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

leaned 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

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

her rising temperature and

like a little

triumphant, his eyes revealing his

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

man’s chiseled jaw, her lips brushing past

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

and she heard

her red lips, her eyes provocatively challenging him, “So, Sir, are you feeling a bit breathless?”

heavy. His chest heaved with a dangerous edge. “Quite the quick learner! Well,

her chin and brought his lips down to

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mind went blank,

his lips over

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

the sound

that he had taken the time to set

her crimson face, her head

just practicing? 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

Could it be…

face flushed

before, and both times,

flirting game a bit

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

Whitney woke

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15:01

tie, Madein?”

he gone blind at such

to tie

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

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

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

down

opened the curtains to see if the man had left;

eye in the car,

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

approached, holding the tie Whitney had playfully knotted,

He did not refuse.

they drove off

the previous tenderness on her face cooling into a straight,

she his secretary? Unlikely, a secretary would not

Who was she?

yet also felt ridiculous for

man were married only by agreement because of the sudden arrival of the child, and he still suspected her

normal for him

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

thought, but her heart still

flirt with her last night if that was the

he just an expert in the game,

had been doused with cold

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

given her been enough?

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15:01

a shirt, reaching for his tie. He glanced at her with an air

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

business, Whitney snapped

seem to care, tossing his tie into her hands and standing tall before her, “Hanging around to tie my

gone blind at such

eyes widened as she walked over to him. His towering height required her to stand on tiptoes, and she looped the tie around his neck,

“I have to travel for work.

who was nearby, blushed at the sight, and Whitney’s face turned even redder as she ducked

her, inviting her down for breakfast, but she

now that she was pregnant. Whitney opened the curtains to see

in the car, waiting for

a mass of curly hair obscuring her face, but her silhouette was unmistakably