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.

that

brushed against her hair,

running out of breath, her face blushing furiously as she clutched

the matter?” He noticed her rising

a little cotton

looked triumphant, his eyes revealing

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

chiseled jaw,

she drew near, she did not

heard his

provocatively challenging him, “So, Sir, are you feeling a bit breathless?”

breath heavy. His chest heaved with

he took control of her chin and

2 0 F S G B F

went

rolling his lips over

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

sound of running water in the

the time to set her down

crimson face, her head

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

Could it be…

face flushed even

sleep well that night, her mind replaying that kiss. The man had kissed her twice before, and both times, she had been too busy resisting. But tonight, in addition to

man’s flirting game a bit too

under her covers, thanking her lucky stars he

Whitney woke up with heavy eye

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15:01

tie, Madein?”

wondered, “Has he gone blind at

around to tie my

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 voice soft. “Like this,

down at the knot, effortlessly untied it, and headed downstairs, muttering, “I

blushed at the sight, and Whitney’s face turned even redder

her down for breakfast, but

was pregnant. Whitney opened the curtains to see if the

figure caught Whitney’s eye in the car,

of curly hair obscuring her face, but her silhouette was

tie Whitney had playfully knotted,

He did not refuse.

drove

on the drapes, the previous tenderness on her face cooling

his secretary? Unlikely, a secretary

Who was she?

pondered, yet also felt ridiculous

all, she and this man were married only by agreement because of the sudden arrival of

him to

all, the deal was just for a year. Maybe when it ended, he would marry his

thought, but her heart still

he flirt with her last night if

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

she had been doused with cold water

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

despair men had given her been enough? After

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a shirt, reaching for his tie. He

his lips

own business,

his tie into her hands and standing tall

he gone blind

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 voice soft. “Like this, Sir. Is this to

effortlessly untied it, and headed downstairs, muttering, “I have to

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

her, inviting her down for breakfast, but

to see if the man had left; she

caught Whitney’s eye in the car,

but her silhouette was unmistakably voluptuous.