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

against her hair, hovering just an inch from her lips, neither advancing nor retreating. He simply hooked

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

He noticed her rising temperature and arched an eyebrow

a

looked triumphant, his

her lip, embarrassed by his teasing, Whitney refused to be outdone. She

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

she drew near, she did not kiss him, maintaining a

and she heard his breathing deepen into a

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

heavy. His chest heaved with a dangerous edge. “Quite the

her chin and brought his lips down to

S G B F

mind went blank,

smirked, rolling his 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 before he turned irritably and

heard the sound of

taken the time to set her down

crimson face, her head

kiss? She hurriedly began to clear the tableware, trying to calm herself, but her heartbeat was still skipping

Could it be…

face flushed even

before, and both times, she had been

flirting game

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

next day, Whitney woke

1/2

15:01

tie, Madein?”

Whitney wondered, “Has he gone blind at such

to

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

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

face turned even redder as

her, inviting her down for

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

a figure caught Whitney’s eye in the car,

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

the tie Whitney had playfully knotted, the

He did not refuse.

drove off

drapes, the previous tenderness on her face cooling into a

she his secretary? Unlikely, a secretary would not act

Who was she?

felt ridiculous for

because of the sudden arrival of the

not normal for him

was just for a year.

Whitney thought, but her

did he flirt with her last night if

just an expert in the game, with many

like she had been doused with cold

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

enough? After experiencing all that despair,

20/3

15:01

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

He curved his lips and said, “What do we

own business, Whitney snapped

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

gone blind at such

tiptoes, and she looped

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

at the sight, and Whitney’s face turned even

out to her, inviting her down for

curtains to see if

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

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