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.

warmth that seemed to scorch

against her hair, hovering just an inch from her

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

rising temperature and arched an

felt like a little

his

outdone. She straightened her back, deliberately

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

drew near, she did not kiss him, maintaining a tantalizing

heavier, and she heard his breathing deepen

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

heavy. His chest heaved with a dangerous

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

B F

went

over hers,

eyes were tinged with red,

sound

had taken the time to set

covered her crimson

kiss? She hurriedly began to clear the tableware, trying to calm herself,

Could it be…

flushed even

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

this man’s flirting game

her lucky stars he had not

next day, Whitney woke up

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15:01

tie, Madein?”

“Has he gone blind at such a young

around to tie my

to stand on tiptoes, and she looped the tie

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

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

called out to her, inviting her down for breakfast,

opened the curtains to see if the

in

seat, a mass of curly hair obscuring her face, but her silhouette was unmistakably voluptuous. She

as the man approached, holding the tie Whitney had playfully knotted, the woman

He did not refuse.

they drove off

previous tenderness on her face cooling into

his secretary? Unlikely, a secretary would not act

Who was she?

also felt ridiculous for doing

all, she and this man were married only by agreement because of the sudden

normal for him to have had

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

thought, but her

her last night if that was the

expert in the game,

felt like she had been doused with cold water and

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

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

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15:01

man, who was already dressed in a shirt, reaching for his tie. He glanced at her with an air of noble indifference. He seemed to have slept just

glared at him but was caught in the act. He curved his lips and said, “What do we have here? A little panda?

your own business, Whitney

did not seem to care, tossing his tie into her hands and standing tall

he gone

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.

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

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

inviting her down for breakfast, but she refused

growled, hunger striking quickly now that she was pregnant. Whitney opened the curtains to see if

a figure caught Whitney’s eye in the car, waiting for him

sat in the passenger seat, a mass of curly hair obscuring her face, but her silhouette was unmistakably voluptuous. She wore a tight red dress that was