TENDER TREACHERY (Mystery Romance): The TENDER Series ~ Book 2

by H. Y. Hanna

  TENDER TREACHERY

  The TENDER Series ~ Book 2

  By

  H.Y. Hanna

  Dedication

  To my wonderful husband,

  who trumps all romantic heroes.

  Author’s Note

  This book follows British English spelling, grammar and word usage.

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25

  CHAPTER 26

  CHAPTER 27

  Excerpt from Tender Betrayal (Book 3):

  Other Books by H.Y. Hanna

  About the Author

  Acknowledgements

  CHAPTER 1

  The rumours had been going around all week. Leah tried not to listen, but they were hard to ignore, especially when most of them concerned her. What was even harder to ignore was the way her stomach seemed to sink a little every time she heard the whispers. She should have been happy, excited, by the prospect—this was a fantastic opportunity—and yet, she felt like a great weight was pressing slowly down on her chest.

  Leah leaned back in her swivel chair and looked out of the window. She was lucky to have one of the few cubicles in the office with a view over the rooftops of London’s West End. The great white wheel of the London Eye showed in the distance against a wintry grey sky and, next to it, the Gothic spires of the Houses of Parliament rose from the bank of the River Thames. But it was a different river Leah was seeing in her mind—a winding waterway filled with wooden bumboats and retired Chinese junks, hemmed on either side by palm trees and a mix of skyscrapers and white colonial architecture.

  She sighed impatiently and turned from the window, annoyed with herself. It had been like this ever since she returned from Singapore a month ago—her mind constantly drifting to the other side of the world, dreaming, remembering, thinking about him…

  “Is it true?”

  Leah looked up to see Mel from Accounting standing at the side of her desk. Mel was chewing on gum as usual and her eyes were avid with curiosity.

  “I heard the rumours. Are they going to offer you—”

  “I don’t know, Mel,” said Leah with a sheepish smile. “All I know are the same rumours you’ve heard. No one’s spoken to me officially.”

  “Wouldn’t it be incredible if you got the position, though?” Mel leaned forwards eagerly. “I mean, the package is meant to be amazing and you’d be in charge of the whole European division. No woman has ever been a board member before—they must think a lot of you to break the old boys’ network. You must be so excited!”

  Leah smiled slightly, then realised that Mel was looking at her quizzically. She hurriedly injected some enthusiasm into her voice. “Oh, yes… yes, I am. It would be a huge thing for my career and…” She trailed off as she glanced at her computer screen and saw that a new email had arrived. Her eyes caught the sender’s name and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Leah resisted the urge to open it instantly. Checking personal emails wasn’t exactly forbidden at work, but it wasn’t something you wanted to broadcast either. Already, she could see Mel straining over the side of the computer screen to see what Leah was looking at. Mel had a reputation for being the biggest gossip in the office with an unashamed tendency to ask nosy questions. Leah forced herself to sit back and ignore the screen.

  “Um… yeah, I’m really excited. I’m just trying not to think about it too much, so I won’t get disappointed, you know?” Leah gave Mel a conspiratorial smile. “But I’ll let you know as soon as I hear anything.”

  The other girl went off and Leah breathed a silent sigh of relief. She’d already had to field too many questions, since she returned from Singapore, about her father’s sudden death and her time there. It hadn’t helped that coverage of Bentley Warne’s trial had made it to the front pages of the U.K. newspapers. Finding out that the Australian property tycoon—one of the richest men in Asia—had committed murder and then staged a sordid cover-up was big news. There was even an extended feature in one of the weekend papers, written in a sensational style that made Leah cringe, covering the whole story, including her role in uncovering the evidence that had helped to incriminate him. But what had generated even more media interest were the photos of Toran James, the handsome investigative journalist who had brought Warne to justice, almost at the cost of his own life.

  Thank goodness there hadn’t been a picture of her and Toran together, thought Leah. Otherwise, she’d never have been able to fob off the questions from Mel and the other girls in the office about her relationship with the sexy, dark-haired stranger. She probably couldn’t answer the questions anyway, Leah thought with a sigh. She didn’t know the answers herself. She and Toran had a past—a past that went all the way back to the heady rush of “first love”, a past that was also filled with the pain of betrayal—but did they have a future?

  She remembered the way he had looked at her, his green eyes blazing, as they stood in Changi Airport the day she had left Singapore…“I don’t care about what happened in the past anymore, Leah. I want to try again. I want the chance of a different ending to our story this time.”

  It had been the hardest thing she had ever done—walking away from him. With every step, Leah had wanted to turn around and run back. But she wasn’t able to forget the past as easily as Toran seemed to. She had a new life she had built for herself in London—a successful career, a circle of friends, a comfortable routine… did she really dare give this all up and move to the other side of the world, for a chance at love? She hadn’t forgotten another time, another goodbye, when she was fourteen and Toran had said beautiful words too, but had never lived up to them.

