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.

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

“You… Mr. Lippert, you were eavesdropping!

me!

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

glimmer of a smile hiding in his eyes. “As you know, a greedy and lustful man like me tends to give some

he leaned in and whispered suggestively, Wanting the top prize

the great Mr. Lippert, are proposing indecent favors

17:48

She scrambled away from

remained seated, looking after her

hold a grudge, but I’ll

not doing a thing, I’d rather welcome the challenge in

He was a scoundrel!

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

curled further. “How would you know

word, her suspicions about the man’s

out, the assistant walked in with two

Arrange for a car to take her home.” The man settled back in

chair still held the

calling him

brows rose with pleasure.

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

climbed into

had good news. “Stella wants to meet up, a

putting her laptop back in

Harmony Club, where Stella had

did you manage to escape

Stella gave her a once–over, eyes brimming, “I

good now.”

and headed to their private

revealing a cascade of

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

have the time? And Tiana, how are things with

He’s a

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

she glanced toward Whitney, “I heard from Tiana that you’re expecting…

her brows. “Who told you he’s

before she quickly recovered, laughing off her faux pas, “Oh, maybe I got it mixed up with something I saw on TV. My bad. Anyway, let’s drop that. I’ve heard you guys are really diving

She scrambled away

remained seated, looking after her

retreated, seething, “Shameless! Despicable! You hold a grudge, but I’ll tell you this – I’ll rise again and

rather welcome the challenge in bed.” His