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.

that seemed

when he leaned down, bringing his handsome lips close to her ear. His cheek brushed against her hair, hovering just an inch

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

rising

a little cotton

his

refused to be outdone. She straightened her back,

man’s chiseled jaw, her lips brushing

as she drew near, she did not kiss

heard

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

chest heaved with a dangerous edge. “Quite the quick learner! Well, I

of her chin and brought his

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mind went blank,

lips over

released her. Now, his eyes were tinged with

after, Whitney heard the sound of

he had taken the time to set her down

her crimson

not just practicing? How had it turned into a kiss? She hurriedly began to clear the tableware, trying to calm herself, but her heartbeat

Could it be…

face flushed even

night, her mind replaying that kiss. The man had kissed her twice before, and both times, she had been too busy resisting.

game a bit too

covers, thanking her lucky stars he

next day, Whitney woke up with heavy eye

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15:01

tie, Madein?”

gone

around to

on tiptoes, and she looped the tie around his neck, knotting it tightly, her

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

nearby, blushed at the sight, and Whitney’s face turned even redder as she ducked back

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

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

Whitney’s eye in the car, waiting for him

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

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

He did not refuse.

drove

on the drapes, the previous tenderness on her face cooling into

she his secretary? Unlikely, a

Who was she?

yet also felt ridiculous

this man were married only by agreement because of the sudden arrival of the child, and he still suspected her of having

for him to

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

Whitney thought, but her

flirt with her last night if that

in the game, with

she had been doused with cold water

night? Or did she think he was a good

enough? After experiencing

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reaching for his tie. He glanced at her with an air of noble indifference. He

He curved his lips and said, “What do we have here? A little panda?

your own business, Whitney

hands and standing tall

wondered, “Has he gone

and she looped the tie around his neck, knotting it

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

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

inviting her down for

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

Whitney’s eye in the car, waiting for

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