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 to

brushed against her hair, hovering just an inch from her lips, neither advancing nor retreating. He simply hooked his lips and

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

He noticed her rising temperature and

like a

triumphant, his eyes revealing his

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

man’s chiseled jaw, her lips brushing past

as she drew near, she did

heavier, and she heard his breathing deepen

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

seized her chin with his large hand, his gaze burning, breath heavy. His chest heaved

took control of her chin and brought his

B F

went blank, struggling

smirked, rolling his lips over hers, not letting

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

the sound of running water

time to set her down before he

her crimson face, her

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

Could it be…

face flushed

her 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 be a bit of

man’s flirting game a bit too

her covers, thanking her lucky stars he had not entered

day, Whitney woke up with heavy eye

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15:01

tie, Madein?”

gone

around 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.

glanced down at the knot, effortlessly untied it, and headed downstairs, muttering, “I have to travel for work. I’ll

face turned even redder as she ducked back into

inviting her down for breakfast, but she

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

eye in the car, waiting

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

tie Whitney had playfully knotted, the woman

He did not refuse.

drove off

the drapes, the previous tenderness

secretary? Unlikely, a secretary would

Who was she?

felt ridiculous for doing

married only by agreement because of

was it not normal for him to have had a girlfriend before?

a year. Maybe when it

Whitney thought, but her heart

last night

was he just an expert in the game, with many women

like she had been doused with

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

despair men had given her been enough?

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15:01

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

He curved his lips and said,

your own business, Whitney snapped

hands and

he gone blind at such a young

her to stand on tiptoes, and she looped

glanced down at the knot, effortlessly untied it, and headed downstairs, muttering, “I have to travel for work. I’ll

Whitney’s face turned

called out to her, inviting her down for

opened the curtains to see if the man had left; she would head down to eat

caught Whitney’s eye in the car, waiting for

her silhouette was unmistakably voluptuous. She wore a tight red dress that was both understated