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

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

her? Whitney felt like she was running out of

her rising temperature and arched an

a little

triumphant, his eyes revealing his

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

man’s chiseled jaw,

near, she did not kiss him, maintaining a tantalizing

grew heavier, and she heard

provocatively challenging him, “So, Sir, are you feeling

with his large hand, his gaze burning, breath heavy. His chest heaved with a dangerous edge.

her chin and brought his lips down

B F 3 ±

went

lips over

with red, staring at her flushed face

Whitney heard the sound of running water in

realized that he had taken the time to set her

covered her crimson face,

to calm herself, but her heartbeat was

Could it be…

flushed

well that night, 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

game a

her covers, thanking her lucky stars he had not

day, Whitney woke up

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15:01

tie, Madein?”

wondered, “Has he gone blind

around to tie

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 your

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

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

to her, inviting her down for

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

in the car,

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

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

He did not refuse.

they drove

drapes, the previous tenderness on her face

his secretary? Unlikely, a secretary would not act so

Who was she?

felt ridiculous for doing

all, she and this man were married only by agreement because of the sudden arrival

was it not normal for him to have had a girlfriend

just for a year. Maybe when it ended, he

but her

with her last night if that was the

in the

felt like she had been doused with

think he was a good person just because he had saved

enough? After experiencing

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15:01

his tie. He glanced at her with an air of noble indifference. He seemed

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

business, Whitney

tossing his tie into her hands and standing tall before

gone blind at such a young

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

knot, effortlessly untied it, and headed downstairs, muttering, “I have to travel for work. I’ll deal

face turned

inviting her down for

to see if

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

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