  Leah glanced at the unopened email again. In the past week, she had almost feared that history was repeating itself. After a flurry of messages since she got back from Singapore, Toran had gone strangely silent and she hadn’t heard from him at all in the last few days.

  Leah gave herself a mental shake. Well, she was the one who had asked him not to rush her and, true to his word, Toran had kept things light—never mentioning their past or pressing her to go back to Singapore. Instead, they’d spent many nights talking long past her bedtime, discussing movies they’d seen, laughing over a shared joke or arguing passionately about some news story in the media. In many ways, it reminded Leah of the conversations they used to have as teenagers when she had sneaked those forbidden phone calls to him each weekend. And it was exactly what she had wanted—a chance to get to know him again, without any pressure. So she could hardly complain now that he was giving her the space she’d asked for, Leah thought with a wry smile.

  Shaking her head, she moved the mouse cursor towards the email, sure that it would contain a reassuring explanation of why Toran had not been in touch lately. But when she opened it, the message wasn’t quite what she expected.

  From: Toran James tjames@mail.com.sg

  Sent: Tue 27 February

  To: Leah Fisher leah.fisher@hostmail.co.uk

  Subject: Hi

  Hi L
eah,

  Sorry for not being in touch. Some things going on here, a bit complicated. Hope you’re okay. I’ve had a lead regarding my parents’ accident, worth checking out. Will tell you more when I can. By the way, I hope you still like surprises.

  Toran

  Leah frowned. She read the message again, wondering if she was imagining the strange tone of the email. It wasn’t anything like the usual light-hearted messages Toran had sent her recently. What “things” was he talking about? And she had never heard him question his parents’ fatal car crash—why was he investigating it now?

  She looked at the last line. Surprises?

  The phone ringing on her desk made her jump. Leah lifted the receiver. The receptionist’s clear voice sounded in her ear.

  “There’s a gentleman here to see you. He hasn’t got an appointment, but seeing as he looks like he’s come from overseas, I thought you might want to make an exception?”

  Leah’s heart gave a skip. Toran? She tried to keep her voice calm. “Thanks. I’ll be right down.”

  “I’ve put him in the small conference room.”

  Leah stood up and smoothed her skirt. Her heart was racing and she grappled with the temptation to rush to the toilets and check her make-up. Taking a deep breath, she left the room and headed towards the conference rooms on the other side of the building, forcing herself to walk normally, to nod and smile as she passed colleagues. As she rounded the corner of the hallway and approached the door of the small conference room, Leah felt the blood rushing in her ears. Her mouth was dry with excitement and she was aware of a dizzying sense of happiness. He had come! Toran had come all the way to London to see her!

  This must have been the surprise he was talking about, she thought, smiling to herself. How clever of him to keep her in the dark for so long. She pushed the door of the conference room open eagerly, anticipation swelling her chest like air filling a balloon.

  “Toran?” She stepped into the room, smiling widely.

  He was standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows looking out at the view. The light from outside compared to the dimness in the room cast him in silhouette for a moment, then he turned around and came towards her.

  Leah faltered, the smile fading from her face.

  It wasn’t Toran. In fact, she didn’t know how she could have made the mistake—her excitement must have blinded her to the obvious. This man was only about her height, instead of Toran’s towering six feet, and his slight, hunched body was nothing like Toran’s lean, muscular physique. He was also Asian and looked to be in his fifties.

  Leah swallowed the bitter taste of disappointment and put her hand out politely. “I’m Leah Fisher, the Senior Marketing Manager. You’re looking for me?”

  “Leah?” The man came forwards, both hands reaching for hers. “Missy Leah? You so grown up!”

  Leah drew back uncertainly. “I… I’m sorry. Do I know you?”

  “You don’t remember me?” he asked with a twinkle in his eyes. “I drive you to school every day.”

  “Oh my God… Ah Song?” Leah said, a smile returning to her face as she recognised her father’s old driver in Singapore. “I can’t believe it! What are you doing in London?”

  His face wrinkled in sorrow. “So sorry, Missy Leah. I hear about your father. Cannot believe it, huh? So shock! I think it is accident then I see the newspaper. They say your father was killed to stop him talking about murder. This Bentley Warne is a terrible man, huh?”

  Leah nodded. “But he’s going to jail for a very long time now.”

  “Yes.” Ah Song gave her a quick look. “I read in newspaper. About you and also Mr Toran James, helping the police.” He hesitated. “Your father contacted Toran? I’m so surprised…”

  “Surprised?” Leah raised her eyebrows.

  He hesitated again. “Your father did not say?”

  “Say what?” Leah was puzzled.

  An expression flashed in his eyes. Leah almost thought it was relief before she saw him twist his hands uncomfortably.

  “Ah, nothing, Missy Leah. If your father did not tell you… not important, huh?”

