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.

exuded a warmth that seemed

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

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

matter?” He noticed her rising temperature and arched an

felt like a little cotton

his eyes revealing his

refused to be outdone. She straightened her back, deliberately draping

leaned toward the man’s chiseled jaw, her lips brushing past his

as she drew near, she did not kiss

grew heavier, and she heard his breathing deepen

lips, her eyes provocatively challenging him, “So, Sir, are you

burning, breath heavy. His chest heaved with

control of her chin and brought his lips down to

F 3

went

smirked, rolling his lips over hers, not letting her

were tinged with red, staring at her

heard the sound of

she realized that he had taken the time to set her down before he went

her crimson

began to clear the tableware, trying to calm herself, but her heartbeat was

Could it be…

face flushed

and both times, she had been too busy resisting. But tonight, in addition to resistance, there seemed

flirting game a

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

Whitney woke up with heavy

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15:01

tie, Madein?”

Whitney wondered, “Has he gone blind at such

to tie

she walked over to him. His towering height required her to stand on tiptoes, and she looped the tie around his neck, knotting it

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

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

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

striking quickly now that she was pregnant. Whitney opened the curtains to see if the man had left; she would head down to eat

a figure caught Whitney’s eye in the

face, but her silhouette

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

He did not refuse.

they drove off

on the drapes, the previous tenderness on her face

a secretary would not

Who was she?

pondered, yet also felt

agreement because of

for him to have had

the deal was just for a year. Maybe

Whitney thought, but her heart still felt

her last night if that was

was he just an expert in the game,

felt like she had been doused with cold water and jolted

think he was a

men had given her been enough? After experiencing all that despair, she would not

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15:01

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

act. He curved his lips and said, “What do we have here? A little panda?

business, Whitney

did not seem to care, tossing his tie into her hands and standing tall before her,

gone blind at such a young

she looped the tie around his

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

face

called out to her, inviting her down for breakfast, but she

pregnant. Whitney opened the curtains to see

in the car, waiting for him

a mass of curly hair obscuring her face, but her silhouette