UNASSUMED: Zara Zee and the Unassuming Case of the Billionaire Heir Read online

  “Mr. Lee. I have a confession to make.”

  “I’m ready for it.”

  “I am Detective Zara Zee.”

  She could have hit him in the gut and he wouldn’t have been more shocked.

  “Detective? What the hell is a detective doing here?”

  With patient hands, she disentangled herself from his hold and backed up to the wall, putting a bit of space between them. “I’m with the Hong Kong Police Department. More precisely the OCUI; the Organized Crime Unit of Investigations.”

  “You know, I’ve had a lot of fans and groupies use very imaginative ways to get close to me over the years, but this takes the cake. Really… what are you doing here?”

  “Mr. Lee, I’m sure you’re already aware of the international crime ring that has taken hold of Hong Kong. They’re powerful, they have the necessary funds and they don’t hesitate to get rid of anyone who gets in their way. We have reason to believe, Mr. Lee, that you’re getting in their way.”

  “That’s ridiculous,” he said with false bravado, but he knew better.

  “I already know that you’ve been in contact with the French police. You were recently in Paris, were you not?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you had the chance to see a few members of the French branch of this crime ring.”

  “Yes. They kidnapped my friend’s future sister-in-law, Lilly Cooke.”

  “The daughter of Eugene Cooke who lost his company after millions were embezzled.”

  “How does all that relate to me?”

  “You may not have heard, but during your absence from Hong Kong, the heir of The Lu Group was kidnapped.”

  He gasped. He’d been so preoccupied with everything that was going on in his life that he hadn’t even checked the headlines of the paper, never mind the stories.

  “The board of directors received a clear ransom demand from the kidnappers,” she added. “Fifteen million dollars within forty-eight hours or they would kill him.”

  Leo let out a whistle. “Fifteen million? Were they able to get it?”

  “Yes, but that didn’t stop the ring from messing him up pretty bad. For reasons we still don’t understand, they cut off all his toes, his ears, and…well, they killed him, and nearly caused his building to topple. It was horrendous. Richard Lu died, and two officers on the case died while trying to rescue him.”

  “Ouch.”

  “They’re not done. We think they’re taunting us. For the past weeks, they’ve been staying just one step in front of us, and they know it.”

  “But how did all that bring us to hide out in my closet.” He reached out to lay his hands on her hips, which fitted perfectly in his hands. “Not that I mind.”

  “The minute you stepped over to that window, I spotted a sniper in the building across the street. You were in his aim, Mr. Lee.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Very seriously. You may not be aware of this, Mr. Lee, but they intended to kill Lilly Cooke. The only thing that stopped them was greed. They thought they could essentially make a slave of her and have her produce food for profit. In addition to their insatiable appetite for money and power, they are a dirty and unscrupulous band of criminals, and they are not to be taken lightly.”

  He squeezed the firm flesh that made her so sensually curvaceous. God, she felt good in his hands. “I promise to take it very seriously from now on.”

  “This is no laughing matter, Mr. Lee, and I take my job very seriously.” She removed his hands from her hips and held them clasped in hers. “I’ll be working undercover as your assistant until this is resolved, and don’t doubt my professionalism for a minute. I will not let you out of my sight and I will do what I have to do to keep you safe.”

  “I’m obviously in good hands.” The words were silky and sweet, but in the back of his mind, he had a million questions. What proof did he have that she was who she said she was? What if she was one of them? Part of the crime ring she claimed to want to keep him safe from? His years growing up as the heir to a billion dollars had taught him a lot about trust; namely, not to trust anyone. He’d fallen for pretenses more times than he could count, and he’d become wary of everyone.

  Zara smiled. “I know you play an action hero in your movies, and I anticipated quite a bit of resistant from you. I’m happy to see you're ready to trust me.”

  “Just to be on the safe side…” He looked intently into her eyes.

  She chuckled. “So, you don’t trust me after all.”

  “You can never be too safe.”

  She pulled the fabric of her dress down to show him the sheer lace bra that highlighted her perfectly pert nipples. He grew harder, despite himself. Her body clearly wanted his, too.

  “Hmm,” he said with a hungry smile. “While I approve and would love to lose myself in… your endowment, that’s not really the proof I was looking for.”

  “The badge clipped to my bra, sir… the badge,” she said in an annoyed tone.

  Licking his lips, he imagined putting his head between the two mounds of soft, firm flesh. He was hungry… so horny. He wanted her so badly, he could almost taste her. Her breasts were perfect.

  “Are you satisfied, Mr. Lee?”

  He cleared his throat. “For now.” Keeping control of his urges would be difficult if she continued to dress so provocatively. Trying to shake off the sensual images he had of her, he reminded himself of her profession. She was an officer of the law and he had to respect that.

  She glared at him.

  “Yes. I’m satisfied.”

  “Good. I’m going to open the closet door now. Don’t move.” She cracked the door open, scanned the office and looked out the window. “Looks like he left, but we’ll have to be on our guard.”

  “Who’s to say he won’t come back?”

