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.

devilish smirk, “And the chair, six million,

“You… Mr. Lippert, you were eavesdropping! Let

me!

his muscular arm bracing against the chair. With only three fingers, he had pinned her to the chair,

a glimmer of a smile hiding in his eyes. “As you know, a greedy and lustful man like me tends to give some contestants an unfair advantage. Some are willing to showcase

playful as he leaned in and whispered suggestively, Wanting the top

the great Mr. Lippert, are proposing indecent favors in exchange for winning the

17:48

scrambled away from his imposing figure

after her

“Shameless! Despicable! You hold a grudge, but I’ll tell you

doing a thing, I’d rather welcome the challenge in bed.” His eyes narrowed, the corners

He was a scoundrel!

“Don’t you dare think about me! ! have a husband, and I love him. I will never stoop to your level. You’re not even half

further. “How would you know without

a word, her suspicions about

with two lunches.

settled back in his chair, his eyes falling on a scrap of paper

held the sweet

calling him a

brows rose with pleasure.

assistant thought, “Boss has stayed back on purpose just to tease his wife. Tsk tsk, the rich and their

climbed into

news. “Stella wants to meet up, a little gathering this

her laptop back in her bag, smiling despite the

at the Aquatic Harmony Club, where Stella had just

did you manage to escape the set?” Tiana hugged

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

now.” Whitney blinked

and headed to

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

enchanting. Tell us, any

frowned, “When would I have the time? And Tiana,

arranged match. He’s a philanderer.” Tiana

her friend’s dramatics. “And yet you’re totally

from Tiana that you’re expecting… Is it true

brows. “Who told you he’s a thug? I

her faux pas, “Oh, maybe I got it mixed up with something

scrambled away from his imposing figure like a

remained seated, looking after

a grudge, but I’ll tell

down and not doing a thing, I’d rather welcome the challenge in bed.” His eyes