Love Beyond the Mask novel Chapter 42

Tiana chuckled lightly. "It's all just a show, you know? He’s probably deliberately trying to rile you up. Didn't you notice how, with just a lift of his brow, Parker had everyone in the suite snuff out their cigarettes? He's clearly looking out for you because of your pregnancy."

Really?

Whitney had to admire Tiana's ability to turn a dire situation into something light-hearted with her silver tongue.

"Whitney, care to join me for a game?" Parker called out.

Meanwhile, the aloof man sat on the sofa, sipping the cocktail a lovely lady had handed him, his gaze unreadable.

Feeling an irrational surge of defiance, Whitney sat and began playing cards with Parker.

By the second hand, Parker excused himself, "Bro, I've gotta hit the restroom. Mind stepping in for me?"

Whitney would have to be oblivious not to see through this thinly veiled excuse.

Her fingers tensed.

However, she saw the man rise gracefully and approach.

As he took his place across the table, his commanding presence made Whitney's breath catch, as if his very aura enveloped her.

Tiana then sneakily positioned herself behind Whitney.

As the third game started and the man laid down his cards, it was Whitney's turn. Just as she was about to make her move, Tiana swiftly played another card instead.

"That's a good one!" Tiana said.

Whitney glanced at her hand – it was a complete setup for defeat. She glared at Tiana as if saying with her eyes, “Are you blind?”

From then on, Tiana wreaked havoc, and Whitney could not tell if the man's card skills were just superior or if her luck had plummeted, but she kept losing miserably.

Tiana teased, "Mr. L, are you doing this on purpose? You really seem to be hard on Whitney tonight!"

"Have I been ‘hard’ on her?" He finally looked up, directing his first glance of the evening at Whitney.

His tone was cool, yet the deep timbre of his voice was unintentionally suggestive.

"Hard on me..." Whitney felt her cheeks flame at the thought.

Then, she saw Parker return and immediately declared, "I'm out."

Tiana mocked, "You're quitting after all those losses? Since when have I had such a loser of a friend?"

"How much did Ms. Valentine lose?" Parker picked up the ledger, an eyebrow raised, "Ms. Valentine, you owe him a cool five million."

What?

Whitney had not realized the stakes were so high; a million a game, and she did not have that kind of money!

Feeling the eyes in the room on her, she turned to Tiana in panic, "This is all your fault. Do you have a credit card on you?"

Tiana turned ruthless. "I ain’t got no money! You lost to him, so just beg your dear Mr. L for mercy. Maybe he'll let you off the hook."

Whitney's eyes, wide and watery, turned to the man.

He looked back, cold and unyielding, with no room for negotiation.

She did not want to beg; it was she who insisted on setting boundaries, and he was right to enforce them. It stung, but she did not want to lose her dignity.

"Come on, just say something nice to him," Tiana nudged the girl forward.

Pushed in front of the man, Whitney was about to speak when another shove sent her tumbling into his arms.

"What the hell?" She glared at her friend.

"Oops, my bad!" Tiana feigned an apology.

The man remained still, his long legs catching her in their embrace.

His presence quickly engulfed Whitney, strong and undeniable. She was transfixed by the warmth of his chest, visible under the crisp, inviting shirt.

Stunned, their eyes met, and she seemed a little dull, with her cheeks burning red.

The dullness, distinct from her earlier defiance, was almost endearing.