Free Redemption by Kathryn Barrett Page A

don’t trust anyone, regardless of whether they’re from Hollywood or Antarctica, to stroll around millions of dollars of merchandise unsupervised.”
    “Then you’ll be happy to know I’ve asked my secretary, Lee Ann, to stay late to keep an eye on things.”
    Claire sighed. Lee Ann was hardly equipped to put a stop to an invasion of army ants, much less shoplifters. And if the office gossip she’d heard was true, Lee Ann was mainly interested in sleeping her way up the corporate ladder.
    “Then make sure she has a pass. No exceptions, not even for employees.” Claire shut her notebook with a thud that, she hoped, indicated the discussion was over.
    Shortly afterward, Bernard Kaslow ended the meeting, and Claire tucked her pen into her briefcase. The next week would be a logistical nightmare, for the film crew as well as store personnel. She cringed at the thought of the cast and crew traipsing through the hundred-year-old corridors, but most of all she dreaded the presence of the film’s star. Her number one concern would be to stay out of his way and hope he in turn stayed out of hers.
    On the way out, she was stopped by Evan. “Got a minute? I want to talk about the new Atlantic City store.”
    “There’s not going to be a new Atlantic City store. We discussed that in our last board meeting, and it was voted down. Remember?”
    “It was voted down because you were against it. A word from you…” He trailed off, the cold smile on his face not as charming as he no doubt meant it to be.
    “That’s not true. Yes, I presented information that convinced the majority of the board members that it was a foolhardy idea at this point, but I was hardly the only voice in opposition.”
    “Still, if you were to change your mind…”
    “And why would I do that?”
    “I’ve worked up some new figures—new sales projections, building estimates—that you really should see.”
    Claire frowned. “Send me a copy. I’ll take a look at them.” She began to move away, but Evan took a step back, blocking her path.
    “I’d rather discuss this now. In person.” The smile was gone, replaced by a tense frown.
    “I’m sorry. I don’t have time now to hear what should have been presented a week ago, if your figures are even valid.” She resisted the urge to step back, out of the range of his cologne. Evan was a bully, but she didn’t give in to bullies. Not anymore. “As I told you then, we can’t afford another capital outlay at this point, not with the Cherry Hill store still not showing a profit. Plus, the board agreed to put our building funds into the Market Street renovations.”
    “I really think you’ll regret your decision.” A thin film of sweat clung to his upper lip. Desperation didn’t sit well on his Armani-clad shoulders.
    “It was the board’s decision,” Claire pointed out. “Take the case up with them. I’ll take a look at the figures, but right now, I’m busy,” she said sharply, then moved around him.
    Evan had been unusually vocal in backing his pet project, so much so that Claire wondered if there were another reason he was so desperate to have the Atlantic City store added to the Kaslow’s chain. Perhaps it was the proximity to the casinos—she’d noticed his taste for risky gambles in the past.
    But Claire took risk management very seriously, which was why she’d be glad when the next week, and the risk that Matt Grayson posed to her life, was over.
    “Print it,” Matt called from his spot next to the video assist monitor. This was the third take of this particular setup and the first one in which the extras had hit their marks. So far, things had gone well. And it was only midnight.
    Laura was giving a great performance as the snobby Jane. That elegant nose seemed to tilt upward, as if drawn by a magnet. Eventually Jane’s demeanor would mellow, after a few days in the company of “Luke.”
    Laura glided over to him, still in character. “Matthew, you simply must let me do