The Heidi Conundrum

Kevin Read

Description

Milly, an Asian siren, with a violent distressing childhood in rural China then wrapped in an unimaginable conspiracy by unknown powers in Beijing who smuggled her into Hong Kong, provided education through university, a stint at a major bank, learning the art of international money laundering and finally permanent residence arranged in Australia. Where she met Mathew Allen and his diverse property portfolio, thus opportunity created for them to travel to Hong Kong, where Mathew met the principals who controlled the tens of millions of dollars, nefariously secreted away around the world.
To control Mathew, the bankers arranged a private dinner and introduced Heidi a beautiful yet mysterious lady of the night, who by her own design intensified the intrigue as she was no simple honey pot. Her intended seduction metamorphosed as she suddenly envisaged another conspiracy that would fashion her future forward.
But Mathew was returning to Melbourne and Heidi was bound to Hong Kong, unless she could come up with another strategy.

Sujets

• Romance
• Fiction

Informations

• Publié par: Xlibris AU
• Date de parution: 25 août 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781669888055
• Langue: English

Extrait

THE HEIDI CONUNDRUM
KEVIN READ

Copyright © 2022 by Kevin Read.
 
Library of Congress Control Number:
2022907712
ISBN:
Hardcover
978-1-6698-8807-9

Softcover
978-1-6698-8806-2

eBook
978-1-6698-8805-5
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rev. date: 08/11/2022
 
 
 
 
 
Xlibris
AU TFN: 1 800 844 927 (Toll Free inside Australia)
AU Local: [phone] ([phone] from outside Australia)
www.Xlibris.com.au
839240
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
 
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
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to my daughter, Katrina, who was always there to assist with my technical issues. What a life saver!
My long- time mate, Terry Belleville, who resides in Canada, and inspired me to write a novel one day. Terry, thanks for your great friendship and support in Heidi finally being published.
Mike Andrews, my friend and relative for his ongoing encouragement and contribution.
And my cousin, Julie, who worked tirelessly with me in writing The Seduction of Min Xie, my first novel (unpublished), which inspired my two novels about Heidi.
Final thanks to my old mate Tony Cashmore for allowing me to use his name.
CHAPTER 1

