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.

exuded a warmth that seemed to scorch her

hair, hovering just an inch from her

running out of breath, her face

her rising

felt like a little

his eyes

Whitney refused to be outdone. She straightened her back, deliberately draping

his movements, she leaned toward the man’s chiseled

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

breathing grew heavier, and she heard his breathing deepen into a

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

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

he took control of her chin and brought

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went blank, struggling

rolling his lips over hers,

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

Whitney heard the sound of running water in the

the time to set her

crimson face,

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 she wondered,

Could it be…

flushed even

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

game a bit

covers, thanking her lucky stars he had

next day, Whitney woke

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15:01

tie, Madein?”

“Has he gone blind at such

around to

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 soft. “Like this, Sir. Is this to your

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

face turned even redder as she ducked

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

curtains to see if the man had left; she

Whitney’s eye in

the passenger seat, a mass of curly hair obscuring her face, but her silhouette was unmistakably

Whitney had playfully knotted, the woman easily took it

He did not refuse.

they drove off

tightened on the drapes, the previous tenderness on

secretary? Unlikely, a secretary would not

Who was she?

yet also felt ridiculous for

were married only by agreement because of the sudden arrival of the

for him to

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

what Whitney thought, but her heart still

did he flirt with her last

an expert in the game, with many women at his

had been doused with cold

about last night? Or did she think he was

her been enough?

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15:01

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

was caught in the act. He curved his lips and said, “What

business, Whitney snapped

tie into her hands and standing

“Has he gone

her to stand on tiptoes, and she looped

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

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

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

curtains to see if the man had left;

a figure caught Whitney’s eye in the

passenger seat, a mass of curly hair obscuring her face, but her silhouette