Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 64

After Cecilia left, Wallis sidled up to me and said, “I could smell that bitchy scent from a mile away, looked like the real deal.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose, not saying a word.

“What did you give her? She seemed pretty chuffed.”

I spilled the beans about Hilary’s preference manual.

Wallis gave me a thumbs up, teasing. “Right on time, like coal in snowy weather. You sure know your stuff, Ms. March. But what if she gets cold feet?”

Cecilia was no fool. With that manual in her arsenal, she and Hilary were bound to hit it off sooner or later. Weighing the wife of Rainbow Capital’s president against a small project, she knew which side her bread is buttered on.

“Aren’t you happy?”

How could I not be? Given Cecilia’s attitude, there was a good nine out of ten chance that Rainbow Capital wouldn’t pull our funding.

But the thought of playing such a good card and just handing it over like that it just sticks in

my craw.

I’d been counting on it to rake in some serious dough.

“Let’s head back and wait for news,” I comforted Wallis, “Maybe we can finally catch some decent Z’s tonight.”

back to the complex, I reached the foot of the

a navy blue, single–breasted wool suit that made him look sharp and upright, standing under

paused, then broke the ice, “Here

to see if

walked side by side into the building. After a while, he asked, “Did you

like they

told him straight, “Mr. Zade, you put down a deposit, so I

“You’re quite thorough.”

voice was even, couldn’t make heads

“I always

See.”

steer

there in silence, not giving an inch.

other. I felt inexplicably deflated

it to

Hogan, perplexed, and followed his

quite attached to it.

didn’t know how he figured I was so fond of it, but suddenly my wrist felt

heard Hogan’s teasing tone, “Is Darren

the

sleeve over the wristband, not picking up his line.

it felt like something was tearing, making my heart and