T HE BRILLIANT RED JAGUAR TURNS right onto the South Gippsland Highway north of Cranbourne. The Eagles’ Hell Freezes Over DVD pounds in Mathew’s eardrums; subconsciously, his left foot taps to the beat while he meditates on Min Xie and what might have been. He blinks, knowing she’ll appear on his eyelids; it agitates his angst, but what can he do? He’s in love, but she’s gone.
Invasively, his mobile phone interrupts the rampant introspections; and as its early days since the end of his affair, they readily recycle to taunt and tease. He answers without pulling over, adjusting the radio volume as Milly’s sing-song voice titillates. ‘How are you today, Mathew? Been golfing, I assume?’
‘Yeah, g’day, Milly. You sound bright and chirpy on this blustery day. What are you up to?’
‘Golf tomorrow at Cowes but Park’s crook. Any chance you might make up the four?’
He muses at her utilisation of the colloquialism, wondering why a Chinese chick will use crook instead of ill or simply not well. ‘What time are you hitting off?’
‘At 11.36.’
‘I’m down by myself this weekend. It’s about time we had a hit.’
How opportune. Strike one. she counts. Be bold. Go for strike two.
‘How about dinner in Cowes tonight, my shout?’
‘You’re on. I’m a great believer that the flavour of the feast is considerably enhanced when seasoned by someone else’s money. Name the time and place.’
The mirth in her voice traverses the mystic distance. ‘The Mediterranean, it’s on the main drag but after your last comment, we’ll go to Macca’s.’
He laughs softly and counters, ‘No, we won’t. There isn’t one in town.’
‘Very perceptive. See you at seven thirty, okay?’
‘Too right. Drive carefully.’
Strike two. Milly congratulates herself. How bloody easy was that?’ She punches Park’s speed dial number into her phone, intent on pursuing an extremely delicate favour.
Mathew declines to shut the phone off and settles it beside Michael Dobbs’ book Winston’s War . He is heavily involved in the spellbinding storyline of fact and fable and it’s his intention to complete it this weekend. The artful contrivance of Milly’s telephone call will put paid to that agenda; still, it seems appropriate to pursue her offer of golf and dinner as the intent is surely innocent. However, Milly remains a character of interest – intelligent and humorous, tall for a Chinese with long shapely legs, with distinctive cheekbones set high on the typical round flat face, framed by a short haircut, bobbed at the back and sides with the obligatory long fringe, sitting on manicured eyebrows and like Min Xie, her lips are bold and perfectly shaped.
Is this planned? He questions, recalling the Christmas party where she was upfront about being single. His egotistical contemplation is disturbed by the throbbing music; adjusting the volume, he marshals concentration. There’s something askew in her relationship with Peter Lee. She’s too bloody smart, too much the mover and shaker yet, by purpose, remains in the background. Maybe she wants to discuss the Adderley Street project, where Peter is failing in the provision of pre-development input. Regardless, they must appreciate, this is an important project with early sales in a tightening market, key to the development and my bloody success.
A police car suddenly swerves out and passes just one car and then eases back into the stream of traffic. The unusual manner catches Mathew’s eye in the rear-vision mirror; automatically, he checks his speed as a flash of adrenaline courses through his veins. The cruise control is set exactly on 100 kilometres per hour, then reality hits home – he’s being followed again. Don’t those bastards ever quit? He scratches his stubbly chin. But why so bloody obvious, passing for no apparent reason and using a marked car? His head nods in beat with the music, and his left foot taps in time. Bugger, I’m becoming paranoid. I’ll pull off at Tooradin and see what they do.
Thoughts drift back to Milly. I don’t know much about her history except she came to Australia from Hong Kong, plays golf at Eagle Ridge, and works as Peter Lee’s personal assistant at Jefferson Wright Estate Agents in the city.
Reflections return to the Christmas party, where private invitations were covertly conveyed to several select business associates for supper. Spice, surreptitiously added to the occasion when Mathew extended invitations to the stunning Milly and the equally beautiful Mandy. The combination turned out to be compelling; they acted like a professional comedy duo, captivating the guests, ensuring the night would be discussed at other festive functions – the Milly and Mandy show. He recalls Mandy’s lingering kiss, licks his lips to test the taste, and smiles. Silly old bugger! But what’s tonight all about? Dinner with friends, golf tomorrow to strengthen the ties that bind, surely orchestrated by Peter, trying to suss out my marketing intentions for the Adderley project.
The single lane of traffic progresses through the Five Ways. Mathew looks to the left and marvels at the market gardens, deemed to be set out by theodolite and survey. Symmetrical straight lines of vegetables. almost ready to be harvested for market and cannery. In a moment of imaginary innovation, he crunches into a fresh carrot, a pod of peas and a crisp celery stick; the fantasy fades and reality returns to the initial proposition. It’s a bloody set-up. That little shit Peter has sooled her onto me. I need to be sharp, ready for the affray.
But Mathew is wrong.
The radio knocks out ‘The Girl from Yesterday’. Yeah , he groans, That’d be bloody right! Thus, without premeditation or deliberate intention, contemplations drift on the breeze like scarlet oak leaves as the season turns to Min Xie. With his eyes shut for one second, her face appears on his eyelids, tarrying in sublime recollection, like an enchanted autumn morning.
It’s two wretched months since their last meeting, that fateful Sunday evening when Vincent finally demanded the relationship end. The nerve of the bastard demanding we cannot see each other. I should have gone to his house, emptied my bucket to his wife, found him, and beat the shit out of him.
Mathew’s gut twists in anger while he rants and raves about the little prick, whom he hates with an abiding passion. In a sudden fit, he bangs the steering wheel with his hand and cries out, ‘You bloody bastard, your time will come! One day I’m going to stick it where it hurts, your ego.’
The rear-vision mirror paints a grim picture; the police car remains in the ruck. Mathew takes a reassuring deep breath and returns to the reminiscing. Settle down. The pain is diminishing. I often go some hours without thinking about her, when I’m busy, that is. But when the quiet times come, so does Min Xie to my mind, my heart, and my soul. God, I love her so. But it’s over. I have to accept she’s gone, committed to Vincent. I had my chance. I held the winning ticket to her life, our lives together, but I threw it away, electing not to battle the problems of my complicated pr