Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 134

As soon as the words left my mouth, I realized I was oozing displeasure.

Zachary picked up on it too. His smile froze for a sec, and he tried to smooth things over, “Got it, hangovers are brutal. You were also taking quite a few for Mr. Zade last night, probably still recovering.”

His words seemed more for Hogan’s benefit than mine.

Given our business ties, I couldn’t just throw shade, so I went along with Zachary, saying. “Indeed, I’ll excuse myself.”

“Shouldn’t you grab something to eat first, with a hangover and all?”

His icy tone hit me, and I looked up to see Hogan still sitting there, stone–faced. Maybe it was the aftereffects of the booze, but he looked pale, his sharp profile exuding a distant. unapproachable air.

At the thought of the chat I’d overheard, my heart sank bit by bit. Yeah. Hogan, always on top of the game, even at the poker table he was the one setting the rules. Was him inviting me to dine some kind of favor?

I couldn’t help but tug the corners of my lips, keeping my distance. “Thanks for the offer, Mr. Zade, but I’ll pass.

to open the door, only to hear him grumble, “Xaviera, have I been spolling you too much these past

hand froze mid–air on the doorknob. When I looked at Hogan, I saw him staring at me intently

locked, and a dull pain struck my chest, I couldn’t help but retort, “You’ve got quite the sense of humor, Mr. Zade.”

That was rich coming from Hogan.

Mr. Zade’s”

I cut him off, dead serious, “Call

spoke, the anger in his eyes deepened. But I was

so what? With things having come this far, I wasn’t naive enough to think we could end things amicably.

and I just staring at each other, neither of us uttering another word. Until the doorbell rang, breaking the

filtered in,

mess. It was like whatever I dreaded most was

docomo

OKIOMI 134

always lukewarm towards me, and seeing me in Hogan’s room first thing in the morning, I’d be screwed, unable to clear my name even if

Zade, not