Mr Loverman

by Mary Lyons

  Maybe she’d been just a little hard on Craig, Laura told herself as she returned home later that evening. But not much. In fact, if she’d had the opportunity to get hold of another actor, she certainly would have done so. Because, despite what Tom and Amy might think, she definitely wasn’t looking for trouble with Jack Wilder—who’d almost certainly be absolutely livid to lose such a well-known, prestigious client.

  CHAPTER SIX

  FORCING her way through the paparazzi waiting patiently outside the restaurant in the hopes of catching a sneaky, off-duty photo of one of the many celebrities within, Laura paused on the threshold of The Ivy, looking about her with some confusion.

  Goodness, it was crowded! Quickly scanning the tables in the large, wood-panelled room, she only took a few seconds to recognise many famous faces normally to be seen on the wide cinema screen or on large billboards outside the London theatres.

  ‘Absolutely bang on time—well done!’ Jack grinned, rising to his feet as she was conducted to his table. ‘I should have remembered that you were always a good timekeeper.’

  ‘Well, it’s nice to know that I did something right,’ she muttered as a waiter drew out a chair for her to sit down, before placing a large linen napkin on her lap.

  It was stupid of her, of course, but she’d been really dreading this lunch date. It had also taken her simply ages to decide what to wear, since undoubtedly many of the theatrical in-crowd would be dressed up to the nines. But now, as she glanced casually around the restaurant, Laura was relieved to note that her pale pink collarless jacket over a slim-fitting black linen dress, sheer black stockings and high-heeled black patent leather shoes had been the right choice after all.

  However, leaving aside her apprehension about her clothes, it had been the forthcoming meeting with Jack himself which had caused her so much nervous stress and apprehension. She had, of course, repeatedly told herself that it was downright foolish—not to say totally pathetic!—to be getting into such a state about a mere lunch date. But, while Jack had made it crystal-clear that he was no longer interested in her, in any shape or form, she hadn’t been nearly so successful at removing his dark presence from both her heart and mind.

  How did one manage to crush and exterminate all feelings of love and tenderness? Because she, for one, would have been happy to know the answer. Over the past four days, Laura had done everything she could to try and eradicate the deep feelings which, she realised only too well, had now no hope of being reciprocated. And while she had been partly successful during the day—so busy with her new business that she’d had no opportunity to think about anything other than the matter in hand—the nights were quite a different matter.

  Goodness knows, she’d tried just about every trick in the book in the desperate search for a good night’s sleep. But all to no avail. If and when she did manage to drop off, she was plagued by vivid, harrowing dreams, all featuring Jack in a dramatic starring role. So many times she’d woken up drenched with sweat and trembling for the comfort of his arms—a comfort which she knew to be hopelessly beyond her reach.

  ‘This is supposed to be a friendly working lunch—remember?’ Jack’s voice cut through her glum thoughts. ‘We’re not going to achieve anything if you continue to look as though you’re just about to attend a funeral.’

  Raising her eyes quickly to his face, she was momentarily confused and almost thrown off balance by the warmth of his broad smile. And then, quickly remembering exactly why she was here and the role she was expected to perform, Laura ruthlessly stifled the small flicker of hope that had flared so briefly in her wounded heart.

  Taking a deep, unsteady breath, she flashed him a brilliant smile designed to convince any onlooker that she was having the time of her life.

  ‘OK, Mr Loverman—how do you want to play this game?’ she cooed sweetly through clenched teeth. ‘Are we supposed to hold hands and gaze longingly into each other’s eyes? Only make up your mind quickly, because the effort of keeping on smiling at you like this is already making me feel quite ill!’

  To her surprise, Jack merely responded to her words with what she could have sworn was a snort of genuine laughter. Leaning back in his seat, his shoulders shaking with amusement, he was prevented from saying any more as the waiter came up to take their order.

  When they were alone once more, Jack regarded her silently for a moment, before saying, ‘I hadn’t really thought how to “play” it. However, I see no reason why we can’t just have a pleasant meal without coming to blows. Or is that too much to expect?’ he added with a grin.

