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

against her hair, hovering just an inch

man flirting with her? Whitney felt like she was running out of breath, her face blushing

matter?” He noticed her rising temperature and

like a little

his

to be outdone. She straightened her back, deliberately draping her hands

leaned toward the man’s chiseled

did not kiss him, maintaining a

heard his

curved her red lips, her eyes provocatively challenging him, “So, Sir, are you

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

control of her chin

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mind went blank, struggling

smirked, rolling his lips over hers, not letting her

finally released her. Now, his eyes were tinged with

heard the sound of running water

taken the time to set her down

crimson face, her head

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

Could it be…

face flushed

night, her mind replaying that kiss. The man had kissed her twice before, and both times,

man’s flirting game a bit too

thanking her lucky stars he

Whitney woke up with heavy eye

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15:01

tie, Madein?”

gone blind at such

around to tie my

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.

downstairs, muttering, “I have

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

down for breakfast, but she

Whitney opened the curtains to see if the

eye in the car,

woman 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

holding the tie Whitney had playfully

He did not refuse.

drove off

on the drapes, the previous tenderness

a secretary

Who was she?

yet also felt ridiculous

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

was it not normal for him

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

Whitney thought, but

flirt with her last

in the game,

she had been doused with cold water and jolted

did she think he was a good person just because he had saved her twice?

been enough? After experiencing all

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15:01

was already dressed in a shirt, reaching for his tie. He

glared at him but was caught in the act. He curved his lips and said, “What do we have here? A little panda? Didn’t

your own business,

to care, tossing his tie into her hands and

wondered, “Has he gone blind at such

she looped the tie around his neck, knotting it tightly, her voice soft. “Like

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

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

out to her, inviting her down for breakfast, but

to see if the man

eye in the car, waiting

face, but her silhouette