He Loves Lucy by Susan Donovan Read Free Book Online Page A

“How long have you two been dating?”
    Gia tilted back her exquisite chin and howled. “Oh no! No, no, no! He’s just my trainer,
chica
! Besides, I don’t think the man dates much. He used to have a steady, but they broke it off a while back.”
    Lucy was stunned. “Theo doesn’t date?”
    “Not that I know of.”
    “That can’t be right. Everywhere he goes, women remind him what day they’re supposed to go out with him.”
    Gia giggled. “Those are his clients, Lucy. He’s bee-yoo-tiful, isn’t he? But he’s a very serious and private kind of guy, and he’s got all these big plans for himself. He’s always saying he doesn’t have time for women in his life right now.”
    Lucy sat perfectly still. She didn’t know how many shocks her system could take in one day.
    “You wanna do a little shopping, girlie?”
    Lucy looked at her watch, intrigued at the idea of shopping with Gia but aware that she had a two o’clock with a potential client she’d been chasing for months.
    She asked for a rain check.
    Stephan was almost relieved to finally get the call from Murray Goldstein, because the waiting had been making him a crazy man.
    Stephan held the phone away from his ear as the old gangster ranted about how the Palm Club was going to ruin him and how Stephan had betrayed a sacred trust when he accepted their business. It was all insane shit from a nutso (but rich and powerful) geezer, and all Stephan could do was mutter “yes” and “I realize that” and let him rage.
    Stephan supposed he was responsible for this mess. If old Murray Goldstein decided to tie a cinder block around his neck and throw him in the causeway tomorrow, he had no one to blame but himself.
    It started that day a few months back when Lucy Cunningham went out and snagged the Palm Club account on her own. Since he hadn’t been very hands-on around the office, it was a total shocker when she showed up with a deal so full of zeros his head spun. He wanted the money. So shoot him. But he had to find a way to get it without pissing off old Murray, who happened to own a dozen Florida fitness centers in direct competition with the Palm Club.
    He owed Murray Goldstein. Five years ago, the old guy put few thousand in small bills in an envelope, and put the envelope into the hands of the district court judge presiding over Stephan’s divorce case. In Murray Goldstein’s world, that meant he owned Stephan. Always would.
    “That girl’s got to stay fat!” Murray yelled into the phone.
    Stephan winced, trying to remain in control of the situation. “That’s been my plan all along.”
    “Your plan? What plan? You couldn’t plan your way out of a toilet stall!”
    Stephan didn’t appreciate that comment. It was a good plan, one that could work if Lucy failed to lose the weight.
    “She’s never going to do it, Murray. Get real-how many people do you know who actually lose a hundred pounds?”
    The earpiece remained blissfully silent.
    “I’m setting her up; don’t you get it? I’ve wanted to fire her for months. She’s another Sarah-a woman too aggressive for her own good.” That part was true. Lately Lucy was prancing around the halls of Sherrod amp; Thorns like her name was engraved on the stationery.
    “In fact,” he continued. “I’ve been trying to get rid of her lard ass since Sarah died, but she threatened to sue me for discrimination against fatties!” That part was a lie, but it sounded good.
    “No shit?”
    Stephan smiled, admiring the ease with which he could think on his feet. No wonder all of Miami respected him for his creative genius.
    “Absolutely, Murray. I can accomplish two things at once-get a bad hire out of my hair and pay you back for your magnanimous generosity during my time of trial. No pun intended.” Stephan laughed at his little joke.
    “But if she stays a blimp, won’t that make you look bad?”
    “It’ll make
Lucy
look bad. Then I’ll fire her. And it’ll make Goldstein’s look good