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,

the quiet, I felt a tight squeeze around my waist, and Hogan pulled me into his arms.

fabric, I could feel

my feet were like

grilled

the scent of booze, washed

turned away, feeling my face flare

“Answer me.”

1221

Chapter 45

said through gritted teeth, anger

lips crashed onto mine, cutting off my next

reached out to stop him, but he pinned my hands above my

his face an imposing blur,

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

was no good, really.

my phone yanked me

to unfamiliar surroundings

did, I plunged into a whirlpool of

were

great news, Hogan’s decided to throw in another five hundred

five hundred thousand?

mind was boggled.

scenes from my

the steamy mist, I clearly saw

words barely revealed an English phrase.

*iillayloveyou, Hogan.”

a sudden slash of time’s claws, mocking my

this your way of making amends?

both

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

marketing budget issue that Wallis had been fretting over.

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