Love Beyond the Mask novel Chapter 8

Tiana chuckled with a hint of gossip.

Whitney lowered her gaze, concluding from her keen observation. "He could be pretty wealthy."

Tiana squinted. "If even you're saying he's wealthy, he must be loaded. Banyan City's four big families: the Lipperts, Fullers, Perlmans, and the Lutzes... Could 'L' stand for a last name? Is it the Lutz family or the Lippert family? You’ve met both young masters of the Lutz family, and the Lippert family is more elusive, blue-blooded, with a vast lineage. You've seen their young ones too, haven't you?"

"Yep." Whitney had attended plenty of soirees and had seen her fair share of Lippert's young gentlemen.

But none matched the man she had encountered at home—in stature or demeanor.

"A black sheep? Mafia boss?" Tiana's speculation grew wilder by the second.

Uninterested in gossip, Whitney glanced down at her news feed, where the trending stories about a canceled funeral were resurfacing, growing more sensational by the minute. She smirked. "Tiana, is this your doing?"

"Of course! Isn't stirring the pot my specialty? I got money, but I’m too stingy to spend it. Instead, I love to get technical with the Valentines!"

Whitney sighed, knowing Preston had more tricks up his sleeve.

Feeling tired, she exchanged a few more words with Tiana before deciding to head to the bathroom for a shower.

Just then, the man walked in!

Whitney was startled, thinking she would get to sleep separately tonight. Warily watching the tall, distinguished figure, she asked, "Sir, why are you here?"

The man began unbuttoning his diamond-studded shirt, eyeing the feminine scent invading the chilly master bedroom with a frown. "You're too fragrant."

Whitney was speechless.

"Besides, this is my room." He raised an eyebrow.

Whitney grabbed her nightgown, ready to dart out the door.

Bending down, she accidentally opened a video from Tiana on Facebook labeled 'research material.' Thinking it was about jewelry design, she was caught off-guard by the peculiar noises that suddenly filled the air!

Her face flushed crimson as she looked down at the screen.

What on earth was Tiana up to?!

She tried to shut it off, but in her panic, she only managed to turn the volume up!

The man stood there with his hands in his pockets, casting an inquiring glance in her direction.

Whitney wished the earth would swallow her up. In a frantic motion, she shoved the phone under his pillows. She tried to muffle the enthusiastic sounds by piling on the blankets, but the awkward tension was palpable.

The man approached with a mischievous look, noting the inviting redness on her nose. His voice was deep and teasing as he inquired, "What were you watching in my bed?"

"Nothing! Just some jewelry stuff," Whitney blurted out, desperately clinging to the covers.

Her cheeks were burning, her demeanor that of a flustered quail.

His lips curved up slightly, and his eyebrows arched in amusement. "If it’s just jewelry stuff, why don’t we enjoy it together?"

She knew he was onto her! Such an evil man!

She refused.

Whitney looked up with watery, indignant eyes, trying to bluff her way out. "I doubt you’d understand jewelry, Sir..."

The mature, compelling man paused. His breathing tightened slightly, finding her earnest nonsense unexpectedly charming.