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.

a warmth that seemed to scorch

down, bringing his handsome lips close to her ear. His cheek brushed against her hair, hovering just an inch from her lips, neither advancing nor retreating. He

out of breath,

matter?” He noticed her rising temperature

a

looked triumphant, his eyes revealing his

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

the man’s chiseled jaw, her

she did

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

red lips, her eyes provocatively challenging him,

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

he took control of her chin and brought his lips down

B F 3 ± 2 5 5

went

over

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

the sound of running

she realized that he had taken the time

crimson

How had 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

Could it be…

flushed even

had kissed her twice before, and both times, she had been too

game

covers, thanking her lucky stars

day, Whitney woke

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15:01

tie, Madein?”

Whitney wondered, “Has he gone blind

around to tie

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

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

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

her, inviting her down for breakfast,

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

in the car,

hair obscuring her face, but her

holding the tie Whitney had playfully knotted, the woman

He did not refuse.

they drove off

fingers tightened on the drapes, the previous tenderness on

Unlikely, a secretary would

Who was she?

yet also felt ridiculous

agreement because of the sudden arrival of the child, and he still suspected her of

him to have had

year. Maybe

what Whitney thought, but her heart still

did he flirt with her last night if that was the

he just an expert in the game, with many

felt like she had been doused with cold

did she think he was

given her been enough? After experiencing all

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15:01

reaching for his tie. He glanced at her with an air of noble indifference. He seemed to have slept

glared at him but was caught in the act. He curved his lips and said,

business, Whitney

not seem to care, tossing his tie into her hands and standing tall before her, “Hanging

Whitney wondered, “Has he gone blind

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 this to your

untied it, and headed downstairs, muttering, “I have to travel for work. I’ll deal with you when I get

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

called out to her, inviting her down for

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

eye in the car, waiting for

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