Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

“Who’s this nemesis of yours?” He took a sip.

“Imperial Gem Corporation’s obnoxious boss!”

His eyes darkened, “What beef does he have with you?”

“It’s an old family feud, a cutthroat business rivalry! You into business? If not, you wouldn’t understand,”

The assistant behind the boss stifled a laugh. The lady sure spoke her mind.

His eyes playful, L asked coldly, “Does your nemesis even take you seriously?”

“He said I have a small chest. That’s a grudge I won’t even let go!”

His gaze trailed down to the base of her neck. He frowned, failing to remember, and slowly said, “So he did, but haven’t you grown bigger?”

Whitney suddenly crossed her arms, her face turning red, “L, Whose side are you on?”

The assistant thought, “What an extremely interesting question.”

Elegantly taking a bite of spaghetti, he crossed his legs. “Don’t worry about the painting.”

“Why not?”

“Imperial Gem’s Mr. Lippert isn’t fond of landscape paintings.”

Whitney’s eyes sparkled. “You’re guessing? That’s what I thought, too! A man that handsome couldn’t possibly have such an old soul as to like landscape paintings, right? I’ll let you in on a secret. That creep likes young girls!”

The assistant twitched, glancing at the boss.

Noticing the man’s suddenly grim expression, Whitney was puzzled, “What’s the matter, Mr. L?”

He narrowed his cool eyes, “You could try a different approach to win him over.”

དེ་རི

Chapter 28

“How so?”

Your sign–in rewar. Come to claim your free coins.

“Come here.” He beckoned with a finger.

Suspicious, Whitney approached, her clean, soft nightgown revealing a slender waist as he pulled her into his

embrace.

She gasped, landing on his lap, his muscular physique solid and powerful.

Suddenly close in his arms, Whitney squirmed uncomfortably. He held down her struggling hands, his voice sinfully low, “There are a few ways a woman can please a man. Which do you think?”

Whitney caught on, her brows furrowed, “You mean I should seduce my nemesis? He can get lost; besides, I wouldn’t betray you.”

He raised an eyebrow. Whether he was pleased or cold was unknown. “You are quite loyal to me.”

“We have an agreement.”

“Shall we practice?” He suggested, seducing the young woman with his mature charm.

“Practice what?”

“Charm a man,” he murmured, his breath warming the delicate skin below her earlobe.

Whitney’s cheeks flushed a deep pink as his gaze darkened like ink, his large hand settling firmly on the small of her waist. He coached in a low voice, “To charm a man, you need to be soft–soft in your demeanor, tone, and movements.”

“How do I… be soft?” Whitney felt as if she were intoxicated, not by wine but by his intoxicating presence. How else could she explain following his lead so willingly?

The next moment, she felt weightless, gently lifted and placed on the tabletop.

Chapter 29

The plates were just beside her, and towering above was a man of statuesque stature.

a warmth that seemed to

leaned down, bringing his handsome lips close to her ear. His cheek brushed against her hair, hovering just an inch from her lips, neither advancing nor retreating. He

running out of breath, her face blushing

noticed her rising temperature and arched an

a little cotton

triumphant, his eyes revealing

her lip, embarrassed by his teasing, Whitney refused to be outdone.

leaned toward the man’s chiseled

as she drew near, she did not kiss him,

and she heard his breathing deepen into

red lips, her eyes provocatively challenging him, “So, Sir, are you feeling a

breath heavy. His chest heaved with a dangerous edge.

control of her chin and brought his lips

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mind went blank,

lips over hers, not letting

before he finally released her. Now, his eyes were tinged with red, staring at her flushed face for a moment before he turned

after, Whitney heard the sound of running water in the

the time to set her down before he went

crimson face, her

the tableware, trying to calm herself, but her heartbeat was still skipping beats, the air thick with innuendo. And then she wondered, why had he taken

Could it be…

face flushed even

her mind replaying that kiss. The man had kissed her twice before, and both times, she had been too busy resisting. But tonight, in addition to resistance,

man’s flirting game a

thanking her lucky stars he had not entered

woke up with

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15:01

tie, Madein?”

“Has he gone blind at such a young

around to tie my

she walked over to him. His towering height required her to stand on tiptoes, and she looped the tie

effortlessly untied it, and headed downstairs, muttering, “I

who was nearby, blushed at the sight, and Whitney’s face turned

to her, inviting her down for breakfast, but she refused to

growled, hunger striking quickly now that she was pregnant. Whitney opened the curtains to see if the man

in the car, waiting

obscuring her face, but her silhouette was unmistakably voluptuous. She wore a tight red

man approached, holding the tie Whitney had playfully knotted, the woman easily took it

He did not refuse.

drove

the previous tenderness

a secretary

Who was she?

felt

because of the sudden

was it not normal for him to have had

a year. Maybe when

what Whitney thought, but

last night if that

an expert in the

like she had been doused

confused about last night? Or did she think he

enough? After experiencing all that despair, she would

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a shirt, reaching for his tie. He glanced at her with an air of noble indifference. He seemed to

in the act. He curved his lips and said, “What do we have here? A little

business,

hands and standing tall before her, “Hanging around to tie my

gone blind at such a

widened as she walked over to him. His towering height required her to stand on tiptoes, and she looped the tie around his neck, knotting it tightly, her voice soft. “Like this, Sir. Is this

“I have to travel for work.

at the sight, and Whitney’s face turned

her, inviting her down for breakfast, but she

quickly now that she was pregnant. Whitney opened the curtains to see if the man had left; she would

caught Whitney’s eye in the car, waiting for him

of curly hair obscuring her face, but her