Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



She hit the intercom and summoned Cody into her office, her expression cool and distant. "Keep your eyes peeled. If a guy named Ludwik shows up looking for me, show him the door immediately."

Cody nodded, his face flushed with embarrassment.

Ludwik was the heiress's ex-husband, right? The man who had the audacity to kidnap her on their wedding day. Talk about a piece of work.

He couldn't let him cause a scene at Sheldon Group.

Cody made a special trip down to the front desk to remind the security staff.

But, come lunchtime, Ludwik actually showed up.

Dressed in a sharp black suit, his presence was both chilling and sleek. He stood tall at the Sheldon Group's reception, his stunning good looks instantly captivating three of the female secretaries.

Clutching a lunch freshly prepared by a Michelin-star chef in one hand and a bouquet of elegant, sweet-smelling pink roses in the other, he was a sight to behold.

As the Sheldon Group employees came and went, all eyes were drawn to this handsome man.

Whispers started to spread.

"That's the young director's ex, Ludwik Lippert, the scion of the Lippert family."

"Ludwik Lippert? Heard he's hit rock bottom. No wonder our young director dumped him."

"Still, he's way more handsome than the young director's current hubby."

"The heiress got a taste of him, not a bad deal."

Ludwik clearly heard the murmurs about him.

Though they got his financial status wrong, he was quite pleased with their acknowledgment of his looks over Bryce's.

When Cody came running down, ready for battle, he found Ludwik shamelessly blocking the company entrance, turning into a spectacle for the female staff.

His face darkened, "Security, reception, what are you doing?

Didn't the young director give clear instructions? Not even a fly should get through."

"Cody, Mr. Lippert insisted on seeing the young director," the receptionist said, cheeks flushed.

Cody glared at her, "Mr. Lippert, could you please not make this difficult for us.

The heiress won't see you."

"Then I won't leave. I must see my life-saver today," Ludwik declared, unfazed.

"Life-saver?" The receptionists perked up, smelling gossip.

Ludwik turned, capturing the curious glances around him, and raised his voice on purpose, "Yes, your Ms. Valentine is my life-saver. If it weren't for her pulling me back from the brink last night, I'd be dead.

Even though we're divorced, last night she..."

Cody knew this was trouble. If the news of the heiress saving her ex got out, especially to Bryce...

He rushed over, cutting Ludwik off mid-sentence, lowering his voice, "Ludwik, please, just stop. You... follow me."

"Hmm?" Ludwik smirked, "You're letting me in?"

"...It's not like I have a choice."

Cody glared at Ludwik's carefree handsome face.

Reluctantly, he led the man aside, sweat on his brow as he called Whitney, "Miss, Ludwik was about to spill about you saving him last night to the staff."

On the other end, Whitney was furious,

Before she could speak, another lazy voice came through, "Cody, not only did your boss save me, she nearly cried thinking I was dead."noveldrama

"When did I cry? Ludwik, have you no shame?" Whitney's face turned beet red.

"Shame's gone. I've decided to be the dogged ex trying to win her back."

"..." Cody was at a loss with this man.

He had heard Ludwik used to be as cold as ice, untouchable.

Now, he's thrown all dignity out the window?

Meanwhile, Whitney massaged her temple, suppressing her rage, "Enough. Don't let him make a scene downstairs. Bring him up through the garage, out of sight."

Sheldon Group was a gossip mill, and she wasn't fully acclimated yet. The last thing she needed was for Bryce to hear.

Soon, Ludwik arrived at the general manager's office via the garage elevator.

Cody knocked and pushed the man inside, then quickly shut the door.

Their sneaky behavior made Ludwik chuckle as he looked at Whitney, "Feels like we're having an affair."

"

Whitney couldn't help but miss the days when Ludwik was more reserved.

"Shut up." She threw a pen from the desk at him.

Feeling guilty towards Bryce was bad enough without Ludwik's comments.

Effortlessly, he caught the pen, stepping closer with the bouquet in hand, his eyes soft with tenderness, "I truly came to thank you for saving my life. Even brought lunch, knowing how busy you are. But since you refused to see me, I had to resort to... certain measures."

Listening to his veiled threats and sweet nothings, Whitney felt like vomiting blood.

What happened to the unapproachable, stoic Ludwik of the past?

Now, facing his relentless pursuit, she was at a loss, unable to get rid of him...

Taking a deep breath, she scoffed, "How many times do I have to say it? I'm a doctor. I would've helped anyone in that situation. And save the lunch, I've already eaten."

Ludwik shook his head, "You clearly care about me, always hiding behind your doctor's excuse. But I understand."

"Understand what?"

Whitney wished she could smack him.

"We have nothing to talk about. Leave," she said coldly, returning to her chair.

Ludwik leaned on the desk, his shirt slightly revealing his collarbone, his gaze intense, "I have plenty to talk about. Our sons stayed with me last night. Don't you care? Let's have lunch and talk about them."

Whitney glanced at him, not falling for it, "I can call my sons myself, thanks. And I don't like eating out."

"Oh, you have a kitchen here, right? I'll cook."

She was at her wit's end, "Are you always this free? The Lippert family's nearly bankrupt, and you're not concerned?"

"Do you really think I should just pick myself up and chase after you?" He squinted his eyes slightly.

"..." Whitney wished she could just bang her head against a block of tofu to save herself from further conversation with him.

As Ludwik casually rolled up his sleeves, a shameless smirk played on his lips, "Don't worry about the Lippert family affairs; I've got it all under control. No need to fret over the Patrick family causing me trouble again."

Who's...worrying about you?

Whitney rolled her eyes at him. He really knew how to pat himself on the back. She was full of regret, "How many times do I have to tell you to stop flattering yourself? If I had known what a nuisance you'd be, I wouldn't have bothered saving you last night."

"Even if you hadn't saved me last night, at the moment of the explosion, it was the thought of you that saved me. So, you saved me twice, and I plan to spend a lifetime repaying that debt. Don't be mad, let's have some dinner before we get back to work. We wouldn't want your beautiful skin to suffer, would we?" Ludwik cooed at her gently, caressing her pretty face.

Whitney's cheeks burned under his touch, and she abruptly stood up, "Stop it, Ludwik! If you don't leave right now, I'm calling the cops on you for harassment..."

Just then, the voice of Cody, pitched high with excitement, echoed from outside the door, "Miss! Mr. Lutz is here to see you!"