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 to scorch

ear. His cheek brushed against her hair, hovering just an inch from

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

He noticed her rising

felt like a little

looked triumphant, his eyes

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

man’s chiseled jaw,

she drew near, she did not kiss him,

she heard his breathing

her red lips, her eyes provocatively challenging him, “So, Sir, are

chest heaved with a dangerous edge. “Quite the quick

of her chin and brought his lips down to

0 F S G B F 3 ± 2 5 5

went blank,

smirked, rolling his lips over hers, not letting

were tinged with red, staring at her flushed face for

Whitney heard the sound of

that he had taken the time to set her

crimson

tableware, trying to calm herself, but her heartbeat was still skipping beats, the air thick with innuendo. And then she wondered,

Could it be…

face flushed

and both times, she had been too busy resisting. But tonight, in addition to resistance, there seemed to

this man’s flirting game a

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

day, Whitney woke

1/2

15:01

tie, Madein?”

“Has he gone blind

around to

height required her to stand on tiptoes, and she looped the tie around his neck,

untied it, and headed downstairs, muttering, “I have to

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

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

curtains to

Whitney’s eye in the car, waiting for

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

as the man approached, holding the tie Whitney had playfully knotted, the woman easily took

He did not refuse.

they drove

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

secretary? Unlikely, a secretary would

Who was she?

pondered, yet also felt ridiculous for

were married only by agreement because of the sudden arrival of the

was it not normal for him

a year. Maybe

was what Whitney thought, but

last

was he just an expert in the game, with many

been doused

Or did she think he

despair men had given her been enough? After

20/3

15:01

reaching for his tie. He glanced

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

your own business,

tie into her hands

wondered, “Has he gone

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

downstairs, muttering, “I have to travel for work. I’ll deal with you when

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

to her, inviting her down

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

in the car, waiting for him

seat, a mass of curly hair obscuring her face, but her silhouette was unmistakably voluptuous. She wore a tight