would be a surprise.   Throughout her life, there always were those who found some reason to
tear her down.   She didn’t
care.   She liked the look.
    She was
adjusting the two diamond necklaces that plunged between her breasts when Mario
stepped inside.
    “You
look handsome,” she said.
    “And you
look amazing.”
    “I hope
you don’t think I’m being a pain in the ass about my father.”
    “If
there’s anyone in your life who also understands a strained relationship
between a father and his kid, it’s me.”
    “We’re
quite a pair,” she said.
    “Actually,
we are.”
    “And by
the way,” she said.   “When are you
planning to call your father?”
    His eyes
brightened.   “I plan on driving out
to see him soon.”
    She
laughed.   “You’re so full of shit.”
    “What
did Addy have to say?”
    “Just
that he didn’t know about my relationship with Dad, but that he
understood.   He asked if I knew
Jean-Georges Laurent, the businessman.   I do, but between us, he gives me the creeps.   Harold, who rarely had a bad word to say
about anyone, hated him for some reason.   Now, I can only imagine why.   Laurent is as cut throat as it gets and he might have had something on
Harold.”  
    She
shrugged.   “But I know how these
events work.   He’s important, people
know him and that’s what matters, especially when it comes to that crowd and to
the press.   I said I’d be pleased if
Jean-Georges gave me the award and Addy said he’d call my father to give him
the news.”
    Mario
fixed his tie.   “Think he’ll show
anyway?”
    “No
idea.   But he doesn’t want to come
near me if he does.”   She caught the
concerned look on his face and said, “Don’t worry.   If he does, I’ll just politely walk
away.”
    “You
know, people haven’t seen you in a long time.   They haven’t talked to you since that
night.   They’re bound to ask you
questions.   Are you ready for that?”
    “I know
what they’ll do.   I also know what
I’ll say.”
    “What’s
that?”
    “That I
appreciate their concern but I’m not ready to discuss it.   That should end it.”
    “Not if
a member of the press asks you the question.”
    She
hadn’t thought of that.
    “Want a
tip?”
    She nodded.
    “A
simple ‘no comment,’ repeated firmly if necessary, always works.”

 
 
 
    CHAPTER TEN

 
    When
they arrived at the party, they were fifteen minutes late, which was
perfect.   Dozens already had
arrived.   Now, if she worked it
correctly, Leana could ease inside with as little fuss as possible, which is
how she wanted it.  
    She’d
been off the circuit for a year and even though she told herself she didn’t
care how she’d be received by people, a part of her cared.   She knew she’d do fine with the new
money, because she understood them as well as they understood her.   But the old guard was the old
guard.   Although some had worked
with her father and Celina on deals in the past, the Redmans never had been
fully accepted into the highest levels of society.  
    And they
never would be.
    People
like Addison Miller, who led one of the world’s largest banks and whose lineage
was linked directly to one of the country’s founding fathers, welcomed them,
but that was likely because on some level, probably due to his hidden sexuality,
he was more open to accepting others, even though he ironically couldn’t