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.

small

host announced, “And now Mr. Lippert will

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

present you with the

so lucky to be marrying off to a genius

one for good appearances, beamed

I go up to receive my award, I’d like to invite you to join

an honor it was, and Phebe

could not wait to stand up and walk towards the stage. She shot an evil smile at Whitney

not start the award

almost at the stage when

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

Monica was stunned!

voice calling her name made Whitney freeze,

slowly raised her

the man

What did that mean?

there, guessing that Mr. Lippert was about to strip Whitney of

speculated as

to kick Whitney out first! After all, one

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

firing the plagiarizer.” The man did not even glance at her, his face cold as he

immediately cast the footage on the

attention turned to the

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

stepped back, unable to

uproar when the next piece of

October 2nd. However, Mr. Lippert received Whitney’s original concept on September 28th, preserved in email

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

accepted bribes to aid Monica in cheating and is now under

officers appeared on stage and handcuffed a dumbfounded Aaron, escorting

a man of high esteem, was taken away

the situation, looked in awe at the man in the

fell silent, everyone stunned

a muddled mess as she stared at the formidable man. She could not understand