Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 267

"Call me anytime if you need anything," Bryce said, his words few but his tone solid.

After ending the call, Whitney carefully placed a mask over her son's face, ensuring it fit snugly, and carried him into the private elevator.

As the floors passed by, the light indicators showed that each one was bustling with activity. Even the offices of key executives and shareholders were stirring with the beginnings of a workday. Whitney's smile tightened into a cold curve as she reached the top floor. Stepping out of the elevator, she caught a glimpse of Elaine's back as she entered the boardroom.

Quickly setting her son down, Whitney's expression shifted as she pulled out her car keys. "Honey, you're such a smart cookie. Do you know how to get to the car and hide?" Danny sensed the urgency in his mom's voice and nodded.

"Mommy will be back in ten minutes. Now, scoot to the car and play, but stay safe!" Whitney instructed hastily.

The little guy turned and hurried back to the elevator.

Whitney straightened up, took a deep breath, and, with the click of her high heels, made a beeline for the shareholders' office.

Upon entering, she found the old shareholders and Elaine laughing and joking, blatantly buttering her up.

"Elaine, under your leadership, Skye Gem Ltd. is sure to get back on track. A bright new future awaits the company!" one said with enthusiasm.

"I've always heard about Elaine's remarkable ability to manage. It's no wonder the boss holds you in such high regard. Congratulations on your upcoming good fortune," chimed another. "Elaine, I've brought you this ginseng, a rare delicacy from abroad. Please..."

"Looks like everyone's here," Whitney interrupted with a sneer.

Elaine, basking in the flattery, glanced up at Whitney and felt a block in her throat.

Ludwik hadn't come home last night, and this morning, after checking his sports car's GPS log, she found a new address - one linked to this wretched woman's apartment!

But at this moment, Elaine felt a surge of satisfaction.

With a feigned smile, she said, "Ms. Valentine, to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit to my new company?"

Her words were laced with hidden barbs.

from the main table, and sat down with a flourish. She scanned the room. "Your new company? If my memory serves me right, it was just last night that I personally paid the

wealthy and influential; securing the company

the shareholders

their stakes in Skye Gem Ltd. had been frozen and eventually liquidated. Elaine's willingness

instead of cashing in their shares with the bank. Now, they were eager for

thing they wanted was for

Ltd., spoke up with impatience. "Some people, I don't understand why they bother coming back. Do you even have the face for

Ltd. crumbled

only did you fail to run the company, but you also vanished without a trace for three years. Now that there's a

leave, you're out of place here! If I were you,

guards chimed in one after another, badgering

lips curled into a barely concealed

ear, then fixed her gaze on Mr. Percy. "Three years ago, Skye Gem Ltd. was pushed to the brink of bankruptcy under Ludwik's coercion. I thought it was common knowledge that Ludwik is

and the others turned red with embarrassment. Everyone knew what Ludwik had done to Skye Gem Ltd., but to businessmen, profit was king. Whoever could make them the most money

stepped forward. "Cut the crap. The bottom line is, Whitney, you mismanaged

it's none of your

us for being ruthless. The security

after all. She might still be attached to the company. But Ms. Valentine, you need to face reality. Ludwik adores me. He's legally procured the company to give to me. Rest

polite to

done so

Why are you still

erupted with voices of support for Elaine, as the old

Ludwik were in the midst of a

who had sold the

she had sabotaged Skye Gem Ltd.

Whitney had no intention of letting the company

bag and slapped it on the table. "I'm not

momentarily stunned. Hadn't Elaine said last night's auction was null