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, and

could feel his solid arms across my

feet were like jelly, couldn’t find my

mine, and grilled me like

with the scent of booze,

my face flare up, as Hogan cupped

“Answer me.”

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Chapter 45

close,” I said through gritted teeth, anger

crashed onto mine, cutting off

out to stop him, but he pinned my hands above my head.

was fierce, his face an imposing blur, impossible to fend

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

was no good, really.

my phone yanked me out of the dream.

unfamiliar surroundings and snapped

I plunged into a whirlpool

were pretty

blurted, “Xaviera, great news, Hogan’s

hundred

was

steamy scenes from my dream,

the bathroom, through the steamy mist, I clearly saw the bruise on my

barely revealed an English phrase.

*iillayloveyou, Hogan.”

a sudden slash of time’s claws,

way of making amends?

and I both were late.

too keen, at least there was fresh cash in

budget issue that Wallis

a team–building event,