Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 45

What was with that jerk? Just leaving like that was bad enough, but to send food? And then to insult her with

She was fumina

With a forced smile, she said through gritted teeth, “Thanks for making the trip, Parker. But… has my friend Tiana left siready?”

“No idea,” he replied nonchalantly.

A bit embarrassed, Whitney asked, “She’s a girl on her own. Would you mind giving her a lift, Parker, if it’s not too much trouble?”

“No trouble,” Parker said almost too easily.

Before leaving, he paused at the door, his eyes behind the gold–rimmed glasses betraying a lazy indifference. He dropped a bombshell. Is Tiana’s fiancé Gunner Lutz, the one from the Lutz family?”

Whitney was taken aback, but Parker added with a hint of mischief before she could respond, “Ran into Gunner at the hotel last week playing with some celebrity.”

Being a man, the implications of ‘playing‘ were clear.

Whitney was shocked. Was Tiana’s fiancé cheating on her?

Parker had mentioned it casually, not really concerned with the lesser–known Tiana’s family, but the Lutz clan was among the top four wealthiest families. He had seen Gunner before–a notorious playboy.

The next day, Whitney received a Facebook message from Tiana telling her to ignore the news.

Whitney guessed that her reputation must be boiling over by now. No doubt Monica had bought a legion of trolls to drag her name through the mud.

This debacle was Monica’s golden ticket to fame and fortune.

To distract Whitney, Tiana sent over several pictures of engagement rings.

Bashfully, she said, “That bastard Gunner proposed to me. I didn’t want to say yes, but our parents are pushing it. Whitney, can you help me choose? Or better yet, design a rock so big it makes him really pay!”

Whitney suddenly remembered Parker’s reminder.

she was still hopeful about their

or maybe

seriously considered several options before making her

Natalie was in high spirits, laughing. “Dear Whitney,

come home last night? She

smile tugged at her lips, one she did not even notice, as

plagiarism case hinged on Stella confessing she had given Whitney’s manuscript

not rushed to confront Monica but had instead focused on dragging

פוד

other evidence, the outcome was in

at the Golden Hue Bar

Monica’s taunting call came

are out in a week, and I’ll be the top prize. The media are all over me. Phebe praised my talents today. She’s over your little games, you wretch. Once the prize is mine, it’ll be time for my engagement to

interested,” Whitney replied, dismissing

to find Stella, tonight was her only

the cloak of night, Whitney

for Monica’s celebration, and the Perlman family

Perlman. They were clearly there to

the illegitimate son Simon would not have caught Wyatt’s eye, bolstered by Phebe’s

Faith, born of the same mother as Troy,

steered clear of these people, going straight

passed a private suite where young men were carousing. There was Troy, and Faith, stern–faced,

the corridor, behind which muffled voices could be

it,

Gunner?

Tiana’s fiancé!

not lied; this

Whitney marched over and

guard, paused their heated encounter and looked up in

shock was palpable when she saw the

but turned into a cold smirk

Knowing her as Tiana’s best friend, Gunner tried

pressed closer to him, smirking provocatively at Whitney, “Fancy seeing you here. Who are

thinking of Tiana’s happiness earlier that day, sharing pictures of

to