Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Charity auctions were often ripe with landscape paintings, and they were aiming to curry favor with Imperial Gem Corporation
through the back door, Whitney mused.
Tiana expressed her concern. “We need to cozy up to Mr. Lippert as well! Remember that spat you had with your nemesis at the
Southern Elegance Club? The registrations are coming up, and I wonder if you’ll still be as defiant.”
Whitney wrinkled her nose in irritation. “Can we not talk about that nauseating man right now?”
“Fine, let’s talk about Monica. She’s got all your best drafts in her grip. Those are enough for Monica to enter numerous
competitions and scoop up awards. Can you produce something better in such a short time?”
Whitney took a deep breath.
In the past, she had been naive. A sweet word from Simon, and she would comfort herself with the thought that she was still
young, handing over her work to Monica, foolishly helping Simon elevate Monica to the status of a genius designer!
Whitney spoke with an icy detachment, “She may have the drafts, but I have the brains!”
The glory Monica had stolen, Whitney vowed to reclaim it, piece by piece.
“Whitney, you’re a design genius. It’s about time you make your comeback in the competition,” Tiana said, her eyes brimming
with warmth.
Whitney squeezed her hand in response.
“So you’ll be busy sketching designs soon. How about we hit the mall today?” Tiana suggested, seizing the opportunity for a day
out.

Shaking her head, Whitney said, “I want to check out the jewelry exhibition.”
“Ambitious women are truly terrifying,” Tiana thought, but her eyes gleamed with mischief as she grinned and said, “Alright, let’s
do it!”
She drove them through the bustling city center toward the imposing Imperial Gem Corporation building, where Whitney was
caught off guard. “Why are you taking me to our arch–rival’s company?”
Tiana, starry–eyed, bubbled with excitement. “We need to butter up Mr. Lippert, right? I’ve been dying to see him since you
mentioned his striking good looks. There’s a jewelry exhibition at Imperial Gem today, and rumor has it Mr. Lippert will make an
appearance around lunch. You can admire the gems, and I’ll get a look at this dreamboat!”
“Have you been raised on romance novels or what?” Whitney fumed. “How can you drool over my nemesis?”
“Don’t jump to conclusions; you might be drooling too before long.”
As they spoke, a line of luxury cars pulled up in front of the building, a Rolls–Royce at its center. The car door swung open, and a
pair of long legs stepped out.
The man adjusted his suit button with an austere elegance; his profile alone was a sight to behold.
Whitney’s gaze involuntarily fixed on his face, just as striking as when she first saw him at the club, peerlessly handsome.
Screams erupted from the crowd of onlooking women as security managed the throng. The man’s brows furrowed slightly.
Tiana, completely smitten, shouted the loudest, “Oh my God, I’m pregnant just looking at him! He’s too gorgeous! Whitney, hold
me steady.”

The sound of Whitney’s name made the man pause and glance over with inscrutable eyes.
Whitney scoffed while looking at her formidable foe a few feet away. “Handsome? He’s not even as good–looking as my fake
husband!”
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