Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 58

“So. Ms. March, what you are saying is that as long as I cough up enough dough, you’re down for letting your ex–mother–in–law warm up to Cecilia?”

I was not sure if it was just me, but it felt like Hogan’s voice went up a couple of decibels when he said that.

I kept it real and said, “Depends on how much you are willing to shell out.”

If the price was right, pride could take a hike, right?

A chuckle came through the receiver. “Xaviera, you better walk the talk.”

He was probably questioning my allegiance as a business partner.

After a few seconds of thought, I cheekily asked, “So, what’s the offer, Mr. Zade?”

The line went dead silent.

I thought the call dropped, but a quick glance at my phone screen showed we were still connected.

I figured the capitalist on the other end was crunching numbers, so I didn’t sweat it and just chilled.

After a good while, I heard Hogan say, “If you can get the Zade family to take to Cecilia, I’ll make sure you get a fat reward.”

“How fat? Fat enough to buy a place in Rivertown?”

and after.

that, he hung

myself for not talking about an advance with Hogan.

the years of working together gave us some kind of unspoken understanding, because moments later,

“Advance.”

flipped it over to my

Not two minutes later, my

the sudden windfall?”

around the bush, “Just

said tiredly. “My daughter has been much better recently, hardly any attacks. You need to keep some cash on

asthma; it flared up a lot in the fall and winter. There were a couple of close calls last year, and my aunt was just trying to ease my mind.

egg was never a bad idea.

made up an excuse to

was working overtime as usual when Darren

laptop and

at him awkwardly and asked, “Something

wrist,

a sigh of relief and said, “It’s just a scratch, no big

seemed to

I stopped my work and asked,

head, Darren tentatively said, “There’s a dinner tomorrow night, need to bring a date,