Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 93

Elaine slid into the car, a sly chuckle escaping her as she leaned back into the plush seat. Whitney had tried to outplay her, but she had played the wrong hand.

Not that it was entirely wrong – had Whitney agreed to those two female suppliers, Elaine could have easily set her up for a fall in the future.

But right now, Elaine’s triumph lay in Whitney’s refusal. The diamond suppliers in Banyan City were few; only those two were run by women; the rest were all men, and Elaine had them wrapped around her finger long ago. Her phone rang, and she answered with a lazy smile.

“Elaine,” the voice on the other end reported, “Whitney called a quick meeting as soon as she returned to the office. She’s roped in a college buddy, one of those fancy jewel material traders.”

Elaine’s laughter was soft and dark. A young college friend, huh? She could just imagine what kind of trouble Whitney was in now with Ludwik…

As dusk turned the city skyline neon, a sleek Bentley stood out with understated luxury in the plaza below Skye

Gem Ltd.

Right on time, Whitney emerged from the building, a faint blush tinting her cheeks as she spotted the luxurious car. She thought of the man waiting inside and wondered, “Is this a date?”

Felix, ever the dutiful chauffeur, promptly opened the door for her.

The Bentley glided away, leaving Simon on the company steps, his gaze darkening as he watched the taillights disappear. He had caught a glimpse of the masked man inside the car.

That was a limited edition Bentley, and Whitney claimed the masked man had been her savior that night…

Could the enigmatic, powerful Ludwik be the man behind the mask?

Simon clenched his fists, jealousy gnawing at him, feeling utterly powerless.

Inside the car.

Whitney found the man beside her, frowning at some documents. She pouted – was she not more interesting than paperwork?

Nonchalantly, she slipped off her coat.

The man next to her gave a dry chuckle. “Can you not try to seduce me while I’m working?”

Seduce? She had

felt wronged. The man glanced at her with amused eyes and cleared his throat

I’ll forgive his smooth–talking ways. Men

flushed. “You don’t have to look

just can’t help but catch you,” he

a sweet warmth inside. “Okay, then I’ll

face turning stern. He was already seduced, and with a mature gesture,

closer, her elegant outfit of the day – a trench coat, a chic sweater, pencil pants, and ballet flats

dressed in a sharp suit, his

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Chapter 93

complementing her coat – they looked the part of an elite couple. Her lips were full and tinted with warmth. As she reached his side, he murmured in a deep voice, “Let me hold

settled onto his

a hint of artificiality – one look could captivate any

warm hand lifted her chin as he spoke in a

clenched his shirt, her heart racing as she glanced at Felix, who might as well

quickly pecked his

asked, his grip tightening around her slender waist, his breath tickling her neck. “I used to say you must get close to a

talking nonsense,” Whitney

the office, luring men?” His brow furrowed slightly, a

speechless. “Mr. L, are you really that

not petty where it counts,” he retorted with a sly grin, then grew stern again as he said, “I don’t like the idea of you

was probably still bothered by her

have my career, and besides, you’re the man I like. We’re dating, aren’t we? What’s there to worry

his tone from the night before, and Ludwik’s

to herself with a silent sigh, shaking his sturdy arm.

about to say, “Madam, Sir has reserved the entire top–tier Russian restaurant

twinkling eatery across the street and said, “Ah, I want that spicy food! L, can we go there,

and Felix were both at a loss

cold as ice. Whitney saw his displeased expression, and though, as a socialite, she rarely indulged in such street food, the craving was

begged, her eyes already

I won’t allow

you don’t even care,” Whitney complained, convinced that pregnancy was to blame for her cravings. As he remained unmoved, she blinked back tears, looking