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 to scorch her smooth

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

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

matter?” He noticed her rising temperature

a little

triumphant, his

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

chiseled jaw, her lips

she did not

grew heavier, and she heard his breathing deepen into a husky

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

burning, breath heavy. His chest heaved with a dangerous edge. “Quite the quick learner! Well, I won’t

moment, he took control of her chin and brought his

2 0 F S G B F

mind went blank,

lips over hers, not letting

eternity before he finally released her. Now, his eyes were tinged with red, staring at her flushed face for a moment

sound of running water in the

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

covered her crimson

it turned into a kiss? She hurriedly began to clear the tableware, trying to calm herself, but her heartbeat was still skipping beats, the air thick with innuendo. And then

Could it be…

face flushed even

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

man’s flirting game a

her lucky stars

next day, Whitney woke up with heavy

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15:01

tie, Madein?”

he gone blind at such a young

around to

she looped the tie

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

Whitney’s face turned even redder as she ducked

her, inviting her down for breakfast,

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

a figure caught Whitney’s eye in

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

had playfully knotted, the woman

He did not refuse.

drove off

the previous tenderness on her face cooling into a straight, calm

secretary? Unlikely, a secretary would not

Who was she?

pondered, yet also felt ridiculous

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

it not normal for him to have had a

for a year. Maybe when it ended, he

Whitney thought, but her heart still felt

did he flirt with her last night if that

expert in the game,

felt like she had been doused with

confused about last night? Or did she think he was

despair men had given her been enough? After

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

curved his lips and

your own business, Whitney snapped

into her hands and standing tall before her,

Whitney wondered, “Has he gone blind

she looped the tie around his neck, knotting it tightly, her voice soft. “Like this,

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

sight, and Whitney’s face turned

her down for breakfast, but

she was pregnant. Whitney opened the curtains to see if the man

eye in the car, waiting for

face, but her silhouette was unmistakably voluptuous. She wore a