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

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

Whitney felt like she was running out of breath, her face blushing

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

a little cotton

triumphant, his eyes

to be outdone. She straightened her back, deliberately draping

toward the man’s chiseled jaw, her

as she drew near, she did not kiss him, maintaining a tantalizing

heavier, and she heard his breathing deepen into

challenging him, “So, Sir,

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

moment, he took control of her

F S G B F 3 ± 2

went

over hers, not letting

seemed like an eternity before he finally released her. Now, his eyes were tinged with red, staring at

Whitney heard the sound

had taken the time to set her

covered her crimson face,

How had it turned into a kiss? She hurriedly began to clear the tableware, trying to calm herself,

Could it be…

flushed even

kissed her twice before, and both times, she had been too busy resisting. But tonight,

this man’s flirting game a

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

woke up with

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tie, Madein?”

wondered, “Has he gone blind at such a

to tie

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

headed downstairs, muttering, “I have

face turned even redder as she ducked

called out to her, inviting her down

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

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

curly hair obscuring her face, but her silhouette was unmistakably voluptuous.

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

He did not refuse.

drove off

on the drapes, the previous tenderness on her face cooling

she his secretary? Unlikely, a secretary would

Who was she?

felt ridiculous for

she was his girlfriend. After all, she and this man were married only by agreement because

normal for him to

was just for a year. Maybe when it ended, he would

thought, but her heart still

flirt with her last night if that was the

an expert in the game, with many women at his

been doused with cold water

night? Or did she think he was a good

men had given her been enough? After experiencing all that

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tie. He glanced

him but was caught in the act. He curved his lips and said, “What do

your own business,

to care, tossing his tie into her hands and standing

gone blind at

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

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

Whitney’s face turned even redder

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

curtains to see if the man had left; she would head down to eat

in the car, waiting for him

mass of curly hair obscuring her face, but her silhouette was unmistakably voluptuous.