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.

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

“You… Mr. Lippert, you were eavesdropping!

me!

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

hiding in his eyes. “As you know, a greedy and lustful man like me tends to

wickedly playful as he leaned in and whispered suggestively, Wanting

Mr. Lippert, are proposing indecent favors in exchange for winning the competition?”

17:48

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

after her

a grudge, but I’ll tell you this – I’ll

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

He was a scoundrel!

her flats and bolted. “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

curled further. “How would you

fled without a word, her suspicions about the

in with two lunches. “Sir, why did

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

held the sweet scent of her

she calling

pleasure.

to tease his wife. Tsk tsk, the rich and their games of cat

Whitney climbed into

wants to

her laptop back in her

where

manage to escape the

a once–over, eyes brimming, “I just heard

good now.” Whitney blinked

and headed to their

cascade of rose–colored curls, the embodiment of a

enchanting. Tell us,

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

a

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

glanced toward Whitney, “I heard from Tiana that you’re expecting… Is it true the guy’s a

told you he’s a thug? I never

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

trembling. She scrambled

seated, looking after her with an

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

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