Love Beyond the Mask

Chapter 136

The CEO’s fury in the executive office was the talk of the town at United Realty Corporation. News of

him firing Castor, Castor’s secretary, and the restaurant manager spread like wildfire through the

company

Tension gripped the employees; the budding scandal involving Whitney as the CEO’s mistress had

been swiftly snuffed out by his recent outburst. It was clear to everyone: Whitney was not to be trifled

with

In hushed tones, the executives conversed, their opinions of Whitney shifting dramatically. “Whitney’s

no pushover. That leaked video of Castor’s infidelity might just have her fingerprints all over it. In less

than a day, Castor was out on his ear–and he was Elaine’s right–hand man!”

As they pondered this, the executives who had once been in Elaine’s inner circle exchanged uneasy

glances, sensing the shifting tides.

At that moment, one of the executives” phone rang. It was Elaine reaching out from her sphere of

influence. The executive answered reluctantly.

Elaine tried to rally her allies. “I’ve heard about Whitney setting up Castor’s dismissal. I’m counting on

your

support.”

“Elaine, I’m tied up at the moment. Maybe try some of the other execs. The executive said.

Afterward, Elaine made several calls, but they were all met with excuses or outright refusal to

acknowledge

their past connections.

Sitting in her spartan branch office, Elaine’s frustration boiled over.

Whitney, that wretched woman, had played a vicious hand. In just one day, she had neutralized Castor,

whom Elaine had hoped to use as a weapon against Whitney, undermining her in the company so that

Ludwik would long for Elaine’s return.

Now, Elaine’s chances of making a comeback in Banyan City through the company were slim.

Furious, she swept the documents from her desk and slumped back in her chair, her eyes flashing with

hatred. Then, a sinister smile curled her lips as if struck by a sudden idea.

She dialed the Riverlyn City dating agency. “I need to meet one of eligible bachelors in Riverlyn City

immediately. I’m ready for a romance.”

So, Whitney wanted to push her into a new relationship? She would play along–it was the perfect way

to make her return to Banyan City.

Meanwhile, the VP’s office was filled with silence.

Ludwik had just legitimized Whitney’s position in the company and dealt with the execs involved in the

previous day’s fiasco. His imposing figure turned to face Whitney, his penetrating gaze resting on her.

His presence was overpowering, his stature imposing.

Suddenly, his voice, deep and resonant, broke the silence. “Perhaps it’s time for your friend to retract

Castor’s news story?”

Whitney, sipping her water, choked in surprise, spilling some of it. She frantically wiped it away, her

fingertips pale against the dark fabric of her blouse. As she turned to face him, she met his intense

eyes.

Ludwik’s eyebrow arched as he approached. “The company’s image is important. I don’t mind the small

games, but when they escalate, I need to step in.”

She was speechless. In essence, he admitted he knew about all her little schemes, but as long as they

were harmless, he looked the other way.

Embarrassed, her cheeks flushed, Whitney stammered a defense. “Castor was making it impossible for

me to

14-11

work here, and I couldn’t just walk around the company with the stigma of a mistress. I had to do

something..

“Smart move,” he said with a slight curve of his lips, looking down at her. “I left you at the office

yesterday to see what you were capable of. You took the opportunity to swiftly eliminate Elaine’s

leftovers?”

“I didn’t mean to… Whitney stuttered, but realizing that he had seen through her intentions left her

flustered. She pouted and tried to charm her way out of the situation.

Ludwik, his expression unreadable, took her chin in his hand. Tve dealt with the bullies. From now on,

no one in the company will dare to speak against you. They’ll respect you as they respect me. Пll make

sure your path here is smooth.”

His words sent her heart racing, stirred by his commanding tone.

She produced a voice recorder and a takeout menu, her subtle way of getting back at him, telling him

that she did not deserve the label of a mistress.

Thinking he had left her alone to fend for herself the day before, she had not realized he had been

aware of her situation. Her hand reached out timidly and wrapped around his waist. With a shy glance

at the door, she whispered, “Now that I’ve gotten rid of Castor, are you still upset?”

A subtle movement in his throat was the only sign of his reaction. A slight smile played on his lips.

“He was just a manager. Do you think he mattered that much? United Realty Corporation is very

important to me. The truly capable ones are in the core circle.”

His implication was clear: dealing with a small fish like Castor was her prerogative.

He stood tall, holding her hand gently, his lips curving into a smile. “Would you like to be part of the

core circle at United Realty Corporation?”

Of course, Whitney nodded eagerly.

“Then come with me to the meeting. Show me if you have any talent in real estate management,”

Ludwik said as he walked out of the office

Whitney hurriedly grabbed the portfolio for the five–star hotel group project she had been studying. It

was the company’s biggest project, worth hundreds of billions. In the boardroom, she witnessed L’s

prowess in business, his decisiveness and authority leaving her in awe, completely enchanted by him.

As the meeting wrapped up around noon and the crowd dispersed, L gave Whitney a covert glance.

Feeling her cheeks redden at his suggestive look, she wondered, “Is he inviting me to his CEO’s

office?”

After returning to her office to drop off the documents, Whitney took advantage of the empty floor as

the secretaries were out for lunch. She dashed into the CEO’s office, eager for their private encounter.

Whitney’s head popped in and out from behind the cubicle like a curious kitten, catching the attention of

the man seated behind the grand oak desk. His lips quirked in amusement as his gaze drifted over to

her. “Madam, everyone in this office knows you’re my temporary wife. They might not be clued in on

our genuine romance, but you don’t need to hide,” he teased.

“Otherwise, they might start to think I summoned you here at lunch to sneak off to the break room for a Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

little…. intimacy

Whitney’s cheeks flushed a deep shade of crimson.

Especially when Felix, trying to stifle his laughter, looked like he was being force–fed a heavy dose of

PDA right at his desk.

Annoyed, Whitney glared at the man, her slender hand on her hip. Then why did you call me over?”

“To eat. You can starve, but I can’t starve our child.” Ludwik frowned as he casually rolled his shirt

sleeves, revealing his muscular forearms.

Whitney huffed and sat on the couch with less grace than she intended.

Felix, meanwhile, brought over a stack of files, placing them next to the dining table and opening one

up

Ludwik firmly believed in not talking during meals, the mark of a gentleman. He picked up his fork with

elegance, massaging his temples briefly, his fatigue slipping through the cracks of his composed

exterior

He ate his meal while scanning the documents, his eyes flicking rapidly through the pages.

Watching him, Whitney paused, her concern getting the better of her. “You’ll get indigestion eating like

that.”

“There isn’t enough time for a proper break.”

“Even so, rest is important. I never worked myself to the bone without a break when I was at Skye

Gem.”

his plate. Whitney’s sympathy grew as she spoke, and she tenderly placed a piece of steak on

Ludwik looked up at her, his eyes laced with a hint of disdain. “One company, is it? Do you many I’m

juggling?”

even know how

“How many?” Whitney’s lips curled into a sly smile, seizing the opportunity to dig a little deeper into hist

business empire.