Love Beyond the Mask novel Chapter 21

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!"

The man's gaze shifted toward her, and he smirked ever so slightly.

"No way your fake husband is more handsome than Mr. Lippert!"

Whitney sized up the rival's tall frame. She had not seen L in the flesh but mused, "They seem to be about the same height."

"Same height and you dare to say equally handsome?" Tiana rolled her eyes.

"Not just height. Now that I look at them, even their build and presence seem similar..."

Whitney's eyes narrowed on the man, a sense of dissonance settling in.

Why did L and this rival seem alike?

The man had already entered the company with security, but Whitney could not resist following, determined to uncover the truth.

She slipped behind a guard amid the chaos, sneaking into the company lobby.

Suddenly, the man stepped into the CEO's private elevator!

Whitney was swiftly blocked by security, "Miss, you're trespassing. What are you trying to do?"

"I..." As the elevator doors closed, Whitney blurted out in a moment of quick thinking, "L! What are you doing here?"

The rival, back turned to her in the elevator, did not respond.

"L!" She called again, testing.

Still, the man gave no indication of hearing her.

Watching the elevator ascend, Whitney sighed and slapped her forehead. The rival had no reaction to 'L,' so they could not be the same person, could they?