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 to scorch

her hair, hovering just an inch from her lips, neither advancing nor retreating. He

of breath, her face blushing furiously as she clutched

her rising temperature and arched an eyebrow playfully,

like a

looked triumphant, his

teasing, Whitney refused to be outdone. She straightened her back, deliberately draping her hands around his

man’s chiseled jaw, her lips brushing past his

near, she did not kiss him, maintaining

breathing grew heavier, and she heard his breathing deepen

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

heavy. His chest heaved with a dangerous edge. “Quite the quick learner! Well, I

control of her

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mind went blank,

smirked, rolling his lips over

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

after, Whitney heard the sound of running water in

the time to set her down

her crimson

calm herself, but her heartbeat was still skipping beats, the air thick with innuendo. And then she wondered, why had he taken a

Could it be…

face flushed

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

game

thanking her lucky stars

woke up

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15:01

tie, Madein?”

he gone

around to tie my

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

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

and Whitney’s face

her down for breakfast,

pregnant. Whitney opened the curtains to see if the

figure caught Whitney’s eye in the car,

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

had playfully knotted, the woman easily took

He did not refuse.

drove off

drapes, the previous tenderness

a secretary

Who was she?

also felt ridiculous for doing

were married only by agreement because of the sudden arrival of the child, and he still suspected her of having

not normal for him to

deal was just for a year. Maybe when it

but her heart

he flirt with her last

just an expert in the game, with many

she had been doused with cold

think he was a good person just because he had saved

the despair men had given her been enough? After

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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.

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

business, Whitney snapped

her hands

“Has he gone blind at such a

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

downstairs, muttering, “I have to travel for work. I’ll

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

out to her, inviting her down

quickly now that she was pregnant. Whitney opened the curtains to see if the man had left; she would head

eye in the car, waiting

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