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who aren ’ t there to buy. ”
    Bailey gave Hugo the pitying smile she used to give him back in college when she thought he was too slow to grasp one of her brilliant ideas.
    “ That ’ s why we ’ re going to offer each entrant a special sales code that will entitle them to a 25 percent discount on anything they buy in the store the same day they enter the competition. ”
    “ That ’ s a generous discount. ”
    “ Everything must go, ” Bailey said. “ We ’ ll make sure the entrants know the sale is just for them and not related to any other sales that might be going on at the time. ”
    “ So just to be clear, if they pick up a sale item, they can take another 25 percent off that? ”
    Bailey nodded. “ But the code expires the minute they walk out the door. It ’ s a one-time only deal. ”
    Hugo looked at his friend. “ You ’ re scaring me, ” he said.
    “ I only use my powers for good, ” she said.
     
     

Chapter 5
     
    Inside the restaurant, Grace and Allegra ordered the house-made lemongrass soda and “ fat rice ” to share. Allegra also ordered some chili prawns to take back to Sina because that was her favorite thing to order at Fat Rice. As soon as the waiter left them alone, Allegra reached into her tote and pulled out a tissue-wrapped object she handed it across the table to Grace.
    “ What ’ s this? ” Grace asked, already smiling.
    “ Just a small token of my appreciation, ” Allegra said. “ Thanks for coming out in the snow. ”
    After hanging up with Grace, Allegra had gone to the sample room in the office basement to look for something she could bring her. One of her design assistants had been playing around with some lovely burnt-orange suede and had created a retro clutch purse with an asymmetrical flap and faux tortoise-shell trimmings. The minute Allegra saw it, she knew Grace would love it.
    “ Ooh, shiny, ” Grace said as she unwrapped the purse, stroking it like a pet. “ Thank you! ”
    Allegra enjoyed her friend ’ s enjoyment. She ’ d often wondered if Grace had a little bit of a fetish because she loved, loved, loved her leather goods. And although the clothing culture at her father ’ s law firm was sedate to the point of being frumpy, Grace always paired her sober gray and black suits with sexy pumps and bright silk blouses that added splashes of color that made her skin glow.
    After a few moments more spent in admiration of the lovely accessory, Grace put it on the chair next to her and fixed her gaze on Allegra. “ So what ’ s going on? ” she asked.
    Allegra took a big sip of her soda. “ I think Mariella ’ s going to move House of Zangari to China. ”
    “ Will she go with them? ” Grace asked, sounding hopeful.
    “ I ’ m serious, ” Allegra said.
    “ Are you sure? ” Grace asked.
    “ I haven ’ t talked to her yet, ” Allegra admitted, “ But the foreman of the factory has heard rumors and this morning Sina confirmed it. ”
    “ Mariella told Sina? ” Grace was surprised. She knew Sina was a terrible gossip.
    “ Probably not on purpose, ” Allegra said. “ But Mariella still treats her like she ’ s six years old and doesn ’ t understand what the grown-ups are talking about. ”
    “ What about Julia? ” Grace asked. “ Has the mean stepsister said anything to you? ”
    “ Like she ’ d tell me anything, ” Allegra said. “ The only time I see her is in staff meetings and the only thing she says to me is ‘ Good morning Allegra. Would you mind pouring me some coffee? ’”
    “ Bitch, ” Grace said. Julia had never bothered to be nice to Grace, considering her even more of a nuisance than Allegra and Sina.
    “ Your father really should have made a will, ” Grace added.
    “ I know. ”
    “ You want me to get dad into it? ”
    “ That could get sticky since your father technically represents the company. Is there anyone else who might be able to help if I have to go to the mat with Mariella? ”
    Grace thought