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.

exuded a warmth that seemed

cheek brushed against her hair, hovering just an inch from her lips, neither advancing nor retreating. He simply hooked

man flirting with her? Whitney felt like she was running out of breath, her face blushing furiously as she clutched his chiseled

the matter?” He noticed her rising temperature

like a little

his eyes revealing his

refused to be outdone. She straightened her back, deliberately

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

as she drew near, she did not kiss

she heard his breathing deepen into a husky

eyes provocatively challenging him, “So,

gaze burning, breath heavy. His chest heaved with a dangerous edge.

next moment, he took control of her chin and brought his

0 F S G B F 3 ± 2 5

mind went blank,

over hers,

he finally released her. Now, his eyes were tinged with red, staring at

after, Whitney heard the sound of running water in

that he had taken the time to set her

crimson

to calm herself, but her heartbeat was still

Could it be…

face flushed even

The man had kissed her twice before, and both

game

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

Whitney woke up

1/2

15:01

tie, Madein?”

he gone blind at such

around to tie my

on tiptoes, and she

untied it, and headed downstairs, muttering, “I have to travel for work. I’ll deal with you when I get

face turned even redder as she

inviting her down

the curtains to see if the man

caught Whitney’s eye in the

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

holding the tie Whitney had playfully

He did not refuse.

they drove off

tightened on the drapes, the previous tenderness on her face cooling into a straight,

she his secretary? Unlikely, a

Who was she?

yet also felt ridiculous for doing

only by agreement because of the sudden arrival of the child, and he still suspected her of having ulterior

it not normal for him to have had

for a year. Maybe when it ended, he

what Whitney thought, but her

last night

expert in the game, with many women at his

felt like she had been doused with

confused about last night? Or did she think he was a good person just

the despair men had given her been enough? After experiencing all that despair, she

20/3

15:01

a shirt, reaching for his tie. He glanced at her with

lips and said, “What do we have

business, Whitney

seem to care, tossing his tie into her hands and standing tall before her,

gone blind at such

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 to your

knot, effortlessly untied it, and headed downstairs, muttering, “I have to travel

sight, and Whitney’s face turned

her, inviting her down for breakfast, but she

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

caught Whitney’s eye in the car, waiting

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