  ‘Well, I won’t make any promises. But I guess I’m willing to suspend hostilities if you are,’ she agreed cautiously.

  ‘Good. And now, having got the ground rules sorted out, I’m going to chance my arm by saying that you’re looking absolutely stunning! I always think it’s a pity that more...er...auburn-haired women don’t wear that particular shade of pink,’ he said with a smile. ‘In fact, my dear Laura, I must say that you look almost good enough to eat!’

  ‘Um ...er...thank you,’ she muttered nervously, completely taken aback by the unexpected words of appreciation. And especially from this man—who must know what he’s talking about, since he’s had more glamorous girlfriends than you’ve had hot dinners! Laura reminded herself, while at the same time trying to control the warm, happy glow spreading through her nervous figure. It would, after all, be extremely foolish of her to read anything significant into what had, after all, been nothing more than an idle compliment.

  ‘I’d also like to congratulate you on the success of your new company,’ Jack continued with an engaging smile. ‘I’m willing to admit that I didn’t think you had a cat in hell’s chance of making a go of it. But you clearly have. So well done—and good luck in the future!’

  Regarding him warily from beneath her eyelashes, her ears finely tuned to catch any note of irony of cynicism, Laura was forced to the conclusion that, however astonishing it might seem, Jack really did mean what he said. And while, of course, it could be the performance of a lifetime, she really had no option but to accept his congratulations—and the glass he was holding out to her in salutation—at face value.

  Maybe it was the effect of the delicious food and wine, but with her ex-employer clearly setting out to be an entertaining companion she found it virtually impossible to maintain her original aggression. They did, after all, have so much in common—both in the careers of various clients, which she’d looked after when working in his office, and some of her newly acquired young actors, about whom Jack was proving to be very helpful.

  ‘You’ll need to keep a close eye on Brat Tyler,’ he warned. ‘The boy’s enormously talented, of course. But I suspect that if Brat isn’t his real name he’s definitely earned it over the past two years! I hear that getting him to turn up on time at auditions can be a complete nightmare. And I know for a fact that he’s driven at least two theatrical agencies completely up the wall,’ Jack added with a rueful laugh. ‘However, providing you keep a firm hand on the lad—and organise transport to take him to auditions!-he could turn out to be a real star.’

  ‘Thanks for the advice.’ She grinned companionably at him, suddenly wishing that it could always be like this. Maybe, if and when she ever managed to fall out of love with this devastatingly attractive man, it might be possible for them to become friends?

  However, on one level at least there was no doubt that the lunch was proving to be a great success. Throughout the meal, people either waved to them across the room or came over to greet Jack as they passed to and from their tables. Since he always made a point of introducing Laura, and explaining that they were here to celebrate her new business venture, it was made clear that any stories of ill will and bitter animosity between them had absolutely no foundation at all.

  ‘That was a very enjoyable lunch, in more ways than one,’ Jack said as they finally left the restaurant. ‘Thank you for helping to turn what could have been a difficult occasion into a con
siderable success.’

  There was no mistaking the note of genuine appreciation in his voice, and Laura found herself feeling absurdly pleased and happy for the first time in many weeks. Which was perhaps why, as they walked back to the office down West Street and into Shaftesbury Avenue, his next remark came as a shattering bolt from the blue.

  ‘By the way,’ he murmured casually, taking her arm as they crossed the road, ‘I heard an extraordinary piece of gossip the other day. Apparently, Craig Jordan is thinking of leaving my firm. In fact, rumour says that when his contract comes up for renewal at the end of this month he’s proposing to join someone who’s set up a brand-new theatrical agency. I don’t suppose you know anything about it...?’

  ‘Me?’ She stopped and turned to stare up at him, her eyes wide with shock and horror, before quickly forcing herself to give a shrill peal of laughter. ‘Really, Jack! I know you like a good joke—but this is ridiculous! Surely you haven’t forgotten that I simply can’t stand Craig?’

