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

when he leaned down, bringing his handsome lips close to her ear. His cheek brushed against her hair, hovering just an inch from her lips,

her? Whitney felt like she was running out of

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

like a

triumphant, his eyes revealing

be outdone. She straightened her back,

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

near, she did not kiss him, maintaining a

grew heavier, and she heard his breathing deepen into a

eyes provocatively challenging him, “So, Sir, are you feeling a bit breathless?”

chest heaved with a dangerous edge. “Quite the

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

S G B F 3 ±

went

rolling his lips over hers, not

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

sound

time to set her down before he went

covered her crimson

had it turned into a kiss? She hurriedly began to clear the tableware, trying to calm herself, but

Could it be…

face flushed even

before, and both times, she had been too busy resisting. But tonight, in addition to resistance, there

man’s flirting game a

thanking her lucky stars

Whitney woke up

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15:01

tie, Madein?”

gone blind at such a

to tie

and she looped the tie

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

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

to her, inviting her down for breakfast, but

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

caught Whitney’s eye in the car,

obscuring her face, but her silhouette was unmistakably voluptuous.

holding the tie Whitney had playfully knotted, the woman easily took it

He did not refuse.

drove

fingers tightened on the drapes, the previous tenderness on her

his secretary? Unlikely, a secretary would not

Who was she?

also felt ridiculous for

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

not normal for him

just for a year. Maybe when it

was what Whitney thought, but her heart

with her last night if

expert in the game, with many women at his

been doused with cold water

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

men had given her been enough? After experiencing all that despair,

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15:01

his tie. He glanced at

curved his lips and said, “What do we have here?

your own business, Whitney snapped

care, tossing his tie into her hands and standing tall

he gone blind at

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

“I have to travel for work. I’ll deal with you when

Whitney’s face turned even redder as she ducked back into

called out to her, inviting her down for breakfast,

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 was

Whitney’s eye in the car, waiting for

obscuring her face, but her silhouette was unmistakably voluptuous. She wore