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

and watery, turned to the

looked back, cold and unyielding, with no room

to beg, it was she who insisted on setting boundaries, and he was

say something nice to him,”

was about to

the hell?” She glared at her

my bad!” Tiana

his long

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

she seemed a little dull, with her

from her earlier defiance, was

and with a mocking tone, he taunted, “Can’t seem

reality. Whitney’s embarrassment turned to anger as

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

filled the

–

play with a beauty in his arms,

at

let things get too

his arms, her face aflame, knowing they had the wrong

to use the restroom, she

down at

loud in front of everyone, Whitney leaned in and whispered

pee.

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

mischievous impulse struck

asked, pretending not to

114

embarrassment intensifying, Whitney leaned even closer and hissed, “I really need

lips curved in amusement, and he

Whitney dashed away.

from the restroom, she

and Parker had

suite empty; the game was abandoned,

the window, a cigarette between

extinguished it as

“Where did everyone go?”

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

his tone icy, “Enjoying

Whitney off guard,

the other night, now here you are, trying to seduce me

misunderstood the whole

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

Her heart sank further.

heard her all wrong, thinking she

irritating him for days, and now, instead

his irritation, 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 people out there. What makes you think you’re

was mistaken

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