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.

a warmth that seemed to scorch her smooth

bringing his handsome lips close to her ear. His cheek brushed against her hair, hovering just an inch from her lips, neither advancing nor retreating. He simply

her? Whitney felt like she was running out of breath, her face blushing furiously

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

a

his

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

his movements, she leaned toward the man’s chiseled jaw,

did not kiss

she heard his breathing deepen into a

eyes provocatively challenging him, “So, Sir, are

large hand, his gaze burning, breath heavy. His chest heaved with a dangerous

her chin and brought his lips

B F 3

went blank, struggling

his lips over hers,

eyes were tinged with red, staring at her flushed face for a moment before he

after, Whitney heard the sound of

had taken the time to set her down before

crimson face, her

they 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

Could it be…

flushed

not sleep well that night, her mind replaying that kiss. The man had kissed her twice before, and both times, she had been too busy

man’s flirting game a bit

burrowed under her covers, thanking her lucky stars he had not entered her bedroom

day, Whitney woke up

1/2

15:01

tie, Madein?”

wondered, “Has he gone

to

she looped the tie around his neck, knotting it tightly, her voice

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

face turned even

inviting her down for

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

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

her face, but her silhouette was unmistakably voluptuous. She wore a tight red dress that was both understated and

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

He did not refuse.

they drove

tightened on the drapes, the previous tenderness on her face cooling into

she his secretary? Unlikely, a

Who was she?

also felt ridiculous

and this man were married only by agreement because of the sudden arrival of the child, and he

not normal for him

year. Maybe when it ended, he would

but

with her last night if that was the

in the game, with many women at

had been doused with cold water and jolted

he was a good person just

had given her been enough?

20/3

15:01

tie. He

his lips and

own business, Whitney snapped

hands and standing tall before her, “Hanging around to

he gone

towering height required her to stand on tiptoes, and she looped

downstairs, muttering, “I have to travel for work. I’ll deal with you when I get

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

her, inviting her down for breakfast,

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

her face, but her silhouette was unmistakably voluptuous.