Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 30

The message from Simon read, [I know you wouldn’t come out willingly, so I’ve got leverage. Whitney, I have your grandfather’s old phone book, the one he had before he passed away. Haven’t you been trying to dig into that accident for years now? Are you sure you don’t want it?]

Simon knew her too well, and he had found her Achilles‘ heel.

Her mom and grandfather had perished in a horrific accident, or so the story went, according to Preston.

She was too young at the time, and she was studying abroad. Upon her return, she was bluntly informed of their sudden deaths. After they were gone, it was as if a giant hand had wiped away all traces of their existence.

Whitney had never questioned it before. She just wanted to know what really caused the accident. Back when she and Simon were an item, she had asked him to track down her grandfather’s assistant and any leads. The phone book was probably what he had found.

But after being double–crossed by the Valentine family, she started suspecting their involvement in her mother’s and grandfather’s deaths.

On the day of the funeral, she had searched the Valentine Mansion to no avail; Preston had cleared out all of her mother’s and grandfather’s belongings.

The phone book could reveal who her grandfather had been in contact with. If she could get her hands on it, it would be her only lead.

Whitney decided to call him back.

Simon’s voice was smug with triumph. “So, Whitney, what have you decided?”

“Where’s the phone book?”

“Come meet me. Agree to my terms, and I’ll hand it over.”

Whitney’s eyes narrowed. With a sly edge to her voice, she spoke, “How do I know the phone book is real? Show me a video of it now, and then we’ll talk.”

Simon agreed, and about two minutes later, he sent her a video.

Whitney squinted at the footage. Aside from the yellowed pages of the phone book, she recognized the background–the furniture, the layout–it was his bachelor apartment.

En så « no s

Armed with the information she needed, Whitney did not hang up in a hurry.

hint of pleasure as he said, “Meet me tomorrow night at Crystaline Bar’s private booth. You come, and

Whitney agreed. “Fine.”

stand me up!” Simon sounded genuinely

immediately contacted Tiana. “Tiana, do we have enough

before the call,

from

was shot in real–time

what’s your

The following evening.

1/3

15.01

lied to Natalie, saying she

phone buzzed with a Facebook message from L, [What are you up to? Dare ignore my

told her to call him if anything came up. She furrowed her brows, her fingertips hesitating over

an indifferent expression, Whitney

Simon out to make

before Whitney, gazing at her with

in and sit

a whiff of alcohol on his breath. “What do you want to talk

plain clothes. She was breathtakingly beautiful, with a striking face and delicate features. She had once been the object of many

such a beauty; no man would want to let her

was the dim light, but Simon’s gaze was deep and fervent. Whitney pressed closer to the door. “That’s not

can’t I care? You, your body… It was all supposed to

can’t carry another man’s child? Is your pride hurt? Are

would become a pawn for the Valentine family. You used me to start your business, and after Monica wrapped you around her finger with her seductions, you dropped me

his pretenses ripped away. He seized her shoulders. “It wasn’t like that. I still have you in my

Monica’s seductions?” Whitney taunted

have to judge me? You’re nothing but a fallen woman. If so many men can have you,

a moment to regain her composure, staring

trembled with a cold fear. “What do you

that lowlife. Come to me. I hate seeing you trade your body for leverage. You

someone else, and now you want me as your secret lover? You’re despicable, Simon, and drunk to

glanced at it discreetly. Her expression eased, “Forget it. I don’t

of naturally