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

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

running out of breath, her face blushing

noticed her rising temperature and arched an

like a little

his eyes revealing

be outdone. She straightened her back, deliberately draping her hands around

the man’s chiseled jaw,

did not

grew heavier, and she heard his breathing deepen into a husky

curved her red lips, her eyes provocatively challenging him,

seized her chin with his large hand, his gaze burning, breath heavy. His chest heaved with a dangerous edge. “Quite the quick learner! Well, I won’t hold back

next moment, he took control of her chin

F S G B F 3 ± 2

mind went blank,

lips over hers,

finally released her. Now, his eyes were tinged with red, staring at her flushed face for a moment before he turned irritably and dashed

the sound

had taken the time to set her down before

her crimson

trying to calm herself, but her heartbeat was still skipping beats,

Could it be…

flushed

before, and both times,

this man’s flirting game a

her lucky stars he had not

Whitney woke up with

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15:01

tie, Madein?”

wondered, “Has he gone blind at

around to tie my

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

“I have to travel for work.

Whitney’s face turned even redder as

to her, inviting her down

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

a figure caught Whitney’s eye in the car,

sat in the passenger seat, a mass of curly hair obscuring her face, but her silhouette was unmistakably voluptuous. She wore a tight red dress that was both understated and

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

He did not refuse.

drove off

fingers tightened on the drapes, the previous tenderness on her

secretary? Unlikely, a secretary would not act

Who was she?

felt

After all, she and this man were married only by agreement because of the sudden arrival of the child, and he still suspected

it not normal for him to

for a year. Maybe when

but her heart still

with her last night if that

in the

had been doused

night? Or did she think he was a good person just because he had saved her twice?

the despair men had given her been enough? After experiencing all that despair, she would

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15:01

the man, who was already dressed in a shirt, reaching for his tie. He glanced at her with an air of noble

curved his lips and said, “What do we have here? A little panda? Didn’t

your own business, Whitney snapped

did not seem to care, tossing his tie into her hands

“Has he gone

on tiptoes, and she looped the tie around

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

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

her, inviting her down for

stomach growled, hunger striking quickly now that she was pregnant. Whitney opened the curtains to see

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

sat in the passenger seat, a mass of curly hair obscuring her face, but her silhouette was unmistakably voluptuous. She wore a tight red dress that was both understated