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

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

her? Whitney felt like she was running out of breath, her face blushing furiously as she clutched his chiseled arm,

He noticed her rising temperature and arched an

like a

triumphant, his eyes revealing

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

toward the man’s chiseled jaw,

near, she did

heard his breathing deepen into a husky

her red lips, her eyes provocatively challenging him, “So, Sir,

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

next moment, he took control of her chin and brought his lips down

B F 3 ±

mind went blank,

rolling his lips over hers, not

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

the sound of running water

that he had taken the time to set her

her crimson face, her

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

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

this man’s flirting game a

covers, thanking her lucky stars he

day, Whitney woke

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15:01

tie, Madein?”

he gone

around to

she walked over to him. His towering 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 this to

“I have

Whitney’s face turned even redder as she ducked back into

her, inviting her down for

was pregnant. Whitney opened the curtains to

caught Whitney’s eye in

in the passenger seat, a mass of curly hair obscuring her face, but her silhouette was unmistakably voluptuous. She

tie Whitney had playfully knotted, the woman easily

He did not refuse.

drove

previous tenderness on her face cooling

she his secretary? Unlikely, a

Who was she?

yet also felt

man were married only by agreement because of the sudden arrival of the child, and he still suspected her of

not normal for him to

deal was just for a year. Maybe when it ended, he

what Whitney thought, but her heart still felt

flirt with her last night if that was

he just an expert in the game, with

had been doused with cold water and jolted

Or did she think he was a good person just because

given her been enough? After

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15:01

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

He curved his lips and said, “What

own business, Whitney

care, tossing his tie into her hands and standing

wondered, “Has he gone blind at such a

to him. His towering 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 this to

headed downstairs, muttering, “I have to

Whitney’s face turned even redder as she ducked

to her, inviting her down for breakfast,

opened the curtains to see if the man

figure caught Whitney’s eye in the car, waiting for

the passenger seat, a mass of curly hair obscuring her face, but her silhouette was