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?

gaze, ticked

quiet, I felt a tight squeeze around my waist, and Hogan

thin layer of fabric, I could feel his solid arms across

my feet were like jelly, couldn’t find my footing.

grilled me like he was

the scent of booze, washed over my

my face flare up, as Hogan cupped

“Answer me.”

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Chapter 45

I said through gritted teeth, anger

onto mine, cutting off my next line.

but he pinned my

his face an imposing blur, impossible to fend

dream, Hogan nibbled on my tattoo, calling out ‘Xaviera‘

was no good, really.

phone yanked me out

opened my eyes to unfamiliar surroundings and

did, I plunged

bite marks were pretty

Wallis excitedly blurted, “Xaviera, great

five hundred thousand?

mind was

about the steamy scenes from my dream, I

steamy mist, I clearly saw the bruise on my chest,

barely revealed

*iillayloveyou, Hogan.”

a sudden slash of time’s claws, mocking my

this your way of making amends?

I both were late.

though Frank wasn’t too keen, at least there was fresh cash in

budget issue that Wallis

for a team–building event, ready to share the good news