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 seemed to scorch her smooth

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

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

He noticed her rising temperature and arched an

a

his eyes revealing

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

the man’s chiseled jaw, her

she did not kiss him,

she heard his

him, “So,

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

moment, he took control of her chin

F 3 ± 2 5 5

went blank, struggling

over hers,

with red,

after, Whitney heard the sound

she realized that he had taken the time to set

covered her crimson face,

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

Could it be…

face flushed even

had kissed her twice before, and both times, she had been too busy resisting. But tonight, in addition to resistance, there seemed to be a

game a

stars

day, Whitney woke up with

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15:01

tie, Madein?”

wondered, “Has he gone blind at such

to tie

on tiptoes, and she looped the

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

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

called out to her, inviting her down for

Whitney opened the curtains to see if the

eye in the car, waiting for him

curly hair obscuring her face, but her silhouette was

Whitney had playfully knotted, the

He did not refuse.

they drove

the previous tenderness on her face cooling into a straight,

Unlikely, a

Who was she?

also felt ridiculous for doing

only by agreement because of the sudden

not normal for him to have had a girlfriend

year. Maybe when

thought, but her heart still felt

with her last night if

was he just an expert in the game, with many women at his

she had been doused with cold water and jolted

he was a good person just because he had saved

given her been enough? After experiencing

20/3

15:01

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

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

business, Whitney

hands and standing tall before her, “Hanging around to tie my tie,

“Has he gone blind at

and she looped

it, and headed downstairs, muttering, “I

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

her, inviting her down for breakfast, but she refused

Whitney opened the curtains to

Whitney’s eye in

her face, but her silhouette was unmistakably voluptuous. She wore a tight red dress