To Catch A Daring Thief

By Isabella Rose

A billion dollar heist -espionage in the beauty business - after discovering her fiance inflagrante delico with her best friend and desperate to get out of Britain Adrianna takes a job in Seattle, USA.
Watch the fireworks as she endeavours to keep her rich alpha male employer at arms length whilst she investigates the theft.
Matt insists that she pose as his fiancee to avert suspicion and allow her access to his office and home.
He regards his partners as friends but is one of them guilty of betraying his trust and if so why.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Isabella Rose
• Release date: Dec 29, 2011
• ISBN: 9781301017997

Isabella Rose

What a hoot, my new book Secrets of the village girls is 87850 words long and covers underground tunnels in Norwich - it has romance - a treasure hunt - blackmail and three murders to solve. So that should keep readers happy. it could be the first of a series. At the moment it is under review and if its favourable it will be shortly an ebook. I am aiming for a traditional publisher for this one, but they are scarcer than hens teeth. So its lucky that I can be my own publisher. I have entered two short story competitions so wish me luck. One is entered for the Hillingdon Literary Festival which sounds like a very good weekend out for everyone. if you live locally check it out. There will be a lot of bigwigs there as well as writers. I went to the Over fifty plus show at Olympia, London and discovered that I had won the writers competition. So I contacted the organiser Dr Robert McCaffrey who was pleased to give me my prize. We had a lovely day and enjoyed all the stalls and learned a lot. The men enjoyed watching two girls in feathers dancing. And the ladies enjoyed snatches of Gilbert and Sullivan. Had a wonderful day -met friendly editors -and like minded writers - ending with glass of bubbly - cheers. Now I have to practise what I learned and inspire an editor with enthusiasm. Wish me luck. I am off to Richmond to a master class of writing for Harlequin. Hope my brain holds all the information I can glean. My weird marriage proposal where a sailor openly said he would probably not be faithful - won a goodie bag from Harper Impulse recently. Sometimes good comes out of bad memories. My book An Obsession for Jake by Isabella Rose has a saucy domination theme and I'm looking for a publisher to market it further than I can. Review says its hilarious chic lit, read the book to join in the action!.. My first line entry to Authonomy and Avon competition was short listed to the last ten. Out of one thousand entries so I was thrilled. My as yet unpublished novel Love and Lust No Strings No Trust is an exciting read and entered for another competition. If it doesn't win I will put it on line myself. One snag I discovered is if you are in the library readers can download your books for free. Which rather defeats the object if you want to sell your work and only give away a sample to whet the readers appetite. Hundreds of downloads so at least I'm getting readers. Mysterious Master by Isabella Rose is short listed for best author published read at the international festival for romance writers 2012. The award ceremony was thrilling sprinkled with friendly authors publishers and literary agents followed by a gala ball.It was a fun night. check out my website to find links to my books and to other interesting authors. Love or lust no Strings No Trust by Isabella Rose saucy romantic suspense will be ebook soon. Daddy's Little Spy -Isabella by Isabella Rose child abuse as isabella struggles to survive WW2 and witchcraft - light relief -love spells. To Catch a Daring Thief by Angel Rose is a fun read. Billion dollar heist with sensual intrigue. Intimate Enemies is a sensual romance if Blake is guilty -does Angel want to prove it. Devil Doctor - hates sadistic surgeon who told her mother terminally ill -inspirational story. Mysterious Master by Isabella Rose -family relationships complex romance. Feedback welcomed. Ena Roscoe musical star 1920-1940's. Family history mixed with music hall and radio stars etc. Walt Disney's gift to Ena. Treasured to this day.

Book preview

To Catch a Daring Thief.

Copyright ©2012 -Published by Isabella Rose

Smashwords Edition.

The author asserts the moral right under the copyright, designs and patents act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work. This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBooks may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

All characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the author, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

Acknowledgement

For my son Nicholas with love and in memory of Andrew who died eighteen years ago –he will live in our hearts for eternity.

