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.

Gunner, but she was still hopeful

hoped Parker was mistaken, or maybe Gunner

seriously considered several options before

she called home to check on Natalie. Natalie was in high spirits, laughing. “Dear Whitney, your husband came home to sleep last night. When will you be

last night? She thought

lips, one she did not even notice, as she softly said,

in her plagiarism case hinged on Stella confessing she had

had not rushed to confront Monica but had instead focused on dragging

פוד

the outcome

at the Golden Hue Bar tonight before leaving

then, Monica’s taunting call

the preliminary results 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 the Perlman family. Oh, and Simon’s throwing a celebration for me tonight at the Golden Hue

interested,” Whitney replied, dismissing the

to find Stella, tonight

night, Whitney arrived at the Golden

for Monica’s celebration,

daughter of the family, Falth Perlman. They were clearly there to

son Simon would not have caught

as Troy, was

steered clear of these people,

young men were carousing. There was Troy, and

behind which muffled

like it, you

Gunner?

Tiana’s fiancé!

had not lied; this

Whitney marched over and yanked the

couple inside, caught off guard, paused their heated

was palpable when she

panic flashed but turned into a

Tiana’s best friend, Gunner tried to push

“Fancy seeing you here. Who are you looking for?

that day, sharing pictures of rings for

to slap Stella