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 smooth

he leaned down, bringing his handsome lips close to her ear. His cheek brushed against her hair,

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

rising

a little cotton

looked triumphant, his eyes

refused to be outdone. She straightened her back, deliberately

leaned toward the man’s chiseled jaw, her lips brushing past his

near, she did not kiss him, maintaining

heavier, and she heard his breathing deepen into a husky

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

his gaze burning, breath heavy. His chest

took control of her chin

S G B F 3 ± 2

mind went

over hers, not letting

with red, staring at her flushed face

sound of running

had taken the time to set her down

crimson

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 even

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

this man’s flirting game a

her lucky stars he had not entered

day, Whitney woke up with

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15:01

tie, Madein?”

gone blind at

around to

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

downstairs, muttering, “I have

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

inviting her down for breakfast, but she refused

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

caught Whitney’s eye in the car,

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

the man approached, holding the tie Whitney had playfully knotted,

He did not refuse.

they drove

the drapes, the previous tenderness on her face cooling into a straight,

his secretary? Unlikely, a secretary would not act

Who was she?

pondered, yet also felt ridiculous for doing

agreement because of the sudden arrival of the child, and he still suspected

was it not normal for him to have had a girlfriend before?

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

what Whitney thought, but her heart still

did he flirt with her last night if

just an expert in the game, with

like she had been doused with cold water and jolted

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

been enough? After experiencing all that despair,

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15:01

already dressed in a shirt, reaching for his tie. He glanced at her with an air of noble

lips and said, “What do we have

own business, Whitney

tossing his tie into her hands and standing tall before her,

wondered, “Has he gone blind at such

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

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

face turned even redder as

inviting her down for breakfast, but

opened the curtains to see if the man had left; she

a figure caught Whitney’s eye in the

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