Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 45

It was not exactly smart to tick Frank off before the new investment dough landed.

I chirped up. “Too late for this, can we talk tomorrow morning?”

Hogan snorted coldly, already halfway through the door.

I blocked the entrance, not letting him in.

Just then, Wallis‘ voice hit my ears outta nowhere, “Which room’s Xaviera’s?”

Panic hit me like a truck, my hand strength went MIA, giving Hogan the perfect opening.

He managed to worm his way in anyways.

Feeling kinda deflated, I looked up at the guy in front of me and asked, “Mr. Zade, you think this is cool?”

Hogan didn’t utter a word, just furrowed his brow and yanked at his tie in irritation.

That was rare.

Outside, Wallis‘ voice was closing in, “Xaviera, you hit the sack yet?”

I pinched the bridge of my nose, forced some pep into my step, and threw Hogan a look to hide behind the door.

Just as my fingers touched the doorknob, his hand swooped in, right on top of mine.

His sleeves rolled up, revealing some solid forearms, his palm burning up like nobody’s

business.

“Xaviera,” his deep voice pressed against my ear, “aren’t we close?”

Bonkers.

Hogan was really not scared of stirring the pot, huh?

met his gaze, ticked

the quiet, I felt a tight squeeze around my waist, and Hogan pulled me into his arms.

could feel

my feet were like jelly, couldn’t find

in, eyes locked with mine, and grilled me like he was possessed, “Aren’t we close?”

heavy with the scent of

face flare up, as

“Answer me.”

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Chapter 45

said through gritted

crashed onto mine, cutting off my next

stop him, but he

kiss was fierce, his face an imposing blur, impossible to fend off.

tattoo, calling out ‘Xaviera‘ over and

was no good, really.

phone yanked me

my eyes to unfamiliar surroundings and snapped right awake.

did, I plunged

were pretty obvious.

“Xaviera, great news, Hogan’s decided to throw in another five hundred thousand!”

five hundred thousand?

was

steamy scenes from my dream, I couldn’t

through the steamy mist, I clearly saw the bruise on my chest, right where the tattoo

faded words barely revealed an

*iillayloveyou, Hogan.”

but obliterated, like a sudden slash

this your way

and I both

least there

budget issue that Wallis had

was buzzing with plans for a team–building event, ready to share the good news