Love beyond the mask1-100

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Chapter_35

“Who cares?” Whitney scoffed. “He’s my archenemy for life. Especially after he had the nerve to accept Monica’s painting. That man is nothing but a devious snake—a greedy wolf in sheep’s clothing. He pretends to be a gentleman but has the heart of a jackal.”

Her tone was filled with disdain as she approached the bookshelf, slapping the picture of the man repeatedly with an air of utter contempt.

Tiana, standing nervously at a distance, whispered, “Isn’t it a bit much, trash-talking and hitting his picture in his own office?”

Whitney let out a derisive laugh, scanning the room suspiciously. “Do you honestly think he’d have surveillance in here?” she asked, rolling her eyes. Then, as if on cue, her gaze landed on a one-way mirror on the wall. “That’s probably another office behind this.”

Meanwhile, on the other side of the mirror, the tall man stood with his arms crossed, an amused smile playing at his lips as he listened to Whitney’s tirade. His assistant stood next to him, sweating nervously.

The boss watched with quiet amusement, clearly entertained by the young madam’s fiery words. He found the whole scene utterly adorable, like watching a kitten put up a playful fight.

Whitney, feeling her frustration growing, slumped into a chair. “What’s the point of trying anymore? Monica cozied up to him, and he took the bait. What’s the use?” she muttered bitterly. “If I’d taken him down before all this, everything here would be mine—the desk, the chair…”

“Am I also yours, Ms. Valentine?” came a deep, lazy voice from the doorway, laced with a teasing lilt.

Whitney’s back stiffened, and she spun around in her chair. Tiana had disappeared, and now there stood a strikingly handsome man in the doorway, his hands in his pockets, his dark eyes locked onto her.

A heavy silence filled the room.

Whitney, usually composed and graceful, was now in a compromising position, with her legs thrown carelessly over the boss’s desk.

Feeling the heat rise in her face, she stood abruptly. “Stay put,” he said, raising an intrigued eyebrow as he crossed the room towards her. With one swift motion, he grasped her delicate foot in his warm hand. “This desk is worth three million. It’s the perfect throne for your dainty feet.”

Before Whitney could react, he playfully tickled the sole of her foot. Her face blazed red in embarrassment. She tried to pull away, but his grip was firm, his fingers locking her ankle in place with surprising strength.

His eyes roamed over her form, his lips curling into a devilish smirk. “And this chair? Six million. Imported fine wood. A worthy perch for your… butt.”

Whitney’s cheeks flamed. “You… Mr. Lippert, you were eavesdropping! Let go of me!”

She struggled, but he held her with effortless ease. His muscular arm braced against the chair, and with just three fingers, he kept her pinned.

“No,” he murmured, lowering his head with a glint of amusement in his eyes. “As you know, a greedy and lustful man like me often gives certain contestants an unfair advantage. Some are willing to showcase their cleavage, among other things. Are you?”

His demeanor remained composed, but there was a wicked glint in his eyes as he leaned closer, his voice lowering with a suggestive tone. “Wanting the top prize is easy, Ms. Valentine.”

“Are you seriously suggesting indecent favors in exchange for winning the competition?” Whitney demanded, her eyes wide with indignation.

She wrenched her foot free, her skin trembling with the shock of his touch. She scrambled away from him, her heart racing, like a startled kitten trying to escape a predator’s grasp.

He remained seated, a self-satisfied smirk on his face, his gaze following her every move.

Whitney, now on her feet, seethed with anger. “Shameless! Despicable! You’ve got a grudge, but I’ll tell you this—I’ll rise again and take you down.”

“Though I could win lying down and not do a thing, I’d rather welcome the challenge in bed,” he said with a sly grin, his eyes narrowing as his lips lifted further.

Whitney’s cheeks burned brighter as she grabbed her flats, bolting for the door. “Don’t you dare think about me! I have a husband, and I love him. I will never stoop to your level. You’re not even half as handsome as he is!”

The man’s lips curled further into a smug smile. “How would you know without trying?”

Without another word, Whitney fled the room, her suspicions about his rakish behavior confirmed. As she stormed out, the assistant entered with two lunches in hand.

“Sir, why did the madam leave?” the assistant asked.

“She left in a huff. Arrange for a car to take her home,” the man replied nonchalantly, settling back into his chair. His eyes fell on a scrap of paper littered with doodles of turtles.

The chair still held the lingering scent of her perfume.

Was she calling him a turtle?

He raised an eyebrow, a sense of satisfaction spreading through him. She dared to curse him?

The assistant, clearly amused, thought to himself, The boss stayed behind just to tease his wife. Tsk tsk, the rich and their games of cat and mouse.

Meanwhile, Whitney, still seething, climbed into Tiana’s car.

Tiana, eager to change the subject, had good news. “Stella wants to meet up this afternoon, a little gathering!”

“Great,” Whitney replied, though her smile was faint, the earlier encounter still weighing on her mind. She quickly packed her laptop away into her bag.

The two arrived at the Aquatic Harmony Club, where Stella had just appeared, her disguise flawless.

“Stella, how did you manage to escape the set?” Tiana asked, pulling her into a hug.

“The new film wrapped up, Whitney,” Stella said, eyeing her carefully. “I heard about your trouble. Are you okay?”

“All good now,” Whitney assured her, blinking back her emotions.

The three of them headed to their private room.

Stella removed her hat, revealing a cascade of rose-colored curls—her signature look as a screen siren.

“Stella, you’re getting more and more enchanting,” Tiana teased. “Tell us, any love interests?”

Stella frowned. “When would I have the time? And Tiana, how are things with the Lutz heir?”

“An arranged match,” Tiana said with a roll of her eyes. “He’s a philanderer.”

Whitney, watching her friend’s dramatics, smirked. “And yet, you’re totally smitten with him.”

Stella’s smile hitched slightly as she glanced toward Whitney. “I heard from Tiana that you’re expecting… Is it true the guy’s a thug?”

Tiana frowned, confused. “Who told you he’s a thug? I never said that.”

Stella’s grin froze for a second before she quickly recovered, laughing off her mistake. “Oh, maybe I mixed it up with something I saw on TV. My bad. Anyway, let’s drop that. I’ve heard you’re really diving into that jewelry design competition, huh?”

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