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.

a warmth that seemed to scorch her

handsome lips close to her ear. His cheek brushed against her hair, hovering just an inch from

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

rising temperature and

a little

looked triumphant, his eyes revealing his

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

the man’s chiseled jaw,

near, she did

heard

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

her chin with his large hand, his gaze burning, breath heavy. His chest heaved with a dangerous

her chin and brought his lips down to

2 0 F S G B F 3

went

lips over hers, not letting

with red, staring

after, Whitney heard the sound of running

had taken the time to set her down

covered her crimson face,

turned into a kiss? She hurriedly began to clear the tableware, trying to calm herself, but her heartbeat was still skipping beats, the air thick with innuendo.

Could it be…

flushed even

her mind replaying that kiss. The man had kissed her twice before, and both times,

game

stars

next day, Whitney woke

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15:01

tie, Madein?”

he gone blind

to tie

widened as 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 this, Sir. Is this to

downstairs, muttering, “I have to travel for work.

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

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

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

caught Whitney’s eye in the car,

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

holding the tie Whitney had playfully knotted, the woman

He did not refuse.

drove off

drapes, the previous tenderness

Unlikely, a secretary

Who was she?

yet also felt ridiculous for

After all, she and this man were married only by agreement because of

him to have had a girlfriend before?

for a year.

but

did he flirt with her last night if

he just an expert in the game,

had been doused

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

men had given her been enough? After experiencing all that despair, she would not

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15:01

dressed in a shirt, reaching for his tie. He glanced at her with an air

at him but was caught in the act. He curved his lips and said, “What do we have here? A little

own business, Whitney snapped

into her hands and standing tall before her, “Hanging

“Has he gone blind at such a young

eyes widened as she walked over to him. His towering height required her to stand on tiptoes, and she looped the tie around his neck, knotting it

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

was nearby, blushed at the sight, and Whitney’s face turned

inviting her down for breakfast, but

the curtains to see if the man had

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

of curly hair obscuring her face, but her silhouette