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.”

to the complex, I reached the foot of the building and saw Hogan coming from the

wool suit that made him look sharp and upright, standing under the clear moonlight like some noble and aloof

ice, “Here to see

was fishing to see if

side by side into the building. After a while, he asked,

they had met.

told him straight, “Mr. Zade, you put down a deposit, so I had to show some good

“You’re quite thorough.”

was even, couldn’t make

it, just grinned and said, “I always keep my word. Give it

See.”

still trying to steer the conversation toward our collaboration.

bite. just stood there in

in one after the other. I felt inexplicably deflated and found myself absentmindedly

gave it to you?”

looked at Hogan, perplexed, and followed his gaze to my wristband.

added. “You seem quite attached to it. An heirloom, maybe?”

I was so fond of it, but suddenly my wrist felt too

tone, “Is

end of the stick,

toes, pulling my sleeve over the wristband, not

something was tearing, making my heart and lungs ache a