Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

“Who’s this nemesis of yours?” He took a sip.

“Imperial Gem Corporation’s obnoxious boss!”

His eyes darkened, “What beef does he have with you?”

“It’s an old family feud, a cutthroat business rivalry! You into business? If not, you wouldn’t understand,”

The assistant behind the boss stifled a laugh. The lady sure spoke her mind.

His eyes playful, L asked coldly, “Does your nemesis even take you seriously?”

“He said I have a small chest. That’s a grudge I won’t even let go!”

His gaze trailed down to the base of her neck. He frowned, failing to remember, and slowly said, “So he did, but haven’t you grown bigger?”

Whitney suddenly crossed her arms, her face turning red, “L, Whose side are you on?”

The assistant thought, “What an extremely interesting question.”

Elegantly taking a bite of spaghetti, he crossed his legs. “Don’t worry about the painting.”

“Why not?”

“Imperial Gem’s Mr. Lippert isn’t fond of landscape paintings.”

Whitney’s eyes sparkled. “You’re guessing? That’s what I thought, too! A man that handsome couldn’t possibly have such an old soul as to like landscape paintings, right? I’ll let you in on a secret. That creep likes young girls!”

The assistant twitched, glancing at the boss.

Noticing the man’s suddenly grim expression, Whitney was puzzled, “What’s the matter, Mr. L?”

He narrowed his cool eyes, “You could try a different approach to win him over.”

དེ་རི

Chapter 28

“How so?”

Your sign–in rewar. Come to claim your free coins.

“Come here.” He beckoned with a finger.

Suspicious, Whitney approached, her clean, soft nightgown revealing a slender waist as he pulled her into his

embrace.

She gasped, landing on his lap, his muscular physique solid and powerful.

Suddenly close in his arms, Whitney squirmed uncomfortably. He held down her struggling hands, his voice sinfully low, “There are a few ways a woman can please a man. Which do you think?”

Whitney caught on, her brows furrowed, “You mean I should seduce my nemesis? He can get lost; besides, I wouldn’t betray you.”

He raised an eyebrow. Whether he was pleased or cold was unknown. “You are quite loyal to me.”

“We have an agreement.”

“Shall we practice?” He suggested, seducing the young woman with his mature charm.

“Practice what?”

“Charm a man,” he murmured, his breath warming the delicate skin below her earlobe.

Whitney’s cheeks flushed a deep pink as his gaze darkened like ink, his large hand settling firmly on the small of her waist. He coached in a low voice, “To charm a man, you need to be soft–soft in your demeanor, tone, and movements.”

“How do I… be soft?” Whitney felt as if she were intoxicated, not by wine but by his intoxicating presence. How else could she explain following his lead so willingly?

The next moment, she felt weightless, gently lifted and placed on the tabletop.

Chapter 29

The plates were just beside her, and towering above was a man of statuesque stature.

body exuded a warmth that seemed to scorch her smooth

when he leaned down, bringing his handsome lips close to her ear. His cheek brushed against her hair, hovering

flirting with her? Whitney felt like she was running out of breath, her face

the matter?” He noticed her rising temperature

a little cotton

his

lip, embarrassed by his teasing, Whitney refused to be outdone. She straightened her back, deliberately draping her hands

man’s chiseled jaw, her

drew near, she did not kiss

she heard his

curved her red lips, her eyes provocatively challenging him, “So, Sir, are you feeling a bit breathless?”

large hand, his gaze burning, breath heavy. His chest heaved with a dangerous edge. “Quite the quick learner! Well, I won’t

moment, he took control of her

F 3

went blank, struggling

smirked, rolling his lips over hers, not letting her

Now, his eyes were tinged with red, staring at her flushed

sound

realized that he had taken the time to set her down

covered her crimson

practicing? How had it turned into a kiss? She hurriedly began to clear the tableware, trying to calm herself, but her

Could it be…

face flushed even

mind replaying that kiss. The man had kissed her twice before, and both times, she had been too busy resisting. But tonight, in addition to resistance, there seemed to

this man’s flirting game a bit too

burrowed under her covers, thanking her lucky stars he had not entered

day, Whitney woke up with heavy

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15:01

tie, Madein?”

Whitney wondered, “Has he gone blind at

to

height required her to stand on tiptoes, and she looped the tie around his neck, knotting it tightly, her voice soft. “Like this, Sir. Is

headed downstairs, muttering, “I have to travel for work. I’ll deal with you when

nearby, blushed at the sight, and Whitney’s face turned even redder

her, inviting her down for breakfast, but she refused to

was pregnant. Whitney opened the curtains to see if the man had left; she would head down to eat once he

figure caught Whitney’s eye in the

seat, a mass of curly hair obscuring her face, but her silhouette was unmistakably voluptuous. She wore a tight red dress that

man approached, holding the tie Whitney had playfully knotted, the woman easily took it

He did not refuse.

drove

on the drapes, the previous tenderness on her face cooling into a straight, calm

secretary? Unlikely, a secretary would not

Who was she?

also felt ridiculous for

man were married only by agreement because of the sudden arrival

for him to

was just for a year. Maybe when it ended, he would marry his

what Whitney thought, but

flirt with her last night if

in the

had been doused with

was she confused about last night? Or did she think he was a good person just because he had

had given her been enough? After experiencing all

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15:01

who was already dressed in a shirt, reaching for his tie. He glanced at her with an air of noble indifference. He seemed

was caught in the act. He curved his lips and

business, Whitney snapped

into her hands and standing tall before her, “Hanging around

he gone blind

on tiptoes, and she looped the tie around his neck, knotting it tightly, her voice soft. “Like this, Sir. Is this to your

and headed downstairs, muttering, “I have to travel for work. I’ll deal with you when I

sight, and Whitney’s face turned even redder as she ducked back into her

inviting her down for breakfast, but

was pregnant. Whitney opened the curtains to see if the

caught Whitney’s eye in the

the passenger seat, a mass of curly hair obscuring her face, but her silhouette was unmistakably voluptuous. She wore a tight red dress that was both