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 her

her hair, hovering just

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

rising temperature and arched an eyebrow

felt like a

looked triumphant, his eyes revealing

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

toward the man’s chiseled jaw, her lips brushing past his Adam’s

as she drew near, she did not kiss him,

and she heard his breathing deepen into

challenging him, “So,

with his large hand, his gaze burning, breath heavy. His chest heaved with

moment, he took control of her chin and brought his lips down to

G B F 3 ± 2 5 5

went blank,

rolling his lips over hers, not letting her

eyes were tinged with red, staring at her flushed face for a moment before he

heard the sound of

time to set her down before he went

crimson face,

calm herself, but her heartbeat

Could it be…

flushed

not sleep well that night, her mind replaying that kiss. The man had kissed her twice before, and both times, she had been too busy resisting. But tonight, in addition to resistance, there seemed to be

this man’s flirting game a bit too

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

Whitney woke up with heavy eye

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15:01

tie, Madein?”

he gone blind at such a young

around to

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

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

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

out to her, inviting her down for

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

a figure caught Whitney’s eye in the

face, but her silhouette was unmistakably voluptuous.

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

He did not refuse.

drove off

on the drapes, the previous tenderness

a secretary would

Who was she?

pondered, yet also felt ridiculous for doing

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

it not normal for him to have had a

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

thought, but her heart

he flirt with her last night if that

in the game,

doused with cold water

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

been enough? After experiencing all

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15:01

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

him but was caught in the act. He curved his lips and said,

your own business, Whitney

not seem to care, tossing his tie into her hands and standing tall before her,

Whitney wondered, “Has he gone blind at such a

and she looped the tie around his neck, knotting it tightly, her voice soft. “Like this, Sir.

glanced down at the knot, effortlessly untied it, and headed downstairs, muttering, “I have

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

inviting her down for

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

eye in the car, waiting

obscuring her face, but her silhouette was unmistakably voluptuous. She wore a tight red dress that was both understated