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 silent.

quiet, I felt a tight squeeze around my waist,

fabric, I could feel his solid arms

my feet were like jelly, couldn’t find my

and grilled me like he was possessed, “Aren’t we

breath, heavy with the scent of booze, washed over my

away, feeling my face flare up, as

“Answer me.”

1221

Chapter 45

I said through gritted teeth, anger rising. “Hogan,

crashed onto mine, cutting

out to stop him, but he pinned my hands

face an

‘Xaviera‘ over and over, just like the old

no good,

my phone yanked me out of the dream.

to unfamiliar surroundings

once I did, I plunged into a whirlpool of

marks were

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

five hundred thousand?

mind was

steamy scenes from my dream, I couldn’t crack a smile.

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

faded words barely revealed

*iillayloveyou, Hogan.”

a

your way

I both

wasn’t too keen, at least there was fresh

sorted out the marketing budget issue that Wallis had been

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