Lovers & Liars Read Online Free Page B

smart…”
    “I
turned that five hundred into two suits instead of just one.”
    “Hey,
that’s great if you’re working for some ordinary guy in some ordinary company.
But not if you’re working for Gunther Quill.” Her eyes filled as he stared at
her. Then, her lower lip trembled. Oh no,
shit. Waterworks! No tears!
    Panic
seized Gunther, making him run to her. He put his hands on her upper arms. “Hey,
don’t cry. It wasn’t meant as a criticism. I know I don’t pay you enough for a
fancy wardrobe. It’s okay. No tears, now. Okay?” His words came out in a rush.
    She
took a deep breath. “What do you want me to do?”
    “I’ll
take care of it. I’ll call Maggie. You’re worth the investment.”
    “Maggie?”
She wiped her eye with her fingers.
    “Magdalena
Oliver. She used to be a wardrobe mistress, but started her own business designing
women’s clothes. Now, she’s the best. Her stuff is sensational.”
    “Weird
to talk to a straight man about women’s clothes,” she said.
    He
grinned. “Producers have to know about everything. No more Niagara Falls, okay?”
    She
nodded.
    “Good.
I’ve gotta go. You’re way ahead of me,” he said,
going into his office. He closed the door and leaned against it, sweating.
Pulling out a fine cotton handkerchief, he mopped his forehead. Damn, that was close. Almost full-out
hysterics. Can’t lose this one. She’s amazing. Light years ahead of Amy. He
made a mental note to try and soften his words, but knew that would be
difficult. Gentle language and soft tones didn’t come naturally to Gunther.
    Gunther
had grown up in a strict household. His father had ruled with an iron hand. His
mother was the softer one, nurturing and cheerful. He had never understood how
she ended up with his dad. Armand Quill was a successful real estate developer.
They had lived in a mini-mansion and had the best of everything. His father was
ruthless. He squashed people who got in his way, including Gunther and his
younger brother, Gordon.
    When
he was very young, Gunther had been arrogant, proud of his father’s success. He
had even bullied his little brother when his mother wasn’t looking. But when he
got to high school, he began to see that his father’s success came at the
expense of others. His father had no problem foreclosing on a struggling family
or outmaneuvering partners so he ended up with a bigger piece of the pie. Gunther
began to despise his dad and took his little brother under his wing.
    Armand
Quill made it clear that he wouldn’t have wimpy sons. He expected perfection
from both boys. Any report cards with less than all As were treated with disdain. Armand ridiculed the boys if they cried or showed
any weakness.
    Gunther
worked hard to please his dad until he graduated college. By then, he realized
nothing would ever satisfy his father, so he gave up. He turned his back on Armand
and sought his own fortune with his girlfriend, Laurel, in New York City. Still,
the young man had developed a taste for winning, a strong desire to be the
first and the best.
    Not
long after Gunther had landed a plum job as an assistant to a major Broadway
producer, his father and brother were killed in a car accident. Gunther and his
mother had been devastated. It was then that Gunther resolved to become the
most successful producer in the business, to impress a demanding father that
was no more. He worked night and day, saving as much as possible to move to
California, where the big bucks were.
    Laurel
had been the one bright spot in his life beside his mother, Clare Quill. She
was soft and gentle like Clare, as well as being incredibly beautiful and a
talented actress. Gunther had considered himself the luckiest man alive to have
her by his side.
    Then
one day at a barbecue on Bear Mountain, Laurel used too much lighter fluid on
the grill. Her face was burned beyond repair when the flames rose up the second
she lit the match. Nothing they tried could restore her beauty.