  She huffed with impatience and walked back into the darkened office. “Get on with your day, Mr. Lee and act as normally as you can… go out to lunch, go to the gym… do whatever it is that the hot, young heir of Lee Holdings does in a typical day.”

  “Hot?”

  “I beg your pardon.”

  “You said I was hot. It’s a little surprising coming from you.”

  She smiled and suddenly the naïve and clueless sweet girl she’d initially shown herself to be returned. “Did I really say that?” Playfully biting the tip of her little finger, she gazed up at him. She looked like a vulnerable and shy nineteen year old now instead of the what, twentysomething experienced and older detective that she was. She was like some male fantasy come true. A real detective, who was sexy and beautiful at the same time.

  The bulge in his pants quickly returned and he wondered how long he’d be able to hold back. She was making it impossible. “It’s flattering to know you think I’m hot.” As she turned her attention to the pile of folders on his desk, he came up behind her and whispered in her ear, “Especially since I find you so scorching hot. With all due respect, officer, I can’t help imagining all the things I would love to do to you.”

  With a tantalizing smile on her lips, she looked over her shoulder at him, the invitation so clear in her eyes.

  She looked delicious.

  Then she said, “Sorry, I don’t get involve with my subjects.”

  Leo was confused and blinked his eyes before asking, “Subject?”

  “Yes, you’re the subject I’m protecting. The target. I’m sorry, but I can’t get involved. You know…like a doctor and his patient. I can’t, for personal reasons.”

  Leo let out a big breath and ran his fingers through his hair. “Well, if I’m just a subject to you, then, I’m sorry too. I thought there was chemistry between us, but I guess wrong. I’ll stay out of your hair then.”

  He walked out of his office without a second glance at her, and when he left, Zara felt the room suddenly grow colder.

  Chapter 3

  Zara

  Fitting in at Leopold’s office wasn’t much of a problem for Zara. She’d always had a knack
for staying under the radar when it came to undercover work and this billionaire’s workplace was no different.

  With her long dark hair pulled up into a sleek ponytail, a decent amount of make up and the right clothes, no one would ever think she was anything other than the boss’s assistant.

  That morning she’d pulled on a grey version of the same skirt she’d worn the day before. Accustomed to wearing a uniform when she’d been a police officer and then moving on to comfortable slacks and a plain blue button down shirt when she’d first made detective, dressing up and fussing with hair and make up was relatively new to her, but it was something she enjoyed. The impossibly high heels were a welcomed change from the sturdy black shoes with well treaded soles she usually wore. She enjoyed wearing that red dress in her closet for her first day at Lee Holdings, although it was more of an evening date type of dress. She didn’t care. It was a chance to get dressed up, while making an impression on Mr. Leopold Lee. She wasn’t just any assistant who was stepping in for Mrs. Huang, but she was a bold and strong woman who could tear off the arms of any man who dared laid a hand on her, too.

  “Leo’s looking for you,” Hannah said as she walked into the photocopying room.

  Well, I’ve been looking for him, Zara wanted to say. He’d disappeared without a word right after lunch and her repeated attempts to call him had been in vain.

  “Thanks.” She quickly picked up the documents she’d been photocopying and headed back to her office to call him. “Leo,” she said when he picked up.

  The sound of dozens of voices around him murmured into her phone.

  “Where are you?” she nearly shouted. “You ran out on me after lunch.”

  “My apologies. It wasn’t intentional. I’m at the Oyster House. I need you here… now.”

  “Is everything all right? Did something happen?”

  “Everything is great. Just get down here.”

  She looked at the stack of photocopies on her desk and patted it affectionately. “I just made copies of some of your employee profiles. I’d hoped to have a chance to look through them. Maybe I could find a disgruntled Lee Holdings employee or ex-employee who has it in for you.”

  “Good to know you’re a diligent worker, but I need you here. You can check the profiles later.”

  Biting her bottom lip, she nodded. “Fine. I’ll be right there.”

  She hung up and stashed her precious photocopies in the bottom drawer of her desk and locked it. Grabbing her purse and blazer, she walked out of the office, locking it behind her.

  “Already off for the afternoon,” Hannah, the receptionist said as she whizzed by.

  “Duty calls.” She hopped into the first elevator and rode down to the underground parking garage. As Leo’s assistant her reserved parking space was nearby, right beside Leo’s.

  The streets from the office to the restaurant were congested and after twenty minutes she took matters into her own hands. Pulling out the magnetic portable siren and light, she affixed it to the roof of the car and flicked it on. Within seconds she was driving through the streets at a reasonable speed as drivers cleared the way for her. Although she hated to abuse such power, she told herself that Leo could very well be in danger and simply wasn’t in a position to state it.

  In just under ten minutes she arrived at the Oyster House and hurried inside. The moment she entered the swank and hip restaurant, she knew there was no emergency, at least not of the legal kind.

  Though the place was full, it was surprisingly quiet and somber. White tablecloths were draped over each table, topped with soft pink linen napkins and beautiful bouquets of pink and white flowers. Exquisite flatware sparkled against fine china as the quiet patrons nibbled delicate morsels of gourmet food.

