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

handsome lips close to her ear. His cheek brushed against her hair,

of breath, her face blushing furiously as she clutched

matter?” He noticed her rising temperature and arched an eyebrow

felt like a little cotton

triumphant, his eyes revealing his

his teasing, Whitney refused to be outdone.

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

near, she did not

and she heard his breathing

lips, her eyes provocatively challenging him, “So, Sir, are

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

next moment, he took control of her chin and brought his

S G B F 3 ± 2

went blank,

his lips over hers,

released her. Now, his eyes were tinged with

the sound of

she realized that he had taken the time

covered her crimson face,

they not just practicing? How had it turned into a kiss? She hurriedly began to clear the tableware, trying to calm herself, but her heartbeat was still skipping beats, the air thick with innuendo. And then

Could it be…

flushed even

mind replaying that kiss. The man had kissed her twice before, and both times, she had been too busy resisting. But tonight,

this man’s flirting game a bit

under her covers, thanking her lucky stars he had not

Whitney woke up with

1/2

15:01

tie, Madein?”

wondered, “Has he gone blind at such a young

to tie

widened as she 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

untied it, and headed downstairs, muttering, “I have to travel for work.

blushed at the sight, and Whitney’s face turned even redder as she ducked back into her

her down for breakfast,

Whitney opened the curtains to see if the man had

caught Whitney’s eye in

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

the tie Whitney had playfully knotted, the woman

He did not refuse.

they drove off

previous tenderness on her face cooling into a

Unlikely, a secretary would not

Who was she?

yet also felt ridiculous for doing

girlfriend. After all, she and this man were married only by agreement because of

for him to have had a

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

but her heart still

last night if that

an expert in the game, with many women at

had been doused with cold water

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

been enough? After experiencing all that despair, she would

20/3

15:01

reaching for his tie. He glanced at her with

was caught in the act. He curved his lips and

business, Whitney snapped

seem to care, tossing his tie into her hands

wondered, “Has he gone blind

eyes widened as she walked over to him. His towering height required her to stand on tiptoes, and she looped the tie around his neck,

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

and Whitney’s face turned even redder as she

to her, inviting her down for breakfast, but she refused to

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

figure caught Whitney’s eye in the car, waiting

of curly hair obscuring her face, but her silhouette was unmistakably voluptuous.