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The Tessarae Inn |
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Suspicions In Scarlet Repose CHAPTER 10
Carmen stared at the cashiers check then nodded her head. “Nice doing business with you.” “Miss Duvet, if one negative word about Maddog is so much as uttered in Creedyville then I will come after you. Is that clear?” Carmen tapped her foot then exhaled. “The thing about creative financing, Mrs. Manning, is that if it's done right it's a renewable resource. Maddog is safe for the time being and I will contact you first before I approach him with further negotiations. That much I can promise. But let’s be clear here. This is just a down payment.” Blair stood up slowly and fixed her gaze on Carmen. Obviously, this woman had no idea how thin the ice was below her stiletto heels. ice. As if she could read her mind, Carmen fixed her mouth into a thin grin then said, “But then how much is a reputation worth these days?” Blair walked closer to Carmen. “You don’t know me well enough to get snarky with me. That is the last piece of money I will ever pay you. Next time we will negotiate about something else considerably less valuable—your life.” “Are you threatening me?” “And someone said that you were dumb. I told them they were wrong. See. I was right.” “I’m the daughter of Lanissa Caine and Marcel Duvet. Before you go threatening me, I suggest you check into what that means.” “And I suggest you check into who I am before you think you can pressure me. I don’t take people trying to hurt me or mine lightly.” Carmen stepped back and tilted her chin up. Blair did not break her gaze. This dumb slut needed to understand that this was serious and she didn’t make idle threats. “Whew! Whooooo! A filly fight. Nothing does a Texas boy’s heart good like seeing that. Some coleslaw and a wet tee shirt or two would be a nice touch but I’m not real picky.” Blair exhaled and finally broke her gaze with Carmen. She exhaled loudly and rubbed her forehead for a few seconds before shifting her gaze toward the old coot. “Asa, what do you want?” “Sweet as ever, Blair." He put his hand lightly on Carmen's arm. "I’d watch out for this one if I were you, Miss. She’s been known to try to kill a husband or two. No telling what she’ll do to a fine specimen of womanhood like yourself.” Carmen studied Asa for a moment then she made an exaggerated move of straightening her skirt and brushing the front of her suit jacket with her hands lingering a beat too long over her breasts. She looked Asa in the eye then let her eyes drift along his body for a few seconds. Finally, she flipped her hair and said, “Thanks for the advice, Mister….” “Buchanan. But any filly as fine as you gets to call me Asa.” Carmen eyes flashed for a second as if she made a sudden connection then she wet her lips, puffed them out and stared at Asa. “I’ll be seeing you around, Asa Buchanan.” "My heart's looking forward to it." "Oh, please," Blair said. "Get the hell out of here, Carmen. And you can take the old pervert with you." Carmen dragged her gaze away from Asa and narrowed her eyes and looked at Blair. “Like I said before, nice doing business with you, Mrs. Manning. I’m sure we will have a long and fruitful association.” Blair flexed her hands and dipped slightly to serve as leverage as she sprang forward with her hands ready to clamp around Carmen's neck, but then remembered Asa was in the room. Carmen smirked then turned and walked toward the door. Blair exhaled and simply watched Carmen stroll out of her office. She’d take care of her later. Asa also watched Carmen for a few seconds but then turned to Blair and grinned. “Woooooo. Weeeeeeee. That one’s got a wiggle in her walk big enough to put a hurting on a man just by looking at the rump shaker. Better make sure I’ve got my heart pills." He reached into his inside jacket pocket. "Hands already shaking though. Not sure I can open the bottle in time. 'Course if I dropped them you’d hand them to me wouldn’t you, Blair?” Blair rolled her eyes and then walked behind her desk, sat in her chair and crossed her legs. “Like I said before, what do you want, Asa?” “Now, I don’t have to do this but I will anyway. You need to learn to close your door when you are handling delicate matters like blackmail and such.” “Coming from an master like you I consider that expert advice.” “Yes, indeedy. I do so like a woman who knows my worth.” “I’m getting tired of asking this. What do you want, Asa?” Asa sat down in the office chair in front of her desk then pulled out a cigar. He lit it then leaned back in the chair. “I went to see that no account scoundrel you're married to earlier and the boy's still insisting that he's not going to sell me that team. Now, Blair, we’ve got to do something about that attitude of his.” “We’re not selling the team to you, Asa, so get used to the idea.” Asa took a drag of the cigar then used it to point at her. “That could be a problem because I want it. I can afford it. And I damn well deserve to have it. He’s the only thing standing in my way.” “I’d think at your age you’d be used to disappointment by now.” Asa chuckled but then his face turned serious. “Dorian was digging up dirt on that deal Toddy boy brokered to get the team but then that filly got all distracted with her personal vendetta against Carl. Don’t you hate it when people won’t let their children grow up? Poor little Cassie. I hope you don’t plan to be that way with your two young’uns.” “Go away, Asa.” “Fine.” Asa stood up and brushed his pants legs. “But don’t you ever say I didn’t give you a chance. I guess I’ll have to pull the gloves off now. Got to go find that filly you was just all up on and see what I can learn for a few bills or so. Blackmail is such an ugly word but so descriptive. Don’t you think?” “Leave. Now.” “Mighty fine place you have here, Blair. Maybe you can make some room over on those shelves for Toddy to put his little football memorabilia once I sweep his ass out of that office at the stadium. No hard feelings when it’s over. Just our usual mutual hatred will do.” “Are you still here?” Asa tipped his Stetson at her then strolled out of the office. Damn! What next? She rubbed her forehead with her fist. Maybe she should have let Todd handle it. No. Scratch that. There’s no telling what he would have done to Carmen—locked her in an airless crate on a slow boat to China or sent her to a prison in Marrakech for a few years or a lifetime or two. The kind of shit that comes back and haunts you