Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Inside the dimly lit bar, Tiana had drowned herself in alcohol to the point of staggering inebriation. Her mood hadn’t been sour at first.

But after two phone calls both ended in arguments, it was clear that Gunner was on the other line.

Clinging to her friend, Tiana vented, “That jerk! He’s asked for my hand in marriage, and yet he says he’s in Grace City closing deals when I ask him to pick me up. He’s paying less and less attention to me. Is he really that busy?”

Whitney flicked through her phone to catch up on Stella’s latest news.

Turns out, Stella was filming in Grace City. What kind of ‘deals‘ would he be closing at this hour? Whitney’s face hardened as she looked at Tiana’s dejected expression. Her heart was aching with a mix of pity for Tiana and loathing for that unfaithful pair.

But how to bring it up? How could she minimize the damage for Tiana?

“Whitney, let’s go get a room and have some fun!” Tiana hollered, clearly gone off the deep end. Whitney steadied her.

The bar was a scene of drunken collapses, but there was one sober college guy called Cooper that Whitney barely knew. He mentioned he had returned from studying abroad and ran a diamond import business. Whitney’s eyes gleamed – they were in the same line of work. Skye Gem Ltd. covered everything from jewelry design to production.

“Whitney, perhaps we’ll cooperate in business someday,” Cooper said, handing her his business card with an impressed look.

Whitney took the card with a smile, struggling to support Tiana. Cooper offered a hand to help.

Suddenly, an icy pressure descended upon them.

“Oh, getting a room? Planning a threesome?” came a familiar, mocking voice tinged with chill.

Whitney’s head snapped up to see her husband, shock written across her face.

Then it hit her – what did he just imply with that comment? Feeling awkward when she glanced at Cooper, she asked with a semblance of calm, “What are you doing here?”

–

Oh, the tone of her voice as if he didn’t have the right to show up?

Ludwik’s aura turned even colder.

presence. He offered a nervous smile and

in a low voice, too quick to let

do you need to be set straight? Repeat what you just

up, though she felt

the college guy, “It’s getting late, maybe you

Cooper

into an eerie

giggled at the sight of ‘L‘, “Why not a threesome? I’m totally down for the kind of man like

wishing her friend would just keep

12:00

toward turk, who coldly sidestepped her

but before she could help Tiana up, Ludwik’s arm snaked around her waist. His gaze was dark and teasing. “My kind? What’s

uncomfortable, “How would I know what kind

very well he murmured, his eyes hinting

burned with embarrassment – what was he so proud of? She

passed out on

lift her friend and at a loss, Whitney looked to Ludwik and muttered reluctantly, “Since you’re here,

a

for your help Whitney batted her eyes, tugging at his shirt in

it, she knew

his eyes,

the drunken Tiana, Ludwik held her at arm’s length, asking

kept saying she wanted to sleep,” Whitney said, leading

It irritated Whitney, who complained to the assistant, “is your boss always this

honestly, ‘Sir generally doesn’t like women getting

you, young mistress. I believe sir quite enjoys holding

at the thought, but dismissed it

with a blanket and fetched a damp cloth to wash her face, only to have Ludwik take it away.

stared, That’s for cleaning her

Am I less important than

gaze lingered on his long