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?

his gaze, ticked off, but silent.

squeeze around my waist, and Hogan

of fabric, I could feel his solid arms across my

my feet were like jelly,

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

with the scent of booze, washed over my face.

turned away, feeling my face flare up,

“Answer me.”

1221

Chapter 45

said through gritted teeth, anger rising. “Hogan,

lips crashed onto mine, cutting off my next line.

him, but he pinned my hands above my

kiss was fierce, his face an

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

no good, really.

my phone yanked me out of

unfamiliar surroundings and snapped

once I did, I plunged into

were pretty obvious.

end of the line, Wallis excitedly blurted, “Xaviera, great

five hundred thousand?

was

scenes from my dream, I couldn’t crack

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

words barely revealed an English phrase.

*iillayloveyou, Hogan.”

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

way of making

I both

keen, at least there was

out the marketing budget issue that Wallis had been fretting

with plans for a team–building event, ready