Review by Francine Howarth.

This is a fun read for everyone who has ever been betrayed or crossed in love. Adriana discovers her fiancé in action entwined in a sexy romp with her best friend, only days before her wedding. Her confidence in all men shattered, she takes an assignment in the USA to solve a billion dollar heist in the beauty business. A web of intrigue and dangerous adventure.

TO CATCH A DARING THIEF.

Chapter One

Her arms aching with the weight of all the decorating materials she was carrying, Adriana let herself into her new apartment. She smiled as she placed her shopping onto the kitchen table. It would be a nice surprise for Luigi if she were to redecorate the kitchen before they moved in.

Relieved of her load, she returned to the hallway before stopping abruptly. Were her ears playing tricks? No, she could definitely hear muffled noises coming from the bedroom.

On tiptoe now and holding her breath, Adriana crept up to the bedroom door and stood outside listening. The giggles and groans she could hear, left no doubt at all about what was going on in there. But Luigi was in London for the day so who on earth could it be? Angry thoughts quickly raced through her mind. It must be the previous tenants of this flat who’d sneakily held onto a key. If that was the case, she’d demand that they hand the key back immediately. Adriana’s sense of outrage grew. No one but Luigi and herself had any right to be romping on their brand new super king size bed.

Adriana wrenched open the bedroom door.

The sense of shock she felt was physically painful, momentarily, rendering her speechless. For several seconds, she fought to deny the evidence of her own eyes, but it was horribly true. Luigi – her Luigi – was passionately thrashing around on her now crumpled purple sheets, demonstrating his athletic abilities to her best friend Lucille. The pair of them froze, guilt written all over their faces, as they spotted Adriana.

Disillusionment flooded her brain with white hot rage. Sheer hatred surged through her body forcing her muscles into action. Adriana whipped off one of her white stiletto heeled shoes and lashed out wildly at her unfaithful fiancé - and now ex-best friend.

Luigi had proudly boasted a past Casanova would have been proud to acknowledge, but at their engagement party, he’d promised to reform. Adriana had gazed into his melting chocolate eyes and believed his fanciful lies. What a fool she’d been. How dare he destroy her dreams by tarnishing their private haven? Taking careful aim, Adriana scored a direct hit on a very personal part of his anatomy.

Luigi doubled up in agony, cursing volubly in his own language. ‘Stupido’ was the only word she understood, but his murderous expression left no doubt that he’d retaliate when he recovered

‘What are you doing here?’ wailed Lucille.

‘Don’t speak to me, you two-faced treacherous bitch.’ Adriana lashed out wildly with her stiletto again.

Lucille swiftly ducked, skilfully evading all attempts to hit her. So Adriana threw the shoe at her, with all the force that she’d put behind her ace tennis serve. The stiletto heel clouted her rival’s head with a satisfying clunk.

‘Ouch!’ Lucille staggered, ‘Blame Luigi, he’s been chasing me for weeks.’ A worried frown replaced her fear, ‘Please don’t tell my husband he’d never forgive me.’ Hastily grabbing up her clothes which were strewn around the bedroom, she retreated to the bathroom. The bolt slammed shut.

Luigi recovered his equilibrium and began to straighten up .Adriana panicked when he made a determined lunge toward her. Emotionally traumatized she realised that she was scared of him. Sheer instinct for survival made her stamp hard on his foot with the heel of her remaining shoe.

He clutched her slender ankle tightly, ‘Adriana what you saw meant nothing, I was having a last fling. It’s you that I’m marrying.’

‘No chance. Forget the wedding. Just looking at you makes me feel sick. I never want to set eyes on you again.’

Luigi deliberately switched his vice like grip to her left shoe. ‘I’m going nowhere until you listen to reason.’ Catching a glance of himself in the mirror, he added insolently, ‘Especially without any clothes.’

Quickly pulling her foot out of her shoe, Adriana ran out the apartment sobbing so hard that she couldn’t really see where she was going. As she fled down the stairs she vowed never to trust any man ever again. The events she’d just witnessed would be indelibly etched on her memory for all eternity.

