Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

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Chapter 93
Elaine slid into the car, a sly chuckle escaping her as she leaned back into the plush seat. Whitney had tried to outplay her, but
she had played the wrong hand.
Not that it was entirely wrong – had Whitney agreed to those two female suppliers, Elaine could have easily set her up for a fall
in the future.
But right now, Elaine’s triumph lay in Whitney’s refusal. The diamond suppliers in Banyan City were few; only those two were run
by women; the rest were all men, and Elaine had them wrapped around her finger long ago. Her phone rang, and she answered
with a lazy smile.
“Elaine,” the voice on the other end reported, “Whitney called a quick meeting as soon as she returned to the office. She’s roped
in a college buddy, one of those fancy jewel material traders.”
Elaine’s laughter was soft and dark. A young college friend, huh? She could just imagine what kind of trouble Whitney was in
now with Ludwik...
As dusk turned the city skyline neon, a sleek Bentley stood out with understated luxury in the plaza below Skye
Gem Ltd.
Right on time, Whitney emerged from the building, a faint blush tinting her cheeks as she spotted the luxurious car. She thought
of the man waiting inside and wondered, “Is this a date?”
Felix, ever the dutiful chauffeur, promptly opened the door for her.
The Bentley glided away, leaving Simon on the company steps, his gaze darkening as he watched the taillights disappear. He
had caught a glimpse of the masked man inside the car.
That was a limited edition Bentley, and Whitney claimed the masked man had been her savior that night...
Could the enigmatic, powerful Ludwik be the man behind the mask?
Simon clenched his fists, jealousy gnawing at him, feeling utterly powerless.
Inside the car.

Whitney found the man beside her, frowning at some documents. She pouted – was she not more interesting than paperwork?
Nonchalantly, she slipped off her coat.
The man next to her gave a dry chuckle. “Can you not try to seduce me while I’m working?”
Her? Seduce? She had not even disturbed him.
Whitney felt wronged. The man glanced at her with amused eyes and cleared his throat before saying, “Don’t you know you’re
still quite a sight?”
“Alright, I’ll forgive his smooth–talking ways. Men and their silver tongues.” Whitney thought.

Her face flushed. “You don’t have to look at me.”
“My peripheral vision just can’t help but catch you,” he quipped, smirking.
Whitney felt a sweet warmth inside. “Okay, then I’ll try not to distract you.”
Speechless, the man put away his documents, his handsome face turning stern. He was already seduced, and with a mature
gesture, he beckoned, “Come here.”
She moved closer, her elegant outfit of the day – a trench coat, a chic sweater, pencil pants, and ballet flats showcasing her
delicate feet.
Whitney gazed at him, too. As usual, he was dressed in a sharp suit, his tall, imposing figure exuding authority.
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Chapter 93
His pristine white shirt was topped with a beige waistcoat, complementing her coat – they looked the part of an elite couple. Her
lips were full and tinted with warmth. As she reached his side, he murmured in a deep voice, “Let me hold you.”
She settled onto his sturdy lap.
Ludwik’s gaze lingered on her oval face, naturally beautiful, without a hint of artificiality – one look could captivate any man.
His warm hand lifted her chin as he spoke in a husky tone, “Kiss me.”
Whitney’s hands clenched his shirt, her heart racing as she glanced at Felix, who might as well have been invisible.
She quickly pecked his chiseled cheek.
“Why do you smell so good?” Ludwik asked, his grip tightening around her slender waist, his breath tickling her neck. “I used to
say you must get close to a woman to know if she smells nice. Now that I’m close, it’s almost unbearable.”
“Stop talking nonsense,” Whitney scolded, her ears burning.
“Are you carrying this fragrance around the office, luring men?” His brow furrowed slightly, a touch of displeasure in his voice.
Whitney was speechless. “Mr. L, are you really that petty?”
“I’m not petty where it counts,” he retorted with a sly grin, then grew stern again as he said, “I don’t like the idea of you working,
attracting all sorts of attention.”
Whitney’s neck flushed, sensing that he was probably still bothered by her working with Simon..

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She wrapped her arms around his, sweetly coaxing, “I have my career, and besides, you’re the man I like. We’re dating, aren’t
we? What’s there to worry about? My heart is all... yours.”
Her voice was soft, mimicking his tone from the night before, and Ludwik’s expression softened.
Men indeed needed to be coaxed, Whitney thought to herself with a silent sigh, shaking his sturdy arm. “Where are we going for
dinner?”
Felix was about to say, “Madam, Sir has reserved the entire top–tier Russian restaurant in Banyan City for the evening...”
But then, Whitney suddenly pointed to a twinkling eatery across the street and said, “Ah, I want that spicy food! L, can we go

there, please?”
Ludwik and Felix were both at a loss for words.
Glancing at the red tent on the roadside, dust swirling around, Ludwik’s handsome face was as cold as ice. Whitney saw his
displeased expression, and though, as a socialite, she rarely indulged in such street food, the craving was irresistible.
Occasionally, she and Tiana would sneak out for a treat.
“Please?” She begged, her eyes already gleaming with anticipation.
“I won’t go! And I won’t allow my child to eat junk.”
“But it’s your child who wants it. I’ve been having morning sickness for days, and you don’t even care,” Whitney complained,
convinced that pregnancy was to blame for her cravings. As he remained unmoved, she blinked back tears, looking pitifully hurt.
“You don’t love me anymore, and you don’t love our baby.”
Ludwik, exasperated by the noise, stepped out of the car with a frosty demeanor. Dating was troublesome, and dating someone
younger was even more so – especially one who required constant pampering.
He strode out, his tall figure a striking presence on the sidewalk.
Whitney cheered up, crossing the street. She did not choose the roadside stall, fearing his wrath, but opted for
23.30
a cleaner–looking restaurant.

Standing on the curb, Ludwik was a mature and imposing sight, attracting the attention of passersby.
He glanced up at the sign that read, “Destiny Barbecue.”
<
A smirk tugged at his lips as he teased her, “Even for a simple meal with me, you chose to come to Destiny Barbecue. Women
and their whims.”
Whitney was speechless.
She felt he might be reading too much into it. “L, it’s just the name of the place. Haven’t you dined out before? Look around
there’s Romance Inn, Cupid’s Kebab House... There are plenty like that.”
–
Ludwik’s handsome face stiffened. “Of course, I know! We could swing by the Romance Inn later.”
Okay, she thought, best to drop the subject.
They entered the cramped restaurant, and Ludwik looked around with evident distaste, showing no desire to sit until Whitney
tugged him over to a window booth.
She meticulously wiped down the table and chair for him before speaking; her voice laced with exasperation. “For your
girlfriend’s sake, you can put up with it, right?”
The term ‘girlfriend‘ sent Ludwik giving her a suggestive glance, causing Whitney’s cheeks to tint with color. She quickly turned to
Felix, “Felix, take a seat.”
Just as Felix was about to sit down gingerly, he caught Ludwik’s murderous gaze and sprung up like a jack–in–the–box.
“He doesn’t like this kind of unhealthy food. Go next door and grab yourself a salad,” Ludwik said coldly, eager to have a meeting
without distractions.
Felix thought silently, “I don’t particularly fancy a salad either.”