  At the kitchen door, speaking to two waitresses, Leo stood with his hands deep in his pockets. Beyond him was a flurry of activity as tray after tray emerged on the hand of yet another waitress. Frowning, he was clearly upset and unhappy about something. His gaze flicked around the room and came to rest on Zara . A tight smile curved his lips as he dismissed his employees and waved her over.

  Zara meandered through the tables and came to him. “This is quite a crowd. What’s the special occasion?”

  “It’s a charity fundraiser benefiting Hong Kong’s Hospital for Women.”

  “Oh. I’ve heard of that. They do great work.”

  “Absolutely.”

  “What did you call me here for? What do you need me to do?”

  “You’re my assistant, right? My assistant should be here at a time like this.”

  “Right.”

  “Besides, I have a speech to make in about ten minutes.” He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a few sheets of neatly folded paper. “I’d like you to take a look at it.”

  She took the sheets. “You do realize that I’m a detective and not a proofreader.”

  He shrugged as he headed to the back office. “I just want you to see if everything makes sense and if it’s sensitive enough. You know… a woman’s perspective.”

  She wanted to argue that it wasn’t truly a part of her job, but quickly realized it was for a good cause.

  “You're a little loquacious, aren’t you?” she said as she unfolded the wordy pages.

  “Only when I have something to say.”

  “Fair enough.” Zara leaned her butt back against the edge of Leo’s desk and read the first page. As she began the second page, tears came to her eyes and she tried desperately to keep them in check, but by the end of the third page, she had to stop.”

  “This is beautiful,” she blubbered.

  “I was hoping you’d be moved.”

  “Mr. Lee,” a perky young employee said as she poked her head inside the office. “They’re ready for you.”

  “I’ll be right there.” He reached out for his speech, his trembling hand betraying him.

  “Nervous?” Zara said with an affectionate smile. “I never would have thought a big star like you would fear public speaking.”

  “It’s not speaking in public I’m worried about. It’s the story.”

  She patted his shoulder. “It’s a very touching story. I’m sure they’ll all appreciate you sharing it with them.”

  His eyes locked with hers. The tension in his jaw dissipated and his dark brown eyes softened. A wan smile came to his lips for a fleeting moment as he reached for her hand. “Thank you. I think I needed that.”

  They walked back into the quiet restaurant and Leo made his way to a small stage erected for the occasion.

  “Nin hao ma. Good afternoon, everyone and thank you for coming,” he said when all eyes turned to him. “I’m sure some of you have never given much thought to Hong Kong’s Hospital for Women. I would say you're very fortunate if you’ve never had to walk through their doors. You have true wealth; your health. But I’m sure that many of you know precisely what happens beyond those doors. Many of you have been tested, diagnosed and treated at this very special hospital. Many more of you have visited patients there; patients who were treated with care and respect. But some of you are probably wondering what all this has to do with me, an action film star with culinary aspirations. Well, let me tell you.

  “When I was a young boy, a very dear woman fell ill. Doctors said it was ovarian cancer, advanced ovarian cancer; untreatable, incurable, and unforgiving. She had nowhere to go other than family, and while her family, her children, her siblings and her friends did their best to make her comfortable, the pain intensified and the strain quickly overwhelmed everyone.

  “When her children last saw her, she was frail and thin, and while her smile was stoic, they knew she was in unimaginable pain. Had the hospital existed then, things could have been different for her.

  “Two years following her death, her daughter was diagnosed with the very same cancer, but that’s where the similarity ends. The women’s hospital had just opened their doors and she was one of their very first patients. Treatment was efficient, quick, and adm
inistered with love and care, and within the year, she was given a clean bill of health.”

  Leo swallowed and his eyes grew misty. For a moment he seemed unable to continue, but he cleared his throat, blinked away the intense emotions and looked at the crowd that hung on his every word. “I would not be standing here today if it wasn’t for Hong Kong’s Hospital for Women. You see, the older woman who died so many years ago was my grandmother, a woman I never met, never knew, and the woman who was saved by the efficient treatment given at the hospital was my mother. She was pregnant with me when she got the diagnosis. I shouldn’t be standing here in front of you today. At least that’s what many people told her at the time; that she should terminate the pregnancy, that her health was too frail.

  “As you prepare to open your purses, your wallets, and your checkbooks, please be generous, for your mothers, your sisters, your daughters and for every other woman who has ever touched your lives. I am proud to be the first to place in this basket a check for two million dollars. The hospital needs you, needs us. Equipment is expensive, treatment is expensive, and talented doctors, nurses and lab technicians are expensive. On behalf of all women, I thank you. Xie xie nin de bang zhu.”

  A gentle and reverent spattering of applause filled the room and the moment Leo stepped down, he was surrounded by women eager to thank him and share their own stories. Through it all, he was charming and compassionate and emerged profoundly touched by the response.

  “I’m glad you asked me to come be here,” Zara said when he’d finally disengaged himself. “I wouldn’t have wanted to miss such a poignant and touching moment. I’ve already made a check to the hospital. It’s not quite as generous as yours, but…”