Meanwhile, in the States.

Matt Granger could hardly believe his ears. He owned a cosmetic research company and a range of health stores named, Natures Larder, in which sold his Supreme Secrets beauty products. Right at this moment, Matt was in a towering rage.

He glared at his chief accountant, Samuel Sims. ‘You’re seriously telling me that someone has stolen a billion dollars from my company. And you have absolutely no idea where the money’s gone, or who took it.’

Matt thumped his clenched fist down hard on his large oak desk, heartily wishing it was the thief’s face he was punching.

Samuel sighed, nervously, ‘Regrettably that’s true.’

Matt ran his fingers agitatedly through his blond hair and looked Sims directly in the eye. ‘Why didn’t you call the cops? Is there any possibility of a mistake?’

Samuel shook his head and vehemently denied that he could have overlooked such a large sum. ‘I didn’t call them, because I believe it’s one of your directors. The inevitable scandal wouldn’t be good for business.’

‘When I catch the culprit, he’ll be sorry he was ever born,’ Matt growled. ‘I handpicked all my directors and regarded them as friends.’

It had taken him years of hard graft to set up his cosmetic research company. Matt had started his business in England, where he’d been educated. But relocating to the U.S.A had been a brilliant move. His beauty products were now legendary. It was his proud boast that his famous brand name, Supreme Secrets could be purchased anywhere in the civilized world.

Many years ago, when he was the first company to advertise that no animals were used in experiments designed to test his cosmetics, his sales had quadrupled. Instead, Matt perfected his products until they were safe to be tried out by human volunteers. Having one of his three directors under suspicion was his idea of a living nightmare.

Matt thought about each of them. Harvey was a bluff genial guy in his forties who possessed excellent organizational skills.

Ralph was nearing retirement age, but had a wealth of experience working with cosmetics and was an excellent Sales Manager.

Lee was a brash young design artist with a wandering eye. He collected beautiful women faster than Matt changed his mind. It didn’t seem conceivable that any one of them would deliberately double cross him.

Unfortunately, each one ranked high on his Chief Accountant’s suspect list. ‘I’m certain it was an inside job.’ Samuel said crisply. ‘Our security was deemed to be watertight.

‘What you need is someone to look at the situation objectively. Not necessarily an American, suggested Matt’s ultra-efficient P.A.

‘Hester you’re a marvel of sanity in a mad world,’ praised Matt. ‘Whilst I was studying at Oxford University, I met a Scottish lad, who now runs a thriving investigation bureau. Bruce Anderson should be able to help me.’

Delving into a list of telephone contacts, Hester quickly dialled Bruce's number, laughing as she redirected the phone call to Matt's desk. ‘This Bruce is a crazy joker. He says all Scots only answer to the name of Jock.’

Matt rapidly outlined his problem. ‘Can you help? I need an undercover agent as of yesterday?’

‘I've just the right girl. Adriana could pose as one of your empty headed models. Gorgeous face and figure, but be warned, her fiery temper matches her red hair.’ Bruce went on to extol Adriana’s virtues. ‘She solved a really sticky case for me last month. I'd like to reward her with a plum job in the States. But make sure you send her back home to me, I well remember you stealing all the girls I fancied.’

‘I wanted to hire a male investigator, but Adriana sounds a much more interesting proposition. E-mail her photograph to me.’

Matt grinned at Hester who rolled her eyes and shook her head. Her boss had never learned not to mix business with pleasure. Within minutes they were looking at Adriana

‘Wow,’ said Hester. ‘Bruce wasn't kidding, what a stunner. I’d die to possess her figure.’

Samuel chuckled, ‘No point. Matt prefers his girls alive and responsive.’

Matt stared at the picture again feeling as if he'd been kicked in the solar plexus. Adriana was every man's ideal woman. A niggling feeling that he’d seen her somewhere before, flashed a warning through his brain, but he couldn’t remember where.

