Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 35

Hilary and I went up to greet him at the same time.

“Didn’t you say you’ll stay for several days?” she asked, taking the rolling suitcase from Hogan’s hand. “Have you eaten?”

His piercing eyes suddenly landed on my face, and Hogan frowned. “Why is she here?”

The disdain in his voice couldn’t be more obvious.

It seemed that he was about to show me the door.

“Xaviera was invited over by me.” Hilary defended firmly. “Be nice.”

Hogan glanced at the red wine on the table, his frown deepening. “Drinking again?”

Clearly not pleased.

I admitted casually. “Just had a bit with Mrs. Hilary.”

Hogan’s face turned to steel a look demanding an explanation.

Hilary couldn’t stand it said soothingly. “Come on, it’s just a minor slip–up at work, isn’t it? Is it really such a big deal?”

She thought the beef between Hogan and me had to do with work

But Hogan, smart cookie that he was, smelled a rat from just one sentence and scoffed coldly. “Now you’ve started snitching too?”

“Xaviera didn’t say anything, it’s my guess.” Hilary cut in standing up for me with a glare at Hogan, “Now that it’s out in the open, let’s just put it behind us.”

Hogan kept at it. “Encouraging subordinates to badmouth others, shouldn’t there be a lesson?”

Just a few fair words from me, and in Hogan’s eyes, I was stirring up the troops.

I bowed my head, forcefully swallowing the discomfort in my heart..

But Hilary caught the crux of the matter, incredulous. “The “others you’re talking about, you don’t mean Ms. Irwin, do you?”

Hogan paused for a moment.

Not my fault, he’s the one who let it slip.

time, Hilary switched into

out of place, so I carefully said, “Mrs. Hilary, Mr. Zade, it’s getting late, I’ll

she said. “It’s so

out.”

C35

thorough, must’ve called a cab

took the hint. “Yes, it’s almost here.”

that, I left.

had to steady myself on a

the wine were strong.

ride, but this was the suburbs, cabs were rare.

end. I resigned myself to trudging forward with feet that seemed

night in Rivertown was huge, and the chilly night breeze was freely invading my collar,

over the phone and, in a prankish spirit, told myself I was enjoying

Alone.

a strong light inexplicably shone from behind, and I stopped, puzzled, only to see a sedan had pulled up beside me.

window slowly rolled down, revealing the man’s sharply carved profile.

bone structure, smooth facial lines, definitely

of that icy, merciless God–like

memony.

“Get in

spoke

finally

head to look at those hands gripping the steering wheel the more

just like Hogan’s hands.

the snowy mountains nice?”

did you

beside the point.

Hogan warn.

eyes, took a deep breath, and asked, “What

1219

Chapter 5

goals through indirect means, not even checking if

is right

so he knew

keep anything from