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?

ticked off,

I felt a tight squeeze around my waist,

of fabric, I could feel his solid arms across

like jelly, couldn’t find my

grilled me

warm breath, heavy with the scent

flare up, as Hogan

“Answer me.”

1221

Chapter 45

I said through gritted teeth,

mine, cutting

to stop him, but he pinned my hands

face an imposing blur,

on my tattoo, calling out ‘Xaviera‘

no good,

phone yanked

opened my eyes to unfamiliar surroundings and snapped right awake.

I plunged into a whirlpool

marks were pretty

blurted, “Xaviera, great news, Hogan’s

hundred thousand?

mind was boggled.

about the steamy scenes from my dream,

my weary legs to the bathroom, through the steamy mist, I clearly

revealed an English

*iillayloveyou, Hogan.”

was all but obliterated, like a sudden slash of time’s claws, mocking my

way of making

and I both were late.

keen, at least there

it sorted out the marketing budget issue that Wallis had been fretting

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