Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 658

Underneath the towering facade of Lippert Enterprises.

Whitney parked her car, momentarily lost in a daze.

She never thought, after being rescued from that deserted island, she'd ever cross paths with Ludwik again.

But fate, it seemed, had other plans, forcing her once more into the world of the Lippert family.

Yet...

The once-thriving Lippert Enterprises appeared to have lost its former glory.

The reception desk, usually manned by three cheerful receptionists, along with the security guard, was eerily vacant.

An unsettling sense of panic seemed to pervade the air.

As Whitney watched the elevator doors open, several employees hurried out, boxes in arms.

She instinctively raised her sleeve to cover her face, hoping not to be recognized.

But it seemed they were too preoccupied to notice her, murmuring among themselves, "I just got a call from HR over at Patrick Enterprises. They're offering to triple my salary to jump ship. It's not that I'm ungrateful, but when I checked with Lippert's finance department about this quarter's bonus, they said Mr. Lippert is prioritizing settlements first! Looks like our bonuses and salaries will be delayed. Patrick Enterprises seems like a brighter prospect now, I better leave."

"Jarvis, the GM of Patrick Enterprises, even called me personally. Leaving sooner seems better. Mr. Lippert is out of moves. For us professionals, staying here is just a waste of potential, a surefire way to ruin our future."

"Hold it right there!" a figure resembling a high-ranking executive burst out, attempting to stop the resigning employees, "Did you even submit your resignation to Mr. Lippert? When times were good, you enjoyed the highest salaries in the industry. Now, at the first sign of trouble, you dare to leave without notice. Do you think Mr. Lippert won't hear about this?"

"Keith, go ahead and tell him. I doubt Mr. Lippert has the time to care about us. We're definitely not staying. It's better to secure a good position at Patrick Enterprises now rather than waiting to be fired or starve here."

manager, Keith, cursed in frustration, "Ingrates! Has Mr. Lippert ever let you down? All those

treated you well, he can't offer you a future now. Better

that, they quickly

the elevator, presumably to

stood there in disbelief. The Lippert family was on the brink of

situation was more dire than she

the elevator to the executive floor. The secretary's office was nearly empty, the once-bustling floor now chaotic

the CEO's office, she hadn't even knocked when a heated argument

Stop pretending everything's fine. If I were you, I'd accept my offer and sell

with cold fury. "Even if we breached the chip contract, we have countless subsidiaries - real estate, finance, hospitality, e-commerce - each leading in Emperor City. Your offer

up, what are you? Just

Lane's voice

was filled with

his mocking tone

you think you're still the golden boy assistant of Ludwik? Times change. People need to accept their fate. The

hardened,

now look at you. And remember, I'm

Ludwik's voice was ice-cold,

a flicker of fear crossing his face before he kicked Ludwik's desk in frustration and stormed

office door swung shut

you... It must be Jarvis stirring

Ludwik cut him off, suddenly looking up to see a figure standing at

and tension. Ludwik blinked, making sure

unexpectedly gentle, "You're

he turned around and