  ‘No, I haven’t,’ he agreed smoothly. ‘But, since I also harbour feelings of intense dislike towards the wretched man, I really don’t think that’s very important—do you?’

  ‘Well...’

  ‘However,’ Jack continued grimly, ‘I can promise to be very, very angry if I find your delicate footprints anywhere near Craig Jordan!’

  Speechless, desperately trying to think of something to say which didn’t involve her becoming caught up in a tissue of lies, Laura was pathetically grateful to be saved by the sight of a tall, beautiful blonde girl waving to them as she left the office building some yards away.

  ‘I think you’ve already met my new assistant,’ he said, returning the girl’s wave as she walked down the street towards them.

  ‘Really...?’ she murmured, deliberately injecting a slightly puzzled note into her voice. ‘Oh, yes—of course I have,’ she added, with a low gurgle of caustic laughter. ‘How could I possibly have forgotten meeting dear Felicity—the thinking man’s Easter bunny?’

  ‘At least she’s easy on the eye—and TV producers just love dealing with her. What did they used to call you, Laura?’ he taunted savagely. ‘Saddam Hussein in a miniskirt... ?’

  One of these fine days I’m really going to kill this bastard! Laura promised herself grimly, unable to believe that he could be so desperately unfair. Unfortunately, as Felicity was now only a few feet away, there was no opportunity to remind him that, simply because of her hard, tough bargaining skills, many of his clients were now earning a decent wage from some of the more tight-fisted TV companies.

  Determinedly ignoring both the insult and the tightly clenched fingers painfully digging into her arm, she gave his new assistant a beaming smile.

  ‘Hello, Felicity—how’s it going?’ she asked brightly. ‘Is my old boss keeping your nose to the grindstone?’

  ‘Yes...er...I suppose so...’ the other girl murmured, her gaze shifting nervously between the hard, stormy expression on Jack’s handsome face and the attractive red-headed girl, whose emerald-green eyes appeared to be glittering with overwhelming rage and fury.

  ‘Well, if you have a job without aggravation, you don’t have a job—right?’ Laura gave a high-pitched laugh, before adroitly twisting free of the hand which had been so cruelly gripping her arm. ‘I’m sorry I can’t stop,’ she added, giving them both a wide, beaming and entirely false smile. ‘Unfortunately, I’ve so many important contracts to be signed...I really must dash!’

  ‘How did the lunch go?’ Susie called out as Laura returned to the office, hurrying swiftly past her assistant on her way into her own room and throwing herself down into the chair behind her desk. ‘Was it really awful?’ she continued sympathetically as her employer snatched up the phone, rapidly dialling some numbers.

  ‘The lunch? Oh, lunch was all right. But I’m seriously beginning to wonder if that rotten man has got eyes in the back of his head,’ Laura muttered darkly. ‘It’s either that or he’s somehow managed to have my apartment bugged!’

  ‘What on earth are you talking about?’

  Laura gave a heavy sigh, ahnost slamming down the receiver when she could get no reply to her call.

  ‘Jack Wilder—who can obviously see through walls!—has heard a rumour that Craig is thinking of leaving his agency and signing up with someone else.’

  ‘So...?’

  ‘So, while he obviously hasn’t yet got enough information to actually prove that it’s me who’s trying to entice Craig from him, he gave me the gypsy’s warning all the same.’

  ‘But that’s ridiculous!’ Susie laughed. ‘Why on earth would you want to have anything to do with Craig Jordan? We all know that you can’t bear the man.’

  ‘Mmm...I I was rather relying on that fact to put everyone off the scent,’ Laura admitted with a shrug. ‘However, it’s now beginning to look as though it was too much to expect Craig to keep his stupid mouth shut.’

  ‘But... but why? Why take on Craig—of all people?’ the other girl protested, almost unable. to believe that Laura was being so incredibly foolish. ‘Not only is he a total nightmare to deal with but he is also Jack’s best, most highly paid client!’

  ‘Which simply means that I’ll have to work fast if I want to get him signed up before Jack discovers what I’m up to.’

