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 off, but

squeeze around my waist, and Hogan pulled

could feel his

my feet were like jelly, couldn’t

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

scent of booze,

my face flare

“Answer me.”

1221

Chapter 45

through gritted teeth, anger rising.

mine, cutting off my next

to stop him, but he pinned my hands above

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

tattoo, calling out ‘Xaviera‘ over

was no

jarring ring of my phone yanked me out of the dream.

eyes to unfamiliar surroundings and snapped right

plunged into

marks were pretty obvious.

line, Wallis excitedly blurted, “Xaviera, great news, Hogan’s decided to throw in another five hundred thousand!”

hundred

was boggled.

steamy scenes from my dream,

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

words barely revealed an English phrase.

*iillayloveyou, Hogan.”

a sudden slash of time’s claws,

Hogan, this your way of

both were

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

out the marketing budget issue

was buzzing with plans for a team–building event, ready