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

wide and watery,

looked back, cold and unyielding, with

insisted on setting boundaries, and he was right to enforce

say something nice to him,” Tiana nudged

front of the man, Whitney was about to speak

hell?” She glared at

my bad!” Tiana feigned

his long legs catching her in their

undeniable. She was transfixed by the warmth of his chest, visible

eyes met, and she seemed a

dullness, distinct from her earlier

fingers clutching at his shirt, his eyes darkened slightly, and with a mocking tone, he taunted, “Can’t seem to let go, huh? Fallen for these legs that many women have sat

turned

her, his hand reaching forward to play a card. What did this mean? Whitney froze in his embrace,

filled the

–

teasing continued from the men nearby. “He sure knows how to play with a beauty in his arms, no

at that confidence,

let things

up in his arms, her face aflame, knowing they had the wrong idea.

to use the restroom,

down

embarrassed to speak out loud in front of everyone, Whitney leaned in

pee.

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

mischievous impulse

He asked, pretending not to

114

closer and hissed, “I really need to

curved in amusement, and he

Whitney dashed away.

the

and Parker had

find the suite empty; the game was abandoned,

the window, a cigarette

it as she approached.

“Where did everyone go?”

aristocratic features cool and mocking, “lan’t this your little scheme? Conspiring with your best friend,

against the wall, his tone icy,

off guard,

other night, now here you are, trying

realized he had misunderstood the

resolve. She sidestepped his arm and explained without warmth, “I have no plans to seduce you, Sir. I lost a competition today and was upset enough, I don’t need to add fighting with you to my

Her heart sank further.

thinking she was

for days, and now, instead of softening

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

whether her confidence was mistaken for arrogance. Did

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