  Susie gave a heavy sigh and shook her head. ‘Quite honestly, Laura, I think you must be completely out of your mind! Jack will never, ever forgive you if Craig signs up with this agency.’ She agitatedly waved her hands in the air. ‘Have you got a death-wish—or what?’

  ‘I don’t give that for Jack Wilder,’ Laura told her with a derisory snap of her fingers. ‘Besides, he’s upset and treated me very badly—so why shouldn’t he have a dose of his own medicine? Especially when I think about all that sweet-talk nonsense he was giving me during lunch. Believe me—the man’s a real louse!’

  Susie gave another heavy sigh. ‘I can see that you’re not going to take a blind bit of notice of anything I say. But it doesn’t take a crystal ball to know that this is all going to end in tears.’

  So, what else is new? Laura asked herself glumly. Having spent a good part of the past month weeping her heart out over Jack Wilder, what did a few more tears matter?

  ‘By the way,’ Susie told her, clearly deciding that her best course of action was to change the subject, ‘I’ve had a call from Bill Chapman. He wants to know if we can provide one of our clients for a voice-over. It’s for a big TV commercial due to be recorded next week.’

  Laura shook her head. ‘No, I’m sorry. Can you ring him back and make some excuse? Say our client’s too busy—or whatever—but we may get back to him in the near future.’

  ‘But why?’ Her assistant frowned. ‘Bill is offering part of the fee, and—’

  ‘Because I had a really good idea last night, that’s why!’ Laura told her with a grin. ‘I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t set up my own voice-over business. I wouldn’t set out to challenge any of the really big firms, of course, but I reckon that there’s a real gap in the market for a small, specialised business. ’

  ‘You could be right...’ Susie murmured, turning to gaze out of the window as she considered what Laura had just said. ‘Bill seems to spend most of his time in the local pub, so you wouldn’t have any problem in picking up some of his clients. In fact, they’d probably be grateful to do business with a more efficient firm like ours.’

  ‘That’s exactly what I thought,’ Laura nodded. ‘And I have to thank Jack for giving me the idea of a really great name for the new business. How does Sweet-Talk grab you?’

  ‘Oh, my goodness! That...that’s absolutely brilliant!’ Susie gasped, before both girls dissolved into peals of almost hysterical laughter.

  Laura leaned forward, opening the window of the taxi before slumping back against the hot leather seat.

  This summer was proving to be a real scorcher! Day after day, the sun seemed to blaze down from a cloudless sky. Not having had any rain fo
r the past three months, the city streets were hot and baking. And now, in the middle of July, both Laura and her assistant would have cheerfully given their eye-teeth for some air-conditioning in their glamorous offices.

  However, apart from the fact that everyone in Britain appeared to be thoroughly fed up with the unexpected heatwave, Laura could at least look back over the past month with some satisfaction. Not only did it seem as if all her hard work was beginning to pay off at last, but her new voice-over business had really taken off in a big way. Bill Chapman wasn’t at all happy about the situation, of course. However, as she’d told Susie, it served him right. ‘How he ever hoped to run a successful business when he spent most of his time in the local bar beats me.’

  Unfortunately, although many of her clients were doing really well, and achieving considerable success for her agency, Laura had been forced to acknowledge that she’d failed in one of her most important aims. Because Craig Jordan—living up to his well-known difficult and tricky character—had never bothered to return her phone calls. So she’d soon guessed that Craig had been using her as a stalking-horse—enabling him to genuinely claim that he was being head-hunted by another agency, in order to increase his bargaining power with Jack Wilder.

  Well, that’s life! Laura consoled herself now, brushing a weary hand through her hair. At least it was one quarrel which she’d avoided having with her ex-employer.

  Not that she’d seen much of Jack over the past few weeks. In fact, her attempts to avoid all contact with him had proved to be highly successful. Unfortunately, however, there was little she could do to avoid seeing and reading about Jack in the Press. It seemed as though every time she picked up a newspaper Laura found herself gazing at a photograph of the handsome man, usually accompanied by his beautiful assistant, Felicity Green.