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

his handsome lips close to her ear. His cheek brushed against her hair, hovering just an

of breath, her face blushing furiously as she clutched his chiseled arm,

her rising

a

looked triumphant, his

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

she leaned toward the man’s chiseled jaw, her lips

did not

and she heard his breathing deepen into a husky

her eyes provocatively challenging him, “So,

his large hand, his gaze burning, breath heavy. His chest heaved with a dangerous edge. “Quite the quick learner! Well, I

of her chin and brought

S G B F 3 ± 2

went blank,

smirked, rolling his lips over hers, not letting

tinged with red, staring at her flushed face for a moment before

after, Whitney heard the sound

she realized that he had taken the time

covered her crimson face, her head

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

Could it be…

face flushed

man had kissed her twice before, and both times, she had been too busy resisting. But tonight, in addition

this man’s flirting game a bit

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

next day, Whitney woke up with heavy eye

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15:01

tie, Madein?”

wondered, “Has he gone blind at such a young

to tie

widened as she walked over to him. His towering height required her to stand on tiptoes, and she looped the tie around

the knot, effortlessly untied it, and headed downstairs, muttering, “I have to

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

inviting her down for breakfast, but she

the curtains to see if the man had

Whitney’s eye in the

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

Whitney had playfully knotted, the woman

He did not refuse.

they drove off

the previous tenderness on her

secretary? Unlikely, a secretary would not act so

Who was she?

also felt

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

it not normal for him to

deal was just for a year. Maybe when

what Whitney thought, but her heart

her last

an expert in the

like she had been doused

think he was

enough? After experiencing all that despair, she would not

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15:01

his tie. He glanced at her with

caught in the act. He curved his lips and said, “What do we have

business,

tossing his tie into her hands and standing tall before her, “Hanging around to tie my

“Has he gone blind at

her to stand on tiptoes, and she

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

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

her down for breakfast, but she refused to

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

caught Whitney’s eye in the car, waiting

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