Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 35

“Who cares? He’s my archenemy for life. Especially after he dared to accept Monica’s painting. That man is nothing but a devious snake, a greedy wolf in sheep’s clothing, pretending to be a gentleman but with the

heart of a jackal

Whitney approached the bookshelf with a scowl, slapping the picture of the man back and forth with disdain.

Tiana, quivering nervously, whispered, “Isn’t it a bit much to be trash–talking and hitting his picture in his own

office

“Do you really think he’d have surveillance in his office?” Whitney snorted, scanning the room suspiciously.

She noticed a one–way mirror on the wall; the other side was probably another office.

At that moment, just a mirror away, the tall man stood with his arms crossed, an assistant beside him sweating bullets as he listened to the young madam’s tirade.

But the boss had a deep, amused smile on his lips like a man watching his kitten put up a playful fight utterly adorable

“No use. Tiana! With the way Monica cozied up to him, he took the bait. What’s the point of me even trying?”

Whitney slumped into a chair, her defeat weighing heavily on her.

“If only I could’ve taken him down before all this,” she gestured around the imposing office. “The desk, the

chair… It would all be mine.”

“Am I also yours, Ms. Valentine?” A deep, lazy voice suddenly came from the doorway, laced with a teasing lilt.

Whitney, who had been facing away, stiffened and spun around in her chair.

Tiana had vanished, and there stood a strikingly handsome man at the door, hands in pockets, his dark eyes fixed on her.

A heavy silence fell.

Whitney was a leading socialite, known for her grace and poise. Yet there she was, her legs disrespectfully thrown over the boss’s desk.

Whitney stiffened, then stood abruptly.

“Stay put.” The man raised an intrigued eyebrow, strode over, and grasped her delicate foot in his warm palm with one swift move. “This desk is worth three million, a fitting throne for your dainty feet.”

Before Whitney could react, he playfully tickled the sole of her foot, sending her face into a blaze.

She tried to pull away, but his firm grip held her in place, immobilizing her with just three fingers.

curving into a devilish smirk, “And the chair, six million, imported

as she realized the implication, “You… Mr. Lippert, you were

me!

struggled, but he held her ankle, his muscular arm bracing against the chair. With only three fingers, he

you know, a greedy and lustful man like me tends to give some contestants an unfair advantage. Some are willing to showcase their cleavage, among other

as he leaned in and whispered suggestively, Wanting the top prize is

are proposing indecent favors in exchange for

17:48

her foot free, her skin trembling. She scrambled away from his

looking after her with an amused

grudge, but I’ll tell you this –

thing, I’d rather welcome the

He was a scoundrel!

as she grabbed her flats and bolted. “Don’t you dare think about me! ! have a husband, and I love him.

curled further. “How

word, her suspicions about the man’s rakishness

with two lunches. “Sir, why did the

to take her home.” The man settled back in his chair, his eyes falling on a scrap of paper littered with doodled

chair still held the

she calling him

pleasure. She dared to curse

back on purpose just to tease his wife. Tsk tsk, the

Whitney climbed into Tiana’s

“Stella wants to meet up,

back in her bag, smiling despite the earlier

Aquatic Harmony Club, where Stella had just

how did you manage to escape

Whitney.” Stella gave her a once–over, eyes brimming, “I just heard about your trouble.

good now.”

and headed to their

cascade of rose–colored curls, the embodiment of a screen

and more enchanting. Tell us, any love interests?” Tiana was ever the

time? And Tiana, how are things with the Lutz

a philanderer.” Tiana

“And yet you’re totally smitten with

as she glanced toward Whitney, “I heard from Tiana that

brows. “Who told you

mixed up with something I saw on TV. My bad. Anyway, let’s drop that. I’ve heard you guys are

skin trembling. She scrambled away from his imposing figure like

looking after her with an amused

You hold a grudge, but I’ll tell you this – I’ll rise

and not doing a thing, I’d rather welcome the