TENDER DECEIT (Romantic Suspense Mystery Novel): First Love Series ~ Book 1 by H.Y. Hanna Page B

Julia turned away from her other friends and faced them.
    “Bentley Warne, amongst other things,” said Steve, smiling.
    Julia’s eyes lit up. “Bentley’s giving this fantastic party this Friday night at his house. They say it’s going to be the biggest bash of the season.”
    “Do you know him well?” Leah asked in surprise.
    Julia shrugged. “Arnold, my husband, has some business dealings with him. And I know Bentley’s wife, Susan. She’s at my tennis club. We meet at parties and charity do’s and things.” She looked eagerly at Leah. “How long are you going to be in Singapore? Because I can get an extra invite for Bentley’s party, if you’d like to come with me? You should come just to see his house. It’s fabulous—and he always goes the whole hog with his parties. Live band, food sculptures, and everything!”
    Leah thought hard. Friday. That was three days away. Would Toran have found his evidence against Warne by then? She felt a stab of guilt as she remembered his plea for help the night before and the way she had ignored his Facebook message earlier. Would he be able to achieve his goal if she didn’t help him? And if he didn’t find a way to expose Warne? Would the Australian tycoon eventually hunt him down? Leah shrank from the thought of something happening to Toran.
    She realised that Julia was still talking:
    “…and I can’t remember what the dress code is—I have to check the invitation again—but I’m sure I can lend you an evening gown, if you don’t want to buy one.” Julia gave her an assessing look. “You’re only a bit bigger than me—”
    Leah choked on a laugh. “A bit bigger? Julia, you’ve got to be kidding. I’m a lot bigger than you.”
    Julia made a face at her. “Well, anyway, it might be themed, in which case, we’d need costumes. Oh, I love Bentley’s themed parties… although it would be a shame because I just got this new dress from Dior’s latest collection. It’s gorgeous—I must show it to you! I got it last week, but I had to get it dry-cleaned because the stupid shop assistant spilled some perfume on it. That reminds me—I must stop by the dry-cleaner on the way home…” Her voice became muffled as she bent over and dug into her handbag, pulling out keys, lipstick, compact, purse, miniature perfume, mobile phone, hairband, and finally something which she brandished triumphantly. “Aha! I thought I lost it, but I just found the tag.”
    Leah stared at the small piece of paper in Julia’s fingers. Suddenly, she was seeing a similar piece of square, pink paper, with perforated edges along one side and faint numbers printed on top… the pink paper tag she had found in her father’s concealed safe.

CHAPTER 11
     
     
     
    “What’s that?” Leah asked faintly.
    “This? It’s my receipt—you know, to claim my dress from the dry-cleaner,” said Julia, waving the little piece of paper airily.
    Leah felt a surge of excitement. She wanted to go back to her hotel immediately and examine the pink tag from her father’s safe. Why would he keep a dry-cleaner’s tag in a safe? Unless it was much more than just a dry-cleaner’s tag. Was this the evidence that Toran was talking about? What Warne’s men were searching for?
    “Hello? Earth to Leah.”
    Leah blinked. She realised that Steve was smiling at her and waving a hand in front of her face. “Sorry.” She stood up decisively. “I’m sorry, Julia, but I’ve got to go.”
    “What?” Her friend gaped at her. “But you’ve only just got here! And we haven’t had lunch yet—and besides, I haven’t even had a chance to talk to you. What’s going on with that whole Toran James business? Have you—”
    Leah gripped her friend’s hand. “Julia, I’m really sorry. I’ll make it up to you another time—I promise. I’ll be in Singapore until this weekend so there’ll be other chances to catch up. There’s… there’s just something I need to go and do now.”
    Julia gave a