Her photograph will do wonders for our products,’ said Hester. ‘Every woman will believe that if she uses them – she will look just as fantastic. Our sales figures will soar into the stratosphere.’

‘Bruce says she's feisty, but excellent at solving computer fraud,’ Matt muttered. ‘I do hope she’ll prove some unknown hacker is the culprit. I don't want to lose any of my directors.’

He confirmed that he was hiring Adriana before someone else beat him to it. But he insisted on making one stipulation. Although Bruce tried to talk him out of it, knowing Adriana might refuse the job, if it had emotional strings attached.

Matt insisted, ‘Adriana’s to pose as my fiancée then her continual presence in my office and in my home won't arouse suspicion. I'll meet her at the airport myself.’

‘Keep your hands off the merchandise,’ snapped Hester. She’d fallen into the fatal secretarial trap of loving a man who regarded her, only as a necessary part of the office furniture. She pointed out, ‘Announcing your engagement is a rather drastic action that you might yet live to regret. You've been very adroit so far at evading commitment, but this woman is obviously different. One look at her photograph and you lose your wits.

‘You should know by now that I always have a hidden agenda.’ Matt smiled wolfishly. ‘Don't worry. I know just what I'm doing. I won't actually marry the girl.’

Chapter Two

When Bruce called Adriana into his office, he was absentmindedly polishing his bald patch, usually a sign that she was in trouble. She racked her brains, but couldn’t think of anything she’d done wrong, at least nothing Bruce would know about.

‘I need one of my best investigators to travel to the States. How would you feel about going for an indefinite period?’ Bruce eyed her intently waiting for her reaction.

‘Are you kidding? I’m longing to get away from England and any reminder of Luigi. And you know that it’s always been my ambition to work in America.’ Excitement almost made her accept a blind assignment before common-sense came to her rescue. ‘What exactly do I have to do?’

‘Matt Granger runs a multi-billion dollar cosmetic company, Natures Larder. He’s been robbed and his accountant suspects that one of the three directors is siphoning off the money. It will be tricky, as Matt wants very discreet enquiries made. You'd be based in Seattle to find out who is responsible and report directly to him.’

‘It sounds too good to be true. Where’s the catch?’

Bruce hesitated, but decided not to tell her the fiancé angle. Adriana could twist most men round her little finger and he was sure that she could handle any unwelcome advances from Matt.

Adriana perched on the edge of her chair crossing one shapely leg over the other, before saying suspiciously. ‘Tell me the worst.’

‘I suggested that you posed as one of his top models. Ostensibly to give you free access everywhere but watch your step. He’s a charming devil who dumps women without a qualm whenever he gets the itch for a new face.’

‘You don't have to worry about me, that Italian sewer rat Luigi ensured that I’m right off all men.’ Adriana grimaced, ‘Is there anything else I should know, before I go?’

‘The accountant, Samuel Sims seems too keen to pin this on one of the directors. Find out why? Has he an axe to grind, a grudge against one of them perhaps? Matt is hoping that you can prove otherwise, so you’ll need definite proof before you accuse anyone.’

‘I’ll be careful,’ Adriana smiled. ‘After all it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve caught the boss himself with sticky fingers.’

Bruce grinned, ‘You won’t be easily fooled. Check out Matt’s alibi thoroughly, but don’t let him catch you.’

Adriana had one more worry. ‘Why would Matt employ an English girl, won’t that look odd? How are we supposed to have met?’

Bruce explained. ‘When Matt graduated he took a Chemistry degree at Oxford University. He’ll say that he’s always followed your modelling career, via the media and has finally talked you into working for him.’

‘Does he look like Count Dracula - with warts on his nose? With all his money why isn’t he married, instead of still collecting notches on his bedpost?’

Ferreting amongst the papers on his desk, Bruce produced Matt’s picture. He was a typical blond haired American with a permanent tan. Only one thing marred his rugged good looks. His roman nose had obviously been