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.

warmth that seemed to scorch her

close to her ear. His cheek brushed against her hair, hovering just an inch from her

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

her rising temperature and

felt like a little

looked triumphant, his

be outdone. She straightened her back, deliberately draping her hands around his

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

near, she did not

heard his breathing deepen into a

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

hand, his gaze burning, breath heavy. His chest heaved

took control of her chin and brought his lips down

F 3 ± 2 5

went blank, struggling

his lips over hers, not

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

sound

that he had taken the time to set her down before he

her crimson face, her head

a kiss? She hurriedly began to clear the tableware, trying to calm herself, but her heartbeat was still skipping beats, the air thick with

Could it be…

flushed

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

game

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

next day, Whitney woke up

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15:01

tie, Madein?”

wondered, “Has he gone

to tie my

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

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

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

inviting her down for breakfast, but she

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

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

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

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

He did not refuse.

drove off

tightened on the drapes, the previous tenderness on her face cooling into

a secretary would

Who was she?

also felt ridiculous for doing

were married only by agreement because

not normal for him to

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

but her heart

flirt with her last night if that was

in the game, with many women

like she had been doused

think he

the despair men had given her been enough? After experiencing all that despair,

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15:01

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

but was caught in the act. He curved his lips and said, “What

business, Whitney snapped

tossing his tie into her hands and standing tall before

he gone

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

it, and headed downstairs, muttering, “I have to travel

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

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

stomach growled, hunger striking quickly now that she was pregnant. Whitney opened the curtains to

caught Whitney’s eye in the

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