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

His cheek brushed against her hair,

running out of breath, her face blushing furiously as

rising temperature and arched an

a little cotton

looked triumphant, his eyes

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

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

she did not kiss him, maintaining a

heard his breathing deepen into

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

heavy. His chest heaved with a dangerous edge. “Quite the quick learner! Well,

took control of her chin and brought

B F 3 ± 2

mind went

smirked, rolling his lips over hers,

were tinged with red, staring at her flushed face for a moment before he turned irritably and

Whitney heard the sound of running water in

taken the time

crimson face, her head

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

Could it be…

flushed even

both times, she had been too busy resisting. But tonight, in addition to

flirting game a bit too

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

next day, Whitney woke up with heavy

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tie, Madein?”

“Has he gone blind at such a young

around to tie

tiptoes, and she looped the tie around his neck, knotting

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

and Whitney’s face turned even redder as she ducked back into her

to her, inviting her down

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

a figure caught Whitney’s eye in the car,

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

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

He did not refuse.

drove

drapes, the previous tenderness on her face cooling into a

his secretary? Unlikely, a secretary would not act so

Who was she?

pondered, yet also felt ridiculous for

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

not normal for him to

a year. Maybe

thought, but

last night if that

he just an expert in the game,

felt like she had been doused with

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

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

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

curved his lips and said, “What do we have here? A little panda? Didn’t

business, Whitney

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

Whitney wondered, “Has he gone blind at such a

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

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

Whitney’s face

down

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

a figure caught Whitney’s eye in

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