Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 50

Took! The CEO of Imperial Gem Corporation has just arrived!

“Why is Mr. Lippert here? That man is so stunning. He’s giving me a heart attack!

“Imperial Gem Corporation is the jury for the jewelry competition. Does Mr. Lippert need a reason to attend his own award ceremony?”

Royalty has graced us with his presence, and everything shines brighter!”

Amid the cacophony of screams, Whitney snapped back to reality as Tiana pulled her briskly into the center of the hall, exclaiming, “OMG, my idol! Whitney, could it be your nemesis might actually show up to back you?”

Whitney blinked away the dazzle from the man’s aura and gave Tiana a wry look. “How could that be?”

Tiana grimaced. “Yeah, right. He didn’t even show up for the prelims. Why the sudden appearance at the awards?”

Whitney was just as puzzled, her gaze fixed on the man on the stage in a sharp black suit, standing tall and striking.

He adjusted his tie with an air of elegance, taking his seat under the spotlight. His angular face, straight nose, and thin lips gave him a deeply chiseled look that was breathtaking no matter how many times one looked.

Suddenly, his gaze cut through the crowd and landed a piercing intensity on Whitney.

Whitney paused. Had she seen it wrong?

He looked away, picking up his phone and furrowing his brow as he typed something out.

Whitney’s thoughts were hazy when a staff member suddenly brought over two chairs and placed them in the middle of the audience, gesturing for them to sit.

Tiana was speechless.

“Whitney, who’s showing you such kindness? Giving a seat front and center to someone on the verge of being fired?”

Whitney was just as confused. “Must be a mistake.”

Again, she felt that commanding gaze upon her. Looking up, it was gone.

limelight and oblivious to the small commotion, Monica was busy

Mr. Lippert will announce

fell silent. Monica’s heart raced as the handsome and prestigious man on the stage made her forget the good looks of Simon beside her. Her girlish

Lippert present you with the first prize, I’m so envious, and to have

so lucky to be marrying off

one for good appearances, beamed

as ever, cooed, “Phebe, when I go up to

honor it was, and

stand up and walk towards the stage. She shot an evil smile at Whitney

Mr. Lippert did not start

was almost at the stage when she began to feel

deep, powerful voice of the man echoed, “Where’s Whitney? Raise

Monica was stunned!

nemesis’s magnetic voice calling her name

slowly raised her hand in a

man uttered curtly,

What did that mean?

standing there, guessing that Mr. Lippert was about to strip

speculated

all, one bad apple spoils the bunch at

lifted the mic with feigned concern. “Mr. Lippert, are you about

we’re firing the plagiarizer.” The man did not even glance at her,

cast the footage on

attention turned to

assistant spoke, “Mr. Lippert is announcing a list of individuals who attempted to bribe the judges. Here is surveillance from October 1st at Imperial Gem Corporation’s office. Skye Gem Ltd’s President Simon and contestant Monica attempted to bribe Mr. Lippert with a landscape painting worth 26 million dollars in exchange for first place. Imperial Gem Corporation accepted it, but only to

drained of color. She stepped back, unable to comprehend what was

audience was in an uproar when the next piece of evidence

The Vintage Diamond,‘ shows Monica’s design dated October 2nd. However, Mr. Lippert received Whitney’s original concept on

shocked. She gaped at the screen. How did her nemesis have her draft from

assistant continued the live announcement, “The head judge Aaron has accepted bribes to aid Monica in cheating and is now under criminal investigation, to be

a dumbfounded Aaron, escorting him away

of high esteem,

grasping the gravity of the situation, looked in awe at the man

everyone stunned

muddled mess as she stared at the formidable man. She could not understand how, with just a few sentences, he had hurled her from