years later when you least expect it. And Asa wasn’t really a problem. Carmen wasn’t going to give up her power to someone like Asa. That bitch enjoyed sticking it to people too much. Blair could see it in her eyes. Carmen liked to get her hands around people’s necks and squeeze until their lungs exploded. But whatever it took, Carmen was not going to be a problem in Maddog’s life ever again. Blair looked up just in time to see Toni careen into the office. “Have you talked to Cassie today?” So much for a spa treatment being a long-term cure all. Toni once again looked as stressed as ever. “No. Why? What happened?” “Well, it seems like her mother, your Aunt Dorian, has declared war on Carl. And it’s about to get ugly.” “Dorian can take care of herself.” “Dorian? Please. Cassie is worried sick about Carl.” Blair released the breath she'd been holding since Asa strolled out of the office and then laughed softly. “She has that about right. Carl has no idea who he is messing with.” “Anyway in hell Todd is going to change his mind?” “We gave it our best shot and you don’t want to know the price I paid for that.” Toni narrowed her eyes and leaned in closer. “Aren’t you supposed to be frowning when you say something like that? So why do you have this grin on your face that looks like sex?” Blair chuckled softly. “Like I said, given your current commitment to celibacy, you don’t want to hear about the price I paid.” “Ah, jeeze, Blair. What am I going to do? The Ford-Petersons will be here in a five days and there is no way they can stay with me or RJ. Renee swears up and down there is no room at The Palace. Keri is driving me freakin' crazy about impressing her future in-laws. And I need me some RJ loving, bad.” “Hey, you’re the one who decided to go for the born-again virgin routine. Let. It. Go.” “Can’t do it. RJ told me I’d never last. It’s the principle of the thing now.” Blair smiled to herself. She knew how that kind of thing could get your back up but sometimes you just have to admit that your man knows you. What she had to go through last night before finally conceding defeat was too delicious for words. In the end, though, her arrogant stud muffin proved his point. “The Ford-Petersons can’t stay with us, Toni. Sorry. I was wrong to bring it up in the first place. If you want to impress them, the last thing you want is to have them spending a lot of time around a pissed off Todd.” Toni sighed then flopped down on the couch. “I know you’re right. Hell, they don’t need to be around RJ either. He’s somewhat frustrated.” Blair laughed then walked over to the couch and sat next to Toni. “I’m your maid of honor. Part of my role is to tell you when you are about to become flat-out crazy. This is my advice. Go love your man. Calm him down. Move him back into your place. Let the Ford-Petersons stay at RJ’s apartment. Problem solved. And thank your lucky stars this is a manufactured issue and not a real scandal nipping at your heels.” Toni sighed then nodded her head. “Did I ever tell you that you’re my best friend in the whole world? I’m sorry I’ve been so crazy lately. I owe you one or a thousand or two." "You're my best friend, too. And listen to us. We sound like middle schoolers. Want to do a pinky shake?" Toni laughed then crooked her small finger and locked it around Blair's. "Best friends for life." Blair smiled at her but then glanced away. She was about to cry! How crazy was that. She hated it when someone tapped so completely into the softy she kept hidden away from most people but for just a minute her chest felt tight. She and Toni had been through so much together in such a short time. "And thanks for asking Todd," said Toni softly but then smiled, "and for going through whatever it was that put that damn smile on your face.” Blair turned back toward her and laughed, then put her arm around Toni’s shoulders and leaned her head next to hers. “Let me tell you again about the value of gathering twigs and such.”
Todd sipped his Scotch and watched RJ counting liquor bottles. To the extent that he let himself give a damn about RJ, the man had him worried. RJ was nervous and preoccupied and kept glancing around the club even though the place was totally empty and despite the fact that he had already checked the front and back doors twice to make sure they were locked. “Stop stalling, RJ. What can you tell me about this Carmen person?” “She’s somebody I knew in Louisiana.” “What was she doing in Creedyville?” “How the hell am I supposed to know? She didn’t file a flight plan with me.” Todd pushed his drink toward RJ. “Maybe you better fix yourself one of these.” RJ growled then nodded his head. He reached for a bottle of Bourbon and poured himself a shot. Drank it in one gulp. And poured another. “How did Carmen end up here in Llanview?” “It’s your fault. In the end, it all comes back to you.” “Maybe you need to stop drinking now.” “Ah, no. You need to own it. Blair ran to Creedyville and found a dream. I walked into Creedyville and ran smack into my worst nightmare. And neither one of us would've been there if it hadn’t been for you.” “Maybe I missed the memo about how you get to throw my past in my face, but you need to stop it right now, or I am outta here.” RJ growled but then nodded his head. “Sorry. You’re right. Just wish to hell that I’d never gone to Creedyville. If I had never seen that woman again in this lifetime or in any subsequent others, it would have been too soon.” “Who is she?” RJ gulped the rest of his drink but then looked him in the eye. “She’s my wife.” Todd stared at him with his glass halfway to his lips. Maybe he was the one who needed to stop drinking because he could not have heard RJ right. “And, no, I am not speaking metaphorically. She’s my damn wife.” “This could be a problem.” “Worse mistake of my life. Thought the divorce was finalized and now she’s telling me it never was.” "RJ this sounds like a bad soap opera." "Shut up, Manning. This is my life here we're talking about and none of it is funny." “Toni doesn’t know?” “Are you crazy?" RJ slammed his glass down. "You think I'm crazy? Of course, she doesn’t know but Carmen is planning on telling her.” “She wants you back?” “She can’t stand me but that won’t stop her from trying to ruin my life. I’ve offered her money. I’ve threatened her. But she's not budging. About the only thing left to do is kill her.”
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Suspicions In Scarlet Repose FAN FICTION SLIDESHOWS
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