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.

warmth that seemed

her ear. His cheek brushed against her hair,

was running out of

He noticed her rising temperature and arched an eyebrow

felt like a

looked triumphant, his eyes revealing his

embarrassed by his teasing, 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

near, she did not kiss him, maintaining

grew heavier, and she heard his breathing

provocatively challenging him, “So, Sir, are you

heavy. His chest heaved

of her chin

F S G B F 3 ±

mind went blank,

rolling his lips over hers, not letting

with red,

after, Whitney heard the sound of

that he had taken the time

covered her crimson face, her

just practicing? How had it turned into a kiss? She hurriedly began to clear the tableware, trying to calm herself, but her heartbeat was still skipping beats,

Could it be…

flushed

her twice before, and both times, she had been too

man’s flirting game a bit

lucky stars he had not

next day, Whitney woke up with

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15:01

tie, Madein?”

wondered, “Has he gone blind at such a young

around to tie my

tiptoes, and she looped the

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

the sight, and Whitney’s face turned

called out to her, inviting her down for

pregnant. Whitney opened the curtains to see if

Whitney’s eye in

obscuring her face, but her silhouette was

holding the tie Whitney had playfully knotted, the woman easily

He did not refuse.

drove off

fingers tightened on the drapes, the previous tenderness on her face

a secretary would

Who was she?

also felt ridiculous for

was his girlfriend. After all, she and this man were married only by agreement because of the sudden arrival of the child, and

for him to have had

all, the deal was just for a year. Maybe when it ended,

Whitney thought, but her heart still felt

he flirt with her last night if that was the

the game, with

had been doused with cold water

did she think he was a good person just because he had

enough? After experiencing all that

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15:01

his tie. He glanced at her with an air

was caught in the act. He curved his lips and said, “What do we have here? A little panda? Didn’t sleep

business, Whitney snapped

tie into her hands and standing

gone blind at such

eyes widened as she walked over to him. His towering height required her to stand on tiptoes, and she

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

sight, and Whitney’s face turned

her down

stomach growled, hunger striking quickly now that she was pregnant. Whitney opened the curtains to see if the man had left; she would head

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

passenger seat, a mass of curly hair obscuring her face, but her silhouette