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

leaned down, bringing his handsome lips close to her ear. His cheek brushed against her hair, hovering just an inch from her lips, neither advancing nor retreating. He simply hooked his

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

matter?” He noticed her rising temperature and arched an

like a little

looked triumphant, his

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

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

she did not

and she heard his breathing deepen into a husky

him, “So, Sir, are you

chin with his large hand, his gaze burning, breath heavy. His chest heaved with a dangerous edge. “Quite the quick

next moment, he took control of her

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mind went blank, struggling

rolling his lips over hers,

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

Whitney heard the sound of

the time to set her down before he

covered her crimson face, her

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

Could it be…

flushed

had kissed her twice before, and both times, she had been too busy

man’s flirting game a bit too

covers, thanking her lucky stars he had

day, Whitney woke up with

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15:01

tie, Madein?”

he gone blind at such a

to tie

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.

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

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

inviting her down for breakfast,

was pregnant. Whitney opened the curtains to

in the car, waiting for him

sat in the passenger seat, a mass of curly hair obscuring her face, but her silhouette was

tie Whitney had

He did not refuse.

they drove

previous tenderness on her face cooling into a straight, calm

a secretary would not act

Who was she?

felt ridiculous

she was his girlfriend. After all, she and this man were married only by agreement because of the sudden arrival of the child, and

not normal for him to

the deal was just for a year. Maybe when it ended, he would marry his

but her

her last night

was he just an expert in the game, with

been doused with

Or did she think he was a good person just because he

enough? After experiencing

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15:01

reaching for his tie. He glanced at her with an air of noble indifference. He seemed to have slept

lips and said, “What do we have here? A

business, Whitney snapped

tossing his tie into her hands and standing tall before

“Has he gone blind at such a

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

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

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

down for breakfast, but she

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

eye in the car,

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