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

her ear. His cheek brushed against her hair, hovering just

running out of

the matter?” He noticed her rising

like a little cotton

triumphant, his

lip, embarrassed by his teasing, Whitney refused to be outdone. She straightened

she leaned toward the man’s chiseled jaw,

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

grew heavier, and she heard his breathing deepen

curved her red lips, her eyes provocatively challenging him, “So, Sir, are you feeling a bit breathless?”

breath heavy. His chest heaved with a dangerous edge. “Quite the

he took control of her chin and

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went blank, struggling

over hers, not letting

her. Now, his eyes were tinged with red, staring at her flushed face

the sound of running water

realized that he had taken the time to

covered her crimson face,

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, why had he taken a

Could it be…

flushed even

The man had kissed her twice before, and both times, she had been too busy resisting. But

game a bit too

her covers, thanking her lucky stars he had

day, Whitney woke up with

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tie, Madein?”

gone blind at

around to

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

muttering, “I have to travel for

and Whitney’s face turned even redder as she ducked back

her, inviting her down

to see if the man had left; she would head down to eat once

caught Whitney’s eye in

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

the tie Whitney had playfully knotted, the woman easily

He did not refuse.

drove

the previous tenderness on her face cooling into a

secretary? Unlikely, a secretary would not act so

Who was she?

also felt

married only by agreement because of the sudden arrival of the child,

not normal for him to have

all, the deal was just for a year. Maybe when it ended,

thought, but her heart still

her last night if that

was he just an expert in the game, with many women at

doused with cold water

she confused about last night? Or did she think he

despair men had given her been enough? After experiencing all that

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shirt, reaching for his tie. He glanced at

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

your own business,

tie into her hands and standing tall before her, “Hanging

he gone blind

to stand on tiptoes, and she looped the tie around his

downstairs, muttering, “I

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

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

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

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 that was