  “My father didn’t… um… talk to me much,” said Leah, thinking guiltily of the bundle of letters she had found. They had been hidden in the concealed safe in her father’s study, back in his villa in Singapore. Letters her father had been writing to her since the day he sent her away from Singapore at fourteen… but he had never posted them to her. Why? Why had he written them? Had he ever intended for her to read them?

  He had never shown much interest in talking to her when she was living at home. Leah had been used to a cold, distant father who seemed to enjoy spending time with his whiskey bottle more than with her. Growing up in that lonely household, it was hardly surprising that she had turned so eagerly to Toran in school and the warm tenderness he had offered. Not just because he cared, but because she felt, somehow, that he understood.

  Leah thought again of the letters. It was cowardly, she knew, but in the month since she had gotten back from Singapore, she still hadn’t been able to bring herself to read those letters. She had rifled through them a few times and started reading one or two, but had always stopped after a few lines. It was almost as if she didn’t want to know, as if she wanted to remain in the cocoon of ignorance that she had lived in for the past twelve years.

  She looked at Ah Song. “I knew my father was Toran’s contact. And he’d left clues for me, so I could find the evidence he had hidden about the murder. Do you think there was something else he—”

  “No, no.” Ah Song smiled, his eyes crinkling. “Is okay. Nothing important. Just me old man, you know? Thinking too much, huh? I saw your picture in the newspaper. I hear the news. Very excited, I want to see you—then I find you leave Singapore already! So sad. Then I come to London on holiday this week and I say, I must find Missy Leah, say hello. You know, I have my own taxi company now? Do good business. My son is going to university. First in my family!”

  “Oh, that’s wonderful, Ah Song,” said Leah warmly. “I’m so happy for you.”

  “You come back to Singapore?” Ah Song asked.

  “I… er… I don’t know,” Leah stammered. “I… I don’t think so. You see, I’ve got a good job here in London and…” She trailed off lamely, somehow not able to make herself finish the sentence.

  Ah Song beamed. “If you come back, must let me know, Missy Leah. I will give you personal taxi service!”

  “Thank you,” Leah said, smiling. “I will.”

  She escorted Ah Song back to the reception and watched him leave, then walked slowly back to her desk, a hollow feeling in her stomach. She tried to tell herself that it was the measly lunch she’d had, but she knew it was more than that. The stab of disappointment she’d felt when she realised it wasn’t Toran had been shocking in its intensity. Leah hadn’t realised how much she missed him, how much she longed to see him.

  Ah Song’s question about whether she would return to Singapore echoed in her mind. What was to stop her going back for a visit? Nothing, she realised, her heart lifting. She had more than enough annual leave left to take another holiday; she could easily ask for some time off next month… Her pulse quickened with excitement at the thought of seeing Toran again. She couldn’t wait to email him and tell him about her plans. Maybe they could go on a short trip together and explore one of the nearby islands, maybe—

  The phone on her desk rang again and Leah picked it up automatically. This time it was Charles Reagan, the Vice President, asking her to come to his office for a chat. Leah suddenly remembered the rumours of her promotion. It seemed like something from another life. Forcing thoughts of Toran and Singapore out of her head, she made her way to the Vice President’s office and entered after knocking briefly.

  “Leah, please… sit down.” The silver-haired man behind the executive desk smiled at her and gestured to a leather seat facing him.

  When she had made herself comfortable, he began talking about her achieveme
nts in the last six months and how impressed the board was with her management of various key projects. Leah felt the words washing over her and had to struggle to concentrate.

  “… as you know, Derek is leaving to head the department in the New York office, which means that the Director of Marketing position is coming vacant here in London.” He smiled at her. “I’m sure you’ve heard the rumours and it comes as no surprise that we would like to offer you the role. You would be in charge of the whole European division and be liaising on a regular basis with our offices in New York, Shanghai, and Sydney. The position would also involve overseeing the development of a new office in Dubai… Leah?” He looked at her quizzically as she made no response.

  Leah jumped. “Sorry. Um… yes, that’s… that’s wonderful.”

  “It’s a significant increase in responsibility and, naturally, you will be remunerated accordingly,” he continued. “Oh, and of course, it could lead to the prospect of a position on the board.”

  Leah blinked.

  He waited for her to say something and when she didn’t, he added smoothly, “I understand you may need to think it over. You don’t have to give me an answer today. Take some time and perhaps we can meet again on Thursday to discuss—”

  “No, that won’t be necessary,” said Leah, finding her voice. “I can give you my answer now.”

  He smiled. “Fantastic. So I can let the board know that you’ll be taking the position?”

  Leah sat up straighter. “Actually… I’m handing in my resignation.”

  “What?” He stared at her. Then his face relaxed into a grin. “You almost had me there, Leah. Good one.”

  “I’m not joking,” said Leah. “I’m officially giving notice.”

  “You’re serious?” He gaped at her. “You’re leaving this job? But why?”

  She smiled at him. “Because I’m moving to Singapore.”

  CHAPTER 2