Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Tiana chuckled lightly it’s all just a show, you know? He’s probably deliberately trying to rile you up. Didn’t you notice how, with just a lift of his brow, Parker had everyone in the suite snuff out their cigarettes? He’s clearly looking out for you because of your pregnancy”

Really?

Whitney had to admire Tiana’s ability to turn a dire situation into something light–hearted with her silver tongue.

Whitney, care to join me for a game?” Parker called out.

Meanwhile, the aloof man sat on the sofa, sipping the cocktail a lovely lady had handed him, his gaze unreadable

Feeling an irrational surge of defiance, Whitney sat and began playing cards with Parker.

By the second hand, Parker excused himself, “Bro, I’ve gotta hit the restroom. Mind stepping in for me?” Whitney would have to be oblivious not to see through this thinly veiled excuse.

Her fingers tensed.

However, she saw the man rise gracefully and approach.

As he took his place across the table, his commanding presence made Whitney’s breath catch, as if his very aura enveloped her.

Tiana then sneakily positioned herself behind Whitney.

As the third game started and the man laid down his cards, it was Whitney’s turn. Just as she was about to make her move, Tiana swiftly played another card instead.

That’s a good one! Tiana said.

Whitney glanced at her hand – it was a complete setup for defeat. She glared at Tiana as if saying with her eyes, “Are you blind?”

From then on, Tiana wreaked havoc, and Whitney could not tell if the man’s card skills were just superior or if her luck had plummeted, but she kept losing miserably.

Tiana teased, “Mr. L, are you doing this on purpose? You really seem to be hard on Whitney tonight!” “Have I been ‘hard‘ on her?” He finally looked up, directing his first glance of the evening at Whitney His tone was cool, yet the deep timbre of his voice was unintentionally suggestive.

“Hard on me…” Whitney felt her cheeks flame at the thought.

Then, she saw Parker return and immediately declared, “I’m out.”

Tiana mocked, “You’re quitting after all those losses? Since when have I had such a loser of a friend?”

“How much did Ms. Valentine lose?” Parker picked up the ledger, an eyebrow raised, “Ms. Valentine, you owe him a cool five million.”

What?

Whitney had not realized the stakes were so high; a million a game, and she did not have that kind of money!

Feeling the eyes in the room on her, she turned to Tiana in panic, “This is all your fault. Do you have a credit card on you?”

Tiana turned ruthless. “I ain’t got no money! You lost to him, so just beg your dear Mr. L for mercy. Maybe he’ll let you off the hook.”

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Chapter 42

eyes, wide and watery,

unyielding, with no room for

on setting boundaries, and he was right to enforce them. It stung, but she did not

say something nice to

Whitney was about to speak when another shove sent her tumbling into his

hell?” She glared at

my bad!” Tiana

still, his long legs catching her in their

presence quickly engulfed Whitney, strong and undeniable. She was transfixed by the warmth of his chest, visible under the crisp, inviting

eyes met, and she seemed a little

her earlier defiance, was almost

he

reality. Whitney’s embarrassment turned to anger as she

darkened, but his arm subtly wrapped around her, his hand reaching forward to play a card. What did this mean? Whitney

laughter filled

–

play with a beauty in his arms, no less. Talk about

look at that confidence,

let things get too heated,

curled up in his arms, her face

to use the restroom, she squirmed

looked down

in front of everyone, Whitney leaned

pee.

because of her urgency, her words, especially “pee, hung in the air, resonating in the man’s ears as he stared at her soft,

impulse struck

He asked, pretending not to

114

embarrassment intensifying, Whitney leaned even closer

amusement, and he let her

Whitney dashed away.

from the restroom, she

Parker

find the suite empty; the game

man stood by the window, a cigarette between his

as she approached.

“Where did everyone go?”

and mocking, “lan’t this your little scheme? Conspiring with your best friend, playing the victim, the seductress… Or

her against the wall, his tone

off guard, “Mr. L, what are

denying me the other night, now here you are, trying to seduce me again?” his words were

misunderstood the

plans to seduce you, Sir. I lost a competition today and was upset enough,

Her heart sank further.

she was now picking a

and now, instead of softening and coaxing, she

he mocked her, “Upset over a competition and taking it out on me? Isn’t losing normal for you, especially when I coached the theme? Your youthful arrogance blinds you to the fact that there are always better

whether her confidence was mistaken for arrogance.

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