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, but

around my waist, and Hogan pulled me into his

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

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

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

with the scent of booze, washed

my face flare up, as Hogan cupped

“Answer me.”

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Chapter 45

gritted teeth, anger

cutting off

him, but he pinned my hands above my head.

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

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

no good,

ring of my phone yanked me out of the dream.

opened my eyes to unfamiliar surroundings

I did, I plunged into a

were pretty obvious.

the other end of the line, Wallis excitedly blurted, “Xaviera, great news, Hogan’s decided to throw in another

hundred thousand?

mind was boggled.

my dream, I couldn’t crack a smile.

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

revealed

*iillayloveyou, Hogan.”

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

way of making

I both were

at least there was

out the marketing budget issue

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