Check which pagination page to display code outside of pagination loop
UPDATED/EDIT ANSWER:

If you only want to show the entries on the first page you should make an if statement to check if you are on the first page for your Featured Items by requesting the page number.

Option 1:

{% if craft.request.getPageNum() == 1 %} 

// Featured content here

{% endif %}


Option 2:

{% if craft.request.getLastSegment() == 'p1' %} 

// Featured content here

{% endif %}


The first option is the best / cleanest solution even though they give the same outcome. Option 2 is a nice work around but might be more usefull in other ways then this one. 

More about craft requests can be found in the docs:
https://craftcms.com/docs/templating/craft.request