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

against her hair, hovering just an inch

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

He noticed her rising temperature and arched an eyebrow

a little

looked triumphant, his eyes

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

chiseled jaw, her lips

as she drew near, she did not kiss

heavier, and she heard his breathing deepen into a husky

her eyes provocatively challenging him, “So, Sir,

chest

moment, he took control of her chin and

B F 3 ± 2 5 5 3

mind went blank,

rolling his lips over hers, not letting her

seemed like an eternity before he finally released her. Now, his eyes were tinged with red,

Whitney heard the sound of running water in the

time to set her down before he went

crimson face, her

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

Could it be…

face flushed

The man had kissed her twice before, and both times, she had been too busy resisting. But tonight, in addition to resistance, there seemed to be a bit of

flirting game

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

next day, Whitney woke up with

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15:01

tie, Madein?”

“Has he gone blind at such a young

around to

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

muttering, “I

face turned even redder as

called out to her, inviting her down for breakfast, but

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

Whitney’s eye in the car, waiting for

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

tie Whitney had playfully knotted,

He did not refuse.

they drove off

drapes, the previous tenderness on her face cooling into

a secretary would not

Who was she?

felt ridiculous

agreement because of the sudden arrival

it not normal for him to have had a girlfriend

just for a year. Maybe when it ended, he would marry

was what Whitney thought, but

flirt with her last night if that was the

just an expert in the game,

been doused with cold

think he

her been enough? After experiencing

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15:01

for his tie. He glanced at her

him but was caught in the act. He curved his lips and said, “What do we have here? A little panda?

your own business, Whitney snapped

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

gone blind at

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

“I have

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

down for breakfast, but

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

Whitney’s eye in the

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