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

against her hair, hovering just an inch from her lips, neither

of breath, her face blushing furiously as she clutched his

her rising temperature and arched an eyebrow playfully,

a little

triumphant, his

embarrassed by his teasing, Whitney refused to be outdone.

movements, she leaned toward the man’s chiseled jaw, her lips brushing past

she did not kiss him, maintaining a

grew heavier, and she heard his

challenging him, “So, Sir, are you

burning, breath heavy. His chest heaved with a dangerous

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

G B F 3 ± 2 5

mind went blank, struggling

his lips over

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

Whitney heard the sound of

she realized that he had taken the time to set

her crimson face,

practicing? How had it turned into a kiss? She hurriedly began to clear the tableware, trying to calm herself, but her heartbeat was

Could it be…

flushed

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

flirting game a bit too

thanking her lucky stars he had not entered

woke up

1/2

15:01

tie, Madein?”

wondered, “Has he gone blind at

to tie my

towering height required her to stand on tiptoes, and she looped the tie around his neck,

and headed downstairs, muttering, “I have to

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

down for

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

in

a mass of curly hair obscuring her face, but her silhouette was unmistakably voluptuous. She wore a tight red dress that was both

the man approached, holding the tie Whitney had

He did not refuse.

they drove off

fingers tightened on the drapes, the previous tenderness on her face

Unlikely, a secretary would

Who was she?

also felt ridiculous for doing

were married only by agreement because of the sudden arrival of the child, and he

him to have

the deal was just for a year. Maybe when it

was what Whitney thought, but her heart still felt

did he flirt with her last

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

like she had been doused with cold water

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

given her been enough?

20/3

15:01

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

curved his lips and said,

business,

to care, tossing his tie into her hands and

“Has he gone blind

her to stand on tiptoes, and she looped the tie around his neck, knotting it tightly, her voice

downstairs, muttering, “I have to travel

the sight, and Whitney’s face turned even redder

her down for breakfast, but

quickly now that she was pregnant. Whitney opened the curtains to see if the man had

in the

curly hair obscuring her face, but her silhouette was