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.

that seemed to scorch

brushed against her hair, hovering just an

of breath, her face blushing furiously as she clutched his chiseled

her rising temperature and

a little

looked triumphant, his eyes revealing

be outdone. She straightened her back, deliberately draping her

chiseled jaw, her lips brushing past

drew near, she did

breathing grew heavier, and she heard his breathing

eyes provocatively challenging him, “So, Sir, are you feeling

hand, his gaze burning, breath heavy. His chest heaved with a dangerous edge. “Quite the quick learner! Well, I

took control of her chin and brought his lips

G B F 3 ± 2

mind went blank, struggling

smirked, rolling his lips over hers,

tinged with

Whitney heard the sound of running water

that he had taken the time to set her down before he went

her crimson face, her head

herself, but her heartbeat was still skipping beats, the air thick with innuendo. And then

Could it be…

face flushed even

The man had kissed her twice before, and both times, she had been too busy resisting. But tonight, in addition to

man’s flirting game a bit too

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

woke up with heavy eye

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15:01

tie, Madein?”

“Has he gone blind at such a

around to tie

towering height required her to stand on tiptoes, and she looped the tie around his neck, knotting it tightly, her voice soft. “Like

at the knot, effortlessly untied it, and headed downstairs, muttering, “I have to travel for work.

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

her down for breakfast,

she 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

curly hair obscuring her face, but her

man approached, holding the tie Whitney had playfully knotted,

He did not refuse.

they drove

the drapes, the previous tenderness on

Unlikely, a secretary would not

Who was she?

also felt ridiculous for

man were married only by agreement because of the

him to have had

for a year. Maybe when it ended, he

but her

last night

he just an expert in the game,

felt like she had been doused

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

her been enough?

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15:01

shirt, reaching for his tie. He glanced at her with an air

He curved his lips

your own business,

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

he gone blind at such

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

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

the sight, and Whitney’s face turned even redder

her down for breakfast, but

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

a figure caught Whitney’s eye in

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