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.

body exuded a warmth that

leaned down, bringing his handsome lips close to her ear. His cheek brushed against her hair, hovering just an inch from her lips, neither

of breath, her face blushing furiously as she clutched his chiseled arm, her heartbeat

the matter?” He noticed her rising temperature and arched an eyebrow

like a little

triumphant, his eyes revealing

Whitney refused to be outdone. She straightened her back, deliberately draping her hands

his movements, she leaned toward the man’s chiseled jaw, her lips brushing past

near, she did

she heard his breathing deepen into

her red lips, her eyes provocatively challenging him, “So, Sir, are you feeling a bit breathless?”

chest heaved with a dangerous edge.

took control of her chin and brought his lips down to

B F 3

went blank,

over hers, not letting

released her. Now, his eyes were tinged with

the sound of running water in

that he had taken the time

crimson face,

turned into a kiss? She hurriedly began to clear the tableware, trying to calm herself, but her heartbeat

Could it be…

flushed

not sleep well that night, her mind replaying that kiss. The man had kissed her twice before, and both times, she had been too busy resisting. But

flirting game a bit

her covers, thanking her lucky stars he had not entered her bedroom that

next day, Whitney woke up

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15:01

tie, Madein?”

Whitney wondered, “Has he gone blind at such

to tie my

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

and headed downstairs, muttering, “I have

the sight, and Whitney’s face turned even redder as she

inviting her down

was pregnant. Whitney opened the curtains to see

figure caught Whitney’s eye in the car, waiting

in the passenger seat, a mass of curly hair obscuring her face, but her silhouette was unmistakably voluptuous. She wore a tight red dress

approached, holding the tie Whitney had playfully knotted, the woman

He did not refuse.

drove

on the drapes, the previous tenderness

his secretary? Unlikely, a secretary would not

Who was she?

felt ridiculous for

agreement because of the sudden arrival of the child, and he still suspected

for him

a year. Maybe when it ended, he would marry

thought, but her heart still

flirt with her last

he just an expert in the game, with many

been doused with cold water and

did she think he was a good person just because

enough? After experiencing all that despair, she would

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15:01

the man, who was already dressed in a shirt, reaching for his tie. He glanced at her with an air of noble indifference. He

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

business, Whitney snapped

did not seem to care, tossing his tie into her hands and standing tall before

Whitney wondered, “Has he gone blind at such

widened as she walked over to him. His towering height required her to stand on tiptoes, and she looped the tie around his neck,

down at the knot, effortlessly untied it, and headed downstairs, muttering, “I have to travel for work. I’ll deal with

the sight, and Whitney’s face turned even redder as she

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

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

Whitney’s eye in the car, waiting for

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