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.

exuded a warmth that seemed

her ear. His cheek brushed against her hair, hovering just an inch from her lips, neither advancing nor retreating. He simply hooked his lips

was running out of

noticed her rising temperature and arched an

a little cotton

looked triumphant, his eyes

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

chiseled jaw, her lips brushing past his Adam’s

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

heavier, and she heard his breathing

eyes provocatively challenging him, “So,

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

he took control of her chin and brought his

S G B F 3 ±

mind went

rolling his lips over hers, not

with red, staring at her flushed face for a moment before

sound of running

the time to set

her crimson

How had it turned into a kiss? She hurriedly began to clear the tableware, trying to calm herself, but her

Could it be…

face flushed even

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

game a

lucky stars he

Whitney woke up

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15:01

tie, Madein?”

“Has he gone blind at such

around to tie my

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,

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

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

out to her, inviting her down

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

Whitney’s eye in the

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

tie Whitney had playfully knotted,

He did not refuse.

drove

tenderness on her face cooling

a secretary would not act

Who was she?

yet also felt ridiculous for

agreement because of the sudden arrival of the child, and he

for him to have had a girlfriend

just for a year. Maybe

Whitney thought, but her heart still

last

was he just an expert in the game, with many women at

like she had been doused with

she think he was a good person

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

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15:01

ran into the man, who was already dressed in a shirt, reaching for his tie. He glanced at her with an air of noble indifference. He seemed to have slept just

was caught in the act. He curved his lips and said, “What do we have here? A little panda? Didn’t sleep

your own business, Whitney

into her hands and standing tall before her,

Whitney wondered, “Has he gone blind at such a

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

headed downstairs, muttering, “I have to travel for work. I’ll deal with you

who was nearby, blushed at the sight, and Whitney’s face turned even

her down for breakfast, but she

opened the curtains to see if the man had left; she would

caught Whitney’s eye in the car, waiting for

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